Bungo Stray Dogs - Volume 5 - Chapter 3.2

Interlude 2—3 

“Humans are nothing more than sacks of flesh stuffed with familiar machinery,” Shibusawa suddenly said from within the collection room decorated with its many red crystals. “They are all self-evident, monotonous creatures.” 

Dazai and Fyodor quietly listened to his speech. 

“But there’s one person even I fail to understand.” Shibusawa suddenly stopped strolling around the room as if he were scrutinizing his collection. “Myself,” he claimed with a straight face. 

“Even I cannot decipher my own thoughts—some parts of my mind are blank, like the spaces between lines of text in a novel.” 

“Do you have any friends?” asked Dazai, the exasperation on his face evident. 

“Friends are unnecessary to life.” Shibusawa closed his eyes and smiled languidly. “Because I already know what everyone is thinking deep down.” He turned and faced Dazai and Fyodor, who were standing side by side. “I will surely be able to go between my lines, beyond the light of empty spaces where another world awaits.” His words were dripping with confidence. 

“…You wouldn’t be saying that if you had friends,” Dazai mumbled, unamused. 

Shibusawa paid no heed to Dazai’s utterance and instead continued: “That time will soon come, for all the skills in Yokohama will become mine.” 

Everything was going to go according to plan. There was no other possible outcome. The reasoning was simple. 

Shibusawa walked to the center of Draconia with an air of authority and peered at Dazai. Smirking contemptuously, he whispered: 

“Do you truly think there is even a single person who can conquer their own skill?” 

3—4 

The burning flames roared. Melted iron glowed orange, and the air around it wavered in the heat. Inside the blast furnace deep within the factory Atsushi previously saw was a colossal crane hanging over four bridge-like paths connected like a grid. Rashomon leisurely strolled down the paths supported by sturdy pillars over the vat of molten iron. Waiting for his skill to get closer, Akutagawa said, “Rashomon attacks by turning its fabric into blades and swinging them at an opponent. Therefore, as long as I stay out of reach, I will not get hit.” 

There was no way Akutagawa would mistake how far Rashomon’s range was. After all, he had been restlessly honing his skill ever since he could only create tiny blades with it. The reason it was as powerful and had such a range as it did now was because of his efforts, so he was confident he knew exactly what Rashomon was capable of. He watched Rashomon approach with a hand on a pillar’s switchboard until the time was just right. Akutagawa immediately pushed the button, causing a pulley attached to the ceiling to rotate as something loudly echoed. The pulley began quickly spinning as a block of iron rapidly dropped toward Rashomon’s head. The powerful impact sent dust flying into the air, making it impossible to see Rashomon…for a moment. 

“…!” 

Akutagawa gasped as Rashomon attacked from above. Right before the crane hit him, Rashomon used its fabric to launch itself out of the way to safety. It had even used the cloud of dust as a smoke screen to approach Akutagawa, who scowled bitterly, knowing just how dangerous it was to get close to Rashomon. He dodged, and immediately a black blade quickly shot through where he was standing. He began to run as the fabric swiftly carved through the thick pillar. There was no hesitation or mercy behind the attack, and the blade would only need to lightly touch him to be fatal. It was no different from how Akutagawa always fought. Akutagawa sprinted, and Rashomon chased after him. It was going to be over soon. The panic on Akutagawa’s expression was evident. It wasn’t long before Rashomon swiftly caught up with him, using its black fabric. Akutagawa had nowhere left to run except for one of the bridges over the vat of molten iron. His shoes sharply clinked over the metal with each step as he ran. 

Whoosh! Crack! 

Rashomon’s black fabric soared through the air before slicing through the bridge’s handrails. It immediately turned and went for Akutagawa next, but he managed to dodge, albeit barely…or so he thought. He suddenly lost balance and promptly grabbed for the handrail for support, but it had already been destroyed by Rashomon. There was nothing to grab onto. The skill was trying to make Akutagawa fall into the molten iron. It had destroyed the handrails and brandished its blade in order to corner Akutagawa and kill him even if he dodged. 

“Shit!” Akutagawa blurted out. 

His small figure was tossed into the pit of molten iron. 

While Akutagawa was dealing with Rashomon, Atsushi was battling his own skill. 

Atsushi ran down the narrow passageway with its numerous ducts on each side until he came to a sudden stop, then turned around and fired his gun. The sound of gunshots echoed as the bullet ricocheted off the wall. 

…Looks like the tiger dodged it. 

Atsushi glared at the beast in frustration, and it raised its tail with an intimidating roar. Figuring the tiger wouldn’t be able to dodge from this close, Atsushi pulled the trigger once more. The bullet spun out of the barrel while heading straight for the tiger, but its white fur deflected each bullet sent its way. 

“…!” 

The tiger then leaned back before lunging at Atsushi. Slash. Its claws grazed Atsushi’s left arm. 

…Should I complain that I got hurt even though I dodged, or should I be thankful that it’s only a scratch? …Definitely the latter. 

After thinking about it, Atsushi couldn’t remember a time where a bullet hurt him while he was in his tiger form. In other words, bullets weren’t going to work. 

“How do I beat this thing…?” 

Atsushi racked his brain as he watched the tiger nimbly land on its feet. That was when the red crystal glittering on the beast’s forehead caught his attention. 

“…Do I just need to get rid of that…?” 

While unclear if it would actually work, it was the only solution he could think of. He didn’t have any other options. Atsushi steeled himself as he stared fixedly at the beast. 

But how would I even hit it? 

Atsushi pointed the muzzle at the tiger’s forehead as it bared its fangs. The first shot missed. He went for a second, third, and fourth shot as well. Click. Nothing happened. He was out of bullets. 

Damn it! 

Atsushi didn’t have any other weapons. 

I should’ve brought more guns with me from the agency! 

But it was too late for regrets. Atsushi threw the gun at the tiger in desperation, but it simply slid down the path after a few light bounces, never to reach the beast. 

What am I supposed to do? 

Blood trickled down Atsushi’s left arm where the claws had sliced his flesh. The pain had him drenched in a cold sweat, and the tiger was waiting in front of him with its mouth open. 

Feeble words sluggishly left Atsushi’s throat: 

“There’s no way I can defeat my skill…” 

All over Yokohama, people were slowly being backed into a corner by their skills. 

On a street littered with driverless cars, Kenji Miyazawa was being toyed with by his skill. The skill used its overwhelming strength to launch vehicles at him. All Kenji could do was dodge one after another as they threatened to crush him. He waited for his moment, then immediately dashed for his skill when he saw an opening. Kenji’s expression was stern. His usual cheerful, smiling eyes were instead filled with panic and tension. 

Yosano was no different as she fought within the fog. No matter how she attacked, Thou Shalt Not Die would purposely allow itself to be mortally wounded before immediately healing its injuries. Swinging her hatchet and bathing in blood only led to exhaustion for Yosano. Her skill, on the other hand, showed no signs of fatigue, and it kept repeatedly healing itself between its attacks. Yosano was sent flying after a kick from her skill and let out a moan. All she got in return for her depleting stamina were more wounds. 

As for Tanizaki—Light Snow was making a complete fool of him. Tanizaki couldn’t even see his skill thanks to the illusion. A fist would suddenly appear from time to time, while at other times, it was a kick, knocking him down. His body was riddled with cuts and bruises. Tanizaki staggered to his feet, barely able to even stand, when he was hit on the head and slammed face-first into the ground. A sharp pain ran through his body; he could feel Light Snow’s foot on his head. Slowly, little by little, Tanizaki began losing all feeling in his limbs. 

On the rooftop of the Armed Detective Agency’s building was Kunikida in the middle of battle. An explosion roared, and the door to the rooftop was blown off the hinges. The Matchless Poet was coming after him. Despite being blown back by the blast wave, Kunikida managed to right himself and make a safe landing. In his hand was a shotgun. Nevertheless, he was covered in dirt and bleeding all over. His face had a ghastly pallor to it as well. 

But even then, Kunikida loaded his firearm like a soldier who never gave up. Crack. The shotgun unleashed a final death knell. 

Outside the factory around the same time, Kyouka was fighting Demon Snow along a pathway surrounded by thick pipes. Sparks flew each time they crossed blades. They clashed, parried, and retreated, only to strike again. While equal in swordsmanship, Kyouka was at a disadvantage in terms of stamina and range. Worst of all, she was hesitant, and that was holding her back. 

The cell phone memento from her mother, which was hanging around her neck, swayed with her every move. Kyouka felt its weight against her as she stared fixedly at Demon Snow. 

Demon Snow killed my parents…but if I defeat her, she’ll merge with me, and I’ll turn back into a demon… 

I can’t forgive her because she took my parents. I don’t want to forgive her. I don’t want her back because she took my parents. I don’t want to become the old me. 

Conflicting feelings born from the same cause clouded Kyouka’s mind. Demon Snow struck once more, but she blocked and parried the attack with her dagger. However…the parrying dagger was not quick enough to block the second shot. Kyouka immediately crouched, then pulled back to dodge Demon Snow’s third strike. As the string tied around her cell phone hovered in the air, Demon Snow cut right through it. Kyouka’s eyes reflexively followed the phone as it dropped to the ground. 

There was no way Demon Snow was going to let Kyouka get away now. 

The red crystal on its forehead glittered. 

“There isn’t a single person who can conquer their skill.” 

Shibusawa’s voice seemed to echo into the distance.