A suite on the top floor of Hotel Forest Castle.

Rea was confined in that room where Ooki lived.

Right now, she was lying on the bed with a clearly haggard face.

(I'm tired... no, I'm still tired. There's no way I can rest in the same space as someone like her.)

The moment she closed her eyes, that scraped-off face and Ooki's words and actions floated into her mind.

She felt nauseous.

Just thinking that the blood of such a thing flows in her makes her whole body itch.

Originally, Rea hadn't paid much attention to her mother.

A heartless parent who chose religion over her daughter—with that level of recognition, she thought that rather than resenting her mother, she should be grateful to the father who raised her.

But now, she was filled with disgust and hatred for her mother.

『Forget about a father like that. No, that man is not your father. Because you are a child carrying the genes of Giraiguu sama and me.』

(I can't believe that someone that disgusting is my mother.)

『You don't need Kuragane either. You only need to think about me and Giraiguu sama. If you do that, we can spend the coming doomsday happily!』

(Just being spoiled by someone wearing my mother's face gives me the chills.)

Rea hasn't suffered any violence since coming here.

Instead, Ooki took on her mother's past face and spoiled Rea to an abnormal degree—but whether her head was being patted or she was given a lap pillow, she only felt disgust.

(If it were Erika, my heart would have found peace.)

Is this what it means to come to like someone.

Is this what it means to come to hate someone.

She was simultaneously experiencing those discoveries.

But Rea, who has no power, cannot even escape from here.

For now, all she could do was close her eyes and sleep, wait for time to pass, and pray that Erika and the others would come save her.

Then someone approached her, and even climbed onto the bed.

Rea, feeling a chill, opened her eyes, and there was Nakami's face.

"Noooooo!"

Rea screamed involuntarily and shoved Nakami away.

But Nakami grabbed her wrist and squeezed it tightly.

"It hurts... stop it, Runa...!"

"Why do you reject me so much?"

"Isn't it obvious. You... you deceived me!"

"Deceived you?"

Nakami tilted her head with a plop.

Then she plastered a "human-like" expression on her face.

"The time you and I spent together was real, Rea."

And spoke like that using "Nakami Runa's" voice.

No—that wasn't all.

"In elementary school, in middle school, and in high school, we were always friends, weren't we."

Switching to the voices she used at those times, she dragged out the memories Rea wanted to forget.

The friend she parted ways with after graduation.

The best friend who moved away.

That girl who had a weak constitution and had to be hospitalized far away.

Among them was even someone she was still keeping in touch with.

To think that this person calling herself Nakami Runa had been acting out all of them.

She didn't want to believe it.

But since reality was thrust before her eyes, all Rea could do was deny that act.

"Don't say such creepy things! You are not my friend!"

"I was by your side more than anyone else. That means I have influenced the formation of your personality more than anyone else. You understand, Rea. I am inside you. Just as half your blood belongs to Mother, a percentage of your personality—"

"Stop ittttt!"

Rea struggled desperately, but Nakami, who had power, didn't budge an inch.

However, she suddenly looked down at Rea with cold eyes, and slapped her cheek hard with a smack.

"Kh..."

Rea widened her eyes and froze.

Her screaming voice stopped abruptly, and her eyes wavered in fear.

Seeing that—Nakami, who acted as if she had no emotions, slightly pulled up the corners of her mouth.

"I apologize, my hand slipped."

"Kh... haa, haa..."

Rea was so terrified of Nakami that she couldn't even breathe properly.

She had understood.

The human named Nakami Runa is not just a tool of Kaisei kyou that moves exactly as told.

While saying "For my faith," she is a deviant who finds joy in hurting others.

The same goes for continuously deceiving Rea.

Continuing an act for years without anyone finding out—that is impossible unless Nakami herself enjoyed it.

"However, could you please forgive me. I could not forgive it. Setting myself aside, your words and actions denying Mother's blood."

Rea shook her head side to side meaninglessly.

Seeing the tears slowly welling up, Nakami's sadistic desires were stimulated.

"For these six years, I have been Mother's hands and feet, dedicating my efforts to guide her faith to even greater heights. And she even finally allowed me to call Ooki sama 'Mother'. But, no matter how much of Mother's blood I drink, I will never become Mother's child."

Nakami slowly placed her hands on Rea's neck and applied her weight.

"A... ka, hah..."

"Oogi Rea. Only you. Only you, who make no effort and, outrageously reject Mother's love, carry Mother's blood."

Although the smile faded from her face, sanity vanished from her eyes, exposing her cruel true nature.

Nakami's fingers were already digging into Rea's neck, completely stopping her breathing.

"A, aga... gh, ge..."

"Do you know how happy that is, and how unreasonable it is to me—do you, do you not understandddd!"

But she isn't satisfied with just strangling her.

Thinking she might as well snap her neck, she put even more strength into it—

"Runaaaaaaaaaaa!"

Ooki's angry yell interrupted it.

"Mother!? Agh!"

Ooki, who had returned to the room, grabbed Nakami's hair, tore her away from Rea, and threw her to the floor.

And then she kicked her hard in the stomach.

Nakami's light body was slammed against the wall, causing a decorated painting to fall to the floor.

"I told you! I told you so many times! To treat Rea carefully! To love Rea as much as I love her!"

"I am deeply sorry! I am deeply sorry!"

Nakami was desperately apologizing, but Ooki, whose face was unusually red with rage, showed no signs of stopping.

She further grabbed her hair, lifted her up, pinned her against the wall, and punched her body and face repeatedly with her free right hand.

"You, who were born desired by no one! You, who lived desired by no one! Thanks to whom are you able to live like this!? Thanks to whom are you able to receive Giraiguu sama's favor like this!?"

"It is thanks to Mother."

"Do not call me Mother with that filthy mouth!"

"I am deeply sorry! It is thanks to Ranko sama. My life is a life for Ranko samaaaaa!"

"Isn't it? Then isn't it obvious you should listen to what I say? A Runa who disobeys me has no value, isn't that right!?"

In the end, she grabbed her neck with that hand, and began lifting her body while strangling her.

Rea, seeing that sight, trembled with a pale face.

"A, a, gah... gahyu, hih..."

"Shall I just kill you. Now that my real daughter has returned, a fake daughter like Runa shouldn't be needed anymore, right. You're just a nuisance in the little time left until the world ends!"

"Ha, hahi... haoh... please, kill me."

"Hah?"

"Mother's... reprimand, is love... towards me...! The pain enveloping my entire body is because Mother loves me... gofuh, precisely because of it...!"

"Runa..."

"Please, please kill me... bestow the highest love, upon, me..."

Even as her face turned purple, Nakami spread both arms and accepted death.

Seeing her devoted figure, a change also appeared in Ooki.

Large teardrops spilled out, and the strength left the hand that was trying to kill Nakami.

And she embraced the body that collapsed to the floor with both arms.

"Runaaaaaaaaa!"

A scream with a cracking voice echoed through the room.

Even though she was screaming the same word as before, this time it was strangely emotional.

"I was wrong. I took your love too lightly."

"Mother..."

"Right, if you love me that much, it can't be helped that you would be jealous of Rea. And to think I was going to kill you before we could watch the end of the world together with Giraiguu sama, what a terrible thing I... I'm sorry, I'm sooooorry."

"I am happy to be forgiven, Mother!"

The two embraced, confirming their love for each other.

Seeing that, Rea—

(Creepy, creepy, creepyyyy!)

Goosebumps broke out all over her body, and she felt nothing but chills.

Just plainly creepy.

Creepier than anything she had seen in her life up until now.

An intense feeling of disgust welled up, to the point of feeling that the existence of something like this within her own family was the greatest stain on her life.

(I might be selfish... It might be difficult... but please. Erika, come save me quickly... I don't want to be in a place like this anymore!)

It was a sight so physiologically unacceptable that she couldn't help but let out a weak complaint.

Moreover, it would have been fine if they just stayed immersed in their own world, but Ooki suddenly stood up and approached Rea.

"Of course I haven't forgotten about you either, Rea. I love you."

Rea just glared at Ooki.

However, perhaps because she was in a good mood, she didn't punch her like usual even when Rea took a cheeky attitude.

Rather, she held out her hand and said this.

"It's time to offer tributes to Giraiguu sama now. I'm sure you'll change your mind once you see the real thing, Rea. Come, let's go."

That was equivalent to a unilateral order with no right of refusal.

Unable to disobey, Rea stood up without taking Ooki's hand.

◆◆◆

Meanwhile, around that time, Myourenji and Ushizawa were in a warehouse on the second floor of the hotel.

It was naturally Myourenji who called her to this deserted place.

Ushizawa had been doing chores all day in the hall on the top floor, tilling the fields, cooking, and mending frayed clothes.

That was the reason Suguro had said "we need a labor force."

However, she didn't understand the reason why they had to prepare more food than the number of people.

Naturally, the people working in that hall cannot go outside.

The only security camera indoors was also installed near the entrance/exit of the hall, making it so they would be noticed immediately if they tried to escape.

—By the way, the reason cameras weren't installed in other places was because Shiromachi complained that he didn't want to be filmed while playing around with women.

For those reasons, Ushizawa, who originally shouldn't have been there, was brought to this warehouse on the second floor by Myourenji.

Of course, there was only one purpose.

"Hey Ai chan, I actually have quite a lot of power here, you know. I'm entrusted with managing the buildings and machines, and Shiromachi trusts me too."

To hit on Ushizawa.

He forcefully pinned her against the wall, brought his face close, and spoke to her in a domineering manner.

"...Ai is, not good with men."

Ushizawa averted her eyes and rejected him.

Yet he familiarly grabbed her hand and continued his words.

"Don't say that. Look, besides, if you become mine now, you might avoid getting touched by Shiromachi, right? I'm definitely better than that guy, and I'm sure we'd get along."

"No, Ai doesn't want to be touched."

The more forceful Myourenji became, the more intense Ushizawa's rejection became.

Then his attitude suddenly changed, and he raised his voice half-threateningly.

"Just obey me already. If you do, you won't be treated like a slave here anymore!"

At that moment—Ushizawa remembered the words Gii had secretly conveyed to her.

『Myourenji is aiming for Ushizawa. Erika says he gets carried away easily. Having gained power, he's getting full of himself. He gets carried away to the point where he is hated by other people. That's why he will definitely use forceful methods. When that happens—scream as loud as you can so someone else can hear.』

She took a deep breath and raised her voice with all her might.

"Kyaaaaaaaaaaaah!"

A high-pitched voice that carried far echoed through the hotel.

Myourenji hurriedly covered Ushizawa's mouth with his hand.

"Shut up, don't raise your voice!"

"Muguuuuh! Nguuuuuuh!"

"Tch, what do you plan to do if someone comes..."

Then, someone's footsteps approached the warehouse.

The door opened—and what appeared was Okada, a boy in the same class as Myourenji.

"Myourenji, what are you doing."

"O-Okada? What am I doing, well..."

Myourenji mumbled.

But seeing Ushizawa with her mouth covered by his hand, it was obvious at a glance.

"Don't tell me you're, to that girl."

"Ha, haha, it's exactly as it looks. I'm embracing a woman, just like Shiromachi!"

As a result, he decided to be defiant.

He has power.

Besides, there's precedent.

He hasn't done anything wrong—he told himself that.

However, Okada frowned unpleasantly and offered a complaint.

"Stop it, she clearly hates it."

"The woman he laid a hand on hated it too! Why is it okay for Shiromachi but not for me!"

That was also a sound argument.

Shiromachi had not only embraced women, but had even killed them on a whim.

That was forgiven, yet he, who had done nothing yet, was being looked at with exasperation.

What was the difference—moreover, of all people, from the powerless Okada to him, who had power.

Thinking that, Myourenji suddenly started getting irritated at Okada.

Even though he couldn't say anything strong to Shiromachi.

Perhaps he's acting tough exactly because his opponent is him, someone with a weak standing in the class.

If so, he needed to make him understand the hierarchy.

That right now, I could easily kill someone like you.

"Okada, unlike you, I am 'chosen'. To the point of being splendidly entrusted with the management of this building! If so, isn't it fine if I get at least one woman!?"

"Myourenji, you're... creepy."

"Hah?"

"Even though you're just scared of Shiromachi, don't act all high and mighty just because you were given a small role."

"What did you say... Which one of us is scared of Shiromachi. Do you want to be killed, Okada!"

"I heard from Shiromachi. You're forbidden from learning skills for fighting, right? How is that being trusted."

"It's true I don't have skills for fighting. But, I'm not weak enough to lose a fight against you, Okada, alright?"

"Even that power isn't yours."

"Don't screw with me... this belongs to meeeeeeeee!"

Myourenji lunges at Okada.

Okada intended to catch him and brace himself—but in reality, there was no way he could stop Myourenji, who had gained power.

He was easily shoved away and fell backwards.

Myourenji got on top of him and raised his fist.

Then, slipping past them, Ushizawa escaped from the warehouse.

"Ah—hey, what are you gonna do Okada. Ai chan got away!"

"Like I care."

"Hey Okada, apologize. Bow your head to me and apologizeeee!"

Okada only grumbled, "What a pain."

However, Myourenji seemed to have completely lost his nerve with Ushizawa gone, and lowered his raised fist.

"Haa... haa... haa... Dammit, getting in my way even though you're incompetent."

"Ah?"

"Hah, acting all tough even though you lost the fight. Okada, I've lost interest in you. Go home."

"Tch... I'll go even without you telling me. Just looking at your face pisses me off."

Spitting at his feet, Okada left the warehouse.

"I'm different from that class now. If you make a fool of me next time, I'll definitely kill you!"

Myourenji spat those words towards the back that had already left the room and disappeared from sight.

On the other hand, Okada, who had gone out into the hallway, could faintly hear that voice.

He made an openly displeased face,

"Getting carried away with borrowed power."

And continued to curse at Myourenji.

In the class, Okada belonged to Shiromachi and Suguro's group.

And yet, he wasn't chosen as a party member.

With 4 people already dead, it was certain he would be chosen as the next member, but—he felt a considerable complex about being put off until later.

"Surely Shiromachi will share his fighting power with me soon. I just have to teach him who has the higher standing then."

It seems Okada was heading to the 3rd floor.

However, right after climbing the stairs, something like a slime was clinging to the ceiling.

It seemed to be waiting after calculating the blind spot, and it never entered his field of vision.

And the slime transformed its body, extended a whip-like tentacle, sharpened its tip—and pierced Okada's back.

"Ah—?"

Feeling "heat" rather than pain, he raised his voice.

But Okada would never realize its true identity.

Gii activated magic at the tip of the pierced whip.

Light exploded from within his body, and it evaporated with a sizzle.

His clothes burned away as well, and no visually identifiable traces remained on the spot.

There was a faint burnt smell, but even that quickly faded.

Even if someone were to pass by here right now, they wouldn't know a human had been here just a few seconds ago.

"Gishishi. I met the conditions exactly as told, Erika."

Having finished her job, Gii chuckled to herself, and smoothly sliding her slime-like body, she returned to the room given to Inuzuka.

◆◆◆

Ushizawa, having escaped from the warehouse, was on the 1st floor.

She should have returned to the hall on the 3rd floor, but hearing Ooki and Rea's voices from below, she ended up following them as if drawn in.

Seeing the two enter a certain room, Ushizawa followed after them.

Beyond the door was a stone brick hallway, with a texture clearly different from the hotel.

Although it was a straight path, barrels, broken pots, old ropes, and the like were scattered along the sides.

It seemed the petite Ushizawa could hide.

Candles were placed on the walls, faintly illuminating the surroundings.

However, there was also the unnatural point that they didn't flicker at all even when the wind blew in.

Ooki and Rea seemed to be heading further in.

Also, the two were carrying bowls piled high with food.

Ushizawa silenced her footsteps and slowly tailed them.

After proceeding down the hallway for a while, there was a large and magnificent double door at the end.

"Now, Giraiguu sama is just beyond this."

Even when Ooki said that, Rea showed no reaction.

(Oogi san's face is pale. Ai thinks she's being brought here forcefully. Also, saying Giraiguu is here... but, what's beyond here is what Ai saw in her dream...)

Ushizawa knew the door in front of her.

The scenery she saw in her dream last night.

The same door should have been in that room where the giant monster that absorbed Hiiro was.

When Ooki pushed the doors open with both hands, a creaking sound Giiiiii echoed creepily through the hallway.

"Kh... This is..."

Rea lost her words upon seeing the bizarre sight spreading across the entire wall.

Ushizawa almost let out a voice too, but somehow managed to endure by covering her mouth with her hand.

But her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would burst at any moment.

(I knew it. The one in that room is Hiiro! Then the dream I saw yesterday wasn't a dream. Hiiro was really talking to me.)

The air overflowing from the throne room was mixed with the smell of beasts and blood.

The monster, which looked like chopped-up animals randomly stitched together, began pulsating irregularly upon sensing the presence of visitors.

Seeing its wriggling figure, Rea felt nauseous from its creepiness.

"Fufu, you're surprised by its overwhelming beauty, aren't you. Yes, this is the very existence that will guide us to the True World. It is Giraiguu sama's main body!"

"This is... Giraiguu..."

Rea already knew.

That this was not Giraiguu.

(This is the same thing as Shimakawa Yuya, right. It's not Giraiguu, but the 'master' we have to defeat to escape this floor.)

Of course, she had noticed the existence of the girl buried in the center, but Rea didn't know she was Inoue Hiiro.

So her true identity was also a mystery.

But the biggest question was why Ooki firmly believed that was Giraiguu.

Ooki stepped into the room and approached the grotesque main body.

"Now, you offer the tributes too, Rea. Otherwise, we will be eaten one by one."

Prompted like that, Rea also slowly approached the monster.

And placed the food she had brought nearby.

(Ai understands now. The vegetables in that hall were meant to be offered as tributes.)

Perhaps giving it a massive amount of food suppresses its beastly instincts.

Without it, humans would be eaten.

Or perhaps it wouldn't stay quietly in such a place and would start rampaging.

That's why they had to push themselves to leave the hotel and go to the stall to get food.

The two who went to the stall were supposed to have died after falling into Erika and the others' stratagem, but Shiromachi and Suguro probably brought back the targeted items afterwards.

A part of the monster called "Giraiguu," a beast's neck smoothly extended and approached the food placed on the floor.

And opening its mouth so wide it looked like it would tear, it began to devour it.

Ooki watched that sight with a gentle expression, like a mother watching over her child, and opened her mouth.

"I never expected Inoue Hiiro, rather than Ikuna Yumemi, to be chosen as the core of the ritual. Or perhaps she was summoned by Ikuna Yumemi, but Inoue Hiiro was more to its taste."

"Yumemi, you mean Erika's friend?"

"Yes, exactly. She was fortunately chosen as the sacrifice to summon Giraiguu sama. Until that day came, she accumulated suffering befitting to bring Giraiguu sama down into a physical body in the underground."

"She didn't betray Erika, you kidnapped her? Erika suffered so much!"

"Why do you need to be angry? Only one person can become the sacrifice for Giraiguu sama. There is nothing happier than this."

"Are you out of your mind!?"

"You bad girl, using such dirty words in front of Giraiguu sama. But since we are in the presence of God, I'll forgive you for now."

"The girl named Inoue Hiiro was supposed to be Ushizawa san's friend too, right."

"You even knew about her. That girl was isolated in class due to rumors that she had an inappropriate relationship with a middle-aged man. The pain should have been lacking compared to other sacrifice candidates, but I wonder if the content was to Giraiguu sama's liking."

That referred to Tsumori Takuro, and of course, there was no suspicious relationship whatsoever.

But rumors are things that get transmitted distortedly.

And with just that piece of gossip, Hiiro began to be subjected to cold stares from her other classmates.

(Ai didn't know Hiiro was going through something like that. She wanted her to consult her...)

Ushizawa bites her lip in frustration.

Hiiro and Ushizawa were close enough to frequently have sleepovers, but Hiiro had hardly ever spoken about her older sister's death.

Perhaps she knew a dangerous religion was involved and purposely kept quiet.

Then, at that moment, the ground suddenly started shaking violently.

"Kyaah! An e-earthquake!?"

Rea almost lost her balance and reached out to the wall.

Ushizawa also clung to a barrel and desperately held on.

It was such a violent tremor that she felt she would fall if she didn't.

"There is no need to be frightened. It's proof that Giraiguu sama's destruction of the world is progressing."

"What do you mean?"

"Giraiguu sama will destroy this world once, and then take us to the True World. If so, isn't it natural for this amusement park to break down. We will all welcome the end Giraiguu sama brings us together... Fufu, isn't it wonderful."

"So, the reason you're staying here even though you have the power to fight is to die?"

"It is not death. We will journey to the True World. Not this rotten old world, but a new, correct world completely enveloped in light!"

"Don't drag us into something so incomprehensible!"

"If you come with us, you'll understand how wonderful it is."

"I have no intention of ever understanding!"

In the first place, Ooki had no intention of getting close to Rea.

Even though they were parent and child, there was no way their emotions would mesh.

"Someone who won't even properly face her own family talking about a True World is laughable. This world is rotten? The one who is more rotten than anyone else is you, Mom."

"What did you say...?"

"Kidnapping me without knowing my feelings, or trying to commit suicide together. To be blunt, it's annoying! There's no way a human who does things like that can find happiness even if they go to a new world! You'll just repeat the same things!"

At the rebellious daughter, the mother raises her hand as if saying it was her "natural right."

Slapped on the cheek, Rea nevertheless continued to glare at Ooki.

"Do you think I'll obey if you hit me like that? That itself is proof you aren't facing me."

"I... I don't remember raising you like that!"

"I don't remember being raised by you! I am Oogi Rea, my Dad's child!"

"Reaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"

Screaming loudly, Ooki grabs Rea by the collar.

She cannot convince her with words.

All she can do is force the other party to submit through violence.

In such a state, there's no way Rea would yield.

Ooki continues to yell hysterically.

Ushizawa observed the situation while hiding in the shadows—but suddenly the door behind them opened.

What appeared was Nakami, carrying the tribute food.

(...Ai might be in a pinch.)

As expected, there was no place to hide from both the front and the back.

Approaching footsteps.

And finally, Nakami arrived right in front of the barrel Ushizawa was hiding in—and just passed by as if nothing had happened.

"Mother, there is still food left."

"Right, there was. Rea, we are returning. Because we still have to offer many tributes to Giraiguu sama."

Ooki and Rea also left the throne room, but no one found Ushizawa.

Because she had disappeared.

Through the door opened by Ooki walking in front, an invisible Ushizawa and Hiyami passed.

And after moving to a place with no sign of people, they finally deactivated the "skill."

"That was a close call."

Hiyami smiled refreshingly, showing her white teeth.

"Ai was so surprised she almost let out a voice."

"A good surprise, wasn't it?"

"Yeah, Ai is really surprised. To think Hiyami san was alive."

A smile also floated on Ushizawa's face.

Gii is also active, and surely Erika is doing her best too.

If Hiyami even joins them, there's nothing to be afraid of anymore.

"Our princess doesn't die that easily. Besides, just because the leader died doesn't mean I would disappear too. Back then, I just tried playing dead by using a skill to disappear instantly."

"Ai didn't know you had a skill like that."

"Sovereign's (Gyges) Ring, named after a myth. Good grief, Gyges, huh. It seems that Kaigyo guy even saw through the fact that I'm a coward."

"Ai doesn't really understand, but... if we knew beforehand, Ai and the others wouldn't have been so shocked."

"Because no one knew, I was able to fool them."

Hiyami said that proudly, but Ushizawa puffed out her cheeks in dissatisfaction.

However, those cheeks quickly deflated, and she changed the subject.

"Come to think of it, Ai is curious how Kuragane san's little sister is doing."

"After getting shot, I used Healing and she got well immediately, and lately she's just been fighting monsters called Hole-Men and Casts. Even though it was a surprise attack, she seemed frustrated that her vitals were pierced. She's been training so much she won't even pay attention to me."

"That's a relief. Ai is glad the two of you are doing well."

"If you're happy, it was worth putting on an act. Now then, I should probably head back to the third floor soon, or they might get suspicious."

"Yeah, Myourenji might also be looking for Ai."

"Before you go back, I want to ask you to pass a message to the people on the third floor. Will you take it?"

"Of course."

"Tomorrow, we go on the offensive. Erika senpai should move at the same time. I plan to use bombs and such, so I want you to stay in the room until help arrives."

"Tomorrow...! Understood, Ai will definitely pass it on."

Ushizawa ran up the stairs, her eyes sparkling with hope.

"Haha, she was quite elated. I hope it doesn't show on her face."

When her figure disappeared, Hiyami smiled wryly and turned invisible, disappearing from sight.