A hulking figure loomed over the blood-stained chopping board, his cleaver rising and falling in a steady, mechanical rhythm. The sickening squelch of flesh being sliced echoed through the dimly lit slaughterhouse. Watching from a safe distance, Natsukawa Kanade assessed their next move, his sharp eyes darting between the "butcher" and the chaotic layout of the room.
"Alright, here's the plan," he whispered to the girl beside him, his tone calm but firm. "I'll create a distraction to lure that guy away. While he's busy, you check the table for anything unusual—small objects, weird shapes, anything that looks out of place. Don't be picky, just grab what you can."
Shinomiya Kaguya, despite the eerie setting, nodded enthusiastically. "Got it!" Her voice carried an unmistakable eagerness.
Kanade exhaled. "Good. I'll try to keep him occupied, but I don't know if he'll chase me out of the room or not. If you hear heavy footsteps coming back before you find anything, abandon the search and hide."
With the strategy set, Kanade moved with practiced stealth toward the rightmost door. The slaughterhouse, conveniently or perhaps diabolically designed, featured multiple exits. The towering wooden tables that dominated the room were over a meter high—perfect for concealment, though their creaking and unstable frames were less than reassuring.
After mapping out his escape routes, Kanade retrieved a few glass marbles from his pocket. With precise aim, he flicked them toward the farthest doorway opposite Kaguya. The tiny spheres clattered across the floor, the sound piercing through the silence.
The butcher stopped mid-chop. His grotesquely bloated face twitched, and his bloodshot eyes flicked toward the source of the noise. The dim lighting obscured much of his figure, but Kanade could still make out the details—his apron, drenched in crimson stains, his massive frame moving with an unsettling mix of sluggishness and lethal force.
Kanade tensed as the butcher turned fully, his cleaver gripped tightly in one meaty hand. "Who's there?!" he growled, his deep voice reverberating through the room.
The sheer weight of the man was evident with every step, his heavy boots sinking into the wooden floorboards. The nearby tables trembled slightly, as if recoiling from his presence. He lumbered toward the noise, his every movement radiating menace.
Perfect. Just as planned.
Kanade remained motionless, observing the butcher's reaction. When it seemed like he was about to dismiss the sound and return to his gruesome work, Kanade flicked another marble, sending it rolling even farther down the corridor.
"Damn little rat! If I catch you, I'll carve you into bite-sized pieces!" The butcher's guttural roar was followed by the thunderous crash of his boots as he charged in pursuit of the phantom noise.
Ignoring the threat, Kanade focused on his real objective—Kaguya.
From his vantage point, he spotted her scanning the table, her hands moving frantically over various tools and objects. But from the way her brows furrowed, it was clear she hadn't found anything yet. Kanade clenched his jaw. If she took too long—
No. There was no time for doubt.
He stole a glance at the butcher, who had stopped at the corridor's edge, his bulky frame blocking most of the entrance. He hesitated, peering into the darkness beyond, as if debating whether to venture further.
Kanade's fingers curled into fists. If that guy decided to turn back now, they were screwed.
Then, with an irritated grunt, the butcher took a few more steps forward. His broad figure disappeared around the corner. Kanade exhaled slowly.
Not much time left.
Kaguya was still searching, her expression shifting from determination to mild frustration. Kanade's instincts screamed at him to help her, but he knew moving now would only draw attention. He had to trust her.
Meanwhile, the butcher, proving himself as dimwitted as he was terrifying, continued his slow, methodical search outside the room. Every time he hesitated, Kanade repeated his earlier trick, rolling a marble further away, keeping him on a wild goose chase.
This back-and-forth continued for several minutes, an agonizing game of patience and precision. The butcher's movements grew sluggish, his panting more pronounced. His massive frame heaved as fatigue finally caught up with him.
He turned back toward the slaughterhouse, moving with deliberate slowness.
Kanade's grip tightened on the edge of the table. If he came back now—
No choice. One last distraction.
He flicked another marble, this time with less force. The tiny object clinked against the floor, just enough to catch the butcher's ear. The brute turned slightly, his small eyes narrowing at the sound.
For a brief moment, it seemed as if he would take the bait again. Then, to Kanade's horror, the butcher merely grunted and shook his head, turning away.
Damn it! He's figured it out.
The butcher stomped back into the room, his beady eyes sweeping across the area. Kanade tensed, every muscle in his body coiled and ready. If Kaguya wasn't done yet—
Just then, she turned around, holding up a strange, rust-covered key with an excited expression.
Found it.
Kanade wasted no time. He gestured for her to move, pointing toward the nearest table for cover. Kaguya nodded, her movements surprisingly nimble as she ducked behind the wooden frame just as the butcher re-entered the room.
The massive man scanned the area, suspicion flickering across his grotesque features. But, seeing nothing out of place, he let out a low grunt and trudged back toward his chopping board.
Kanade's instincts screamed at him—something wasn't right. Without hesitation, he straightened up and moved toward Shinomiya Kaguya, his movements swift yet controlled.
"Hmph, trying to trick me again?" The butcher sneered, his face contorted with arrogant amusement. But as soon as he took a step forward, his expression stiffened. "...Wait. That sound—it's coming from inside the room?!"
Panic flashed across his bloodstained features as he stormed back into the slaughterhouse, his massive frame moving with surprising speed. The grotesque boning knife gleamed in his grip as he kicked open barrels, yanked aside hanging slabs of meat, and overturned wooden crates in a frenzy. Yet no matter where he looked, there was nothing.
"Strange... Did I imagine it?" he muttered under his breath.
His already limited mental capacity struggled to process the situation. The sheer bulk of his costume was weighing on him, making it difficult to move. Heat and exhaustion crept up his neck, sweat rolling down his temple. His breath came out in tired huffs, and with a final frustrated grunt, he heaved his weight toward a nearby chair.
"Ugh… need a break."
He didn't hesitate—his massive body practically collapsed into the chair, causing it to creak ominously beneath him.
The moment the butcher's back was turned, Natsukawa Kanade and Shinomiya Kaguya silently emerged from their hiding spot beneath the massive wooden table. The old wood had shielded them well, though Kanade could still feel the tension in his muscles from crouching in absolute stillness.
Keeping his voice to a whisper, he gestured toward an opening on the opposite side of the room. "This way."
Kaguya hesitated, her lips moving soundlessly as she mouthed, But I haven't found the props yet.
Kanade shot her a reassuring glance, then replied in the same hushed tone, "I'll get you out first, then come back to look."
It was too risky to leave her behind—if the butcher got up and decided to patrol, she wouldn't stand a chance. Carrying her out now was the safest option, even if it meant doubling back later.
Kaguya bit her lip, looking conflicted, but ultimately nodded in agreement. There was no time to argue.
Just as Kanade moved to lift her, Kaguya's eyes widened. She clutched his sleeve and pointed upward, her expression excited.
"President, look at that!"
Kanade followed her gaze. Suspended from the ceiling amidst the rotting meat was a black metallic object—it had the same shape as the concave slots they'd seen earlier. His heartbeat quickened.
"This is it!" he whispered triumphantly. Without wasting another second, he reached up, carefully prying the object free from the decaying sinew that held it in place. The moment it was in his hands, relief flooded through him.
"Alright, now we go."
Wasting no time, Kanade bent down to help Kaguya onto his back. But just as he hoisted her up, his foot accidentally struck one of the table's legs. A sharp CRACK echoed through the dimly lit room.
Kanade's breath caught in his throat. His entire body tensed as he immediately checked his collar—no flashing lights, no warning buzz. The system hadn't registered the sound as exceeding the limit.
Even so, he knew better than to trust his luck. The butcher had sharp ears—there was no way he hadn't noticed that.
Kanade held his breath, straining his ears for any sound of movement behind them. Any sign that their pursuer was rising from his seat, ready to charge at them in blind fury.
Silence.
It stretched on for an agonizing moment, thick with tension.
Then, nothing. No heavy footsteps. No enraged growls. It was as if the butcher had simply... given up.
Kanade exhaled slowly. This doesn't feel right... But there was no time to dwell on it. He adjusted his grip on Kaguya and slipped out of the slaughterhouse, his pace steady but urgent.
The girl on his back remained quiet, her fingers lightly playing with his hair. The sensation was faintly ticklish, but he chose to let it slide—after all, she'd done her part.