Chapter 179: The Career Path of Karasuma XX
He, Karasuma XX, possessed memories of receiving various educations and training in the outside world. He had the experience of knowing the customs and intelligence of various countries in detail. He had the wisdom to command the organization's development strategy and to maneuver against various factions.
However, after Karasuma XX truly "woke up," he sensed the answer from the void.
This dark, lightless room was a cage, and it was also his true birthplace! From beginning to end, he had never stepped a single foot out of here. A massive sense of the absurd filled his heart as Karasuma XX sat in silence.
Never before had he possessed such a piercing, bone-deep understanding of the meaning of his existence. He was merely a... dream bubble!
It was a pity Karasuma XX had no religious faith; otherwise, a certain God would have been quite happy to answer his doubts. In a higher dimension, in a work that had remained popular for years, the existence named Renya Karasuma existed, yet had never actually appeared—portrayed only through indirect descriptions.
Then, a certain obsessive-compulsive world that loved to nitpick details to pay homage to the original work brought him to life. Thus, Karasuma XX was born: a being who existed but never left, never showed his face to anyone, yet always remotely controlled all of the Organization's affairs.
The world had nitpicked the details, but it seemed it hadn't done a good job. The headquarters of the grand Distillery was not a sprawling complex, but a ten-square-meter ultra-small single-room cage.
But in another sense, the world's handling was perfect. From the start, Karasuma XX only needed to be responsible for "existing." Everything else had nothing to do with him. Even the survival and operation of the Distillery followed suit; without Karasuma XX, "Super-Daddy" Gin could still carry the entire organization's operations on his back.
It was a joke filled with black humor. In this world, the most "redundant" person was Karasuma XX, because he could not and would not appear—and yet, without him, it wouldn't work.
Although Karasuma XX did not receive a divine revelation to know the root truth, it didn't matter, for he "as usual" found an answer quickly. After a long silence, Karasuma XX lowered his head and whispered piously, like a prayer:
"Ah, Shinichi Kudo, my creator... thank you for allowing me to truly be born into this world, and thank you for finally waking me up. To repay you, even if I have to step through the flames of hell, I shall certainly have an audience with you. Then, I will tell you that even a puppet born from a collection of illusions, like a bubble, has things that must be done..."
The majestic darkness roared and surged, sharp crow cries echoed, and peerless killing intent moved like a tide. After a long time, Karasuma XX calmed down. He picked up his phone, intending to email Vermouth to have the organization's people come pick him up. But just as he prepared to edit the message, his hand stopped.
He didn't know where he was!
In his memory, the only information regarding his location was the name "Unnamed Island in the Pacific." The existence that created everything was so perfunctory it wouldn't even bother to invent a proper name.
One could say that once Karasuma XX's anger expanded to a certain point, he suddenly felt a sense of "enlightenment." Aside from the even firmer thought of meeting Shinichi Kudo, everything else seemed irrelevant. However, he also keenly noticed some problems: he began to feel thirsty, hungry, and even a bit sleepy.
These "normal human" physiological reactions did not bring Karasuma XX any joy. Instead, he felt that being a living, normal person was quite terrible. The cage had no doors or windows, the walls were of unknown thickness, there were no survival supplies, and the specific location was unknown.
If he hadn't "woken up," none of this would be a problem, as he wouldn't realize it. But since he was awake, this situation was, in a sense, a dead end.
"If I, the puppet-master of the Distillery, have fully awakened, yet cannot pose any threat to you in this desperate situation... Shinichi Kudo, is this your arrangement for me? Unfortunately, you seem to have miscalculated..."
Karasuma XX whispered. In the previous world line, this would indeed be a dead end. But the current world line was a supernatural one where "Stands" existed. He, Karasuma XX, the boss of the international criminal force known as the Distillery, possessed a powerful Stand to match his status.
"Cry out as you please, Dark Yatagarasu!"
With a low shout, wings constructed of darkness flapped wildly. The gargantuan black crow spread its wings of shadow, curling the tips like fists. Then, amidst the sharp, bird-like cries of "ORA ORA ORA," the Dark Yatagarasu began frantically smashing the walls!
The foundation of a Stand is the soul and destiny—in a sense, it is the manifestation of status. Karasuma XX particularly benefited from this, as the Distillery held a special position in this world, and Karasuma, as its head, received extraordinary blessings. Every punch of his Stand was enough to shatter stone and crush steel!
However, the cruelty of Fate quietly surfaced at this moment. Karasuma XX discovered that the walls, which looked normal and weren't made of any high-strength material, remained unmoved despite the continuous heavy bombardment. Not even a flake of plaster fell.
Fate was quietly narrating: There is no plot for you outside, so explore this area later!
"Ah, Shinichi Kudo!!!"
The situation was dire, but Karasuma XX remained calm, aside from his impulse to "praise" the God once more. After all, what else could he do? Hysterical venting would serve no purpose other than making him a laughingstock for the Evil God.
Karasuma XX did not give up. He explored the cage, checking the few remaining items over and over.
The harvest was not small. The outlet actually had no electricity; it was just a shell over a seamless wall. Yet, the computer worked when plugged in, and the phone battery charged. The vent was the same—a grid of iron mesh with a wall behind it. Yet, natural wind whistled through it constantly.
Karasuma XX wasn't a scientist, but he felt that science had no value before Shinichi Kudo. These two items, if placed outside, would be considered "Moriarty Great Secret Treasures."
[The Outlet Shell that Charges when Stuck to Any Wall] and [The Ventilation Grid that Provides Air when Stuck to Any Wall]!
Encouraged, Karasuma XX continued and found a vital artifact: the seemingly ordinary chair. Once he sat on it, his thirst, hunger, and even sleepiness vanished instantly.
If this artifact had to be named, it would be [The Ordinary Chair that Grants Infinite Stamina and Sustenance Once Seated].
Karasuma XX even suspected this unremarkable chair could achieve a terrifying result: immortality. In the past, he would have been overjoyed. Now, he only felt a deeper horror. A horror named "God's Malicious Joke."
The situation was a total dead end, and yet, the God had left him a way to survive. By staying in this chair, he could live forever in this lightless, dark cage without eating, drinking, or sleeping. But such a life was more terrifying than anything else to Karasuma XX.
Taking a few deep breaths, Karasuma XX tried to remain calm because he still had a sliver of hope: the computer and phone that could contact organization members.
But he wasn't optimistic. Shinichi Kudo, the Evil God, had used his dark wisdom to create an airtight prison. Would He really allow the devices to work?
The phone and computer were also artifacts. The phone was indestructible and sent messages globally without a signal; the computer was the same, receiving emails from all over. Karasuma XX tested them and found they had a "Work Style" setting.
For example, he sent a message to Vermouth: "Have all members track this phone's signal and find me!" When he checked the sent folder, it read: "Organization members are forbidden from tracking my signal. Do not let anyone find me."
The sent message had been automatically "harmonized"!
It was hard to describe his feelings when he received Vermouth's reply: "BOSS, you are as mysterious as ever. However, there seem to be more little rats in the organization lately. Someone is playing tricks again. BOSS, I know what to do!"
The phone and computer, hard-coded with the style of a "Mysterious Shadow Boss," left Karasuma XX speechless. He had indeed acted that way in the past, but now he wanted to jump from the shadows to the front stage. That thought was automatically filtered out.
He, Karasuma XX, would never reach the "Truth" of appearing before others.
He wanted to laugh. He felt that the Evil God Shinichi Kudo actually valued him; to help him better fit his role as the "Distillery's Shadow Boss," He had specially built an office with indestructible walls of destiny, gave him a chair of immortality to keep his focus, and provided a series of secret treasures as office tools.
If there was anything in this world more maddening than realizing one is just a string-puppet created by a god, it was waking up, gaining self-awareness and desire, and finding that there was no choice but to continue being a good puppet and working for that god.
"Heh, Shinichi Kudo... as a God, your arrogance and evil are truly peerless!"
Karasuma XX chuckled, sounding more tragic than someone weeping. He knew his fate. He would play the role of the Shadow Boss, accompanying Shinichi in a never-ending detective game until the end of time, when the Detective grew bored and decided it was time for a finale. Then, He would come to take his head, and finally, he could die.
But that depended on the Detective's mood. If Shinichi felt a hasty death for the Final Boss was a waste, the play would continue. And the prerequisite for all this was that Karasuma XX, sitting in that chair year after year, had to maintain his sanity until the finale.
However, Karasuma XX realized that was impossible. In this lightless darkness where no one knew or could find him, madness and collapse were the only ends for this puppet. The realization was so strong it felt like a memory of the past rather than a possibility of the future.
This time, Karasuma XX did not intend to welcome such an end. He stood up slowly and kicked the chair aside. Then, his Stand, Dark Yatagarasu, followed its master's will and launched a barrage of heavy punches at Karasuma XX himself!
Eventually, Karasuma XX was beaten into a pulp of flesh and bone, collapsing heavily on the floor. His Stand faded away. After a long time, the mangled Karasuma XX squirmed and slowly crawled back up.
With a light laugh that sounded like crying, he muttered to himself:
"I'm not even human... I'm a monster that stays alive even when beaten to a pulp. Shinichi Kudo, is this also your love and blessing for me?"
In this unknown darkness, no one answered. Only the laughter and budding madness witnessed it all.
Just then, a change occurred. A thread of blood-red radiance diffused silently, gradually lighting up the area and the mangled Karasuma XX. Then, a long sigh echoed in the room.
Karasuma XX's eyes, nearly falling from his head, watched the scene. He felt a majestic holiness, yet behind it lay ultimate eldritch terror. The existence named God responded:
"I must warn you: man may not look up at me, for man may not look directly at the sun..."
A voice that was holy and eldritch, majestic and terrifying all at once, echoed. Karasuma XX naturally lowered his head. Just a split-second of looking had allowed him to glimpse something ineffable: a blood-shining giant as tall as heaven and earth, peering at him from the other side of time and space with a gaze that could pierce the river of time. How could he endure it? Even a brief look felt like it scorched his retinas.
"I must warn you: man must not give up on himself. One must become interesting, for all is void; only the 'fun' (Lèzi) is eternal..."
The God's words were too profound; Karasuma XX couldn't understand what He was saying.
"For example, I once sought fun in you. I have always looked forward to the day you discover your true face. At that moment, your expression and reaction would be my 'fun.' But I must say, now that the fun has been revealed, your performance is quite boring. It makes me feel the need to make you more interesting, more fun..."
This time, Karasuma XX understood. He was in disbelief. Could this blood-shining giant be Shinichi Kudo?
"Boring fellow... destined to struggle to understand fun on a higher level. Does it matter if I am Shinichi Kudo or not? Fine, fine. Just think of me as Shinichi Kudo. Now, poor puppet fooled by fate: at your lowest, most pathetic moment, Shinichi Kudo has specially appeared before you just to mock your miserable state. If you find this fun, then laugh as much as you want...!"
In that moment, Karasuma XX was certain: this guy was not Shinichi Kudo! Shinichi was evil, but not this twisted!
Regardless, even if it was another Evil God, it was a precious hope to Karasuma XX. His writhing flesh let out a hysterical cry:
"Unknown God of Fun, please save me! I am willing to offer everything..."
But the response was a cold, mocking whisper:
"Well said. But my favorite thing is saying 'No' to self-important guys, because that too is a type of fun. However, while I won't save you, I will make your 'fun' more interesting. Shinichi Kudo is rewriting the past step by step. The changing memories in your head are the signal for the start of this special Movie. At the same time, I've mixed in some of the fun I gave you. Don't you think those memories are particularly exciting and interesting...?"
Karasuma XX, despite his growing madness, was still sharp. He recalled that bizarre "memory":
That Lord and his partner, BlackBall-mon, set out on a journey... beat the King of Curses Hagoromo Gitsune in the Kengan match... dismembered and sealed her... created the Distillery to guard the seal.
The plot was exciting, but Karasuma XX couldn't see the "fun"!
"Boring fellow... even your thinking is boring. Can't you just leap in logic and think you are actually the sealed King of Curses Hagoromo Gitsune? Or perhaps the unawakened reincarnation of that Lord? Fine, I'll give you two hints: First, find the first 'fun' I sought in you. Second, truly remember who you actually are!"
End of Chapter
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