When I was little, I really died.
FIFTH STREET SHOPPING ST.
It was eight years ago...
I was in the first grade...
We'd happened to be passing by...
That's when the road just gave way.
I hear something...
What is... this?
Master Mao, something seems afoot in this town.
Please, help me!
Oh, it's escaping.
So he killed it...
I serve as Master Mao's assistant...
Otoya here at your service.
You...
You are an ayakashi, are you not?
What's...
What's happening to me?
Master Mao is an onmyoji.
The Byoki...
Are you familiar?
Byoki?
Of course!
I remember!
I saw a monster.
MAO
You say you saw a monster?
NANOKA KIBA
Yeah but...
Something about it seemed almost human.
Do you know any monsters like that?
There are many such ayakashi.
So they do exist...
Master Mao...
I've hailed us a ride.
Oh, I lost track of the time.
Where to, sir?
That's a rickshaw!
Here we go!
Hey! Are you leaving me here?!
We'll meet again, Nanoka.
I wasn't finished with my questions...
And I might never see him again...
Which do you think Miss Nanoka is, Master Mao?
Is she human? Or ayakashi?
OTOYA
Hmm...
If she's changed
since seeing that monster...
It's possible that Nanoka is...
Master Mao...
She's following us.
Hmm?
Huh?!
Stop right there!
SPIDER LADY
You're so mean!
How could you leave me behind like that?!
What is this place?
Make sure you take me back home!
You've got strong legs.
You're doing it again!
Huh? What happened?
These people aren't see-through.
I passed through that gate again and...
the world looks normal...?
Read all about it!
- No... - Read the latest...
- This isn't normal... - the headless bodies incident!
- It's all so... retro... - Read all about it!
HEADLESS BODY FOUND
It happened again, didn't it?
Mmhmm...
This is worrisome...
Is that the news?
HEADLESS BODY FOUND
Another headless body incident...
This already makes five victims.
What?! I've never even heard of such an incident!
CITY IN SHOCK HEADLESS BODY FOUND
Let me see.
What kind of paper is this? There aren't any photos.
MAY 8, 1923
What the?! 19...23?!
I'm in the Taisho era?!
MILK HALL
Oh...
TENKO
Welcome, Dr. Mao.
For you, Tenko.
I prepared a prescription for your anemia.
Thank you.
And who might this be?
Whoa!
Everything is so...
...retro!
Oh dear!
Your legs are showing!
Is she...
...with the circus?
No, but she is a bit eccentric.
Look who's talking.
Uh... So does this mean...
you're from the Taisho period?
Well...
For now... I suppose you could say that.
Huh?!
What kind of vague answer is that?
Dr. Mao.
Let me introduce you. She's like a little sister to me.
It was not easy to sneak out of the residence.
My name is Sayoko.
I'm a housekeeper at the mansion of a viscount.
Um...
I presume you are familiar with the headless body incidents, Dr. Mao?
Yes, of course.
Apparently, there has been another one.
The first victim was a high school student.
Including an unidentified male,
all of the victims have been young men.
Shortly before the murders began,
my lord fell ill...
It started with a growth on his face.
The viscount would not let the doctor or housekeepers
anywhere near him.
He permitted only his wife to treat him.
Then he began leaving the residence after nightfall more often.
He always returned,
but only after everyone in the residence was asleep.
One night,
I saw it...
Something that looked like blood...
was dripping from my lord's bag.
I was so frightened, I ran back to my room.
When I looked the next morning,
the blood had been completely wiped away.
Are you suggesting there might've been a decapitated head in that bag?
The bag was just the right size...
Is there a possible connection with the Byoki you are after, Dr. Mao?
Byoki...!
What does the viscount's face look like now?
His face is always covered with bandages...
So I have no idea.
I'm going to have a look.
What?! You're going right now?!
It's almost evening.
I want to see for myself.
Just a minute!
Thank you very much!
That day...
What?
I was supposed to be dead...
Mao...
Give me your body.
You're the Byo... ki...
Give your life to me.
Did someone send the Byoki
to curse me?
But who?
Byoki!
At least I can take you down with me!
I thought I had slain the Byoki...
But then...
Hey...
You have no idea what that viscount looks like,
but he is human, right?
Hey!
The Byoki...
uses human bodies as vessels...
Are you saying it possesses people?
Dr. Mao...
I will leave the back entrance unlocked for you...
Oh no...
It's already dark.
Grandpa must be worried.
But yesterday, when I returned,
no time had passed.
How does time work in this place?
Why is the present and the Taisho era connected?
This place must hold some sort of clue...
to the changes happening to my body...
And...
to what happened that day.
Hey, you are going to take me back home, right?
Sheesh...
Ma'am, I brought some antiseptic and fresh bandages.
Oh, it's you, Sayoko...
Just leave them there.
My husband does not wish to be seen by anyone.
THE VISCOUNT'S WIFE
Yes, ma'am.
Come... in...
Huh?
You're awake, my lord?
Sayoko...
Yes, my lord?
THE VISCOUNT
Who did you meet outside?
I can smell it on you...
That odor I despise!
Dr. Mao...
I sense yokai energy...
W-What's wrong?
Hey!
Sayoko...
You...
You told someone on the outside about me, didn't you?
Remember your place, young lady!
My lord!
I can't have you interfere!
Who's there?!
Those headless body incidents...
You're the one behind them, aren't you?
Sayoko said she'd leave the back entrance open.
Why didn't he just use it?
This way is more direct.
Let's go too...
Miss Nanoka.
Okay.
Up we go.
Huh?
Oh! She's fast.
Huh?
I made that jump again...
You are an ayakashi, are you not?
Is it possible that I am?
You murder young men exclusively and take their heads.
Why?
Dr. Mao...!
Are you really the master of this house?
Huh...?
Otoya. Nanoka.
Keep Sayoko safe!
Yes, Master Mao.
You're asking me, too?!
Miss Sayoko! Miss Sayoko!
She's only fainted.
Oh...
Uh...
Who... Who is that man?
His wife?
He's an onmyoji.
He came after hearing about the headless body incidents.
An onmyoji?
I must ask.
Are you the Byoki?
Byo... ki, you say?
I will take your head as well!
Give me your head!
I was wrong.
His yokai energy is malevolent,
but the aura is completely different from the Byoki.
I'm wasting my time here.
Show me...
your true form.
Threads?
Spiders...
So his body was already dead...
but controlled by spiders?
Damn it!
The true culprit is over there!
Otoya! Nanoka!
Eww! What is this?!
Gross!
Spider webs?!
You can't break it.
She's... the wife?
Your friend, the onmyoji,
is quite the handsome one.
R-Really?
He's young...
I think I'll take his head, as well.
His head?!
Are you going to...?!
But before I do ...
I have no need for a woman.
I'll use your head as fertilizer for the flowers after I twist it off.
Huh?!
You think I'm fertilizer? That's super humiliating!
Otoya! Nanoka!
Are you okay?!
Nanoka...
Her eyes, they're...
Master Mao...
What is it, Otoya?
Miss Nanoka is being strangled...
Are you going to just watch?
No...
My sword could hardly cut through the silk.
There's no way I can sever it completely.
If I don't do anything, her neck will be...
It snapped!
Nanoka!
It didn't work.
I thought she was a human girl...
But she's an ayakashi, isn't she?
Master Mao!
How can this be?
An onmyoji and an ayakashi working together?
A Spider Lady...
So you were the one controlling the viscount's body
and collecting the heads of young men...
That's right. I need them to lay my eggs.
The vitality of young men makes for healthy offspring.
I will take your head as well.
That's a dangerous sword.
Not that you could...
cut my silk with it!
My, you truly are handsome up close...
He's not resisting.
Master Mao has lost all interest in her since she isn't the Byoki.
Is he planning to let her bite him
so the poison in his blood kills her?
You again...
Miss Nanoka...
I thought I was going to die!
You melted my silk with your blood...?
What are you?!
Yikes! I'm getting out of here!
Come back here!
Why won't you fight, Miss Nanoka?
I can't!
I've never fought anyone in my life!
I'm a weakling.
A weakling? But you're...
Stay away from me!
How're you...
able to move like that?!
Keep your hands off of the sword!
Mao!
Nanoka!
Onmyoji...
Are you going to melt my silk with your blood, too?
How amusing.
I can't break it...
There's Mao's sword...
You'll run out of blood...
before you can melt away my silk.
Once your blood is drained,
your head will be mine for the taking.
What?
Curse you...
Nanoka, did you just use my sword?
I was trying to cut the silk.
That is a sword only I am able to wield.
What?
If she is able to wield the sword, it would mean...
Nanoka...
You and I are the same...
NEXT TIME
This sword, like me, carries the Byoki's curse.
The town was ablaze...
Master Mao, as we suspected,
this town is connected to the Byoki.
The cause of the sinkhole on Fifth Street remains a mystery.
You should go.
Shoko can manipulate people's life spans at will.
That woman...
may have encountered the Byoki.
Next time: The Accursed