[America]
"I got a job from my country. This time it's not a devil hunter job."
A thin adult man begins his explanation.
He was tall and had an imposing presence even when sitting at the dinner table.
"It will probably involve hunting people."
"Hunting people? Or are you trying to pick them up?"
The overweight man sitting opposite me reacted.
Raising one eyebrow as if to mock someone, he served spaghetti onto a plate and then began to speak, "By the way..."
"When you think of Japan, you think of women, right?"
The third man shook his head, saying, "Oh dear."
"A woman? Hmph, not interested."
She was petite and dressed entirely in black.
He shrugged his shoulders dramatically, in an exaggerated, theatrical manner.
—The men were three brothers.
The eldest son is skinny.
My second son is fat.
The third son is short.
They are devil hunters who are fairly successful in America. They usually cooperate to hunt moderately powerful demons. However, the eldest son said that this latest assignment is different from usual.
I operated the laptop placed on the edge of the dining table. When I ran the video file and launched the application, what appeared on the screen was a weaponized human with an electric saw growing out of the middle of his head—Chainsaw Man.
"I'll kill this saw-wielding guy and bring him to America. They'll give me $2 million if I do."
"200?! Are you sure you haven't made a mistake with the number of digits?!"
"This is a dangerous job. We'll probably have to kidnap them while they're protected by the Public Security Bureau and the police. If our existence is revealed, we're finished."
The little guy, dressed all in black, dramatically stands up.
"Hmph. I'm the 'Swordsman of the Night' who looks better in black than anyone else—nothing is impossible."
"...Haaah. You just sit down."
The fat guy sighed, clearly disappointed.
Turning to her skinny eldest son, she complained.
"Hey, there were those guys who got the same job a while ago, right? The three incredibly skilled brothers who made a deal with the Leather Demon. Do you know what happened to them? Apparently they got beaten. ...I'm not scared or anything, but isn't it a bit too risky?"
"But we need money. You understand that, right?"
A tall man gestured with his chin.
Further ahead, the youngest son, a tiny boy, was running around with imitation swords equipped on both sides. "Here goes! Take that!" he shouted, enjoying a mock sword fight in the corner of the living room. These grown men were behaving like children, and it was beyond childish; it was even creepy. The eldest and second sons simply sighed deeply. For them, it was a familiar sight.
"...He's had his mind corrupted by overusing demons. Now he can't even distinguish between reality and delusion. That's why he needs a lot of money. So he can live comfortably even after he retires."
"I know, but can he really handle it? I don't know what will happen if he uses a demon again. You're taking him with you this time too, right?"
"There's no other way. We're three people working together as one. We can't fight unless we combine our strengths. But conversely, if we work together, we should be able to handle any opponent. ...Besides, this will probably be our last job."
"Our demons are incredible, you know. But using them comes with huge risks."
My second son shrugged his shoulders. It was a gesture to indicate that the conversation was over.
The meal resumed. Behind the two men, who silently stuffed their mouths with spaghetti, the smallest of the three boys was grinning creepily in front of the camera that had been set up for filming.
"Hey guys! You're lucky to have stumbled upon this video channel! Because what's about to begin is the first step in the exploits of a devil hunter who will go down in human history like no other! The target is... this one! That's right, everyone knows him, Japan's famous saw-toothed man, Chainsaw Man! The foolish Japanese media is claiming he defeated the Gun Devil, but that's a lie. I'll prove it myself—The strongest must be America! I'm counting on your support and channel subscriptions!"
[China]
Two girls are running across the harbor.
With his skinny arms and legs flailing, he desperately squeezed through the gaps between the containers.
They were being pursued by agents of the Chinese government because they had stolen something extremely dangerous.
That's a demon.
Two demons.
One of them is named—the Demon of the Future.
"Hey, tell me how to get away quickly, you damn devil! You're going to catch me!"
"Big sister, it's no use... we'll get caught...!"
"Ah, damn it! --The future is the best! The future is the best!"
"Yay! Yay! We shouted that the future is the best! Yay!"
"You're taking too long to come out!"
"That's because you're not going to make the future the best it can be."
"Shut up! Just tell me the future already! Where do I go next?!"
"Over there"
I turned the corner as instructed. I kicked an empty can and ran off at full speed.
If you get caught, it's all over.
The devil will be taken away, and the oath will not be fulfilled.
Therefore, the sisters couldn't afford to be caught. They simply ran across the harbor at night.
But what happens next...?
"—!? It's a dead end!"
"Yeah, yeah! This is the perfect spot. You'll get shot!"
"damn it!"
We were cornered in a dead end of containers.
Looking back, I saw the three men had caught up with me. My escape route was blocked. There was nowhere left to run.
Then there's no choice but to fight.
"Now, you know what you're supposed to say, right? Just curse me with your usual foul language!"
"Damn it"
The girl bites her lip.
I made up my mind in an instant.
"Come on, you bastards! I'm going to use a demon to tear you to shreds right now!"
Fear spread through the pursuers.
He was holding a handgun in his hand.
Now that things have come to this, there's only one way. I have to shoot to overcome my fear.
Bang bang bang
A dry gunshot rang out.
Shot after shot, and again.
A total of 15 bullets lodged in the slender girl's body.
A sorcerer who defies the state has no human rights. Blood gushes from all over his body, and he collapses like a doll whose strings have been cut.
"Oh, big sister!"
My sister clung to me, crying out in anguish.
My sister's eyes were rolled back, and a stream of blood was dripping from the corner of her mouth. She wasn't moving at all. Her breathing had already stopped. She had died instantly.
"That's..."
It was such an abrupt ending. A person's life was wiped out in an instant. Words like "unfair" don't even begin to describe it. Just seconds before, that person was definitely a human being with their own will.
Of the two fugitives, the older sister was reduced to a tattered rag.
That was the future my sister was destined to experience in a few seconds.
There is no one left to protect her.
The younger sister, like her older sister, is simply waiting to be shot.
But that didn't happen.
The girls, the girls are demon users.
"Gah!"
"gi"
"ah?"
The men pursuing him are groaning and looking confused.
There were holes all over his body.
Red stains are spreading from various parts of the clothes.
They hadn't been attacked by anyone. This was a dead end in a narrow container maze, and all they faced was a single girl kneeling in fear. There was no reason for them to die... With such tormented expressions on their faces, the three men who were pursuing them collapsed.
Only the pool of blood spread silently across the night asphalt.
"Ah, ah..."
He's dead. He's dead.
No, that's wrong. I killed him.
The only surviving girl in this place knew who had done it.
The sinful murderers are none other than those sisters.
"Uuuu"
My body trembled uncontrollably, realizing the profound depths of my karma.
My sister knew it would come to this.
Three men died right before our eyes! It was none other than our own sisterly ego that had caused this. We had once sworn to sacrifice everything else for our goals, but that resolve had already grown cold. The realization that we had trampled on someone's life gnawed away at our conscience with each passing moment.
My sister just lamented.
I shouldn't have made a deal with a demon like that.
The demon that killed the men—that was the other of the two demons these sisters had made a pact with.
His name is the Demon of Vengeance.
Its abilities are extremely simple.
It repels every attack. And as long as the contractor harbors hatred and a vengeance, their life will never end. They will revive until their purpose is fulfilled. Again and again.
"Your hatred is so satisfying..."
The vengeful demon whispered contentedly inside my eardrum.
"...Uh, ugh"
A groan.
It was my sister's corpse that I leaked.
Not only did it speak, but now its fingers moved.
As if in exchange for the lives of the men who had just died, the body, which should have been nothing more than a lump of flesh, came back to life. When he clenched his fist tightly, there was a small clanging sound of metal. The bullet was ejected from the hole where he had been shot. The hole then closed up as if in reverse.
The girl will be resurrected. She will return from the depths of hell. Again and again, as long as hatred remains.
The figure that slowly rose to its feet, covered in blood, looked exactly like a ghost.
"It hurts like hell..."
"Big sister!"
"Ouch! Don't hug me!"
"I can't take it anymore... I don't want to see my sister suffer..."
My sister pulled it off with a look of disgust.
A flame burned in his eyes. A flame of rage that nothing could extinguish flickered within him.
"Stop being so spoiled."
"But..."
"Listen, I've told you this so many times, haven't I? We should have been dead a long time ago."
He grabbed my shoulders, quietly but forcefully. He bared his teeth and spat.
"We were poor, orphaned, uneducated, and unattractive... Look! This rough, lizard-like skin! Nobody would look at us just because we had a skin disease! We had no choice but to die in the alleys like sewer rats! ...Who helped us then? Who was kind to us?!"
My sister, with tears welling up in the corners of her eyes, squeezed out the words.
"K-Kwanxi-san..."
"That's it! It's Quanxi!"
A scorching heat was rising.
"He was the only one who was kind to us. And yet, he was murdered. How can we forgive this? What? If we forgive him, how are we supposed to live? Can we pretend his kindness never happened? ...Of course not!"
"But, but..."
"No 'buts'! We're going to settle this! We can't live a normal life until we've killed the Demon of Control!"
I turned on my heel as if to shake it off.
Leaving his trembling sister behind, he pressed on relentlessly. To walk the path of revenge. To stow away on a ship bound for Japan.
"W-wait..."
Just as I took a step forward to try and catch up.
"Hehehehe..."
The demon of the future was laughing in my sister's eyes.
"Your sister will meet the worst possible end in the future."
My sister's shoulders trembled with a start.
"Do you want to know how she died? Your sister..."
"Stop it!!"
I cover my ears. But even doing that, the voice of the demon dwelling inside me still reaches me.
But the demon of the future stopped prophesying. It only shouted meaningfully and gleefully.
"The future is just around the corner. A future that can never be changed. ...The future is awesome! Yay yay!"
[Germany]
Santa Claus is dead.
He went mad after being mentally attacked by a cosmic demon, and both he and the doll that served as his terminal were disposed of as useless puppets.
—That's what everyone in the devil hunter industry knows.
However, the reality was different.
Santa Claus.
She had only one insurance policy.
One of the four children who were once given to him as payment from Germany. A girl he kept for his 'hobbies' and not used in the contract.
He was having her transfer his own memories onto him.
It was a kind of safety net, prepared for when they faced an attack that even the demonic puppets with terminals all over the world couldn't handle.
"...I never thought I'd actually have to use it."
The girl speaks.
Despite being a girl not even a teenager, her speech was mature. Her demeanor was refined. Her mind was filled with the knowledge and character cultivated over decades of life.
"—Though it's not perfect. This girl's body is merely an insurance policy. It's only an irregular backup location. ...Now, how did my original body die? 'This me' only remembers up until just before I set off on that mission to eliminate Makima."
"It was broadcast on TV, wasn't it? We were attacked by a cosmic demon. The effects spread to all the dolls that were connected to you."
"Where's Makima?"
"He died. But you didn't do it. The one who defeated that devil was the boy with the heart of a chainsaw... and that happened some time after you died."
As he said this, the man in the suit handed the girl a stack of papers.
A warm and inviting park. A historic townscape is visible across the lake. The well-maintained lawns and rustling trees make it perfect for leisure, but there are hardly any people there today. It's a weekday, after all. Only elderly people are present.
This is the time of day when children are at school and adults are at work.
But now, there's just one girl and one adult. They're sitting side-by-side on the bench, like a parent and child.
The girl flipped through a stack of papers held together with clips. She swiftly scanned the information, her eyes moving from side to side. It was a record—information unknown to the current Santa Claus, the backup.
What did Santa Claus himself do after he traveled to Japan, and how did he die?
Makima's subsequent actions.
The appearance and end of the Gun Devil.
Chainsaw Man suddenly powered up.
Several weaponized humans appear.
And then—Makima's death.
"...I see. I understand the general idea."
The girl sighed seductively.
"I guess I failed after all."
"But you are alive."
The man looked through his sunglasses.
"I was surprised when I got the call. I thought he'd become a ghost or something. After all, it was after all the dolls in the world had gone mad."
"I haven't made a deal with a ghost demon."
"That tone of voice! Ah, you really are Santa Claus. You say you're imperfect, but I'm not worried. You are the strongest devil hunter our country can be proud of."
"The strongest? There's no such thing. It's an illusion."
"But you are actually feared all over the world..."
"No, the same goes for my own body. I made a contract with a doll demon, and it may have seemed as though I gained unlimited resources and pseudo-immortality. But what was the result? I was destroyed by a single attack from a cosmic demon."
"That was an exceptional case. There's no need to belittle it."
"We must be fully aware of the facts. That's only natural if you're going to live as a devil hunter."
"...You seem to have something to say. Let's hear it."
"Remember the Gun Devil's abilities."
The girl taps the paper.
What was written there was a list of the various abilities the Gun Devil had activated in Japan, along with an analysis of them.
A guaranteed hit sniper targeting someone who meets certain conditions.
- All men within approximately 1000 meters were shot in the head.
- All children (ages 0-12) within approximately 1500 meters were shot in the head.
- Shooting at the heart of a living being born in January, February, March, May, June, August, September, November, or December, within approximately 1000 meters.
"—Can this be replicated by humans?"
"That's impossible."
"So, is it understandable?"
"On the surface, I can grasp that it's just how it is. But I have absolutely no idea about the logic behind it."
"That may be true. But demons can do it. They can trace concepts that only humans possess—things like definitions and cause and effect—and use them as a starting point for realization."
The girl quietly returned the stack of papers to the man in the black suit beside her.
The man stares intently at the documents.
The Gun Devil. A strategic weapon possessed by the world's great powers. ...Humans have no control over it.
"Powerful demons can trace connections. That's why I kept this girl as a backup. I considered the possibility that an enemy might appear who could trace the connections of the doll demons and take them all down at once. ...Do you understand?"
"I see..."
The man murmured thoughtfully.
"That's a very sound way of thinking."
"It would be more accurate to say 'demonic'."
The Santa Claus look-alike girl has a faraway look in her eyes.
"If you want to associate with the devil and fight the devil, you must align yourself with the devil's way of thinking. If you cling to human standards, you will only die."
"Well, it seems I, too, have died," the girl said with a smile.
The man didn't know what to say.
I looked around, at a loss for words. I wondered if there was anything we could talk about in common... and then I remembered something I wanted to ask her.
"—Oh, right. Are you aware of the recent deaths in the Soviet Union?"
"Are you saying that heads of state and those holding important positions are dying one after another?"
"That's it. There's never been such an unnatural incident. Could that have been the work of the devil too?"
The girl answered immediately.
"Nine times out of ten, it's the work of a demon. And a very powerful one at that."
"...I thought so."
"At the very least, he's a gun devil."
"What did you say..."
The man frowned and groaned.
"But I don't think it was an attack."
"What do you mean?"
"Demons cannot use their powers on the condition of a specific individual. There are several reasons for this, but in this case, it's because they cannot distinguish between them. It's like how humans can't distinguish between ants... So, an order to 'attack the head of state' will never be fulfilled. It might be possible if you approached them and ordered them to 'attack this person,' but it's not realistic to sneak past Soviet security and assassinate multiple people."
"So, then what exactly is it...?"
"Perhaps their lifespan was taken as payment."
"You mean compensation?"
I cried out involuntarily.
So, all the Soviet officials sacrificed their lives? What kind of reward could have led them to commit such an outrageous act?
The girl casually gave the answer.
"There would be no reward for that. There is no benefit worth gaining at the cost of destroying the national structure. ...Therefore, this situation was probably unexpected even for the Soviets."
"...No, I have absolutely no idea. Could you explain it to me?"
"If you'd like my imagination to be considered."
The girl stopped speaking and took a light breath.
"As I mentioned earlier, humans and demons perceive things differently. When making a contract, you must carefully confirm that both parties' understandings align. Understand? For example, if you make a contract like this, you'll be in serious trouble—"
Grant power to a certain person. You may take the price from the person who receives the power.
That's a plausible way to make a contract, the man thought.
For example, when a devil hunter introduces a demon to their apprentice.
Alternatively, it could be a case where an organization collectively summons a demon and forces it to make a contract with a specific demon user.
"...What happens if we sign the contract that way?"
"If it's not a one-on-one exchange, misunderstandings can easily occur. If you don't clearly define the subject from the beginning, there's a possibility of taking something out of context."versus(・)elephant(・)and(・)Na(・)the law of nature(・)picture(・)ru(・)all(・)hand(・)of(・)person(・)mosquito(・)and others(・)
"Target...all...? What do you mean by 'all'?"
"It's a matter of defining 'from whom' you're taking compensation."
The girl tilts her head slightly. Her hair falls loosely. Through the gaps, her green eyes gleam eerily.
"In this case, 'those who are granted power' is not synonymous with 'those who can wield demonic abilities.' To put it simply, it refers to everyone who would benefit from the contractor gaining demonic power. In other words, everyone in the organization, institution, or country to which the contractor belongs..."
"Just wait a moment."
The man almost reached out his hand.
"Benefits? You're going to demand a price from everyone just because they might be vaguely affected...? That's not even a valid accusation."
"The more powerful a demon is, the more macroscopic its perspective becomes. The definition of 'power' also changes. For example, the sense of security that comes from being on an ally's side, or the feeling of awe and deterrent it exerts on opposing forces. Some might call it protection. It seems they perceive such intangible influences as 'power'."
"...Even if that were true..."
The man crossed his arms and slowly shook his head.
"Isn't it incredibly unreasonable to demand payment without consent?"
"Yes, of course."
The girl did not deny it.
"Such lawlessness is unlikely to occur so easily. While it might be possible if the human side initiated it, a contract cannot be formed based solely on the demon's unilateral understanding. Therefore, the key point is whether there was 'a minimum level of mutual agreement.' For example, if they 'knew about the contract and agreed to it,' then there is a two-way understanding. The demon would then be able to offer a price."
"Is that all it takes...?"
The man could only stare in astonishment—seeing this, the girl chuckled, still looking up at him.
They are mocking people with narrow perspectives.
"A discrepancy in understanding..."
Just a minor detail, like whether or not there's a phrase.
That alone could potentially take away dozens, even hundreds, of people.
It should never have happened.
Soviet officials lost their lives simply because they knew someone was making a deal with a powerful demon, agreed to it, and were in a position to benefit from it.
"That's just a possibility."
The girl from Saint Claus stares at the man with eyes that are truly devilish. She remains motionless, as if peering into his very soul.
That reliability, when viewed from another perspective, could also be terrifying.
"You... you made a pact with the Dark Demon, didn't you?"
"Yes. But of course, they should have handled that well. It shouldn't have any impact on Germany."
"I see... No, I'm sorry if I offended you. I was just a little frightened."
The girl finally regained her composure.
The man secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
"So, shall we talk about work?"
I took out some new documents from my bag.
The girl quickly skimmed through it and then let out a small sigh.
"...Another Demon of Control?"
"This time it's not Makima. She's weakened. You should be able to handle her even now. ...Oh, no, I don't mean anything weird by that,"
"Is he alive or dead?"
The man flinched slightly, but quickly regained his composure.
"Life or death is irrelevant. The goal is to weaken Japan. We can no longer ignore that country's military strength. The body of the gun-wielding devil that America possessed has almost completely taken over."
"Who is the boy with the chainsaw mentioned here?"
"We don't care if you live or die. It would be best if Japan became unusable."
"Should we kidnap him, or incapacitate him...? His immortality is a bit of a problem."
"I'll leave the details to you... I know I shouldn't really be saying this, but the management has decided that handling just one of them will be sufficient."
"Why? Does that mean it's a really difficult job?"
"Yes, the higher-ups think that no one but you can do it. And even you... in your current state, might not be able to achieve it."
"...Well, I'm not the same person I used to be. Even the demons my original body was contracted with have abandoned me. All that's left is..."
"You don't have to say it."
"You're so kind."
The girl stood up from the bench and slapped the bottom of her skirt as if to brush off any dirt.
"Don't worry. Your body still has plenty of life and function left. There are countless ways to use it. I'll live up to your expectations."
"I'm counting on you."
The girl turned on her heel—but then stopped dead in her tracks.
"By the way, about the reward. Is it okay if I add some?"
"What is it?"
She turned around softly. She looked at the man, narrowing her eyes into a crescent shape.
"Living in an orphanage is inconvenient. I want to be adopted by a family with wealth and freedom. ...For example, how about your family? I can behave like a good daughter, you know?"
"Shall I call you 'Daddy'?" the girl asked with an innocent smile.
"Stop joking around."
"I thought you could become part of the family too."
"...I rely on you and I respect you. But we can't be together 24/7."
"That's a shame."
With a single blink, all emotion vanished. Her face had become that of a doll.
[Soviet Union]
The word "devil" has two meanings.
The first refers to living beings that actually exist in this world.
These creatures possess powers befitting their names, growing stronger the more fear they inspire, and even resurrecting as separate individuals after death. They are supernatural beings.
The second is a metaphor. Often, it refers to someone lacking common sense.
They are cruel and inhumane, inflicting harm on people and trampling on human morality as easily as breathing.
They were the latter.
Somewhere in Moscow, early morning.
A demon user stepped into a top-secret underground room managed by a special agency that shouldn't even exist.
The man is a demon user affiliated with the Soviet Union. He's not a devil hunter. Rather, he's someone who uses demons. He's a member of an organization that handles jobs that can't be made public, such as managing the flesh of the Gun Devil or implanting the Bomb Devil's heart into guinea pigs.
I knew a lot about demons.
We have a contract, and we've fought each other before.
A seasoned demon user.
However, this man was now feeling a deep-seated fear.
I took a step into the basement and immediately stopped.
The room was completely charred black.
The walls, ceiling, and floor, which were supposed to be fireproof, have all deformed, melted into a gooey mess, and cracked.
It was a space where virtually no life should be able to survive. In the depths of it stood two demons. From their eyebrows upwards, their foreheads were covered in grotesque, red, dragon-like scales.
They were the ones who caused the room to become such a mess.
Anastasia is tall and has red hair.
Polina is petite with silver hair.
I knew them well.
A guinea pig in a secret room.
A warrior who pledges allegiance to his country.
Anastasia was the foremost among them, and in terms of combat skills, she was even rated higher than Reze. The only reason she wasn't chosen as a weaponized human was her poor communication skills.
Polina was the complete opposite. She had mastered many languages, used numerous disguises, and possessed the conversational skills to quickly get along with anyone, but unfortunately, her martial arts and combat sense were lacking.
What they all had in common was loyalty to their country. That's why they were able to survive until the final selection round.
A docile guinea pig.
But now, he has become a demon.
If you become a demon, your inner self will change.
The chaos of demons mixed in, causing a wavering of human values. The horrific state of this basement was proof of this. Using the power of the demons that had taken over them, they burned the room down without any orders from the government.
For what purpose?
I don't know. Not a single thing.
The man had an understanding of demons.
He also knew a lot about guinea pigs.
But when it comes to a demon that's a mixture of all those things, it's just a mystery.
The creatures before him possessed a guinea pig-like structure, stripped of all human emotions, combined with the strange, demonic thought processes. The man simply couldn't understand what these beings truly were.
"Are you scared?"
Polina spoke.
She stood rigidly still, her golden eyes, slit vertically like those of a reptile, fixed on the man.
With the skill to read a person's emotions from their subtle gestures, she peers into the man's inner world. A combination of human skill and the devil's eyesight. There is no escape.
"Is it a mission?"
This is Anastasia.
Like its partner, it gazes upon insignificant humans with its golden eyes.
"Are you afraid of us now that we've become demons? Don't worry. Polina aside, I still have my memories from when I was alive. We won't burn you, comrade."
The man swallowed hard.
What a terrifying creature my homeland has created. It sends shivers down my spine.
The man knew.
They possess power. If they so desired, they could melt this tiny basement, bedrock and all, and escape in an instant. There is no powerful demon user in the Soviet Union capable of suppressing their rebellion. This is because the pieces of demonic flesh embedded within them were bestowed upon them by one of the most feared transcendent beings in Hell.
A being bearing the primordial terror, capable of reducing all things to dust.
A symbol of life force and death.
The fire demon.
If the demons before us had lost all sense of human reason, Moscow would have been literally engulfed in flames.
Polina, in particular, was in a precarious state. She had absolutely no memory of her life before death. Her already extremely diminished sense of morality was now compounded by the ferocity of a demon. The number of people she burned to death simply for catching her eye was more than you could count on both hands.
The man secretly shivered.
I didn't want to come to a place like this.
But defying the orders of one's homeland would surely lead to death. There is no choice but to obey.
"The mission is..."
He hesitated. If he displeased them, he'd be burned at the stake. Yet, the task he'd been assigned was something so morally questionable that it was almost unspeakable. He didn't want to tell them.
But,
"What's the mission?"
"What is it?"
The two genies narrowed their eyes.
I had no choice but to say it.
"It's an assassination mission. The target is this woman, in the secret room that you all know well."
The photograph is handed over.
What was photographed there was—
"Reze?"
"Ah, ah"
Silver-haired Polina tilted her head in confusion.
"Who is this person?"
"It's Reze. Don't you remember me?"
"Not at all. I don't know."
"This woman, Reze, was one of our comrades."
"Hmm, comrade?"
Yes, they were comrades and friends.
He orders you to kill your own comrade, the one who has gone through the same hell with you.
It's an order that deserves resistance.
Even if they were guinea pigs, they would obey. But now they are demons. Whether they will choose the path of loyalty cannot be determined from their words or actions.
The man's breathing becomes ragged. It makes one imagine death.
But Anastasia's lips curled up just a little.
I think I laughed.
"I got it"
He straightened his back like a model soldier.
"I will definitely fulfill my mission."
A brief silence spread, and the man was finally able to catch his breath.
"Ah, I see. I'll leave it to you."
Polina pouted,
"Nastya! What's going on?"
"It's a mission, Paula. An assassination mission. Kill this woman."
"Does that mean I can grill it?"
"Oh, that's fine."
"Will you praise me if I bake it?"
"ah"
"Yay! Then I'll bake lots!"
Her eyes contorted in a frown.
In any case, he wasn't in a bad mood. The man leaned forward, ready to continue speaking in this manner.
"Actually, I have one more mission."
Having just spoken, the man froze. Exposed to the gazes of the two groups, he remembered just how cruel the order he was about to give was. It was a far more sinful act than ordering the killing of one's own comrades.
But I have to tell them.
"When this assassination mission is complete, you will—commit suicide. You will set yourselves on fire so that no bodies are left behind. For the sake of maintaining secrecy..."
If there is such a thing as a taboo, I think it would refer to commands like these.
I realized it anew after saying it out loud and telling them directly.
This country has no human heart.
"..."
"..."
Two genies were staring at the man.
Its golden, dragon-like eyes were fixed on the meat before it. They weren't the eyes of someone looking at a human. They were the eyes of someone eating. Or perhaps, the eyes of someone crushing an insect.
A long, slender tongue peeks out from between her lips.
The man couldn't help but thrust out both hands.
"W-wait!"
"I got it"
Anastasia remained completely unfazed.
"--picture?"
"Anastasia, and Polina. Once our mission is complete, we will make ourselves disappear."
"Ah, ah"
Polina also showed no particular change. She clung to Anastasia's arm, rubbing her silver hair against Anastasia's cheek.
They tell me to die, and I don't even try to resist.
It's impossible to know what a demon is thinking. As the man breathed a sigh of relief, the red-haired Anastasia spoke.
"By the way, why Reze?"
"W-what do you mean?"
"Oh, no, I'm not refusing."
Smoothing the silver hair that rested on her shoulders, Anastasia posed a question.
"I understand the suicide part. The fire demon took 97% of our lifespan. We probably only have a few days left to live. If we're going to die anyway, we might as well contribute to the country and turn this demon's body to ashes so it doesn't fall into the hands of another country... I understand that. But why Reze? Didn't she fail her mission? Is she still alive? What reason is there to dispose of her?"
In principle, there is no obligation to answer.
Rather, this was a situation where she should have been reprimanded for asking questions like a warrior. But Anastasia said this:
"We're all going to die soon anyway, so I don't think it's a problem to teach them."
"Ah, yes, that's right—"
It wasn't out of pity.
However, not wanting to offend the creepy demon, the man cleared his throat and began to explain.
Reze has been reactivated as a weaponized human.
He defected to Japan.
And there's a reason why we can't let the guinea pigs from the secret room stay alive.
"As you know, our homeland's organizational structure is on the verge of collapse due to the contract with the fire demon. This is a consequence of the deaths of our great leaders and high-ranking officials. ...However, this has prompted structural reforms. Organizational restructuring and the abolition of outdated institutions that no longer fit the times. As part of this, the secret room will be closed."
"Is it ending...?"
"It had already been criticized because it had been reported by American journalists. Before anything else could be revealed, the decision was made to pretend that the secret room never existed in the first place. That means that you, and Reze, who are from there, are not supposed to be there."
"Shouldn't we be here? Aren't we warriors meant to serve our country?"
"That's precisely why I believe it's important to know when to step down for the sake of the nation..."
"I know!"
Polina let out a high-pitched cry.
"When the cunning rabbit is dead, the hunting dog is boiled, right? Is that right?!"
"W-what is that? Anyway, you're no longer needed,"
"--"
There are certain words that should never be spoken.
—Kill your comrades.
This is good. They've been raised to be able to do that.
--Kill yourself.
This is also acceptable. If there is a need, I will carry it out.
But, however...
--We don't need you guys anymore.
This was something I absolutely should not have said.
Because they, especially Anastasia, were warriors loyal to their country before they were demons.
"Say that again."
Anastasia's pupils narrow vertically.
A roaring sound rose without warning. Behind the man, a thick waterfall of flames appeared at the single entrance. It was an orange, despairing spectacle that rippled from the concrete, which was impossible to ignite, all the way up to the ceiling without any gaps.
"What?"
The man didn't understand anything.
Not about demons.
I thought I knew about the warriors of the secret chamber before that.
What is a guinea pig?
What kind of being is it?
They were deprived of the most important things as human beings. They were given nothing. All they were taught was how to fight, how to deceive, and loyalty to the state.
That's all there is to it.
What happens when a creature that has nothing else to rely on has even its distorted sense of purpose, its only anchor, trampled upon?
"I didn't know" is not an acceptable excuse.
"Stop—"
It caught fire.
A merciless murderous intent spread, and fire ignited in everything within Anastasia's field of vision.
There wasn't even time to scream.
As the man falls into a state of extreme confusion, fire enters his mouth and nose like a living organism, quickly reaching his lungs and burning him to the very end. His joints stiffen from the heat, rendering him unable to even struggle.
The transcendent being's heat intensified without limit, causing the surrounding air to shimmer like a mirage.
Anastasia said nothing.
He looks down with contempt at the mass of ashes returning to nothingness.
"This guy was not a comrade."
The red-haired woman narrowed her eyes.
"Traitors must be purged."
"Hmm? So this guy was the bad guy?"
"Yes, but that's not all."
"What is it?"
"This guy was our enemy."
"So you mean you hated Nastya?"
"...That's fine."
Suddenly, Anastasia turns her back and starts walking away.
"W-wait a minute."
Polina chased after him in a panic, asking the question.
"Hey, what are we going to do now?"
"It's decided. It's a mission."
"Um, that assassination mission you mentioned earlier? I think it's about taking down someone named something or other."
"It's Reze."
His voice was cold.
I slipped through the door, stepping on the burnt floor.
I walked down the corridor, blackened by the fire, and squinted my eyes at the faint light of the outside world leaking in from the end.
The sound of two sets of footsteps echoed softly.
"Listen, remember this well. We are about to die, but our work will be returned to the nation and live on forever. In other words, we will not die. Do you understand?"
"Hmm... I guess so."
"People are nations, and nations are people. We are the embodiment of that. We have lived for that, and we will die for that. That is what gives us value. Yet, that guy, Reze, who was supposed to be our representative, betrayed us. He tarnished our reputation. If we leave it like this, we will all be remembered as foolish traitors. That is something we must absolutely avoid."
"So, basically, you're saying that Reze is a bad person, right?"
"That's not what I meant."
"So, you're saying you don't like Nastya?"
"So, in that sense..."
I arrived at the top of the stairs.
The words trail off.
Anastasia silently ascended the dark, grimy stairs, one step at a time. The stairs were dimly lit only by emergency lights. As she went further, her surroundings became brighter. She could clearly see even the smallest stains and scars.
"—Yeah, that's right."
Anastasia simply ascends.
"So, I guess I hated him. Let's just go with that."
"I see."
Polina also climbs alongside them.
"Then you're my enemy."
I stepped onto the last step and stepped through the last door. I was outside.
A gust of wind caressed her cheek. Polina thought it felt good, as if her slightly flushed body was being washed clean.
Looking around, I saw soldiers with automatic rifles positioned in an arc surrounding us. They were filled with murderous intent, and deep within them, fear flickered.
"Ahaha"
Polina laughed.
There were 20 men in total. They were armed with state-of-the-art automatic rifles. The distance was approximately 10 meters, and they were arranged in a semicircle with no cover in between.
They think they can do anything about us with that?
They nurtured it themselves, and then they reshaped it themselves, so why don't they understand?
It's so sad. We have to end it before it gets any more sad.
Anastasia was exchanging words with a man who appeared to be the leader of the "enemy." "Reasons for the attack," "Purge," "Stand by," "Warrior for the homeland," "Orders," "True comrade"—ah, I still don't understand. Polina narrowed her pupils as she listened, not really paying attention.
There's no need to even bother checking. The 20 gun barrels pointed at us speak louder than any friend-or-foe signal. If we could resolve things through dialogue, there would be no need for armies or soldiers.
Distance: 10 meters.
That's equivalent to one centimeter for Polina.
Looking out over the sprawling Moscow cityscape, Polina's mouth twisted into a frown.
Let's start with 20 people.
They all lit their fires at once.