Dimensional Kaguya Ōtsutsuki

Amidst the bewildering and surreal scene unfolding before their eyes, the investigators, who had been drowning in despair just moments earlier, were left in a state of stunned silence. They exchanged confused glances, utterly flummoxed by the dramatic turn of events. No one had anticipated such an absurd twist. The enigmatic figure, hailed as the strongest ghoul and known as Akatsuki, had unexpectedly lashed out at a fellow ghoul instead of them.

What was going on?

Could this be a case of infighting?

It wasn't entirely impossible. Ghouls, by their very nature, often harbored volatile relationships, with territorial disputes and personal vendettas leading to frequent clashes. Even within factions like Aogiri Tree, internal discord was not unheard of.

Could it be that the silver-haired girl was an enemy of Aogiri Tree?

The investigators' eyes brightened with a glimmer of hope, and for the first time, a spark of optimism flickered in their hearts.

If this was truly a case of ghouls turning on each other, then maybe—just maybe—they might survive this nightmare after all.

But reality, as always, was far crueler than their fragile hopes.

"Don't worry. I'm just passing through. I won't be interfering," Kaguya declared nonchalantly, raising her arm in a casual wave toward the wary ghouls surrounding her. Her tone was light, almost playful. "Carry on with whatever you're doing."

"Passing through?"

The ghouls exchanged bewildered looks, trying to process her words. Her demeanor was far too relaxed for someone in the midst of a battlefield. Yet, none dared to lower their guard. Her reputation preceded her, and none wanted to risk provoking her wrath.

"You are…?" The One-Eyed Owl, curiosity piqued, turned its massive head to regard Kaguya. Its single crimson eye widened slightly as if intrigued.

Hearing the Owl's voice, Kaguya turned toward it, her own eyes lighting up with unmistakable excitement. "How cute!" she exclaimed with delight.

"Ha?"

"Excuse me?"

"Huh?"

Both the investigators and the ghouls around her were struck speechless, their minds grinding to a halt. Even the One-Eyed Owl appeared momentarily taken aback.

Before them stood a fearsome, grotesque monster—its body hunched and bestial, four enormous claws dug into the earth, and crimson helical spikes extending from its back. Its gaping maw and glowing red eye radiated terror, an image that could chill anyone to the bone.

Cute? In what world could this monstrosity be considered cute?

Even the Owl itself faltered for a moment.

What they didn't know was that Kaguya's Star Eyes were painting a completely different picture. What she saw wasn't the Owl's grotesque ghoul form but instead its human guise: a stunningly beautiful woman with jade-green hair cascading in soft waves, framing delicate features. Her skin was fair and flawless, and her emerald eyes sparkled with a striking brilliance. Though her hair was slightly disheveled, it did little to diminish her alluring appearance. She possessed a figure that could only be described as breathtaking—her chest full and round, her waist slender, and her curves accentuated in all the right places.

Kaguya felt a strange warmth in her nose and quickly rubbed at it to make sure no nosebleed had occurred. Thankfully, she was in the clear. Maybe it's been too long since I've had female companionship, she mused.

Still, she couldn't help marveling at her discovery. She had never imagined that the fearsome Owl would have such a striking human form. It was enough to leave her momentarily speechless.

"Well, it's not bad to have some eye candy," Kaguya thought to herself with an inward grin, careful to keep her musings hidden.

"Who exactly are you?" the Owl, still in its monstrous form, growled. Its tone carried a hint of suspicion, but its curiosity remained evident.

"An enemy?" Kaguya quickly waved her hands dismissively. "Oh, no, no. Don't misunderstand. I'm not here to fight anyone. I'm just here to retrieve something. I won't interfere with your affairs. As for those humans…" Her silver mask tilted slightly toward the investigators. "Feel free to eat them if you'd like."

The moment Kaguya uttered those words, the investigators' hearts sank. Their expressions hardened as they raised their weapons, aiming them at the silver-haired girl. Despair etched itself into their faces; it seemed there was no escape from their grim fate.

"So, we really can't avoid this," Shinohara Yukinori muttered, letting out a bitter laugh. "How naive I've become, pinning my hopes on the mercy of someone like her. I don't even recognize myself anymore."

The dark atmosphere thickened with an air of grim determination as Kuroiwa Iwao let out a hearty laugh, the sound imbued with a reckless bravado that seemed almost infectious. "If that's the case, then the only thing left is to fight," he declared boldly, his voice brimming with unshakable resolve. "Let's show these bastards what we're made of! Our flesh isn't so easy to chew on—careful, or you might break your teeth!"

"Yes, sir!"

The investigators erupted into a thunderous battle cry, their spirits reignited. Though death seemed inevitable, the certainty of their fate only served to fuel their determination. If they were going to die, they would do so fighting with every last ounce of strength. The air grew thick with a solemn, almost sacred, sense of courage as they steeled themselves for the coming clash.

"Hmm, is this what you call a final struggle?"

The mocking voice wasn't from one of the ghouls. Instead, it came from the silver-haired girl who had yet to move from her spot. Her tone was laced with disdain, her expression showing neither empathy nor malice, but rather an amused detachment.

"What a futile effort. If anything, you're just proving how utterly insignificant you are," Kaguya quipped with a smirk, the corners of her mouth curving upward with faint amusement. "Humans, like livestock, are only good for one thing—being consumed. Isn't that exactly how you treat animals? Chickens, cows, pigs… are they not just food for you?"

"Damn you!"

The caustic remarks ignited a blaze of fury in Shinohara Yukinori, Kuroiwa, and the rest of the investigators. Their hands gripped their weapons tightly, and their faces turned red with suppressed rage. If not for the oppressive strength radiating from the masked girl, they would have attacked without hesitation.

But they had no illusions about their odds. They knew that even together, they wouldn't last more than a few seconds against her.

Reports of her strength had already become infamous. The so-called "Gourmet" of the 20th Ward—someone who had once been considered one of the most dangerous ghouls—was nothing more than a plaything to this masked figure. What hope did ordinary humans have?

"Don't be so angry," Kaguya continued, her smile widening as if to taunt them further. "I'm only stating the truth. The world has always been a battlefield, hasn't it? Every creature, every species fights for survival. The weak are devoured by the strong—that's just the natural order of things. You humans do it to animals all the time."

"What nonsense are you spouting?" Shinohara demanded, his voice low and tense.

"Is it nonsense?" Kaguya extended her arms, a playful tilt to her head as she smiled at him. "Survival of the fittest—that's all there is. If you lose, you don't get to complain. You don't get to cry about fairness. The only thing you can blame is your own weakness."

Her words hung in the air like a guillotine blade, cold and merciless. Shinohara's jaw clenched, and his fists trembled with suppressed anger. He wanted to argue, to refute her logic, but he couldn't. Somewhere in the depths of his heart, he recognized the brutal truth in her words.

"So, if you lose, don't bother being upset," Kaguya added with a shrug. "In the end, the only ones to blame are yourselves."

She spoke casually, as though delivering a weather report. Her indifference was maddening, and her words cut deeper than any blade. She paid no mind to the darkening expressions of the investigators, nor did she seem concerned about their rage.

After all, who would care about the feelings of ants beneath their feet?

"Are you an idiot?"

The sharp question came from none other than the One-Eyed Owl, its massive crimson eye narrowing in what appeared to be genuine confusion.

Kaguya stumbled forward as if struck, indignation blazing across her face. "You're the idiot!" she shot back, her voice rising.

"Really?" The Owl tilted its head, its tone dripping with sarcasm. "Who else but an idiot would bother making such a long-winded speech to their food?"

Kaguya's fists clenched as a vein throbbed on her temple. Her masked face turned toward the Owl, her irritation palpable. "You…" she muttered, her voice taut with barely restrained annoyance.

"Seriously, what a waste of breath," the Owl added, shaking its massive head. "You're not just stupid—you're hopeless."

Lines of frustration appeared on Kaguya's forehead. "This damn ghoul," she muttered under her breath. "What a sharp tongue. So much for being cute."

Sighing, she waved her hand dismissively. "Whatever. I have more important things to do. I'll leave you all to it," she declared, turning her back on the battlefield. "So, goodbye—though, maybe it's more accurate to say farewell forever."

With that, the masked silver-haired girl began to walk away. Her figure grew smaller in the distance, and the oppressive aura she carried with her started to dissipate. Both the investigators and the ghouls breathed a collective sigh of relief as her departure lightened the suffocating tension.

If she had chosen to intervene, neither side would have stood a chance. Against her overwhelming strength, resistance would have been utterly futile.

But just as the fragile peace began to settle, her melodic voice rang out once again.

"Oh, right. I almost forgot," Kaguya's figure seemed to materialize out of thin air, her fox mask gleaming as she reappeared before them. She raised a single finger, her tone casual yet playful. "Hey, does anyone here have a hundred yen to spare?"

The absurdity of her question left both sides utterly speechless.

"A-A hundred yen?"

The crowd fell silent. Not only were the human investigators dumbfounded, but even the ghouls stood frozen, exchanging puzzled glances. The absurdity of the situation left everyone momentarily speechless.

The ghouls standing nearby and the humans across from them stared blankly, as if waiting for someone else to answer.

"Does no one have a hundred yen?"

Kaguya extended her hand, her fox mask slightly tilted as she blinked innocently. Her voice rang out again, but still, no one moved. Confusion lingered in the air as everyone stood awkwardly, their expressions a mix of disbelief and hesitation.

"Hey, are you telling me none of you have a lousy hundred yen?" Kaguya's tone turned mocking as she crossed her arms. "I can't believe this—what a bunch of misers. Seriously, not even a measly hundred yen? You're all dirt poor."

By now, everyone had understood what she was asking, but the sheer absurdity of the situation left them stunned. A figure of her immense power and terrifying reputation asking for pocket change was as ludicrous as a national leader appearing before them and asking for bus fare.

In truth, Kaguya genuinely needed the money. At present, she was completely broke—penniless. And as everyone knows, not a single aspect of life comes free: food, shelter, travel, or even basic necessities. Everything required money.

However, Kaguya disdained resorting to robbery, scams, or petty theft. And so, this peculiar scene had come to pass.

"If it's just a hundred yen…"

From among the human investigators stepped forward a blonde-haired girl. Her long strides were confident as she emerged from the group, her voice clear and calm. "I might have it."

She was a striking figure, with short, ear-length golden hair styled neatly into a sleek bob. A delicate braid adorned the back of her head, adding an air of refinement. Her facial features were exquisite, her skin delicate and flawless. She was, without question, a rare beauty among the ranks of the investigators. Yet her demeanor carried a certain chill. Her clear, icy gaze showed no trace of fear.

Dressed in formal office attire, she wore a tailored blazer over a crisp white blouse, paired with a deep blue pencil skirt that accentuated her professional elegance. Her long, slender legs were clad in sheer black stockings, giving her a composed yet subtly alluring presence.

Kaguya tilted her head slightly as she looked at the girl. Something about her struck a chord. "Have we met somewhere before?"

The blonde girl remained composed, her voice cool as she replied, "If nothing unexpected has occurred, then I know you. But you shouldn't know me."

"Oh?" Kaguya tapped her porcelain-white fingers against her fox mask, her tone thoughtful. "I could swear I've seen you somewhere."

"If it's a hundred yen you need, I have it," the blonde continued, her voice steady and emotionless. "But in return, I ask only this: Do not interfere with our battle. Even if I'm going to die, I want to die with dignity."

"Die with dignity?"

Kaguya snorted in derision, her tone mocking. "You look mature enough, yet you're clinging to such childish fantasies?"

"What did you say?" The blonde's icy gaze sharpened, a coldness creeping into her voice.

"Death is death. There's nothing dignified about it," Kaguya sneered. "After you're dead, countless ghouls will pick apart your body like vultures. What dignity is there in that? Or do you think it's noble to end up as some beast's meal? If that's what you believe, then go ahead and die however you want. Just don't expect me to care."

"I don't need you to comment on my beliefs," the blonde said curtly, her brow furrowing slightly in irritation. Her voice turned frostier. "Now, do you want the money or not?"

"Of course, I do." Kaguya's shameless tone rang out without hesitation.

The blonde gave a soft, disdainful snort before striding forward.

"Don't go over there!" Kuroiwa shouted urgently, his voice tinged with desperation. "You don't stand a chance against her. Don't play into her hands!" He struggled to rise, intending to intervene, but his injuries from the earlier battle had left him weak. After just a few steps, he stumbled and would have fallen if Shinohara hadn't caught him in time.

"I know what I'm doing," the blonde replied, casting Kuroiwa a quick glance before continuing toward Kaguya.

The tension in the air was palpable. Eyes from both sides followed the blonde's every move, the ghouls watching with a mix of amusement and wariness, while the humans held their breath, uncertain of what might happen next.

As she stood before the silver-haired girl in the fox mask, the blonde extended her hand. Resting in her palm was a single 100-yen coin.

"Akira?" Kaguya's tone carried a hint of surprise as her gaze swept over the cold and composed beauty before her. She studied the girl carefully and, after a moment, a realization dawned on her.

If her guess was correct, the blonde standing before her was none other than Akira Mado, the daughter of Kureo Mado.

Still, Akira was nothing like her eccentric and borderline deranged father. While her father had been neurotic and erratic, Akira exuded an air of calm, bordering on frosty. Thankfully, she also bore no physical resemblance to her father. While Kureo might have been passable in his youth, his later years were far less kind—a fact Kaguya found difficult to ignore.

Time truly is a merciless butcher, she thought.

"Is something wrong?" Akira's voice, icy and direct, broke Kaguya's musings.

"No, nothing at all." Snapping out of her thoughts, Kaguya smiled, reached out, and picked up the coin. She flicked it lightly with her fingers, causing it to spin in the air. "Thank you for your generosity."

"If there's nothing else, I'll be going now." Akira turned to leave.

"Wait." Kaguya's voice stopped her mid-step. Turning back, she saw Kaguya smiling brightly. "Since you've spent money on me, it's only right I do something in return."

Akira's eyes narrowed slightly. "And what exactly do you mean by that?"

"Don't misunderstand me," Kaguya said with an air of nonchalance. "I don't make it a habit to freeload. To repay your hundred yen, I've decided to help you with something."

If Touka Kirishima had been present, she would have rolled her eyes at Kaguya's statement. Unfortunately, Touka was nowhere to be seen.

"Help me with something?" Akira repeated, a trace of surprise coloring her otherwise cold demeanor.

"Exactly." Kaguya idly flipped the coin between her fingers. "Anything you want."

"Anything?" Akira blinked, clearly taken aback.

"That's right," Kaguya said with a playful snap of her fingers, her smile widening. "Anything at all."

The onlookers erupted into murmurs. Could such a good deal actually exist? A mere hundred yen in exchange for the assistance of one of the most powerful ghouls—someone feared by all?

Even the ghouls exchanged glances, their expressions ranging from incredulous to contemplative. For a moment, some entertained the idea of pooling their money, as if this might somehow shift the tide of battle in their favor.

"I want you to help me…" Akira's eyes hardened as she made her request, "…by killing these ghouls."

The human investigators felt a surge of hope. If they could gain Kaguya's help, perhaps they could escape this nightmare.

"No." Kaguya's voice cut through the air like a blade, her tone firm and unyielding.

Everyone froze, and black lines metaphorically appeared on their foreheads.

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