Kara no Kyoukai: the Garden of Sinners
By: Kinoko Nasu
Translation: An Admirer of Shiki
Proofreading: GreatGamer and Kcold
5/Paradox Spiral, Lower
/12 (Spiral Paradox, 9)
“…Ouken”
Suddenly, a short Chinese rhyme was sung out.
The cat paused from it’s devouring of Alba’s body.
The voice seemed to be directed toward Touko, as if observing her from above.
From behind Alba there was a man.
He bore a facial expression showing a tormented past and wore a black overcoat.
Though no trace gave away his existence prior, he appeared so naturally as if having been there the entire time.
The man in black grabbed Alba with both hands and effortlessly pulled him from the jaws of the cat and dumped him on the floor. The cat was caught in one of the three barriers that the man in black brought with him and thus could not longer move.
The man turned toward the young woman. The air within the lobby shifted instantaneously. It was if the atmosphere itself had frozen.
The relaxed feeling of just a short while ago vanished. The mansion itself seemed to tense up with the return of its’ true master.
“It’s been a long time, Touko.”
“Ah, likewise, though I didn’t actually want to meet you.”
The first floor and the second floor became the divide between heaven and earth. Touko stood opposite of the ringleader named Souren Araya.
“It seems Alba took on more than he could handle. There is naught that could be done since it seems that you acquired all kinds of experience since last we were all together. I prepared the bodies of 64 people all by myself. And yet you appeared in this town by coincidence. It must have been an inevitability.”
“I don’t know where you got that conclusion from, but yes, it would appear so. Rather than a coincidence, perhaps it is a secret mystery. An intentional coincidence intended to cover up some unknown law is what comes to my mind.”
Touko gave this answer as she withdrew closer to the wall.
This opponent was of a completely different level than Alba. Though in terms of ability they may be equal, Araya Souren was the sole master of this building and thus exceeded all. Seeking protection by putting her back against the wall, she was conscious only of what was in front of her. After all, to focus on anything else would risk leaving an opening.
“So, why did you set up this apartment complex? Don’t tell me you just wanted a box of people living and dying. There isn’t much point in trying to gather souls as they explode out of a drying body. “We already came to that conclusion hundreds of years ago. Even if you were to gather hundreds of departed souls, you’ll never reach your goal.”
“Certainly. However, there is a reality of which you are unaware. Indeed, I have only apprehended a few hundred deaths. Through experiencing thousands of lives and deaths, I believed that the Root could be reached. However, I was not able to arrive at this, the beginning of all things. Instead I arrived only at that human’s origin. I was not able to arrive at the apex of that wholistic thing that underlies everything else. The quantity of death is not an essential property. It is the quality of death. There is a distinction between the varieties of death that set each apart from another. Dissecting the possibilities of death into every route possible, I arrived at the 64 possibilities present here. Here I have gathered the people who shoulder those varieties of death. Saying so, here is a microcosm of all the world. By experiencing their suffering, I am able to comprehend their suffering. I am able to simplify the eight divine signs into four simple forms and arrive at Ryougi, the two meanings.
“Huh, so that is what you are after Araya. Not just dividing light and darkness into opposition, but actually dissecting matters down into their attributes. Bringing everything back into oneness. That’s why you want to first categorize everything. That is the one thing you won’t let go. Examining the deaths of so many people, painstakingly researching each consciousness. In that regard you’re a collector. You want to take custody of the birth and passing of even me, Touko Aozaki, right? You might reduce the value of everyone to such a thing, but that is like trying to get to heaven without first fighting your way through even one of the six domains of the desire realm. To you the bodies of humans are nothing more than a supply of death, a never-ending Hell.”
“Then let it be so. Whether Heaven or Hell, so long as I am closer to that which lies beneath, it matters not.”
There was no hesitation behind Araya’s words.
His world contained only self-confidence, a strong conclusion born of his conscious. Within the building a spiral repeated itself, a whirlpool of humanities’ experience with death’s base form. The building inherited the records of death manufactured by Souren Araya. That was the existence of Souren Araya.
“So, now I am inside of this guy’s body huh.”
Murmuring this, Touko observed the atmosphere within the lobby. It did not have the air of things that existed solely for Araya’s machinations. Rather the hostile voices of those who were killed within the building’s premises seemed to linger in opposition. Their hatred toward Araya, and even toward Touko, was amplified by the day. Araya’s words only magnified the virulence of their resentment. No matter how many hundreds of times they died, each could only die the same way in the end.
Deaths of love, inseparable family, lovers, mothers, fathers, children.
Deaths of increasing evil, inseparable family, lovers, mothers, fathers, children.
Various reasons, various ways of dying.
Repeating everyday, but every day the same certain end.
Intense death.
This building was cursed.
They were all brought by Souren Araya to the sacrificial alter. Not just for the purpose of performing high level magic, but for act itself of sacrificing their lives and bodies. Souren Araya was crafting high-grade magic not with the sacrificial contents, but rather the act of sacrifice catalyzed by the sanctuary of the apartment complex.. The mystery of that which was received from the other world was no longer of solely of the territory of mage craft.
What was taking place here was indeed the territory of mystery that transcends the everyday.
That which could only be arts prohibited from human grasp, a form of sorcery.
“Will this open the path to the Root? But how? Even without sticking to the form of magecraft and without leaving proof that he himself was a mage, he wouldn’t be able to deceive the will of man. It’s true that this building would be able to open a path. That’s because of the Taijitu after all, it could definitely make a hole. Through such a hole the Guardian of Humanity could come through. We could never be able to be a match for such a figure.”
“Too late for the Counter Force, it is already working. You are living in this town. Without any reason and solely by coincidence you took in a thieving man. A girl who met a mage with no past in this area. Even though my work was halted through this, the third attempt now yields results. However that is as far as it has gone. I am not able to draw any closer to the Root. I will not let the past mistakes be for naught. Regardless of the Counter Force, I seek to open the path, that eye shall not be deceived. Eventually the Counter Force may challenge my arrangements, that has excessive power that can appear. The conclusion is singular. For me, there was no special talent.”
For the first time, emotion crept into the rhythm of his voice.
The black clad man directed his gaze at the mage who stood below him.
“Until now resistance has impeded the path. That is not the strength of a mere human, a course of action that when relied upon returns to us to nothing.
When human individuality is complete, the meaning of existence disappears. We can still leave this world of suffering. Yet even so the masses of humans wish only to continue on living in ignorance. All humans, conscious only of their isolated existence on this point in time, lower than beasts. For the sake of mere existence, they forsake existing with any meaning. Humanity’s beginnings were of this paradox.
Now then, why do those who have reached the Root exist? The answer is simple. Those who would have reached the Root, in the end, they became beings of the heavenly realm. Such is what talent is. To have lived. Humans who from the time they were born were already attached to the Root. Complicating things further, increasing the number of varieties, humanity has strayed too far from the Root and rarely is anyone born with a connection to the Root. And then while only looking for the Root—Even though I found this way, it took me ten years.”
“Right. So now you want to destroy Shiki Ryougi.”
The young woman’s eyes narrowed.
Shiki Ryougi. The Ryougi family has produced people of multiplicity for generations, like human shaped containers housing multiple beings. Rather than a container, perhaps “____” is more appropriate. Without minding how dangerous to the individual such phenomena are, the “____” named Shiki was born.
“And so you used Kirie Fujou and Fujino Asagami? Your work was noticed by the Counter Force. Even if only indirectly, your existence depends on you snuffing out Shiki before your stench attracts unwanted attention. Am I wrong? When a killer who has the opposite ideals from Shiki thrashes about so, it’s no wonder Shiki is able to notice someone with murderous impulses. It’s always faster to learn things the hard way, isn’t it?
And so here we are. What exactly is it that you want, Araya? Are you trying to be something that can consume Shiki and SHIKI? Or are you just fixated on meeting Shiki Ryougi?”
“. . . Twenty years ago I appeared because of Shiki Ryougi. However, the present condition is different. The conclusion has already appeared. I said so did I not? Shiki does not need that corporeal body. I will accept the body that can reach the Root.”
Speaking majestically, he turned to direct his words toward Touko. Her mind blanked as she understood in the moment his words.
“Don’t tell me, you intend to transfer your own mind into Shiki’s body?”
Toward Touko’s expression of surprise, Araya gave no answer. Without going to the trouble of speaking, Araya shot a look of contempt back at her.
“Well, you are just going leave that body of yours as is as long as Shiki’s is alright. Out of curiosity, do you plan on giving Shiki back?”
“If that’s what you desire then do as you please.”
“Oh? So it comes down to fighting in the end huh? Jeez, I’m not really one predisposed toward combat though. It's really just a nuisance.”
“Then allow me to ask out of curiosity as well, Aozaki. Would you consider collaborating?”
Even saying so, Araya conveyed a threatening presence through his hostile glare.
Touko answered.
Leaning back slightly and peering back at him with amber colored pupils, she gave him an absolute nay.
“I see, how unfortunate. I was correct in my evaluation of you. Together we are competing to reach the Root. Truthfully, I thought we had an affinity.”
With a thud, Araya took a step forward.
As if to draw closer to the staircase leading to the first floor.
“At that academy, you alone were apart from the crowd. I modeled the soul. You aimed for the body of flesh. You arrived at your objective before me, I have confirmed this.
For what purpose did I study, for what purpose did I exert effort? What was saved, what was the purpose of making pilgrimages?”
The black mage bellowed.
Quietly, without any change in attitude, his eyes burned with resentment.
In response to that, Touko answered.
“There was no reason in particular. It would be a headache to go into all the tiring details. We are straying from what we were studying. The Root is the same. Even if one is ignorant of the elements, if one does not know they are ignorant then there is no point.
It’s the same for you. I accept this and you choose not accept this. That’s all it is, but it is a decisive difference.”
Araya stone facedly accepted the sad confession.
Their lines of sight collided simultaneously.
Touko said to Araya. The true character of mages, balanced between brilliance and madness.
Araya said to Touko. The true character of mages, to ascend to the highest plain of knowledge possible.
“You’ve fallen.”
Curtly, yet emotionally, the man spoke.
“Then what are you aiming for? For what purpose do you stand there?”
“. . .That’s right. The reason I am here, is hardly a reason at all. I’m not actually very concerned with Shiki. Nothing can actually replicate that Black Box of a body.””
Indeed, Touko had no precise reason. Perhaps without fulling intending too, both she and Shiki herself were pushing back against the Counter Force.
However, even that being the case should not matter. Right now one with Touko Aozaki’s personality was receiving. In this environment, no matter how many miracles and coincidences piled up, she knew that such an opportunity would never again arise. For example, this paradox were to repeat after starting in the apartment complex, no differences in the lifestyle would ever materialize.
Therefore, the conversation was just about defending what one could.
“You really have fallen. I feel like you are getting lower and lower. Araya. My favorite great figure is the immortal mountain hermit. Even though he has power surpassing all else, he just keeps to himself on a mountain. . . For me, someone who is full of too many things, the day we will reach it will never come. I’ve always thought so.
You know, Araya. Mages live fast. For what reason? If for themselves, then they would be isolated from the outside world. So why isn’t this the case? Why are they dependent on the outside world? What is that power called? What mysterious power will be our salvation? If so, then rather than a mage, why not become a king?
You say that people are dirty, yet you yourself cant even live like that. Unsightly how you know it’s fruitless yet do nothing but approve of it. You think yourself special, but can’t exist without thinking you are the only one who can save this old earth.
And that is what I think of you. But there is no point to that. Accept it Araya. We are weaker than anyone and that is why we were chosen to surpass others.”
The mage did not answer.
He took one step, and then another, toward the staircase.
“. . . The way to the Root has already opened to me. In a few more seconds my wishes will come true. Anything that gets in my way, will be discarded by the Counter Force. Aozaki. You as well are but a mere human.”
The atmosphere within the lobby became strained. Freezing like ice, the air became pressurized with the uneasiness of mages intending to kill one another.
Amidst this, the young woman looked from afar at her former compatriot.
The long conversation to tie up loose ends from their long years apart was now over.
Finally, the young woman, as Touko Aozaki the mage asked Souren Araya.
“Araya, what is it you seek?”
“True Wisdom.”
“Araya, Why do you seek it?”
“Just because, I have nothing inside me.”
Without hesitation the man answered.
The foot steps stopped at the landing of the staircase.
To eliminate the other’s existence from this world, they began their deadly course of action.