On the way to the Karasuma Line subway station in Kyoto.
Instead of heading straight for the sealed Exit 4, I opened the door to a small, shabby bakery tucked away in a nearby alleyway.
Tinkle—
"Welcome—oh?"
The baker, who was busy organizing the display shelves, widened his eyes when he saw me.
This was the very shop where I used to do an 'open run' every single day to sweep up the leftover discount bread just to keep from starving to death before I entered the Zenin clan.
The owner scanned my appearance from head to toe, his lips twitching as he spoke.
"The shrimp... isn't a shrimp anymore. You've shot up like a beanpole in just a year."
"Haha, it's been a while, sir. I've been so tied up with 'family business' that I couldn't find the time to drop by."
The bakery owner let out a good-natured laugh at my slick greeting.
"I'm just glad to see you're alive. Do you want me to pack the usual croquettes that are about to expire?"
"Ayy, come on now. Heh. Sir, look at the quality of the clothes I'm wearing. I've finally got a glow-up, so I should be eating the freshly baked stuff now."
"Hahaha, is that so? You've certainly shed that scruffy look you had back then.
Remember how you'd get into staring contests with other customers over a single bun first thing in the morning? You've become quite the elegant young master now."
At the owner's joke about my dark past, I let out a dry cough and slid a luxurious wooden box I'd been hiding behind my back onto the counter.
"Oh, and please take this too."
"Uh? What's this? Even the packaging looks incredibly expensive."
"High-end sake. Think of it as payment for the kindness you showed me back then. I only survived because you didn't kick an orphan like me out for ruining the store's atmosphere every morning."
It was one of the top-shelf bottles I'd bought after looting Old Man Naobito's wallet every time I went out. The owner waved his hands dismissively at my formal gratitude.
"Hey, forget it! Selling a few leftover scraps of bread is no big deal. This is too fancy for me to accept."
"Oh, if it's too much of a burden, you don't even have to drink it. Just put it in your display case as a decoration. I think it'd look pretty good there."
"Sigh... You're as stubborn as ever, kid. Fine, I'll enjoy it."
The owner carefully lowered the wooden box beneath the counter, feigning reluctance.
"So, what bread are we getting today? Freshly baked croissants?"
"Hmm... I've got some young kids at home. Do you have anything pretty and high-quality that children would like?"
The owner's eyes bugged out. He glanced outside the shop for a moment, then leaned in close, whispering in a low voice.
"...Kid, did you pull a fast one already?"
"What?!"
I recoiled in shock.
"No! They're my siblings! Well, not biological siblings, but cousins!"
"Ah, scared me for a second. Right, right, I get it."
Chuckling, the owner guided me toward the display refrigerator.
"How about this cake? Apparently, Sanrio characters are making a huge 'retro' comeback in the city these days. So I made these Hello Kitty and My Melody decorations out of chocolate."
"Oh..."
"The cost is a bit high since it's handmade, but if I put it where it's visible from the window, the passing kids won't let go of their parents' sleeves. Hahaha."
I nodded at the owner's confident explanation. It was a cute, charming design that little kids like Maki and Mai would absolutely flip for.
"I'll take one. When was it made?"
"This morning. It's so popular the turnover is fast, so it's very fresh."
"Perfect."
I opened my wallet and added,
"Wrap up this cake, and then pack every single freshly baked loaf you have left on the shelves. I'm going to head home and treat the elders and the kids today."
The owner's jaw dropped at my massive order.
"Whoa! To think you were counting coins like a beggar not long ago... talk about a big spender! For this amount, I'll even deliver it personally. Where's your house?"
"Ah, I'll just write down the address for you on this memo pad."
I picked up a pen from the counter and scribbled down the address of the Zenin estate on the outskirts of Kyoto. The owner's eyes flickered strangely when he checked the address, but he eventually nodded.
"Will you be taking the Sanrio cake with you first?"
"Yes, yes. I have to carry this one carefully. Please take care of the delivery later. I'm off!"
"Right—get home safe!"
I left the bakery, cradling the cake box carefully in my arms.
Since I'd pleasantly cleared my debt to the past, it was now time to settle the debt of that humiliating defeat.
Holding the cake box firmly with one hand to keep it steady, I walked toward the sealed Exit 4, my other hand stroking the bandaged hilt of the Cursed Blade Muramasa at my waist.
On the subway ride back, the large Sanrio character cake box in my lap drew a lot of attention. The fancy and conspicuous packaging caused the toddlers on the train to stare intensely, creating quite a bit of agro. I had to endure some sharp glares from parents who were struggling to calm their kids down, but what could I do?
Finally, I arrived near Exit 4 of the Karasuma Line. Fearing that this expensive and precious cake might get crushed during a fight, I very carefully slid the box into a nearby coin locker and locked it tight.
"Preparation complete."
I lightly pushed past the firmly closed steel barricade, hopped over the faded yellow police line, and entered the corridor of Exit 4. The damp, clammy air licked my skin.
And then, those bizarre instructions that had once tightened around my throat like a noose came into view.
[ ← Exit: Exit 0 ]
Do not overlook even a single anomaly.
If you discover an anomaly, turn back immediately.
If there is no anomaly, proceed forward.
Leave through Exit 4.
Violence is prohibited in this location.
Any violation is the sole responsibility of the offender.
Always maintain control over your emotions.
Any violation of this is also the sole responsibility of the offender.
"Phew, long time no see."
Back then, I did every desperate circus act imaginable just to survive and escape these damn rules. Well, it's a bitter memory, so might as well take a look around. I scanned the surroundings leisurely.
"Left poster is correct, the fire extinguisher and cleaning closet on the right are in their place..."
In that case, what about the woman walking toward me from up ahead?
On the dark tile floor, the familiar woman was approaching, the steady click-clack of her heels echoing. I scanned her from head to toe. Hmm, no problem.
Since there was no anomaly, the 'rule' of this space dictated that I should 'proceed forward.'
However, today is different.
The moment the woman tried to brush past me, I threw an arm around her shoulder and blocked her path.
"Where ya going, big sis?"
But the woman's monstrous physical strength was the same as ever. Even with my arm around her, she began to drag me along.
"Damn, your raw strength is just as idiotic as it was a year ago."
Then how about this?
I instantly detonated the Cursed Energy inside my body. The heavy weight of my energy brought her footsteps to a dead halt, and I used the momentum to violently yank her toward me instead.
It was at that moment.
"RULE VIOLATION!"
"Didn't follow the rule..."
Two chilling, mechanical languages overlapped and echoed. The woman's skin began to crack open, attempting to reveal the horrifying true form of the monster hidden within. The true nature of a ghost-story Cursed Spirit that rivaled a Special Grade.
But before it could take shape, my barrier was much faster to overlay.
Still keeping my arm around the woman, I pulled both my arms tight to my chest and formed a hand sign.
"Domain Expansion."
BOOM—!!
The bizarre rules of the Cursed Spirit that weighed down the subway were instantly devoured by my domain, like ink covering a canvas. As I seized control of the space, the rules of the spirit floating in the air began to distort grotesquely.
[ ← Exi ]
Do not miss a sing
If you find an anom
If there are no anom
Go out through Exi
In this loc
If violated, the liah
Always control your e
If violated, this too
The sentences were completely erased before they could even finish forming.
Then, with a massive shatter—!! sound like a giant sheet of glass being smashed, the Cursed Spirit's Innate Domain failed to hold out and collapsed perfectly.
The damp air lifted, and the bizarre instructions around us were finally purified into the language of the common world.
[ ← Exit: Exit 4 ]
[ Current Nearest Emergency Exit Location ]
[ Disabled Access ]
The Cursed Spirit, whose absolute rules had been broken, writhed in confusion, its skin hanging off grotesquely in its half-monster state. I let out a ruthless sneer toward the creature.
"So this is what you look like without the 'makeup'? Gross, you're hideous."
I unraveled the bandages and drew the sword at my waist. I then infused its edge with a brilliant glow of Positive Energy—a lethal poison to any Cursed Spirit.
Squelch—!
With a dazzling flash of white light, the blade coated in Positive Energy sliced the monster's hideous body clean in half in a single strike. It didn't even have the chance to scream before it crumbled into white smoke and ash.
The subway corridor stood empty. I spoke nonchalantly to the fading ashes.
"I told you. I'd be back."
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