The guitar case I brought back was something I’d scavenged from a dump.
At first, I’d almost passed it by as mere trash, but after thinking it over, I decided it could be useful. I took it home and modified it myself.
I replaced the interior with Styrofoam insulation, turning it into something of an ice box to ensure the meat stayed preserved. Then, I lined it with plastic and sealed it tightly to prevent any blood or scent from leaking out.
Normally, a single arm or leg would have sufficed, but a recent encounter had taught me that the amount of meat Eto required had increased.
Consequently, I filled the case to the brim with one arm, two legs, and a portion of the liver and internal organs.
Once the dismemberment was complete, I moved the remaining torso and buried it in a sunny spot, placing a few stones as a makeshift gravestone.
Standing before the site, I pressed my palms together and offered a quiet prayer.
I’ll make good use of the flesh you’ve cast aside.
After finishing my prayer, I checked the time on my phone.
5:40 a.m. Since I was deep in the mountains rather than the city, the sun wasn't visible yet, but the sky was brightening. Dawn had already begun to break.
Considering the work remaining before Eto woke up, I had wasted far too much time.
I hurriedly stuffed my tools into the guitar case and slung it over my shoulder.
“Ugh...”
The weight was so immense I nearly toppled over.
It was only natural, given that I was harvesting more meat than usual. The contents of the case alone easily exceeded half the weight of an adult man.
I practically dragged myself up the hill, barely managing to reach the spot where I’d parked my bicycle.
I had worried that the added bulk of the case would make the bike impossible to ride, but it moved forward surprisingly smoothly.
Still, I had to avoid hills at all costs. If I tried to climb one with this load, I would undoubtedly collapse on the spot.
I checked my map for a route that avoided inclines as much as possible and set my course.
As I left the mountain path leading toward the cliff and headed for the city, the world grew brighter.
Perhaps it was relief at escaping a night saturated in death, or perhaps simple sleep deprivation. It might have even been the effect of the medicine I’d taken earlier.
Just as I was pedaling along, desperate to get home, a voice stopped me in my tracks.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
“Huh? Ah... ?!”
I slammed on the brakes, immediately cursing my own carelessness.
I was transporting ultra-hazardous contraband on my back, yet I hadn't been paying attention to my surroundings!
Of all the roads in the city, I had ridden straight into a police checkpoint, and I hadn't noticed until I was practically on top of them.
“It’s morning, but it’s still dark. It’s dangerous to ride without your lights on.”
“Ah, yes. I’ll be careful.”
So it was just a warning about the lights... It didn't seem like they intended to conduct a full inspection of my bike, as they appeared busy with other things. I thought I could smooth this over and slip away, but...
“If you don’t mind, where are you coming from?”
“Why do you ask?”
“...”
Oh, crap. I’ve lost it.
What was I thinking, sounding so defensive? I might as well have shouted that I was hiding something.
I had reacted too emotionally to a sensitive question. The older officer narrowed his eyes, his brow furrowing with suspicion.
There was no taking back the words. I had to pivot—and fast.
“Ah, sorry! I was up all night practicing with my band, so my nerves are a bit shot. May I ask why you're curious?”
I tried to put on a friendly, harmless face, but the act was too transparent; the officer's expression didn't soften.
The younger officer, who had been flagging down cars, had also sensed the tension and was now walking toward me.
“A murder occurred nearby,”
the officer replied, his gaze remaining unnervingly sharp.
“A murder?”
“Yes. It’s not yet confirmed, but parts of the victim’s body are missing. It could be the work of a Ghoul, but we are also investigating the possibility of a grudge killing staged to look like a Ghoul attack.”
Wait, this is going south fast.
If the human flesh in my guitar case was discovered, I’d be framed as the culprit of a murder case where the line between human and Ghoul was blurred.
“Because of that, our investigation suggests that if the killer was human, they would likely still be transporting the missing remains. With that in mind, would you mind showing us the contents of your guitar case?”
The officer held out his hand, his eyes saying, If you have nothing to hide, you can show us, right?
In that moment, I felt like screaming every curse word I knew at fate and destiny.
I’d screwed up.
The thought echoed in my mind as I panted, my breath coming in ragged gasps.
I had tried every excuse in the book to avoid showing the contents of the case, but I had only succeeded in fueling the officers' suspicion.
In the end, I had no choice but to take drastic measures.
First, I pretended to comply, coaxing the two officers to step closer...
I never thought I’d actually have to use this...
I looked at the small water balloon rolling in my palm.
Inside was a homemade paint bomb—a concoction of dye, corn syrup, ammonia, and other foul ingredients.
Once it hit a face, the pungent liquid would cling to the skin, blinding the victim and leaving them smelling like a sewer for a long time.
While pretending to open the case, I whipped the balloon from my sleeve and popped it directly into the officers' faces.
As they screamed in shock and disgust at the mysterious slime coating their vision, I leaped onto my bicycle and pedaled away at full speed.
I tore down the main road for a while before diving into a labyrinth of narrow alleys to shake them off, fleeing until my lungs burned.
Eventually, I found myself on the steel bridge known as a haunt for suicides, where I promptly hurled my bicycle into the river.
The officers had seen my face and the model of the bike. Bringing it home would be a death sentence.
It was a waste, but safety came first. I’d have to dispose of the guitar case later as well.
As for my face... I’d deal with that later. Once they caught the real killer, they’d probably forget some suspicious-looking guy who caused a scene.
After ditching the bike, I hailed a passing taxi and rushed home.
“Haa...”
Dismembering a corpse was already backbreaking labor that drained my soul, and adding a dawn chase with the police had left me physically and mentally shattered.
Leaning against the elevator wall to offset the crushing weight of the case, I stared blankly at the red numbers climbing upward.
Suddenly, the digits began to warp grotesquely.
In the next instant, the distorted numbers shifted into the image of the woman from the riverbank, staring at me with eyes full of death...
“Ghk...!”
A surge of nausea I thought I’d suppressed rushed back, and I hurriedly clamped my hand over my mouth.
Damn it, this is what happens when I let my guard down. I even took two pills...
When the doors opened, I practically clung to the hallway wall, shuffling slowly toward my apartment.
As I unlocked the door, the familiar scent of home welcomed me, washing away the lingering stench of death.
Glancing inside, I saw Eto still asleep in the bedding I’d left her in. Only then did I finally feel a sense of relief.
Thud.
My knees buckled before I could even clear the entryway. I had relaxed too quickly.
Get it together. Wake up. You’re not done yet.
I forced myself up and dragged my exhausted body into the bathroom.
Shhhhhhh...
I turned on the shower and tossed the human flesh from the case under the torrent of water.
The blood washed away, staining the bathroom floor a vivid, visceral red.
After that, my memory becomes a blur.
I simply moved like a machine, using the saw to separate bone from flesh and wrapping the pieces in plastic, over and over again.
My technique was clumsy, leaving bits of meat clinging to the bones. I gathered those remnants into a pile and wrapped them in a towel.
Then, I picked up the hammer and struck with all my might.
Thud! Thud!
With every blow, I felt the bones inside the towel shatter.
I placed the crushed fragments into a plastic box and hid them in a corner of the refrigerator alongside the packaged meat.
It was over.
The procurement was complete.
Thud!
The moment the refrigerator door clicked shut, I collapsed onto the cold kitchen floor.
I wanted to simply black out and sleep. Just as I was whispering to myself to close my eyes, another voice intervened.
Hey, idiot. What about Eto?
I snapped awake.
Right. Damn it. I almost messed up again because I was out of it.
If Eto woke up and saw me sprawled across the kitchen floor, she’d be terrified.
Furthermore, a faint scent of death still clung to me. With her keen sense of smell, Eto would immediately realize what I’d done and why I was in such a state.
And if that happened, she’d start lying about her appetite again just to keep me from overworking myself. I wish she’d just act like a normal child and let me handle the burden.
I stripped off the wretched clothes, soaked in sweat and the smell of corpses, and threw them into the washing machine.
Then I stepped back into the shower, scrubbing every last trace of blood from my skin.
To mask any remaining odors, I sprayed fragrant air freshener throughout the apartment.
When I finally stepped out, shaking the water from my hair, there was no feeling of refreshment. There was only a desperate, aching need for rest.
I crawled into the bedding beside Eto and buried my face in the pillow, not even bothering with the blanket.
Okay, sleep. Tomorrow, I’m sleeping in so hard I might as well quit my part-time job.
Just as I was welcoming the encroaching slumber with open arms...
“Dad...”
I flinched.
Startled, I pushed the sleepiness aside and turned toward Eto.
When had she woken up? Her eyes, which had been closed when I first entered the house, were now wide open and fixed on me.
Her gaze was heartbreaking, as if she were on the verge of tears.
“I... I’m okay with being a little hungry. You don’t have to go through so much trouble to get it for me.”
“...”
Eto spoke softly, her expression carrying a weight far too heavy for a child her age.
I stared at her blankly for a moment, then let out a small, tired laugh.
“Our Eto is all grown up, worrying about her dad.”
I gently stroked her hair and continued.
“I’m fine. All you need to do is eat well and grow up strong.”
“But...”
Eto trailed off, clearly unconvinced.
I wanted to give her a more reassuring answer, but... I was done. I had reached my limit. My consciousness was slipping.
I searched for a way to soothe her while finally allowing myself to collapse.
“Then, at the very least, won’t you comfort your dad?”
“Huh?”
“Hup!”
I lunged forward and pulled Eto into a tight hug. I felt her warmth spread through me, as if it were mending my fractured psyche.
She was tucked so deeply into my chest that I couldn't see her face, but her body went stiff; I must have startled her.
“Let’s just sleep like this.”
“Y-yes...”
Though I couldn't see her expression, the tips of her ears peeking through her hair looked significantly redder than usual. Hmm. Did that work?
I decided to save that thought for when I woke up and let my eyes drift shut.
Just then, the darkness in the corner of the room warped, and the phantom of the female corpse from the elevator glared at me once more.
Those dead eyes looked upon me with pure loathing, as if disgusted that I was cradling a Ghoul in my arms.
I slowly raised my middle finger toward the apparition.
Get lost. I’m healing.
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