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

For a brief moment, my thoughts halted.

Mako was trying to escape with me.

The reason was that I had experienced something similar before.

Out of nowhere at the camping site, I had come face to face with a bear. At that time, I told Mako to run.

Mako fled from me.

I survived, and the bear vanished without a trace. That day, Mako hugged me and cried.

After that, we lost contact with each other.

I moved to Tokyo. Mako was also in Tokyo. The distance was close, and most importantly, it was a big city overflowing with public transportation, so if we wanted to, we could have met again.

But I didn’t go to see Mako. I merely thought idly—when the situation would wrap up in the distant future, I would go to meet her.

What if, what if?

If I hadn’t met Mako like this again, what would have happened to her?

I acted just hoping that Mako would be safe, but if I hadn’t been here, she might have faced that thing alone.

… Did I go too far? Rather, is it because I’m here that Mako encountered that monster? Honestly, there was a lack of evidence to reasonably judge either way.

“Mako.”

I said that first while placing my hand over hers.

“Mako, calm down. There’s nothing to worry about. I—”

“No!”

As I opened my mouth to somehow reassure Mako, she shouted. For a brief moment, my ears rang painfully.

“Back then, Koto Ne was covered in blood! Something must have happened! Although you didn’t say anything, there’s definitely!”

“…….”

What should I say to Mako?

Words didn’t come to mind right away.

I was okay.

My body had been bitten once, I bled, it hurt, and I almost died, but in the end, I was fine. My body could recover without leaving any particular wounds because of some existence in this world that wasn’t there to take care of me.

… There was no way I could say that to Mako.

Especially not in this situation right now.

“…… Mako.”

“Koto Ne, so this time, let’s—”

“No, Mako.”

I replied calmly.

“Mako, listen.”

I took a deep breath.

The chills on my back had become much larger than before.

Since Mako screamed like that, it wouldn’t be surprising if passersby noticed us. Even if they were a little distance away, someone might have taken interest. It wouldn’t be strange if a patrolling officer heard us.

But there was no one here.

It wasn’t just that no one was around; there wasn’t even a sound.

It felt as if the world was empty, leaving only Mako and me behind.

… In both the original novel and in this world, if left alone, the nest would slowly grow, swallowing its surroundings.

If it can’t move or swallow the nest, there’s no meaning for yōkai to make such things in the first place.

I heard a rustling sound from the alley.

“Mako.”

I placed one hand on Mako’s face as I spoke.

“From now on, turn around, and you must not look this way.”

“…… Koto Ne?”

Now that we were in this place, it would be hard for Mako to turn around alone.

Just as it’s possible to cut through space to enter, perhaps it’s also possible to cut through space to exit.

But could I buy enough time here to do that?

This was my fault.

Not pushing Mako away immediately was my mistake. My mistake was worrying that it might look bad to Mako.

“No matter what sound you hear. I’ll be fine.”

I took a cutter knife out of my bag.

“Mako, hurry.”

When I let go of her hand, Mako shivered and stepped back a few paces.

“K-Koto Ne, what are you talking about, this… right now…”

Mako seemed to slowly realize that this situation was not right.

“Mako.”

I glared at her fiercely, and Mako hesitantly turned around.

And then, as if her legs had gone weak, she crouched down. The sight was so pitiful… it pained my heart.

With the blade drawn, I cut my wrist.

I thought I heard a faint laugh in my ear.

—

Mako could not understand the situation.

It reminded her of the time just before she parted ways with Koto Ne during her childhood.

Koto Ne had told her to run back then too.

At that time, it was a bear. Of course, there was no reason for such a bear to roam around in a city like this. Minato Ward was far from the mountains.

But even so, Koto Ne’s attitude was too similar to before, making her unable to shake off that day’s memory.

I couldn’t be of any help at all.

She had tried to run with Koto Ne, but for some reason, Koto Ne had refused to say that.

Was it the same this time? Did Koto Ne take the bait to make Mako escape from the bear?

She heard something flowing. There was a metallic, iron-like smell.

“Jazabababal—”

A strange sound echoed.

Just listening to the voice generated a feeling of severe discomfort.

Mako, who didn’t particularly believe in ghosts or monsters, thought of a presence that might exist to mimic a person’s voice with a sound that could be either male or female.

“Dodo-do. Help me.”

What did “help me” mean in this situation?

“Maaat.”

But the next moment, the sound that followed made Mako think she understood its meaning.

“I’m so hungry.”

Again, the smell of blood wafted in.

Koto Ne made no sound at all.

Something was gnawing. A scream was heard. Was that Koto Ne’s voice? No, Mako didn’t want to believe that. She didn’t want to think that the sound of something being chewed was Koto Ne’s.

She just trembled, covering her ears with both hands.

Why?

Why was this happening?

She had just been living a normal life. Going to school, making friends, playing, studying. It should have been such a life.

So why, this…

Something began to sprinkle behind Mako.

She felt something flowing from her hands that were covering her ears. It felt like liquid sprayed on her hands as if someone were spraying water with a spray bottle.

Mako brought her trembling hands in front of her face.

Red liquid was smeared on the back of her hands.

It was not a small amount.

And she was not so naïve to fail to notice what it was.

“Koto Ne…!”

Just when Mako was about to turn around in fear.

“Wait a sec, Mako.”

Someone placed their hand on Mako’s shoulder.

“… Yuka?”

Mako mumbled, dazed, looking up at the suddenly appearing Yuka.

Yuka was holding a sword. If it had been a cutter knife or a kitchen knife, something common, she might have thought it was a bit dangerous, but what she was holding now was an ordinary katana that a high school girl wouldn’t normally carry around.

“… Looks like Koto Ne told you to do that. Either way, just stay that way. It would be better if you could cover your ears, too.”

Mako gazed up at Yuka, still dazed.

“Ah, Koko… I told you to wait a bit.”

Yuka muttered like that and stood up.

“What did Koto Ne say?”

“She said she would be fine.”

“Yeah. She’ll be fine. You don’t need to worry too much. … Even though she said that, I can’t help but worry.”

Yuka spoke with an expression somewhere between bitterness and concern before quickly turning away.

Mako, sitting on her knees on the ground, could only remain still, lost in thought.

What should she do?

What could she do?

But the moment she decided to act here, wouldn’t everything go wrong?

…

She just wished Koto Ne wouldn’t vanish again like back then.

Was it because she didn’t leave when she was told to? Mako trembled as she thought that.

—

If there was a being that could be called a god granting me this power,

I hate gods.

Not having given me a more precise explanation, or rather, not granting me the opportunity to ask, could that be for today?

The situation was over.

I could defeat the yōkai.

My arm had been bitten, and so had my shin. Logically, it wouldn’t be strange if my flesh tore away and my bones shattered, but in the end, I stood up again.

The sword was cutting so well, and the monster seemed to think I was too tasteless to eat.

And during the midst of tearing each other apart, Yuka barged in.

Wait, was Koko first? To be honest, I was a bit dizzy, so the order of events was faintly remembered.

…

This was how it ended up.

Yuka was looking down at me quietly. It didn’t seem like she was blaming me for anything. Rather, it was just a face of seeing someone pitiful.

“Koto Ne…”

Koko clung to me, looking like she was about to cry.

I gently stroked Koko’s head and redirected my gaze back to Mako.

On the floor, Mako still covered her ears with both hands.

There was blood splattered on her back.

Mako was trembling.

…

What should I do?

I really don’t know what to do. My head was blanker than when I faced the yōkai.

I was still drenched in blood.

Was it okay to talk to Mako in this state?

I cautiously approached where Mako was.

She flinched at the sound of my footsteps but didn’t turn to look.

“Mako.”

I said.

“Mako. It’s over. It’s okay.”

Before Mako could turn around, I sat behind her.

And gently placed my hand on her back.

“Now, it’ll be okay.”

“Is it really? Is it really okay?”

Mako asked while still trembling.

“Yeah.”

“Is K-Koto Ne not going anywhere?”

“…….”

At that, I closed my eyes.

“Right.”

I exhaled as if to say.

“This time, I’m not going anywhere.”

Mako burst into tears after hearing that.

I was at a complete loss for what to do.

A few passersby screamed when they saw us. Naturally, they would seeing the girls drenched in blood from head to toe.

Soon, the police would arrive.

…Thank goodness.

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