I Became the Final Subjugation Target of That Era’s Light Novel

What should I do?

I don’t know the extent of Kosuzu’s abilities.

But at least I know that she’s creating and moving beings similar to me and Koko.

My tracking abilities are ‘not really’ mine.

To be precise, they are the power of Shura Nirlas, the outsider who is joyfully observing me.

If I look for that Yōkai named Satori and it seems like it would be boring for her, she won’t help me at all. But conversely, if it seems interesting, she will undoubtedly forcefully help me even if I tell her not to.

“So, is it alright if I think you’re considering helping me?”

Kagami, who helped with the dishes after we finished eating, asked this in front of the entrance.

“…Yeah.”

I nodded.

That’s right. I was already firm in my determination.

I can’t know which direction Kosuzu will use this for, but at least I’m sure it won’t have a very positive impact on this world.

Just being able to threaten those above or to find out how to attack effectively is a sufficient reason to discover it.

“…Thank you.”

Kagami replied.

I quietly stared at her.

In my previous life, I never grew up particularly lacking. At least during the time I spent with my family, I never lived in a house hastily built like this one.

So I don’t really know if there are houses like this in Korea, but—

Well, at least, from feeling it at this entrance, the chilly air passing through that thin wooden door was a definite sensation.

It’s not freezing, but the temperature probably hovers around single digits.

I glanced over Kagami.

That outfit doesn’t look that thick. …I don’t really know if that’s just my Korean winter survival eye.

“How do you plan to get back? Is there someone coming to pick you up?”

Only after asking that did I realize it was the first time I was asking Kagami this question.

“Yes, someone should come if I call.”

Although it seems I’ve never taken a car right in front of this apartment.

The last time I looked at the clock, it was past nine.

I briefly contemplated and turned to Koko. Koko seemed to have no particular thoughts. She was watching Kagami and me with interest but hadn’t interrupted our conversation.

Honestly speaking, I don’t really know what she’s thinking.

Well, still, it doesn’t seem like she has a bad opinion about Kagami.

At least, she didn’t have a very wary expression.

“Mya.”

I heard a sound near my feet.

Kuro was looking up at me and crying.

What is she trying to do?

Her expression seemed to ask that.

…Alright, whatever.

“…You can just stay for one night.”

Saying that, I looked up and saw Kagami frozen with a faint smile on her face.

It didn’t seem like she deliberately crafted that expression; it was simply her last smile, but it felt like she was stiffened because she didn’t know how to respond to my words.

“It’s getting late.”

I said again.

Ironically, this room had enough stuff for a family of four to comfortably stay. The blankets were sufficient since Yuka often came and slept over.

Having one sudden visitor stay wouldn’t be a huge problem.

“I…”

If she wants to refuse, she can, but saying no at this moment seems odd, right? Koko and I had already stayed at the tavern above Kagami’s place before.

“…”

Still, it’s not completely awkward.
To ease the mood a bit, I casually added a reason.

“And there are still a few things we need to discuss. If Kosuzu is starting to move, it’s better to find her as quickly as possible. And… I don’t want others to find out that we dealt with Satori.”

After saying that, I shrugged my shoulders.

“Well, there’s a room, so do as you wish.”

I then took Koko back to the room.

Maybe about 30 seconds later? Kagami, who was near the entrance, hesitated and entered the room again.

She then awkwardly took a seat in the corner of the room.

“Mya.”

A bit later, Kuro followed her in.

Kuro, who had taken a spot on my lap, opened her mouth wide and yawned.

While scratching behind Kuro’s ears, I smirked slightly at Kosuzu and Kagami without them noticing.

*

I’m not a very planned or organized person, so honestly, I can’t quite explain the reason I said that to Kagami at that moment.

However, if I dig up memories nestled deep within my mind as logically as I can, it seems there’s a bit of guilt mixed in with me being overly cautious about Kagami.

It’s a relationship where I’m almost solely receiving help.

To be honest, I owe a lot of my current comfort to Kagami. She basically took on the role of a villain for me.

“Right now, you know that there’s someone attached to me, right?”

Kagami nodded at my words.

Since I brought her into this room because I wanted to have a conversation, I was thinking about discussing that over the remaining night.

“If people realize that I’ve disappeared, they will likely move right away. They’ve already heard the story regarding Satori.”

“…That’s true.”

Kagami nodded.

“So, is there a way for me to secretly sneak out of this house? Like a secret passage or something.”

In truth, I already had an idea of a method in mind.
Opening the window and asking Koko to take me outside. Well, I can’t fully dodge suspicion. Leaving the window open in the middle of winter isn’t exactly subtle, and if someone’s watching that way, they might spot traces of us disappearing.

Still, there is a clear method. At least they wouldn’t be able to figure out where we disappeared.

So, this was just a topic I brought up casually to continue the conversation, but—

“There is.”

“…There is?”

Kagami’s words made me look up at her with a bewildered expression.

“Yes, there is. What do you think this place is?”

Well, it’s a rundown apartment. The walls are so thin that even the chill of winter can’t be properly kept out.

…And it’s also a place where there are immense lumps of flesh inside every refrigerator in each room, and blood is smeared all over beyond the wrapped plastic sheets on the walls.

So, putting it together… it means it’s a well-concealed but also very important place from a social standpoint.

“Did you ever hold a meeting here?”

“I did. Not anymore, though.”

Kagami replied, seemingly regaining her former self as she spoke with confidence about her past.

“And there were things during those meetings and rituals that were close to being crimes in the eyes of regular people.”

Um, I don’t really want to hear exactly what they did.

So, I decided to ignore that story and continue.

“So, about the passage?”

“Below the first-floor room, there’s a pretty big hole. We dug a tunnel that connects to the sewer.”

It’s somewhat impressive in scale, yet surprisingly possible.
…I should be grateful that Koko didn’t go that way. At least, it means that it seems to be properly blocked off on the surface.

“Well, since that passage hasn’t been maintained for quite some time, there might be all kinds of bugs lurking inside.”

“…”

Yeah, I decided to ignore that as well.

“Once we’re in the sewers, we can go anywhere that’s connected. Of course, to prevent getting lost and starving to death in there, I’ve also set up escape routes.”

“That’s… thorough.”

“Um…”

As I muttered while feeling a bit apprehensive, Kagami held her chin and fell into thought for a moment.

“The problem is that there’s no direct way from the second floor to the first floor. We must go outside to get to the first-floor room.”

If someone is watching us, they will find it suspicious if we take a long time to come out after entering the first floor.

So far, I haven’t found any traces of someone sneaking into this apartment and searching. The ones watching me seem to have some level of caution at least.

But when it really comes down to it, it’s impossible to know how I’ll act when I deem it urgent.

“Well… I guess I’ll have to think about that.”

Would it be more suspicious to keep the window open the whole time? Or is it more suspicious to leave the first floor and not come back for a while?

“Since it’s been a while since I stayed here,”

Kagami said to the depth of my worries.

“Let’s think of a method.”

Kagami looked somewhat proud while saying that.

*

The next day when I returned from studying in the Literature Club Room, there were quite a few people gathered in front of my house.

“Kagami?”

As I called out to Kagami, who appeared to be directing the crowd, she looked back at me and smiled faintly.

“What is all this?”

“The building is too old, right? Plus, the lower floors are almost unused.”

Kagami answered my question briskly.

“So, I was thinking of doing a bit of remodeling. If there’s anything wrong with the walls and plumbing, I’ll be fixing those as well.”

Now? I almost answered reflexively, but I shut my mouth when I saw there were people on the second floor.

That’s right.
I had already broken the ceiling before. Of course, it raised doubts as to whether this apartment was built for people to live in, based on how poorly it was constructed.

“See over there?”

When I looked where Kagami was pointing, I saw a man from next door with a very bright smile.

It seemed he was looking forward to his place getting cleaned up as he was milling about the area. Maybe he finished his work early today?

“And would you like to come this way?”

I followed Kagami as she motioned.

Kagami took us into the room at the farthest corner on the right of the first floor.

Inside, there hadn’t been much change. Despite the belongings being somewhat moved in, there were no people.

Instead, the flooring was slightly exposed, and a closed door was in the middle of it.

“And even if people living in this house come in this way, they wouldn’t raise any suspicion.”

“…Ah.”

I see.
It seems this method Kagami mentioned was indeed this one.
Creating a reason for me to come in whenever.

Certainly, with this alone, I could buy some time until I disappeared in front of them.

“…I see.”

“Yes, that’s the reason.”

Kagami spoke while alternating her gaze between me and Koko.

“So, may I ask when you plan to look for Satori?”

“…”

Looking at Kagami, who seemed to have regained her usual condition, I was momentarily lost for words.

*

The execution date was set for this weekend.

I can’t know exactly where Satori is. I only know she’s somewhere in the Japanese archipelago.

Building a nest and moving will take quite a bit of time, but it’s been decades since they must have abandoned the chase.

If by chance she crossed the sea, it might be totally impossible to find her, but judging by Kosuzu’s movement, she must have been able to find at least some clues.

Maybe in a way similar to mine? At least it seems Weithly has received some power from the gods, so I thought it likely she would have some convenient abilities related to that.

That’s why I set the deadline as soon as possible.

“Taking a break this weekend?”

My boss questioned in response to my words.
I’ve already had an exceptionally lazy year. Honestly, if it were an ordinary job, I probably would have used up all my vacation days by now.

“Well, fine. Go take a break.”

But my boss answered without asking anything further.

“Since you brought a free worker, there’s no significant problem with the number of people.”

As the boss said this, their gaze turned towards Miki.

Seeing my bewildered look, the boss shrugged.

“What does it matter? It’s not like you’re really getting paid. For now, it seems like you just want to help me.”

“…I see.”

“Why? Do you want to talk about your reason for taking a break? Are you itching to spill it?”

The boss asked with a chuckle.

“Well, my mom and…”

My mom, huh.
That being said, I can’t just call Kagami “Kagami” in front of others. No matter how much our relationship has changed from bad to slowly becoming friendly, considering Eastern relationships and titles, calling her by name alone seems too strange.

“…Yeah.”

The boss interpreted my words however she liked, then said with a warm smile on her face,
“Then that’s how it should be. If it’s a family that’s one of the last few remaining in this world, then you should spend time with them. Go have fun and eat a lot of delicious food.”

I felt much relief knowing Yuka wasn’t nearby.
Yuka would surely have excessively complicated expressions on her face as she listened to our conversation.
Perhaps she would have thought I didn’t fully believe her and that Kagami had asked her to search for Satori.
…Even if that was the case.

*

Saturday, after school classes ended.

“…I see. I also have to work part-time on Saturdays.”

Yuka, who had asked me to study with her, said with a slightly disappointed look.

“To be honest, I desperately want to follow along, but spending a whole day studying at the place where you work seems a bit… off, you know.”

Seeing Yuka say that jokingly, I also smiled slightly.
To be honest, if she really had meant it, it would have probably felt like an unspoken pressure to me. Like I should be studying some more.
Yuka means no ill harm, though.

“Well… alright.”

Yuka nodded to herself then said,
“Okay. See you next week.”

I nodded at Yuka’s words.
“See you on Monday.”

Luckily, Yuka’s train was arriving first, so Koko and I saw her off first.

Good. For now, I could at least breathe easy.

As I breathed out lightly and turned around, Koko was staring up at me intently.

“…What? Is something wrong?”

When I asked in concern upon seeing Koko’s expression,
“U.”

Koko paused for a moment before saying,
“Kotone, is lying.”

“Eh?”

I blinked in surprise, and Koko repeated,
“Lying is a bad word… if Santa doesn’t like it on Christmas?”

“…”

Ah.
I see.
Koko, who had been pouting next to me while I was talking with Kagami yesterday.
So, it seems she figured that I was trying to do something alone without telling my closest friend, which she judged to be “lying,” thus, a bad thing.

“This is…”
Koko’s words had me a bit stumped.

“I’ll explain it when we get home. I don’t think there’ll be any issues between me and Santa.”

“Uuu?”

At my words, Koko tilted her head again.

*

“…Santa?”

When we returned home, Kagami, who had overheard our conversation, tilted her head.

“If you do something bad, Santa won’t give you a gift.”

At Koko’s words, Kagami’s eyes widened slightly. Despite them widening, they were still slitted.
Seeing Kagami make an expression as if she required an explanation from me, I contemplated for a moment before saying,
“This is about not making Yuka worried.”

“Uuu?”

“Koko, is it truly good to make your friends worry?”

I gazed at Koko with a serious expression as I spoke.

“…That’s a bad thing.”

Koko, who had thought deeply, replied.

“That’s right. But sometimes, you must lie when there’s no way around it. To not make the people you love and care for worried.”

“But…”

“If I had explained my reasoning there, Yuka would have been super worried.”

And she would have come along with us.
I kept the latter half of that thought to myself.

“For this situation, I think it’s best to solve things among ourselves quickly and return by the weekend. Then we can resolve the problem without making anyone worry.”

“Isn’t it a bad thing?”

“No.”

Of course, while I answered in agreement, a part of my heart felt a bit twisted.
There are various types of lies.
Some are light lies told as jokes. Some are straightforward lies told to avoid the truth, and some are lies solely intended to deceive the other party.

The lie I told Yuka is the last kind of lie.
No matter how much the intention is for a friend, it’s unlikely anyone would consider it a good deed.

And above all else,
I’ve already told Yuka a much larger lie.
Even if it’s for her sake, I’ve already told a lie that could cause her a tremendous wound a long time ago.

That’s right.
There’s another type of lie.
The kind of lie that doesn’t speak anything to anyone.
A deceit of the void.

…Thinking of that prophecy I know of, the Yōkai named Satori was the kind of Yōkai that should never exist.
What kind of expression would Koko show when she learns that truth at the last moment?

“Santa will definitely come. So, there’s no need to worry.”

“Uuu.”

Koko slightly lowered her head and looked up at me with half-dropped pupils.
“I hope Kotone gets a present too…”

“…We can probably get that.”

Kagami, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, spoke up.
“Yeah, I believe so. Since you’ve been doing good things until now.”
Kagami was staring at me.
“So, don’t worry too much.”

“…Really?”

“Of course.”

Only after hearing Kagami’s words did a slight smile appear on Koko’s lips.
It was a smile of relief.
In reality, seeing that smile didn’t make me feel at ease at all.

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