Chapter 30: The Sorrow of Parting

There are no "Hundred Demons" in Arakawa Ward, Tokyo.

Living in groups is the nature of the weak; true, ferocious predators possess vast territories, and outsiders must pay a price for trespassing. Yuta Niijima is one such predator. He once stormed the headquarters of a rival gang alone and cut down dozens of men. Since that night, the mere mention of his name has made the yakuza of Arakawa Ward tremble in silence. It is said that because the blood of his enemies stained his chest, which was tattooed with a savage tiger, he earned the nickname "Blood Tiger" as the leader of the Niijima Syndicate.

Yet, this fierce predator now kneels respectfully—one might even say reverently—before the woman lounging decadently on his beloved desk.

"Ai-Betsu-Ri." (Sorrow of Parting)

That is the name the monster on the desk calls itself.

Though she appears to be a woman of ultimate beauty, at first glance, one would only feel that she is neither human, nor demon, nor any ordinary specter. Yuta Niijima knows that what he sees is only what Ai-Betsu-Ri wants him to see.

"Niijima, did you know?"

Ai-Betsu-Ri’s light laughter echoed through the Niijima Syndicate office. "Everyone grows. If you give a person warm hope and beautiful love for a long time, and then, at a certain moment, destroy it all completely..."

Ai-Betsu-Ri, with her long, flowing white hair, turned her head to gaze quietly at the hulking Yuta Niijima, her eyes filled with pity. "At that moment, all beauty shatters, transforming into the agony of parting. That is how human growth comes to be."

Ai-Betsu-Ri sighed softly. "Thus, all living things suffer."

She sat up and pressed her palms together in a pious gesture. "I have come this time to relieve the suffering of all living things."

Yuta Niijima felt his scalp tingle. He found that even someone like him, who could kill without hesitation, could not comprehend the thought process of this monster. She had previously ordered him to kill anyone who blocked his path and had mentally controlled all his subordinates, yet now she was speaking of universal salvation with such compassion.

If not for the desire to obtain the legendary power of a vengeful ghost, he would not have stayed in front of this monster for even a second.

"My lady, another branch of the club was destroyed by Aimi Nanjo this morning. All the followers and believers within perished. Now, only four branches remain in the entire Arakawa Ward."

He lowered his head, prepared for Ai-Betsu-Ri to fly into a rage. That was the kind of person he was.

But what came instead was her cheerful laughter.

"Niijima, this is a good thing. With so many friends rushing toward a paradise filled with friendship, where no suffering exists, you should be happy."

Ai-Betsu-Ri said, "If Aimi Nanjo enjoys doing this, let her continue. I am also very curious to see how many deaths it will take to reflect the other side of her heart."

To hell with her paradise.

Yuta Niijima thought that if he could win, he would have drawn his blade and cut this woman in two right then and there. It was a disgrace that she had renamed his Niijima Syndicate into some "Friendship Club."

But this monster—perhaps "demon god" was a more fitting term—could kill dozens of people from afar in a single instant. Such supernatural power was entirely beyond Yuta Niijima’s understanding. Moreover, it seemed that as time passed, this monster's power grew ever stronger.

"Niijima, are you thinking about me?"

Yuta Niijima’s train of thought stopped abruptly.

In that instant, he felt as if his entire being were about to liquefy into ignorant, mindless sludge—the way those who had defied Ai-Betsu-Ri had died. Before the terrified Niijima could apologize, he felt a pair of warm hands lifting him up. Before his eyes, Ai-Betsu-Ri smiled and said, "I can know what you are thinking, you know. That’s right—I am indeed much stronger than I was at the beginning."

"Whether it is joy, sorrow, or fear... the more intense the shift in human emotion, the faster I can grow." Having said this, Ai-Betsu-Ri looked at him meaningfully. "That is why many people are most delicious at the moment of their death."

Yuta Niijima felt as if he had fallen into an icy abyss; he felt a sense of despair.

"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid~"

Ai-Betsu-Ri gently patted Yuta Niijima’s palm.

He felt the fear and anxiety in his heart rapidly fade, replaced by a fierce, peerless desire for destruction and a bloodthirsty impulse.

"That’s more like it."

Clapping her hands, Ai-Betsu-Ri crouched down and looked expectantly at Yuta Niijima. "You must still have things left unsaid. Say them now."

"Yes."

The Blood Tiger bowed loyally, retracting his fangs before his only master. "The spirit board sent out a few days ago has been confirmed effective. The seal is loosened, but not completely broken."

"And then?" Ai-Betsu-Ri asked, her eyes widening. "What about your 'but'?"

Yuta Niijima paused for two seconds before saying, "But the spirit board was also confiscated by Aimi Nanjo."

Aimi Nanjo. It’s Aimi Nanjo again.

She looks like such a boring person, yet she manages to do so many interesting things. How dazzling and delicious will she be when she suffers an emotional breakdown and completely falls apart?

Ai-Betsu-Ri could hardly wait.

Compared to that, although the spirit board could have allowed her strength to advance further at the very first moment of the coming tide, restoring her from "Vengeful Ghost" to "Demon God," it seemed less important now.

"Also..."

"Wait a moment."

Ai-Betsu-Ri smiled and raised a hand. Under Niijima’s puzzled gaze, she reached out and pulled a translucent ghost from nowhere—one holding a paper umbrella, her face filled with gentleness and sorrow.

"It’s a Rain Woman. I wonder, after overcoming all those hardships to reach the mortal world, what must it feel like to be on the verge of seeing your late husband, only to suddenly step into death?"

As she spoke, Ai-Betsu-Ri popped the anxiously pleading Rain Woman into her mouth and chewed her to pieces in a few bites.

Savoring the fading sound of the mournful cry within her body, Ai-Betsu-Ri could not help but show a look of intoxication.

Niijima, turning a blind eye, continued, "Aside from that, there are two students who survived after coming into contact with the spirit board."

"Who? Who are they?"

Ai-Betsu-Ri was full of anticipation.

Niijima took out his phone and showed the photos of Toru Uesugi and Ririko Tokugawa to Ai-Betsu-Ri.

Ai-Betsu-Ri excitedly memorized Toru Uesugi’s face, then narrowed her eyes when she saw Ririko. "I remember her. She’s the kendo championship winner, isn't she?"

She said slowly, "I hate kendo..."

Niijima immediately called for his men in a loud voice, ordering them to kidnap Ririko; if they couldn't bring her back alive, a corpse would suffice. From outside the door came a synchronized "Yes!"—the voices were loud and filled with vigor.

"Forget it. I still have some interest in her," Ai-Betsu-Ri stopped him.

Niijima waved his hand again, dismissing the gathered subordinates to return to their posts and continue spreading the teachings of the Friendship Club using electronic equipment specially treated by Ai-Betsu-Ri.

The current Niijima Syndicate—or rather, the devil's den filled with "friendship"—was now one of absolute obedience.

"These two children look quite delicious."

Ai-Betsu-Ri patted Yuta Niijima’s broad shoulder, signaling him to stand up. "There is no need to worry about the Special Affairs Bureau or Aimi Nanjo. Let them act as they please. You only need to do as I say: find those of extreme joy or extreme sorrow, and then sow the seeds."

Immediately after, before Yuta Niijima’s eyes, Ai-Betsu-Ri seemed to undergo binary fission, splitting into three. Then, all three Ai-Betsu-Ris laughed in unison:

"It’s decided. Before eating the main course, I’ll use my avatars to go and meet those two children first."