Chapter 4: The Letter, the Skull, and the Landmine Girl

The next morning.

Sunlight filtering through the gaps in the warehouse pricked at my eyelids. I frowned and shifted my body.

The hard mattress, the damp air, even the creaking floor. It was the same morning as always.

Or was it...? Something felt a little strange....

Was our mattress always this soft...? And there was no way the blanket could be this warm....

Feeling strange, I checked the blanket covering me. Instead of the thin blanket riddled with holes, it was a thick, fluffy blanket, soft as a cloud.

The mattress, which should have been stained with dust and mold, had become as clean as new overnight. And strangest of all, even though it was morning, I wasn’t starving like my stomach was about to tear apart.

I wanted something to eat, but I wasn’t desperate for it... Was this what pleasant hunger felt like?

"I don’t know. This is my first time feeling like this...."

I slowly sat up. Then what had happened last night came back to me.

The delicious smell rising from the steaming broth. The warmth that ran all the way down my throat and into my stomach the moment I swallowed a mouthful....

...That thing called udon was really good.

I remembered the sausages, too. When I bit into them, something delicious burst out, and they were springy... Anyway, they were good.

The braised potatoes were sweet. I chewed them over and over, wondering why potatoes tasted sweet. There was meat in them, too.

The fish cakes were chewy, and the chicken skewers... Honestly, they were like a dream. So this was how good meat could taste.

"Where did he... go...?"

I looked down at the floor for no reason. As though what happened last night had been a midsummer dream, all the empty bowls scattered around had already been cleared away.

I glanced out the window. The broken panes had been replaced, and the battered window frame had been firmly fixed in place, like it was brand-new.

It wasn’t a dream. Then where did he...?

I got up to look for him. The blanket covering me slipped down, and a sheet of paper fluttered onto the floor.

—

Denji,

Thank you so much for yesterday. For letting a suspicious person sleep in your home without making a fuss, I mean.

I was originally going to eat breakfast before leaving, but if I did, I didn’t think I’d be able to make myself go... so I’m just leaving you this letter.

I’m sorry I can’t hang out with you longer, Denji, but I was only supposed to impose on you for one night. A promise is a promise.

I fixed up a few things before you woke up this morning. I replaced the mattress with a new one and got you a better blanket, too. I also replaced the window with a much better one.

You won’t have to shiver from the cold anymore. Yay!

Oh, there are sandwiches on the table. Have those for breakfast.

Um... What else should I say...?

Right. Not everyone in the world hates you. There are so many people in the world. I’m one of them. So don’t live your life always being so guarded.

And Denji. You look much better when you smile.

- Eigo

—

I stared at the letter for a long time. Even after I had read every word, I couldn’t let it fall from my hand.

...A promise is a promise? I could’ve let him stay as long as he wanted....

My chest felt tight for no reason.

"Pochita...."

I called Pochita. Pochita looked up at me with sleepy eyes and gave his tail a small wag.

"He... really was a strange guy, wasn’t he?"

"Woof."

I folded the letter and carefully tucked it into my pocket so it wouldn’t get crumpled. I felt like I would take it out and read it again someday.

Only then did my stomach growl.

...Still.

It felt like the warmth of the udon I ate yesterday was still lingering somewhere inside my stomach.

*

"I'm starting with the man in the mirror~

I'm asking him to change his ways~"

Humming to himself, Eigo walked down the mountain path. A light backpack still hung from his shoulder, and a pocket watch rested against his chest.

He did not look back. If he did, he felt like his feet would stop.

It’s only payment for letting me stay the night. To begin with, I’m not someone who can take responsibility for anybody....

He had kept his promise. That was enough.

The pocket watch’s second hand ticked steadily onward. Like time that never stopped, Eigo’s footsteps did not stop either.

Eigo yawned, laced his hands behind his head, and muttered.

"The dawn air really is nice."

He thought that was fortunate. It gave a good excuse to someone leaving because he was afraid he might help the child beyond the reach of his own hands.

"Still, the food, a new mattress, blanket, and window... I spent all the money I got as wages...."

Eigo shrugged.

"Well, it’ll work out somehow. At least the underwear I changed into today dried really well."

With a refreshed smile, Eigo walked on with light steps. When he reached a stretch of road where buildings were beginning to outnumber trees, he heard someone whispering in the bushes.

Eigo stopped. The amusement naturally vanished from his face, but his expression remained relaxed. He tilted his head slightly and looked down toward the sound.

"A conspiracy, perhaps? Hehe... There’s nothing more fun than eavesdropping on a villain’s evil plan."

Eigo quietly moved closer to the bushes. Beneath the shade, two beings with inhuman forms faced each other.

[So... the Chainsaw is here...?]

One was a Devil made of all kinds of skulls and bones loosely tangled together. Its actions looked just as dim-witted as its voice.

[I’m telling you it is, Skully~ Yesterday, I saw the Chainsaw slicing up the Bell Pepper Devil. It was in some human’s hand.]

The other Devil crawled in a grotesque posture, dragging its spilling intestines behind it. Disk-shaped objects that looked like landmines were attached all over its body.

So they were Devils? This is more interesting than I thought.

Eigo moved a little closer to listen to their conversation.

[But... Landmine... There’s nothing but green everywhere here.... Lady Yoru said the Chainsaw was black....]

[Here is a word that broadly refers to the entire surrounding area centered around this spot, you idiot!! Are you looking down on me, huh?! How many times do I have to teach you before you get it through that thick skull of yours?! Is that head of yours just for decoration?!]

As though it had no idea what was going on, the Skull Devil scratched its skulls. The Landmine Devil then pierced one of those skulls with its claws and repeatedly slammed it into the dirt.

[It hurts, it hurrrts...!]

The Skull Devil rolled around on the ground, clutching its skull. Dirt wedged between its bones, which creaked and groaned.

[It hurrrts...! Why are you hitting me again...?!]

[Because you can’t understand a goddamn word I say!!!]

The Landmine Devil threw a tantrum, wildly flailing its intestines. Then suddenly, it grabbed the Skull Devil—probably hugging it.

[S-s-sorry, I’m sorryyy... Sorrysorrysorrysorrysorrysorrysorrysorrysorrysorrysorrysorrysorrysorrysorrysorrysorrysorrysorrysorrysorrysorrydon’thate medon’thatemedon’thatemedon’thatemedon’thatemedon’thatemedon’thatemedon’thatemedon’thatemedon’thatemedon’thateme..................]

Clutching the Skull Devil tightly, Landmine rattled off apology after apology without caring that it was running out of breath.

Whoa... Isn’t that thing completely insane...?

Watching them secretly, Eigo clicked his tongue. The Skull Devil nodded, then paused for a moment.

[I-It’s... okay, Landmine... I-I’m not mad....]

The Skull Devil diligently patted Landmine’s back, all the bones in its body clattering.

[S-So... breathe.... I’m really okay....]

The Landmine Devil held the Skull Devil for a long while. After quite some time had passed, it finally loosened the arms wrapped around Skull a little.

[...Really?]

[Yeah... really.... It h-hurt... a little....]

[I-It hurt??!?!?!!?! And it was because of me again......]

[N-No! I mean... right now...! No, I was okay from the start....]

As though it were suddenly overcome again, the Landmine Devil lowered its head. The landmines dangling against the ground rattled as they swayed.

[I-I-I shouldn’t be like this... But it keeps... my mind goes blank... so....]

After considering for a moment, the Skull Devil patted the Landmine Devil with its creaking hand.

[No.... It’s not your fault.... I have lots of heads, so I get confused.... It’s my fault....]

Having seen this much, Eigo was beginning to feel more tired than entertained.

Well, aren’t they putting on quite the show.

The wind changed direction and began blowing from behind Eigo. Both Devils froze at once.

[W-Who’s there?!]

[A human smell?!]

The Devils turned toward the source of the scent and shouted for whoever it was to come out. The bushes rustled apart, and Eigo stepped into view.

"Haha. You caught me."

Seeing Eigo obediently emerge before them, the Skull Devil was the first to crouch down. Its sharply broken bones began to rattle and shift.

"Ah—hold on, hold on."

Eigo held up a palm.

"I have a question. What you two were talking about earlier—could you tell me what it meant? All that about the Chainsaw and Yoru. Even if it was a secret just between you two, tell me anyway. You’re going to kill me regardless, so it’s okay if I hear at least that much before I die, right?~"

The Skull Devil flinched.

[You... heard us...?]

"Yeah."

Eigo nodded.

"So... you’re looking for the Chainsaw. And that Chainsaw is traveling with a human. And then... hmm."

He tapped his chin with a finger.

"That’s it for now? By the way, is the Chainsaw you saw perhaps a little guy who looks like an orange sausage?"

While the Skull Devil stammered incoherently, the Landmine Devil answered surprisingly readily.

[That’s right.]

"Then... what are you planning to do with the human traveling with it?"

Eigo smiled. There was no tension whatsoever on his face.

[What kind of obvious question is that? We’ll blow him up alive and suck his blood dry. Then I’ll give whatever meat is left to our adorable Skully♥︎]

[Landmine......]

Whether the two Devils were filming a movie or a drama.... Eigo took the pocket watch from his chest.

When he opened its lid, the second hand continued ticking onward without a care. Eigo’s reflection in the watch glass had the faintest furrow between its brows.

Along with the ticking of the second hand, Eigo closed the lid.

When I left Denji’s place, I was wondering what I’d do after spending nearly all my wages. But I’ll have some breathing room for a while. And....

Putting the watch away, Eigo spoke.

"You see, Denji."

He took one step forward.

"He and I go way back. We’ve known each other since last night."

[What...?]

. . .

The Devils did not take their eyes off the human approaching them. They did not blink for even a second. And yet...

. . .

W-What...?

The human disappeared.

"The Skull Devil and the Landmine Devil.... Those sound like dangerous names. I should be able to get quite a lot for them, shouldn’t I?"

The last thing the Devils saw was each other’s faces falling toward the ground.

"For lunch... katsudon, maybe? I’ve been wanting some ever since yesterday.... Seriously, what awful bastards. Trying to kill cute little Pochita, of all things."

Eigo yawned once and resumed walking down the road as though nothing had happened.

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