The ashes of the doll showed us the way ahead, though darkness awaited us. As soon as we followed Miyako, that darkness disappeared. |
The moment we crossed the threshold, the area suddenly became bright. We were previous in the living room of Hinayashiki, which was very similar to the room we had just been in. |
![Story Yoshino.png](/images/b/bd/Story_Yoshino.png) Yoshino |
"When I opened the fusuma, it was pitch-dark, but there was usually a room there." |
![Story Versailles.png](/images/b/be/Story_Versailles.png) Versailles |
"Is it a trap set by the owner of the mansion...?" |
![Story Yuuzen.png](/images/9/9c/Story_Yuuzen.png) Yuuzen |
"No, the master of the house probably hid this room. She made it impossible to go any further than the room where Miyako was sleeping." |
![Story Versailles.png](/images/b/be/Story_Versailles.png) Versailles |
"Miyako, what exactly is this room?" |
![Story Miyako.png](/images/2/21/Story_Miyako.png) Miyako |
"This is... my and Miyabi's room." |
![Story Versailles.png](/images/b/be/Story_Versailles.png) Versailles |
"Miyako's room?" |
![Story Miyako.png](/images/2/21/Story_Miyako.png) Miyako |
"Yes. It's pretty untidy, but I'm sure. Behind the sliding door is goshujin-sama's room." |
![Story Versailles.png](/images/b/be/Story_Versailles.png) Versailles |
"So the master of the house is just beyond." |
![Story Miyako.png](/images/2/21/Story_Miyako.png) Miyako |
"I think there's a good chance of that. Ever since I came to the Hinayashiki, I couldn't get to this room. Maybe, goshujin-sama is trying to keep me away." |
![Story Yuuzen.png](/images/9/9c/Story_Yuuzen.png) Yuuzen |
"I can understand why she keeps us away, but I don't understand why she doesn't want Miyako to come close to her. As a result, Miyako has brought us here. |
![Story Yakutsk.png](/images/b/b6/Story_Yakutsk.png) Yakutsk |
"Perhaps she's using Miyako as bait to get rid of us all together." |
![Story Yuuzen.png](/images/9/9c/Story_Yuuzen.png) Yuuzen |
"Unlikely. The art placed on the Gate was seriously rejecting us." |
![Story Yakutsk.png](/images/b/b6/Story_Yakutsk.png) Yakutsk |
"Maybe she panicked because the art was broken and tried to use Miyako to her advantage?" |
![Story Yoshino.png](/images/b/bd/Story_Yoshino.png) Yoshino |
"That's not right either. Miyako was lost in Hinayashiki before Yuuzen broke the art." |
![Story Yakutsk.png](/images/b/b6/Story_Yakutsk.png) Yakutsk |
"Oh, I see." |
![Story Yuuzen.png](/images/9/9c/Story_Yuuzen.png) Yuuzen |
"The master of Hinayashiki tried to bring sick children here from all over M. Nishiki. It's a good thing that the guardian deity at Senbon Torii stopped her, otherwise many children would have been trapped here by now." |
![Story Yuuzen.png](/images/9/9c/Story_Yuuzen.png) Yuuzen |
"What does she mean by summoning other people's children here and then rejected Miyako? Does it mean she didn't want to see Miyako?" |
![Story Yoshino.png](/images/b/bd/Story_Yoshino.png) Yoshino |
"........." |
![Story Yoshino.png](/images/b/bd/Story_Yoshino.png) Yoshino |
"It's not that she didn't want to see her. Maybe she thought Miyako shouldn't see her..." |
![Story Miyako.png](/images/2/21/Story_Miyako.png) Miyako |
"I'm not allowed to see her? Does that mean that my presence is inconvenient for my goshujin-sama?" |
![Story Yoshino.png](/images/b/bd/Story_Yoshino.png) Yoshino |
'Yes, but it's not quite the same or... I'm not sure." |
![Story Monster.png](/images/3/30/Story_Monster.png) Demonised Nishikese Doll |
"........." |
![Story Yakutsk.png](/images/b/b6/Story_Yakutsk.png) Yakutsk |
"T-there it is again!" |
![Story Queensway.png](/images/b/bc/Story_Queensway.png) Queensway |
"This doll also became a monster." |
![Story Monster.png](/images/3/30/Story_Monster.png) Demonised Nishikese Doll |
"........." |
![Story Monster.png](/images/3/30/Story_Monster.png) Demonised Nishikese Doll |
"----Grrr!" |
![Story Yuuzen.png](/images/9/9c/Story_Yuuzen.png) Yuuzen |
"She's different from the one before. This one is completely demonised." |
![Story Versailles.png](/images/b/be/Story_Versailles.png) Versailles |
"What caused this? If it was due to sorcery or a curse, wouldn't you be able to do something about it? |
![Story Yuuzen.png](/images/9/9c/Story_Yuuzen.png) Yuuzen |
'I'm sorry, but I can't. It is not because of the curse that these children became monsters. It's because of the Mist." |
![Story Versailles.png](/images/b/be/Story_Versailles.png) Versailles |
"The Mist..." |
![Story Yuuzen.png](/images/9/9c/Story_Yuuzen.png) Yuuzen |
"This little girl is now a Mist Monster." |
![Story Miyako.png](/images/2/21/Story_Miyako.png) Miyako |
"There are many children like this in Hinayashiki now. I was attacked several times myself." |
![Story Yuuzen.png](/images/9/9c/Story_Yuuzen.png) Yuuzen |
"What happened to those children?" |
![Story Miyako.png](/images/2/21/Story_Miyako.png) Miyako |
"I choked their lives out. They didn't turn to ashes, but passed on with their bodies intact." |
![Story Yuuzen.png](/images/9/9c/Story_Yuuzen.png) Yuuzen |
"I see... If the souls have turned into demons, there's nothing we can do about it." |
![Story Yuuzen.png](/images/9/9c/Story_Yuuzen.png) Yuuzen |
"Miyako, ya did a good job." |
![Story Miyako.png](/images/2/21/Story_Miyako.png) Miyako |
"That's my role. There is no way I can help them." |
![Story Vivienne.png](/images/8/89/Story_Vivienne.png) Vivienne |
"All the dolls here were Miyako's friends..." |
![Story Putra.png](/images/b/bc/Story_Putra.png) Putra |
"This is too hard. It's been a long time since she return..." |
![Story Monster.png](/images/3/30/Story_Monster.png) Demonised Nishikese Doll |
"Don't get near my oka-sama. Don't make my oka-sama suffer any more..." |
![Story Yuuzen.png](/images/9/9c/Story_Yuuzen.png) Yuuzen |
"Ya speak the language too, don't cha? You speak well. Tell me more." |
![Story Yuuzen.png](/images/9/9c/Story_Yuuzen.png) Yuuzen |
"Come here. Tell me more." |
![Story Queensway.png](/images/b/bc/Story_Queensway.png) Queensway |
"Miss Yuuzen, this is dangerous!" |
![Story Yuuzen.png](/images/9/9c/Story_Yuuzen.png) Yuuzen |
"It's not dangerous. I'll be bitten at most." |
Yuuzen slowly walked over to the demonised Nishikese doll and said, "Come here". She opened her arms and tried to embrace the doll. It was a very dangerous act, but Yuuzen brushed it off. |
Unlike the doll from earlier, the one Yuuzen was about to embrace is a Mist Monster, made violent by the Phantom Mist. It might use sorcery or magic, or it might bite her in a sudden attack. |
But Yuzhen was not at all wary of the puppet's attacks. I supposed a sorceress as good as she is would be able to prevent spells. Even then, she was too defenceless. The Train Knights were in constant combat readiness with their weapons in their hands. |
![Story Yuuzen.png](/images/9/9c/Story_Yuuzen.png) Yuuzen |
"I'm not afraid. I am on the doll's side." |
![Story Monster.png](/images/3/30/Story_Monster.png) Demonised Nishikese Doll |
"Don't get near my oka-sama. Don't make my oka-sama suffer." |
![Story Yuuzen.png](/images/9/9c/Story_Yuuzen.png) Yuuzen |
"Where is your mother? We want to help ya." |
![Story Monster.png](/images/3/30/Story_Monster.png) Demonised Nishikese Doll |
"I don't care what you do. Please help us with our oka-sama." |
![Story Yuuzen.png](/images/9/9c/Story_Yuuzen.png) Yuuzen |
"Okay, I'll help you. I will save her. But first, let's be friends." |
![Story Monster.png](/images/3/30/Story_Monster.png) Demonised Nishikese Doll |
"Friends?" |
![Story Yuuzen.png](/images/9/9c/Story_Yuuzen.png) Yuuzen |
"Yes. Friends." |
![Story Yuuzen.png](/images/9/9c/Story_Yuuzen.png) Yuuzen |
"...Got ya." |
At last, Yuuzen embraced the demonised Nishikese dolls. The dolls resisted the moment she grabbed them and bit Yuuzen. But as soon as Yuuzen patted the doll on the back and said "It's okay", the dolls immediately quietened down. |
![Story Yuuzen.png](/images/9/9c/Story_Yuuzen.png) Yuuzen |
"Tell me about yer oka-san. How can I help her?" |
![Story Monster.png](/images/3/30/Story_Monster.png) Demonised Nishikese Doll |
"Oka-sama, I feel sorry for her. Oka-sama cries every day." |
![Story Yuuzen.png](/images/9/9c/Story_Yuuzen.png) Yuuzen |
"Yer crying? Yer not angry?" |
![Story Monster.png](/images/3/30/Story_Monster.png) Demonised Nishikese Doll |
"Oka-sama cries all the time. She's alone and she's crying a lot in front of us dolls." |
![Story Yuuzen.png](/images/9/9c/Story_Yuuzen.png) Yuuzen |
"That's too bad, isn't it? I wonder if she misses Miyako... |
![Story Monster.png](/images/3/30/Story_Monster.png) Demonised Nishikese Doll |
"No. Miyako and Miyabi are back, but oka-sama is still crying." |
![Story Monster.png](/images/3/30/Story_Monster.png) Demonised Nishikese Doll |
"She changed into a different person. I want oka-sama back. I want kind, beautiful, good singer, oka-sama back..." |
![Story Yuuzen.png](/images/9/9c/Story_Yuuzen.png) Yuuzen |
"...Have she become unable to retain her human heart and let resentment and hatred take control of her?" |
![Story Monster.png](/images/3/30/Story_Monster.png) Demonised Nishikese Doll |
"Help oka-sama. We don't care what happens to us dolls, please save oka-sama." |
![Story Yuuzen.png](/images/9/9c/Story_Yuuzen.png) Yuuzen |
"Don't be silly. I will save both ya and yer oka-san." |
![Story Yuuzen.png](/images/9/9c/Story_Yuuzen.png) Yuuzen |
"Close your eyes. Remember yer oka-san's song." |
![Story Monster.png](/images/3/30/Story_Monster.png) Demonised Nishikese Doll |
"........." |
![Story Monster.png](/images/3/30/Story_Monster.png) Demonised Nishikese Doll |
"I can hear oka-sama's song!' |
![Story Yuuzen.png](/images/9/9c/Story_Yuuzen.png) Yuuzen |
"Yer oka-san's heart was eaten by bitterness and hatred." |
![Story Yuuzen.png](/images/9/9c/Story_Yuuzen.png) Yuuzen |
"Good for ya. Ya'll did your best." |
The hand of the Nishikese dolls, held by Yuuzen, slipped lifelessly from Yuuzen's arms. |
The Nishikese dolls, which had been speaking words, departed in Yuuzen's arms to the afterlife. |
In the end, they listened to their beloved mother's song. |
![Story Miyako.png](/images/2/21/Story_Miyako.png) Miyako |
"Yoshino-chan, who in the world is Yuuzen, actually?" |
![Story Yoshino.png](/images/b/bd/Story_Yoshino.png) Yoshino |
"A doll otaku from Iris Cloud. Her ancestor is a famous doll maker." |
![Story Yoshino.png](/images/b/bd/Story_Yoshino.png) Yoshino |
"But there's rumours been told that the dolls made by Yuuzen's ancestor were said to have 'something nasty' and many of them were cremated." |
![Story Yoshino.png](/images/b/bd/Story_Yoshino.png) Yoshino |
"Yuuzen is looking for the dolls her ancestor made. Yoshino's friend was also a doll made by Yuuzen's ancestor." |
![Story Miyako.png](/images/2/21/Story_Miyako.png) Miyako |
"She knows more about dolls than I do, having lived with them. I couldn't have said 'goodbye' so nicely like that." |
![Story Miyako.png](/images/2/21/Story_Miyako.png) Miyako |
"I'm sure I've been training in sorcery just for the sake of the dolls. If Yuuzen-san is here, she might be able to pacify goshujin-sama..." |
??? |
'That's not true, Miyako." |
![Story Miyako.png](/images/2/21/Story_Miyako.png) Miyako |
"?" |
![Story Miyabi.png](/images/3/35/Story_Miyabi.png) Fox Masked Girl |
"You are the only one who can calm goshujin-sama. Miyako." |
The fox-masked girl from Senbon Torii appeared... |