44 Despair Contamination (2/2)

”Hai! But, what is a marauder, oni-chama?”

”Oh, it's what we call evil thieves back in my country.”

”Hm.Hm... Wakatta!” (English: Got it!) she replied. What was I even thinking back there? I should probably refrain from using too many colloquial words.

”Wait for me in here, kay? Oni-chama will be back with a fried chicken.”

Having said that, I shifted my focus to the kitchen, opening the doors while ignoring the sign 'Authorized Personnel Only' and the moment an internal view of the place began to clear, the dark aroma starts to gush forth in it's strongest. I then scanned the whole area of where that was coming from.

Judging from the looks of the kitchen, everything is fine. Except for a pile of unwashed dishes on the sink. Or so I thought...

Someone was lying dead on the innermost part of the room. From his uniform, I figured he was an employee lying in a pool of blood probably from the potent wounds he has. His face is unrecognizable due to the multiple stab wound it received and his legs were dismembered cutting off his main means of escape. His eyes are still opened, and his hands were strongly gripping a kitchen knife also dipped in blood, it was like he was defending himself from something...It was a fresh crime scene. But, it did not surprise me that much. I have this strange luck that constantly makes the deceased a mutual visage.

I wonder what could have had happened here? ...Wait, this is certainly not the time to play detective. Where is this dark aura coming from? It's not from the dead man either...And then, I felt something obscure.

Tsk...Someone else is here...

”Show yourself!” I'm sure, someone else is around and I'm certain, that it's the source of this potent malevolence that I'm sensing.

”Hahahahahaha...” A whimsical and sardonic laugh suddenly is heard, but from where it came from is not clear. Its position is dynamic, changing from direction to direction...

”Hehehe.You really can't underestimate a Herrscher, Cheshire.”

Cheshire? Is he rather talking to someone? No, I am only picking up one presence. I can also sense ill intent, and I could make him show himself on his own vocation, but, I should probably not make such hasty decisions that could deteriorate me and Shiro. I have to think this through, the cautious way.

”Who's there!?”

”Ahahahaahaha. He asked us, Cheshire! Hmmm...What to do? what to do? Behead him? Amputate him? Or maybe cook him and serve his entrails on the child that is waiting outside?...”

Try if you might, I'm not letting you get near Shiro and if he will indeed, then I must respond... Yet, from what I'm perceiving, someone is actually around and he's talking to someone named 'Cheshire'. A Herrscher perhaps?

”Lacrimosa? Ehhhhh???? Is his goddess really that powerful? Ahhh...right!...Hm.Hm.Hm. You really can't underestimate a Cendrillon.” continued the self-dialogue of the unseen figure.

Wait. How does he know of me?

”For now, bye...pitiful little brother. Let us meet again ok? And that's when I will kill you.”

”I was shocked and unable to move, hearing the very same sobriquet that my brother used to call me on that night of utter derangement... A presence then zoomed past me, while I am paralyzed by my thoughts and intimidated by the occurrence”... Is probably what this invisible man thinks I will do...

Too bad though, Cliches have no role here and I probably am not planning to give space for it now.

As I presaged, a faint presence then comes to pass me. Did he actually think that I'll leave him be after his great voice-act of copying my deceased brother's favorite way of calling me? I think he deserves an Oscar for that. He must receive his due reward even if it means I have to drag him down back to the main stage.

”Did you think that you can scare me off like that? Like, ”Oh no! Mr. Invinsible cool-guy knows my family name, am I being stalked by an invisible young lunatic? ” I spouted in a very confident and sarcastic manner.

”Huh? What the hell are you saying? Listen to this Cheshire...Does he have loose screws in the head?” He said, while continuously moving around.

”What I'm trying to say is...BEHAVE.”