Box of Demons

Chapter 100

Medicine doesn't exist solely on theory. The technology that supports that theory is also indispensable. Therefore, it could be said that half of that research institute was Koda's creation. He just couldn't stand that. It wasn't that he had actually created anything particularly evil, but he just found it unbearable.

Koda quickly became close to Amamiya.

Perhaps it's because Amemiya, like Koda, came from a technical background.

Then, Koda came to completely loathe his job.

When Kubo visited, Mimasaka instructed Koda to reactivate the box.

Koda was surprised at what Mimasaka was going to do to the uninjured man, and felt very annoyed after learning what he had done.

“If I hadn’t done that, that young man wouldn’t have turned out that way. It’s my fault too.”

That's what he supposedly said.

The elderly mechanic, facing a large number of intruders, sensed his impending doom and attempted suicide.

The research institute's intensive care unit also served as a centralized management room. The main body of the machine was divided into a first and second floor. Behind the iron doors were all artificial organs. Koda destroyed them one by one in order. I think that was after Mimasaka had checked the readings on the meters. Koda finally destroyed the power distribution panel in the power room, and hanged himself when the fuel ran out.

Ironically, Natsumi observed his every move from beginning to end. Only after he had completely destroyed everything and hanged himself did she step in to stop him, repair the power distribution panel, and ensure that the power supply was from the outside before coming upstairs.

He stopped two people from hanging themselves this time.

As Kiba himself said, he only suffered minor injuries and didn't even go to the hospital, let alone be admitted. Aoki, on the other hand, was in more serious condition; I heard that the crack in his ribs was even more severe than before he was admitted to the hospital. However, this young man was indeed a former special forces member and was very strong. He was discharged from the hospital after ten days and even came to visit my house with Kyogoku-do.

I just went out for a discussion about the collected volumes. My wife said he looked to be in good health.

Kiba doesn't seem to have received any punishment. It appears that Kyogoku-do had already spoken to Inspector Oshima while we were riding Natsukizu's crazy roller coaster.

He is truly a man not to be underestimated.

Newspapers and magazines made no mention of the incident. They only published the false report that the perpetrator of the dismemberment murder had committed suicide. Fortunately, the discovery of Kubo's limbs the night before last didn't reveal that they were part of his body, making the situation extremely ambiguous and opaque. Furthermore, after the news of the suicide, reports about Kubo's scandal abruptly ceased. It's unclear whether this was due to pressure or simply a lack of genuine media interest.

It is unknown what punishment Yangzi received.

"Real Crime Records" certainly has the facts, but after waiting and waiting, there's no sign of them having any intention to report. Forget reporting, the next issue hasn't even been released yet. Incidentally, Masuoka said that Natsukizu's detective fees don't need to be returned, so they all belong to him, but they all ended up in Akai Shobo's pocket.

Of course, it's intended as repair costs for that fake Datsun sports car. I heard that President Akai plans to use the money to convert it into a Toyota sedan.

Natsume lay in the living room of Kyogoku-do.

Even Nyoguchi is here. I heard that after the incident, he kept coming here every few days.

The homeowner, as always for the past ten years, wore a sour face while reading incomprehensible books. I sat down in my usual spot and took out two newly printed books from my bundle. Kyogoku-do, delighted—or rather, laughing heartily, called his wife over and said:

"Look everyone, this is the book from the pass."

I don't know if they're praising me or making a fool of me.

"The binding is excellent. Although it will definitely not sell well, it is truly a good book. Congratulations."

He laughed after saying that. It seems he's just making a fool of me.

My wife was genuinely happy for me and made me a cup of hot black tea. Then she smiled and said:

"We really need to celebrate this!"

Natsume lay there, not even glancing at her, and said:

"Give me one too."

Although Torikochi politely said he would buy it himself, Kyogoku immediately chimed in:

"Then buy it from my shop. I'll sell you this one."

Hearing his sarcastic remarks, Bird Mouth immediately replied:

"Hey, that's too much! Does that mean I really have to buy it?"

Torikochi is still trying to play dumb, as expected.

"Oh right, I heard that Fukumoto quit his job as a policeman."

Bird Mouth suddenly spoke as if it were a sudden thought.

"It seems like he's changed careers and is now working for a toothbrush company."

The information network remains as efficient as ever.

"Then Kusumoto Kimie sold that house. Terada Hei returned all the money donated by the believers, and to make up the shortfall, they sold the dojo where three generations had lived. As for the part that Nikaido Toshimi had spent, they didn't pursue it."

Did everyone sell their original boxes?

"It seems that Hyōe is going to become a monk after the interrogation is over. Anyway, he didn't commit any crime, so he'll be fine soon. As for Ms. Kimie, she plans to move to an apartment in Kōenji after things settle down."

"How do you know everything?"

"This is the skill I rely on to make a living."

"Ah, that's true. Hey, Kyogoku-do, what happened to Miss Yoko?"

Kyogoku-do slightly raised one of his eyebrows and said:

"There should be room for discretion in sentencing. That kind of situation also applies to a state of mental instability. Besides, Mr. Masuoka is defending her, which is reassuring. He is excellent and understands Ms. Yoko very well. It's just that there's really nothing to say about the incident itself. Uncle Kiba will have to write a bunch of letters of repentance and reports, and he'll probably complain about wanting to stretch his muscles again."

"I wonder if Uncle Kiba can cheer up."

He saw the darkness in the heart of the woman he loved, and then he arrested her with his own hands.

You must be feeling really bad inside.

I couldn't be clearer.

"You big idiot, you don't understand Kiba Osamu at all!"

Xia Mujin stood up.

"—That guy is like a stubborn block of tofu. Give him three days and he's back to his old self, full of energy. He's persistent yet unafraid of setbacks, and he's extremely used to heartbreak."

Although it was a nonsensical metaphor, I think I understood what he was trying to express.

"Brother Xia, so back then, the person you said Yoko deeply loved was—Professor Mimasaka? Or…"

Wasn't this originally a lumberyard?

Natsume drank the whole cup of black tea in one gulp.

"You big idiot, who remembers that kind of thing?"

He said.

The weather has fully turned to autumn. The cat in this house no longer seems to take its afternoon nap on the porch; it's nowhere to be seen.

I asked Kyogoku-do about something that had been bothering me ever since.

"Hey, I'm asking you, what exactly is a 'Wangliang'? You said back then that 'Wangliang' was some kind of boundary line, what did that mean? Also, was your exorcism ultimately successful?"

Kyogoku-do raised one eyebrow and glanced at me.

"You have such poor comprehension. These kinds of monsters aren't meant to possess people, so they can't be exorcised."

"Can't be expelled? Then what...?"

"The demons are monsters that imitate human voices to deceive people in the land of marshes. They have the appearance but no substance. They do nothing. It is humanity itself that has become confused."

"Human beings themselves?"

"So what did you exorcise?"

"It's nothing. I'm just shaking the core of their hearts, letting the excess fall away. Shaking it gently like this."

Did my extra things also fall off?

"There's no need to overcomplicate things about border crossings. For example, mountains are another world, a different realm, a world on the other side. The same goes for the sea. But marshes are different. Since ancient times, lowlands, wetlands, marshes, lakes, and swamps have been the boundary lines. That's why demons stand on the boundary lines to confuse humans. Demons come from the water and patrol the surroundings, but they never come to the center. Therefore, they don't come from the earth. If they force themselves to show their faces in the center from the edge, they will end up in a situation where they can only dig up corpses from the earth to eat."

"Then what were those pretentious things you said to the Mikoto? Were they lies?"

"Didn't I already say that? There are only two things I haven't done—I've never lied and I've never tied a monk's head up (Note 1)."

Note 1: In the original text, the word "said" in "to lie" is homophonous with the word "bound" in "to tie hair," making it a playful homophonic exchange.

"Didn't you say it was a bun last time (Note 2)?"

Note 2: A traditional Japanese women's hairstyle. Mostly worn by married women.

Kyogoku-do exclaimed, "It seems so, it seems so!" and laughed loudly. Toriguchi also laughed.

"The pass, well, in short, the demons are monsters on the boundary line, so they don't belong to either side. If you attack them carelessly, you'll be bewitched, so it's better to be careful. People like you are particularly susceptible to the charm of the other side."

Kyogoku-do resumed his serious expression and said.

Not long after, Isamaya, quite unusually, came to visit Kyogoku-do.

He said he had been traveling in the Sanyin area for nearly a month.

He also bought a bunch of rare folk crafts that were very much in line with his style, which I don't know where he got them from, as gifts. I chose a kappa that looked like it was standing upside down.

When asked how his fishing trip was, he replied:

"Yes, fishing is great."

When asked how much he caught, he replied that it was alright. Then, he reluctantly changed the subject, saying:

"Never mind that for now, I've run into a weirdo. We're staying at the same hotel, and well, he's a really strange guy."

Looks like I didn't catch anything.

"I met him while staying in Kawai, Shimane Prefecture. There's a shrine there called Mononobe Shrine. Ah, you've probably heard of Chuzenji Temple, right?"

"Is there a temple fair on October 9th? I remember there are horseback riding and archery performances at those temple fairs?"

Hearing him say that, you can tell he definitely knows it.

"Yeah, yeah, a bunch of horses with flags came out, and then there were shrine maidens dancing. That's what I went to see. The day before the festival, I stayed at the same inn as that guy. He looked really happy, um, like he was genuinely happy. His clothes were a bit dirty, though. It was already quite cold, and he was wearing an open-front shirt, no jacket, and wrinkled corduroy pants underneath, grinning like an idiot. And then…"

Cardigan with corduroy

"And it's carrying such a big iron box."

box--

"Then he always carried it very carefully. He even brought the box to temple fairs. Occasionally he would open the lid and say to the box, 'Look, it's a horse!' or 'The shrine maiden is dancing!' It's strange, isn't it? Like something from a night market—"

I couldn't hear what Isamaya said after that. He was right in front of me, yet it felt like he was constantly moving away.

Amamiya, who took Kanako with him, ended up in Shimane Prefecture during his final escape.

He had no change of clothes and had probably run out of money.