Pygmalion is planting seeds 04

Kanade opened the iron door and a young man in his early twenties, wearing a black denim and a dangle shirt, strode into the room. 

His light brown hair, unshaven face, and aloof expression, reminded me of Haruhito.

“What? Did I interrupt something?” the man said with nonchalance, showing no remorse for his intrusion.

“Yes, you’re in the way— every time. What do you want?”

“Hey there, it wasn’t easy for me to get these goods for you without any help from those nightcrawlers, you know? The least you could do is show some gratitude.”

He was holding a long case by its handle.

“I’m not interested in junk like the one you brought to me last time.”

“Don’t act like that now. This time, I brought the real deal— fresh quality goods.”

The man opened the case and immediately, a raw, sour, stinky smell struck my nose. A girl’s body, chopped into pieces, was kept within. Bloody traces protruded from the sliced parts, and her long hair obscured her face.

“She was a runaway girl. Unfortunately, I’ve got no information about her. I don’t know her name or age. But she had a sanitary napkin with her, so there is no problem, right?”

“You’re really a monster dressed in human skin, aren’t you? Well, at the very least it’s better than a suicide corpse picked from some abandoned building. The insides appear to be safe this time.” Erisa leaned over the body and held its tiny white arm in her hands. “She seems to be in good condition. Although, I would have preferred if more blood were to be extracted from her.”

Erisa, like a chef checking the quality of ingredients, meticulously inspected every inch of the dead girl’s body while occasionally bringing her nose close to it. The sight was so inhumane that I felt like I was about to lose control of my legs.

“Who’s that boy over there, by the way?”

The man gestured to me as I was standing like a pointless pillar.

“Just like you, he’s searching for a seed. He’s a brave young boy— he was looking for me at this time of night for the sake of his beloved girl.”

“What— !?”

My heart skipped a beat when she guessed my feelings for Misaki.

“You thought I wouldn’t notice? It was quite obvious— a woman is very attuned to a man’s gaze, especially when it’s filled with longing. Women who don’t recognize such a look are even scarcer than a protected species, you know.”

Hearing Erisa’s casual words, I began to consider the possibility that Misaki had known of my feelings, and my mind grew hot with embarrassment.

“To top it off, he’s trying to revive her, knowing that she already has a boyfriend. Honestly, I was touched by his pure intentions, and I decided to give him the seed for free this time,” she continued.

“Hey, come on, that’s not fair! I went through the trouble of turning my bathtub into a blood-filled ocean just to dismember the body. Aren’t you going to acknowledge my efforts at least?” the man replied, sounding displeased.

“I can see you getting too big for your britches if I did that. And regardless, you are too eager for the seeds. So, rather than providing a service, I am thinking about charging you extra fees this time.”

“As usual, a pretty face and a tough attitude. Just like a rose with steel thorns.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment. The fact that I am a rose doesn’t change after all.” Erisa coolly deflected the man’s sarcastic remark, retrieved a small box from the vault, and handed it to him.

“I’m fine with dealing with you this way, but these seeds are extremely rare— don’t go wasting them around.”

“I know, I know…”

“You look in a pleasant mood, as usual, don’t you? I’m currently busy, so if you don’t need anything else, please excuse yourself.”

“You’re so cold. But I guess I’m done over here. See you around!”

Holding the box in his hand, the man left with a pleased expression. The room was now left with just me, Erisa, Kanade, and the stringless blood-covered marionette.

“Who was that?”

“An upstart acting all tough. He’s a nasty man. I feel sorry for the flowers raised by him,” Erisa said as if spitting out. Her frigid expression, however, remained unchanged.

In the short time that I have known Erisa, I have come to realize that she was a woman of few expressions and emotions, giving off the impression of a porcelain doll mimicking human behavior. I couldn’t envision her face flushing with anger or cackling with laughter as she clapped her hands.

Erisa closed the case and summoned Kanade.

“After you’ve planted the seed in Misaki Iruse’s head, take care of this. Extract the ovaries, cut the flesh, and place it in the refrigerator.”

“What should I do with the fingers? Many of them have yet to be utilized.”

“Throw them away if there are too many.”

“Certainly, Miss.”

As she served the dish on a plate, Kanade smiled brightly, unfazed by the girl’s body in front of her. Her expression was the same as when she served up a Misaki head, resembling that of a waitress offering us afternoon tea. It was clear that she was accustomed to handling corpses in her daily life.

“What did you mean by ‘take care of this?’”

“I meant peeling off the skin, removing fat and separating the flesh from its bones.”

“I didn’t inquire about your crafting talents. What is the point of doing it in the first place?”

“To make it edible, of course… for me.”

A plate of steak with a side of sauce was placed in front of Erisa, accompanied by asparagus and carrots. The subtle smoke emanating from the plate wafted a sweet aroma towards my nose.

“Will you excuse me now, I’m starving.”

Erisa elegantly brought the meat to her mouth and as she chewed, her lips moved slightly as she savored the steak. I found myself staring at her white neck, mesmerized by the delicate way in which she swallowed each bite.

“Can you stop staring at me while I eat— It’s a bit embarrassing.” 

My unreserved gaze caused her to pause her hands.

“What kind of meat… are you eating, right now?”

“A steak cut from the abdomen of a middle aged man, simply seasoned with salt and pepper then grilled to a medium-rare perfection. The minimal grilling technique gives it a distinct and delectable taste.” The sweet girl in front of me was confidently explaining a recipe for preparing human flesh.

The young maid behind her was still smiling as she drilled a hole in Misaki’s head.

“I’m not sure why you’re doing that, but eating human flesh is… you know… not—”

“Are you about to tell me that what I’m doing is wrong or unethical?” Erisa interrupted as she sipped from the glass of mineral water she had been served. “If that’s so, then could you explain to me why it’s wrong?”

“Well, that’s because… right, the law…”

“There’s no act that prohibits the consumption of human flesh in this country.”

She eliminated my argument before I was able to fully articulate it.

“Obtaining human flesh without breaking laws against murder and desecration of a corpse is practically impossible. However, the act of consuming human flesh, itself, is not prohibited by law. While some countries have laws that prohibit it based on moral grounds, they are still not enough to curb the desire of those who wish to eat it.”

“But aren’t there plenty of other kinds of meat you can eat instead of human flesh? Like cows or pigs.”

“There is a meaning in the act of eating human flesh.” Erisa wiped the sauce from her mouth with a napkin. “It is true that eating human flesh is considered the ultimate taboo among humanity, yet there is no clear explanation as to why. People are taught not to harm others, not to steal, and not to lie, yet no one teaches them that eating human flesh is wrong. Through being reprimanded for making a mistake, one learns that their actions were wrong— a strong negative impression is scorched into their heart, and the next time they behave, they do not repeat it. Over time they come to understand society’s norms and standards. But there is no process in place to deal with someone who engages in the act of cannibalism. After all, there is no guidebook on how to deal with a child who has eaten his friend.”

She was correct. if a teacher discovered a kindergarten student devouring his classmate, he would just be horrified.

“Pondering the question of why eating human flesh is considered wrong leads to further dilemmas, such as whether it is right or wrong to eat the flesh of other living beings when it is possible to survive on a plant-based diet. If we were to label it as a morally wrong act, then one could also argue that those who eat bears or weasels are considered evil. In conclusion, it is a matter of adiaphora— a question without a clear answer.” Erisa set the knife and fork down. “But if killing people and eating their flesh wasn’t frowned upon, everyone would start killing to eat. After all, humans are a species that tends to take the shortest paths.”

The empty tableware was replaced by Misaki’s head, which was placed in a small pot. Her face was barely visible through the wood chips. At the top of her head, a thirty-centimeter hole was bored. Seeing her peaceful face made me feel sad and at the same time, relieved.

“I am going to have you take the pot with you. I don’t mind raising it until it takes human form, but doing it yourself from the start will spring up a strong bond between you, won’t it?”

“But wait— how am I supposed to raise her? Should I just… give her water?”

“It grows by drinking blood, but not as much as you might think. Just a scratch on your finger tip and a few drops a day will do. When it develops a face, you can let it suck on your fingers. You might want to know that some people find this kind of sensation addictive.”

“I don’t have to give her anything else?”

“Only a tiny amount of blood is enough, much less than what you would give during blood donation.”

“Is that the risk you mentioned earlier?”

“No way.”

“What is this risk, then?”

“Slowly, but surely, you will come to realize it. Just don’t rush it.”

“Mr. Mamesaki, here…” Kanade handed me a small army knife.

“I’m giving you that knife. Also, in case you may feel like wanting to see her face one last time, never consider digging her out. The roots will soon absorb all fluids from her head, leaving no trace of her former appearance,” Erisa explained.

I got chills just thinking of a few roots growing out of her eyes and mouth. I’d do anything to avoid seeing Misaki in such a state.

“I will give him a ride now. I’m leaving the rest to you, Kanade.”

“Understood… Farewell, Mr. Mamesaki”

The rain had come to a halt by the time we rode back into the car. The road was covered in puddles and the tires sent sprays of water flying as we drove. The car plowed through the darkness as we made our way back to my neighborhood, at a leisurely pace.

“Heed caution from Pygmalion’s ambition.” Erisa shattered the silence.

“Who?”

“It’s a Greek myth about a sculptor— a sad man who fell in love with his creation and wished for it to come to life. In his case, Aphrodite, moved by his prayers, granted his wish. But it’s important to understand that not everyone is blessed by a goddess’s whim.”

“What are you trying to tell me?”

“In short, be aware of your limits and don’t desire too much.”

As I struggled to make sense of Erisa’s cryptic words, the car came to a stop at the entrance of the red light district. The lights from the rows of night shops were no longer visible and the area had fallen into a peaceful silence. Our ride took less than ten minutes.

“Well then, we shall meet again.”

Erisa left with a brief farewell.

As soon as I exited the car, I could no longer keep my composure to see her off and ran to a nearby streetlight to vomit. By the time I had emptied my stomach, I couldn’t shake off the suspicion that she had deliberately kept a vital piece of information from me.