[206] Episode 5 · Paradox Spiral! (4)

Chapter 206: Episode 5 · Paradox Spiral! (4)

"Hey, Enjou, you sure can run, huh!"

On the TV screen, Enjou Tomoe was being chased by a large group of people, eventually cornered in a place with no way out.

Despite the seemingly hopeless situation, the boy's face showed no fear.

Instead, he exuded a sharp and commanding aura.

Suddenly, he spun around and lunged at one of the men chasing him.

Squish!

In an instant, Enjou Tomoe thrust his fingers straight into the pursuer's left eye.

Accompanied by the sensation of piercing through something hard and gelatinous, a blood-curdling scream erupted from the man.

"Ahhhh! AAAAAAH!"

Seizing the opportunity, Enjou grabbed the man's face and, using all his strength, slammed the back of his head against the wall.

"...This alone shouldn't kill you," he muttered, a cold smile spreading across his face.

However, almost immediately, memories of killing his parents surged through his mind, triggering an intense wave of nausea.

At the same time, the rest of the pursuers caught up to him. One of them landed a punch, knocking Enjou to the ground.

"Tomoe, isn't this a bit much? You think you can just look down on us like that?" one of the delinquents taunted.

With that, one of them kicked Enjou in the torso, treating him like a punching bag as they mercilessly pummeled him.

Enjou could do nothing to resist. He coughed and gasped in pain as the relentless beating continued. Whether from a split lip or internal bleeding, the blood in his spit painted a grim picture.

Just as his consciousness began to fade...

A crisp, clear sound suddenly rang out.

The delinquents surrounding Enjou Tomoe immediately froze, their movements halting as they instinctively turned to look toward the entrance of the alley.

In the next moment, what came into view was a girl named Ryougi Shiki. She wore an unusual outfit, draped in a red coat, and slowly made her way toward them.

"Hey, what do you want?" one of the delinquents asked.

They watched her with puzzled expressions, but their confusion quickly turned into mocking grins as they surrounded her.

Yet, facing three or four aggressive delinquents, Ryougi Shiki showed no fear.

Instead, she moved toward them without hesitation, displaying an astonishing level of combat prowess right in front of Enjou Tomoe.

"AAAAAHHH!"

In less than five seconds, every delinquent was effortlessly taken down.

"You are…"

Before Enjou could finish his sentence, the girl tossed a key toward him and said,

"Isn't this yours?"

"This…"

Enjou was stunned, but before he could say more, Ryougi Shiki turned on her heel, ready to leave.

In desperation, the boy shouted after her with all his strength, "Wait, you!"

"What is it? Did you lose something else?" she asked, glancing back.

"You're not just going to leave like this, are you?"

"Don't worry, they're not dead. Or do you want me to call the police or a doctor for them?"

"No!"

"Why not?"

"Because… I killed someone."

"Is that so?" Ryougi Shiki replied, her expression unfazed. "You don't really look like it, though."

"It's true. Just now, I killed someone," Enjou Tomoe said, his voice trembling but resolute. "I stabbed their stomach over and over with a kitchen knife and then… I cut off their head. There's no way a person could still be alive after looking like that."

Hearing this, Ryougi Shiki's interest was instantly piqued.

After a brief exchange between the two, Shiki suddenly made an unexpected offer:

"You can hide at my place."

Enjou was momentarily stunned by her words, unable to believe what he had just heard. After a few seconds of hesitation, he finally nodded decisively and agreed.

...

"The pacing of Paradox Spiral is considered one of the fastest among the chapters of Kara no Kyoukai. Not only is the rhythm quick, but the plot is also incredibly rich.

From the very beginning, it delivers suspense, thrilling combat, and detailed depictions, all packed into a compact introduction.

It's safe to say that any viewer would find it impossible to feel bored at this point. Instead, they would instinctively anticipate what's to come.

This holds true even for the nobles in the Duke's estate.

Initially, these nobles had sneered at films and television, dismissing such forms of entertainment as trivial and meaningless. Yet now, they were left without a single word of criticism, their eyes glued to the screen, eager to know what happens next.

Of course, their innate arrogance kept them from uttering any words of praise. They simply watched with cold gazes, secretly hoping the story would falter and become as dull as they had predicted.

On the other side, True Ancestor Arcueid Constantine had just finished watching this part of the story. She smiled with evident interest and remarked,

"I asked little Noah to help me watch the earlier chapters of Kara no Kyoukai on this television I personally created. Honestly, among all the movies and TV shows I've seen so far, this one's story is my favorite."

The statement from the True Ancestor—also known as the first Duke of the Southern Region—caused the current Duke of the Southern Region to adopt an awkward expression. It was clear that he was bothered by the way she addressed him.

While he had grown accustomed to being called that in private, being referred to by his old ancestor's nickname in front of others still left him feeling a bit humiliated.

Meanwhile, Durin, hearing for the first time that the Duke's full name was Noah Constantine, couldn't help but steal a glance at him. Before the Duke could say anything to salvage his dignity, Durin spoke up:

"True Ancestor... miss? Why are you so interested in Kara no Kyoukai?"

Constantine's face immediately darkened at Durin's overly casual and disrespectful address. He opened his mouth to rebuke him, but Arcueid stopped him with a gesture.

It seemed that the True Ancestor rather enjoyed being called that. She smiled and replied:

"The reason I like Kara no Kyoukai is simple," Arcueid explained with a smile. "The story depicts a world that closely resembles my own past. I also find its portrayal of various killers fascinating. Although, in truth, most killers are driven by foolish motives—or lack any motive at all—whether it's humans or other races, the act of killing one's own kind is a profound sin. It's an innate evil. For me, understanding the psychology of living while burdened by such sin is oddly comforting."

"…"

Durin found himself unable to grasp the full meaning behind her words. Nor could he decipher the True Ancestor's thoughts simply through language. Lacking the necessary context, he couldn't think of a suitable response.

However, one mystery had been solved: the origin of that extraordinary television.

While no human mage could inscribe such a dense magical array, if the creator was a True Ancestor—a being beyond the comprehension of rank and hierarchy—then it was no surprise at all.

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