I Became the Final Subjugation Target of That Era’s Light Novel

Chapter

“…That oni costume.”

“It’s not an oni, it’s a namahage.”

What’s a namahage?

“Namahage comes from Okita Prefecture—uh, that’s not important right now.”

Upon seeing my expression, the man quickly closed his mouth.

Well, I was thinking the same thing inside, but I wanted to avoid saying anything out loud.

Is he some kind of yokai enthusiast or something?

I glanced at the knife that was lying on the floor.

“Oh, that’s, um, just for self-defense…”

That seemed reasonable. If someone was planning to leave that situation, they’d need a weapon to protect themselves.

But then again, carrying a knife was a bit much, wasn’t it? Usually, wouldn’t you just grab a bat or something?

…Wait. I don’t even have a bat in my place. Other than a baseball bat, there’s pretty much nothing useful.

“Uh… so, you are…”

The man was about to ask me something when I heard the distant sound of a police car.

I don’t know who called them, but they arrived pretty quickly. It hadn’t been long since I collapsed on the stairs.

But if the situation was unfolding like this, the police would definitely be overwhelmed.

How long would it take for the man to kill or assault me? Thinking about that sent chills down my spine.

I stared intently at the knife, then gripped it tightly with my hand again.

“Hey!”

The man jumped back, but this time, I didn’t press the blade to my wrist; instead, I started waving the knife around.

I wonder how much of my fingerprint I can erase.

As far as I know, fingerprints collected at this time probably won’t be accepted as evidence. Since no murder actually took place, the police won’t be too enthusiastic about collecting fingerprints.

Looking up, it seems there aren’t any CCTV cameras here. Well, it would be more surprising if there were in such an old apartment.

“…Uncle.”

“Hmm?”

“Say that I dropped the knife when I came out.”

“What?”

The man made a slightly dazed noise.

“Just holding the knife in that situation would be a big deal.”

I’ve heard of cases where someone just holding a glass bottle was charged and ended up in prison. Of course, that was in Korea, though. Would Japan differ that much?

“Then what about you?”

“I’m a minor.”

Sixteen.

I’m not sure how long the youth protection laws in Japan last.

“You’ll say you dropped it, and I picked it up when I escaped.”

I heard the police shouting something.

The sounds of car doors opening and closing, and police rushing over.

“Don’t move!”

I don’t know how many were gathered at the bottom of the stairs, but the police who came up shouted and then looked at the man and me.

A man in a strange outfit. And me holding a knife.

The police had a momentary blank expression, but quickly seemed to grasp the situation and yelled at the man.

“You—”

“No, it’s not me.”

I said this to the police as I dropped the knife to the floor.

“That uncle there is a thief.”

“…Is he?”

Saying that, the police alternated their gaze between me and the man, but they still didn’t fully let their guard down against him.

The police hesitated as they came toward me.

“…Can you stand?”

“…Yes.”

I didn’t refuse the hand the police extended to me. In fact, I still didn’t have any strength in my legs. Supporting the uncle back at the station, walking all the way here, running, struggling beneath that creep—I experienced all of that in such a short time, and it drained me.

The police helped me up.

“…I think we’ll need to take a statement, is that okay?”

“Yes.”

I answered willingly.

What else could I say?

As I was being helped by the police, the man stared at me blankly.

*

So, what should I do?

The best outcome in this situation would be to resolve it as if it never happened.

Of course, that stalker needs to be kept as far away from me as possible. Though it’s a problem figuring out how to do that… let’s take it step by step.

The first thing they asked me was, “Where are your parents?”

I reluctantly called for Kagami. She’s the only connection to the existence of Kurosawa Koto Ne in this world.

Though I’m not even sure if that counts.

When Kagami entered the police station and spotted me, she gave a slight smile as if to say “Don’t worry.”

Then she said—

“Ha, I don’t even know that girl.”

She crossed her legs and folded her arms.

Now that I think about it, her outfit was completely different from when she came to see me. The skirt was ridiculously short.

…Hmm, how do I put this? In many ways, she looked… decadent. It wouldn’t be weird if she had just come from dancing at a club.

“But Ms. Kurosawa, you’re certainly here as your mother—”

“Just because she gave birth to me, does that mean she’s my mother?”

That’s an utterly ridiculous excuse.

“Since she doesn’t earn money and wastes her time studying at a ridiculously expensive school, there’s nothing good she’s done for the mother who gave birth to me. So why should I call that girl my daughter?”

For a moment, I was dumbfounded.

It’s intentionally ridiculous, but how can a person utter something so absurd?

But then again, thinking again, maybe she’s not even human. I somehow came to terms with it.

The police officer’s mouth was agape in shock.

No, not just him; everyone nearby was staring at us with their mouths wide open.

“Ha, tsk, just when things were going well, you had to ruin the mood by calling her.”

I thought for a moment about why this girl was acting like this.

My conclusion is that she wants to portray the character “Kurosawa Koto Ne” as a “poor girl.” It seemed like a form of character building.

I completely understood the situation and decided to play along.

Keeping my mouth shut, I lowered my head.

I can’t act like this. So, it’s better to hide my face to look more ‘pathetic.’

“…Huh.”

The police chuckled as they exchanged glances between me and Kagami.

*

Looking back at the situation, I did injure that stalker.

I nearly broke his fingers backward, and in the process, he fell backward on the stairs and hit his head on the floor and lost consciousness.

I heard he wasn’t dead or anything, but he still needed treatment, so he was taken to the hospital.

“But you don’t need to worry about that much.”

Kagami said.

The police didn’t hold onto me for long. Since I was the victim and the stalker wasn’t in a proper state to speak, the man wouldn’t have much to testify. In that situation, they couldn’t just hold onto me. They likely had no intention of doing so.

Instead, they drove me home. I must have looked pretty pitiful.

The two cops who dropped Kagami and me off in front of my house told me in a small voice to call them anytime I needed help.

Did I look that pitiful?

If so, then Kagami’s plan worked.

Anyway, as soon as we got home, Kagami said to me.

“…Is there someone high up who believes in cults?”

“Hmm, there are some, but not enough for me to be introduced to you yet.”

…Looks like I might have a higher position than I thought. If a ‘high person’ in this country is treated like that.

No, wait, that implies there are actually ‘religions’ like that.

I just said it as a sarcastic joke.

“Didn’t I tell you? Why wouldn’t you want to hear something good? How can you think it’s not a religion?”

I rubbed my temples.

“Then, what does it mean to not have to worry? Are you saying today’s incident won’t be a big legal issue?”

“I’m not sure about that.”

“Then?”

“There’s one of your friends. A friend who can make light incidents like murder ‘not happen.’ It’s a friend from a family that has been entangled with the high people of this country for a long time.”

Kagami chuckled before continuing.

“I just want to remind you that you’ve already broken into someone’s house who has nothing to do with you. You also spilled your blood all over the place. Your friend knocked that man out without a care. Would that be excusable in a country that follows the principle of legality and presumption of innocence? Even if the other person is a cannibal murderer?”

“…”

I had no words to say.

“If you just get on the phone and say one word, this will all be resolved, right?”

She spoke with a tone that made me deeply uncomfortable.

I sighed deeply.

“Then that’s resolved.”

Kagami said with a smile.

“Do you want to ask more questions?”

“…You mentioned there’s a cult.”

“Right. The name of the religion hasn’t been decided yet. Do you want to name it?”

“…”

“Oh, and we’ve received quite a bit of funds. Need any?”

My mouth opened slightly and then quickly shut again.

“Do you not need it?”

“…That money…”

“Of course, it’s the type of form known as a ‘cult religion’ in this country. To rise high, you must pay plenty of offerings. But isn’t ours real? Persuasion isn’t that hard.”

I sat there for a moment in a daze.

“Oh, but of course, even if you tell us not to, we’re going to.”

I didn’t expect that at all.

“Do you need money?”

“I don’t need it.”

“I thought you’d say that.”

Kagami smiled and stood up.

“Just giving up would be much easier.”

“…”

Seeing that I didn’t respond at all, she shrugged her shoulders.

“Well, I’ll take my leave. It’ll be uncomfortable for both of us to stay here anyway.”

Kagami said that and gave me a slight bow. Then she opened the door and left.

“…Hah.”

I sighed heavily and rubbed my face with my hands.

Then I folded the table against the wall and laid out a blanket on the floor.

As usual, I folded the blanket vertically and slipped inside. I rested my head on the pillow and turned to the side.

After lying there for a while, I exhaled deeply.

…I think it’s going to be hard to sleep again tonight.

When I looked at my phone, it was just past ten o’clock.

Is Yuuki sleeping?

Should I bother my friend for help? Or should I use money that’s tainted with someone’s blood without guilt? Those were the only two choices I had.

…What a world we live in.

I sighed deeply, and in the end, I grabbed my phone.

Click, I unfolded my phone and pressed Yuuki’s number repeatedly. It was already a registered number, but there were hardly any numbers saved on my phone. I had memorized the ones I used often.

After a moment of hesitation, I pressed the call button.

As I brought the phone to my ear, it rang three times before the fourth ring was interrupted, and the other party answered.

[Kurosawa?]

Hearing the voice that called me like he was completely taken by surprise eased my heart a little.

“…Yuuki.”

[What’s up?]

His voice dropped noticeably after hearing mine.

I hesitated for a moment before opening my mouth.

But what came out was nothing but a shaky sigh.

After the incident ended, I realized I was completely exhausted. It was a different kind of weariness from when I was supported by the police.

My body ached everywhere. The parts I bumped into while falling on the stairs were finally starting to hurt now.

The wounds on my wrist cleared up so quickly, but this pain… didn’t seem to be the same.

“I…”

I tried to speak, but quickly shut my mouth again.

My voice was trembling badly.

I rubbed my eyes with my hands.

[…Are you home?]

“…Yeah.”

[Got it. I’ll be there right away.]

It would take a while for Yuuki to get from his house to mine.

Still, Yuuki answered like that.

He didn’t make any other demands.

Is this what it means to truly be a main character?

After hanging up, I set my phone on the bedside.

Then I curled up and hugged my knees.

In the same posture as a fetus in my mother’s womb, I lay there quietly for a while—

Knock, knock, knock!

—I opened my eyes at the sudden sound of someone knocking hard on the door.

I rubbed my eyes and looked at my phone.

It was just past 11:40.

…I thought I would find it hard to sleep, but it seems I fell asleep as soon as I lay down under the blanket.

I rubbed my eyes, pushed the blanket aside, and got up.

“Kurosawa!”

I heard someone shouting from beyond the door.

As I stood up, I realized I was still wearing my school uniform.

Who cares?

“Kurosawa! Are you in there!?”

Knock, knock, knock!

The sound of someone banging on the door came through.

I heard movement from the next room, so I hurried to the entrance.

I walked toward the door barefoot, not even putting on my shoes.

Click.

As soon as I unlocked the door, it swung wide open.

There stood Yuuki.

He was wearing a white short-sleeved t-shirt and jeans. Did he just throw something together to wear?

Breathing heavily and sweating, Yuuki looked at me.

Was I really in such a pitiful state?

“…What’s going on?”

Yuuki asked, with a very shocked expression.

*

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