The street fell silent.
Not gradually.
Not naturally.
It just—
Stopped.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
Even the faint sounds of the ruined city seemed to disappear.
High above them—
Nurarihyon stood calmly on the rooftop.
Elegant.
Relaxed.
Unbothered.
But something about him had changed.
The same presence—
Yet heavier.
Deeper.
More oppressive.
Like the air itself bent slightly around him.
"…W-what is this…?"
A man dropped to his knees.
His body trembled uncontrollably.
Another survivor stumbled backward, barely keeping his balance.
The pressure in the air was suffocating.
Like something invisible was pressing down on everyone at once.
Kenta clenched his fists tightly.
"…Tch…"
His teeth gritted.
Even he—
Couldn't stay calm.
For the first time—
His composure cracked.
But in the middle of all of it—
Rishiro stood still.
Hands in his pockets.
Looking up.
Unmoved.
Untouched.
Then—
He grinned.
"…You again."
A soft chuckle echoed from above.
"My, my…"
"So you noticed."
Nurarihyon's gaze locked onto him immediately.
Sharp.
Interested.
"I suppose I should not be surprised, Mr. Rishiro."
Whispers spread through the crowd like wildfire.
"He knows him…?"
"They've met before…?!"
Maru's eyes widened.
Her grip tightened around the bat.
"…Rishiro…"
Hikari's fingers curled slightly into her sleeve.
Her voice barely a whisper.
"Why is he here again…?"
Nurarihyon tilted his head slightly.
Studying him.
"You truly are… interesting."
His gaze sharpened.
Cold.
Calculating.
"From the moment we first met…"
"…something about you felt wrong."
A faint smile formed.
Not friendly.
Not kind.
Curious.
"…so I took the liberty of looking into you."
A ripple moved through the crowd.
"Looking into him…?"
"What does that mean—?"
Maru's expression stiffened.
Something about this—
Felt dangerous.
Nurarihyon continued calmly.
"And the more I observed…"
"…the more certain I became."
A pause.
Then—
"…You do not belong here."
Silence.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
Kenta frowned.
"…Not belong…?"
Hikari's voice trembled slightly.
"…What is he…?"
Rishiro scratched his cheek casually.
"…Took you long enough."
A small grin appeared.
Like he had expected this.
Nurarihyon chuckled softly.
"So you are aware."
Rishiro didn't confirm it.
Didn't deny it.
He simply stood there.
Calm.
Unbothered.
And somehow—
That made everything worse.
The air grew heavier.
Denser.
Like something unseen had stepped closer.
Nurarihyon's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Tell me."
His voice dropped.
Sharper now.
"What exactly are you?"
The question echoed.
Across the street.
Across the silence.
No one breathed.
Everyone waited.
Rishiro looked up at him.
Then—
Smiled.
"…Just someone you should keep an eye on."
A chill ran through the crowd.
Unexplainable.
Instinctive.
Nurarihyon laughed softly.
"…How vague."
Then—
He raised his hand slightly.
And the world—
Glitched.
The sky flickered.
Like a broken screen tearing across reality.
A cold, mechanical voice echoed—
Not from above.
Not from below.
But from everywhere.
SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENTEVENT UPDATEHyakki Yagyō — Phase Two
Everyone looked up.
Fear spreading instantly.
"In one week…"
Nurarihyon spoke calmly.
"…the Night Parade will begin again."
The words hit like a shockwave.
Fear spread instantly through the crowd.
"But this time…"
His smile deepened.
Cold.
Cruel.
"…it will not stop."
Silence.
Then—
Panic.
"What…?"
"Not stop?!"
"That's impossible—!"
But he ignored them.
Completely.
"The parade will continue…"
"…until the players themselves bring it to an end."
Silence returned.
But this time—
It was heavier.
Crushing.
Hikari's voice came out as a whisper.
"…So we have to stop it…?"
No one answered.
No one could.
Because the implication was clear.
If they failed—
There would be no end.
Only destruction.
Nurarihyon slowly looked back at Rishiro.
His eyes gleamed faintly.
"…Let me see how far you can go."
Rishiro grinned.
Wide.
Sharp.
"…Watch closely."
For a moment—
Everything faded again.
The crowd.
The city.
The fear.
All of it disappeared.
Leaving only—
Two figures.
Two existences.
Facing each other.
Their eyes locked.
Unmoving.
Unyielding.
Like a silent agreement had been made.
Then—
Nurarihyon clicked his tongue lightly.
"…Ah."
A faint smile returned.
"My apologies."
A short pause.
"I should address you properly."
His gaze sharpened again.
Focused.
Precise.
"…Mr. Rishiro."
The air tightened.
Then—
His smile deepened.
Wider.
Knowing.
"…No."
A breath passed through the entire street.
"…Mr. Liar."
The words echoed.
Clear.
Unavoidable.
The crowd reacted instantly.
"…Liar…?"
"What does that mean—?"
"Is that a title?!"
Every head turned—
Toward Rishiro.
Waiting.
Watching.
Judging.
For a moment—
He didn't move.
Didn't react.
Just stood there.
Still.
Then—
He smiled.
A sharp—
Almost jester-like smile.
Unnatural.
Unapologetic.
His eyes locked onto Nurarihyon.
And this time—
There was no hiding it.
No pretending.
No ambiguity.
As if—
He had been waiting.
For someone—
To finally say it out loud.
The wind moved again.
Slow.
Cold.
Carrying a single thought across the silent street—
Something had just been revealed.
And nothing—
Would stay the same after this.
End of Chapter 21