Bungo Stray Dogs - Volume 5 - Chapter 3.1

Interlude 2—2 

On the highest floor of Skull Fortress, Shibusawa slightly smirked before the other two men present. They were in a dark passageway located even deeper than the room decorated with apples that were pierced with knives and the countless tall windows that extended to the ceiling. 

“Welcome to my collection room—Draconia.” 

Shibusawa was holding an ominous skull. Amid the darkness was a structure that emitted a pale glow. It was semicircular, like a circus tent or a giant conservatory, with a door in the shape of a coiled dragon. In its hand was a red jewel. 

The door opened, welcoming Dazai and Fyodor to Shibusawa’s so-called collection room, Draconia. 

In the center was a pedestal-like pillar surrounded by display shelves attached to the wall. It was 360 degrees of shelves, and displayed on them were red crystals. The second level of the collection room was no different. Hundreds—thousands—of crystals decorated the shelves. 

“Each one of these is a skill, huh?” Dazai muttered coldly as he looked at the wall. “That’s a huge collection you got yourself.” 

“Marvelous. Even the devil himself would be envious.” Fyodor smirked, then leaned into Dazai and whispered, “The crystals started clamoring ever since you set foot in the room.” 

But Shibusawa only reacted to Fyodor’s first comment. Perhaps he hadn’t heard the second part—or he simply didn’t care. 

“Then I guess that makes you the rat of death, here to sell information to the devil.” 

Shibusawa regarded Fyodor. 

“I found half of this collection thanks to the information I bought from you about skill users. That allowed me to create a fog large enough to swallow an entire city.” 

Skill users who came in contact with the fog were split from their skills, which then attacked them. If they managed to defeat their skill, then they would get their skill back. However, what would happen if they lost? One look inside Draconia could answer that. They would be killed by their skills, which would then turn into a crystal, only to be collected by Shibusawa. The red crystals on the skills’ foreheads were proof that they had become a part of his collection. 

Little did Atsushi and the others know that the fire-wielding skill user in Taipei who was burned to death, the card-wielding assassin crucified in Singapore, and the ice wielder skewered in Detroit were all people who Shibusawa robbed skills from. Their skills had surely turned into crystals and added to the collection just like the rest. Shibusawa was only able to subjugate all of Yokohama because he had gathered so many skills in the form of crystals. So he was thankful to an extent to Fyodor, who had supplied him with information. 

“However…” As if he was testing Fyodor, Shibusawa asked, “How were you able to gather so much information?” 

“The city is full of rats.” 

After Fyodor shrugged and dodged the question, Dazai muttered a tedious “Meow.” 

An empty space on the shelf behind him suddenly illuminated. The light grew stronger and more condensed until it eventually transformed into a red crystal that spun as it filled in the void. 

“We have a new arrival.” Shibusawa took notice of the new crystal. “Somewhere in Yokohama, another skill user has died. However…” 

There was no warmth in Shibusawa’s indifferent tone. He barely glanced at the new crystal before immediately returning his gaze to the pedestal in the center of the room. 

“This is all pointless without that one skill that fits right here.” Shibusawa placed a hand on top of the empty pedestal and whispered, “It doesn’t matter how many I collect, unless…” 

His voice was slowly swallowed by the void until it could be heard no more. 

3—3 

Clang, clang, clang, clang! 

The sound of metal echoed as Atsushi and Kyouka followed Akutagawa. Kyouka had managed to coerce Atsushi into cooperating with his sworn enemy. 

At the end of the underground passage was a large, open space. All the ducts they had seen along the passageway led to a room filled with various containers and machinery. It appeared to be some sort of underground factory. 

“Kyouka,” groaned Atsushi while walking. “Why are we following him?” 

“Because he has information…and we can use the Port Mafia’s secret passage,” replied Kyouka in a matter-of-fact tone. “And most importantly, he’ll be a powerful asset in battle once he gets his skill back. Our goal is the same: Eliminate Shibusawa.” 

She made a sound argument. It was evident from her logical tone and unchanging expression that she had rationally evaluated the situation. That didn’t mean Atsushi was happy about it. 

“But…” He instinctively began to dispute it, but he didn’t have any convincing counterarguments that could change Kyouka’s mind. Atsushi simply lowered his gaze, unable to find the right words. 

“Kyouka.” Akutagawa, who was walking ahead of the others alone, spoke up. “I see you still cherish that cell phone to remember your mother.” 

He had his eye on an old cell phone dangling from her neck like a piece of jewelry. However, there was something about his comment that particularly stood out to Atsushi. 

“Your mother…?” That was the first he’d ever heard of it. Surprised, Atsushi came to a halt. 

That cell phone Kyouka always carries around with her is a memento? But why does Akutagawa know that? 

Atsushi’s mind was full of questions. He couldn’t even look at Kyouka. 

Akutagawa stopped. “You didn’t even know that?” he mockingly asked. 

“…No,” Atsushi quietly replied. As if to change the subject, Kyouka suddenly asked Akutagawa, “What’s the quickest route?” 

“Zero, five, zero, five,” he answered immediately. It must have been some sort of secret code that only the Port Mafia knew, and naturally, Atsushi had no idea what it was. While Kyouka probably didn’t mean anything by it…Atsushi felt left out of the conversation—left out in general. 

“…” 

Atsushi silently pressed forward, feeling almost as though he didn’t belong. 

After stepping into the sewer from the narrow passageway, the three of them kept their mouths shut tight while trudging through the vile sewage and water until eventually reaching a manhole leading to the surface. A few rats scattered as Akutagawa removed the manhole cover. When he stepped outside, he could just make out a colossal building covered in countless thick pipes and metal with various chimneys blowing out white smoke. It appeared to be some sort of iron mill. Kyouka and Akutagawa cautiously surveyed the area while Atsushi came crawling out of the manhole as well. 

All of a sudden, Akutagawa stared fixedly at the factory as if he had noticed something. 

“It appears to be waiting for me. I suppose it’s only natural that it can sense my presence,” Akutagawa muttered to himself. Wondering what he meant, Atsushi followed his gaze, when he noticed it as well. 

Rashomon. 

Akutagawa’s skill looked down at them, its black fabric wriggling. Or more accurately, it was looking down at Akutagawa. 

So this is what he was talking about, thought Atsushi. Seems like skills can sense where their owners are. There’s no other explanation for why it’s already here. 

While Atsushi was pondering this, Kyouka told Akutagawa, “We’ll help.” 

Even though the circumstances were dire, it was still surprising to hear Kyouka offer him help. Nevertheless, Akutagawa barked back, “I don’t need your help!” 

“I see.” Kyouka seemed to be more indifferent to the situation than Atsushi thought. Akutagawa then began to walk toward Rashomon without them. Atsushi could hear him mutter to himself, “…I’ve wandered countless nights and slaughtered countless foes to prove my might. But I was blind—the foe worthiest of defeating was right beside me the entire time…” 

Akutagawa slowly vanished within the fog. 

He still wants to prove his strength even at a time like this? 

Atsushi sighed. 

Plus, it’s really thoughtless of him to go off on his own. 

Kyouka, on the other hand, nodded in agreement with Akutagawa’s decision. 

“He has a point.” She turned her gaze in the opposite direction that Akutagawa left in. “We each have something that needs doing.” 

“Huh?” 

Atsushi noticed Demon Snow descending before Kyouka. 

How long has she been there?! 

Atsushi reached for his gun and braced himself. Kyouka drew her dagger, then threw the sheath onto the ground with a dry, hollow clatter. Without even waiting for Demon Snow to strike, Kyouka crouched low, charged forward, and attacked. The skill blocked her blade and parried. However, Kyouka predicted that would happen and used the momentum to swing her sword at a different angle next. 

“Kyouka!” 

Atsushi tried to rush over to help, but Kyouka bluntly objected. “Do what you need to be doing.” 

“…!” 

What’s that supposed to mean? No—don’t tell me…! 

Atsushi began trembling. Rashomon was waiting for Akutagawa, and Demon Snow had come after Kyouka as well. Which meant… 

The low snarl of a beast caught his attention. He swiftly turned around—it was just as he imagined. The snowy-white tiger, Beast Beneath the Moonlight, had arrived. 

…The tiger’s here for me, too. 

If Akutagawa was right, and skills could sense where their users were, then there was no point in running. No matter where he went, it would eventually catch up to him. Atsushi clenched his jaw.