Whispers of Shikiban:The king walks among us-Chapter 79 --

"Ah? Is this where Kotoba-san lives?" Reika asked sweetly, voice coated in a kind of syrupy innocence that made the guard shift uncomfortably. She tilted her head, a youthful brightness to her tone that didn't match her eyes — those were cold. Unreadable.

The guard, barely older than her, tried not to gawk. Pretty girl, late night visit, strange smile. "Y-Yeah," he stammered. "Her brother's upstairs. You can wait in the lounge."

"Thank you," Reika chirped with a girlish giggle that didn't reach her dead eyes.

She was wearing a long black dress, tight enough to frame her body, loose enough to be seen as tasteful. Her movements were slow, deliberate, calculated like a chessmaster's — or a predator's.

In the lounge, a boy sat scrolling through his phone. His head rose slightly as she walked in, his eyes flicking toward her like he was used to trouble. And maybe he was. He didn't speak, didn't smile. Just watched.

Reika walked right up to him, leaned forward and tapped the table. "Hey, handsome. You know where Kotoha is?"

He blinked, but there was no nervousness. Just... alertness. Like a machine booting up.

"Who are you?" he asked flatly.

"I'm Reika. Kotoha's sweet ally," she said with a teasing smile. "And you?"

He didn't smile. "Ayato Hakatanu. Kotoha's brother. You're her... friend?"

"Yup," she said with a fake pout. "Can I see her? It's been forever."

He stared at her. Something didn't feel right, but he stood anyway. "Fine. This way."

They walked in silence through the dorm corridors, stairs echoing under their steps. Eventually they reached the rooftop. The night was black, moonlight smearing silver over the edges of the buildings. Wind howled like it knew what was coming.

Ayato opened the door. "Kotoha! A friend's here to see you."

She was on the phone, pacing, tension tight in her shoulders. She turned, saw Reika, and froze. Her phone clattered to the floor.

"You—what are you doing here?"

The blood drained from her face.

Reika smiled. "Long time no see, Koty."

"Wait... you're... you're not supposed to be here."

Ayato blinked, confused. "You know her?"

CLANG.

Something flashed.

He looked down.

A clean red line split his chest open like paper.

He hadn't even felt the slash.

His eyes widened in disbelief before the pain caught up.

Then he dropped.

"AYATO!" Kotoha screamed, scrambling toward him.

Reika stood still, a katana in her hand, blood dripping from the blade. Her eyes were cold. Hollow. Like she wasn't human anymore.

"I don't feel anything when I kill people I just met," she said quietly.

Kotoha dropped beside her brother's twitching body, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Scream all you want," Reika said, wiping her blade on Ayato's shirt. "No one's listening. Not tonight."

"You—what the hell are you?!" Kotoha screamed, tears blinding her.

"I'm what's left when people like you take everything," Reika whispered. "You took my happiness. My smile. And gave me the truth instead — this world is rotting."

"I didn't mean to—Reika, please—"

"You knew what you were doing. Don't act like guilt crept up on you now." Reika's voice was razor-sharp, slicing through Kotoha's pleading like it was paper. "People only cry when they finally realize the price of their choices. When it's too late."

Kotoha sobbed harder. "Please... it was a mistake..."

"No," Reika hissed. "Mistakes are accidents. You did what you did because you wanted to. And now you're crying because I showed you the mirror."

Kotoha couldn't stop trembling.

"You people," Reika continued, her tone like venom dripping off silk. "You know what's wrong. But you do it anyway. Because the pain of others is easier than fixing yourself. You don't control your minds. Your minds control you."

Kotoha's mouth opened, but no sound came out.

Reika's body began to glow faintly with a purple aura, shadows curling around her feet like hungry beasts. Then... a roar. Deep. Unholy. It shook the rooftop.

From Reika's back, a figure emerged — not a shadow, not smoke. A dragon. Purple, twisted, grotesque. Its body spiraled upward, teeth bared, eyes glowing like dying stars.

Kotoha backed up, slipping in her brother's blood. "N-No, no, no—!"

"Ryujin," Reika said calmly. "Eat."

The dragon lunged forward.

Kotoha tried to run — but it was useless. It clamped down on her with savage glee. She screamed. Begged. Her cries were drowned by the wind and the crunch of bone.

Silence.

Then, chewing sounds. Slow. Wet.

"How's the taste?" Reika asked.

The dragon pulled back, face drenched in red. "...Normal meat."

Reika laughed, a soft, broken sound. "What if you ate me, Ryujin?"

The dragon growled. "That is not possible. You are my mistress. A piece of your soul fuels me. I cannot consume you. I am you."

"Good," Reika said. "Because I'll need more of you soon. There's still a lot of rot left in this world."

She walked to the edge of the rooftop.

No hesitation.

Just stepped off the edge and disappeared into the night.