Monogatari Series - Volume 23 - Chapter 1.16

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Hachikuji had said something like “If I were to fall to hell with Araragi-san, then it wouldn’t be such a bad place,” but it seemed that wasn’t just figurative—it seemed that I would have to visit hell once again.

To revive the vampire in a mummified, cryptobiotic state—even though I’d thought of this vampire as the fiend going after the members of Naoetsu High’s girls’ basketball team, I couldn’t help but feel some cognitive dissonance at having to move for the sake of this vampire’s health. But it was for the sake of investigating the truth.

Even though I’d regretted that spring break so much, to think that I would mobilize to save yet another vampire on the verge of death… It’s bloody ironic, is what it is.

In the first place, just because she was discovered in the same (though not exactly the same) state as the high school girls, it didn’t mean that the doubts surrounding her—and whether or not this little girl was “D/V/S”—had been cleared up, but there was no doubt that things were getting into the height of confusion.

It had surpassed not only my hypothesis, but Gaen-san’s hypothesis as well—the question Shinobu had asked earlier was probably the same question everyone had in mind.

What exactly was happening in this town?

What sort of oddity phenomenon was this?

…Even an unprepared college freshman like me could tell that the fastest way was to ask “the person herself”.

Otherwise, even if Shinobu’s progenitor was the one responsible for the mummification of those high school girls, I certainly didn’t think I could leave this naked little girl as she was… If I didn’t clear things up, I wouldn’t be able to even apologize to Higasa-chan, who’d provided me with the list of the Naoetsu High girls’ basketball team members.

It was like the type of mystery where a necromancer-like detective called upon the spirit of the victim, but of course, this wasn’t as convenient as that.

After all, once again, I was going to hell for the sake of a little girl… And this time, for the sake of a naked little girl, I was going to the Blood Pond Hell.

“But how exactly am I supposed to descend to hell? Seeing as I’m a perfect saint, I can’t think of a way to do this.”

“If you just play around with little girls or your little sisters as usual, wouldn’t you just normally go to hell?” said Shinobu.

Even though she was sealed, because of her nature as an oddity, she couldn’t accompany me to hell.

Don’t joke about something just because it’s not your problem.

Well, it was her problem, too.

The vampire who’s like a parent to her was on the brink of death—it seemed she wasn’t able to keep up with the situation, and although she didn’t give off a heavy vibe, it didn’t seem like she was able to keep up her antics.

But what about Hachikuji?

Though she was originally a lost child, she was now a god. I didn’t think she’d be able to accompany me like she did last time.

In other words, even though she’d said all that so happily, in the end, she wouldn’t be able to act as my guide or navigation, and I’d have to fall to hell on my own—what’s with it turning out like this as if there was nothing strange about it, as if it was completely ordinary?

“But anyway, good grief. I guess I have no choice but to go. To my home away from home, hell.”

“I was about to fall for you a second time. Don’t say something so cool. The last time you were in hell, it was only for an hour,” said Shinobu.

“It’s an unseasonal homecoming.”

“What are you saying, for a college student still living in his parents’ home?” said Hachikuji.

Harsh criticism from these girls. Especially to a guy that was about to go to hell.

“Well, putting aside how long you spent there. It’s your second time, Araragi-san, so you must be used to it by now.”

“I wouldn’t say that… But at the time, there was a specialist that would allow me to come and go as I pleased.”

Right now, what method of transportation could I use exactly? I didn’t know if it would take an hour, but I at least wanted to get back before dawn.

“If you went to hell with such a carefree attitude, even the judge of the afterlife would lose face,” said Hachikuji.

Despite being the originator of the idea, she sure was bashing me pretty hard.

“Well, it may be a bit artless, but what about using the same method as last time?”

“The same as last time…”

I searched my memories. Yes, it was the previous academic year, the morning of my entrance exams.

Strangely enough, it was right here, at the grounds of the Kitashirahebi Shrine—at the time, Gaen-san had, with no explanation at all, sent me off to hell with something like a surprise attack.

With Demon Blade “Kokorowatari” in hand, she’d chopped my body up into pieces—that was the means of transportation.

I see, in that case, the original owner of that demon blade that was also known as the “Oddity Slayer” was right here—

“Eh? Huh? Then, am I going to be chopped up by Shinobu? A surprising kind of development that had never been done even during that spring break when I was seventeen?”

“Rather than a development, it’s more of an expansion plan. Of your body. Shinobu-san, if you would.”

“All right.”

Arrangements to slice me up were quickly coming into place—Shinobu opened her mouth wide and thrust her hand deep into her throat.

Though Hachikuji had mentioned it was artless, it’d been a while since I’d seen that circus trick—like a magic trick, the oodachi was pulled out of the little girl’s body without a sound, glowing with a mysterious light.

Demon Blade “Kokorowatari”. The Oddity Slayer.

“Huhuhu. I’ve been waiting for the opportunity to rudely beat you up like this. How dare you humiliate me by putting me in a child seat!”

“I-I thought you were happy about it! Why are you getting mad at me now!? What’s with that weird ‘huhuhu’? What happened to your usual way of laughing?”

“Revenge is a soup best served cold.”

“I thought we were at a distance where the soup wouldn’t get cold! …By the way, I’ve never actually seen you wield that sword properly… It’s a bit late to ask Gaen-san for help on this now, but are you sure you can actually chop my organs up successfully like she did?”

“Ka ka. Don’t look down on me. It’s true that not even in the movie version had I gotten the chance to, but allow me to show off my secret techniques now. Everything was for this moment. To send you off to hell!”

“Aren’t you a little too passionate about this?”

“Have a taste of the swordsmanship I honed for four hundred years! I’m warning you, this won’t just end with your organs being chopped up. My Seishiryuu has seven secret techniques—”

First Technique: “Kyouka Suigetsu”.

Second Technique: “Kachou Fuugetsu”.

Third Technique: “Hyakka Ryouran”.

Fourth Technique: “Ryuuryoku Kakou”.

Fifth Technique: “Hika Rakuyou”.

Sixth Technique: “Kinjou Tenka”.

Seventh Technique: “Rakka Rouzeki”.

“—And, unleashing the seven techniques simultaneously, Seishiryuu’s final secret technique, ‘Shichika Hachiretsu’!”

But at the moment where I wanted to retort that she’d gotten through the whole song and dance, I may have been torn to smithereens.