Next to the imposing history museum, which is nearing completion, there is a small rest area with several round tables and chairs, giving the place the feel of an English garden.
At the only table that is occupied, since the museum is not yet open to the public, three figures are engaged in conversation.
"So Richard saved your life?"
Cutting his steak with impeccable manners, Asahiko raises his blue eyes and stares at Leonardo, who is surprised by the shine in the former's golden hair.
"God, is that color natural? Yes, Richard saved my life once in Turkey, although he keeps saying he didn't."
Squinting to avoid the golden glare hitting his eyes, Leonardo teases a little and returns to the topic at hand.
"I already told you, those Turks just wanted directions."
"Sure, there were three of them and almost all of them were over 6 feet tall... Plus, remember that guy with the scar? Are you going to tell me now that he was a good guy too?"
"Actually, yes, he was the only one who knew a little English, but every time he tried to talk to you, you just ignored him."
Nibbling on a piece of bread, the dark-haired Richard rolls his eyes and explains the truth to Leonardo again, although he seems unwilling to accept it.
"Jajaja, what a story, although I can't say the same thing hasn't happened to me on my travels."
"See, it's normal for that to happen!"
"Oh, so you knew they weren't trying to rob you, Leonardo."
"Ahem, I think it's time to get to work since everyone has eaten."
Coughing a couple of times deliberately, Leonardo switches into boss mode and puts on a serious face. Obviously, the other two play along, although the mockery in their eyes hasn't diminished at all.
"Sounds good to me, I can't wait to see the article. Richard, can you give me a ride? I don't have a license or a car."
"Sure, Leonardo already asked me, and I'll say hi to Kitomi who lives in the city."
Finishing the piece of bread he had been eating, Richard lifts his imposing figure from the chair and gives Asahiko a thumbs up, although he runs away when he sees Leonardo's piercing gaze.
"You two really get along well."
"Actually... I'm hoping for good news, Professor."
"I'll do my best."
Taking one last sip from his glass, Asahiko shares a final glance with Leonardo and follows Richard, who waves at him from behind some bushes.
…
The journey to Higurashi Temple, or the residence of the same name, was long, not because of the distance, but because there are so many vehicles on the streets of Japan, creating traffic jams and delays on the road.
Even with all these inconveniences, which are not few, they both arrive at Higurashi Temple just before sunset, and the first thing that greets them are steps... Hundreds of steps leading up to the temple entrance.
"Why is there a hill in the middle of a city?"
Looking up at the top of the hill and the place where the stairs end, Asahiko asks the question that any sane person would ask.
"You know how the Japanese are with their culture, they treasure it like gold. Besides, everything seems to be owned by the Higurashi family."
"With all this, and they're still selling that sword?"
"More than selling, it would be donating, since apparently they have it lying around in a storage room behind the temple and would rather get rid of it."
"And here I was thinking I was the rich second-generation kid, which I am, but... These guys have really outdone me."
Mocking both himself for being a rich kid and the current situation, Asahiko takes the first step on the long staircase and begins to climb.
Richard follows behind, confident that he can overcome this challenge. That tall, stocky body isn't just for show, but even he starts to sweat halfway up.
"God, not even a drop of sweat?"
"Let's just say I had my rebellious phase as a teenager, and during that time I got in pretty good shape."
"No, my friend. I think you're built totally differently. Do you think this body hasn't been to the gym?"
Taking a short break during that side conversation, Richard catches his breath, and after a shared glance between the two, they continue climbing the stairs until they finally reach the top.
Up here, there are several traditional structures, as if it were an entire complex and not just a temple, but the most attractive feature is the huge tree in the center of the grounds. It is in full bloom, with white ribbons surrounding its thick trunk and metal fences keeping it safe.
"I see that the Sacred Tree has attracted you, young traveler. Would you like to know the story behind it?"
Appearing as if he were the wind incarnate, out of nowhere or perhaps from a blind spot, an old man with gray hair appears. He is dressed in traditional clothing consisting of wooden sandals and temple robes, although he looks more like a con man than a legitimate monk.
"Of course, ummsh."
"Jajaja, he's a foreign expert brought in specifically to appraise the item, Mr. Higurash. So unfortunately he won't be able to understand your stories, he's pretty bad at Japanese."
"I see... Although I can tell you the story and you can translate it for him."
Doubting Richard's words, especially when he has Asahiko by the mouth, the elderly Higurashi gives him a second option, but it only makes Richard turn pale.
Seeing that this is becoming dangerous for Richard, Asahiko easily frees himself from the grip he was under and begins to speak in English. Richard seizes this opportunity and, in a masterful display of acting, pretends to be nervous and even apologizes.
"I'm sorry, it will have to be another time, Mr. Higurashi. You know how experts are, impatient to the max, so I would appreciate it if you could show us the item now."
"Sure, follow me to the back room. I've already taken out that old sword."
"Thank you."
Waving his hand at Richard's words of thanks, the elderly Higurashi turns around and begins to walk quickly toward the back of the temple, while the other two follow him.
More than a back room, what you find here is a glorified shed, not because the structure is ugly, but because it is in very poor condition and time has taken its toll.
"I know what you're thinking, but I assure you it's better inside."
"Jajaja, of course I know, I've been here with Leonardo before."
"I was telling the other young man, I can almost feel his eyes piercing my back."
Laughing alongside the sweaty Richard, who says nothing about Asahiko's perfect understanding of Japanese, the elderly Higurashi opens the back room door and lets sunlight fall on the dusty space.
There is a lot of junk lying around here, from empty boxes to things of no apparent use. A railing, like that of an amphitheater, separates the outside from the inside, and in the center of the room is a gloomy well.
"God, what a place."
"Better than the last time I came with Leonardo. That time it was much worse and there was more stuff."
Trying to calm Asahiko down but not really succeeding with those words, Richard pats him on the back and then enters the back room behind the old man.
Seeing that he had no other choice, Asahiko hides his doubts and follows Richard, entering the gloomy back room, which now seems a little livelier thanks to the noise made by the other two.
"I found it! I knew I had left it somewhere around here."
"Be careful, please handle it with care."
"Relax, it's in a sheath, it can't hurt you."
"I'm worried about the sword, not us. Leonardo will kill me if anything happens to his Crown Jewel."
Finally managing to take the sword from the old man who was waving it around, Richard lets out a sigh he had been holding back and delicately hands it to Asahiko.
He took it in his hands, waved it under Richard's pale expression, and then, with a look of doubt, took the sheath that seemed to be stuck to the blade.
"I don't think... Did he manage to get it out?"
"I always thought it was stuck or something, at least the last few times I saw it with Leonardo."
"Me too, but. Hey, I don't think he's okay."
Pointing to Asahiko, who has fallen silent, his face pale and sweat pouring from his entire body, the old man quickly runs outside while shouting to bring water.
Meanwhile, Richard tries to approach Asahiko, but just then the gem on the sword's hilt begins to glow purple, while an ominous light fills the entire room.
[Look what we have here, a little fox]
A voice emanates from within the purple gem, the surrounding light grows stronger, and now even Richard loses control of his body.
"You... my body... what?"
[Don't resist and leave your body to me, little fox.]
Finishing his words, which seem to crawl across the skin of those nearby and make them both even paler, strange flesh tentacles emerge from the sword's hilt and cling tightly to Asahiko's hand.
This seems to mark the end of Asahiko's chances, although at that very moment his body seems to be hit by something invisible and begins to writhe.
The same thing happens to the fleshy tentacles, causing them to release Asahiko due to the invisible blow and frantically thrash against the ground, slowly dragging Asahiko towards the well in the center.
"As, as, Asahiko!"
Trying to grab Asahiko's hand as he is dragged toward the pit and begins to fall in, Richard is too late. When Asahiko is completely swallowed up, Richard's gaze becomes empty and he stands still.
"Why are you shouting into the well?"
"... Jajaja, just a way to let off steam. By the way, where's Mr. Higurashi?"
"Grandpa? He said something about a glass of water. Did he call you?"
"No, no, I'm fine."...
...
Inside the well, the darkness was the least of Asahiko's problems, as small flashes of light moved like a sea of drifting stars, while the sensation of falling didn't really seem to exist and all the weight that had previously pressed down on him was gone.
Of course, the latter also applies to the tentacles made of flesh, which return to the attack and try to spread across Asahiko's arm holding the sword.
[Don't resist anymore!]
Screaming in a voice that pierces the eardrums, the gem on the hilt glows even brighter and spreads a purple light around it, although it barely makes a dent in the distorted space-time nearby.
Taking advantage of the sword's moment of exaltation, Asahiko reaches out with his left hand and strikes the sheath he had been holding against the blade from the beginning, dimming the purple glow of the gem by pure coincidence and luck.
"Stop it, let go of my arm!"
Striking the blade of the sword several times with the sheath, Asahiko acts more and more frantically, but the sword does not fall short and a reddish color begins to emanate from its blade.
This strange reddish energy does affect the distorted space-time, causing multiple "Waves" to spread throughout the darkness, until in a red flash a strange door takes shape in front of Asahiko.
The door was at least three times Asahiko's size, made entirely of cold metal stained with blood and inscribed with different monsters. When it finally manages to fully materialize in the physical world, it opens sideways and reveals a dark, shapeless void that devours the surrounding space-time, slowly drawing Asahiko inside.
"It's the end, little fox! Once you fall into hell, I'll have all the time in the world to be reborn inside your body and destroy all my enemies!"
Letting go of Asahiko's arm and extending other flesh tentacles toward the door, the gem embedded in the sword's hilt glows at its brightest, but that action seems to cause a chain reaction, and the sheath also glows briefly.
[Souga, how dare you act so brazenly!]
[And what if I do dare, you cowardly little spirit? If you don't like it, show your face, or you'll be an appetizer for your master's dog and the cowards below.]
Acting arrogantly but still sending two of his tentacles to fight against the sheath, the sword, or Souga, depending on how you want to consider it, he tries to hurry up the action of luring Asahiko toward the door.
Such actions were picked up by the voice inside the sheath, so the latter lets out a flash that melts the fleshy tentacles, then seeks help from the third party involved.
[Souga is using up the last remnants of his power before being sealed, but even so... It's impossible for us to defeat him. Then I]
"Enough, just tell me what to do to get him off me!"
Cutting off the words of the spirit inside the pod, Asahiko takes his proposal without even listening to it completely and continues to twist his body in an attempt to escape.
He may have been cowardly or hesitant before, but now that he has made a decision... Asahiko seems willing to follow through with it.
[Okay, now I will take all the energy in your body and...]
"No more talk, just do it!"
[On the count of three, strike the sheath against the blade. One, two, THREE!]
Following the spirit of the sheath's words to the letter, upon hearing the powerful "Three," Asahiko gathered all the strength he had left in his left arm and struck the sheath against the blade.
The reaction was instantaneous and unexpected, as the blow certainly had an effect, but the door did not disappear. Instead, cracks formed all around it, and the surrounding area followed suit.
[Damn you, Inu no Taisho's dog!]
Along with the cry of pure rage coming from the gem on the hilt of the sword, the cracks in space-time grow larger and larger, and one of them devours Asahiko, forcing him into the unknown.