Volume 5, Chapter 0: The Prelude for Part 2

    As space-time violently rippled, the shattered human soul was sent through the torrent of the dimensions.

    It was a storm of emptiness raging in a void that had nothing.

    “I” dreamt in that violent whirlpool.

    Beautiful, gentle parents… Living as a noble… Smiling towards servants…

    Golden hair… Black hair… little friends.

    A big castle… a splendid king… a little boy with a defiant face…

    A boy with earnest eyes that held a sword……

    And…

    The sweet smell of overflowing blood…

    A dark sky… A dark world…

    Thousands of grotesque monsters, all kneeling before me…

    Four boys and a girl…

    An enormous cat… dark like ink…

    Reflected in its eyes……

    A golden cat.

    I quietly dreamed it all.

    A wall that was made to stop “Me”, that had enormous power,

    And a great force called out for “Me”.

    Someone was calling.

    An unknown voice…? No, I know this voice. A boy…? A girl…?

    I faintly heard the quiet whine of a “Beast”.

    Were you… calling out to me?

    “……Ah, you’re awake.”

    When I opened my eyes, the white light shone against my eyes. I heard someone’s voice in the background that was still blurry to me.

    A young woman…? But for some reason it’s a nostalgic feeling.

    My body wouldn’t move. I felt like I was asleep.

    “Ah, hold on, don’t get up yet.”

    I kept pushing against the lady that was holding my body down, but she pulled me into an embrace and touched her forehead to mine. It’s a little… cold and pleasant.

    “Mm… the fever’s gone down. You’ve had a terrible fever and been asleep since yesterday morning. The women were making a terrible commotion. Hey, aren’t you hungry?”

    “……No”

    A small voice came out. But it felt a little different. Was it because of fever? It seemed like it’d been a long time since I’d gotten sick…

    “Is that so…? Then, shall I peel some fruit for you? You won’t get better if you don’t eat something, you know.”

    In my field of vision that gradually widened, I saw a girl smiling at me.

    A spirited girl with black hair and eyes… that looked like a junior high school student.

    Someone I don’t know…? But, it felt like I knew her.

    A nostalgic smile. A bright room that I feel like I’ve seen somewhere.

    A flower-patterned wallpaper. Crayon graffiti. A colorful picture book. A stuffed teddy bear.

    A large cushion that had faded colors. A small white chair and desk.

    At that scene… tears fell unbidden from my eyes even as I was unaware because of that nostalgic feeling.

    “What’s wrong?”

    The girl’s voice was surprised, and hugged me gently, stroking my head quietly.

    A big hand…… No, I’m just small.

    “I saw a scary dream… It’s okay…… Yuzu……”

    Author’s Notes:

    Today I’m going to post about 5 chapters. They’re scheduled for every hour.

    The prologue is short, but the next will be about 3000-4000 words.

    From the sixth chapter, I’ll post about once every 2 days, but if I have leeway, I’ll post ahead of schedule.