Chapter Text
He was running down a corridor with no end in sight. Behind him was an impenetrable darkness, the smell of blood assaulting his nostrils. Someone had died. Who? He didn't know. He could only run, escape this atmosphere thick with danger.
At the end of the corridor was a room. He pushed the door open. Someone was already standing there, a boy in a black hoodie, his face smeared with bright red blood, standing over an unidentifiable corpse—he remembered that girl. Just moments ago, they had been discussing how to escape together.
He stood at the doorway, the roaring darkness at his back, the murderer before him. But he didn't panic. He stepped forward. The boy turned to look at him. A pair of green eyes, exactly like in his memory, a pair of determined eyes he could never forget, now veiled in shadow.
"...Damon."
He heard himself call his name. "Damon" opened his mouth to say something, but the sound that came out was hoarse and raspy. He closed his mouth, looked down at the corpse at his feet, and after a moment, twisted his face into an ugly smile. It wasn't his usual confident, easygoing smile, nor his somewhat mischievous one, or even his slightly shy one. It was bitter.
He understood. He knew what he was saying.
—I am the 「Sinner」.
With a bang, someone pulled the trigger. Was it him? Or was it himself? And the ringing of bells that echoed before the darkness swallowed him made his thoughts gradually become clear.
Kai Monteago lay in his rented bed, the alarm clock beside his head blaring. The first rays of morning sunlight streamed through his window, and the corpses and crimson hues from his dream were nowhere to be seen.
"...That dream again."
———
Kai Monteago's life was simple. A communications major, his outstanding grades and looks had caught the attention of major media outlets early in his freshman year. Endless photoshoots, interviews, performances, and live streams had completely consumed his life. While it wasn't the college experience he'd wanted, at least there was money involved. Who'd say no to money? He certainly wouldn't.
The agony of the nightmare was quickly washed away after he splashed water on his face. A piece of bread in his mouth, Kai sat down at his computer. It was a day off—no filming, no interviews, just needing to promote a few ads—His hands paused on the keyboard. He sighed deeply and typed "Damon" into the search bar.
This dream had been recurring since he turned 18, sometimes as often as once every three days. Damon, Damon. A common name, a common appearance. He didn't know what was so special about the boy in his dream that made him cling to the memory like a lovesick high school student. Scrolling past another social media account belonging to a "Damon," he checked it off in his notes app. Kai looked at his record of having searched over 7,000 Damons and sighed.
On his desk were a few sketches he'd commissioned from talented artists based on his descriptions of Damon from the dream. Blond hair, green eyes, about the same height and age as him, but with a sharper, more ruthless gaze... and the corridor from the dream. Ornate, like a Victorian-era castle. They say dreams are a precursor from the depths of the soul, but what did this signify? Kai picked up the paper, squinted at it for a moment, then put it down.
If staring at this thing could give him answers, he wouldn't have spent a year thinking about it. Whatever. It was a rare day off. Might as well go for a walk.
Slinging his backpack over his shoulder, Kai locked his apartment door and looked up at the sky. He kept saying he'd move to a better place once he had the money, but maybe he'd grown fond of this one, or because it was close to campus, and the neighbors were mostly elderly people who didn't use social media and wouldn't ambush him on the street for an autograph. Layers of white clouds rolled overhead, casting shadows. Kai, wearing a hat and holding a can of Monster Energy, drank as he walked, taking in the scenery.
Come to think of it, there seemed to be some stalls or an exhibition in the square today... His gaze swept across. Perhaps because it was still early, around 9 AM, only a few stalls were open. The closest one was a tent that looked like a fortune-teller's booth, with amethyst crystals hanging at the entrance and the scent of wax wafting out. Kai frowned, finished the last of his drink, and tossed it into a nearby trash can.
If only he could get this dream interpreted.
Inside, the tent was exactly like any fortune-telling setup: black and purple rugs, a crystal ball, a pentagram, tarot cards. Sitting behind the counter was a woman wearing a veil, looking to be in her early fifties. When she saw Kai approach, the corners of her mouth curled into a somewhat eerie smile.
"Welcome," she said, her voice like a snake lurking in the shadows. "I see it... an unusual fate upon you. Today, your destiny will change forever."
Are all fortune-tellers this cryptic?Kai thought to himself, while maintaining the perfect smile he always wore for the cameras. "Perfect timing. I'd like to have my fortune told."
"Yes... But are you truly willing to face it?" The fortune teller picked up a deck of tarot cards, shuffling and cutting them with fluid motions before laying them out in a stack before Kai. "Please choose three cards."
Kai did as instructed, placing the three cards in a triangle formation around the hexagram on the tablecloth. As Kai placed the last card, the fortune teller suddenly reached out and grasped his right hand, moving it to the center of the hexagram.
"My dear, allow me to remind you once more," she said gravely. "I don't know why... but your fate is like nothing normal I've ever seen. Like an endless ring. I've met people with fate lines like this, and there's only one way to break free from this endless suffering, and it doesn't lie within you. You must, you absolutely must, pay close attention to the people you meet."
"Okay..." Kai replied, a bit nervous. The fortune teller seemed satisfied and released his hand, her eyes scanning the three cards on the table. "Now then, let me see... your fate."
"The first card represents the essence of your soul." She turned it over. The Wheel of Fortune lay upon it. "This... I must say, it aligns well with what your soul is telling me. Change and repetition... Ah. Fate does love to toy with pitiful souls, doesn't it?"
"The second card represents the crucial existence I mentioned, the one that can break the shackles etched into your soul's essence." She turned over the card. "The Devil... Perhaps someone who craves control, someone who focuses only on profit and outcomes... but not necessarily. My intuition tells me this Devil might represent plague and curse... That important person is one who suffers due to their own actions."
—「Sinner」.
The scene from his dream flooded his mind again. Kai bit his lower lip, staring at the Devil card. Curse, Sinner. Was it him?
"The third card is about an event you will encounter next." The fortune teller smiled. "This is my own spread, where the meaning of each card changes based on the seeker's question—The Fool?" She sounded incredulous. "Adventure and freedom... You will be imprisoned. Or perhaps this also signifies a new beginning."
"Anyway, dear guest," she gathered the cards, placing the Wheel of Fortune on top. "I am merely an interpreter who glimpsed a corner of your fate. The real meaning, you must discover for yourself. And this reading is completely free. Please consider it a small gift from a stranger. Please be careful in all things."
Kai nodded, said nothing more, got up, and left the tent. The previously clear sky was now covered by a massive dark cloud; a downpour could start at any moment. He hadn't brought an umbrella.
Hastily gathering his things, Kai scrolled through his phone while waiting for the bus. For some unknown reason, the power to the nearby subway had suddenly gone out, forcing him to walk home. Raindrops had started to fall. Pedestrians around him hurried by, leaving him alone at the bus stop.
Perhaps because the surroundings had become a bit too quiet, Kai looked up from his phone towards the road, and froze. The sky was gloomy, raindrops splashing on the asphalt, creating a mist. But unmistakable, standing in the middle of the road, amidst the speeding cars, was that boy.
Blond hair, green eyes.
The boy's mouth was moving. He was saying something to him. Kai stood up and stepped forward, one step at a time, wanting to hear what he was saying.
"..."
A little closer.
"K... save..."
He could almost hear it. He took another step forward, standing on the asphalt road, face to face with the Damon whose eyes held no light.
"Kai, save me."
Kai's eyes widened. But before he could react, Damon's figure vanished in the rain.
"Watch out!"
A small car, speeding, rushed towards him. After that, Kai remembered nothing.
———
"Awake?"
"Ugh..." Kai struggled to sit up, finding himself lying on a bed. Not his rented room, but a larger, more ornate one. Velvet curtains, expensive oil paintings hanging on the walls, a bed with drapes. He climbed out of the excessively soft bed, his head throbbing painfully from the sudden impact. When his vision cleared, he saw a boy sitting at the foot of the bed.
"Ahhh!" Kai, startled by the ghost-like presence, lost his balance and rolled off the bed, hitting his head on the floor. His already aching head suffered another blow. He curled up on the floor, whimpering in pain. The boy looked exasperated. He sighed and offered a hand, pulling Kai back onto the bed.
"Thanks..." Kai rubbed the back of his head, finally deciding to get a good look at the person before him. Blond hair, green eyes... Wait.
"Da-Damon?"
"You know me?" Damon frowned. "Sorry, but I don't know you."
"Ah, no, that's not what I meant." This was awkward to explain. If he bluntly said, "You've been killing people in my dreams for a year," wouldn't that get him punched?! Kai laughed awkwardly, deciding to brush it off. "You look just like a friend of mine. I mistook you for him... So, what's going on? I just remember getting hit by a car... Wait, I got hit by a car! Then how am I still in one piece...?"
"You got hit by a car?" Damon's furrowed brow didn't relax. "Tch. I was hit by a chandelier during a debate competition..."
"Does that mean we're both dead?" Kai exclaimed, simultaneously patting down his pockets. "Phone, phone... Ah, it's here. And it's not broken."
His phone, which had been with him for half a year, only had a few scratches on the case; all its functions were intact. Even more surprising, there was a signal here! He could open social media like X normally, but when he tried to post something, he got a 405 error. Looks like he could receive but not send. He put his phone away disappointedly.
"We've probably been trapped here for three days now," Damon said, speaking up after Kai finished. "I woke up about half an hour before you. Beyond that, I don't know much either."
"Didn't you try opening the door?" Kai asked, puzzled. "Or the windows? Are they locked?"
"...They're not locked." Damon walked to the window and opened it. A breeze carrying the scent of flowers blew in, making Kai shiver.
"But the main problem is," Damon reached his hand outside the window. Miraculously, the part of his arm outside began to turn into a black liquid, melting, barely clinging to his skeleton as if about to drip onto the floor. "This."
"Is it the same outside the door..." Kai went over and opened the door. Outside was a corridor, identical to the one he'd run through in his dream. By now, he wasn't even that surprised. He reached out, and his hand began to melt just like before. He had no choice but to pull it back and retreat into the room.
The two of them gathered in the room again, an awkward silence filling the air. Damon leaned against the wall, fiddling with a pen from his pocket. Kai clutched his phone, trying hard to resist the urge to search for himself online. He'd already missed three days of class... Would anyone notice he was missing? Or perhaps—
"Did I... really die?"
They say the feeling of death is instantaneous, then there's no more pain, everything fades into nothingness. But he was still breathing. His heart was still beating. Was this the afterlife? Or heaven? Kai looked up, meeting Damon's gaze, which for some reason had been fixed on him. That gaze was icy cold, making his hair stand on end.
"Did you check the card in your pocket?" Damon spoke unexpectedly. "There's something written on it."
"Ah." Kai followed his suggestion and searched his pockets. As Damon said, there was a red card inside. Elaborate black ink cursive script was written on it; it took him a moment to decipher the content.
"To the esteemed Kai Monteago:
This is Eden, a manor belonging to the boundary between the world of the living and the afterlife, an independent estate. Your arrival here signifies that you possess the qualifications valued by our host, granting you entry to the next「Feast of Gods」.
The「Feast of Gods」is a revelry for the deities. Various great existences will choose one of you as their Agent. Your glory shall be Their glory, your failure shall be Their failure. Herein, we inform you which deity has chosen you as their Agent.
The deity who has chosen you is—The Butterfly of Fate. The one trapped by slender threads, the weaver of myths.
We hope you will not disappoint Them. Should you emerge victorious from the Feast, you will earn the qualification to return to the world of the living. Conversely, defeat signifies eternal death, the dissipation of your soul.
We once again extend our grand welcome to you for this Feast.
Sincerely,
The Storyteller"
So cryptic.Kai frowned as he finished reading the entire card, finally piecing together his current situation. He was in a state between life and death, trapped in a manor called Eden, where some feast was to be held, and he'd been chosen by a god to participate... Wait,「Feast of Gods」? Wasn't that a famous novel? That milestone novel that reinterpreted mythological history?
"You realized it too," Damon said, looking somewhat pleased at Kai's astonished expression. "We are now Agents in the「Feast of Gods」."
"But isn't that feast a battle royale?!" Kai's grip on the card tightened. "When I read it, I thought the gods were so bored, but now, now—"
"So I'm wondering if that novel was real," Damon sighed. "Just before I died, in that debate competition, we were discussing why the「Feast of Gods」portrayed the deities in such a way. It seems now that not only do gods exist, but They are indeed that bored."
Kai swallowed hard. Anyone who attended high school had read "Feast of Gods." It vividly depicted human good and evil, and the ruthlessness of the deities. It was a work that could draw you in if you immersed yourself. The story's background was that when this world was created, there were seventeen gods. The leader among them was a deity called 「The Fool」. He led the other gods in creating the human world and the afterlife, establishing the rules of life and death, the four elements, etc.
Unfortunately, these gods were unwilling to remain subordinate to 「The Fool」 forever. They craved power, so they joined forces with evil humans who also desired power and brutally murdered 「The Fool」. They buried His body at the boundary between the human world and the afterlife, which later became Eden. The remaining sixteen gods defamed 「The Fool」, renaming Him 「The Sinner」, erasing Him from history. To decide who would be the next leader, they decided to hold the「Feast of Gods」in Eden. Every hundred years, they would gather a group of humans here for a battle royale. The last surviving Agent's patron deity would become the chief god for the next century.
The main plot of this mythological story revolves around a particular Feast where 「The Sinner」, conspiring with The Storyteller (the Agent of the previous chief god), kills the Agents of that Feast one by one, reclaiming their power, finally returning to Eden to take revenge on the sixteen gods. The story ends abruptly. Many have tried to write sequels, but the author himself seemed to vanish into thin air after the novel's publication, leaving only his pseudonym, "The Storyteller."
Anyway, that was most of the plot Kai remembered. He wasn't the type to meticulously analyze every detail.
"And also," Damon added, "Check if there's anything written on the back."
Kai made an affirmative sound and turned the card over. Unexpectedly, in the original novel's setting, the back of the card had doodles representing each god. But on the card in his hand was drawn a circle. Below it was a line of small text, different from the font on the front, as if handwritten.
—You are the 「Believer」.
"...What's this now?" Kai clicked his tongue. "「Believer」...?"
"Don't know," Damon took out his own card and waved it in front of Kai. The back of his card also had a circle, presumably also meaning 「Believer」. "I suspect it's another kind of identity."
"You're not trying to trick me into revealing which god I represent, are you?" Kai said warily, leaning back. "You do look a lot like my friend, but that's separate! This is a matter of life and death!"
"Of course I know it's life and death," Damon rolled his eyes. "I just want to form a temporary cooperation with you. After all, we woke up in the same room. There should be some basic level of trust, right?"
"That may be so..." Kai whimpered, folded the card, and stuffed it into his phone case. "Fine, I'll tell you. The god I represent seems... pretty strong?"
"「Death」?" Damon pondered, chin in hand. "You don't seem like the type that crow would fancy."
"Hey, that's a personal attack. And who wants to be chosen by that terrifying one-eyed crow? Scary as hell."
"..." Damon fell silent. His eyes were fixed on the floor, deep in thought. Just as Kai wondered if his tone had been too harsh, Damon suddenly looked up, his gaze locking directly onto Kai's golden eyes.
"You're the Agent of 「Fate」, aren't you."
It was a statement, not a question. Kai blinked, unsure whether to speak. Damon seemed like the type who observed people closely, and he'd mentioned he was in a debate competition? If he was a debater, he'd be even more adept at finding logical flaws in others' lies—or maybe that was just Kai reading too many detective novels. But at the very least, considering Damon had appeared in his dreams for a full year, he was willing to trust him a little.
"Yes, I am 「Fate」."
"...Then things are simpler." Damon stepped forward, closing the distance between them in an instant. He reached out and tightly grasped Kai's wrist. The light in his eyes was murky, unreadable. Kai was still wondering what was happening when Damon spoke.
"My Lord, please allow me to borrow your power."
In an instant, a circular magic array appeared at Damon's feet. From Kai's angle, most of it was blocked by the bed and Damon himself, so he couldn't see it clearly. But one thing he couldn't miss: a giant serpent coiled around a cross, its huge eyes staring fixedly at them.
The serpent, symbol of 「Devil」, the god of original sin who spreads plague and curse, the deity with the most chaotic alignment in the "Feast of Gods," and one of the first gods killed by The Storyteller in the early stages.
"Wait, are you going to—"
"Shut up." Damon gritted his teeth, cutting off Kai, who was becoming hysterical from the emotional rollercoaster. He took a deep breath, as if steeling his resolve, and spoke again.
"I hereby lay a curse upon this youth before me, the Agent of 「Fate」. The curse is—" Damon paused, then continued. "He shall be forever trapped in solitude, he shall forever remember everything. Death cannot lift the punishment upon him, and I beseech you to let me witness his journey to the end with my own eyes."
The array emitted a final green light, marking the completion of the ritual. Kai yanked his hand back, seeing a serpentine mark etched on the back of his left hand. The curse had succeeded.
"......"
No one spoke. The air was frozen. The tension was broken by a sound like that from a radio. Both looked towards the source and saw a tape recorder that had suddenly started playing. It sounded like a man with a very hoarse voice speaking.
"Ahem... It seems all sixteen Agents have grasped the situation... Someone's already taken action? Quite unexpected. Ah, anyway, the restrictions in the corridors have been lifted. Could everyone please gather in the main hall? We need to begin the briefing."
The voice cut off after that. Kai took a deep breath, deciding to set aside this little incident for now. "Let's go, Damon. The「Feast of Gods」is about to begin."
"Wait." Damon stopped him as he reached for the doorknob. Kai turned to see him hesitating, struggling for a moment, before speaking. "...I still don't know your name."
"You curse me first then ask for my name... Ugh. Fine, fine." He ruffled his hair. "Kai. Kai Monteago. I was in college before this... I was kind of famous online... but you probably wouldn't know. Since you didn't recognize me."
"I don't use social media." Having collected the information he wanted, Damon nodded, signaling him to open the door. "Also, even though you already know my name, I think a formal introduction is still appropriate."
Kai, who had already stepped one foot into the corridor, stopped.
"I'm Damon Maitsu. Like you, a college student. Philosophy major. Also work as a debater, traveling for competitions." He squeezed past Kai and walked ahead. "I look forward to working with you from now on, 「Partner」."
Notes:
Yay. A long plot-heavy chapter is served!
This one will be updated alternately with Abnormals. Truman's Flower will maintain weekly updates ( *｀ω´）
Everyone can leave various guesses/theories in the comments. I might not reply, but I'll be watching like this (👀)
Chapter Text
The corridor was pitch black, with almost no lighting. The dim chandelier sconces overhead provided just enough light for Kai to see where to place his next step or two. Damon walked ahead of him, seemingly unaware of anything amiss, or perhaps more familiar with it all than he appeared, moving with confidence.
Maybe it's because I didn't properly finish reading the novel...Kai cursed himself inwardly for not studying literature harder in school.
Eden was vast. Although described in the novel's illustrations as a mere three-story Western-style house, in reality, they hadn't encountered another soul on their floor. Heading downstairs revealed only an endless spiral staircase. Kai tried looking up, but seeing the stairs winding upwards above him too, he shrank back.
"...Why is it so high?"
"This is an infinitely extending space," Damon said from below the stairs, looking up at him. "Physical laws don't exist here."
"Hmm—" Kai pondered, then hurried down the steps three at a time to catch up with Damon. "Wait, I haven't settled the score with you yet about you cursing me earlier!"
"That can't really be considered a curse. Though nominally, it is." Damon's gaze shifted to the ground. "You'll understand later."
"Understand what?"
"...Let me ask you," he turned, his eyes meeting Kai's. "Why do you want to return to reality?"
"Uh, because I have many unfulfilled dreams?" Kai paused, thinking. "I want to get a bit more famous, spend more time with my parents..." And also figure out who you really are.But he couldn't say that out loud, keeping it bottled up inside.
"Yeah," Damon's tone was calm, but for some reason, Kai could detect a trace of desolation in it. "Who doesn't? But following the usual path isn't very realistic."
"...What?"
"Nothing." They came to a stop at the bottom of the stairs. Before them stood several newcomers, dressed in clothes from various walks of life, none looking much older than the others. The remaining deity 「Agents」... Kai immediately became wary. Privately, he didn't really want to trust anyone here besides Damon. But reason told him hearing others out couldn't hurt, so he spoke first. "Uh, hello?"
"Oh, two more newcomers," a pair, a boy and a girl, approached them. The girl who spoke had vibrant red, slightly curly hair. "Looks like the 「Feast of Gods」 really likes grabbing online celebrities, huh? Don't you think, Kai?"
"Huh? You know me?" Kai pointed at himself, looking into her beautiful green eyes, and suddenly realized where he'd seen her before. "Are you Cassidy?! Cassidy Amber, the super famous e-sports player?!"
"Yep, that's me." Cassidy made a peace sign with both hands. "Oh, this is great! I thought I was the only social media addict here! Let me tell you, I died suddenly during a live stream! It was so scary... And then I woke up in this mansion. If I hadn't read so many isekai novels, I'd— Ah, never mind."
"Sudden... death..." That's imaginable.Kai laughed awkwardly, then looked at the other guy. He wore a strange wolf-head helmet and was currently making grunting sounds. "And this is?"
"Oh, he's Jett," Cassidy kindly introduced him. "Was a race car driver when alive. Died in a car crash, I think? Car flipped and exploded."
"Hey, hello!" Jett enthusiastically reached out to shake Kai's hand. Whoa, he's strong...Kai forced a smile as he retrieved his slightly sore hand, wiping it on his pants.
"The main hall is just ahead. I was thinking of finding a few more people before going in," Jett said, not minding Kai's reaction, and turned his helmet towards Damon, who had been silent in the back. "And this is...?"
"Ah, this is Damon. We woke up in the same room together," Kai seized the chance to introduce him.
"Together?!" Cassidy shrieked, startling everyone. "Th-that's not right, is it? I woke up alone!"
"Me too. You guys getting special treatment or something?"
Huh? Kai turned to look at Damon. Seeing the surprised look on his face too, he felt relieved. Clearly, Damon didn't know why either, which ruled out the possibility of him deliberately getting close. Good, another reason not to suspect Damon.
"What is everyone waiting for at the door?"
A head popped out from the doorway. A suspicious man wearing a goat skull spoke with a strange British accent, clearing his throat. "Come in quickly. The sooner we explain the situation, the sooner you can enjoy lunch..."
"Do dead people need to eat?" said a pink-haired woman leaning against the wall, looking displeased. After this comment, no one made the first move. Perhaps they were wary of this doubtful Storyteller, or waiting for someone else to take the lead...? Kai's heart jumped seeing Damon beside him preparing to open the door. He was about to rush forward and stop him when someone else's actions interrupted his thought.
A black-haired girl wearing glasses, dressed in a neat white lab coat—she looked like a top student in sciences. She pushed the door open first, swinging it wide enough to reveal the room inside, then glanced back at Damon, who had also been about to open the door, and Kai, who was trying to stop him.
"...Let's go."
After saying this, she turned and walked into the hall. Others began to follow gradually. Kai hesitated at the back, unsure whether to follow. Damon took a few steps, looked back seeing Kai still rooted to the spot, and frowned. "What's wrong?"
"Ah, nothing." Kai immediately dismissed his doubts and caught up. "Who was that girl? She seems so independent... I'm worst at dealing with that type..."
"Oh."
"So cold."
Entering the main hall, the previously dim light brightened, revealing the room's structure. In the center were sixteen podiums arranged in a circle, surrounding a large pit blocked by two mechanical doors. The goat-man who had called them earlier now stood in the center of the pit. The girl who had opened the door was already standing behind one of the podiums.
"Please choose your seats freely," Mr. Goat said, gesturing an invitation.
"...Shall we go together?" Kai tugged at Damon's suit sleeve. Without a word, Damon acquiesced. The two selected two adjacent podiums and stood firm. Kai leaned on the railing in front of him, his heart pounding.
It was beginning. The killing game.
"Ahem... As you all likely know by now, indeed, you have been chosen as participants in this session's 「Feast of Gods.」 I believe you've all seen your 「Agent」 identities." Mr. Goat hummed a tune. "Allow me to introduce myself first. I am your 「Storyteller」, Tozu. You may address me as you wish. If you encounter any troubles in daily life, please report them. For instance, if a certain 「Agent」 suddenly dies, and so on."
"Uh, but aren't we dead?" a dark-skinned boy with black hair raised his hand. "We shouldn't need sleep or anything, right?"
"That's true, Mr. Hall. However, historical records show that all 「Agents」 cannot change their physiological needs from when they were alive humans." Tozu nodded. "Additionally, your rooms are the ones you woke up in this morning. Simply walk up the stairs six floors to reach them."
"Speaking of which," Cassidy interrupted. "We all have single rooms, right? The door locks work, right?"
"I'm afraid there are no door locks or similar settings here. This relates to the rules of the 「Feast」 I'm about to explain. Regarding room assignments—yes, nominally, it's one person per room. But perhaps there was some issue..." He glanced towards Kai and Damon. "Two gentlemen here are sharing a room."
"..." All eyes were on them. Damon raised an eyebrow. "From your tone, that doesn't sound like a good thing."
"Correct. After all, the rules of this session's 「Feast」 are somewhat different... They have grown tired of sheer bloodshed." Tozu clapped his hands. "You should have seen it—on the back of your invitation, there is another line of text and an icon. This is your second identity in this 「Feast」. I will now explain them one by one."
Tozu picked up several stacks of paper from the ground, straightened them, and placed the top one facing out. The pattern on it was identical to the one on the back of Kai and Damon's invitations: a pair of hands clasped together in pious prayer. The mark of the 「Believer」. "If this is on the back of your card, then you are a 「Believer」. You have no special abilities. Your goal is to identify the 「Sinners」 hidden among you."
"As for the 「Sinners」." He moved another sheet to the front. On it was a red pattern: a fallen cross, bleeding. "They are the betrayers of the gods. Each night, they can collectively decide to kill one person. As for the tools, Eden will provide everything; no need to worry."
Werewolf...Kai thought, seeing a dark-skinned woman opposite him speak up. "Excuse me, let me confirm. The 「Sinners」 win condition is to kill everyone else, and the 「Believers」 win by finding all the 「Sinners」?"
"Correct, Ms. Wenona. However, the 「Sinners」 need only ensure that besides themselves, only two 「Agents」 remain alive." Tozu applauded happily. "But, among the 「Believers」, there will be some with special abilities beyond those granted by the deities. I will introduce them one by one."
"First, the 「Seer」." A green staff entwined with vines. "Each night, he can choose to investigate someone's identity. He will learn not only if they are 「Believer」 or 「Sinner」, but also their 「Agent」 identity."
"Next, the 「Cleric」." A blue vase pouring water. "Each night, he can investigate an 「Agent」 executed during the day to determine if they were 「Believer」 or 「Sinner」, and whether their 「Agent」 skill was activated."
"This is the 「Guardian」." A red sword surrounded by flames. "Each night, he can choose one person to be immune to the 「Sinners」' attack. Also, if another 「Agent」 targets him with a skill the following day, it will be ineffective."
"Finally, the 「Merchant」." A gold coin with a pentagram in the center. "There will be two 「Merchants」. They will know each other's identities. If both agree, they can share their 「Agent」 abilities."
"These are the four stronger roles among the 「Believers」," Tozu said, gathering the papers and setting them aside. "Now, you may begin introductions, or if you have any questions, ask them now."
"...Sounds better than a battle royale," said a boy who had been wearing headphones (Is there music?Kai wondered). "I thought I'd have to run..."
"Of course," Tozu nodded affirmatively. "Being constantly tense isn't good for performance."
"What if someone dies due to factors outside the 「Feast」?" asked the girl in the lab coat who had opened the door first.
"That, I believe our 「Cleaner」 will handle. Just consider it a bit of unfortunate luck for that individual," Tozu said with a smile. "Naturally, if someone deliberately kills outside the designated... occasions, there will be punishment."
"...If we win, we can return to the real world, right?" a girl with an elaborate pink hairdo asked, her face pale. "The myths didn't mention that..."
"That depends on whether you can survive. Alright, no more questions for me. It's time for you to get to know each other. After all, you'll be living together for about a week."
With that, Tozu slowly walked to a high stool near the circle of seats, sat down, and fell silent. The scene became eerily quiet until one boy spoke.
"Uh, I suppose I'll start the introductions. I'm Wolfgang Akire, a law student." He adjusted his tie. "Those who don't wish to introduce themselves yet can wait their turn. Those willing can speak first."
"Hi hi! Cassidy Amber here, the world's greatest gamer!" Cassidy leaned on the railing and raised her hand.
"Jett Dawson." Jett's voice was muffled by his helmet. "Pro race car driver! My skills are top-notch!"
"If they were that great, you wouldn't be here. Tch. Grace Madison, golfer. That's it." The pink-haired girl flicked her ponytail impatiently. "Why can't we have chairs?!"
"Uh, I'm Diana Venicia... a makeup artist intern with a film crew." She seemed flustered. "Sorry, I'm still in shock..."
Kai looked around, feeling it was his turn. "I think some might know me already... I'm Kai Monteago, studying communications, also an online influencer..."
"If someone at your level is just an 'influencer,' then I'm a nobody!" Cassidy quipped.
Next, a few who seemed introverted or cautious spoke: Ingrid, inheritor of traditional blacksmithing; Toshiko, a junior matchmaker (Only 14!Kai couldn't believe someone so young was involved); Desmond, sharpshooter; Ulysses, history student; Eloise, fencer; Jean, marine biology student.
Only four seemed left who hadn't spoken.
"...Wenona. Finance major. Can't disclose more."
Not even a surname?Kai blinked, looking at the shrewd-looking girl, then turned his gaze to the silent Damon. Why isn't he introducing himself?
"...Mark Berskii. Musician..." The boy fiddled with his headphone cord and said no more.
The girl who had opened the door snorted, exchanged a glance with Damon, frowned, but ultimately said nothing and introduced herself. "Eva Tsunaka. Currently a junior researcher."
A scientist...That shrewdness fits.
Now only Damon remained. All eyes were on him. Grace clicked her tongue and interjected, "Hey, big shot, you woke up in the same room, right? Why don't you introduce him."
"Huh? Ah..." Kai was stunned. "He's Da—"
"Damon Maitsu. Debater."
"So you can talk," Grace rolled her eyes. "I thought you were fucking mute."
"There's a child here!" Ingrid said sternly. "Ms. Madison, watch your language."
"Not a child," Toshiko puffed her cheeks indignantly. "I have a job too."
Kai watched as the group began chatting amongst themselves, then suddenly felt a gaze on him. Turning, he saw Tozu staring at him with a faint, knowing smile, sending shivers down his spine.
He knows...Damon beside him was still silently observing the surroundings. He knows Damon and I have exchanged information, even used a skill... But why is he looking at me like that?
"...What's the situation now?" Jean scratched his cheek. "Introductions are over. Shouldn't we be dismissed?"
Ulysses flipped through his notebook. "According to the myths, after the 「Agent」 introductions, it's indeed free time... But given the different rules this time, I suspect we can start voting now?"
"Correct, Mr. William," Tozu nodded. "You may indeed decide to execute an 「Agent」 now. According to the rules, the game began last night."
"Voting someone out without anyone dying?" Diana clasped her hands to her chest. "That's too cruel!"
"From a data analysis perspective, voting someone out now shouldn't pose a major problem," Eva sniffed. "Sixteen people. As long as the 「Seer」 and 「Guardian」 aren't voted out, the loss to the 「Believers」 isn't great. Especially if we just vote out a 「Believer」 or execute a 「Sinner」."
"But still...!"
"Then how about this," Wolfgang cleared his throat. "Let's take a vote. Those who agree to vote someone out today, raise your hands."
After a moment's hesitation, Eva, Wenona, Grace, Wolfgang himself, and Mark raised their hands. Not a majority.
"..." Seeing the result, Eva fell silent, but Wenona beside her spoke. "Since everyone doesn't agree to vote today, how about we vote between the Agents of 「Devil」 and 「Death」?"
...Huh?
"Makes sense!" Jett agreed. "「Devil's」 curse ability is powerful. 「Death」... ah, what does 「Death」 do again?"
"...Immunity to all forms of death except execution," Mark added weakly.
"In that case, I agree too," Eloise raised her hand. "If either of them is a 「Merchant」, it could be powerful. But we can't ignore the possibility they are 「Sinners」."
"W-wait a second," Kai interrupted nervously. "I can understand voting out 「Death」, but why 「Devil」—"
"Because his curse can be used infinitely," Desmond sighed. "He could curse any one of us, or even all of us, to death at any time. The uncertainty is too great."
"Haven't you read 「Feast of Gods」?" Cassidy raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that basic knowledge?"
I know that! But!He looked at Damon, whose expression had darkened. If Damon got voted out—
"I think voting out 「Devil」 first is better," Eva also expressed agreement. "「Death」 is just a passive trigger. Even if he is a 「Sinner」, it wouldn't bring about a fundamental change."
"Ms. Tsunaka has a point," Wolfgang nodded. "Mr. Monteago, can you tell us why you don't advocate voting out 「Devil」?"
"This..."
Nothing I say will matter, will it? Personal bias? Or my own kindness?Kai stood frozen, not knowing what to say. Fourteen pairs of eyes were on him. Everyone agreed to vote out 「Devil」. Yes, in the myths, 「Devil」 died early because the ability was too strong. But—
"Save me."
Damon.
"He's not saying anything," Jean said after a moment. "Could it be that he is..."
"Could it be what," Grace spat. "「Devil」 revealed himself. And you're a communications student? Your acting is terrible."
"Uh, communications doesn't involve acting..." Diana mumbled, but no one paid attention.
"Then let's start the vote," Wenona straightened her clothes. "I think it's clear who we're eliminating today."
「Voting Phase」
"...Why didn't you say anything?!" Kai stared at the screen before him. Next to his portrait, the vote count steadily rose until it stopped at 13. He had voted for Eva because she calmly suggested voting someone out on the first day was fine. Damon probably voted for himself, and one other person voted for herself too—Diana.
"I still don't think voting on the first day is right," she apologized to Kai with a smile. "But sorry, it seems I couldn't change anyone's mind."
Then you should have tried harder!Kai took a deep breath. He was 「Fate」... 「Fate」?
"Ah."
The Agent of 「Fate's」 skill was... 「Loop」, wasn't it?
"..." Damon looked at Kai and whispered, almost inaudibly, "See you next time."
The railing in front of him lowered. The door in the center of the floor opened, and a large metal sphere, like a vial with a small door on the side, rose from below. A metal arm suddenly shot out, wrapping around Kai's neck.
"Mmph!"
The fear of death surged through him. Kai instinctively struggled, but it was useless. The arm's strength was overwhelming. He could only let it drag him away.
Inside the metal room, it was pitch black. Kai shakily got to his feet, looking around.
「Loop」... He could revert to a point before the event that caused his death. He wouldn't retain memories, but at least... at least he'd be aware of the loop. The darkness amplified his fear. Kai stood anxiously, waiting for death to come.
Next time... Next time, I must find a reasonable excuse to have them vote out 「Death」 first—
"Execution, begin."
A sharp, intense pain shot through his eyes. After that, Kai was aware of nothing more.
———
An earsplitting shriek came from the metal vial. At first, it sounded like Kai, but as it went on, the sound became less and less human. Toshiko's face was pale as she shrank behind Ingrid. Blood seeped from the bottom of the vial, slowly spreading towards Damon's feet.
...He'll understand,Damon thought. He'll figure out what this is for. This timeline is a lost cause. I'll find a chance to end it tonight...
The execution device stopped. Wolfgang looked back at Tozu, received a slight nod, walked over, and pressed the button to open the cage.
What appeared before them was a scene both gruesome and eerily beautiful. Kai was pinned within a specimen display frame, a large specimen needle piercing his abdomen. Behind him, wings were splattered in his own blood, resembling butterfly wings. His entire body was covered in blood, a stark contrast to his former refined appearance.
More horrifying were his eyes. Kai's left eye was missing, and his right eye socket contained both his right eyeball and the missing left one, creating a double pupil. Those lifeless eyes stared fixedly at everyone present, but held no hatred—only emptiness. On his cheeks, the blood flowing from his eyes had formed into butterflies, dripping blood, swirling and flying around his body.
"How could..." Damon heard Diana mutter in disbelief, while Eva simply remarked, "Well, that's that," and turned to leave.
"Kai Monteago, Agent of 「Fate」, has been executed."
Tozu's voice echoed through the hall, drawing a final line under the terrifying scene.
———
Beep.
Damon looked at a black stone in his hand. The golden number on it changed from 0 to 1. He turned to look at the person who had just woken up in the bed.
Kai sat there, staring at him with an expression of utter disbelief.
"
Why..."
Kai couldn't believe it.
He remembered everything from his previous 「Feast」 experience.
Notes:
*The plot is moving fast! I know! But I felt writing too many introductions would drag on.
Probably starting next chapter, the game will officially begin. Which means, everyone can start guessing each character's identities! Heehee.*
Chapter 3
Notes:
*Regarding comments: I've read all the comments everyone has left! But my English vocabulary is exhausted, I can't think of any good replies, so I haven't replied to anyone... It's not that I'm pretending to be aloof, ahhhhh, don't hit me... o(_ _;o)
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
"How could this be..." Kai clutched his head, muttering incessantly. The pain of the execution, like having his tendons pulled out and skin flayed, still lingered in his brain nerves, repeating over and over, as if constantly telling him that the 「Loop」 had activated.
But no matter how he looked at it, he shouldn't remember his memories from the last loop, and he shouldn't have returned to this point in time, the moment he and Damon had just met.
"Still feeling bad?" Damon stood with his arms crossed, watching him, eyes narrowed like a cat's. Those green eyes were still as devoid of personal emotion as before, but Kai had seen it last time; that was just how he was. Damon only showed emotion at very specific times; usually, he seemed blank, like a vessel. A heartless vessel.
But compared to probing the mysterious Mr. Damon about what he was hiding now, there was something more important.
"That curse...!"
Damon raised an eyebrow. "Finally decided to talk to me about this?"
We didn't have a chance to talk last time! You were being evasive! Kai's anger flared, and he punched Damon's shoulder in frustration. "You say that so lightly! Why didn't you just explain it clearly from the start!"
"I'd get into trouble." Damon sighed, rubbing the spot where he'd been hit. It wasn't that hard, was it? So dramatic. "And even if I told you, you probably wouldn't understand... Forget it."
"First, I think I need to make this clear to you." His expression became much more serious than before. "I know I'm keeping a lot of things from you, but can you please not dig too deep? Just like you haven't explained how you know me, I don't have the right or obligation to explain anything to you either."
"Second, about the curse... I can guess what you're thinking. Yes, I have memories of the last loop like you do, but my memories are very blurry. After all, I can't expect that guy to satisfy too many of my requests... Anyway, it was my own consideration to let you retain all your memories of the loop. This won't harm you, so you can rest easy. I said it last time, we are 'partners.' At the very least, I won't do anything overtly harmful to you."
"...I understand all that logically," Kai blinked. "But I can't ask about any of the reasons behind it all?"
"Not until you're fully psychologically prepared for these things." Damon averted his gaze, looking out the window. "...I can't guarantee that hearing these things now would allow you to maintain your sanity... and end up like me."
"Huh?" Kai didn't catch Damon's last words and was about to ask again when the broadcast sounded. The same dialogue as before, herding them downstairs. This time, without the hesitation of the last loop, they went down smoothly. Along the way, Kai kept thinking about what Damon had said: Damon enabled them to preserve memories during the loop, but it seemed only his own memories were intact... So, could he gather information by dying repeatedly? The idea scared him as soon as it appeared in his mind. It seemed he was accepting death faster than he'd expected.
Secondly, Damon was hiding a lot. Those cryptic words, the downcast gaze during the execution, and that stone in his pocket when Kai woke up the second time. Kai had been very angry, but on second thought, if he obsessed over this now, he might underperform in the 「Feast of Gods」 and die several more times. Being thick-skinned by nature, he decided to push the priority of these matters back and focus on surviving the first day.
If nothing went wrong, that science student... Eva, right? Would again suggest executing someone. Kai gritted his teeth as he stepped onto his podium. If he couldn't prevent this, then once they discovered Damon was the 「Devil,」 the whole game would be over... At the very least, they'd lose one of the people who understood the situation best.
The self-introductions were long and boring. This time, Kai didn't greet everyone as enthusiastically as last time; he just gave his name like Damon did. Cassidy muttered something about "being completely different online and offline," but he ignored it. Once you realized you might have to repeat the self-introduction process ten thousand times, you'd become lazy too.
"...Based on the data, executing one person today shouldn't be a major problem."
Here it comes. Kai looked up warily. Though he didn't know when the conversation had reached this point (he'd been zoning out, thinking about what to eat if he survived), thankfully he hadn't missed it. Eva's purple eyes were somehow locked onto them, or more accurately, not on Kai, but on Damon. Why? Kai, who hadn't noticed this last time, frowned. Did Eva know Damon?
"Shall we take a vote then?" Wolfgang suggested, just like last time. "If it's more than half—"
"Wait a second." Kai raised his hand to interrupt. "I still find it really strange."
Here goes. If it fails, I'll just die again. Damon gave me a free pass, I need to be brave.
"Tozu, you didn't tell us one thing." He looked at the man sipping red wine on the high stool, who seemed surprised Kai was addressing him. "How many 「Sinners」 are there? If we don't even know that, I think any data algorithm is completely useless as a reference."
"Is that all... My apologies, esteemed 「Agents,」 it seems I indeed forgot to mention that." Tozu stood up and bowed very sincerely to everyone. "There are three 「Sinners.」 You should know this."
"...So what?" Eva adjusted her glasses, her expression darkening. "Sixteen people, eliminate one. The probability of hitting a 「Sinner」 is 18.75%, nearly 20%. That's already a relatively high probability."
"Then why not mention the 31.25% probability of hitting a 「Believer」 with a special ability?" Kai rolled his eyes. "Seriously, it makes no sense. If someone gets executed before they can even use their skill, surely the 「Believer」 side loses more, right? And are you really cold-blooded enough to send a stranger you just met to the execution platform? Tch, people in research are all crazy."
He hadn't meant to be so harsh. But he, more than anyone, knew the pain of execution—the feeling of his soul being violently ripped from his body—and he never wanted to experience it again. Seeing everyone's expressions turn serious, Kai knew his speech hadn't been a major misstep. Thank goodness; even during livestreams, he usually prepared a script for a long time.
"..." Eva remained silent for a long time before speaking. "Kai Monteago, I believe I remember your name correctly."
Kai was baffled. "Yes, what does that have to do with what we were discussing?"
She shifted her scrutinizing gaze from Kai to Damon, who had been spacing out since the beginning (What did he go through to space out in a situation like this?). "I'm guessing you're opposing me because of Damon, right?"
"What does that have to do with the soybean?" It was Grace who spoke. "Seriously, what the horse-face just said made me realize something. You, bookworm, are something else, trying to stir up conflict right now. I think you're the 「Sinner」!"
"I didn't give any orders." Damon seemed to return to reality, responding coldly. "I don't know where you got that idea, but if you suspect me because of past events... I suggest you read fewer comics."
Wow, the tension. The atmosphere was seriously tense. Kai's mind began to wander inappropriately, his eyes darting between Damon and Eva. He heard Toshiko whisper, "Ex-girlfriend?" and actually considered the possibility for a moment before quickly dismissing it. He really couldn't imagine Damon with his edges softened; it was terrifying.
"Why did this turn into a reunion scene?" Jett voiced the question on everyone's mind, quickly silenced by Cassidy covering his mouth.
"Are they going to argue again..." Diana fidgeted nervously with her clothes.
The two parties involved were locked in a staring contest. Kai, as the instigator of this whole conflict, looked left and right, then decided to try and mediate. "Um—"
"You're right." Eva suddenly spoke, startling him. "I do suspect you because of past events. After all, your reputation in university spreads as widely as this guy's fame online."
What does he mean, 'this guy'?... Oh, I wasn't very respectful to her either. Whatever. And what were they talking about? Kai blinked and saw Eva shift her gaze to him, her next words directed at him. "A word of advice: don't associate with Damon Maitsu. Find something you should be doing, like refuting me pointlessly and stirring up opposition, but don't get involved with him."
"Wait, what are you talking about..."
"You probably don't know, but we went to the same university." She smoothed her long hair, her face showing disgust as she continued. "Damon was famously known as the 「jinx」 in university—no, we have a more accurate term here: the 「Devil.」"
"I knew you'd bring that up." Damon sighed. "It's not the same concept. Even if I really am the 「Devil,」 why wouldn't I just tell you to shut up now?"
"Then explain why all three of your roommates died under mysterious circumstances?" Eva frowned. "One had his throat pierced by an umbrella, one had his neck severed by a fishing line, and another... oh right, another hanged himself on the ceiling fan in your dorm. Damon, I have no prejudice against you personally. In fact, I admire you for maintaining your daily life amidst those rumors... But now that we're experiencing this supernatural phenomenon, perhaps I hope to hear your explanation regarding these events. Otherwise, I believe voting you out is the best choice for everyone."
Damon fell silent. Kai roughly understood that these things were indeed related to him, falling under the category of "cannot explain." Rationally, he could understand Eva's argument too; someone who constantly triggered curse-like events while alive could also be a candidate for cursing others in this game... But it was still strange. Logically, the past should be the past, and this really couldn't be considered basis for judging if Damon was the 「Devil.」 There was some purpose driving Eva to eliminate Damon at all costs. If it wasn't simply hatred for Damon (since she said she admired his strong mental fortitude—though Kai deeply doubted Damon's mental fortitude; he looked calmly insane right now), then it could only be for her own benefit...
"...The 「Death」 skill is only passive..."
There it was. Kai finally found the strange point in the logic. Logically, even if the 「Devil's」 curse ability was powerful, it still depended on whether the 「Devil」 itself was willing to fulfill the curse the 「Agent」 desired. Whereas 「Death」 was a skill that would definitely trigger. As long as he could hide his identity, his survival probability would be much higher. No matter what, even if they had to vote on the first day, it should lean towards 「Death」 between 「Devil」 and 「Death,」 not like last time where they confusedly voted him out as the 「Devil」...
He swallowed. To speak or not? This speculation carried risks and might make Eva hate him more... She was already biased against Damon; hating him too would just cause trouble. But if he didn't divert the topic, the focus would remain on Damon's bizarre background... which they didn't want either. Kai still wanted to hear the explanation for all the irregularities from Damon himself, not from a cold execution device.
Just as he was about to speak, an unexpected person reached the same conclusion and voiced it before him.
"Ms. Tsunaka is 「Death,」 right?"
All eyes turned to Wolfgang. The law student stood very straight, his eyes showing sympathy and confusion. "Seeing how hard you're trying to shift the focus onto Mr. Maitsu, I must admit, you are an outstanding sophist."
"You...!" Eva gritted her teeth. "What nonsense are you spouting!"
Huh? How did he figure that out? Question marks materialized above Kai's head. Even with memories of his last loop, he only realized the issue now. Wolfgang just heard Eva propose an execution, argued with him and Damon, and reached this conclusion... This person was terrifying.
"I believe only the 「Agent」 of 「Death」 wouldn't want attention on themselves... Perhaps 「Tower」 as well, but I don't know what 「Tower's」 skill is in this version of the 「Feast of Gods,」 so I can only make a bold guess." Wolfgang cleared his throat. "Of course, after hearing Mr. Monteago and Mr. Maitsu, I changed my mind. There is indeed too little information today; no one's skills have been activated. Ms. Tsunaka likes to speak with data. Then I believe that after tonight, won't there be one death? So I think that deceased 「Agent,」 and the 「Agent」 who uses their skill tonight, will provide more information than today. So perhaps, today really isn't suitable for voting."
"Baseless accusation." Eva seemed to regain her composure. "You say I'm 「Death」? Preposterous. I haven't said a word about myself yet. How did you twist it to that?"
"Because I am the 「Agent」 of 「Justice.」" Wolfgang said confidently, clasping his hands behind his back. "Let me introduce myself. The skill I received is 「Lie Detection」—the ability to intuitively sense whether someone's statement contradicts the truth through intuition. Ms. Tsunaka, when I heard you speak, especially the part, 「Otherwise, I believe voting you out is the best choice for everyone,」 my skill activated."
"This doesn't mean you are lying, but that 「voting out Damon is not the best choice for everyone.」 So, what would make you want to vote out the 「Agent」 suspected of being the 「Devil」 as soon as possible, even to the point of starting a conflict now? Aside from you being a 「Sinner」 yourself, the only option is that your 「Agent」 identity would be more dangerous if confirmed on the first day. I think I'm correct, aren't I?"
More than correct; every word hit the mark...Kai was stunned. He was still too naive, completely outmatched in debate.
"..." Eva seemed somewhat deflated and discouraged. Seizing the opportunity, Kai glanced at Damon, who happened to be looking at him too. He took the chance to pull on Kai's sleeve, drawing him closer to whisper.
"Although that might indeed be true," he said. "But if Eva is 「Death,」 based on my interactions with her over the years, I think she would choose to lie about her identity rather than openly oppose me now."
"...You suspect her other identity is also important?" Kai asked incredulously.
Damon clicked his tongue. "Just a guess, don't take it to heart. Either 「Seer」 or 「Sinner.」 The former seems more likely from my perspective."
Right... If the 「Devil」 cursed her, she might not be able to use her skill, so she needs to deal with it quickly...Kai moved back, watching Eva's pale face and pondering. No, no, we've pushed Eva to the limit now. If this continues, the situation will only get worse. Someone needs to lighten the mood... Why is everyone else silent! Are they all stunned watching the show?!
"Eva." Unsurprisingly, it was Diana who played peacemaker. "You probably have your reasons. I won't force you to say anything, but—"
"I think this farce should end now." Wenona interrupted everyone. "Probably no one here wants to execute anyone on the first day. Then I think we can end today's discussion."
"Yeah, I'm hungry." Jett scratched his head. "I wonder what the food here is like."
Still thinking about food! Kai was speechless. And contrary to everyone's expectations, Eva, who had been silent, spoke up again.
"Fine. I'll talk. You're not wrong. My identity is special." She pushed her glasses up, no longer flustered. "I am 「Death.」 Wolfgang is right."
"So that's your reason for attacking Damon..." Ingrid murmured. "Why didn't you just say so? I don't think anyone here would decide to execute you today just because you're 「Death.」"
"That depends on who it is." She glanced towards them. "You can choose to execute me now, but I must tell you, you'll regret not executing Damon on the first day."
"I doubt it, Ms. Eva."
Unexpectedly, Eloise spoke up. "I... I have information."
"I am the 「Agent」 of 「High Priestess」... My ability is 「Oracle.」 Every day, I receive one absolutely correct prophecy. This morning, right after I woke up, the prophecy I received was, 「The crow dances with the snake; the true sinner smiles amidst false death.」 In the 「Feast of Gods,」 the symbol of 「Death」 is the crow, and the snake symbolizes the 「Devil」..."
So, both Damon and Eva's identities were revealed. The situation was unfavorable; both were in the spotlight. Who would die tonight was the most crucial question... Kai calculated in his mind, waiting for Eloise to continue.
"The first half seems confirmed, but I don't understand the second half... Could it be someone lied about their cause of death?" Her voice grew softer until she shook her head helplessly. "Sorry, please forget I said that."
"This is very important information. Thank you for sharing it, Ms. Taulner." Wolfgang seemed to be thinking too. "We've gathered enough information. Perhaps we can unanimously decide that today's 「Feast」 can end here."
"What about them?" Mark looked at Damon and Eva. "Neither has stepped forward to say if they are 「Believer」 or 「Sinner」..."
"If it's hard to judge now, just lock them both up." Grace tossed her hair. "Why is it so difficult? Really."
"Eden has a basement." Ulysses flipped through his notebook. "It seems to be used to detain out-of-control 「Agents」... Perhaps we can use that."
"Then let me and Desmond handle it." Jean patted his chest. "I'll remember to bring them food."
"Agreed." Desmond nodded.
"...I'll go too." Kai interjected. "I still have questions—"
"Wait." Wenona frowned. "Not to mention you share a room with Damon, when you were arguing with Eva just now, your position was baised towards Damon, right?"
"Ah, I—"
"Then you definitely can't go." She stated it as if it were obvious. "Who knows if you've formed an alliance with him."
For their own benefit...Kai gritted his teeth. Although he was indeed allied with Damon in a way, being accused like this still made him furious.
"Oh, need me to provide handcuffs?" Cassidy raised her hand.
"I think rope is enough..." Toshiko whispered behind her fan.
And so, the first day's 「Feast」 ended. Watching as Damon and Eva had their hands tied behind their backs with rope by Grace and Desmond, Kai didn't know what to say.
"..." Diana had her hands clasped in front of her chest, her usually gentle expression now grave. She was suspicious too. Kai glanced at her and quickly looked away. She didn't have Wolfgang's logical persuasion, but she was still trying to increase her influence and gain everyone's favor...
No, suspecting this is useless now. Eva was right; data and information are most important.
"Well, I believe we are finished. The final result is to detain Damon Maitsu and Eva Tsunaka? If this is everyone's choice, then please begin voting." Tozu clapped his hands, and the voting screen that had once decided Kai's fate appeared before him again. However, unlike before, this time below the sixteen portraits, there was also an option to abstain.
Last time there wasn't one because everyone voted for me?...I feel like there are other hidden rules.
「Voting Phase」
「A total of 15 votes to abstain, 1 vote for Damon Maitsu. Number does not reach majority.」
"You really don't give up." Damon clicked his tongue. "Why are you so hung up on this?"
"..." Eva averted her gaze. "Who's really hung up, I think you know best."
"..."
"Hey, I'll find a chance to come see you later." Kai took advantage of no one paying attention to whisper to them. "Don't lock me out."
Damon blinked and nodded.
"You..." Eva hesitated. "Forget it. My advice is to gather as much information as you can while you're free. Don't die inexplicably without contributing."
"None of your business." Kai snorted, turning to leave before Cassidy's curious gaze landed on him. "Be careful!"
Watching the pink-haired boy run off, the two stood there in prolonged silence. Eva spoke first. "I thought you'd be angry."
"Me? Why?"
"Because what I said was really harsh." Her expression was unreadable as she kicked the ground. "I thought you'd lose your temper at me."
"...You think too little of me, Eva." Damon let out a long sigh, watching as Jean and Desmond came to take them away. "Besides, you're not wrong."
"Otherwise, how could I be the son of the Maitsu family?"
Notes:
Currently Revealed Information:
Kai Monteago – 「Fate,」 「Believer」
Damon Maitsu – 「Devil,」 「Believer」
Eva Tsunaka – 「Death」 (self-proclaimed)
Wolfgang Akire – 「Justice」 (self-proclaimed)
Eloise Taulner – 「High Priestess」 (self-proclaimed)Loop Count: 1
Writing dialogue is exhausting... I feel like the logic chains for some characters aren't clear enough. I deeply repent – =͟͟͞͞ =͟͟͞͞ ﾍ( ´Д`)ﾉ My friends have been urging me to update this, so I updated this first (?)
Damon seems suspicious (isn't it more than seems already!), Diana is suspicious, Eva is suspicious, everyone is suspicious. Ah, this kind of thing is just too hard to write (faints) :(´ཀ`」 ∠):
Chapter 4: …spoiler？
Chapter Text
Female Kai! Looks like some accident will happen in future loop…? |∀ﾟ
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wei_wei_wei on Chapter 2 Sun 23 Nov 2025 02:41AM UTC
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Lemon_Heart on Chapter 2 Mon 01 Dec 2025 01:42PM UTC
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wei_wei_wei on Chapter 3 Sun 07 Dec 2025 06:02AM UTC
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CactiMan on Chapter 4 Sun 14 Dec 2025 03:55PM UTC
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