Volume 5, Chapter 0: The Prelude for Part 2


    As space-time violently rippled, the shattered human soul was sent through the torrent of the dimensions.


    It was a storm of emptiness raging in a void that had nothing.


    “I” dreamt in that violent whirlpool.


    Beautiful, gentle parents… Living as a noble… Smiling towards servants…


    Golden hair… Black hair… little friends.


    A big castle… a splendid king… a little boy with a defiant face…


    A boy with earnest eyes that held a sword……


    And…


    The sweet smell of overflowing blood…


    A dark sky… A dark world…


    Thousands of grotesque monsters, all kneeling before me…


    Four boys and a girl…


    An enormous cat… dark like ink…


    Reflected in its eyes……


    A golden cat.


    I quietly dreamed it all.


    A wall that was made to stop “Me”, that had enormous power,


    And a great force called out for “Me”.


    Someone was calling.


    An unknown voice…? No, I know this voice. A boy…? A girl…?


    I faintly heard the quiet whine of a “Beast”.


    Were you… calling out to me?


    “……Ah, you’re awake.”


    When I opened my eyes, the white light shone against my eyes. I heard someone’s voice in the background that was still blurry to me.


    A young woman…? But for some reason it’s a nostalgic feeling.


    My body wouldn’t move. I felt like I was asleep.


    “Ah, hold on, don’t get up yet.”


    I kept pushing against the lady that was holding my body down, but she pulled me into an embrace and touched her forehead to mine. It’s a little… cold and pleasant.


    “Mm… the fever’s gone down. You’ve had a terrible fever and been asleep since yesterday morning. The women were making a terrible commotion. Hey, aren’t you hungry?”


    “……No”


    A small voice came out. But it felt a little different. Was it because of fever? It seemed like it’d been a long time since I’d gotten sick…


    “Is that so…? Then, shall I peel some fruit for you? You won’t get better if you don’t eat something, you know.”


    In my field of vision that gradually widened, I saw a girl smiling at me.


    A spirited girl with black hair and eyes… that looked like a junior high school student.


    Someone I don’t know…? But, it felt like I knew her.


    A nostalgic smile. A bright room that I feel like I’ve seen somewhere.


    A flower-patterned wallpaper. Crayon graffiti. A colorful picture book. A stuffed teddy bear.


    A large cushion that had faded colors. A small white chair and desk.


    At that scene… tears fell unbidden from my eyes even as I was unaware because of that nostalgic feeling.


    “What’s wrong?”


    The girl’s voice was surprised, and hugged me gently, stroking my head quietly.


    A big hand…… No, I’m just small.


    “I saw a scary dream… It’s okay…… Yuzu……”


    Author’s Notes:


    Today I’m going to post about 5 chapters. They’re scheduled for every hour.


    The prologue is short, but the next will be about 3000-4000 words.


    From the sixth chapter, I’ll post about once every 2 days, but if I have leeway, I’ll post ahead of schedule.