Imari Kurumi gripped Kanjuro's hand back, her eyes incredibly firm: "Mr. Kanjuro, don't worry! I will definitely complete the mission! I won't let Saeki's conspiracy succeed!" She felt as if she had become the heroine of a story carrying a secret mission, and a surge of tragic excitement even rose within her.
Although Shiraki Rie had a cold personality, she was also moved by Kanjuro's 'trust' and 'need' at this moment. She looked at Kanjuro and nodded gently, her voice soft but clear: "I will join. To... stop bad things from happening." She positioned herself as a 'lurker' guarding order in the shadows.
Watching the two girls nod their agreement without hesitation, their eyes shining with the light of complete bewitchment, the corner of Kanjuro's mouth curled into a deep, cold arc at an angle they couldn't see.
(Such... obedient little pawns.)
In this way, not only were the core sacrifice (Imari) and the 'daughter' with special bloodline more firmly controlled, but they would also actively step onto the stage he had prepared for Saeki Kaori, becoming 'actors' who would drive the Ritual and perhaps even become part of it.
He gently pulled them close and planted a light kiss on each of their foreheads.
"Thank you. Be careful with everything; I will protect you from the shadows."
The sunlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains, illuminating the room and the two girls' faces, which were filled with a 'determination' that led to the abyss. They were now completely immersed in the web of lies woven by Kanjuro, willingly walking toward the dual roles of sacrifice and accomplice he had set for them.
He gently closed his eyes and began to outline in his mind the upcoming dark ceremony that would take place in the name of'salvation' but in the reality of'sacrifice.'
And the protagonists on the altar were currently sleeping defenselessly on either side of him.
The night was still long, but for some, dawn might never truly arrive.
In the evening, in an abandoned classroom in the Old School Building that had been secretly converted into a 'Ritual preparation room' by Saeki Kaori, the air was filled with the strange scent of burning candles and herbs. The walls were covered with twisted runes and hand-drawn magic circles. Nearly thirty girls, either bewitched or half-forced into the group, stood quietly, clad in uniform dark hooded cloaks. Most of their eyes were filled with confusion, curiosity, or a hint of excitement from being swept up by the crowd.
Saeki Kaori stood before a crude, temporary altar, also wearing a cloak, her face flushed with the excitement of wielding power. When she saw the classroom door push open and Kanjuro's figure appear, she immediately went to meet him.
"Lord Kanjuro!" Her voice carried irrepressible excitement. "You've come! According to your instructions, we have gathered nearly thirty sisters who are sincere toward the 'Truth'!"
Kanjuro's gaze swept over the group of cloaked girls in the classroom; most were quite beautiful, exactly the targets he had carefully screened. His gaze lingered briefly on Yui Yuigahama, Yukinoshita Yukino, and Miura Yumiko. Sensing his gaze, the three girls showed subtle, knowing expressions of joy under their hoods—they were 'undercover agents' who had infiltrated on their father's orders.
"Well done, Kaori." Kanjuro nodded slightly, his tone flat but carrying unquestionable authority. He walked to the altar and turned to face all the girls, the shadows under his hood making his handsome face look even more mysterious and unpredictable.
"Everyone," his voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly, "welcome to the realm of reality. What you are about to participate in is a great and sacred undertaking."
After a simple opening, he signaled Saeki Kaori to follow him to a corner.
"Lord Kanjuro, what exactly do we do next?" Saeki Kaori asked impatiently in a low voice. "The Ritual needs specific 'keys'... the choice of sacrifices..."
The corner of Kanjuro's mouth curled into a cold arc, as if showing off his precious collection: "As for the choice of sacrifices, I have already found two perfect 'cores'." He lowered his voice, "Imari Kurumi, and... Shiraki Rie."
"Them?" Saeki Kaori was somewhat surprised, especially regarding Shiraki Rie, whose previous invitation she had rejected.
"Trust me, Kaori," Kanjuro's tone was full of certainty, "their 'purity' and 'traits' are the keys to the Ritual's success. Imari possesses a flawless, pure soul, and Shiraki... her bloodline is very special, an excellent catalyst." He did not reveal the fact that Shiraki was his daughter.
Saeki Kaori had absolute faith in Kanjuro's words and immediately nodded: "I understand! I will give them special 'attention' to ensure they are in the best state for the Ritual."
However, Kanjuro's next words left her completely stunned.
"But, just two core sacrifices are not enough to fully manifest the Ritual's power, nor can they satisfy... 'that existence's' appetite." Kanjuro's voice carried a near-manic greed as he recalled that chaotic Ritual with over a hundred people eighteen years ago, a hint of reminiscence and... dissatisfaction flashing in his eyes.
"To ensure nothing goes wrong and to push the Ritual's effect to the limit," he looked at the shadowy figures of the cloaked girls in the classroom, his tone becoming grim, "Saeki, I want you to find a way to bring all the... well, all the sufficiently good-looking females in the entire school into our Research Society. They will all become part of the Ritual, contributing their own... 'brilliance' to the torrent of power."
"The—the whole school?!" Saeki Kaori gasped, stunned by the massive number. "Lord Kanjuro! That... that's too many people! Nearly a thousand? Not to mention how to gather them, even if they are gathered, how will the Ritual proceed? How will it... accommodate them?" She couldn't imagine how to "process" such a number of sacrifices simultaneously.
Kanjuro looked at her shocked expression and laughed lowly, his laughter filled with hair-raising confidence and arrogance.
"Too many people?" He sounded as if he had heard something amusing. "Saeki, you underestimate me. Eighteen years ago, I alone could lead a Ritual of a hundred people. Now, my power is far beyond what it was then."
His eyes became sharp and fanatical: "A thousand people? Perfect! What I want is exactly such a grand scale! Only such a vast 'offering' can be worthy of the authority I am about to acquire, and only then can I completely overturn Kitami's fate!"
He paused, looking at Saeki Kaori's still-disbelieving expression, and finally threw out his solution. His tone was casual, yet it contained terrifying power:
"As for how to accommodate them... you need not worry about the venue."
"When the time comes, I will personally unfold a massive 'Magician's Barrier' that will completely shroud and isolate the entire school's playground... no, perhaps even the main school building itself!"
"Within the barrier, it will be our own 'Divine Realm'! Time and space will be under my control. Let alone a thousand people, even more would not be able to cause a single ripple in that domain ruled by my will. They will become the gears of the Ritual's operation, together weaving this... unprecedented dark feast!"
Listening to Kanjuro describe this miracle-like (or rather, demon-like) plan in a calm tone, Saeki Kaori felt a chill rush from the soles of her feet to the top of her head, but following that was an even more surging awe and fanaticism toward absolute power.
(A barrier shrouding the whole school... ruling the fates of a thousand people... is this Lord Kanjuro's true power?!)
She trembled with excitement and nodded vigorously: "I understand! Lord Kanjuro! I will do my utmost to net all suitable targets! For the success of the Ritual, for... your supreme undertaking!"
Kanjuro looked at her with satisfaction.
"Very good. Go and prepare. The timing... will be set for the upcoming School Festival night. At that time, the flow of people will be at its peak, making it the most suitable time for us to... 'entertain' guests."
He turned, his gaze once again sweeping over the girls in the classroom who did not yet know they had been marked as'sacrifices' or 'gears,' finally meeting the eyes of his three daughters. Yukino, Yui, and Yumiko all had a flash of complexity in their eyes, but more than that was unconditional obedience to their father's command.
The dark net was spreading crazily, using the school as its unit. An unprecedentedly terrifying Ritual targeting nearly a thousand women was quietly brewing under Kanjuro's cold gaze. The clamor of the School Festival was destined to become the best cover for this blood-colored carnival.
Minase Taki's disappearance caused only a tiny ripple in the calm campus life, quickly drowned out by new gossip and daily routines. But for his family, it was undoubtedly a massive disaster and mystery. His sister, Minase Aoi, a young woman a few years older than Taki who had just entered society, could not accept that her brother had simply vanished into thin air. With the police investigation making no progress, she decided to start her own investigation.
She first found her brother's childhood friend, Imari Kurumi. In her impression, Kurumi was a kind and simple girl who had always been on good terms with Taki.
In a park near the school, Minase Aoi stopped Imari Kurumi as she was heading home after school.
"Kurumi-chan," Minase Aoi said with undisguised sadness and urgency, "I'm Taki's sister, Aoi. About Taki... have you heard any news lately? Or did he act strangely before he disappeared?"
The moment Imari Kurumi saw Minase Aoi, her body stiffened almost imperceptibly, and a flash of panic crossed her eyes, but she quickly suppressed it. She remembered Kanjuro's instructions—everything regarding Mizunurai had to be kept secret, both to protect her and to avoid affecting the grand plan to 'destroy the evil Ritual.'
She lowered her head, avoiding Aoi's searching gaze, and spoke in a rehearsed tone with a hint of deliberate sadness: "Sister Aoi... I'm so sorry. About Taki... I don't know where he went either. He was a bit strange before he disappeared, as if he always had a lot on his mind, but he didn't tell me specifically what was happening..." Her voice grew smaller and smaller, sounding as if she were sad over her friend's disappearance, but that hint of unnaturalness did not escape the eyes of the anxious Aoi.
Minase Aoi frowned. Something wasn't right. Kurumi's reaction was too calm—one might even say... perfunctory. Based on her knowledge of Kurumi and the girl's feelings for Taki, if she truly had no clues, she should be just as anxious as Aoi was right now. Instead, her eyes were flickering and her words felt empty.
(What is she hiding?)
(She and Taki are so close, how could she not be worried at all? To the point where... she doesn't even have a single substantial lead?)
A strong intuition told Minase Aoi that Imari Kurumi definitely knew something.
"Kurumi," Minase Aoi's tone grew serious as she stared intently into her eyes, "do you really know nothing? Is Taki caught up in some kind of trouble? Tell me, no matter what it is, we'll figure it out together!"
Imari Kurumi felt somewhat overwhelmed by her piercing gaze and subconsciously took half a step back, shaking her head repeatedly. "No! Truly, I don't! Sister Aoi, please stop asking. I... I have to go home." As if escaping something, she hurriedly said "Goodbye" and practically ran away.
Minase Aoi watched Imari Kurumi's panicked, fleeing figure, the clouds of doubt in her heart growing thicker. This was definitely not the Imari Kurumi she knew!
(She must be lying! She absolutely has something to do with Taki's disappearance!)
Driven by intense suspicion and her responsibility as an older sister, Minase Aoi made up her mind. She began using her time after work to quietly tail Imari Kurumi.
The first day, the second day... Imari Kurumi's life seemed very regular, a simple commute between home and school. But Minase Aoi did not give up.
Finally, on the evening of the third day, she witnessed a scene that sent a massive shock through her heart—
After school, Imari Kurumi did not go straight home. Instead, she stood not far from the school gate, seemingly waiting for someone. Before long, a tall and exceptionally handsome boy walked up to her. That boy... Minase Aoi vaguely remembered him; wasn't he that very famous Kanjuro in the school?
The next scene was even more unbelievable to her. Upon seeing Kanjuro, a smile instantly blossomed on Imari Kurumi's face that Aoi had never seen before—a mix of dependence, admiration, and even... love! She naturally took Kanjuro's arm, leaning her body intimately against him as the two whispered and laughed, walking side-by-side in the opposite direction of the Imari household! Their posture was clearly that of a couple in a passionate relationship!
Minase Aoi felt as if she had been struck by lightning, frozen in place.
(Kurumi... is dating this Kanjuro?)
(Then what about Taki?)
(Taki likes Kurumi so much, does he know about this?)
(Could Taki's disappearance... be related to this Kanjuro?)
A series of questions pierced Minase Aoi's heart like icicles. Recalling Imari Kurumi's abnormal calm and secrecy from before, combined with this intimate scene before her eyes, a terrifying deduction began to take shape—
Her younger brother Minase Taki's disappearance was very likely related to Imari Kurumi and this boy named Kanjuro! It might... even be something they caused together!
Anger, sadness, and a sliver of chill instantly swept through Minase Aoi. She stared fixedly at the receding figures—a pair that looked well-matched but likely hid a massive secret—and clenched her fists.
(Kanjuro... Imari Kurumi...)
(No matter what you're hiding, for Taki's sake, I will definitely get to the bottom of this!)
She no longer hesitated and quietly followed them, determined to investigate these two—especially that mysterious Kanjuro—thoroughly. Beneath the dark tide, another persistent seeker of truth had joined the path, and the trail she followed led straight toward the center of the all-consuming vortex.
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