Although Oak's father might have thought the matter should have ended there, it was obvious that the woman didn't intend to let things go so easily. In fact, she even went as far as calling the police.
By the time Edward arrived at the amusement park with a dark expression, he was greeted by an exasperated Officer Jenny and beside her stood a middle-aged woman, puffed up with indignation, flanked by several lawyers.
The woman cast a sidelong, contemptuous glance at Tomie, and only when Edward appeared did she straighten up, feigning a bit of composure.
"Mrs. Faithman," Edward said coldly, his face dark. "You called the police claiming that my employee inflicted psychological harm on your son? And now you've brought a whole team of lawyers with you — what exactly are you trying to do?"
The appearance of Edward clearly unsettled Mrs. Faithman.
After all, his status was nothing to scoff at. What made her even more nervous was the sight of the two gleaming badges pinned to his chest — the highest medal of the Pokémon League. Earning even one of those required a level of sacrifice so great that most who received it were honored posthumously.
Yet Edward wore two, both shining proudly on his uniform.
"Enough," Edward said curtly. "If you want to take this to court, go ahead. Devon Corporation's legal department has plenty of time to play with you. But once you lose, don't blame me for turning my back and pretending I don't know you."
Officer Jenny could only sigh helplessly from the side. She hadn't even wanted to come — it was this woman's insistence on filing a report that had forced them to show up and take statements.
Anyone with eyes could see that Miss Tomie had been working in the haunted house the entire time, barely ever leaving the premises.
How could she possibly be responsible for the mental breakdown of Mrs. Faithman's son Oak, who was living alone in a hotel downtown? What's more, the boy's condition had already been professionally diagnosed — it was clearly a severe psychological disorder. And the night his symptoms began, Tomie had been on camera, entertaining visitors in the haunted house.
It was absolutely impossible for her to have anything to do with it. She didn't even own a Pokémon.
"Th-then what if that wretched wom—"
Mrs. Faithman started to speak again, her tone trembling between fear and fury. Though she was somewhat intimidated by Edward's authority, the image of her son lying in a hospital bed, half-dead and twitching, made her eyes turn vicious. She shot Tomie a venomous glare but before she could finish her sentence, Edward's sharp gaze silenced her instantly.
Edward's temples throbbed. He was standing right in front of a massive pit, trying his best to stop this idiotic woman from jumping in and yet she seemed determined to throw herself headfirst into it no matter what. Just watching her made his stomach ache.
Mrs. Faithman was troublesome, far too troublesome. And Edward had already been making every effort to avoid provoking Tomie's impatience.
Because Tomie… was not someone you wanted to irritate.
That woman was terrifying in her own right — sharp, calculating, and vindictive. Most of the time she busied herself toying with men, manipulating them into killing other versions of herself. But if she ever developed a personal grudge, she would never forget it. Her revenge could take years, decades even, but she would come for you in the end.
"Mrs. Faithman," Edward said, his tone cold and final, "watch your words. Otherwise, I won't hesitate to see every single one of you in court."
Then he turned toward Tomie — only to see her standing there with an icy, unreadable expression. The moment he saw her eyes, Edward's heart sank. Great. Wonderful. She's angry.
Mrs. Faithman was doomed.
He didn't even need to guess; he knew this woman must've spewed plenty of foul words before he arrived.
Officially, the issue seemed to have been resolved after Edward's intervention. But in reality, he knew nothing had been settled at all. Mrs. Faithman, still fuming, had even shouted that "evidence or not," she would make sure Tomie "pay the price." Hearing that, Edward nearly burst out laughing.
He could only hope that, when Tomie's revenge came, the woman would still have the courage to speak so confidently.
"Be careful," Edward said softly to Tomie as they left. "Don't cause any deaths. You know how messy that gets. And your contract here specifically forbids killing anyone or you'll be expelled from this world. I'd hate to lose such an excellent employee."
"Don't worry, boss. I know what I'm doing~" Tomie replied with a sweet, cheerful smile. Edward gave her a long, weary look. You'd better really know.
…
"Don't worry, my dear son," Mrs. Faithman cooed, gazing at the trembling Oak with maternal affection. "Mother will avenge you. That useless father of yours wants to send you to a mental hospital, but I'll never abandon you. You're a piece of my own flesh and blood, after all…"
Oak's eyes were dull, haunted. In his mind, the same eerie scene replayed over and over again.
That night—
"That damned woman," Oak had grumbled to himself. "Does she have any idea who she's talking to? I'm handsome, I'm rich and she dares reject me? Even complained that I was interrupting her while she worked with those broke nobodies?"
He lounged irritably on his sofa, grabbing his phone with the intent to summon one of the women who would do anything for money. But then Tomie's face appeared unbidden in his mind and suddenly, he couldn't bring himself to call anyone. No other woman interested him anymore. Unless she had Tomie's face, he couldn't feel a thing.
"Damn it," he muttered, eyes glinting darkly. "Tomorrow, I'll just have someone grab her. Those Pokémon hunters do anything for money and I'm sure kidnapping a woman is easy for them."
A sly, perverse smile crept across his lips as he imagined locking her in his basement, free to do whatever he pleased.
"Fufufu~"
A girlish giggle echoed from nowhere. Oak froze. He was in the Champion Suite, the most expensive hotel room in the entire city. No one else should be here.
"Who's there?!" he demanded, spinning around.
Nothing.
Still wary, he summoned his bodyguards to sweep the entire suite. After confirming there was indeed no one, no person, no Pokémon — he finally relaxed, thinking he'd simply imagined it.
Yawning, Oak made his way to the luxurious bath area, deciding to soak in the heated pool to ease his nerves. Once he was fully relaxed, he'd call the hunters and arrange his little plan.
The water was perfect — warm, clear, and treated with special chemicals that allowed him to see the people below the glass floor without them seeing him. It gave him a delicious sense of superiority, like he was literally bathing above the masses.
"Hahaha… the life of the rich is truly divine," he sighed, diving underwater for a lazy swim.
But the moment he went under, he saw her.
A woman, smiling — gliding effortlessly beneath him.
Tomie.
Oak's pupils constricted. Impossible. She wasn't here. She couldn't be here.
A chill gripped his heart. He kicked wildly, trying to swim back but no matter how hard he swam, he couldn't reach the edge.
The pool, once a symbol of pleasure, now stretched endlessly around him like a vast ocean.
And that giggle, that same twisted "fufufu~" echoed again.
He turned around in horror.
Behind him, countless Tomies, faces identical, beautiful, smiling were swimming toward him, their mouths twisting into delighted laughter.
"Fufufufu…"
Oak screamed, thrashing desperately. But his guards didn't come. No one heard him.
He flailed wildly, panic overtaking him, even losing control of his bladder as yellow liquid mixed into the pool water.
Then, in a blink, the endless pool vanished. The room was back to normal. Oak, gasping, crawled out onto the floor and stumbled toward the door, shouting for his guards.
But just before he reached it — a shadow passed by.
A woman's silhouette. Long hair flowing.
Tomie.
"W-what are you?!" Oak screamed, scrambling to grab his pants where his Poké Balls and phone were kept.
But then he remembered — he'd modified his Poké Balls to prevent his Pokémon from escaping on their own. A regret stabbed through him like ice.
"Fufufu~"
That laugh again.
A pale hand grabbed his wrist.
He turned — and there she was.
Tomie. Stunningly beautiful. Terrifyingly perfect. But as she smiled, Oak saw it — another face growing from her neck.
His mind broke.
He tried to call out his Pokémon, but Tomie snatched the Poké Balls from his grasp and tossed them aside. Strange, black matter oozed over them, and the trembling Poké Balls went still.
Then something cold brushed his ankles. He looked down and nearly fainted.
A Tomie head was clinging to his leg, its mouth open wide and inside that mouth, a grotesque, writhing slug. The human head moved as if it were the slug's shell.
He struggled frantically, but he couldn't move. Not even his fingers.
The creature crawled up his chest… up his throat…
Something round and slimy forced its way into his mouth.
He tried to vomit, but couldn't. His body went numb. Then something inside him began to squirm.
Moments later, he collapsed to the floor, gasping and from his lips, a slug-like creature slithered out.
He had become… a human-headed slug.
He could still see. Still think. Still feel the burning pain of his body rubbing against the walls as he was dragged into a narrow crack in the wall — as though the world itself had opened a space just for him.
He didn't know how long he squirmed through the darkness. When he finally awoke, he saw her again.
Tomie. Smiling. Beautiful. Horrifying.
"Y-you… I—" Oak stammered, touching his neck. His head was whole again. The slug was gone.
Tomie snapped her fingers. Instantly, his eyes glazed over.
He crawled toward her, obediently, like a loyal dog.
"I suddenly have a craving…" Tomie said with a sweet smile. "I want to eat your mother's ear. What do you think?"
Oak grinned, his expression turning cruel.
…
Mrs. Faithman, still planning how to avenge her son when, without warning, that same son lunged at her crazed, snarling, and biting. He nearly tore off her ear.
Her courage shattered. She stopped talking about revenge altogether and had him committed to a psychiatric hospital.
But of course… Tomie's revenge was far from over.
…
Three days later, Edward was on his way to attend the premiere of Tomie: Unlimited when he received word that Mrs. Faithman herself had been admitted to a mental hospital after suffering a severe breakdown.
Edward only shook his head. "Serves them right," he murmured.
Tomie wouldn't attack someone without cause — that was one of the system's core restrictions.
So, if the system allowed her retaliation, it meant those two truly had done something despicable enough to deserve it.
"Boss, I got the tickets!" Zoroark said cheerfully.
Edward nodded and followed her into the theater.
He'd already seen the movie, of course but no matter how many times you'd watched something, the experience of a cinema's massive screen and booming audio was something else entirely.
Some celebrities even released concert recordings in theaters for that very reason — nothing could replicate the atmosphere.
"Did you get the popcorn and drinks?" Edward asked casually, glancing around at the crowded theater.
He wasn't worried about being recognized; Zoroark's illusion ensured his identity was safely hidden.
It was nice, sometimes, to enjoy life like an ordinary man — without worrying about kidnappings or assassination attempts.
"Of course I did~" came a cheerful voice.
Tomie popped out from behind him, smiling brightly.
"…You seriously came to watch your own movie?" Edward muttered, his mouth twitching.
(End of Chapter)