Hyakki Yagyō (Night Parade of One Hundred Demons)

Chapter 11

Nobody's here! The door is locked, but you can't see any feet! There's nothing under the door!

What I just heard was… I told myself not to overthink it; maybe the person inside had put their feet on the toilet. I calmly walked out of the bathroom, not noticing that the stall had a small ajar opening…

Things always happen when we're not paying attention. Danger slowly creeps in from what I thought was safe territory. Life is like a play; when we think we're the protagonist, we find ourselves merely being manipulated. Do you think what you see is always true? Sometimes, the truth is obscured by lies. What we believe to be forever is merely fleeting happiness.

The sense that something was wrong began to creep in when the third person died. The curse quickly spread throughout the school. Everyone knew that those who died had received a note before they died, and for the time being, no one wanted to play the game anymore.

That happened seven days after the previous two people died. Just as everyone was slowly forgetting the fear they had felt before, it happened again. At that time, Nana and I were about to enter the school building when a dark figure descended rapidly from the sky and landed in front of us. Blood splattered all over us. It was a heavily made-up face, and its eyes were fixed on us before it died, a sinister smile on its lips. With its last breath, it slowly said to me, word by word: "You... thought... you would be alright?... We are all chosen puppets..."

Am I running away? I already sense that this whole thing is related to me, but I thought running away would solve it. Is there no way to escape? Must this ability forever hold me back?

“The student who died today was a ninth grader, seat number 7. The problem must be the number '7'. Seven people die every year, and they're all girls. Why is that? And what did they mean by the puppet? Nana, what do you think? The students who died in the past all jumped off buildings, and they were always wearing heavy makeup before they died, but it seems none of them received any notes! Notes have only become popular in schools in the last two years.” I said to Nana while flipping through the student roster. After a long silence, I realized she had fallen asleep on the library table.

"...Lazybones...and she said she'd investigate with me!" I shook my head, saying helplessly. As soon as school was over, Nana and I went to the library. I was determined to get involved. I'd seen every single dead student, and their eyes were all looking at me, proving I was definitely involved. If I didn't intervene now, who knew what might happen later? However, Nana didn't seem to like complicated matters; she fell asleep shortly after looking at the student roster. Her insensitivity was truly terrifying.

"Sherin is also seat number 7 in their class, and the senior I saw earlier also had seat number 7. It seems that the guy hiding in the shadows has a particular interest in the number '7'. If the people who died before were also seat number 7, that would be very strange." I muttered to myself as I looked around, and also took some notes.

Sure enough, the students who died earlier either had seat number 7 or were born on July 7th. Almost all of them were related to the number 7. The number 7 is indeed closely related to this incident.

The thick student record book was a bit yellowed, but I still noticed a familiar face inside. Two years ago, a student who died—it looked like the ghost I saw at the dormitory entrance. Was she one of the seven who jumped to their deaths every year? Did she know something? Right, she seemed to have told me something recently! What was it? I think I've forgotten. Her name was Yu Xue'er, the last of the seven who committed suicide two years ago; her birthday was July 7th.

Speaking of the number "7," it reminds me of a terrifying legend—the Seven Walkers. It's said that seven spirits who committed grave sins cannot ascend to heaven and are forced to wander in the place of their deaths until they find a substitute to take their place and attain enlightenment. Applying this legend to the events that happen at school every year seems contradictory. While it explains why the seven people who died the previous year must find seven more substitutes the following year to achieve enlightenment, the substitutes can't be chosen unless they are deeply sinful. And strangely, why were these people looking at me before they died this time? What do these events have to do with me? And the puppet—that seems to be a crucial word. Every one of the deceased mentioned it.

No! I can't figure it out! I have to find the spirit at the dormitory entrance—Yu Xue'er; maybe she knows something.

The number 7, from the past to the present, seems to always be associated with bad luck. Yet people never seem to feel anything strange about it. Ghost Month is July, the 7th is the day of the death, the Seven Star Array is a very evil formation… but people seem more sensitive to the number 4. 7 is the number of the devil, do I have any connection with 7?

Birthday? No. Seat number is wrong too. Where can I contact them?

It seems like some crucial detail has been forgotten, but I just can't remember it.

A sense of unease crept into my heart; I knew it was a premonition of something about to happen. When evening self-study ended, I found a note in my drawer. I had a feeling the note would contain the answer I needed. Whether the outcome was good or bad, I had to face what needed to be faced.

Author: Xinxinjun Reply Date: 2005-01-02 01:04:00

I made an excuse to let Nana go back first, then hurriedly ran to the bathroom where the first thing happened, took a deep breath, and slowly opened the note.

"Because Ouyang Ling threw away the note, she is now cursed by it. She must now go to the second stall in the women's restroom on the second floor and repent to the person inside, or she will be punished with death!"

Sure enough! What was bound to happen has happened! I glanced out of the corner of my eye at the tightly closed wooden door of the second toilet stall. Actually, I had sensed something was off when the first incident occurred. Although I still had many questions, what else could I do but do as instructed? Just as I was about to reach out and knock on the toilet door, I suddenly felt a cool sensation on my cheek; something had dripped onto my skin.

I reached out and touched it—it was blood! Dark red blood dripped onto my face. I looked up, and my body immediately stiffened. The entire ceiling was covered in blood, then first a few strands of hair appeared on the ceiling, and slowly a woman's head covered in blood appeared there.

"No...don't knock...go back right now..." Although the voice was a little blurry, I recognized her as Yu Xue'er, the ghost who stood guard outside our dorm. For some reason, seeing her put my mind at ease. But she had never seemed this terrifying before. What was going on today?

“Go back…” she cried out in pain, “Don’t come any closer… hurry… or else…” I slowly took a few steps back, preparing to leave, but found that the bathroom door, which had been open just moments before, was now closed. Xue’er, who had been on the ceiling, was gone, and the bathroom became eerily quiet.

I could hear my own heartbeat and breathing. My eyes were fixed on the tightly closed door of the second toilet stall.

Suddenly, all the faucets on the sink turned on, and all that flowed out was bright red blood. A banging sound came from behind the door of the second toilet, and the door began to shake violently.

Although Xue'er had warned me, I don't know why, I was a little confused at the time. I slowly walked towards the second toilet stall, reached out and turned the doorknob, and the door opened little by little. It was as if something was controlling my body. Although my rational mind kept telling me not to open the door, my body still acted on its own.

There was nothing behind the door, but I still slowly walked in, as if my will could no longer control my body. Is this really me?

"Bang—" The bathroom door slammed shut behind me as I entered. I saw it; behind the door was a face exactly like mine, the only difference being the heavy makeup—the same heavy makeup as everyone who had died before! As I entered, a sinister smile began to curve around the corner of that face. Hair grew rapidly, binding my body tightly. "She," she slowly uttered, word by word:

"You saw it."

A sharp laugh, my neck was tightly strangled by hair, and then I lost consciousness.

"Zero... wake up... you can't go any further..."

The calls slowly brought me back to my senses. I found myself standing on the edge of the dormitory rooftop railing, nearly falling. A gust of wind blew, making me even more alert. I gripped the railing tightly behind me. My face reeked of heavy makeup; I guessed it must be covered in the same heavy makeup as the other dead people. Thank goodness for the person who called me, otherwise I really would have lost my life.

I slowly exhaled and noticed a pair of feet floating in the air in front of me. Looking up, I saw it was Yu Xue'er.

"...Did you save me?"

She nodded without speaking. Now her face had returned to the clean and delicate appearance she had shown before.

"What is wrong with me?"

"...You almost...were taken away by them...thankfully...a man chased them away just now, which gave me a chance to call you."

That's when I noticed a clump of hair that looked like it had just been cut wrapped around my feet.

"A man? Who is it?" I said as I climbed over the railing. I didn't want to stay outside any longer; it was too dangerous.

“He said his name is D, he said you know his…” Xue’er said timidly, “You have to burn all this hair later! Otherwise they will come looking for you again.”

"Them? Who are they? Xue'er, are they involved in this? Were you also killed by them?"

She shook her head, somewhat frightened, and said, "I can't say. If I do, they won't let me off the hook. I've been under their surveillance and control almost all along. I know everything that happens and ends, but I can't... I can't say... I'm afraid they'll be angry."

"Then why did you save me?"

"It wasn't me. I told you it was a man named D who saved you... He's so strong, he chased them all away in one go."

"D..." Who exactly is that man who has appeared in my dreams so many times? Why does he keep helping me? He saved me again this time, but he just won't meet me. When exactly is the time he mentioned we'll meet? I don't know why, but I'm actually starting to feel a little anticipation.

“Zero…” Xue’er continued, “You must find the answer! Otherwise, they won’t stop. This has been going on for too long… If this continues, the school’s energy field will go out of control. I can’t say any more, I have to go! Because they are looking for me… If they find me here… you’ll be in danger! Remember, you must wash your face clean, and you must burn your hair!” Slowly, her body disappeared. I looked at the hair on my feet, and thinking about what had just happened, I broke out in a cold sweat again.

But right now, I have absolutely no clue what to do. How am I supposed to find the answer? I couldn't help but roll my eyes. Suddenly, I remembered what Xue'er had told me before: "I might need your help soon!" Maybe she was referring to this very thing back then.

However, this experience has also led me to a new discovery. I might need to investigate what's going on with that women's restroom. But this time I need to be smarter and go during the day. Maybe I should also contact Dao Lian to see when that guy is coming back.

The girls' restroom on the second floor is always unusually quiet, except for us eighth graders. The reason is simple: our classrooms are on the second floor. Actually, the restroom was recently renovated; you can still faintly smell the paint.

Yesterday, on my way back to the dorm, I listened to Xue'er and burned my hair, and all my makeup was gone. It was the weekend, and Nana had gone home yesterday. Something must have happened at her house, otherwise she definitely wouldn't have gone home. That's good, at least she didn't see how scary I looked when I got back yesterday, and if anything dangerous happens today, she won't be implicated.

I couldn't get through to Dao Lian on the phone. I knew it wasn't a good idea to go alone, but I wasn't the type to sit there and wait for things to escalate beyond control before taking action. It was daytime now; even if the "thing" in the toilet had power, it couldn't be that strong. I clutched my pocket; inside was the amulet Dao Lian had given me before I left her house last time. It was a Taoist item, after all; it should have some effect, right?

Sure enough, the restroom was empty, eerily quiet. I hung the amulet around my neck, steeled my resolve, and rushed straight to the second stall.

We're going in! Zero, you can do it!

I put my hand on the doorknob. Sure enough, the door opened easily. It seemed that the "they" Xue'er had mentioned must have known I was coming. There was nothing in the toilet behind the door, except for a strange black hole in the wall, which exuded an evil aura.

A voice kept calling from inside the cave, "Come e in..." My legs wouldn't move; I must be bewitched. But strangely, this time I was perfectly lucid. Was it because of the Taoist amulet?

"Come in... my puppet... my substitute..." Another face, just like mine, slowly appeared at the entrance of the hole, its long hair gradually wrapping around my hands. The toilet door wasn't closed, and I knew I should back away, but my feet just wouldn't move.

The long, resentful hair was about to wrap around my neck when suddenly the amulet around my neck emitted a bright light, and the hair that had just been wrapped around me burst into flames. A piercing scream echoed from the face that resembled hers. "No...no...I hate fire the most..." The black hole shrank little by little with her screams, and the skin on that face rapidly peeled away. In the last second before she disappeared, I saw a somewhat familiar face—was it Xue'er? How could it be?

The black hole vanished, and I still had a clump of slightly burnt hair in my hand. Why? Was that face behind Xue'er, the one who had always helped me? The spirit that had been hurting me—I could feel the intense resentment emanating from her, but there was no trace of it on Xue'er. Xue'er's power was weak; I'd always known that. She was the kind of wandering spirit who lingered in the human world because of something she couldn't let go of, the type that wouldn't harm anyone. In fact, if you helped such a spirit, they would repay you. My senses about spirits are very keen; I can't be wrong. Why is this face now filled with evil...?

Author: Xinxinjun Reply Date: 2005-01-02 01:05:00

The black hole vanished, and I still had a clump of slightly burnt hair in my hand. Why? Was that face behind Xue'er, the one who had always helped me? I could feel the intense resentment emanating from the spirit that had been harming me, but there was no trace of it in Xue'er. Xue'er's power was weak; I'd always known that. She was the kind of wandering spirit who lingered in the human world because of something she couldn't let go of, the type that wouldn't harm anyone. In fact, if you helped such a spirit, they would repay you. My senses about spirits are very keen; I can't be wrong. Why is Xue'er behind that face filled with malice and resentment?

Wait a minute! Thinking back carefully, aside from the time with Sherlin, I've encountered Sher every time something like this happened. If she really is the mastermind behind this incident, it makes sense. But if it really is her, why didn't she act when she had the chance to kill me?

In an instant, the unexpected discovery made me slowly slide down. But the strange sensation on the wall behind my neck caught my attention. This part of the wall was uneven, as if it had been scratched by a very sharp object. There were seven marks in total, two of which were crossed out.

Another 7? Why is everything related to 7 this time? And when they were captured, the voices in the cave kept mentioning puppets and doubles. Could it really be related to the legend of the Seven Walkers? But, as I said before, there are no serious criminals in the school, meaning these so-called doubles they found don't meet the requirements. Yet, the dead are all related to the number 7, and they wore strange, heavy makeup. Could there be some connection? Also, two of the scratches on the wall are crossed out, which should represent the two dead people. That means if they really are the Seven Walkers, two of them have already found doubles. If their double-finding is limited to this timeframe, they should be very anxious now, because according to previous records, the time when all seven must die is fast approaching. And now, only two have died; more will likely die soon.

Logically, a new target can only be set after the previous one dies. In other words, if I don't die, the next person won't either. Once the seven travelers' target is set, it can't be changed. So, they'll probably be constantly bothering me lately. But I still don't understand. I wasn't born on July 7th, my seat number isn't 7, and my dormitory number doesn't contain the number 7. They have no reason to target me. If their substitutes must meet two conditions—one related to the number 7, and the other wearing that eerie heavy makeup before death—I don't even meet the first basic condition. Even if they kill me, the traveler whose target is me still can't ascend. Furthermore, their companions have gone from 7 to 8, and the rest can't ascend this year either. So, their targeting me is completely meaningless. And even now, I still can't understand why Xue'er is behind that face.

There seems to be another crucial point: up to this point, I only suspect "they" are the Seven Walkers, but I've never actually seen "them." I've only seen Sheryl. Even if Sheryl is one of the Seven Walkers searching for a Stand, chronologically, she should have ascended to the next level last year. Because she already found a Stand, didn't she?

Why does discovering more facts only make my thoughts more confused? Let's assume Cheryl is one of the Seven Walkers. If I'm her target, what's her purpose? To prevent the deaths of other targets? Or is there some hidden reason? Things shouldn't be that simple. I should check the student record book again; perhaps there will be some clues.

Sometimes the truth is hidden in the corners you overlook.

While reviewing the student record book again, I noticed something. Previously, it was true that seven people died every year. So I naturally assumed that the number remained constant. However, there was one exception. That was a year after Xue'er's death, when, logically, seven people should have died as well. But that year, only six died. Xue'er was the last person to die the previous year. Could there be some connection?

Regardless, Xue'er is the key to this whole incident. Now, I should find her; perhaps many questions will gradually be answered.

However, regarding the strange makeup and the puppet, I'll probably still have to contact that psychic who's been practicing at home for a month without any news. I'll try again; if I really can't reach him, I'll have to figure it out myself. With this Taoist amulet, at worst I'll just get hurt!

Surprisingly, Dao Lian's phone was answered very quickly this time.

"Hey, Dao Lian? Where are you now? Why didn't you answer my calls earlier?"

"I'm packing my luggage. I'll be taking a flight back to school tomorrow. It's rare for you to call me so urgently, what happened? Did Nana get into some trouble again?"

"...Actually, it's nothing..." For some reason, I stopped, intending to tell him the whole story, but the words wouldn't come out. Suddenly, I didn't want him to know that I was in such a dangerous situation again. I hate always relying on others when something goes wrong.

"I want to ask you something about makeup..." I described the general look of the makeup to Daolian.

"Why would you suddenly ask this? That's forbidden makeup, it's specifically for unclaimed corpses in the morgue. It's makeup for the dead. You know, unclaimed corpses often become wandering spirits because their souls aren't released in time."

"So... what exactly does the number 7 mean?"

"Ah Ling, you're acting strange. Why are you suddenly asking so many questions? Are you planning something dangerous again? I'm going back to school tomorrow, so if you're going to do anything, you have to wait for me to come back!"

"No, Dao Lian, you're overthinking it! I'm just curious. You still haven't told me what other special meaning the number 7 has."

"Many people believe that 13 is the number of the devil. But actually, there is another hidden devil number among numbers, and that is 7. It contains strange magic, possessing both the power of sealing and the power of creation. If 6 is the number favored by the gods, then 7 is the number favored by the devil. Sometimes, the power contained in spells containing the number 7 is beyond imagination, and it even has the power to control people's minds. Zero, is your sudden question about this because of the strange deaths in this school that are somewhat similar to the Seven Walkers? Judging from the dates, it seems to be getting close... At first, I thought that you and Nana had nothing to do with 7, so I went to train in peace. Now you suddenly ask me this... Zero, don't get yourself involved in troublesome things. Your body... you know that yourself."

"Daolian, you're overthinking it. I promised you last time that I wouldn't do anything to worry you again. Don't overthink it..."

"...Ah Ling...no matter what it is...we'll talk about it after I get back tomorrow, okay? Don't act alone! I recently divined through the Taoist school that you'll face a calamity soon, so please don't do anything rash! I'll be at school tomorrow!"

"I understand! Butler Dao! I'm hanging up! You'll see I'm alright tomorrow! Don't worry! Bye!" I hung up the phone and let out a soft sigh. I lied, saying that the same thing wouldn't happen again. How fake! I was planning to go to that restroom tonight to look for Xue'er again; I knew I'd definitely run into her there. And I had a feeling that if I didn't go to her tonight, things might take an unexpected turn. I didn't know what that might be, but a voice inside me told me I had to go.

Author: Xinxinjun Reply Date: 2005-01-02 01:06:00

Maybe, when I'm in danger again, D will come to save me! I don't know why, but I suddenly thought of that man. I even felt like I was gambling with my life, wondering if I could see him again. Deep down, I was so eager to see him. Although I vaguely felt that if I saw him again, I might never find myself again, I couldn't forget that inexplicable sense of familiarity. What was it? It made my heart flutter, as if a different version of myself was slowly emerging from the depths of my being.

I gripped the amulet tightly in my hand again. Everything was on the line tonight.

It was still that eerily quiet toilet. A chilling, almost unbearable atmosphere hung in the air. Something was about to burst forth from the darkness. The door to the second stall was surprisingly wide open. The surroundings remained eerily quiet. Suddenly, the toilet window began to vibrate unnaturally, and strange wind noises echoed within.

I knew it was Xue'er or them who had come.

I gripped the amulet tightly in my hand again. Dao Lian, I hope your Taoist amulets can protect me!

After the tremor, the toilet suddenly returned to its initial quiet. "Xue'er, come here!" I called out loudly to dispel my fear.

A cool sensation ran down the back of my neck; I felt a cold wind blowing behind me. I turned around abruptly, only to find nothing there. Perhaps I was just being paranoid. I slowly exhaled, opened my eyes, and was startled to find Xue'er right in front of me, her face deathly pale, her eyes vacant. The sudden close-up startled me.

No! Her expression wasn't the one I remembered! I realized it, but it was too late! Xue'er's long hair was already wrapped around my feet, and I was being pulled down. A huge black hole appeared in the wall of the second toilet stall not far away, and Xue'er slowly disappeared into it, while I was dragged in that direction by her hair. I struggled to get my Taoist amulet out, only to find it had fallen onto the toilet floor when I fell.

What to do! I tried to shift my weight forward, attempting to slow my slide towards the black hole. My hands bled from scraping against the floor. But it was no use; my feet were already inside, a bone-chilling cold spreading upwards from the soles of my feet. That was ghostly energy, I recognized it! Inside the hole… there were probably the other seven walkers who hadn't yet ascended!

Half of my body was inside the hole. At that moment, my hair suddenly split into two strands. One strand wrapped around my hand and the toilet doorknob, as if trying to pull me out of the hole. Was someone trying to save me?

The two sides were locked in a stalemate, and I seemed to hear Xue'er scream. Perhaps it was a dying will to survive, but I remembered something and shouted, "I have nothing to do with 7! Even if you kill me, you still won't be able to ascend!"

The two forces that had been locked in a stalemate stopped. Suddenly, the hair on my feet and hands came loose, and a powerful force propelled me outward. I was thrown out of the black hole by this force and landed heavily on the ground outside the second toilet.

"Ouch! What if I broke a bone?" I thought to myself. Slowly, I got up and saw Xue'er struggling on the ground, looking extremely pained. Her disheveled hair slowly transformed into heavily made-up faces. I recognized two of them: Xie Lin, who had just died, and my high school senior. There were eight faces in total! Dao Lian's so-called "dead person makeup" slowly appeared on Xue'er's face too!

"You lied to us again! You lied to us again! Are you trying to prevent us from advancing again? Because you broke the rules last year, none of us could leave. Are you trying to do it again this year? You actually want to find someone unrelated to 7 to deceive us! Do you want to prevent us from leaving?" Those faces shouted at Xue'er.

"No—no—" she cried out in anguish, covering her face, "I didn't mean to lie to you!"