[176] Episode 4 - The Hollow Of Shrine (6)

Chapter 176: Episode 4 - The Hollow Of Shrine (6)

The topic of ghosts and life after death is a fresh and intriguing subject for the mages of the Imperial Mage Academy. After all, the mysteries of the soul are one of the ultimate questions of magic, something every mage yearns to understand.

Currently, Kara no Kyoukai proposes a theory about souls: that after death, the soul decays, leaving remnants on the earth, and when these remnants gather, they may transform into malevolent spirits that possess the bodies of the living.

This concept sparked immediate debate among the mages.

"Aozaki Touko's explanation is actually quite reasonable. Historically, there have been instances where places ravaged by war saw numerous souls gather and become malevolent spirits, attacking villages. It often took high-ranking priests to purify them."

"True, but in most cases, the souls that gather from these remnants lack any rationality. They're merely an amalgamation of lingering desires, and as long as they're left undisturbed, they shouldn't pose any threat."

"But you've mentioned their 'desires,' right? One universal desire among the dead is resurrection, to regain a physical form. So it's only natural that these gathered souls would attack the living. This is practically a defining trait of most malevolent spirits."

"Ultimately, things that are already dead shouldn't continue to appear in the world. If the cycle of life and death is disrupted, the entire world could descend into chaos."

"So, are the undead similar in this regard?"

"Not quite. The undead aren't entirely dead. At least their souls remain intact. But even so, they are still considered unnatural, which is why their existence is shunned by the human world as an unspoken rule."

"So, what truly defines the boundary between life and death?"

"…"

The mages' debate seemed to have no end. After all, the mysteries of the soul and the nature of life and death are ultimate questions, not easily understood by the average person.

Even those who have personally experienced cycles of life and death may not be able to provide a satisfying answer to such questions.

…

On television.

The pace of Kara no Kyoukai suddenly quickened. Shiki Ryougi lay on her bed, deep in thought about her conversation with Aozaki Touko, when she suddenly noticed the hospital room door open.

To the audience's shock, a figure dressed in patient clothes, covered head to toe with strange talismans, slowly appeared beside Shiki and grabbed her throat with a sudden, violent motion.

"Ah—!"

The overwhelming pressure forced Shiki Ryougi to gasp instinctively. Her throat was being tightly squeezed, the pain of suffocation palpable.

"Not... human."

She realized that the cold shell before her lacked any human characteristics. It wasn't breathing—clearly long dead. Shiki's instincts told her to resist, but the difference in their strength was obvious. She couldn't break free from its grip.

More than that, she lacked the will to live. For Shiki, death might even feel like a relief.

However...

"Shiki Ryougi, did SHIKI really die in vain?"

Aozaki Touko's question echoed in her mind, and suddenly, a surge of energy erupted from the girl.

"I refuse."

In an instant, Shiki gathered her strength and kicked the monster before her away!

"I won't fall back into that place again!"

The undead attacker lunged at her once more, cornering her in the room.

"Don't hesitate."

Just as it pounced again, Shiki burst through the window behind her, dragging the living corpse with her as they both fell outside. In midair, Shiki, with incredible agility, twisted her body and threw the undead beneath her, using the momentum to launch herself upward.

Thud!

The undead crashed hard onto the ground, while Shiki landed gracefully, hands and feet steady on the hospital courtyard's soil.

"So that's it... such a simple thing."

The fog of confusion lifted from her mind, and Shiki realized why she had acted this way. It was because she wanted to live, not die.

…

The film's intense turn of events had the audience gripped. No one had expected such a monstrous entity to attack the protagonist.

"What the heck is that thing? It's like neither human nor ghost!"

"I'm not sure, but it seems like that was a dead person. Could it be a corpse reanimated using necromancy?"

"Kara no Kyoukai doesn't mention necromancy. I think it's just an ordinary corpse taken over by soul remnants. After all, those remnants were trying to possess Shiki Ryougi's body earlier."

"Oh, so they failed to take her over and decided to seize another body to try again and claim her physical form."

"That's terrifying. This kind of thing doesn't happen in real life, right?"

"Who knows? But if undead like this ever appeared within the Empire, the mages and church priests would probably rush to purify them. That kind of service would definitely earn them significant accolades and rewards from the Empire."

"…"

The crowd murmured in tension, their eyes fixed on the screen, captivated by the events unfolding.

…

While ordinary people were more focused on the living corpse, the mages—more knowledgeable—weren't overly concerned about it. Their attention was on something else.

"By the way, why exactly did Shiki's other self, SHIKI, die? If she chose to die in Shiki's place, why is it that Shiki only now realizes the meaning of living?"

"Maybe because everything happened too suddenly, and SHIKI didn't have time to explain. The attack was so abrupt that even we were left confused."

"However, I think SHiki might have intentionally hidden it, as if she didn't want Shiki Ryougi to know she was choosing to die in her place."

"After all, Shiki's situation isn't a case of split personalities but rather dual souls. Two souls sharing one body creates complexities that are hard to unravel."

"Exactly, and after Ryougi Shiki awoke, she suddenly gained the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, adding even more confusion. It's no wonder she might have felt on the verge of a mental breakdown."

As the mages continued their discussions, Gebrun suddenly interjected:

"Your perspectives are too shallow. Ultimately, Ryougi Shiki is simply struggling to find a reason to live. Humans are social creatures. We can't define ourselves purely through self-awareness. Our sense of self is often formed through how others perceive us. Since Shiki hasn't interacted with many people since her awakening, it's no surprise she struggles with her identity and stabilizing her consciousness."

"Ohhh, I see."

Hearing such profound insight from a student known for his eccentricity in the study of spirit and soul magic, the surrounding students nodded in astonishment.

Although they admired Gebrun's knowledge, the lingering rumors about him kept most of the students at a distance, hesitant to get too close. Gebrun, however, didn't seem to mind in the least and quietly stood aside, continuing to watch the film on screen.

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