The rabbit idol in black robes leaped down from the shrine. Its lifelike rabbit face twisted into a savage expression, its eyes blazing scarlet.
It had realized that Qi Si had deceived it. Not only had Qi Si failed to help it break the deadlock, he had instead made fate's closed loop even tighter, and the needle of the ending was faintly tipping toward the worse outcome.
Perhaps... because its final means had been used up in advance, the situation might become irretrievable. What awaited it would not merely be confinement within an endless cycle, but—true destruction.
Its sharp rabbit claws curled into hooks and raked at Qi Si. Qi Si swiftly turned the Tape Recorder's switch and continued playing the recorded legend of the Rabbit God.
[The story of Lord Rabbit God is the story of Rabbit God Town...]
Reiko's gentle voice circled and echoed through the cramped space. Devout faith stirred the contract established in the beginning, condensing into brilliant golden chains in the void.
The chains wound around the Rabbit Idol's limbs, loop after loop. Its body stiffened as it retreated, drawing back its claws inch by inch before slowly and sluggishly sitting back inside the shrine.
The rustling of its robes faded away. The night returned to silence. A tiny bedside lamp flickered, casting shifting shadows over the low wooden bed.
Qi Si sighed. "The contract did say I'd save you, but I never guaranteed that I'd succeed."
He shook his head with an air of distress. "Since I failed to save you, there's no need for you to fulfill the contract clause requiring you to work for me. Such a simple matter—how could you not understand it?"
Rabbit God: "..."
Outside the nailed-shut window, the sounds of wooden placards striking planks and wind chimes began