Dimensional Kaguya Ōtsutsuki

With a deafening silence hanging over the crowd, the eerie tension in the air felt almost suffocating.

"A-a hundred yen?"

The gathered individuals froze in place. It wasn't just the human investigators who looked bewildered; even the ghouls appeared taken aback. The expressionless mask of Kaguya now seemed to carry an air of playful malice as she stood before them, radiating an unsettling calm.

The investigators' earlier glimmers of hope immediately dimmed. Their once optimistic expressions froze, gradually giving way to an awkward embarrassment that painted their faces in hues of shame and rage. Their fists clenched in indignation, frustration etched deeply into their features.

Was this powerful, enigmatic individual mocking them?

"So, you were toying with us all along?" Akira Mado's cold voice sliced through the silence, her icy tone concealing simmering anger.

"Now, now," Kaguya replied, her voice dripping with an infuriating nonchalance. "I never said that. You must have misunderstood. I did promise to help you—but only to help. As for killing someone…" She chuckled, her fox mask tilting slightly as she spoke. "Did you seriously think that a hundred yen could buy me off for that? Since when do investigators harbor such childish fantasies?"

Her mocking tone stung like a whip. Several of the investigators exchanged glances, unable to mask the sting of humiliation. They were elite protectors of humanity, tasked with safeguarding innocents from the threat of ghouls. Yet here they were, naively entertaining the thought of survival through the mercy of a foe.

But Akira, her sharp mind catching a nuance in Kaguya's words, stepped forward.

"Are you saying that if you don't have to kill ghouls, you'll help us escape?" she pressed, her voice taut with urgency.

"In theory, yes," Kaguya replied with a soft snap of her fingers, her tone lighthearted yet deliberately cruel. "But don't forget—your hundred yen has its limits. I'll save a hundred of you at most. As for the rest…"

Akira's expression shifted, a cold dread washing over her as she asked hesitantly, "The rest… what will happen to them?"

Kaguya's voice grew softer, almost playful, as she smiled beneath her mask. "I'll kill them myself."

Her words struck like a thunderclap.

Akira's pupils contracted sharply, and gasps rippled through the crowd. Even Yukinori Shinohara and Iwao Kuroiwa widened their eyes in shock.

The investigators collectively realized the gravity of her ultimatum. Among the remaining survivors in Cochlea, most were wounded, their total number barely exceeding 150. If Kaguya saved 100 as promised, over fifty would still be left to face certain death.

"How could you do this?" Akira cried, her voice trembling with outrage. "Didn't you say you'd fulfill any request?"

"Of course, I said that," Kaguya replied with a sly chuckle. "But I never said I'd agree unconditionally. Your hundred yen can only save a hundred lives—not a single one more. So, decide quickly. I have other things to do."

"If it's money you need, I have more. Take it all!" Akira hurriedly opened her wallet, desperation dripping from her words. "I'll give you everything—just save all of us!"

Kaguya tilted her head slightly, her tone almost pitying as she replied, "Sorry, but I only take hundred-yen coins. No matter how much you offer, it makes no difference to me."

"You… you can't be serious. Are you mocking me?" Akira's voice trembled with fury and helplessness.

Before she could finish, her eyes widened in terror.

Unbeknownst to her, Kaguya had closed the distance in an instant, the eerie fox mask now only inches from her face. Akira hadn't even seen her move.

If Kaguya had wanted to kill her—or anyone else present—it would have been effortless.

"Watch your words," Kaguya murmured, her voice soft yet deadly as her slender, pale fingers lifted Akira's chin. "I'll pretend I didn't hear that just now. I like beauties like you, but if you dare insult me again, I'll make sure none of you leave here alive."

Though spoken quietly, her words carried with them a bone-chilling weight that resonated in the ears of everyone present. Cold sweat trickled down their backs as they stood frozen, paralyzed by fear.

Satisfied with their reaction, Kaguya turned away, her laughter echoing like a haunting melody. She gracefully seated herself on a nearby step, her body relaxed as if the chaos surrounding her was of no concern.

"Now then," she said casually, "make your decision. Will fifty die, or will everyone perish? Time's running out."

The crowd froze in shock at the horrifying sight, their desperate cries and angry accusations cut off mid-sentence.

"You're lying! You never intended to save us!"

One of the investigators broke through the tense silence, stepping forward to shout at Kaguya. "This is all a part of your twisted game! You're all in this together, waiting for us to exhaust ourselves so you can wipe us out in one fell swoop!"

"Exactly!"

"He's right! Something's been off this whole time!"

"They're just playing with us! They were never going to let us go!"

"This is all an act!"

"Yes, everyone, don't fall for their lies! Stand together—if we're going to die, we'll make sure they suffer for it!"

"Yeah, what a vile, despicable witch—"

Before the tirade could continue, the ground began to quake violently. Suddenly, numerous thick vines burst forth from the soil like writhing tentacles. In an instant, they ensnared the investigators who had been shouting, binding them tightly like mummies and suspending them high in the air.

"Ahhhh!"

"What is this?! Mmmph—"

Their muffled screams were silenced as the vines constricted around their bodies, even gagging their mouths tightly. All they could emit were incoherent, desperate whimpers.

"Honestly," Kaguya said, her elegant steps carrying her toward the panicked scene. Her tone was soft, almost playful, as she continued, "It's one thing not to believe me, but why resort to insults?"

"What are you trying to do?" Akira whipped around to face Kaguya, her voice sharp with both fear and anger.

"Oh, nothing much," Kaguya replied, her lips curving into a small, unsettling smile. "I just happen to dislike being disrespected."

She glanced toward the suspended bodies, her tone growing colder. "I warned you, didn't I? Those who offend me don't remain in this world for long."

Akira's eyes widened, dread sinking deep into her chest as realization struck.

Not far away, Shinohara, Iwao Kuroiwa, and the other investigators snapped into action, their weapons drawn as they began hacking at the vines in a frantic effort to free their comrades.

But the vines were unnaturally tough, as if made of reinforced steel. Despite their desperate slashes, they could only leave shallow marks on the surface, unable to cut through. Meanwhile, the vines tightened further, squeezing with a strength that left the entangled individuals' faces a horrifying shade of red-purple.

It was already too late.

Kaguya's crystalline eyes glimmered with a cruel light. Slowly, she raised her pale, delicate hand and curled her fingers into a fist.

"Bang!"

A sickening sound echoed as blood and flesh splattered everywhere.

The bound investigators exploded like overripe watermelons crushed under immense pressure. The vines, now drenched in viscera, continued to writhe as crimson blood sprayed into the air.

Chunks of flesh, shards of bone, and shredded organs rained down in a grotesque downpour, painting the battlefield in shades of deep red. The ground below became a glistening, blood-soaked mire, reeking of death and carnage.

The sheer brutality of the scene left both the investigators and ghouls stunned. Those who remained alive stared in wide-eyed horror, their mouths agape, unable to process the nightmare unfolding before them.

Akira's face went pale as she watched the gruesome spectacle, her eyes fixed on the carnage. She could barely swallow, her throat dry and tight, as an overwhelming sense of helplessness consumed her.

Kaguya turned, a faint smile playing on her lips as she faced the remaining investigators. "Well, that's twenty or so taken care of," she said lightly. "Do you still need my help?"

Her words, though spoken softly, carried the weight of a storm, freezing everyone in place.

"I'll kill you!"

Kuroiwa roared furiously, gripping his large, long-handled blade tightly as he prepared to charge at Kaguya, his rage evident. However, Shinohara clung to him desperately, holding him back with all his strength.

"Don't do it, Kuroiwa!" Shinohara shouted, his voice strained. "You're no match for her!"

"And what, we're just supposed to stand here and watch her slaughter our people?" Kuroiwa's teeth ground together audibly, his eyes blazing with fury, as though they could ignite everything around him.

"Calm down!" Shinohara grabbed Kuroiwa's arm firmly, his voice thunderous. "Rushing in won't solve anything!"

Kaguya approached them at a leisurely pace, her tone calm but laced with a cold indifference. "They didn't have to die. They brought it upon themselves. If you're going to blame someone, blame their loose tongues."

"And just because they said something they shouldn't have, you decided to kill all of them?" Akira clenched her fists, her voice raised in an accusatory tone.

"Humans kill ghouls all the time, don't they?" Kaguya tilted her head slightly, her serene expression mocking. "Ghouls never complain about it, but when the roles are reversed, humans can't handle it? How hypocritical."

Akira bit her lip, her gaze locked on Kaguya with defiance but also helplessness. She had no retort. She'd momentarily forgotten that the woman standing before her wasn't human but a ghoul—a being who viewed humans as prey. For a ghoul, such reasoning might even seem logical.

"I must say," came a gravelly yet strangely melodic voice, interrupting the tense silence, "I'm growing increasingly fond of you."

The speaker was none other than the One-Eyed Owl, Eto Yoshimura.

"Is that so?" Kaguya's eyes lit up slightly as she chuckled. "It's an honor to be liked by the One-Eyed Owl. Incidentally, I find myself liking you more and more too."

Especially your little white tiger, Kaguya thought mischievously, though she kept that to herself.

"In that case," the Owl said, its massive scarlet eye glimmering as it shifted its gaze, "why don't we join forces? Together, we can exterminate these humans. Once they're gone, we'll split the bodies fifty-fifty. What do you say?"

The human investigators froze, their bodies tensing in unison as they gripped their weapons tightly, scanning the surrounding ghouls with wary eyes.

I knew it! Akira thought bitterly, her teeth clenched. She's been toying with us this entire time!

But to everyone's surprise, Kaguya shook her head.

"As much as I like you and as much as I'd enjoy teaming up with you," Kaguya said lightly, "I'm afraid I have a promise to fulfill. I'm someone who values integrity, after all."

"Integrity?" The Owl tilted its head, its expression curious. "What's that? Is it edible?"

Kaguya's face twitched slightly, a vein almost popping on her temple. This creature… is it genuinely clueless or just messing with me?

"My apologies," Kaguya said, her tone cooling as she ignored the question. "As much as I'd love to continue our conversation, I have other matters to attend to. It seems we'll have to save our chat for next time."

"Is that so? What a shame," the Owl replied, its tone laced with regret. "I find you rather amusing."

"Well, if we meet again," Kaguya said with a sly smile, "I hope it will be in a more comfortable setting. And perhaps," she added meaningfully, "in an entirely different capacity."

The Owl tilted its head further, intrigued but ultimately silent, as its crimson eye studied Kaguya thoughtfully.

"Alright, I'm heading out now."

The One-Eyed Owl didn't seem to pick up on the deeper meaning behind Kaguya's words. It turned and bounded away, vanishing into the vast darkness of the night with a few leaps.

"Well then, it seems the game is over," Kaguya said, turning toward the ghouls. Her voice was light, almost playful. "You can all leave now. Take your wounded comrades and your dead with you—unless, of course, you'd rather stay and test me."

Although her tone was light and casual, none of the ghouls dared to treat her words lightly. The earlier deaths of the investigators stood as stark proof of her seriousness.

The ghouls hesitated for only a moment before retreating in silence. Even their leaders, the prominent figures of Aogiri Tree, refrained from speaking. One by one, they began to withdraw into the shadows, melting away from the battlefield. In a matter of moments, the area was eerily quiet, save for the faint groans of the wounded.

"It looks like it's time for me to leave as well," Kaguya said, casting a lingering glance toward the depths of Cochlea. She then turned back, her tone teasing. "I've saved your lives, so there's no need to be overly grateful. As payment, this place is now mine. I'd appreciate it if you could all kindly vacate."

"Thank you," Shinohara replied bitterly. His tone was laced with anger, as were the expressions of the other investigators. Their fists clenched tightly, their teeth grinding as they struggled to suppress their emotions. If they hadn't been so wary of Kaguya's overwhelming power, they might have already charged at her, regardless of the consequences.

"I'm sure we'll meet again," Shinohara said, supporting Kuroiwa as he glared at Kaguya with resolute eyes.

"There's no need to say such cliché villain farewells," Kaguya said with a chuckle. "Besides, I don't think we'll have the chance to meet again."

Shinohara froze for a moment at her words before turning back toward her. After a brief hesitation, he asked, "If it's possible… I'd like to take my comrades' bodies with me."

"Impossible," Kaguya said flatly as she sat on the steps of a high platform, swinging her legs idly. "This is my food. Why would I let you take it away?"

"I see…"

Shinohara's face darkened. He hadn't expected any different, but the weight of the situation still hit him hard. Not only had their elite CCG forces been decimated and Cochlea fallen into enemy hands, but he now had to face the humiliation of begging a ghoul for his comrades' remains.

The irony was cruel.

However, the thought of leaving his comrades' bodies to be desecrated filled him with unbearable pain, as if his heart were being crushed.

"Alright, fine," Kaguya said suddenly, waving her hand dismissively. "That expression is such a buzzkill. It's ruining my appetite. Eating such 'food' would only be a bother anyway. Take them away."

Shinohara's head shot up, his eyes locking onto the silver-haired girl. After a moment, he lowered his gaze and murmured, "Thank you." His fists clenched so tightly that his nails nearly broke the skin of his palms.

Just then, Kaguya pointed toward a shadowy corner in the distance and said nonchalantly, "Oh, and don't forget to take that trash with you."

"That trash?" Shinohara repeated, confused, as he turned to look in the direction Kaguya was pointing.

What he saw made his pupils contract sharply.

In the dim corner, sprawled haphazardly, were his comrades who had supposedly been killed earlier. Instead of being torn to shreds, they were sleeping soundly, breathing steadily as if nothing had happened.

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