Tokyo Detective Chronicles

"Iori!"

She stood on the hill.

The evening breeze blew from the river, passing through her shoulder-length short hair and the collar of her white shirt. The setting sun sank behind her, gilding her silhouette with a thin layer of golden-red.

She waved to him with a smile on her face.

That smile was so familiar.

Then Fushimi raised his hand.

The water vapor in the air condensed rapidly, and an ice spear took shape in the palm of the hand, its body transparent.

No hesitation.

The ice spear shot through the air, grazing Miyazawa Rin's cheek. She didn't even have time to react, only feeling a cool breeze brush past her ears, and a few strands of her hair being cut off by the blast.

"puff."

The dull thud of a sharp weapon piercing flesh.

Rina Hoshizaki staggered and looked down at the half-splittered ice spear protruding from her chest.

Blood was still dripping from the tip of the gun, one drop, two drops, falling onto the grass at his feet and quickly being absorbed by the soil.

She looked up at Fushimi.

That look in his eyes.

How should I describe it?

It wasn't anger, there was no resentment... just confusion.

It was as if she didn't understand what she had done wrong, as if she didn't understand why she had to treat her like that.

Her eyes slowly reddened.

Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes and trembled as they fell.

"Iori..."

Her lips moved, but no sound came out.

But Fushimi understood from his lip movements.

She said, "Why...?"

The sound was very soft, as soft as reeds in the wind.

That look in his eyes was so pitiful and aggrieved that even the most indifferent person would probably have a moment of doubt at that moment.

Miyazawa Rin stood frozen in place.

She turned her head and saw the woman kneeling in a pool of blood behind her, breathing rapidly...

"Stay away from her."

His voice was calm, devoid of any emotion.

Fushimi knew very well that if it really was Hoshizaki Rina... when she appeared here, she definitely wouldn't have had that calm and composed expression she had just shown.

Besides... the real Hoshizaki Rina was carrying the talisman he had given her.

Upon hearing Fushimi's words, Miyazawa Rin suddenly realized what was happening and retreated while holding Hoshino, hiding in the distance.

Hoshino turned her head in her arms, looking at the strange older sister lying in a pool of blood, and then at Fushimi.

The little girl didn't understand what was happening.

But she sensed that something was wrong.

That older sister had a very pretty smiling face...

But there was little warmth in that smile.

Rina Hoshizaki knelt down on the ground.

The ice spear in his chest was still trembling slightly, and blood flowed down the shaft, dripping onto the pebbles on the riverbank.

She looked up at Fushimi.

A slow smile played on her lips as she said:

"I will wait for you to come back."

Then, her body began to disintegrate, turning into blood and disappearing.

Only one ice spear remained stuck in place, the blood on its shaft slowly dripping down.

Fushimi stood still for a long time.

Then he turned around and looked at the black-haired, green-eyed figure not far away.

The river god leaned against the door frame of the wooden house, his arms crossed over his chest.

On that androgynous face, there was only a solemnity that Fushimi could not decipher.

"That thing..." she began, then paused, seemingly choosing her words carefully, "It's completely gone. I can no longer sense any trace of it."

Fushimi remained silent.

The river god looked at him, his green eyes reflecting the shards of the setting sun.

And its last words.

I will wait for you to come back.

There are two possible meanings. First, it's waiting for Fushimi to return to the ordinary world...

second……

This is also a more likely scenario, suggesting that something is wrong with Fushimi, or perhaps with Rina Hoshizaki in the present world.

We can't delay any longer; we must get back as soon as possible.

Then, the place where Fushimi was standing also changed.

The ground beneath Fushimi's feet began to distort.

The passageway, the pool, the Buddha statue, and the space itself are all folded and converged layer by layer under the pull of some force.

When Fushimi looked up again, he was already standing at the top of the hill.

Behind them was a small wooden house.

The roof was covered with gray tiles, and two faded paper lanterns hung under the eaves. The door was half-closed, and you could see the familiar furnishings inside.

That huge desk, that old-fashioned filing cabinet, that dark red wooden door that was always ajar.

This time, however, it was no longer a lonely, abandoned office.

It now has a courtyard.

Various flowers were planted in front of the courtyard, blooming in a delicate and scattered manner, swaying gently in the evening breeze.

At this moment, the floating cyan orb of obsession behind the River God is slowly shattering.

The halo peeled away layer by layer, merging into Fushimi's body.

First, a scroll...

[Item Obtained: Egret Landscape Painting]

[Effect: When the scroll is unfurled, the user can freely enter and exit the Eternal World of Shirahiri. The scroll holder can be considered a "guest" in this Eternal World, not entirely bound by rules, nor entirely governed by the Eternal World's Lord.]

[Comment: Once upon a time, there was a river, and in the river lived a god. The god was lonely, so he drew a picture of his home and gave it to the first person willing to listen to him.]

Fushimi immediately realized that this was not just a passage, but a genuine teleportation portal that could allow him to hide in the mortal world when in danger.

Fushimi looked at the line of comments again.

There was a few seconds of silence.

Then the second ray of light began to condense.

It was a sword.

[Item Obtained: White Egret River Town Magic Sword]

[Effect: Within the Shirogane River's realm, this sword can unconditionally kill any target, except for the Lord of the Realm himself; it can only inflict severe damage.]

[Note 1: This effect only applies within the Shirasakawa Tokisei area.]

[Note 2: This effect is limited to three times. The Suppressing Sword will remember every target you have slain. After three times, it will gain new forms and abilities based on the nature and strength of those three targets.]

[Comment: You can even kill a god, but do you really want to kill Him?]

At first glance, this sword seems to involve the power of rules and is extremely powerful, but upon closer inspection, it is actually quite useless.

In this mortal realm, the only mortal ruler who could potentially pose a threat to him is someone he cannot kill.

……

But then he realized... if it could be combined with the White Egret Mountain and River Painting...

First, use the White Egret Mountain and River Painting to drag the target into this mortal world, then use the sword to kill the target with 100% certainty.

Fushimi was greatly shocked, but this was only a guess on his part.

Whether it is feasible, and whether the "White Egret Mountain and River Map" will impose any limitations, will require further testing.

If it's really as I think...

The reward bestowed by the obsession of the Lord of the World, though only the size of a fist, was indeed far too generous.

Now is the time to leave with Miyazawa Rin and Chiho.

The river god with black hair and green eyes still leaned against the door, his bare feet lightly tapping the ground, making meaningless rhythms, as if waiting for something.

Fushimi spoke up: "I should go back."

The river god blinked and said, "Hmm."

"Open the door."

"Okay."

She turned around and gently tapped the wooden door with her fingers.

The dark red door slowly opened.

It was a soft, misty white fog.

The fog churned, and something could be vaguely seen on the other side of it—probably some corner of the Katsushika Ward Third Hospital…

The river god turned to the side, tilted his head, and gestured with his outstretched hand:

"Take care, sir! Come visit again sometime!"

Fushimi took Chiho's hand and said, "Let's go."

The river god glanced at him, smiled, and said nothing more.

He took Hoshino's hand and walked towards the door.

He applied force gently.

The little girl was drawn in and staggered half a step toward the door.

But it was only half a step.

Fushimi felt her small hand, which he was holding, suddenly tighten.

It's like it's resisting something.

He lowered his head.

A fine bloodstain suddenly appeared on Hoshino's wrist.

Blood seeped from the wound, sliding down her fair skin and dripping onto the white flagstones in the courtyard, splashing out a small, dark red flower.

Then he paused.

Hoshino didn't move.

Her hand was in his palm, soft and small, but it seemed to be rooted to the spot, and he couldn't pull it away no matter what.

Fushimi lowered his head.

The little girl looked up at him.

In those quiet eyes, there was no panic or confusion, only a calm acceptance, as if they had known all along that this would happen.

Fushimi looked at her.

Look into her eyes, at the stains on her face that weren't completely wiped clean, and the stray hairs on her forehead that were ruffled by the wind.

Then he released her hand.

Turn around.

The river god with black hair and green eyes still leaned against the door, his bare feet touching the ground.

She met Fushimi's gaze without flinching, her expression calm.

(P.S. Please refresh the page to view Chapter 2 today.)