Episode 264: Demonization (Rebroadcast)

Well then, well then.

Taking a deep breath.

"——Demonization....Here I go."

Then,

"——!?!"

An unexpected event occurred.

From my hand... a black crystalline substance, hard as stone, began to grow out.

"Yuck! This is so gross!"

Such techniques that transform one's appearance—especially into something like this—shouldn't be something girls usually learn, right?

The black crystal completely enveloped my entire body like armor, instantly giving me a clearly inhuman silhouette at a glance.

And those tendrils seemed to wrap around the sword at my hand as well, incorporating it into my body like an extension of myself.

Just to be sure, I touched my face with my fingers—apparently, that part remained exposed.

—Disgusting Saint.

For some reason, that self-deprecating thought popped into my mind.

Only then did I finally realize something.

This thing covering my entire body... it seems to be the result of my body hair transforming somehow.

At the moment I realized this truth, I nearly fainted.

Even she, who had the same face as me, stared wide-eyed and exclaimed,

"Uwah! So gross! Even worse than I imagined!"

"You can't say that, you of all people!"

I scolded her angrily, yet I was overwhelmed by a strange sensation.

It felt as if my body were floating weightlessly… as though gravity had vanished from the world.

I jumped several times right there, testing out my new body’s responsiveness.

"How’s it feel?"

To the other "me" asking me,

"Hmm… it’s kind of like, 'Is this what it feels like to transform into Kamen Rider?'"

"Think you could take me down?"

"You’re phrasing it like you actually want to be taken down."

"It's not that serious. The loss of self is terrifying, even for me."

"But... this isn't the real thing yet, is it?"

"Yes. You're still nowhere near my level."

Hearing that, I strangely felt at ease.

For some reason, I had always, deeply wanted to stay like this with her.

It's odd, but perhaps this was the very moment I first loved someone who wasn't myself—my very first time feeling love for another being.

It might sound a bit strange, as if I'm revealing some odd fetish, but... I'd be perfectly fine sharing a bed with her, even that.

I've heard even someone born with a natural attraction to the opposite sex can, in this world, love only one person of the same sex—someone who mirrors their own self, another version of themselves.

I took a deep breath, and then, without hesitation, leapt forward.

At the same time, something beyond the scope of my understanding occurs.

My body soared past the head of my previous-life self, landing far up in the sky.

"O-oh, o-oh, o-oh, o-oh, o-oh, o-oh, o-oh!"

Flailing in midair, I collided with the third-floor window of Sakagahara High School, crashing dramatically into the classroom with a loud bang.

Dusk.

Inside the school building of a peaceful era, an English class was currently in session.

Surprised by the unexpected intruder, no one in the classroom looked our way—everyone remained completely absorbed in their lesson.

Just like I used to be before the "end," I too felt utterly powerless, unable to affect them in any way.

"Ugh... Hōrīsuto..."

I quietly muttered to myself, checking over my newly rebuilt body.

This crystal, which completely covers my entire body like armor, seems to emit black energy when force is applied. If I can master it—though it'll probably take a lot of practice—I might even be able to fly through the sky like Superman.

If I can harness its speed, I might be able to outmaneuver the other "me."

I couldn't afford to hold back.

Even if I do that, the other "me" would immediately realize it, and at that instant, I'd likely have to give up my life.

A silhouette against the window, bathed in the western sun.

"——Rain Maker!"

My voice, yet not my own, shouts out, and at the same moment, her sword blurs with explosive force.

And in the very next instant, as she swings it sideways— the world turns crimson.

It was because her sword, swung through the classroom, slaughtered every student without exception.

The sight of blood splattered all the way up to the ceiling, dripping slowly, drop by drop, was as if a rain of blood were falling inside the room.

I was the only one left alive—having reflexively dropped to the ground at that moment.

"——! You...!"

An indescribable fury welled up deep within my chest.

No matter how many people I killed in this world, it wouldn’t affect reality in the slightest. I understood that logic on an instinctive level.

Yet, her actions right now… they felt like a desecration of my memories.

"——That was 'Fatal Sword III.'"

"………………"

"From now on, I’m going to utterly destroy your precious memories. Before everything turns to ruins… can you master the 'Demonization' ability?"

Ugh. Just like the 'Master' to say something like that.

This person is really good at making apathetic students take things seriously.