Seiji felt as if he’d seen a huge crimson serpent leap into the night sky.
The fire that had now spread as far as he could see had probably given him that illusion. Like a magic trick, the tens of thousands of red maples covering the mountain’s flank had become raging flames.
It had all happened before he could even blink.
He sucked in air in a whistling gasp, and burning pain ran through his throat. It was hot. Seiji couldn’t even register the danger he was in, though.
Hellfire had swallowed everything around him. The gate that towered at the top of the stairs creaked, shooting sparks high into the air, threatening to crash down at any moment.
Flames had probably engulfed the inn beyond, too—like a great serpent coiling around it, crimson scales writhing.
Once it caught you, that would be the end. It would swallow you alive.
“…No.”
Seiji’s mind went blank, as if burned clean.
Nothing he saw felt real. The sounds seemed distant, as if he’d covered his ears. The wind that buffeted his cheeks was hot, and the sparks hurt his skin, but even the heat and pain seemed like a lie.
Moving almost involuntarily, Seiji took a shaky step forward, starting up the stairs.
Just then…
“Huh?”
…an unsteady figure emerged from the flames. It staggered, then toppled forward, beginning to fall headlong down the steps. Impulsively reaching out to catch it, Seiji realized the figure was dressed in a kimono.
No, not that one. It was red—this was Beniko.
“Beniko! Why?!”
Managing to catch her just in time, he dropped to his knees. He put an arm around her shoulders, helping her sit up. Then he saw something unbelievable on her cheek, which was as white as a Noh mask.
A single drop of water trickled from her black eye.
A tear.
Her trembling lips parted, and when she spoke, it was as if she were declaring the end of a dream.
“Master Shiroshi is dead.”