Volume 5 - CH 3.4

“What did you do?” I demanded.

“Before you get the wrong idea, I didn’t do anything,” the cat claimed, raising both her hands.

I couldn’t believe it. Water splashed as I approached her. The cat stood up and stepped back, protecting her belly with her arms.

She shook her head. “I’m telling the truth. Think about it. Let’s say I killed her. What’s the point of carrying her body out and coming back here? She left this greenhouse on her own, cutie. I understand your concern, but please remain calm. I don’t want to hurt this body too much. Please.” She didn’t complain about the pain on her cheek.

Breathing a sigh, she picked up her cup and took a sip.

“Actually, it’s all my fault. Would you please take a seat?”

She sat down, pointing to the chair across from her. She picked up a bird-shaped cookie and munched on it. Anger welled up from the pit of my stomach, but I swallowed it back down.

Going against her was not going to make things better. I pulled out a chair and plopped myself down.

“Lady Mayuzumi Azaka figured out Miss Kotori’s wish. I expected nothing less from her. I was deeply impressed. But it was too soon, you see. I had to change the rules. I asked her to leave. I’ll talk to her some other time. For now, I want to talk to you.”

Yuri regarded me with a smile.

“Your child is wonderful,” she said in an enraptured tone. “I envy you. Conceiving a monster is nothing short of a miracle.”

The baby in my belly squealed. I clamped down on my squirming stomach. I felt disgust in her words, but her eyes betrayed genuine envy. I couldn’t understand why she would hold my baby in such high regard. But none of that mattered now.

“I don’t think Mayu-san would listen to you,” I said. “Besides, should you be even changing the rules? The fox never did.”

The fox’s games had rules. They were absurd, but he did not alter them.

What would happen to us people involved if the rules were changed every time the organizer was at a disadvantage?

Yuri shrugged and shook her head. “Lady Mayuzumi Azaka left on her own accord. She has little interest in this game, apparently. Also, in her words, this game is ‘more up your alley’. She’s going to wait at the mansion until it’s over. And I concur.”

Yuri picked up a piece of chocolate and bit into it. Frowning, she returned it on the plate. She apparently did not like chocolate. She put three lemons in her tea and continued.

“The rules are different. I’m sure you won’t mind. The game itself is a mess. I’m just borrowing the fox’s format and letting you guys play. Surely I’m allowed to change the rules a bit. I can guarantee you that I will be honest with the players. As proof, I’ll give you a hint as a penalty for the change.”

Yuri interlaced her fingers and rested her chin on them. She smiled, her cat-like eyes glinting.

“What is her wish? Only when you guess it right will she listen to you. Making the right guess will dispel her from her trance. After that, it’s up to you. Well, good luck. I’ll be rooting for you.” She bowed.

Her words sounded sincere, but they were not. She was just holding Kotori as hostage to manipulate people and make them play her game. I gave her a sharp glare.

The cat sighed. “Oh dear, I’ve just given you a hint, so please don’t give that look. You’re breaking a girl’s heart, cutie. There’s no need to thank me, but I would have expected a different reaction.”

“Stop calling me that,” I finally snapped.

Yuri blinked several times, then laughed. “Oh? I thought all men were pathetic, adorable creatures. You seem to be an exception. Men are inept. They can’t even conceive.”

Her gaze flitted to my belly again, a hint of ecstasy in her eyes.

She wet her lips. “You are a man, but that one part of you is worthy of respect. That womb is, in a way, the ultimate form of virgin birth. You should be more proud. I’m genuinely envious. I admire you. To conceive a genuine monster is a very enviable thing.”

I did not say anything back, and instead glanced at Kotori. She had been eating the flowers. She was fine at the moment, but the fact that the cat was challenging us to save her, there must be danger involved. Perhaps her eating the flower was the same as taking non-lethal doses of poison continuously.

She would reach her limit at some point.

I got up and approached Kotori, who was eating a flower.

“What about the fox?” I asked. “He’s a man, a creature you look down upon. You call yourself a messenger, but what’s your relationship with him?”

I found myself craving for the answer.

What was the fox doing now? What was his relation to the cat?

I really wanted to know. I couldn’t get him out of my mind.

“He’s a monster first, a man second. So I chose him,” she replied. “I want to believe that he chose me too. I’m going to return the favor. I live solely for that moment.”

I watched her with eyes wide open. Her answer did not make any sense.

Yuri patted her own belly.

Wearing a soft smile, she said, “And that moment will bring me supreme joy.”

I had no idea what she meant by that.

But one thing was for sure: that moment would be far from joyful for me.

The cat chuckled.

Like she was having the time of her life.

I sat down beside Kotori. The water on the floor was shining golden in the sunlight. Kotori was in the middle of it, her eyes in a state of rapture. It was like looking at a painting.

“Kotori-san, what did you wish for?” I asked.

“Hmm?”

I did not expect a reply. But Kotori tilted her head, and incomprehensible words left her mouth.

“Flowers are scary, aren’t they?” Kotori continued munching on the flowers. “They’re scary, so I eat them.”

A twisted smile appeared on her face. Seconds later, the expression slowly vanished from her visage.

Kotori faced the flowers with a blank look. I sorted out the information I had obtained in my mind.

Kotori feared flowers.

She didn’t see flowers as food.

Yet she ate them.

A grave inconsistency. I couldn’t wrap my head around it. Unfortunately, my deductive reasoning skills were extremely lacking. Watching Kotori wouldn’t get me anywhere.

“What exactly is her wish?”

Mayuzumi said that eating flowers was a metaphor.

I didn’t even know what that meant.

The cat watched me silently. I couldn’t figure out Kotori’s wish. I was just wasting precious time.

But there was a way.

Something only I could do.

I stroked Kotori’s head, and she smiled like a young child.

“Hmm?”

Staring at her broken smile, I prepared myself for the rest. I felt the cat’s gaze coming from behind.

I didn’t want to be defenseless in front of her, but there was no other choice.

I took Kotori’s hand and slowly unwrapped the bandage.

White cloth unraveled smoothly and floated on the water. The bandage fell off, revealing a thin wrist with deep scars. The flesh was festered, probably as a result of her wound opening constantly.

She opened her own wound and let her blood mix with the water.

My vision burned with rage. I gritted my teeth hard. I could feel my false molars creaking.

I took a deep breath and exhaled. I studied my palm.

I wasn’t sure if hurting her was necessary, but I thought mixing our blood would yield something.

I had to connect to her on a deeper level.

I pressed my fingers into the stitched wound in my own palm and gouged it, forcing it open. Sharp pain jolted through my hand. Blood slowly poured out. I pushed my finger into the hole and twisted the flesh until I felt it was enough, then let go.

“Hngh…”

Wiping away the tears, I let out the breath I’d been holding.

Blood ran down to my wrist. I was ready. I knelt beside Kotori.

I could sense the cat enjoying herself, but she said nothing, perhaps out of courtesy for being a spectator.

I took deep breaths. Kotori gave me a puzzled look.

I was certain that it would work.

But I had no idea if it was safe.

Once my mind left, Mayuzumi had to take care of the rest.

“I’m counting on you, Mayu-san,” I muttered.

I pressed my bleeding palm against Kotori’s wound.

She quivered in pain. She shook her head, but I didn’t let go. The blood from my palm touched her wound.

“Uka,” I said as I let the blood flow deep into Kotori’s wound. “I want you to eat her memories straight from the flesh.”

Absorb her mind and memories.

Until now, Uka had eaten the mind and thoughts of people through their flesh and blood, devouring tragic memories on a whim. And now I was actually asking her to do it. Uka seemed grumpy, but moments later, she reluctantly agreed.

Okay.

My vision switched.

I was right in front of myself. My arms hurt. He was holding my arm for some reason. The pain was coming from there. I tried to get away, but I couldn’t.

Why wouldn’t he let go of me?

Right before I started panicking, my mind returned. I told myself to calm down. This pain was Kotori’s, not mine.

But the one feeling fear and the one trying to calm themselves down were both me. I felt as though I had become a two-headed monster. But my body could not split in two, so instead my mind did. She screamed in fear. I screamed in fear. Two views switched.

And I lost myself.