Watching her companions explode into misted blood, Sawatari Akane's pupils dilated instantly.
This bizarre ability… it could only be her. Damn it! They were still kilometers away from the Chainsaw Man's Funeral Home, yet her teammates were being eliminated remotely.
"Tch!" she barked into her walkie-talkie. "Group C! Group C! Status on Makima?!"
"Something's wrong, hey! Woman! My head—it's itching!" the man in a beanie muttered, scratching his scalp.
Bang!
A scream was abruptly cut off as he was crushed in an instant.
"Group E, confirm status of Group C!"
"This is Group E. I haven't been able to reach C for a moment—"
Bang!
The voice cut out, the man flattened by the same strange power.
"Abort! Retreat!"
Seeing her teammates die one by one, Sawatari Akane abandoned the operation, fleeing at high speed.
---
At the shrine, Makima crouched in front of the next death-row inmate. Her voice was calm. "Please say, Inoshita Rou…"
"…Please repeat after me, Tatsuki Fujimoto."
Bang.
"Aka Akasaka."
Makima rubbed her hands expressionlessly. Each thump of the falling prisoners sent cold sweat down Kurose and Tendo's backs.
Two minutes later, Makima finally said, "Alright, you can remove the blindfolds."
Dozens of would-be rioters had been neutralized effortlessly, yet her clothes remained spotless.
"I'll leave the bodies to you. My part is done; I'm preparing to return to Tokyo."
---
Meanwhile, at the Funeral Home, Cael held his notebook and called families who hadn't claimed their loved ones' ashes.
"Yes, Mr. Nakagawa, we can deliver the ashes, but there's a service fee of 3,000 yen."
"…Huh? That's expensive?"
"No, it's reasonable. Delivery will save you time at the shop. Please understand."
Click. The line went dead with the other party cursing.
Sighing, Cael rubbed his temples. Communicating with the living was far more troublesome than dealing with the dead.
In his previous world, unclaimed ashes were kept for two years at most; after that, disposal was allowed. Here, human mortality was higher, thanks to devils, and his Funeral Home was small. Four months was the maximum storage period.
Even so, daily phone calls were exhausting. Hiring help was increasingly tempting. Denji was in school and couldn't drive; Asa was suitable, but she was also studying. He'd have to wait at least two years for her to graduate before discussing it seriously.
Cael marked a question mark next to Old Man Nakagawa's name. Damn it, customers who couldn't speak clearly were infuriating.
Ring ring ring.
An unfamiliar number flashed.
"Hello, Lior Family Funeral Home. How may I assist you?"
A gentle voice answered after a pause. "Cael, it's Makima."
Cael groaned inwardly. Why was it always someone from Public Safety? He'd only just had two days off.
"Oh, it's you. More work, or settling last time's payment?"
Makima's voice had an uncharacteristic lightness to it, and a trace of something—disappointment, perhaps—crossed her eyes.
"Do you hate me? Can't I call just for a casual chat?"
Cael frowned slightly. Her attitude was unusual, but he held no ill will. She'd doubled his bounty with a single word before.
"Sure, but make it quick. I have a lot of work."
A regretful sigh came from Makima.
"Alright. I'll be brief. Cael, your current situation is dangerous. Numerous gangs and thugs have targeted Public Safety. There have already been casualties. The ultimate target of this operation is Chainsaw Man's heart—yours and Pochita's."
Cael's expression hardened.
"My heart and Pochita? What exactly do they want?"
He had a faint suspicion. The bond between him and Pochita—fusing blood with his heart to survive—made Pochita an invaluable strategic asset. His Chainsaw Man form had crushed most devils encountered so far.
Makima's voice was calm. "You guessed correctly. They want the chainsaw's power. If mishandled, your troubles will be endless."
Cael nodded. "Makes sense. But since you called, you must have a suggestion, right?"
Having learned from Katana Man, Cael had become steadier. He knew his strength alone wasn't enough to handle every devil in the world.
Makima paused. "I do. Let's meet and talk."
"Alright."
"Ueno Park, 7:00 PM."
---
Dusk.
At 7:00 PM, Cael arrived at Ueno Park. Following Makima's directions, he found her seated on a bench beneath cherry blossoms. She wasn't in her Public Safety uniform, only casual clothes, and her braid was let down.
"Hi, Cael, you're here," she greeted with a smile.
"Woof, woof, woof!"
The dozen-plus dogs on leashes jumped and wagged their tails excitedly at him. Cael wiped sweat from his brow, recalling that Makima liked dogs—but this seemed excessive.
Makima chuckled. "City dogs need daily walks. If it weren't for work, I'd let them run freely in the grasslands."
"Why not board them at a ranch?" Cael shrugged, sitting across from her.
"No one understands their habits like I do."
Cael pursed his lips, noncommittal. "Then let's talk business."
Makima met his gaze, serious. "I want Pochita to stay at my house for a while."
____
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