Chapter 3
The Antimony of Their Temperatures
Chapter 3
The Antimony of Their Temperatures
I'll hear your screams of terror.
How exciting!
Emulation start.
26th Mechanism.
Puncturing Closed Form: Iron Maiden!
Curse calling!
8th Mechanism.
Crushing Cyclic Form: Breaking by Wheel at Francs!
Curse calling!
Yes! This is what I've been waiting for!
Now let me hear your screams as I tear you apart, bitch!
You know, I'm several hundred years more experienced than you are at making people scream!
Now scream.
3rd Mechanism.
Slicing Descending Form: Guillotine.
Fear...
Bitching! Bitching!
How... How could you rape me like that?
Bitching. Bitching.
I'll kill you, crush you, and rip you to bits and pieces.
What was that?
At least that's over—
Breaking by Wheel at Francs.
Curse calling.
I want...
I want to hear screams.
I was created for that sole purpose.
That's what I am.
Come back to your senses!
It's over! Our enemy left, Fear!
What the hell...
...do you think you're doing?!
Fear...
So this is rain?
This is my first time seeing it.
I didn't know it was so cold.
Now you know.
This is what you wanted to see.
Who I really am.
Everything she said was true, Haruaki.
I've killed hundreds. I was made to kill.
That's why I'm cursed.
And...
Ironically, by being cursed and gaining consciousness,
I learned the concept of sin.
That happens often.
Perhaps.
My curse is simple. Common.
It drives my owner mad, forcing him to use me.
Yes. It happens often.
I told you already. Your curses won't affect me.
That's why you're safe here.
No.
I've realized the fundamental problem with that.
I tried so hard to chase my hopes and dreams.
Tried so hard not to think about it.
I was trying to forget!
Even though it was all futile!
Calm down, Fear.
What are you saying?
I have sin.
The sin of killing.
Of murdering many people.
That's why the sin I bear is cursed!
And my punishment...
What... is my punishment?
Hey...
Can I really be forgiven?
Let's go home.
It's freezing out here.
Your reply is kind.
So kind that it's terrible.
My only choice is to...
Wait, Fear!
Thank you.
Are you okay, Haruaki-kun?
Haruaki-kun!
Fear!
Wait, Fear!
Fear!
Huh?
You can't get up yet!
I bandaged you up, but there was...
There was so much blood...
I'm fine.
You made sure to stop the bleeding, right?
Thanks.
I doubt this is a big deal...
But I'm going to force you to follow this suggestion.
Let's go to the hospital.
You don't want to go?
If so?
I'll be mad.
Very mad.
Why would you chase her?
She left on her own will.
Furthermore, that woman had no intention of giving up, even after losing an arm.
Fleeing might be the best choice.
She...
She said it'd be better if she just continued sleeping alone.
She didn't flee.
She's just trying to end this in an even worse way.
Please.
I'll never ask for something like this again, Kono-nee.
Th... That's unfair!
You promised you'd stop calling me that after we became high schoolers.
You can never say no when I call you that, though.
Like I care!
Just talking to myself here.
She most likely didn't understand the obvious.
Despite its simplicity.
What do you mean?
Oh, you heard that?
I guess I can't hide it anymore.
Her question is as follows.
It's a hint to understanding her talk about sins and curses.
Simply put, it's like this.
I never had you tell me the answer, Haruaki-kun.
Do you mean...?
She's the same as me.
She thinks in the same way I used to.
And she doesn't have an answer, just like the current me.
Yet I've always been at your house.
That's what I meant.
Thank you, Kono-nee.
Screams.
Pitiful screams.
Comical screams.
Painful screams.
They're all nostalgic screams.
I am a tool.
I was a tool.
I was used, utilized, and needed.
Screams, screams, screams...
It proves who I am.
Shut up.
Silence.
Don't scream.
Shut up.
Fear-kun?
Shut up.
What's wrong, Fear-kun?
Hey, Fear—
Shut up.
The screams are enough.
The screams...
This is the 19th Mechanism.
Drilling Helix Form: Man-Perforator.
One form of myself.
I've used it 357 times.
Or perhaps 358 times.
The last time I used it...
What are you talking about?
I'm Ueno Kirika.
Your class president—
Stop it, Fear-kun!
Fear-kun...
It really is no use.
Fea—
The Antimony of Their Temperatures
Chupacabra bandage.
What the hell did you do? Damn it!
They should be full already.
My wounds...
Chupacabra bandages are alive.
They suck on blood, causing extreme pain.
It forces the user to endure pain equal to death
in order to prevent a fatal wound from causing it.
That is this item's curse.
You're my Auxiliary?
Because of your life-threatening conditions, I treated you.
Why?
Why did you do that?
I can still fight.
I need to crush that damn bitch!
Auxiliaries are to provide nothing but the best for their knights, so they can complete their missions.
I believe I made the right decision.
If your life were squandered, I would be deemed useless.
I've always wondered what kind of Auxiliary you are.
How about taking off your hood and showing me?
If you insist.
Damn it!
Where did she go?
I saw Fear-kun.
Wh-Where did she go?!
I'm looking for her!
As I thought.
She was acting strange, so I called her name.
I see. And?
Did anything happen?
She's emotionally unstable right now.
I don't think anything did.
Prez...
Sorry, I...
N... Nothing much happened.
I'm just... How do I say this?
A little confused, to be honest.
I saw something strange.
The cube that Fear-kun was holding...
Prez, I'm sorry.
Can you forget what you saw?
What?
I'll explain everything after we settle this.
So please.
Fine.
You seem to have your reasons.
Be careful, though.
Thank you, Prez.
The proof of my existence.
The blood tainting the floor.
The blood mixing with the water.
The blood contaminating the river.
And the person washing away the blood.
The person clearing away the blood so that more can be spilled.
But I loved him.
He was the only one who sympathized with me.
I can still remember.
I remember that scream.
A scream that belonged to someone I loved.
It was a scream I forced from him.
So this is my first time at the ocean.
Why does it feel so familiar, though?
But as the ending to my first time...
...it's not bad at all.
Think.
Come on, think.
What kind of girl is she?
What would she be thinking?
Think!
Could she...
Well.
It is a lot more unpleasant than what I saw on TV.
It's pitch black.
This endless darkness is just like the place I came from.
But why?
All this regret...
Fear!
Why should I regret anything?
I tried to kill him.
There's no way he would come after me.
I'm cursed.
Fear!
That's right.
I'm cursed!
It's chilly.
It's cold.
It's dark.
I've but returned to the place I belong.
Yet I feel far lonelier than I've ever felt before.
Looks like I forgot someone important.
Someone heavy and stupid.
Someone that wouldn't consider the best place to plunge into the sea.
It's time for a swim!
Fear!
It's warm.
You're awake?
Wha... What are you—?
Y'know...
Do you really weigh this much?
You're heavy as hell.
You called me heavy!
That's the second time.
When was the first time?
Oh, it was when you came to my place.
What a rude thing to say to a lady.
I'll cur—
What a coincidence. I'm angry as well.
I'll curse you.
Wh-What?!
I'll say it again, I'll curse you.
My curse is terrible, so if you don't want it then don't speak.
The moment you tell me to let you down, or let you go,
something terrible will happen to you.
Like what?
Your breasts will stop growing.
What?!
Besides, your curse won't work on me.
It's pointless.
It's pointless, so I don't care if you threaten me.
I won't listen to your selfish requests.
I especially won't let you run away from home.
You'd better prepare yourself,
because I'll drag you back no matter how many times you try.
Cocky words from a perverted kid.
Well, sorry.
What's wrong?
Listen to what I'm about to say.
Now?
Yes.
I should tell you now, before my determination falters.
I'm afraid of screams, Haruaki.
I'm actually afraid of screams from the people I care about.
If you get hurt and scream like that again,
I may become my true self.
Now's your chance to be rid of me.
Why would you say that?
Because I don't know!
Do I have the right to be here?
Do I have the right to undo my curse and be rid of my sins?
I don't remember saying that you need permission.
Just stay here if you want to.
What's important is whether you want to stay here or not.
You're mocking me because you can't be cursed!
I know that there's a more direct curse that I can use!
It's cold, isn't it?
See?!
Now you'll fall under the curse of a cold.
How terrifying.
A curse most people receive at least once a year.
yawarakana tsukiakari ga terasu utakata no yukigane
The soft moonlight lights up the fleeting snow
kachikanda chiisana te wo awase sukitooru machi ni hohoemu
Holding my small, blistered hands together, I smile at the lucent town
sayagu toki wo subete tsutsumikonde tada somaru yoru ni tokihanate
It wraps around the rustling leaves of time, and releases it all into the dyed night
furisozoku shiroi hanabira kokoro wo sotto hodoiteku
The white blossoms showering down slowly undo the knots of my soul
te no hira de toketa setsuna wo miseru
I watch the moment as it melts in my palm
ao no nai sora no kanata ni yuku saki no hikari utsushite
At the far end of the blueless sky, they reflect the light of where we've yet to go
madoi mo tomoseba ii
Why not light up my doubts as well?
musunda hana yo
O knotted flower
ima ni todoke to
Please come back today
Hey!
Wait up, Fear!
I told you to calm down!
I said I'll wash your back.
No thanks!
Don't take my clothes off!
You're seriously going to catch a cold!
Not my pants!
What are you doing?
Ueno-san was worried enough to come visit you, and yet...
Absurd.
Wait!
This is a misunderstanding!
What do you mean?
I know it's my first time, so I might not be very good at it.
But I was going to use my body the best I can to make you feel good!
That's it! I can't let this go any longer!
I'm going to live with you two!
Chapter
4
"A Mot her and a Body Pill ow for the Ni ght."
Chapter Four.
"A Mother and a Body Pillow for the Night."
Watch it or I'll curse you!
If you don't tune in next time, I'll curse you!
Artist Eretto