The Girl Who Fell from the Rooftop / The Fallen Girl and the Ghost Behind Her

"I believe you." Shirou nodded, surprised that even his hidden Ame no Murakumo no Tsurugi had been mistaken. The girl before him seemed to have exceptional talent in spiritual abilities. However, she had been bedridden for a long time, and those eyes were truly a pity.

It is said that the Miko of the Wujing family possess talent that causes them to go blind because they can see the underworld, or perhaps they gain this ability because of their blindness. Wutiao is very likely a branch of the Wujing family.

Witch Strip Mistake, who possesses the power of purification, does indeed have the ability to manipulate people's souls, but... Shirou still finds it hard to imagine that the woman before him, who is already haggard like a porcelain doll about to shatter, would do such a thing.

Chapter 916 The Fallen Girl on the Rooftop

"Wujou-kun, since you can see special things, do you know about the recent suicides? Why did they choose to jump off that building?" Shirou asked.

"Well, everyone's experiences and thoughts are different, so maybe it's because something makes them believe that doing it that way would be better." At this moment, Witch Strip Mistake raised her head, looked at Shirou with empty and lifeless eyes, and said softly.

"Suicide won't solve the problem. If we live, there might still be hope," Shirou argued.

"But... there will be times when there's nothing we can do to change things." Witch Strip Mistake looked out the window at the sky. Just then, two black birds flew by; they must have been birds that had finished foraging for food.

"Shirou, you know what? I heard that Switzerland is now accepting foreigners for euthanasia treatment at their hospitals. Apparently, they sign a guarantee and then press the injection button themselves. Then, a few minutes later, all the suffering ends."

"That's their choice. If it were me, and dying would grant my dream, I'd probably jump too. Yes, I want to fly, not float, but fly thousands of meters above the ground, where houses look like tiny dots when you look down from there." Witch Strip Mistake said this with a wistful smile.

"Wujou-kun..." Shirou had inquired with the doctor and learned that this girl had a health problem. Over time, she would gradually experience functional decline and become weaker and weaker. With modern medical technology, there was no possibility of a cure.

"My health will get worse and worse, and I might not even have the strength to get out of bed anymore. I won't be able to change my own clothes or even go to the toilet. But if I take my medication on time, I can still live for a few more years. But can that kind of life really be considered living?" Witch Strip Mistake asked Shirou.

"I'm sorry, I made you think of unpleasant things," Shirou apologized.

"No, I'm very happy that you came to visit me," Witch Strip Mistake said calmly.

After leaving Witch Strip Mistake's hospital room, Shirou, still feeling depressed, went to the nurses' station to meet up with Mashiro and the others.

As everyone was leaving the area, just as they reached the edge of the road, they heard several loud thuds of something falling from a great height.

"Come here..." Shirou and the others rushed to the corner where the noise came from.

Then I saw a mangled body; someone else had committed suicide...

This is the seventh accident this month.

After that, Shirou and the others returned to the workshop.

"I didn't believe it at first, but now it seems I have no choice but to believe it. There's a saying on the internet that after the war, too many people were killed and buried alive, and because the sun couldn't shine on them, it became a paradise for ghosts," the Explosion Head Uncle said with lingering fear.

"A new theory has been posted on the forum, saying that more than 20 years ago, when the bubble burst, many people made a pact to commit suicide together, and nine people died on this building. The ghosts of those who died here will help those who come here to commit suicide."

"Even if he didn't commit suicide during that opportunity, his ghost will later help him fulfill that promise in other places through other means," the Fat Director said.

"Some say that there were actually ten people who made a pact to commit suicide together, but one of them was actually a ghost, so he dragged everyone down to hell with him."

Shirou frowned. Could it be Wujo?

"You know, in the UK, the law regarding suicide is that if someone attempts suicide and fails, they will be executed," the Explosion Head Uncle sighed helplessly.

"That was over a hundred years ago," Shirou said.

"Hmm." Mashiro nodded. She grew up in England, where society is now more focused on issues like whether or not euthanasia should be legalized.

As midnight approached, the dimly lit streets were illuminated only by the aging streetlights, which flickered occasionally. Apart from the staggering drunkards, office workers rushing home after overtime, and noisy young people, the only other people in the area were the streetlights.

There was also a girl in a long skirt that reached her knees, standing blankly on the zebra crossing, ignoring the bumps from others and the honking of cars, letting pedestrians bump into her shoulders. She just walked on by herself, ignoring the red light and the cars passing by her. Her black school uniform and long black hair made her stand out from the crowd.

"To appear here at this time, and looking so dazed, it really is that fallen girl. But at least she showed up."

The Explosion Head Uncle muttered to himself, standing up. After waiting for so long, they'd finally seen something different.

"I'll go save her!" Shirou rushed forward first; he couldn't let anyone else commit suicide here.

Unable to find any clues, they devised a clumsy plan: hiding inside the building and waiting for their prey to appear. To their surprise, they actually spotted a young girl.

The girl walked to the edge of the building's rooftop, looked down at the pitch-black expanse, and stood there motionless, frozen in place.

You could vaguely see the girl's face, hidden by her bangs, her eyes red and swollen, as if she had been crying. But her eyes seemed familiar. This girl wasn't the kind of shallow, wayward girl. Did she not belong here?

No, perhaps it's the same. This young girl has the same look in her eyes as the drunken uncles on the street who are complaining about something, the men in suits, the women showing off their figures to attract customers, and... well, perhaps it's the same look in the eyes of anyone who is down on their luck.

In the hundreds of people in the red-light district, in hundreds of different poses, lay something very similar to the expression on the young girl's face. The same... confusion, loss, and a loss of will to live.

The newly built building, which was forcibly demolished, is actually empty inside and not a good place for sightseeing. It's just that as the tallest building in the vicinity, it has a somewhat unique view.

'All troubles will disappear if you're there. If you jump... it'll all be over, meaning there will be no more pain.'

The girl looked somewhat dazed, lost in thought.

The girl may have gone through something, or she may not want to continue living with that kind of relationship.

But too many people have already died; we cannot allow such a tragedy to happen again.

Thinking this, Shirou took the liberty of stepping forward and grabbing her hand, seemingly using his own body heat to warm her slender and cold hand.

Chapter 917 The Fallen Girl, the Ghost Behind Her

These high-rise buildings, some dozens of stories tall and towers over a hundred meters high, may have been the result of demolishing ancestral homes in a village decades ago. Even earlier, they may have been subjected to artillery fire from American aircraft, looking down at the lights and ant-like crawling crowds below.

At that moment, a voice came from the girl, whispering something in her ear.

"How about we jump together?"

Don't be afraid, don't be confused, I'm watching you from behind. Jump down... and I'll jump down with you.

The girl, who had been silent all along, smiled toward the direction from which the sound came, and prepared to turn her back to the night sky and jump down.

At that moment, Shirou walked over and struck up a conversation with the girl.

"Who are you?" The girl stopped what she was doing, turned around, and asked.

The night breeze lifted her bangs, revealing the eyes that had initially caught my eye. Her face was still somewhat immature and she wasn't exactly a beauty, but her eyes were big and round, with red marks from crying. Her small nose made her look like a rabbit, pitiful and cute.

The girl's long, black hair was unkempt and somewhat messy, her bangs covering half of her nose, giving her a somewhat somber look. She kept her head down and her lips naturally closed. She was a quiet girl, one who didn't know how to win people's favor.

The girl was standing there in a daze because something sad had just happened. She didn't know when she had gotten onto the road, and it didn't matter to her anymore.

The girl truly felt pain; that's what she thought.

If the pain becomes unbearable, then perhaps dying would be an easier thing to do.

If she were to die, the girl had her own plan and hoped for a satisfying way to die.

So the girl found a hidden forum for suicide victims online, where she searched for companions to die with.

The time of death was set for two in the morning, in the dead of night, when no one was around. The hope was to disappear quietly, without disturbing anyone, and without being disturbed by anyone. The round moon was slightly obscured by clouds, revealing a sky full of stars. The hope was that beautiful, colorful light, somewhere between blue and purple, would fill the sky before them.

The location is a rooftop high up, with a cool, clear breeze blowing. I hope to have someone by my side who doesn't need to be too handsome or rich, just someone who can understand me a little. It would be great if I could fall in love with someone, and even better if I could meet someone who could love me back...

Going to an empty rooftop alone late at night is terrifying and lonely. So having someone with you is essential.

So the girl found a companion, and at night, her friend came to her house and led her to this place.

Her friend would jump down with her and leave this world.

Just as planned, I went up to the roof, walked to the edge, and then... with my back to the outside, I jumped down, as if lying on a down comforter.

At this moment, the girl who had fulfilled her wish to die will find liberation with a smile.

However, her physical instincts were also reminding her of the danger she was in. Her whole body seemed to be shivering, and a force was causing a slight stinging pain in her bones, reminding her of the consequences of jumping.

On her way here, the events that had happened flashed through her mind like a revolving lantern; she had been approached by someone while passing through the Night Market.

Although watching others jump seems like a fleeting moment, experiencing it firsthand is unexpectedly difficult. The girl just wanted a cigarette or a shot of strong liquor.

"Oh, what a coincidence, are you here to enjoy the scenery too?" Shirou tried his best not to upset the girl, so he skillfully struck up a conversation with her in a gentle tone.

Fortunately, the girl did not refuse. The girl, who had her head down, did not speak but simply nodded gently, letting Shirou lead her away.

The girl saw the boy looking at her with concern and reaching out his hand, and she reached out and took his hand... That warm palm brought her back to the human world.

"Why would a girl like you come here?" Shirou asked the girl. Even if it was suicide, there was no need to come to a place like this in the middle of the night.

"No, I came with a friend. Huh? Where is he?" The girl looked around, a puzzled expression on her face, and asked.

Clearly, she had been bewitched by the ghost along the way, and was probably still confused about how she got upstairs.

"But in my eyes, there has always only been you," Shirou said, looking at the girl.

Then, reflecting the girl's gaze, a male phantom appeared at the edge of the rooftop. Dressed in black, he was glaring fiercely at Shirou with eyes that glowed red.

"Get out of my way!!! If you don't want to commit suicide, get out of here." A roar echoed from the void, accompanied by a strange gust of wind.

"Shirou! Watch out! I'm coming!" The Explosion Head Uncle only then realized there was a ghost, and ran towards them, holding his prayer beads.

"Oh dear, that won't do. It should be, could you please stop bothering the ladies here?" Shirou said, looking at the ghost.

"Then I'll take you down with me!" The demon revealed its ferocious face, opened its blood-red maw, and pounced on Shirou.

"Aaaaaah!!" the girl screamed.

Shirou drew the Ame no Murakumo no Tsurugi from his spatial storage. Due to its unique history and the enhancement of dragon energy, this sword had become a powerful treasure. It had a particularly strong deterrent effect on beings like ghosts.

Golden light formed a barrier directly in front of Shirou, blocking the demon's attack.

Realizing he was no match for Shirou, the ghost jumped towards the bottom of the building and plummeted to its death.

As the Black Shadow fell, a thud echoed on the ground. After a muffled thud, the black-clad youth vanished like wisps of smoke. The person who fell turned into black smoke, splattering a cloud of inky blood on the ground before disappearing into the earth...

"Hehehehehe!!!" The vanished ghost concealed its form, but eerie laughter began to echo around Shirou and the girl.

In the darkness, someone was singing a strange tune, like operatic coloratura, with a symphonic feel, and the howling of the dead.

The rabbit is too lonely; it will die.

Cats may seem aloof, but without playmates, they'll be too lonely and die.

Sunflowers will die because they are too lonely without the sun.

What else can die from loneliness?

People die from loneliness.

"Ahhh, is there anyone else who wants to die with me?" A voice echoed through the air.

Chapter 918 The Appearance of Araya Sōren

Inside the building where the series of suicides occurred, ghosts emerged one after another. A dozen or so shadows layered upon each other, gathering together for a grand chorus, with men and women each responsible for the high, middle, and low notes. However, there was an empty space in the middle, clearly waiting for the last person.

The ghosts' songs carried a certain aggressive energy.

The woman who jumped from the building had already fainted in Shirou's arms. He questioned her, "What exactly do you ghosts want to say?"

"Death is freedom!" a ghost declared, asserting the legitimacy of dragging humanity into death.

Humans come into this world naked and leave naked, bringing nothing with them and taking nothing with them; they are inherently empty. But in order to survive, we establish all sorts of systems and standards of judgment, and thus we begin to become unhappy.

It's not enough to just have enough to eat and wear; you feel unhappy because others eat better and wear nicer clothes.

Being physically healthy isn't enough, because some people know how to dress up and some are naturally handsome and charming, and therefore feel unhappy.

You will face exclusion and discrimination, there will be injustice, and there will be times when even your efforts will not yield results.

Therefore, it's good to be dead. Once dead, there are no more worries, and one will no longer be affected by others.

"Even if you're dead, you're still in groups, and doing terrible things that show no conscience. Where's your freedom? The first prerequisite for freedom is not to harm others!" Shirou retorted.

"Death is the final justice!" another ghost appeared and said.

Death may have hindered civilization, but it was also the last resort for upholding justice. In an era where money and power granted privileges, only death and life were truly equal for everyone. If money could exempt one from punishment for a crime, then the wealthy could commit all sorts of evil deeds.

"Death is the greatest and most sublime love!" A male and female ghost embraced each other, singing a hymn to love. Life is precious, but love is even more so. If they couldn't be with their true love, then they would rather die, to commit suicide together with their true love in this building.

"But you still have a fascination with the human world, which is why you linger in this place," Shirou said incisively.

"You are not satisfied in your hearts. You do not like your current lives. If it weren't so, you wouldn't be wandering around here. You wouldn't want more people to die here," Shirou said, looking at the ghosts.

"Ugh!!"

A commotion arose within the group of ghosts.

"I... I don't actually want to die..."

"My mind went blank for a second, and I jumped."

"But I never expected it to be like this even after I died! Nothing has changed!"

"I don't want to stay here any longer! If I had known it would turn out like this, I would have gritted my teeth and stayed alive! This place is even worse than this shitty school."

Among the ghostly figures lined up behind, dragging long chains, were the ghosts of several young girls, still wearing high school uniforms. There were seven of them in total, and they were very likely the seven people who jumped to their deaths this month.

"If we were still alive, perhaps we could have had a child and built a happy family," said the ghost of the couple who died for each other.

"But we can't leave this place! If we commit suicide here, we'll be bound to this land, becoming earthbound spirits. Even if we want to be reincarnated, we won't have the chance!" the ghosts said in anguish.