It had the voice of an adult male, but its cut-glass Anglish accent gave it an air of sophistication. Akari would be happy to listen to the tallest tale imaginable if only it were delivered in such a silky voice.
The creature apparently possessed an innate power for destruction, but it had done nothing to her. She felt she knew the beast’s true nature.
{No thanks necessary. I’m glad it satisfied your hunger.}
{Your kind words gave me courage. I was…happy.}
Akari resolved to figure out this situation as best she could, drawing on everything she’d learned.
From the beast’s report, it seemed that it had come from overseas to the Yamato Empire, and then it had been sealed in a Kotogatari. Then something had happened, and it had escaped. Right?
{Wait, so you’ve been out of your book like that ever since we met in the park?}
{No. Right after we met, my grimoire’s owner appeared again, and I do not recall what happened then. I believe I was forced back into my grimoire. I tried to get out, and then before I knew what was happening, I found myself here.}
Akari wished she could speak to Munakata about this. This was so far beyond her capabilities. The best thing would be for her to smuggle the beast out unnoticed and get it to Munakata.
But without its Kotogatari, she couldn’t get it out of this building.
“Now that I think about it, though, isn’t there a good possibility its Kotogatari is nearby, maybe here in the warehouse…?”
A jolt of fear went coursing down Akari’s spine.
What would a Kotogatari be doing there? Sumimata Corporation HQ wasn’t a Narrator-controlled book depository. Nor was it a rich man’s mansion with a private library collection. It was a practical, modern-day goods company, with no need or appreciation for Kotogami.
But the spirit attack in the mansion with the grandfather clock…and the Raiju rampages taking place in locations favored by Kotogami, such as rich men’s houses and also…around locations where Sumimata Corporation’s rival companies had their offices…
Didn’t all of that point to this company’s involvement in the recent string of incidents?
{What is wrong, Ah-kah-ree? I cannot understand that tongue.}
Akari stopped rubbing her chin and snapped out of her pensive thinking.
{I’m sorry. Listen, I’ll help you find that book you were bound to.}
{Will you? That would be most helpful!}
The beast gave a little hop forward and Akari stepped cautiously back. Still, she was determined help in any way she could.
{Say, do you have any idea where your grimoire might be?}
{I feel it must be close. Otherwise, I could not be manifested here like this.}
The beast seemed to have cheered up greatly. It gave its ears a sudden firm twitch.
{Yes! It is close!}
Its face lit up suddenly, and Akari blinked as she looked around them. Then she heard slapping footsteps behind her—from traditional Japanese thong sandals—and she whirled around.
“Miss Akari. So you can see it after all.”
A soft, clear voice. It was Mitsuko Maruyama, standing there with a blank expression on her face. Akari hadn’t sensed her approaching and was taken aback. Then she blanched as she realized Mitsuko was staring right at the Raiju.
“Mitsuko? See…what?”
“You really are talented, Miss Akari. See how you’ve tamed the wild Raiju? You really do have the aptitude of a Narrator. I’m truly envious. And I need to use this stupid book to get it to do what I want. No fair.”
Did she just say…Raiju? No…
But Mitsuko kept muttering to herself, ignoring Akari altogether. Mitsuko was usually so docile, but now she was emanating a dark, ominous aura.
And she was holding a light-gray book in one hand.
{THAT IS MY GRIMOIRE!}
The beast snarled and made a sudden move toward Mitsuko, who tightened her grip on the book defensively.
{RAIJU. DOWN.}
Her voice sounded unnatural, sonorous.
The beast suddenly fell flat on the floor as if pushed down by some invisible force. It struggled and writhed against what seemed like an invisible hand, but its efforts appeared to be in vain.
Akari couldn’t believe the power of this strange Kotogatari book.
“The binding force is weakening. I’ll have to tell the bosses later. What a bother. Still, it has to be done. Wait…what time is it…?”
“Mitsuko, why are you holding a Kotogatari and handling a Raiju? And why did you really ask me to meet you here?”
Mitsuko gripped the spirit tome with a confident air as she looked around at the gramophone clocks. Then she turned her sharp gaze on Akari, scowling at her.
Mitsuko had her hair in a long braid tied up in a loop with a ribbon, which was a trendy style for young women at the time. She toyed with the braid, beginning to smile faintly.
“Ah yes, Miss Akari. How I have envied you.”
They were having two different conversations. All Akari could do was listen as Mitsuko’s odd behavior sent alarm bells ringing in her head.
“We joined the company at the same time, but you’re so competent at your work. You can speak confidently with the male employees, and everyone trusts you with their tasks. On top of that, you’re beautiful, and you can even speak Anglish. I’ve always found you so amazing. I did what my parents told me to do—I went to an all-girls school and got a job to learn about the world outside. I envied you so. I really did. You sparkled so bright, like the heroine of a story. You made me want to try my best too. But no matter how much effort I put in, you were always better than me at everything.”
“You shouldn’t compare—”
“Well, I do! I do compare!!!”
Akari shrank back as Mitsuko screamed at her.
Trembling and clutching the book’s cover with white fingers, Mitsuko continued.
“I wanted to be your best friend. I wanted to stand side by side with you and do all the things you did. I wanted to sparkle too! But for every skill I mastered, you mastered ten in the same time frame! When I burned down the company dorm, I thought things would change, but you figured out a solution all by yourself! And despite bragging that you didn’t need to get married, you went on to get engaged to an amazingly attractive young man!”
“Mitsuko, wait…you burned down my dorm?”
“You bet I did. Oh, I only meant to burn down the one building, but the Raiju was hard to control. Things got out of hand. I’m sorry for that.”
Mitsuko’s warped apology made Akari feel sick to her stomach.
It was clear there would be no reasoning with crazy Mitsuko. She still had the Raiju bound to her will, immobile. Akari was flooded with the feeling of unexpected betrayal.
Aware of the terrible danger she was in, all Akari could think about was why Mitsuko had done this. Meanwhile, Mitsuko was looking down at the book in her hands with a cold expression on her face.
“But you see the difference between us? You can use real Kotogatari, not cheap fakes like this one.”
“Fake? You mean…that’s not a Kotogatari?”
“Nope. Look.”
Mitsuko flipped open the book and showed its pages to Akari, whose eyes widened.