The Line Between Human and Nonhuman – Part 08

When Hikaru stepped into what looked like ruins, he felt the heavy moisture in the air. He moved down a narrow, dim corridor. Strange images covered the walls, along with characters he had never seen before. It looked like depictions of royal succession, war, and governance, but the human faces were drawn as simple triangles, leaving the most important details absent.

Losing interest in the murals, Hikaru entered an underground hall. Lights were placed here and there, revealing a wide open space. Several makeshift beds were set up in the corners, probably used by Kutsuwa and his group. Some of them must have belonged to the two who blew themselves up. The thought cast a shadow over him.

But just as that shadow started to pull at him, his mind suddenly felt lighter. He found himself thinking why he was even feeling sorry for people who had died by