Chapter 70: 70 Shiki
It was a rainy day.
The sky was overcast and gray, with lightning flashing amid dark clouds as bean-sized raindrops poured down from the heavens.
In a certain suburban city area, there was a densely planted bamboo forest, which appeared serene and elegant from afar.
If you walked through this tranquil bamboo grove and followed the smooth stone path beneath your feet, you would arrive at a large mansion, filled with ancient architectural style.
This was the estate of the Ryougi family, the wealthiest and most powerful family in the city.
However, today, the mansion seemed unusually empty. Something out of the ordinary had quietly occurred.
A pool of blood mixed with rainwater was flowing down, seeping into the muddy earth.
In the rain stood a figure, and at her feet lay a headless corpse, still gushing blood. The severed head nearby seemed to tell the story of the victim's final moments of terror and pain.
The cruelty of the murderer was fully revealed in this moment.
If you looked closely, the figure in the rain gradually became clearer. It was a young girl in a kimono, staring down coldly at the corpse before her, motionless and indifferent.
The girl's name was Shiki Ryougi, the eldest daughter of the Ryougi family, the most prominent family in the city, and also the next head of the family. This land belonged to her.
Due to her upbringing and nature, she usually maintained a cold demeanor.
But this coldness was not the reason she could remain so composed in the face of the headless body before her.
Seeing the decapitated corpse, she did not scream or run away like a normal person, nor did she call the police. She simply stood there silently, allowing the mixture of blood and rain to fall on her body.
The entire world was eerily silent. She looked up at the sky, as if lost in thought, or perhaps responding to something.
"Was it you, SHIKI?"
She softly inquired, hoping to receive the answer she sought from the other personality in her mind.
But for a long time, SHIKI remained silent.
This silence only deepened Shiki Ryougi's unease.
This wasn't the first time a body had suddenly appeared before her, but for some reason, every time she saw one, she didn't feel fear... instead, she felt a strange enjoyment, even pleasure.
Something was wrong, terribly wrong.
Although Shiki Ryougi admitted that she was not naturally kind-hearted, that she harbored a desire to kill, to experience the sensation of plunging a knife into a human body, to witness life slipping away before her.
This feeling had existed for a long time and had recently grown stronger.
But the difference between humans and animals is the ability to restrain desires, and Shiki Ryougi had been suppressing her nature all along.
She did not want to take life for such absurd reasons, and she had always adhered to her grandfather's teachings.
"One can only kill one person in a lifetime."
"Yes. Because in the end, it will kill you, so we are granted the right to kill only once."
Looking at the body on the ground and then at her own hands, Shiki Ryougi was certain she hadn't killed anyone. But why had this person died in front of her during her moment of distraction? The strong scent of blood mixed with lingering warmth, coupled with the stirring in her heart, forced her to wonder if her other personality, SHIKI was responsible.
SHIKI was another personality that existed within her. They were mutually dependent, coexisting. But she also knew that SHIKI harbored an even stronger urge to kill than she did.
However, she was the dominant personality, and SHIKI was secondary. Under her control, SHIKI could not use their shared body to kill, so what exactly was going on?
But with the body right before her, who else could the murderer be but SHIKI?
Standing in the rain, Shiki Ryougi mulled over the possibilities, falling deeper into self-doubt.
If SHIKI had truly taken control of her body during a moment of distraction and committed murder, what should she do?
Should she turn herself in...
Or...
*Drip* *Drip*
The sound of rain hitting the stone path was crisp, and the noise of wooden clogs striking the stone was loud and grating.
On the quiet bamboo path, a tall figure in a black kimono, wearing a demon mask, appeared behind Shiki Ryougi.
*Thud* *Thud* *Thud*
His footsteps were heavy, making no effort to hide. This quickly caught Shiki Ryougi's attention. She turned sharply to see the tall male figure gazing at her from not far away.
The mask concealed his face, leaving Shiki Ryougi unable to see it. All she could make out was the demon-like mask made of iron.
It was like the hannya masks depicted in ancient paintings.
Yet, for some reason, Shiki Ryougi felt a strange sense of familiarity with the figure that appeared in the rain. The demon-like mask, rather than inspiring fear, gave her a sense of peace.
The eyes beneath the mask, though deep, were familiar, as if she had seen him somewhere before, though she couldn't quite recall.
Instinctively, she felt that this mysterious figure could answer her questions.
So she pressed him, "Who are you? Do you know what's happening? Can you help me?"
Even Shiki Ryougi wasn't sure why, but from the moment she laid eyes on him, she subconsciously wanted to rely on this figure.
"..."
The mysterious figure did not answer her. He simply gazed into Shiki Ryougi's eyes, then suddenly extended his arm, pointing into the distance.
Shiki followed his direction.
*Buzz*
With a deep rumble, the entire world seemed to collapse. Boundless darkness flooded her vision, and in her confusion, Shiki Ryougi closed her eyes again, immediately losing consciousness.
The world soon inverted, leading her to the next stage.
...
Before his eyes was nothing but desolation. A late breeze blew from an unknown direction, carrying a hint of blood.
In this blood-stained wasteland, only Shiki and SHIKI remained.
Yes, just the two of them.
In this dim and oppressive world, two personalities shared the same body, wandering aimlessly.
However, this time, SHIKI had control of the body, and Shiki could only observe.
Unable to do anything, unable to speak, Shiki could only watch as SHIKI made his choices.
At some point, after walking for a long time, SHIKI felt his throat dry, and his legs growing heavier. He swallowed and took heavy steps forward.
He kept moving forward…
He saw many things in this barren landscape…
Corpses littered the roadsides, the hills, and the ruins.
Was this hell? He couldn't help but wonder.
Amid the endless corpses, he saw countless tragic ways of death…
At first, he only walked slowly, but as the number of corpses increased, he started to run faster and faster…
He wasn't sure why, but instinctively, he felt that if he ran, he could escape this hell.
Until…
Familiar figures began to appear in front of him.
It felt as though something was lodged in his throat. SHIKI kept telling himself not to look, but his eyes, beyond his control, took everything in.
The figures closest to him were members of the Ryougi clan, and then the corpses of the servants. They lay on the ground, exposed to the wild, with grotesque expressions in their eyes.
Then there was his heartless brother, his parents beheaded by blades, with crimson blood still pouring from their bodies, looking utterly horrifying.
"No, don't come closer!!"
He screamed, trying to flee from the wasteland.
Further ahead, even further ahead…
He saw more... whether they were his family or mere acquaintances he'd met once. Their corpses were easily matched with the faces in his mind.
SHIKI's hands and brain trembled violently. He ran through the corpses as if trying to escape, not wanting to see any more, unwilling to record each death in his mind.
Before he realized it, his vision blurred, filled with hot tears. He wanted to wipe them away, but all he could smear was a deeper shade of blood.
Where was this?
What had happened?
Why did it turn out like this?
Where was Shiki?
Shiki, are you still there?
Come out and save me, Shiki!!
SHIKI ran, sobbing like a wounded child, constantly calling out the most familiar name from his lips.
As if her appearance would make all this tragedy vanish into thin air.
Suddenly.
SHIKI stopped in his tracks.
Before him appeared a familiar figure.
The familiar short hair, the back, and the beautiful kimono he had seen countless times.
It was... Shiki.
"Shiki, are you alright?!"
Finally, SHIKI could no longer bear it. Though he was choking and could barely speak, and his body was worn out from running, upon seeing this figure, he couldn't stop himself from running towards her.
"Wait for me, Shiki! Please wait for me!! I beg you, don't leave me!!!"
Like a drowning man reaching for the last straw to save his life.
But the figure of Shiki only shook her head slightly, and her words crushed his last hope.
"It's all because of you. This is all your fault, SHIKI!"
"Shiki..."
SHIKI stopped in despair.
"If you hadn't existed… I wouldn't have to bear the sin of murder. If it weren't for you… everyone, all of them, wouldn't have died. You've killed too many people."
"You're the real murderer! You are a demon, SHIKI!"
Shiki's figure faded away with the bloodied wind, the colors shifting from vibrant to the bleakest black and white, just like SHIKI's despairing heart.
At that moment, he no longer had the strength to run.
SHIKI collapsed to his knees, completely devoid of hope, tears still streaming from his eyes.
He murmured, "...I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry, Shiki. I'm sorry, everyone. A person like me, a meaningless person, should never have existed in this world… If it weren't for me, both this world and Shiki could have lived much happier."
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry... ... "
God, if you truly exist, please save me. Please save these innocent people.
The only one truly guilty, from the beginning to the end, has always been me alone.
As if God had really heard SHIKI's prayer, in the midst of the despairing scene, a low footstep suddenly echoed.
Once again, the mysterious figure appeared, with that soul-devouring demon mask.
He bowed slightly and handed a sharp scimitar to SHIKI.
"..."
After a moment of silence, he turned and left.
In their witness, a crimson blossom of blood was about to bloom in the endless desert.
"You mustn't do that, Roy."
Just as Roy had completed everything, awaiting the final outcome, he hesitated slightly, turning back in the dream.
Suddenly, the sky shone with a warm sun, and pure white snowflakes gently drifted down.
In the springtime snow, a beautiful silhouette, bathed in the sunlight and snow, appeared before his eyes once again.
She smiled at Roy and slowly raised her hand.
Then, the world collapsed...
Everything turned to nothing.
...
"Wow! It actually appeared!!"
"Didn't he say she wouldn't show up?!"
After effortlessly destroying the dream stage meticulously prepared by Roy, Void Shiki directly brought him to Avalon, where they met the hard-working Merlin.
Upon their arrival, they scared Merlin half to death, causing him to drop his wand in shock. He quickly hid behind the curtain, pretending as if he couldn't be seen.
"We meet again, Roy."
"Yes, we meet again, Shiki."
Fortunately, Void Shiki had no intention of bothering Merlin; she only wanted to talk to Roy and had no plans to trouble the accomplice.
"Whoa…"
With a wave of her hand, Merlin was swiftly expelled from the dream realm.
Once Merlin was driven away, only the two of them remained, facing each other in the dream world. Roy appeared somewhat awkward.
How should he handle this situation after scheming against Shiki, only to be caught by the real Void Shiki? Any suggestions? It's urgent!
Looking at the smiling Void Shiki sitting opposite him, Roy felt a bit lost.
At this moment, he genuinely didn't know how to explain himself to her.
There was no way he could say, "Since you've been ignoring me and I didn't have a better way to awaken Shiki's eyes, I collaborated with Merlin to stage an Uchiha-style awakening for her, right?"
Although that was the truth, admitting it out loud felt impossible for him.
"I…"
After a long internal struggle, when Roy finally racked his brain to say something to Void Shiki, she gently shook her head, raised a finger to her lips, and gestured for him to remain silent.
Then, she spoke first, "I already know everything, Roy. Everything you did was for Shiki's benefit, and I don't oppose you helping her awaken her power."
"Wanting to help Shiki gain the power that belongs to the future, so she can protect another part of herself... that idea isn't wrong. After all, you're such a kind person."
"But this method is wrong. If you continue like this, you might help Shiki obtain power, but have you thought about yourself?"
Void Shiki shook her head, and for the first time, she showed a serious expression, which surprised Roy... it was the first time he had seen her like this.
She seemed a little angry.
"The result of this would be that Shiki and SHIKI would resent you. Although this was just a dream, the experience will be imprinted in their minds. Even though you helped her awaken the Mystic Eyes, there will be a rift between you three. This is not a good way to go about it."
"Do you understand, Roy?"
"Sorry, I should have notified Shiki before doing something like this. It was indeed reckless of me." Roy said softly as he lowered his head in apology in front of the one involved. "I shouldn't have hurt her in this way. I should have been more cautious."
"Do you… understand?"
Roy's swift acknowledgment surprised Void Shiki.
"I understand. After all, when it comes to you, any excuses would just be pointless."
"As long as you understand, Roy. Don't toy with others' emotions so casually. Please don't engage in such absurd tests again, okay?"
"Alright."
Roy nodded.
"Hmm, but since you've already come this far, and you're just one step away from the goal, giving up now would surely leave you unsatisfied, right?"
"…"
Roy didn't respond.
"You can't use such reckless methods anymore. I've sealed the memories of Shiki and SHIKI from just now, so now let me help Shiki obtain that power."
"Really? If you're personally going to help, things will be much simpler."
Hearing that Void Shiki would help in person, Roy was a bit delighted.
If she was taking action, it would certainly be more reliable than any method he could devise.
"What are you talking about? After all, I am also Shiki. Helping myself isn't anything out of the ordinary, is it?"
Ah, right. If only she hadn't been pretending to be dead all this time and had come to help sooner, would he have needed to resort to this method to stimulate Shiki?
Ordinary training in swordsmanship, magecraft, and physical conditioning wasn't enough to significantly strengthen Shiki.
Her talent wasn't in magecraft, and no matter how meticulously she was trained, she would only become an average magus at best.
The only thing that could allow Shiki to leap forward in a short time was the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception.
Every skill Roy had arranged for Shiki was centered around these eyes. Without them, it would be difficult for Shiki and SHIKI to ensure their future safety.
That's why he was so keen on these Mystic Eyes.
"Well then, you should leave now, Roy. When I'm done, I'll come find you if I have the time. Now, I'm going to help Shiki awaken her true eyes."
Seeing through Roy's true intentions, Void Shiki showed a little temper.
Void Shiki wasn't a petty person; she always settled her grievances on the spot. Roy ended up sharing the same fate as Merlin, as he was directly expelled from the dream world by Void Shiki.
Honestly, he couldn't catch a break.
She had only been asleep for a little while, and when she woke up, she found Roy causing all this trouble... how could she not blame him?
Though Roy's intentions were for Shiki's good, and she didn't fault him for that, she couldn't be blamed for sleeping for so long either. So, the real problem lay with that incubus.
If he hadn't created the dream, this wouldn't have happened. After she finished helping, she would go to Avalon to teach him a lesson.
But that was a matter for later. Right now...
She looked at the sleeping version of herself and gently pressed her forehead against hers.
"Shiki, what choice will you make?"
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