Chapter 178: Episode 4: The Hollow Shrine (Part 8)
The film gradually approached its end.
Having defeated the undead, Ryougi Shiki turned to Aozaki Touko and spoke:
"You said you'd teach me how to use these eyes, right?"
"That's right. But there's a catch—you'll have to help me out with my work for a while. My familiar's gone, and I'm in need of someone useful."
"If I help you… will I get the chance to kill someone?"
"Hmm… of course."
"Then I'm in. Use me however you want. After all, I have no purpose other than to kill."
That line alone—enough to send chills down the spine of any seasoned magus—left her lips without hesitation. And then, without another word, Shiki collapsed to the ground and lost consciousness.
Touko caught her gently, letting out a quiet sigh as she held the girl in her arms.
"No other purpose, huh? You really haven't figured it out yet, Ryougi Shiki…"
"The 'Hollow Shrine'… it means a void that can be filled endlessly. You lucky girl… there's no future more full of potential than that."
. . . . . .
As Shiki fell unconscious, she sank into memories.
In the depths of her slumber, she pondered: Why did SHIKI—her other self—choose to disappear willingly?
What was he protecting by vanishing?
Eventually, she understood.
SHIKI had given up his existence to protect her dream—the dream of a world where Ryougi Shiki and Kokutou Mikiya could be together, something that should've been impossible.
Understanding that, she slowly opened her eyes.
At the same time, a soft voice came from beside the hospital bed.
"Good morning, Shiki."
Kokutou Mikiya's voice trembled slightly as he continued:
"Do you… still remember me?"
He looked exactly the same as he always had. A friend from long ago—steady, kind, and unchanged by time.
Shiki's lips curved faintly into a smile.
Yeah… I know. You were always waiting for me. You're the only one who never stopped protecting me.
With that thought, she spoke:
"Kokutou Mikiya… sounds like the name of a French poet."
At that, Mikiya couldn't help but laugh. He rose to his feet, legs stiff from sitting too long, and said cheerfully:
"Good thing it cleared up today. Perfect weather to be discharged."
Hearing that familiar warmth in his voice, Shiki couldn't help but think:
…So, some things really haven't disappeared after all.
And with that, Episode 4: The Hollow Shrine came to a close.
As the credits rolled, a string ensemble—personally hired by Edward from the finest orchestra in the southern territories—played the ending theme, filling the space with solemn beauty.
"It's over, huh…"
"And that was only episode four? I need more."
"Man, The Garden of Sinners really knows when to cut. No dragging things out! Not like KonoSuba or Fate/Zero—those are just emotional torture!"
"I strongly demand that Director Durin immediately release Episode 5 as emotional compensation!"
"The two leads in this film are perfect together! It's like they were made for each other!"
"Ughhh I want the next episode now! A whole month is too long!"
"..."
The post-movie buzz echoed from bar to bar, theater to theater. Even without one of Edward's signature cliffhangers, it was clear that this world's viewers had zero tolerance for a full month of waiting.
And it made sense.
This world, in many ways, was boring beyond the comprehension of any modern Earthling.
Compared to the average citizen's open frustration, Emperor Hubbard and his knights showed more restraint—at least on the surface. While they, too, were quietly grieving the long wait, they chose instead to ponder a more curious issue.
"Say… what do you think the term 'Hollow Shrine' really means?"
The Emperor's question silenced the group.
Knights exchanged blank stares. Not even General Wilhelm had a ready answer for that one.
After all, each episode of The Garden of Sinners carried a distinct title. The first three—Overlooking View, A Study in Murder, Remaining Sense of Pain—were easy enough to grasp. But this fourth one, The Hollow Shrine, was far more obscure, and left many scratching their heads.
As confusion spread among the crowd, it was surprisingly the Beastkin Oracle who broke the silence.
"If we don't try to overanalyze it, and just take the term at face value," he began calmly, "then Hollow Shrine might simply refer to a bottomless void. You can see it in what Aozaki Touko said at the very end. As for the word shrine, or garan, I believe it reflects the overarching theme of The Garden of Sinners itself—'kara' meaning empty, void, or nothingness…"
"Whoa… that's deep!"
The knights around him looked on with admiration, eyes wide. Most of them had little formal education—they had no chance of arriving at such a nuanced interpretation on their own.
Even Emperor Hubbard himself seemed genuinely impressed. He turned to the Beastkin Oracle and remarked:
"Old one, I didn't expect you to be so well-read. Surely you weren't born into just any ordinary family?"
At the Emperor's comment, the Oracle stiffened for a moment. But he quickly regained his composure and nodded politely.
"It's nothing. I simply spent some time in my youth studying under a rather knowledgeable scholar. I learned a great deal from him."
"I see. It's a shame that someone as wise as you never joined the Imperial Scholar Academy."
The Emperor was clearly warming to the Oracle. Seeing that, the Beastkin hurriedly waved his hand, trying not to draw too much attention:
"Please, Your Majesty, you flatter me. I'm just a simple man who happened to read a few books."
"Haha! Well, you certainly seem to enjoy these films. There's another screening later this afternoon—a new entry in the Frost Film Festival. Care to join me for it?"
The offer made the Oracle's heart skip a beat.
He hesitated. Not because he didn't want to go, but because he did—and that alone made him wary of being exposed.
But in the end, he nodded, driven by both curiosity and the genuine thrill he felt.
"I'd be honored."
A wide grin spread across the Emperor's face. Clearly, he found the Oracle to be a good company.
Of course, much of this connection was thanks to the power of cinema. A truly exceptional piece of art had a way of bringing people together. Shared love for a story could become a kind of bond—a tag, a symbol—something that made even total strangers feel like kindred spirits.
Even the Beastkin Oracle, an Arch Mage, was not immune to that. Talking about the film with those around him, he found himself instinctively trusting them, even the human Emperor standing right in front of him.
Had he not been so painfully aware of his own identity—as the Oracle of the Beastkin Kingdom—he might've truly become friends with this man, just another pair of moviegoers sharing a hobby.
And yet, even knowing that, he found himself pushing his mission to the back of his mind.
Just for a moment, he allowed himself to be nothing more than a film lover, chatting passionately with the others around him.
"Wait, hold on—the screen's still on!"
Someone suddenly shouted, voice rising over the din.
All at once, the crowd that had begun to file out of the theater came to a stop.
And sure enough—just after the ending theme had finished playing—the screen lit up again.
The Garden of Sinners wasn't quite done.
A brand-new scene had begun to play.
<+>
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