Chapter 38: The Dungeon

The hope that had just risen was dashed, and Sakiko's expression froze.

She knew what this meant. The serum was extracted from dead servants; to save one dead servant, more had to be killed to gather enough serum.

It was no wonder this gang hadn't killed Tomori Takamatsu immediately. A living dead servant was, in itself, a raw material—like a hen that lays eggs. It only had a set number of eggs in its lifetime, and when it could no longer lay them, it was time to kill it and boil it into a fine, rich broth to make a final contribution.

In the case of a dead servant, this bowl of soup might as well be called Meng Po soup.

"Since you have something like this, does that mean you need it too?" Mutsumi Wakaba, hugging the small refrigerator, asked a crucial question.

Sakiko was stunned. It was true; she hadn't considered that. Erii could produce the therapeutic serum so easily because it was kept right in her bedroom, placed there specifically for her own convenient access.

Erii did not write anything further. She tilted her head, a strand of deep red hair falling beside her ear, her eyes shimmering with a faint, ethereal light.

It was hard to define the emotion—perhaps it was sorrow, or perhaps resignation. She stood there, yet suddenly seemed very, very far away from the other two.

At that moment, both Sakiko and Mutsumi realized why Erii was willing to help them. She was the same kind of monster as Tomori Takamatsu. The fact that such a vast shrine had so few priests, and that Tomori was specifically sent to this place, was all for her sake.

No one would want to be friends with a monster; monsters only find pity in other monsters. When Erii saw Tomori suffering, she was actually looking at herself. Giving Tomori a sliver of hope was like giving hope to her own future.

Sakiko watched Erii for a moment, then suddenly opened her arms, stood on tiptoe, and stepped forward to give her a solid hug.

Erii froze, her eyes widening in surprise.

No one had ever given her a hug like this. The softness of the body wasn't just an expression of gratitude; it was a silent way of saying, "I am not afraid of you."

The corners of her mouth lifted slightly, and her gaze grew increasingly tender. She was much taller than Sakiko, but at that moment, she was willing to bury her head in Sakiko's shoulder and long hair, even though they had only just met.

...

The shrine's dungeon was located in the cemetery behind the shrine grounds.

The industrial elevator descended slowly. At first, it was pitch black, but after a moment of patient waiting, light pierced through.

It was hard to imagine such a deep basement beneath the shrine. The scattered sound of their footsteps echoed far away. Huge exhaust fans turned slowly, yet they could not dispel the heavy, cloying scent of blood. The hidden path felt as if it led straight to the netherworld of the Yellow Springs.

Sakiko and Mutsumi both pinched their noses instinctively. Erii, however, was quite accustomed to it; many dead servants had been executed here.

Because the presence of a "Little Saint Skeleton" was never certain, any dead servant with peculiar bloodline manifestations was first interned here for observation. If it was ultimately confirmed they were not a host, they were erased here.

Beyond that, it was also used to imprison members of the clan who had committed crimes. For instance, the priests in the shrine were not exactly righteous men. They had committed grave sins that required their lives in payment, and the only way to live and atone was to willingly guard this mountain shrine, watch over the clan's property, devote their hearts to the gods, and never step out again.

Before the heavy circular steel door, Erii verified her fingerprint and iris, then stepped back.

Sakiko held her Murasame blade against Erii’s neck, while Mutsumi held a gun to her side. The three of them maintained this formation and walked slowly into the depths.

They were immediately met by a surveillance camera. As soon as they entered its range, someone’s exclamation blared from the ceiling speakers.

"Lady Erii!"

The priest in charge of monitoring jumped from his chair, unable to believe his eyes. How could anyone in this world possibly kidnap Lady Erii?

"I have been kidnapped," Erii wrote on the small notepad she had prepared in advance and held it up for the camera to see.

At first glance, it appeared to be a dire situation, but her usually calm face was even more placid now. Considering that neither of the two "kidnappers" was as tall as she was... it looked more like a game of make-believe.

"Release Tomori Takamatsu and prepare a car for us at the foot of the mountain! Or else we'll kill the hostage!" Sakiko stared at the camera, putting on a fierce, villainous face. Mutsumi also tried to pull off her most menacing expression, looking like a ravenous wolf.

"Emergency! Emergency! Unknown assailants have invaded the cells! Combat status! Notify the Clan Head!" The priest slammed the button for the final airtight door while grabbing the phone to alert the entire shrine. A piercing alarm wailed through the basement.

He was just a small player. Erii's life was far more important than his own; in the face of such a crisis, a single dead servant meant nothing. But if anything happened to Erii, every priest in the shrine would have to commit seppuku.

The safety locks retracted, and the airtight door popped open. On a sturdy cross, Tomori Takamatsu was bound tightly with newly replaced steel chains, her head drooping as if she were asleep.

The dead servant serum and tranquilizers had temporarily suppressed her dragon-like transformation, returning her appearance to a human state, though snake-like scale patterns were still visible on her skin.

A whole night had not yet passed, but it felt as if days had gone by here. Sakiko had never seen Tomori look so haggard. That familiar face was sunken, the dark circles under her eyes deep, and her body covered in dried blood. Sakiko felt so heartbroken she wanted to cry.

But there was no time to wallow in sorrow. Sakiko steadied her emotions, stepped forward to undo the restraints one by one, and lifted Tomori onto her back.

Fortunately, Tomori was light; her awakened bloodline allowed her to handle this task with ease.

When they emerged from the basement, the ancient shrine had been awakened. Lights flickered on in the quiet buildings. A place that had seemed empty moments ago was now ablaze with light, illuminating even the sky.

Black-clad priests carrying Remington shotguns and scatterguns formed a circle around the dungeon exit, their barrels locked firmly on Sakiko’s forehead.

"Back off." With only two words, Sakiko forced them to clear a path outward.

Sakiko led the way with Tomori on her back, while Mutsumi followed, holding her gun to Erii. They walked slowly along the path they had come, the priests following cautiously like black wings.

The White Feather Tengu Shrine had never been breached since its founding. Many in the underworld who had been suppressed by the clan and sought revenge had come here, only to fall before the alchemical arrays outside without exception.

This was the first time. Two thugs had not only invaded but had even kidnapped Lady Erii. Even more ridiculously, they looked like mere high school students.

The priests felt their pride wounded. Some among them were professional hitmen, others had murdered adulterers, and some were simply scapegoats carrying blood debts for the clan—all were thugs with bloodlines.

Yet, they were caught in a bind; no one dared bear the consequences of injuring Erii.

"Is the car ready? Drop your weapons." Erii held up her notebook again, looking adorable and naive, playing the part of a hostage who needed to be obeyed—there was no fear in her eyes.

"Didn't you hear? Disarm!" The hostage was playing along, so Sakiko, as the kidnapper, had to play her part too. Even with Tomori on her back, she didn't forget to brandish her pistol menacingly. She mimicked the fierce, shouting villains she had seen on television.

The priests exchanged silent glances, then stooped to place their guns on the ground, kicked them far away, and raised their hands in surrender.

They didn't realize that the object they were trying to protect was actually enjoying this late-night game, finally finding some fun in her monotonous life.

Without the dark muzzles of guns pointed at them, their pace quickened. Soon, the first sliver of light would appear on the horizon. Once dawn broke, the gang would inevitably launch a retaliatory strike. They had to reach Tokyo and get to a safe place before then.

But the priests did not give up. As fast as Sakiko moved, they followed, maintaining a set distance, their black coats fluttering.

Sakiko turned and fired several shots, dropping a few with large-caliber Frigga bullets. The remaining priests immediately scattered for cover.

But as soon as Sakiko turned back to continue their escape, they emerged again like vultures patiently waiting for their prey to die, keeping just the right distance.

The escapees emerged from the shrine's main gate and dashed down the steps. At the foot of the mountain, a black Toyota was indeed parked there, with a priest in a dark expression standing beside it. The others were in black, but he wore white, looking like the leader.

"The car you wanted," the priest said coldly. "Doing something like this is simply irrational. Saving her will only harm her. The clan will never let you escape; don't think you can get away."

Sakiko couldn't be bothered to respond. She raised her hand and fired a Frigga bullet, striking him square in the chest. She kicked the fallen man aside, opened the car door, and bundled Tomori inside.

What a clown. She knew exactly what she was doing. Could he stop acting like a meddlesome old woman, nagging every time he saw a young girl in a short skirt? The ship of the new era had no need for these old-era priests! Go see your gods!

Mutsumi sat in the back with Erii. Sakiko jumped into the driver's seat and checked the car's status. With Erii as a hostage, she figured those guys wouldn't dare tamper with the vehicle. The fuel was full, the engine started smoothly, and the console lit up.

The headlights illuminated the mountain road, and the engine roared like a beast through the night sky. The Toyota surged forward, drifting around the bends. The priests stood on the steps, watching them go from afar. They could do nothing, like a flock of crows standing on a branch, watching a funeral.

Suddenly, everyone's phone pinged at the same time. They had all received a new text message—a confirmation from the Main House.

"Use of weapons and Spirit Commands authorized. Aside from Erii and Tomori, execute all other targets on sight. A bounty of 100 million yen per head. The Execution Bureau is on its way to assist."

Attached was a map with the Main House's plan, clearly detailing everyone's mission and pursuit route.

It must have been the work of "Kaguya," the supercomputer at the Main House. Its immense processing power had simulated their escape route, and executing the plan would force them into a dead end.

The priests looked at each other; it seemed the Main House was thoroughly enraged. Even with Erii in that car, these people had to be stopped. The Snake岐 Eight Families had always been a violent organization; if someone held a knife to the clan's throat, the clan would reply with cannons.