บท 64: How About… A Little Meow
"Tokisaki... you say?"
Mumei walked backward, arms behind her head, watching Kurumi.
This seemingly gentle girl gave Mumei an inexplicable sense of dread—a depth like that of a dark ocean trench. Mumei was confident her senses didn't deceive her.
Kurumi's attitude toward her was strange, though—too friendly, to the point of making her a bit uneasy. It almost felt like…like Kurumi was eyeing her the way someone might a pet.
No, it wasn't just an illusion.
Mumei was sure she'd never met this girl before.
"Oh my, you can just call me Kurumi, Mumei~" Kurumi gently placed her cool right hand on Mumei's forehead, brushing aside her bangs.
"This is a special privilege for cute girls."
Mumei's pupils shrank abruptly.
She's... fast.
Her instincts had been right—Kurumi was indeed powerful.
"Got it, Kurumi~~~ nee," Mumei said playfully, turning and skipping ahead.
"So, Kurumi~~~nee, got any presents for me?"
"A present?" Kurumi's mouth curved into an enigmatic smile. "How about I treat Mumei to an all-you-can-eat feast?"
Mumei's enthusiasm faded instantly.
"That... might be a little hard to pull off."
Mumei and her retainer had gone off to discuss some matters with the head of the Yomogawa family.
This left Kurumi to entertain herself in Ayame's private garden by practicing kyudo.
She took her stance, steadied herself, nocked an arrow, and raised the bow.
Mimicking Ayame's movements, Kurumi drew her wooden bow and loosed an arrow that struck the bullseye.
"Tokisaki-san... you really are remarkable," Ayame said with admiration.
"You're very skilled yourself, Ayame," Kurumi replied, tossing her longbow to a nearby attendant and looking at her.
"What's on your mind? You seem so troubled."
"My father spoke to me again today…" Ayame sighed, looking despondent. "I don't think I'm really suited to be the Yomogawa heir."
"You're too gentle-hearted, Ayame." Kurumi leaned against the wall. "In times like these, the world doesn't need such gentle rulers."
"Gentleness, huh…"
Ayame repeated the word, adjusting her form. Her stance was flawless as she took aim, the deerskin glove gripping the arrow tightly.
She let it fly, the arrow driving forcefully into the target.
Kurumi's smooth, hypnotic voice echoed in Ayame's ear. "Like the resolve you show when shooting—use that to pierce through anything that stands in your way, Ayame."
"That alone will be enough."
"Shooting, huh…" Ayame's thoughts grew contemplative.
Ding-ling, ding-ling.
The soft tinkling of bells reached their ears, and they looked up toward the edge of the rooftop.
It was Mumei, of course.
She must have snuck away from the formal reception room, which was understandable. After all, she was still just a twelve-year-old with a boundless energy for fun, and sitting through tedious, bureaucratic conversations would wear out any kid her age.
Catching sight of Kurumi and Ayame, she placed a finger to her lips and then nimbly leapt over the garden wall.
"Ayame, I'll keep an eye on her," Kurumi said to Ayame as she vaulted over the wall and followed Mumei.
"Tokisaki…" Ayame reached out, as if to stop her, but before she could finish her sentence, Kurumi was already on the other side.
"Girls…need to be a bit more careful."
On the fifteenth night of the sixth month, the full moon hung high in the sky.
Mumei skipped down the hillside, arms swinging, hopping lightly as she went.
The Yomogawa estate sat on a hill at the center of Aragane Station, offering a commanding view of the entire fortress town.
"Why are you following me, Kurumi-nee?"
Mumei leaned against the hill, looking out toward the distance.
Beyond the towering walls lay two very different worlds.
Outside, there was an expanse of dark mountain ranges, thick with desolation, while within the walls, a seemingly tranquil and prosperous city unfolded.
"Of course, I'd be worried about such a cute Mumei being lured away by some strange uncle," Kurumi said as she leaned beside her.
"Hmph. I'm plenty strong, you know."
Mumei stretched, then noticed Kurumi's eyes lingering on the ribbon around her neck.
Subconsciously, she took half a step back, her right hand instinctively moving to the ribbon's end, ready to untie it at any moment.
"No need to worry, Mumei," Kurumi said, averting her gaze.
"That sort of thing doesn't matter to me at all."
She knew everything.
A chill ran down Mumei's spine. Kurumi was indeed powerful.
But, somehow, there wasn't the slightest hint of hostility.
"So, so, Kurumi-nee, why are you even here in Aragane?" Mumei quickly changed the topic.
"Kurumi-nee, you're not from here, are you?"
"Well, I had this feeling… that I'd meet you here, Mumei," Kurumi said with a straight face.
"Pfft, you're just making that up," Mumei muttered. "Mumei's not a little kid anymore!"
"Oh my, my~" Kurumi gazed down at her, giving Mumei a once-over. "You certainly aren't. Quite... well-developed."
"A bit more than a certain 'blanket king,' anyway."
"Huh?!" Mumei froze, following Kurumi's gaze, and realized what she meant. "Kurumi-nee! I didn't know you were this kind of person!"
Their laughter echoed through the moonlit night.
Eventually, the two sat side by side.
Mumei leaned closer, fingers lightly touching Kurumi's bare thigh.
Not a Kabane.
Quickly retracting her hand, Mumei asked again, "So… why are you in Aragane , Kurumi-nee?"
Mumei had tried to investigate Kurumi, only learning that her original destination was Kongoukaku, but for reasons unknown, she had stayed behind at Aragane.
Mumei's mission from her brother required her to go to Kongoukaku.
Now, out of nowhere, a figure like Kurumi had appeared, seemingly with the same destination in mind. It made Mumei more than a little uneasy.
"Well~~ I heard a child's wish and decided to come here," Kurumi replied, looking up at the bright moon above. In that moment, her expression seemed almost divine, like a god—or a devil.
"I thought I'd stay and see what that child was like."
"Huh?" Mumei blinked in surprise.
"And it turns out, she's a very cute child."
"Wh-What?!"
At the west gate.
Samurai and steam craftsmen were preparing for the arrival of Hayajiro, Fusoujou.
The Fusoujou train was a regular visitor to Aragane Station and, as usual, it was arriving on time.
Eager to finish their shifts after Fusoujou entered the city, the samurai lowered the drawbridge in advance.
But as the train drew nearer at full speed, something seemed off.
The samurai finally noticed it—a dense gathering of fiery, furnace-like hearts, covering the entire Fusoujou.
It was a train of death.
By then, it was too late.
The armored train slammed into the drawbridge at full speed, flipping the rear carriages and sending them crashing toward the city walls.
Boom!
The boiler in the lead car exploded, and the following carriages flipped, rolling into Aragane Station.
Grrraaahhh!
The creatures howled.
Ding-ding-ding-ding.
The watchtower's alarm bells sounded.
That day, people were reminded of the terror of being dominated by the Kabane.
The explosions rang so loudly they made the eardrums ache, and the ground quivered beneath them.
From the mountainside pavilion, Kurumi and Mumei could see perfectly as the western wall of Aragane Station crumbled under the impact of a death train filled with Kabane.
Half the city was now aglow, the blazing fires and the Kabane's burning hearts illuminating the night sky.
Aragane Station, a fortress far from the front lines and dedicated to iron smelting and fortress train maintenance, had only a symbolic barrier separating it from the wilds beyond. When the western gate collapsed and swarms of Kabane surged through from the wilderness, both of them knew another station would soon vanish from the map.
Kurumi and Mumei rushed down the mountain. Though Mumei was only eleven or twelve, she had strength and endurance far beyond the ordinary, her bare legs stepping confidently in iron-soled sandals as the bells on her footwear rang out with every stride.
Kurumi followed steadily a short distance behind, silent and pensive.
She... she could save this station if she wanted to.
All she had to do was create a few hundred—or even a thousand—shadow clones and slaughter all the Kabane flooding in.
But then... what would come next?
In this world, there was no Church to come clean up the aftermath, no Executors to call for help.
And anyway... why should she save them?
"Mumei!" A tall, imposing figure, the samurai Shirabe, finally caught up to them, his face pale as he eyed Kurumi with both wariness and confusion.
But there was no time for further questions.
"The western gate's been breached. We're heading to the Koutetsujou. This place… must be abandoned," he said.
"But…" Mumei hesitated, looking at the Kabane wreaking havoc on the streets, unable to hide the sorrow in her eyes.
"Get to the Koutetsujou," Shirabe said, his tone brooking no argument as he grabbed her hand. "Come with me."
Kurumi looked down upon the burning station, watching as people fled in terror and children cowered in locked rooms.
She sighed deeply, and a faint shadow slipped away. Turning, she followed after Mumei.
The samurai, who could only maintain their defenses with steam guns, quickly fell apart amid the crisscrossed streets as Kabane poured in, tearing through their lines.
No samurai in full armor could be seen on the front lines anymore, as the head of the Yomogawa family, clearly grasping Aragane's inevitable fall, began gathering up the surviving forces.
The three of them followed a quiet stone path, taking one flight of steps after another. Standing on a platform, they could already glimpse the distant station and the armored train, Koutetsujou.
Salvation was almost within reach, yet Shirabe suddenly stopped in his tracks.
"Mumei-sama," he said mournfully, kneeling before her on one knee.
It was only then that Mumei noticed the trail of blood Shirabe had left behind, dripping as they'd come.
"I… cannot go any further with you." Shirabe pulled up his right sleeve, revealing a massive wound where a Kabane had torn away a chunk of flesh. The area was turning purple, his veins glowing as though lit by molten iron.
"Please go to Kongoukaku and await orders from the Young Lord." He then looked at Kurumi, the highborn girl who, according to the Yomogawa lord, traded rare rice for small change.
"Tokisaki-sama… Mumei-sama is in your hands." Shirabe withdrew a seppuku pouch from within his robe.
It was a small, explosive device designed for those infected by the Kabane to preserve their dignity while they still had control of their faculties.
He placed it over his heart, casting one last look at Mumei.
"May you find peace in the next life," Mumei said solemnly, bidding him farewell.
"Yes…" Shirabe replied bitterly, activating the detonator.
Bang.
The towering man collapsed, his back charred black.
The faint light from the red torii on either side of the road lit his final resting place.
Watching Shirabe fall, Mumei quickly turned and began sprinting down the long shrine corridor toward the Koutetsujou. Kurumi silently followed, each step as light as a shadow.
"Kurumi-nee… Shirabe-sama will have a better life in his next reincarnation, won't he?"
"Oh?" Kurumi's eyes glinted with surprise. "Mumei… why ask me that?"
"Because…" Mumei sighed lightly. "The way you spoke earlier, it was like… you're a goddess."
"Granting wishes and all. You might as well be a goddess, Kurumi-nee."
"Then I'd definitely be a demon god," Kurumi chuckled softly. Divinity? She had fretted about that for just a fleeting moment once upon a time.
Suddenly, the two of them halted in their tracks.
At the corridor's end, a swollen figure staggered toward them, its heart glowing like hot iron, thick veins shining as brightly as blazing embers in the night.
It was a Kabane.
Clang.
Chains rattled as Kurumi's gunblade slid from her hand, ready to strike.
But Mumei stepped in front of her, tilting her head up to look at Kurumi, her expression slightly lost.
"Let me handle this." She spoke hesitantly.
Kurumi silently took a step back.
Mumei lightly tapped her iron sandal on the ground and reached for the blue ribbon tied around her neck, yanking it free.
In that instant, she became someone else entirely.
Her eyes glowed crimson in the darkness, eerily like the Kabane.
The bloated corpse lunged toward her, accelerating in its attack as Mumei assumed a defensive stance, awaiting its charge.
"Haah! —"
Pivoting on her left leg, Mumei twisted her body clockwise, her right leg snapping like a whip to strike the Kabane's neck.
The back edge of her iron sandal was sharp enough to make the blow effective. Though not exactly blade-like, Mumei's strength was enough to be lethal.
The Kabane, its head detached, collapsed heavily to the ground. It wasn't dead, but it was now immobilized.
The iron sandal sliced into one of the corridor's wooden columns, lodging itself firmly in place.
Mumei tugged several times but couldn't pull her leg free.
"Ugh…" She sighed, giving up on the shoe and standing barefoot on the ground as she tied her ribbon back around her neck.
Watching her, Kurumi seemed to be deep in thought.
When Mumei removed the ribbon, her entire body temperature spiked, her blood seeming to boil. Clearly, it was a specialized restraint mechanism.
Kurumi walked over to her and, to Mumei's astonishment, easily pried the sandal loose from the column.
She's… so strong.
Mumei was awestruck, her shock increasing as Kurumi knelt down, took her ankle gently in her hand, and lifted her foot to fit it back into the iron sandal.
Under Kurumi's intense crimson gaze, the girl stammered.
"Th-Thank you…"
"If you're really grateful, how about… a little meow?"
"W-What?!"
"You know, I just love little kitties," Kurumi replied, grinning as she stood up.
"M-Meow… meow?"
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