冷たい影

I was sinking.

There was a violent murder case in my dream, and I took the blame. With my eyes shut, I breathed out a deep sigh as I was sentenced to death by drowning. The murder weapon bear my fingerprints, but I didn't even carry out the deed myself, and I didn't say anything to my own defense.

何故黙っている？お前じゃない。

Why aren't you saying anything? It wasn't you.

While I didn't kill Master myself, I had flashbacks of doing it. I wasn't there in the sealed room with Master that time, but I know that I was the one that killed him. There was no other explanation, and it seemed like the most logical one.

It was like a dream within a dream. I was there with Master while sleeping in some far-off location with someone at the same time. I felt the grip of the knife in my hands, the grooves on the hilt, and the cold plastic handle. I could see Master's expression and heard his last words.

”わたくしを殺す、お願いします、執事君。”

"Kill me please, butler."

Why did you wish to be killed by my hands, Master? I didn't do anything to deserve this, but why are you ordering me to do so, while knowing that I won't refuse? Regardless of my conscience at that time, the projection of my consciousness moved on its own. We raised our hands high up in the air, the knife's blade glistening from the extravagant light in the room, and plunged it into Master's chest.

He laughed, and laughed some more. Soon, those laughter turned to pathetic whimpers as blood trickled down his mouth. He staggered and fell down onto the floor, clutching his open wound. We held the knife strongly as if we were afraid that it would disappear, and watched as Master's life slowly seeped away.

What did you see, Master? Did you see a killer who executed you in cold blood, or a butler that carried out your order to the very end?

My hands bound, a heavy rock tied to the end of the rope that was attached to the hem of my pants, I was asked to stand on the platform right above the river back home. Someone was reading out the funeral rites, and wishing that I would find peace in death.

I smiled. There is no need for that. After all, this is all a scenario that I wrote a long time ago. It was just unexpected that I would be the one that killed. I won't die. Even if I do, I will return next night, and this world will be reset.

Someone stepped onto a peg right in front of me, and the floor beneath me gave way. I fell down into the cold water and sank slowly. I was still breathing at that moment. I disobeyed the law of the world. It was easy for me.

Then slowly, I stopped the beating of my heart. It is time to go, for now.

また会いましょう、ガイドさん。
Until we meet again, Guide.

It has been fun.