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

I don’t really know how to put this…

Honestly, I didn’t expect the boss to say anything today. Although I figured they wouldn’t ask about the specifics, it seemed like the boss had a lot on their mind after watching Koko’s behavior today.

But I never thought that “talk” meant finishing work early.

The boss… I mean, they’re not a hard-hearted person. If you tell them you need a break, they usually let you go without much fuss. They also don’t dock your pay for that.

In my case, I felt a bit bad since I’ve been taking a lot of breaks, but later I found out that other part-timers also took breaks frequently, or just didn’t show up without saying anything, or even quit outright.

Among those working, Shii is the most diligent, though.

However, that doesn’t mean she finishes work early.

She sits there with a face like a low-ranking civil servant who begrudgingly comes to work every day, does just the bare minimum, and when it’s closing time, she neatly tidies up and leaves.

So today, the boss declared they would finish work early by about two hours.

At first, I thought it was because of me. I wondered if the boss was being considerate of Koko, but it seemed more like it was their own issue.

Seeing Koko with a red nose made me think that our relationship triggered some old memory for the boss. Maybe today, they just didn’t feel like working anymore.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Uh….”

Even when answering normally, the boss’s voice often sounds a bit drained, but today it seemed particularly so.

…I feel a bit bad for the boss, but thanks to that, I have a bit more time. Normally, I would have eaten very late at night, but now I could eat a little more on time.

There was a meal break during my part-time job too. It just didn’t leave much room. That time was particularly busy, so I couldn’t afford to relax and eat.

Maybe the reason I used to have dinner with Shii every day was to fill the stomach I couldn’t fill back then.

“I’m sorry, Shii. Once again….”

“It’s fine, Senpai.”

In response to my apology, Shii replied cheerfully.

“Since we finished work early today, I get to spend more time with you, older brother!”

Is that so?

Shii’s bright smile made it seem like she genuinely meant it and wasn’t just trying to cheer me up. Maybe if I had invited her to dinner, she might have looked disappointed instead.

After saying goodbye to bright, smiling Shii, I took the subway with Koko and Yuka.

By the way, those two were really with me in the café the whole time I was working.

Honestly, I was a bit self-conscious about the gazes from the other part-timers.

Going to a friend’s workplace and waiting until their shift ends? Sure, that can happen. Back in college, sometimes I would go to where my friends worked about ten minutes before their shifts ended, sit there, and go drinking together afterward. I wasn’t alone either; my classmates would come with me in droves.

But to time your arrival to when the shift starts, making sure to spend money without being noticed, and wait until the shift ends?

To be frank, that’s beyond being stubborn. Honestly, I probably spent more today than what I earned from my part-time job.

Perhaps the boss misinterpreted things today because of that. Koko is smart and learns quickly, but her actions still resemble those of a child.

Did it seem like Koko was throwing a little tantrum to come?

“……”

For a while, we sat in silence, looking up at the darkened sky visible through the train window.

After all, when I get home, we’ll spend a long time talking about this and that until tomorrow morning. There was no need to force a conversation right now.

Seeing Koko, whose attitude had softened a bit while being by my side today, gave me some relief.

Did my constant working put her at ease a little? I was glad that I didn’t have to seriously think about earning money just yet.

It was much faster to go to Yuka’s shrine than to go home from work. Even if I switched the walking time for bus time, it was the same.

“First, let’s eat.”

Yuka said.

Still, her expression while saying that seemed a bit relaxed, which put me at ease. It seemed being with Koko was effective for finding inner peace. Honestly, sometimes I wonder if it’s because I was influenced too much by Kuro.

“I’ll prepare it. Just wait.”

“Ah, okay.”

Yuka said that and headed to the kitchen while I nodded.

Grandpa still wasn’t home yet. Was he still at the shrine? It seemed like that time had already passed.

…Ah, that’s right.

I was found collapsed in Ota Ward, right.

I don’t know exactly how far my family’s radius of activities extends, but at least it should cover this ward.

I collapsed from an attack by the sociopathic faction I was dealing with, and the issue regarding the Yōkai I was looking for was also present.

Looks like I caused trouble again.

“Koto Ne?”

Noticing my gloomy expression for no reason, Koko tilted her head and called my name.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

I replied like that while ruffling her hair with a pure and innocent expression.

Even though my face didn’t completely lose its gloomy air, Koko continued to look a bit worried.

I really…

What the heck am I doing in front of someone much younger than me?

Could it be that I haven’t been able to control my emotions because I’ve been influenced by the children around me for only a few months since I came to this world?

This is quite troublesome.

*

In the end, we had dinner together as a trio.

As always, the food at Yuka’s house was delicious.

Most of the dishes I make at home revolve around bean sprouts. Of course, bean sprouts are a tasty ingredient in themselves, but they can’t compare to a delicious Sukiyaki filled with meat.

“Um!”

Koko, who sparkled with delight while eating, seemed to be having a lot of fun.

Even if the food wasn’t tasty, Koko would eat it deliciously, but I wonder if she knows what “tastes better” actually means.

Since Koko is either going to grow or age, it’s hard to know the exact impact that meals have on her. However, the fact that she used to sneak food before this tells me that Koko needs proper nutrition.

“Mya.”

Maybe catching the smell of meat, Kuro meowed from under the table, but I couldn’t just give human food to a cat. In the end, I compensated Kuro with a snack after the meal.

Filling my belly with meat made my head feel a bit hazy.

And that haziness was quite effective—peace made its way into my heart. At least, I shouldn’t be scared in front of Yuka.

After finishing dinner, I went up to Yuka’s room.

Yuka was sitting cross-legged on the bed, and I sat facing her.

“Alright.”

Yuka took a deep breath and said that, looking directly at me.

“Uwo?”

Koko, who was sitting under the bed, spoke while leaning her upper body against it like she was propped up at a school desk and looking at us.

Koko should… be listening too, right? I wasn’t cool enough to chase Koko away from this situation.

Hearing Koko’s voice, Yuka might have almost lost her focus for a moment, but she cleared her throat and spoke again.

“Okay, then tell me more details about what happened.”

So I did.

I explained how I secretly used methods to scout the house with the help of external forces and could explore the inside through their sight. In the meantime, Kosuzu showed up with Wei Tley, and what I experienced.

I also explained who Kosuzu was in a bit more detail. I described her as “Kagami’s older sister but with a worse personality,” and Yuka clearly understood.

“Sounds like a dangerous person.”

It seemed Yuka didn’t have much information either. Could it be because she’s been “separated” recently?

Grasping the workings of a secretive cult is not an easy task.

“First, I should mention that the crime scene was quite chaotic. A bloodstain that shouldn’t have been there was discovered. I wondered what that was, and in the end, it turned out to be your blood.”

“…….”

I was at a loss for words.

“I’ll have to pass this on.”

Yuka looked slightly away, staring into space as she organized her thoughts.

“So, what was the first reason you suspected the incident?”

I couldn’t outright say I knew the future, so I decided to share my conjecture instead.

“Because there was a fire in Ota Ward.”

“In Ota Ward… why?”

Yuka must be asking why the mere fact that a fire happened in Ota Ward raised suspicions.

“There’s a shrine here.”

Right.

In the parts I read in the original work, the continuity of events was somewhat disconnected. But if I had to find a common point among them, all the incidents happened in connection with Sasaki and her surrounding people.

Ota Ward is where Yuka’s shrine is located. If incidents related to the Yōkai’s behaviors and some “common points” occurred there, I couldn’t help but raise suspicions.

And then I added my guess.

“Why is our shrine here? Even if it was truly the work of the Yōkai, it could just be coincidence.”

“But Kosuzu was here too.”

In response to Yuka’s questioning, I replied like this.

Yes, Kosuzu was there too.

From Kosuzu’s attitude, it seemed she had followed me, but there’s a strange aspect to that.

I almost never find myself alone. I’m not just talking about the times when I hang out with friends. There are always people who are subtly observing me from the shadows.

Even if I insist that I have no intention of going deep into the cult, in the eyes of the cult, I must be a fairly significant figure. At least, I wasn’t something Kosuzu could just take lightly. Recently, Koko’s presence must have only increased that value.

In that situation, even with a transparency monster by her side, it’s a bit risky following me around. If it came to light to Kagami that Kosuzu had taken an interest in me, she wouldn’t just sit idly by.

Moreover, I have the ability to notice even the slightest presence resembling a Yōkai.

So how did Kosuzu manage to close in on me?

It’s just a conjecture, but it seems she simply stumbled upon me when I was alone in a remote area of Ota Ward.

That’s right. Kosuzu was in Ota Ward. And she likely has a high probability of being related to the Yōkai incident.

[Tokyo Slayers] adopts a structure akin to a collection of short stories linked through a shared world view and character continuity.

However, especially in a series, the existence that can “tie” all these peculiar phenomena together is crucial. It’s not that light novels don’t exist and aren’t structured like the omniverse, but since I’ve seen the backing behind all this, it’s clear that there’s one mastermind pulling the strings.

I believe that’s Kosuzu.

“You didn’t know Kosuzu was here. You were first looking for proof of the Yōkai’s existence and then ran into Kosuzu. That’s not an answer to my question.”

Yuka said that, and I paused to think for a moment.

And then I added,

“That occult magazine. The one Kaoru-senpai was reading.”

“……You believed that and came all the way here?”

“It’s a surprisingly reliable magazine.”

I answered sincerely.

It’s a magazine that recycles articles seasonally, makes forced speculations, and is filled with nonsense more than half the time. I know this because I’ve read it myself.

But thanks to that magazine, I was able to find the list of victims and save Mako.

“At least, it’s definitely a magazine that hurts the feelings of the victims.”

“…….”

Yuka was at a loss for words for a while after hearing this.

“So…”

“Yōkai tend to get fixated on certain things. I had no certainty. I just asked a question, received an answer, and came to confirm.”

“…….”

Yuka closed her eyes and seemed lost in thought after hearing what I said.

When she opened her eyes again, it seemed she wasn’t 100% convinced by my words.

However, she also didn’t seem to be completely disbelieving, which made me feel relieved.

“So, let’s assume that Kosuzu appearing in Ota Ward is due to this shrine.”

Yuka said slowly.

“If that’s the case, it means she’s targeting me?”

“……Yeah.”

That’s right.

If she can’t target the opponent she ought to, then she can target someone else. Especially if that someone can be captured and turned into a hostage, that would be ideal.

“Why me of all people?”

“……”

Among the kids around me, the person with the highest combat ability would be Yuka. The sword named Mumei she carries is very effective against the Yōkai, allowing her to slice them apart with ease.

However, that doesn’t mean she can easily take on the other kids.

Miura, Fukuda, and Yamashita all live in Minato Ward. That area can be considered one of the most central locations in Japan. One wrong move, and you might just offend the government itself.

I’m not saying it’s just because it’s a central location. Ota Ward is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, and since it has an international airport, it is an important area.

However, based on the circumstances, Miura’s father seems to be a high-ranking official in a government agency clashing with these matters. If I pushed any buttons, it would spell big trouble.

Going to war with an entire country, it won’t be very favorable for a sect that’s already struggling like Kosuzu’s faction, which has split away.

Moreover, the Yamashita family, known to be part of the Yakuza, is deeply connected to the cult, and it seems Fukuda has some connection to Yamashita as well.

Hagiwara represents the church’s influence. When considering the importance of “the power of religion,” cultures like the cult cannot compare to the vast network of the church. You can even say it’s an international organization.

If one isn’t careful, countless Yōkai hunters could flood into Japan.

As for Nakahara… to be honest, she’s not someone I’m very close to. She’s Sasaki’s childhood friend, and while we’ve talked and played together, we don’t have that much in common.

To Kosuzu, who sees human lives as expendable, Nakahara probably seems like a worthless target.

Moreover, Nakahara has already been kidnapped once, so the church is likely keeping an eye on her.

The issue lies with Sasaki and Shii.

…These two actually get involved in the Yōkai incident in the storyline. Since they are the protagonists, they won’t die, but…

I wanted to avoid that kind of thing.

I told Yuka all of this except for the bits regarding Sasaki and Shii.

“…….”

Yuka listened to my story and frowned in thought.

“Then doesn’t Shii sound too dangerous? She’ll be taking the train alone that night.”

“…….”

I couldn’t deny it.

However, I only thought that Kosuzu and Wei Tley would be lingering around Ota Ward for now.

If I asked Kagami, the answer would come easily, but Yuka has been with me since yesterday, and there’s been no time to contact Kagami.

“Well, it’s fine. I don’t think everything you said is correct, but there’s still some validity to it. But it feels like our family is being underestimated. What I do is fight against those Yōkai.”

“……It’s probably just an underestimation.”

Kosuzu is egotistical. She lives for her own pride, and she doesn’t even listen to what others say.

To be honest, I don’t think she’s really “competent.” You could say she has “talent,” but she’s fallen too deeply into the trap of believing in that talent.

…No, I suppose she’s already fallen from the very moment she became a member of a cult.

But this tendency is seen not only in Kosuzu; I’ve also observed a bit of it in Kagami. Generally, people who believe in a deity think their deity is the greatest, and others’ gods don’t exist, or they’re just wrong in various ways. This is a tendency that grows more intense the further one goes into what people commonly call “cults.”

Furthermore, since there exists a deity, and one who has received their power is right in front of them, they often start to overlook the existence of others.

Regardless, Kosuzu has been with that Wei Tley, whether she created it or brought it from somewhere, it’s currently unknown.

Thus, I believe they have underestimated us.

While they collaborate with government agencies, they aren’t an official organization, and although they’re a religion, they’re not a massive global religion either. Even if they have Yōkai-slaying weapons, there’s only one of them. They may have arrows for their divine weapons, but that alone might not be enough to defeat Yōkai.

“Ha.”

As I spoke, Yuka let out a hollow laugh.

Then, with a fierce gaze, she spoke.

“That’s really annoying. When I meet them later, I’ll be sure to give them a piece of my mind.”

“Be careful.”

“I know.”

Yuka said while looking at me.

“Since you said they were invisible enemies, if they at least looked like people, you’d be able to gauge the distance.”

Yuka paused for a moment, then continued.

“I understand why you think that. But I don’t think it’s 100% right. Kosuzu could be in Ota Ward. And what you discovered could potentially be traces of the Yōkai. But the idea that the two are connected seems a bit far-fetched.”

How do they control the Yōkai?

Gokudo is not an “ordinary” Yōkai.

“That… we’ll need to investigate further.”

When I said that, Yuka nodded.

“Alright, then let’s investigate together from now on.”

“…….”

Yeah, I kinda figured it would end up like this.

I truly almost got killed during my solo investigation, so I had no arguments against it.

“Wah?”

Koko, who had been listening to our conversation, tilted her head, looking puzzled as to whether she understood or not.

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