Outside the Ginza Mitsukoshi Department Store, the pedestrian light turned green with a soft birdlike chime.
The crowd surged forward, people moving with purpose, chasing their daily routines. Among them, a short elderly man in an outdated shirt tossed aside his newspaper and leaned on his cane as he shuffled into the flow.
Then, suddenly, he reached out and placed a hand on a young office worker's shoulder.
"Ugh—!!"
The man's face twisted instantly. His body convulsed as if electrocuted, arms flailing uncontrollably.
Smack.
By chance, his hand struck another passerby.
"Bakayaro! What are you do—ugh—ugh—!!"
The second man didn't even finish his sentence before his body seized in the same violent spasms.
Smack. Smack.
One became ten, ten became a hundred.
In mere seconds, the phenomenon spread like wildfire. Hundreds convulsed at once.
Then, just as quickly, it stopped.
Their bodies were unharmed, but their eyes were empty, completely devoid of life, like hollow dolls.
"Ho ho..." Santa Claus let out a dry laugh, gazing up at the Mitsukoshi building. "So many good children. Too many gifts for me to deliver alone."
At once, over a thousand dolls began marching in unison toward the department store.
Anyone they touched was converted instantly, swelling their ranks as they advanced.
High above, Zeina watched the scene unfold before turning to the young man beside her.
"Torika, I've brought you helpers. While they create chaos, take your chance and finish the job."
"Yes, Master. I can do it."
Torika nodded, tucked away a bloodstained silver needle, and left without hesitation.
Elsewhere inside the building, Cael walked with Kobeni after finishing their shopping for baby supplies.
The durability granted by the Cockroach Devil was a double edged gift. Cael's pain tolerance had reached an absurd level. Even losing a limb would barely register as discomfort.
Because of that, he failed to notice the three silver needles that had quietly pierced him from the shadows at his feet.
His thoughts were elsewhere.
On Akai.
Kobeni had always lived under crushing pressure. Nervous, tense, never at ease. So Cael decided to bring her somewhere relaxing.
They made their way to the ninth floor terrace, where the open view of the city stretched out before them.
Cael sat down and patted his thigh with a grin.
"Akai, come sit here. I'll be your cushion."
Kobeni froze, flustered.
"Th… that wouldn't be good…" she said, glancing around nervously as she sat beside him instead. "There are people here…"
If she sat on his lap and he did something shameless…
Just imagining it made her face burn.
At home, it was different. There, she wouldn't refuse him no matter what he did.
Ever since their relationship began, Cael had opened a side of her she never knew existed.
She had been repressed for over twenty years, afraid of intimacy. But with someone she loved, everything changed. The physical pleasure was one thing, but the emotional satisfaction was what truly captivated her.
And just thinking about it now…
Her body reacted.
She stiffened, legs pressed together, her face turning bright red.
Cael noticed immediately and snorted.
"Your mouth says no, but look at your face. In a place like this, you're already thinking dirty thoughts, huh? Damn, Akai… you're more perverted than you look."
Kobeni shot him a weak glare.
"Isn't it because… I like you…?"
Cael raised an eyebrow, suddenly serious.
"Then come to Reze's room tomorrow night. The three of us will sleep together."
Kobeni blinked.
"I… is that really okay?"
It sounded ridiculous, but she was tempted.
Deep down, she always felt like she came last. Like she only got what was left after the others were done with him.
"Of course," Cael said casually. "Reze is the one who dragged you into this mess anyway."
Unlike the others, Kobeni didn't have an extreme personality. If anything, she carried a natural sense of weakness. Because of that, the others didn't really push her away.
"Th… then that's good…"
After a bit more teasing, Cael's attention drifted downward.
Something felt off.
He frowned.
"Akai… do you notice something weird?"
"Eh?" she stammered, clutching her clothes. "Right now? I… I feel a lot… Cael, do you want to—"
"Not that," he cut in, pointing below.
"Look at the street. It's too quiet. And the way people are moving… it's too orderly. Like they're following commands."
Kobeni leaned forward and looked.
"You're right…"
At that moment, a soft series of footsteps approached from behind.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
A timid voice followed.
"This scent… it can't be wrong… I… I found you… evil kin…"
Kobeni flinched.
"Wh… who talks like that…?"
Both she and Cael turned around.
A girl with messy white hair stood there, biting her finger nervously. Her eyes had distinct rings, and her expression was filled with guilt.
"Do… do we know you?" Kobeni asked cautiously.
The moment Cael saw her eyes, his expression changed.
No way…
He stepped forward, shielding Kobeni.
At his fingertips, a miniature black hole began to form.
"Those eyes… you're not wearing contacts, right?"
The girl shook her head.
"I'm not… For you to ask that… you must already know who I am…"
Cael took a breath.
"So you're one of the Four Horsemen."
The ringed eyes gave it away.
Control, War, and Hunger were already tied to him.
That left only one possibility.
Death.
Things just got worse.
The prophecy might be speeding up.
The girl nodded, teary eyed.
"How pitiful… you've already been controlled… turned into His pawn… Don't be afraid… I will save you… grant you eternal peace… I am one of the Four Horsemen… please call me—"
Cael didn't let her finish.
The black hole at his fingertips condensed, infused with dark red energy, forming a spear.
Origin, Dark, Withered Heart Piercing.
He launched it without hesitation.
"Huh? I'm not the Death Devil!"
The girl panicked and raised her fists, awkwardly taking a fighting stance.
"I… I'm the Hunger Devil! One of the Four Horsemen! Just call me Fami! Please… go easy on me!"