Volume 2 - CH 258

The icy cold air slides under our feet.

The wind, which seems to freeze everything it touches, gradually heats up and becomes a hot wind.

What strange terrain.

One could understand why one would feel this way.

In this land where the only light we can rely on is moonlight, the ground appears a deep indigo color.

And if you look into the distance, you can see the sky changing color to a burning red.

There is magma flowing, making a gurgling sound as it asserts its presence.

The wind was heating up to such a high temperature that if you touched it, you would not be able to do more than burn yourself.

Suddenly, I looked at the indigo-colored earth and saw several figures.

About a dozen Oni were lying on the ground, and in front of them was an Oni with a single large horn, kneeling on his knees with his hands in front of his head.

He had golden horns and silver hair.

With many beads wrapped around his body, he had the appearance of a monk in Buddhist attire.

Rolling the prayer beads in his hands, he was making offerings to the fallen oni in front of him.

However, they do not speak a single word.

It is their way of making offerings.

“Zugma, Douga, Regus, Vadan, Mozen…”

Their limbs have already begun to decay as their bodies begin to decay, and it will not cease its momentum.

After death, the spectre is reduced to ashes, without a bone left in its body.

An existence that should not exist.

As soon as they realise this, they are sent to the everlasting realm.

“Zabora, Kakuzu, Genma, Douwen, Bondara…”

After calling all of them by name, he grasps the beads that were lying around.

The sound of the rolling beads and the shattered beads falling can be heard.

At the same time as the sound disappears, they have completely vanished into ashes.

There is a terrible sense of sadness in this.

It was like watching a dying tree.

However, this expression may not be suitable, as the withering of the trees is something to be seen and enjoyed.

But this oni thought.

“Garak. Leave it at that.”

“………… mmhmm ……”

As the blue-horned ogre called Garak said this, he scooted up and walked slowly in the direction of the building.

He made a clattering sound, but stopped in mid-stride and turned around.

“What does …… Gouki …… say?”

“What do you mean?”

“How about mourning the dead ……?”

“Nay. Nobody would be happy to have me do it.”

“That’s not true, although I don’t think it is. Well, whatever.”

After saying this, this time Garak walks away.

Gouki is sitting on the spot.

They have been reduced to ashes, but only their clothes still remain.

He looks at them one by one and sighs loudly.

Ten people had been sacrificed just to accomplish one thing.

They all survived, but they all died.

Spectre Oni are extremely difficult to live with in that realm of this world.

Their mere presence there is harmful to their bodies.

Everybody who was turned into ashes knew that.

And yet they went to that realm and took a single oni with them.

It is beyond recklessness.

“I’m not sure I’m in a position to say that. ……”

Gouki.

He was an Oni who became a spectre a few weeks ago.

His personality …… had changed.

However, he also realised that if he came here, his personality would come back.

Once he cools down and his personality comes back, he regrets what he has done and he yearns to be in that realm.

Nevertheless, they are birds in a cage.

To leave this everlasting realm is equivalent to going to die.

Zugma went to that realm to convey his feelings to the one he loved.

Douga went to see his children.

Regus shouted that he would give his apprentice one last lesson.

Badan left to fulfill the fate of a past friend.

Mouzen, who wandered off to get some air in that realm.

Zabora, who said he wanted to apologize to his wife.

Kakuzu wants to have a drink with his friends one more time.

Gemma, who went out in high spirits, wanting to test his strength.

Douwen who went out to listen to some sound.

Bondara who went to get wood to make a Buddha statue.

Nobody came back to do what they wanted to do.

And then they died.

I was terribly stunned at the way they died, but the person I was most stunned at was myself.

“…… I want to see my son, and I’m waiting here without leaving.”

Garak would be fine with that, since he had achieved his goal.

But not for them.

They must have been disappointed.

How does it feel to be mourned by the oni, the one who didn’t want to be mourned the most?

I’d like to ask them that, but they are no longer around to answer me.

“How do you feel ……? You know, I’m …… crying my eyes out.”

I wiped the tears from my eyes and looked at the gate of that realm in dismay.

The effect of the spectre power has thickened again.

It makes me feel weary.

Gouki just sits and waits at the gate of that realm to see his son for the last time.

He will come.

It is because of this confidence that he waits motionless in this everlasting realm.