Special Episode — Ashtray

“Say, what do you think disasters are?”

Disaea, the tourism spot where all of the evils and desires of the Arcana Kingdom gather. Countless betting dens are spread across its vast lands. This is one of them. Inside is one of those called an ‘ace.’

“For example, a drought from a lack of rain. That’s a disaster, yeah? But that’s not really uncommon. It’s a pity for the people, animals, and plants caught up in the drought... But whether or not it’s a disaster, well, I have to disagree.”

Shun Ukiyo, the man called ‘the Thinker.’

“Do you know what a meteor is? It’s really the ultimate example, but if I’m going to die to that, well...I can give up, or at least accept it... If anything, I’d consider it a stroke of luck.”

He had already completed his job. The gambling den that had swallowed countless desires was now littered with corpses, all of them with expressions of horror on their faces. None of them had an easy death.

“If I could die from something like that, and everyone else died at the same time, well, I think I could handle that. I suppose it’s an odd thing to think about...but I don’t think it’s unusual. I mean, the alternative, it’s unpleasant, yeah?”

The one survivor, the one that Shun is speaking to, is not a young maiden unsoiled by the sins of the gambling den. No, she is the wife of the den’s former owner, the man who lapped up the fruits of iniquity.

A little past her prime as a woman, she had been thoroughly spoiled by her husband. It’s clear from her clothes and makeup that she had lived a life of luxury. Her children were grown, and she should have been preparing to welcome her first grandchildren. Of course, those children and their spouses are now among the corpses littering the floor.

“You wouldn’t want to do it, right? Die in agony?”

“Ahh...”

“I certainly wouldn’t. And it seems that you’re the same.”

There’s nothing particularly unnatural about each of the corpses, individually. Although, the fact that there are so many of them is rather odd.

“To die in an instant, alongside everyone else, without any warning. Isn’t that an ideal death, in a way? To have advanced knowledge of it, well, that doesn’t sound appealing. No one can escape death, of course, but if there’s a predetermined day for you to die, then knowing about it in advance must be extraordinarily frightening.”

He looks over at one of the corpses. Twisted in terror, its head was covered with blood. There were signs it had been struck countless times in the head with a blunt object, and it was clear that that was the cause of death.

“I do think it’s wrong to call that sort of thing a disaster, either. Though, really, that’s just my opinion.”

What caused those wounds? They appear to have been inflicted by a hard, heavy object. That’s obvious, even to an amateur. The weapon, too, is obvious. A glass ashtray, covered with blood, lying on the floor near the body.

“I know it’s correct from the dictionary’s definition, but, well, how do I put it...? There’s a...matter of feel.”

He’d been killed by being hit repeatedly over the head with a heavy glass ashtray. That isn’t rare in itself...

“I suppose I should cut to the chase. To me, ‘disaster’ connotes something like divine punishment. A punishment for all of the sins and evils you’ve accumulated over the years. I’m sure you understand, yeah?”

If not for the fact that, for each of the hundred bodies, there’s an equal number of glass ashtrays that were used to bludgeon them.

“Exactly what your family just experienced.”

All of those working for the operators of this gambling den... All of them had done things deserving of death. She, who just happened to survive, is no exception.

“It’s not just one or two mistakes. Crimes repeated so many times that you draw the attention of those around you, and eventually end up eliminated as a result. I believe that ‘disaster’ is an apt word for that. Of course, I suppose that’s taking the criminal’s perspective.”

She couldn’t disagree with him. It wasn’t out of the realm of possibility that the entire organization would be destroyed like this, which is why they had taken certain precautions. But, ultimately, all of that had collapsed.

All of the power, all of the wealth, all acquired through sin...all of that had vanished when House Disaea dispatched their agent, the one whose presence guarantees victory.

“It’s absurd to think that you might be the only exception, the one who will live out their life safe from harm. Even those who think they’re going to continue winning for the rest of their lives harbor that fear, deep down in their hearts.”

It’s hard to know just how lucky she actually is as Shun speaks to her. His expression toward her, the survivor, is quietly, but clearly, animated by contempt and rage.

“...Explain to me, just what is so fun? This kingdom’s laws are pretty lax... So just what’s so valuable that you have to earn money by breaking the law? Is a life of debauchery that much fun?”

Having built up his frustration, he now vents it on the survivor.

“Frankly, I’m disgusted that people like that live life believing that they’re big shots. Even I have a sense of shame. Causing problems for upstanding people, feeding off of them, and thinking they’re clever because of it... I can’t believe your sort can stand living.”

He slowly corners her, as though slowly strangling her with a silk rope. Pushing her, whose family, whose subordinates, have all been killed, further into despair.

“My job is to kill your sort... But there’s no real need to make them suffer. It’s not as though I enjoy it, but... I do think it’s only showing proper respect to take my time in killing them.”

He grasps her face with both hands.

“It’s not a respect you’re happy to see, is it? I admit, it’s not as though I lack interest. To see how they die with the tools I prepared... There’s a certain logic to it, like solving a math puzzle.”

Without a weapon on him, he continues to taunt the woman who has lost everything, family included.

“Well, even if I hadn’t done it, someone else would have killed you all eventually, perhaps even made you suffer more. But, I’m the one who killed your husband, your son, your daughter.”

Their eyes only see the other.

“Why don’t you try to kill me?”

A rage, an empty, self-destructive, unreasonable, and unfair rage burns within him. The flame that burns him also begins to eat at her.

“Even the worst villains love their family, yeah? So why not try to avenge them? Why aren’t you going mad with anger?”

Letting go of her face, he forces her to pick up an ashtray lying nearby.

“You should be angry, you should be trying to kill me. There’s no need for trickery. If you hit me with that bludgeon, you should be able to kill me,” he rages, demanding to know why she doesn’t seek revenge.

“Of course, your life won’t improve if you kill me. One of Disaea’s people or one of your competitors will capture you. But even then, shouldn’t you want to kill me?”

It appears he can’t forgive that a woman who has lived a glamorous life by committing acts of evil is now cowering in front of him, afraid of death, as though she were a mere damsel.

“You know nothing good can happen for you ever again, yet you won’t even express your anger. What are you? A woman who can only cower in front of the man who took everything from you?”

She had let go of the ashtray, let go of the chance for vengeance.

“H—”

“H?”

“H-Help me... I don’t want to die...”

“Have you no shame? No self-respect? No principles? Is all you have a fear of death? Even a cornered rat shows more spirit. To beg for your life from someone who slaughtered your entire family... What is wrong with you?”

She has no answer to Shun’s question. All she has is the desperate desire to avoid death.

“Why do you cling so much to life? In spite of having indulged yourself in a constant life of luxury, how do you explain that you’ve done nothing but take from other people? Despite the fact that you are so afraid of death, so desperate to live?”

Numerous footfalls can be heard as, having confirmed the job was done, House Disaea’s troops enter the den.

“...H-Help me!”

“...Ashtray.”

Ukyo forces the bloodied ashtray she had let go back into her hands.

“Your name, from now on, is Ashtray. Until you kill me and avenge your family, you are Ashtray. All I am doing is taking an ashtray back to my home.”

Standing in irritation, he begins to walk.

“If you remain here, they’ll dispose of you. If you value your life, hurry up and follow me, Ashtray.”

“...Yes, sir!”

The complete master of one of the Eight Sacred Treasures, the Armor of Disaster, Pandora. House Disaea’s ace, Shun Ukiyo, ‘the Thinker.’

Wherever he is dispatched to work, only corpses remain when he’s done.