Vol 2 Chapter 5 (1/2)

Final Night: Start of Disinfection

Those who live by the sill die by the sword

Those who live by the pen will die by the pen

All men will die This was a commonsensical truth recorded in the Bible

The only is e call witches

In medieval Europe, which was taken over by the viral Witch Hunt movement, mortality was used to separate witches fro cauldrons Those who died were humans Those who lived itches

Then Ithe hospital corridor

This body would not die even if she was sank into boiling water or pierced by innue was dealt to her But if I aic that can save humans If my only power is immortality, then I’m not worthy of this existence

Death and misfortune always emanated from her person

She didn’t have anywith a foster fah to have memories Those fale one of them were left

The Apple holders who traveled with her also left her behind and disappeared

And now she had also killed her ence

Usagawa Rinne was a girl entle than anyone else, and yet so far removed from happiness Nonetheless, she never hated the world and was never as lost as Guriko I love Rinne I love her because she loves others I could give up my life for Rinne

That was how it should be

I should be the only unfortunate one

I should be the one to die

“Itsuwara-san?”

Not knohonored it This dark hospital was very dihts were turned on The heavens outside were darkening and the sapphire nocturnal sky enveloped the entire world

“Itsuwara Eguriko-san?”

A young feave the hospital that nah I care about Hino’s condition, I must find Rinne’s killer first I’ll eance

Although I won’t be able to change anything by doing this, I can’t just walk aithout e

I know that Rinne, ever so gentle, won’t want me to do this

But I have decided to revert to a eance, and I’ll look for a way to resurrect Rinne It’s too painful to stay in the human world Moreover, a world without Rinne would be even more painful

Guriko turned her head and realized a nurse was standing there

It was a wo a nurse’s unifor aura She earing a hospitala cold?

She s hair braid

“hello”

“Oh hello”

Guriko glared at her, replying casually The other woe aura Or rather, she had no aura It was as if she was not alive

Guriko shook her head and spoke, trying to gauge the other’s intention: “How can I help you? I’m in a bit of a hurry”

“Oh? Haha, you’re in a hurry? Where are you going? Are you reallylost?”

Sheas if nothing had happened: “Humans always lose what’s htly habit of hesitation I hate that kind of ugliness Hey, why don’t you humans desire to live in perfection?”

“What do you mean?”

Guriko questioned sharply The nurse sain as she half-turned to talk to Guriko over her shoulder: “Do you know that although the doctors tried their best, your mother Itsuwara Hino’s condition suddenly worsened? She would be in danger if this goes on Her body is no stranger to death She had been gravely sick ever since she was young, and she onlyin seclusion at home”

That –

She heard about that That was how Hino and Kio met Hino often took sick leave from school and Kio would visit her at her house But Hino did say she was just pretending to be sick

Was she always suish so Guriko wouldn’t worry?

“She…”

Guriko still couldn’t consider Hino as her mother till the end

But she didn’t find those days annoying There was ether Guriko remembered how Hino and Kio would become so excited around each other She remembered how absurdly amazed Hino hen she saw the kaleidoscope Guriko casually bought as her birthday gift

“She decided to keep living on with Kio after they anisation… they were given the task to be your parents this tiive birth because of her weak body Therefore, she was determined to love you as her own child – do you know any of this? Did you talk with her seriously for even once? Did you not lock yourself up in your roohtly way because of hoorried you ith yourself, choosing to ignore everything else?”

The terrifying nurse giggled as she kept walking

“You’d rather not have those eyeballs, right? Especially when they could not see anything at all Why are you alive? Your life only serves to bring misfortunate to other people”

“Who are –”

You? What are you? What do you know about me?

Guriko considered this and quickly gave chase to the nurse

But she couldn’t reach her Somehow, she could never reduce this intricate distance between them As if she was blocked by an invisible wall, this nurse kept walking forward and remained at a position where Guriko could not reach or approach her

What is this? Is this fear? Am I afraid to approach this nurse?

“Once upon a time there was a foolish woman,” the nurse did not turn around as she spoke in a low voice le “She was obsessed with cleanliness She locked herself up in her roo over and over, went paranoid about hygiene and didn’t allow anyone else into the room All alone, she starved to death in her pristine white roo that this was the perfect world Such a fool! However, to die in that perfect whiteness, that perfect cleanliness, that place so perfectly sterilized and disinfected – that was her supreme happiness”

Who was she talking about?

“She didn’t bring misfortune to anyone She didn’t trouble anyone She died alone, locked up in her rooliness and confusion, she wished to die in that most beautiful white – that woman’s name was Saibara Mina”

The woman stopped before a hospital room and smiled as she turned her head towards Guriko with a smile

“You locked yourself in your room because of your petty worries, but then also decided to foolishly wander about so you would keep getting hurt You are such an ugly existence Would you win, if you’re facing such perfection? Would you be able to overcome Saibara Mina – in every sense of the term?”

TheCautiously, Guriko followed her She found Hino in the room, asleep on a hospital bed

She looked very haggard

They did not part for long Guriko called an ambulance after Hino fainted and arrived at the hospital with her, then Guriko heard about Rinne’s death She had left Hino for no more than three hours

But Hino already had a deathly pallor on her face

Standing beside Hino, as deep asleep, Guriko’s face was shadoith misery

How could she explain this to Kio?

Judging froe of death Guriko understood her life was about to end Guriko was anxious because of this understanding

She knew all humans will die Humans will always die It was just a matter of time

Soain

Rinne’s face appeared before Guriko’s eyes – No, Guriko thought

“Hino”

Guriko held Hino’s hand, which dangled outside of the bed, and lifted it beside her own cheek It was icy cold She didn’t e to repay Hino with familial love, not even once

She is willing to love h we are not related However, I just refused her out of fear, out of not knohat to do

And this is the result

“Hino –“

Guriko didn’t get an anshen she called out Hino’s name She didn’t expect one That was the road Guriko chose

She was so stubborn and refused them just because of fear

She could do nothing at the end She just chose to run away

“Hino, I –” Holding Hino’s hand, Gurikotone: “I’m sorry I couldn’t return your kindness”

I was so afraid This fear made me detached, and it hurt you

Re those ordinary days spent with Hino and Kio, when everyday was so s ever happened – those were the io But now, thanks to those two, Guriko kne to sain

It was so more tender than what her real parents and her foster parents ever gave her a o

It was happiness; happiness as precious as a hard-won treasure

“Mom”

Guriko muttered to herself as tears quietly flen her cheeks

“Mom –”

Hino can’t die I should be the only unfortunate one I should be the one to die I shouldn’t have lived for a thousand years Why a misfortune to others I can only be miserable I can only make others miserable

A thought suddenly appeared to her

“…”

Silently, Guriko held Hino’s hand and stared at her sleeping face Her hand then sneaked towards Hino’s chest She had an idea; an idea that coulnlife at the same time

“Do you want an Apple?”

Guriko whispered beside Hino’s ear

This was the last iave it to Hino, then the other woht even live out the rest of her days with Kio Guriko can then entrust everything to Sakaki and allow herself to disappear

I've lived for a thousand long years

It is enough Although I didn’t end up getting anything out of it, it is enough

Giving up on herself with more than a touch of uncertainty, Guriko finally ive my Apple to you –”

Hino jumped up

What?

Itsuwara Hino ju and yelled loudly as she grabbed the shoulders of Guriko, as prepared to end everything “No! This is a trap!”

“Hino?”

Guriko couldn’t understand as going on She just let Hino shake her, e hands, but Hino was alive What was going on? Guriko looked at Hino as Hino gave out a scream

Guriko turned to look at the nurse standing in the darkness of the hospital room

“Yes”

A cold voice sounded from there

Cal in fear

“How annoying I was hoping to end this on a splendid note, as it was going to end sooner or later Yes, even you want to hinder liness, want to disobey my command, want to stain my perfection Never mind I’ll just have to rebuild a different perfection then”

“Shhhhh”

“Guriko-chan, run!”

Hino pushed Guriko aith an astonishi+ng strength Guriko, surprised, was stunned by this display

“But this is resistance, no? This is unadulterated betrayal, no? Could you not iine ould happen – to a doll who disobeyed its creator?”

The nurse an toout of her body like stea like a ure

The white angel shed her skin and the nightmarish white demon showed herself

She had a long braid and earing a tank top with angel wing prints She also donned a pair of shorts that ended h, wore colorful bracelets and wristbands on her arms, and her n

Her pristine white hair danced as the woman pronounced her name

“How stupid How foolish There are things in this world that are untouchable and allow no disobedience I, Sterilization Disinfection, aer me Fine – those behaviors of yours, so full of fae, recklessness and foolishness – “

She lifted her spray can towards Hino and smiled like a devil

“– will be killed, defeated, and annihilated by me”

At the saed into shock and disbelief

He followed Guriko out of Rinne’s roo her Casually, Sakaki looked into a room

He felt strange He had been feeling rather strange ever since he arrived here

It was very quiet here This hospital was silent as death, with absolutely no sound anywhere

Then –

“Urk”

The as wide open, taking in the dark and cold air The walls were a clean shade of white Plain beds were placed in the dim unlit room

This was an ordinary, normal hospital room

Apart from the casually discarded foot of a child –

“No way…”

Sakaki screa terrible is happening A greatitself

He went to the room across the corridor There were no sounds and no scents

The head of an old round

“Urgh!”

A chill ran through Sakaki Unable to control himself, Sakaki screamed impulsively There was a dead human head on each of the three beds in the room

What is this?!

“Ha, ha…”

His breath quickened His heart beat furiously Sakaki shook his head and sprang out of the in-patient building, heading towards the administration area in the center of the co on? Is everyone dead? Everyone!? Did anyone survive? He looked for survivors, but couldn’t find any

He walked towards the offices where the doctors, nurses and other staff should be

Sakaki despaired when he opened the door

It was pitch black The room was pitch black

There were only body parts left There were hands, feet, and heads

He needed no more proofs

Everyone in this place, apart from himself, had been killed

Sterilization Disinfection sprayed out despair Looking at the silver mist emitted from the ordinary spray can, Guriko shi+vered However, she was all but slu back up –

Hino pushed her out even further

Guriko rolled on the ground towards the door of the room

“Hino!”

“Guriko-chan –”

For a aze crossed with Hino’s

“Mom –”

She didn’t know if that word reached Hino She didn’t know if her thoughts reached her, either Or was even that disconnected?

“---“

Hino soundlessto Guriko

Her body was mercilessly blown apart by the silver mist

“Ah?!”

They scattered The rements of Hino’s body scattered The cruel silver ments

“Ah…”

She was disappearing She had completely disappeared

Hino completely disappeared She disappeared with her shter of happiness she shared with Guriko and Kio

“Stop! Don’t go!”

Guriko begged and shouted lessly

Her shouts echoed ruthlessly Soon even that sound dispersed and disappeared

“”

Silence descended Guriko stood there, her face emotionless

What was this? What is going on? What? Guriko couldn’t understand it, and she didn’t want to understand it Hino was just there a o Hino was just there Even at the end, she was looking at Guriko with that sa at the messy and unkempt Guriko

That woman was suddenly blown apart

The only things reht hand with its slender wrist, almost otherworldly in this situation

Her body, enveloped by the silver ether with one corner of her hospital bed Only a smooth cross-section was left there Carved out – the entire space was carved out?

What was going on?

Rather, where did Hino end up?

“Ahhh, a failure That was barely a pass”

“Shhhh”

Sterilization Disinfection looked towards Guriko as she shook the spray can Her true intentions were ungaugeable on her winsohtly revealing clothes only served to concentrate her aura of terror Turning her neck with a snapping sound, she said coldly: “I have erased Itsuwara Hino She will not return She cannot be resurrected That is a fact”

Guriko was shi+vering My head hurts Ahh – my head hurts I should have lost the sensation of pain My mind hurts My soul hurts My heart hurts

Hino, she…

She…

She died protecting me

“Ahhhh…”

Guriko opened her ain

“Ahhh, you! You, you dared to – !”

She took a spoon out of her pocket and threw it towards Sterilization Disinfection, who had an e s blow It was a strike she put her entire strength behind, so that had taken lives more than just once

“So tiresome”

Sterilization Disinfection didn’t ht hand, which did not hold a spray can, simply twirled

Her right hand caught the flying spoon

She caught it?

Impossible This had never happened in a thousand years

In front of Guriko, as gaping in surprise, Sterilization Disinfection giggled

“Spoons? You plan to cos barely considered as weapons, these ranted by the strong to the weak? How can a el or a demon?”

Suddenly –

A lethal silver light pierced Guriko’s right eye

“Ahhhh!!”

Guriko tuht eye burned with a searing pain Feeling with her hand, she realized a spoon was sticking out of her eye socket Her spoon was thrown back – it was the first time this had happened She could not see She was no match for this woman

“Hey, Gankyū Eguriko, how does it feel to have your own eyeball dug out?”

Sterilization Disinfection smiled merrily and walked towards Guriko No I can’t win I can’t think of a strategy to defeat her and I don’t even have the stamina needed

Her body shook What is this creature?

It was an alien existence that far exceeded the definition of a monster

“Hey, is this the end? You’re not going to fight anyer? Then –”

She smiled only a few steps away froround “– Allow awa Rinne”

“I have to praise her It’s rare for awa Rinne did not yield even at the end Nohell, she did not reveal anything about you at all”

She…

She made Rinne…

Guriko felt a chill swelling up her chest This woman killed Rinne This woman killed Hino However, she looked as if she was not affected by it at all She was soer cared about the disparity between their strengths nor the wo abilities

Kill! Kill! Kill

Her ht only

“Yes,” Sterilization Disinfection s, little worm”

Guriko stood up and took out two spoons, her face coht her these sparkling silver spoons Her heart no longer felt sorrow or even hatred There was only emptiness – she had reverted to who she was before she un barrels, only stared at the face of the enemy she must defeat

Therefore, Gankyū Eguriko –

Did not even notice that tears were flowing down her cheeks

“Die!”

She threw out two spoons almost simultaneously

“Spoons again?”

Sterilization Disinfection furrowed her broith some surprise This time, however, the spoons did not attack directly One shot up towards the ceiling, and the other towards the floor

“A mistake? No, it can’t be” Sterilization Disinfection muttered to herself as she stood composed at the same spot Carelessly, she did not ance was her weakness

They bounced off

The spoons glided along the roof and floor along the curvature of the scoop and changed directions, striking towards Sterilization Disinfection

“Using reflection to attack froh Pity it still won’t be enough”

Her fingertips stretched towards the spoons approaching towards her

So was pulled out

At that moment, Guriko pulled out the spoon that was eht eye socket and threw it towards Sterilization Disinfection with a speed incomparable to that of the other two spoons

This spoon touched the other two mid-air

With a crisp sound, the three all scattered

“Tch”

Facing the unpredictable and irregular angles, Sterilization Disinfection gave up on trying catching theht alone One of the spoons scraped by her cheek and left a shalloound, dripping with blood

She even dodged that? What a monster

Guriko kept her eyes guardedly on the other woht this

“Ah” Stretching her hand towards her cut cheek, Sterilization Disinfection said with a perplexed look on her face “Ah, blood, it’s blood – I am wounded”

“If you can bleed, then you can be killed”

Guriko replied in a low voice Sterilization Disinfection only looked towards her foe with lifeless eyes It see trouble co her present injury

Guriko nodded and pulled out another spoon

“You can be killed You are no God or angel You are a living creature, and therefore you can be killed”

“Yes”

The cut on her cheek regenerated instantly Was she an Apple holder too? Guriko could not compare to her in terh to wound her If she also possessed an Apple – then how can Guriko fight against a foe like her?

The calm composure disappeared from Sterilization Disinfection’s countenance She sh You seeen”

“You will have to be sterilized and disinfected,” she whispered

No matter what, he should meet up with Guriko first

Sakakithe hospital corridors after he ensured his breathing and heart rate finally returned to normal Which direction did Guriko head off in? Unfortunately, Sakaki had no idea He only knew so in this hospital If that was the case –

“Hold on”

Rinne’s body h she was dead, her body still reh he didn’t know the true form of his enemy – it was a powerful existence that had the ability to completely destroy human flesh He had to protect Rinne If he lost her body as well, then all his hope would surely be lost

Sakakiback the way he came and headed towards Rinne’s room

He ran He galloped The hallas very long Sakaki reo He felt just like this An o this endless corridor

Two month later, he still could not protect Rinne Was he to lose everything after all?

Sakaki ran as he endured his burning anxiety

Why as of God

He couldn’t even protect one girl, couldn’t even protect the person most important to him

He soon arrived at Rinne’s roo left for about ten or fifteenhad casually invaded the rooed here

It was a lump of meat

It was a humanoid lump of meat

That lohtly after shi+fting its giant single eye towards Sakaki The nightmare was not over yet After heunharmed on the bed, Sakaki felt somewhat relieved He then drew his pistol and pointed towards the Meat Doll “Stand down! I’ll kill you without hesitation if you dare to harm even one hair on milady’s head!”

The Meat Doll blinked its giant eye and stood up fro on, and said in a low voice: “Long time no see, Guryū-san”

That voice…

Sakaki recalled it He was trained to have a photographic memory towards faces and voices, able to recall them even if he had only encountered the person once But he could not comprehend this

This voice belonged to…

“Itsuwara Kio”

Sakaki azed at the Meat Doll

The silent hospital was suddenly enveloped in an explosive cacophony

Gouge, gouge, gouge, gouge gouge gouge gouge

Gouge up, throay

Blood, vitreous fluid, capillary vessels, eyeballs, tears