Kisaragi Chiyo was filled with anticipation and curiosity regarding the journey to Hell alongside Matsuda Jinpei.
“Little Jinpei.. Chiyo-chan..” After announcing this news, Hara Kenji, who had been told he had to stay at home, immediately looked dejected. He covered his face with both hands and let out sobbing sounds, his dark purple eyes peeking through the gaps in his fingers as he secretly watched the two, who had already seen through his act and remained unmoved.
"Can't I really come along?" The pitiful little puppy let out a grievance-filled whimper, the puppy ears on his head and the tail hanging behind him both drooping in a depressed manner.
"I want to go with Chiyo-chan too," Hara said, looking at Kisaragi Chiyo with a lingering tone, his voice thick with clingy cooing.
When the handsome Evil Spirit looks at you with those innocent, drooping eyes full of entreaty, that gaze is truly difficult to refuse.
“You should stay home and focus on your studies.” Kisaragi Chiyo fell silent for a moment before making a cold and ruthless decision.
He grabbed the tentacle that had wrapped around his wrist, tore it from his arm with a ripping sound, then expressionlessly stuffed it back into Hara Kenji's arms.
"There is no room for negotiation on this matter." Kisaragi Chiyo shook her head, from the other side, Matsuda Jinpei also cast a helpless look.
Hozuki said the new round of civil service exams in Hell will be in three months.
Besides the exam, Kisaragi Chiyo had another concern: after all, Hara Kenji was currently an evil spirit staying illegally in the human world; if he went on a trip to Hell and ended up being detained as part of someone's performance review, it would be trouble.
At that time, I'm afraid he would only have the possibility of being released again once he successfully makes it ashore.
Therefore, the dog had better stay behind and watch the house.
Don't worry, Matsuda Jinpei and I will be back soon." Before leaving, Kisaragi Chiyo glanced back once more through the small crack in the door, watching Hara Kenji as he departed, added with a hint of reluctance, "We are just going to pick up some materials and complete the onboarding procedures; it won't take long.
"Alright." Hara Kenji gazed at the young man with deep, lingering eyes. The Evil Spirit's pale face peeked out from behind the crack in the door, his black hair hanging down like slender, drooping snakes. A look of reluctance crossed the Evil Spirit's face, but he said nothing more, merely raising his hand to wave at the young man.
He whispered an instruction, "Make sure you come back quickly, okay?"
*
“First, we need to find an abandoned well.” Matsuda Jinpei gripped the "Hell Assistant Guide" that had just been spat out by Snapdragon, looking with a serious expression at the abandoned well not far ahead, which was covered in climbing vines.
This well had been abandoned for many years. Looking down from the edge, one could only see the dry bottom, silt, some discarded trash.
"And then?" Kisaragi Chiyo rested one hand on the edge of the well. The wild grass beneath her feet, left untended for a long time, had grown wildly to calf-height. The surrounding trees were lush and green, the occasional crisp chirping of birds could be heard; the vegetation, far from human contact, seemed to grow even more luxuriantly than before.
And then, jump down.
Jump down?
Kisaragi Chiyo raised her head and met Matsuda Jinpei's eyes, attempting to find a hint of a joke in his gaze.
But unfortunately, there was none.
The depth of the well was somewhere between ten and thirty meters. Kisaragi Chiyo looked down, estimating the distance from the mouth of the well to the bottom; it was at least ten meters, but no more than fifteen.
What does that concept even mean? In other words, calculating by a height of three meters per floor, jumping down from here would be no different from jumping from the fourth floor; even if one didn't die, they would certainly end up with broken bones.
Not to mention the mud at the bottom of the well that looks like it would swallow a person whole.
"That's what the guide says." Matsuda Jinpei's expression was solemn. His other arm was wrapped around that pot of dull-eyed Snapdragon; according to Hozuki, this Snapdragon's name was Konan.
But there is a special note here, saying that one must jump down while holding Konan, when the moonlight shines upon the mouth of the well..
Because they needed the moonlight, Matsuda and Kisaragi Chiyo naturally came out only after finishing dinner for the night.
"It sounds somewhat reliable," Kisaragi Chiyo said, reaching into her coat pocket to pull out three pieces of candy; she handed one to Matsuda and peeled another one for Konan.
Who knows why a Snapdragon, being a plant, can eat candy.
According to Hozuki, one should treat Snapdragon with the same tenderness one would show one's own child.
After hearing these words, Kisaragi Chiyo stared at the Snapdragon named Konan for three minutes, then slowly breathed a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, he will never have children in this lifetime.
*
The moon generously cast down its clear radiance, like a young lady's thin veil, bringing a hint of coolness to the deep night.
Kisaragi Chiyo leaned her head out to look into the bottom of the well, only when the moonlight finally reached the bottom did she discover that under the cold, silvery moonlight, the bottom of the well reflected the tiny, fragmented glints of coins.
“Is this a wishing well?” Kisaragi Chiyo rested both hands on the edge of the well, not daring to apply too much pressure, because the stone bricks forming the well's mouth had become somewhat loose; one careless move might cause a chunk to break off.
"Perhaps?" Matsuda Jinpei looked up at the moon in the sky. It was different from the moon he could see from that shrine; it was noble and bright, like a white jade plate filled with cold spring water, radiating a hazy glow in the night sky.
"Are you ready?" Matsuda Jinpei took Kisaragi Chiyo's hand, his large black wings spreading behind him, the moonlight falling upon every feather like exquisite silk.
Kisaragi Chiyo resisted the urge to reach out a hand and gently stroke Matsuda's wings.
Wings with a structure similar to those of birds become warmer the closer they get to the back.
"Don't.." The hand Matsuda Jinpei used to hold Kisaragi Chiyo's tightened for a moment. He frowned, appearing quite uncomfortable with his wing base being touched.
"Does it feel uncomfortable?" Kisaragi Chiyo withdrew her hand, savoring the sensation of the feathers at the base of his wings, which were much softer than in any other place.
"It's not.." Matsuda Jinpei's voice sounded a bit strange, as if he were enduring something. He turned his head away, preventing Kisaragi Chiyo from seeing the expression on his face at that moment.
"We should head out quickly." Matsuda Jinpei flapped his wings, he took Kisaragi Chiyo's hand and gave her a gentle tug toward himself before letting go, his hand immediately resting on the young man's waist.
"Hold on tight." Matsuda Jinpei held Konan in one hand, while the Snapdragon was swaying from side to side, luxuriating in the rare moonlight and stretching out every single one of its scales.
Black wings fluttered gently, the resulting wind pressing down the wild grass that brushed against their lower legs. Kisaragi Chiyo wrapped her arms around Matsuda's waist, her hair entangling with the airflow in the wind.
This time, Kisaragi Chiyo truly experienced what it was like to be on a human-meat drop tower.
The full moon hung overhead, the sky and the earth inverted, the sensation of weightlessness instantly surged through her entire body. The wind roared in her ears as she fell, Kisaragi Chiyo's head spun from the terrifying "oga" sounds Konan was making.
Falling from the sky into a pitch-black well, the moon drifted further and further away, the darkness gradually enveloped them.
In the darkness of the continuous fall, they seemed to be the only real presence they could feel between them.
Oh, of course, there's the Snapdragon sandwiched between the two of them, Konan.
*
The descent lasted for an unknown amount of time. Kisaragi Chiyo buried her face against Matsuda Jinpei's chest, as the numbers she counted silently in her heart reached four digits, the original darkness gradually faded, transforming into a thick shade of red.
It wasn't just a simple red; a sinister black was mixed within that deep crimson, sharp mountains rose one after another in the distance, stretching endlessly.
"That's a mountain of needles.." Kisaragi Chiyo slowly widened her eyes, peeking out from Matsuda Jinpei's embrace.
Upon the mountain peak, which was composed of thousands upon thousands of pitch-black long needles, were crawling ghosts dressed in white clothes and wearing white triangular headpieces.
Matsuda Jinpei did not stop; he flapped his wings, carrying Kisaragi Chiyo to glide over the ghosts undergoing their punishment one by one, before finally coming to a halt at an entrance.
"This is.." Kisaragi Chiyo stood at the entrance, looking somewhat dazed. A few steps ahead was a very modern street, she even saw a coin-operated claw machine placed to the side.
Although the plushies inside the claw machines were all various shapes of Snapdragon.
“Welcome, you two.”
Just as they were wondering whether they should ask a ghost for directions, Hozuki, having received the news, approached from the other side dragging a spiked club, the sharp, glinting weapon still stained with traces of blood that had not been wiped clean.
Welcome to Hell.
"Next, allow me to serve as a temporary guide for you two," Hozuki said, making an inviting gesture toward the pair.
"This is the most famous street in Hell." Hozuki walked ahead, beginning his introduction to the branches of Hell for Kisaragi Chiyo.
Just as Kisaragi Chiyo had learned, Hell was divided into the Eight Great Hells and the Eight Cold Hells, with different punishments required depending on the severity of the sins.
"Each Hell is like a department." Hozuki said with a sigh. Although his expression remained unchanged, a hint of distress could be heard in his tone.
“But ever since the post-war population explosion and the rampages of the evil spirits, Yomi has fallen into unprecedented chaos, so.."
"And so?" Kisaragi Chiyo nervously fidgeted with her fingers.
So, the Hell Assistant department is severely understaffed.
"Otherwise, they wouldn't be plotting against the living," Hozuki said, his gaze shifting back to Kisaragi Chiyo.
That gaze seemed to carry a sense of scrutiny, making Kisaragi Chiyo think of the poor soul Hozuki had mentioned earlier—the one who had been burdened with a three-hundred-year mortgage after joining the workforce.
"In any case, come with me first to get your employment certification sorted out." Hozuki's gaze swept over Kisaragi Chiyo, seeing that she showed no sign of fear after witnessing the various punishments of Hell just now, he couldn't help but feel satisfied.
As for employee benefits, we are no worse than companies in the mortal realm," Hozuki said calmly. "Whether it's employee dormitories, housing subsidies, perfect attendance bonuses, or overtime pay, as well as holidays, two-day weekends, annual leave.. we have it all.
If you hadn't arrived at such an inopportune time, you could have even participated in the festival held the day before yesterday.. but if you're interested, you can come to participate in the sports meet next month.
After all, Hell isn't some unscrupulous corporation.
We are, in fact, strictly following labor laws.
-----------------------
Author's Note: Thank you for the support, my little angels. Mwah!
Chapter 137
Kisaragi Chiyo held the blue lanyard of the ID badge with two fingers, lifting it up to her eyes to examine it from both sides.
A thin, white card, about two-thirds the length of her own palm, had a freshly taken ID photo printed on the front. For some reason, the Hell Assistant Official required both eyes to be fully visible.
Therefore, in the ID photo, Kisaragi Chiyo had swept all of her long bangs up toward the top of her head, revealing those heterochromatic eyes.
Perhaps due to the special lens filter used by the Hell Assistant Official photographer, the young man's face in the photo appeared somewhat pale, with black hair, red lips, cold, distant eyes, devoid of any life. As he gazed through the lens, he exuded a chilling, eerie aura that made one's skin crawl.
Matsuda, this is yours." Hozuki took out another ID badge and handed it to Matsuda Jinpei, who was standing beside him, while adding, "This is the replacement; don't lose it again.
"Understood." Matsuda Jinpei seemed to be getting along well with his supervisor, whom he wasn't particularly familiar with. After taking the ID badge from the other's hand, he glanced down at it before casually stuffing it into his coat pocket.
“May I ask how the Hell Assistant Official handles those spirits and the Child Spirit Statues??" Kisaragi Chiyo put the ID badge away, hesitating for a moment before finally asking his newly appointed superior this question.
Hozuki's pitch-black pupils slowly turned, casting a glance at him. In Hozuki's office, the files waiting to be processed on the desk were piled half a person high.
Hozuki pulled one out from the pile, the sound of the flipping paper echoing faintly through the empty office.
As for those ghosts, Hell will aggregate all of his crimes.. everything he did in his previous life, his evil deeds and his good deeds, provide him with a proper reception.
As for the Child Spirit Statues," Hozuki snapped the file shut, his movements appearing somewhat fierce, "they will be temporarily fostered in Peach Blossom Spring until later.. Hell does not show leniency based on age; whether they are reincarnated or remain after receiving their punishment is a matter for the future.
"Now, is there anything else you want to ask?" Hozuki set the documents down, his narrow, upturned eyes paired with his habitually unhappy expression, making him look somewhat intimidating.
"I want to know about it," Kisaragi Chiyo said in a calm voice.
His hands, hidden beneath the wide haori, clenched tightly for a moment before slowly relaxing.
He heard himself say very calmly, "I want to know what that thing actually is."
Kisaragi Chiyo had not forgotten the words Hozuki had said to her, implying something specific, when they first met.
'You've been targeted by that guy too, haven't you?'