Chapter 2: Jun’s First Day Away (2)
“From now on, I will play as Juncheng until Juncheng returns.”
I had experience playing as Juncheng once before. Although I couldn’t replicate him perfectly, I figured I wouldn’t have any flaws in the eyes of ordinary people.
Yu Hui couldn’t help but shed tears again. She tried to wipe them away, but they continued to fall.
I didn’t offer any words of comfort, simply stating, “He’s just ‘missing’ for now.”
“That’s only because his body hasn’t been found. But you should know what really happened, Kaoru… How did she ‘go back to normal’?”
Nana Yang crossed her arms and leaned against the wall, negating my thought.
I had already prepared my response.
“In my world, coming back from the dead is nothing but a fantasy, but in this world, it’s possible, right? He died once before, and then became a zombie and came back to life, didn’t he?”
“That was also with a body. Although Kaoru was completely confused under extreme shock, from her disjointed words, it’s possible to know what happened then. She… dropped An Juncheng…”
Nana Yang paused here. She took out a cigarette case from her trench coat pocket, took out a cigarette, and held it in her mouth. She put the case back in her pocket, held the cigarette in her hand, and continued,
“I don’t know what exactly happened then, but Kaoru’s craving was indeed appeased. The ‘thing’ that was residing in her hair also disappeared… Perhaps An Juncheng considered himself her ‘last supper’…”
“It’s just that the body is gone. Another can be made.”
“Do you treat people like dolls?”
Nana Yang sighed and shook her head as if she were out of options.
“Hmph, no matter what, I won’t give up.”
…Yes, I won’t give up either! I must save Lord Juncheng!
It seemed my resolve had somewhat infected Yu Hui. It was good that she could regain some spirit; this way, I would have another helper.
“Yu Hui, where are my clothes?”
“Here, they’ve already been prepared.”
My original clothes seemed to be beyond repair. Yu Hui handed me a new set of clothes, likely prepared by the organization in advance.
As I unbuttoned the patient gown and put on my underwear, preparing to put on my sweater, I realized that the wound on my abdomen had already healed considerably.
I didn’t know what kind of black technology they used, but even a wound of that severity could heal so quickly.
I moved my body around; there was no inconvenience. It was about time to act.
After putting on my shoes and tying some of my hair back into a ponytail with a hair tie, I called out to Yu Hui and spoke earnestly to Nana Yang.
“Let’s go. We’ll check on everyone else’s situation first… Take us to see the Four Calamities.”
…Never mind, even if I say no, you’ll act on your own. But I’ll warn you in advance, they have already… reached their most dangerous forms, completely overturning your perception of them. I can allow you to see them, but I won’t let you come into contact with them. It’s too dangerous.
“I understand. Just seeing them is fine. Please take us there.”
“Then… follow me.”
Nana Yang dropped the unlit cigarette she had taken out into the trash can and walked out of the hospital room first.
I looked back at Yu Hui, met her gaze, nodded, and followed her out.
The atmosphere in Black Street was noticeably gloomier than usual. Nana Yang led us to a place called “Black Blue Pavilion,” which looked like an antique shop, like a shop from the early last century, with an air of being out of sync with the times everywhere.
Upon entering, we were greeted by a smiling man. His smile was unsettling. A calico cat was sleeping lazily on the man’s lap. It showed no reaction when it saw us enter and yawned nonchalantly.
“Oh, you’re here… Is this person…?”
“Yes, this is Zi’ai An. I brought her to meet the Four Calamities.”
“Oh~ it’s you! Great, great, you’re finally here! I beg you, please…”
“Cut the nonsense and lead the way quickly.”
“Yes, yes, my dear leader.”
Seeing Nana Yang glare at him again, the man dared not joke further. He quickly took out a key that looked like a work of art and approached a blank wall. The wall, as if shedding paint, revealed an elevator entrance with a keyhole. The man inserted the tail of the key into the lock and turned it several times. Only then did the elevator door open.
The complex method of opening it, along with the psychological trap, indicated that a very important secret was hidden here.
“Well then, I wish you a pleasant journey.”
After we entered the elevator, Nana Yang began to explain.
“This is a place to ‘contain’ anomalies that cannot be controlled.”
“Contain? I’d say imprison.”
“If they can integrate well into this human-dominated society, we naturally won’t interfere. Those who can communicate but still need education and adaptation are sent to schools. Everyone here is just… someone who has already ‘committed a crime’.”
“Are Ji Lianbing and the others also here?”
“You’ll know if they are once you see them.”
The elevator descended continuously. There were no floor numbers displayed, but after such a long descent, it was possible we had gone down more than ten floors underground.
Eighteen levels of hell? Heh…
After a while, the elevator finally stopped, and the doors slowly opened. What we saw was not a terrifying scene filled with screams like hell, but a normal corridor, the kind found in a hospital.
But if this were a mental hospital, it would be too quiet… silent, adding to an even more eerie atmosphere.
“Who should we see first?”
“Are they all here?”
The first stop, as expected, had to be her… the source of this entire incident, the culprit, Kaoru Tsukiyose.
After walking a bit further, we stopped in front of a room. The door wasn’t locked; turning the handle allowed us to enter.
The room had a large glass panel. On the other side of the glass was a blank room with only a stool in the center. Kaoru Tsukiyose, dressed in a blood-red gown, sat obediently on the stool.
Like a doll, she was completely still, eyes open but not blinking.
“Kaoru, I brought her to see you.”
Kaoru Tsukiyose slightly raised her head, her eyes looking at me. Her lips parted slightly.
She seemed to still be conscious, just looking listless.
Now, the problem was mine: how should I start?
The moment I saw Kaoru Tsukiyose, my instinct was to blame her, to selfishly say, “If it weren’t for you, Juncheng wouldn’t have died.”
Such words were meaningless.
Even Yu Hui held back; how could I say something like that?
This Light Novel.
If it were him, what would he say? At this moment… it would only be that one sentence.
Hoo…
“I’m glad you’re alright.”
Kaoru Tsukiyose’s expression instantly crumbled. She let out a sharp cry. Her blood-red gown fluttered without wind, suddenly disintegrating and flowing to the floor, turning into a pool of blood.
The blood coalesced again, forming the appearance of ‘An Juncheng’.
Yu Hui looked astonished, while Nana Yang, as if she had seen it before, clicked her tongue and walked out of the room, likely unable to watch any longer.
“Ah… look, Zi’ai came to see you!”
Kaoru Tsukiyose, as if treating that thing as Juncheng, showed a dazed smile.
I see.
The blood person couldn’t speak. After patting Kaoru Tsukiyose’s head, I walked to the glass, extended my hand, and left a bloody handprint.
It seemed to be looking at me…
But I didn’t respond. Because I knew it wasn’t Juncheng at all, not even a shell, just a ‘model’. Yet, its movements and expressions were so natural, so natural that… for a moment, I really thought Juncheng was there…
This… An Juncheng from Kaoru Tsukiyose’s memories?
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry… Because of me, Juncheng became like this… But this way, we can be together forever. You won’t be jealous, will you? Juncheng belongs only to me…”
There was no sign of anything wrong. Kaoru Tsukiyose acted naturally, but this ‘naturalness’ was precisely what felt ‘unnatural’.
“It’s alright, I’m glad you’re okay. We’ll come see you again next time.”
I forced a smile, turned around, patted Yu Hui’s shoulder, and gestured to leave.
After walking out of the room, Nana Yang, who was smoking against the wall, tilted her head and asked,
“How is it?”
…Although she seemed capable of communication, her inner self is broken. She can’t engage in verbal exchange. If provoked, it would be even worse.
“You’re quite clever. I was thinking of activating the emergency containment if you said the ‘forbidden words’.”
Forbidden words… likely referring to denying the blood person’s words.
“But in a sense, that is indeed ‘An Juncheng’, or rather, a part of An Juncheng. That blood is indeed An Juncheng’s blood… Verifying it took a lot of effort. Several people almost died at Kaoru’s hands.”
“Why did Lord Juncheng’s blood turn into that?”
Yu Hui asked the question I wanted to ask.
“The specific reason is still unknown, but that’s probably Kaoru’s ability as a Calamity. Like Ji Lianbing can control the undead, she can probably control blood. Further speculation might suggest she can control everyone’s blood… It’s all still unknown. We don’t dare to provoke her too much; that would be suicidal. At other times, she sits there like a puppet, doing nothing and eating nothing.”
“Who should we see next?”
I thought for a moment and asked.
“Is Ji Lianbing here? Didn’t her maid pick her up?”
“Quite the opposite. Ji Lianbing was brought here by the maid named Shirley. And if it weren’t for the help of that incredible maid, the organization would likely have been finished by now.”
“That serious?”
“That was ‘Death’ made manifest. Anything alive had no way to refuse her ‘temptation’… However, with her demon maid watching, there shouldn’t be any problem for the time being.”
“Is that so? Then let’s go see her.”
Nana Yang nodded and led the way for us.
Before I followed, I glanced back at Kaoru Tsukiyose’s room one last time…
The blood had turned back into a blood-red gown, and she had lowered her head, her fingers interlaced.
That posture was just like she was repenting.
Perhaps… regarding Juncheng’s death, she herself knew the most.
She just didn’t want to believe it.
