"Since the problem lies with that Pure White Woman in the dream, how can we resolve her?", Sakiko was somewhat troubled.
If it were an evil spirit in reality, that would be another matter. Whether you could defeat it or not, at least you could see it.
But the Pure White Woman only appeared in Mutsumi's dreams. Outsiders couldn't even see her, so how could they exorcise her?
No wonder the onmyoji and priests who had been invited previously all looked troubled. This truly wasn't a problem that could be solved casually.
"Actually, it's simple," Kaito raised his eyebrows and said calmly, "Since she only appears in dreams, then as long as you kill her in the dream, won't that solve it?"
It clearly didn't sound simple at all.
However… Secretary Sakiko quickly caught on, somewhat pleasantly surprised, "Kaito-kun, do you mean… you have a way to enter dreams?"
Mori Minami was also incredulous, "Even something like that can be done?"
As for the person involved, Mutsumi didn't react much. She seemed not at all concerned about her own safety. She merely stared at Kaito in a daze, as focused as if she were observing a cucumber she had planted herself.
Kaito didn't explain further, only said, "Leave it to me."
———
The Pure White Woman in Wakaba Mutsumi's dreams only appeared when she fell asleep late at night.
Even if she fell asleep during the day, she wouldn't see her.
At this point, clever kids might ask: in that case, can't you just flip your schedule. Sleep during the day and stay up at night to avoid being entangled?
But of course, things weren't that simple.
Anyone targeted by the Pure White Woman would be cursed with a "Sleepiness" debuff. Constantly assaulted by drowsiness, with the risk of falling asleep at any time.
When Wakaba Mutsumi first dreamed of her, there were still many times during the day when she was awake. Though she got sleepy more easily than normal people, it only meant she slept four or five more hours.
But by the third time she dreamed of her, the girl was already spending ninety percent of the day asleep, with less and less time awake.
If this continued, she would eventually reach a day when she would never wake up.
Fortunately, with the Miko Kagano's help, even though she was still very sleepy, she could barely resist the drowsiness.
And within these three days, even if she fell asleep at night and dreamed of the Pure White Woman, the other party could not approach her. She would be blocked by the barrier the shrine maiden had set up.
But this was just treating the symptoms, not the root cause. Naturally, someone like Kaito wouldn't use such a troublesome method.
Time flew by, and midnight arrived in a blink.
In the large bedroom, only Wakaba Mutsumi lay on the bed, once again sinking into deep sleep, while beside her, Kaito was preparing to enter the dream.
As for Mori Minami and Sakiko, they waited outside.
The sword Murakumomaru was also outside, being kept by Secretary Sakiko as a precaution.
If an unexpected situation occurred, with little Murakumomaru around, at least Sakiko could be protected.
The curtains were drawn open, soft moonlight piercing the clouds, laying a silver veil over the room and enveloping the girl on the velvet bed.
Wakaba Mutsumi slightly furrowed her brows, the delicate yet lifeless girl rarely showing such a fragile expression. Strangely, she looked pitifully beautiful, making one want to paint her with their own color.
Kaito didn't waste time, he lay beside her without removing his clothes, took the girl's hand, and closed his eyes.
———
'Mmm…'
'My head hurts.'
Wakaba Mutsumi opened her eyes, her delicate face full of confusion.
'Where is this?'
She seemed to be in a small Japanese-style room, with no furniture and no sign of other people.
Only four purple candles were lit in each corner, casting faint halos in the dim room.
She looked down and realized that at some unknown point, her clothes had changed into a purple montsuki haori hakama.
Montsuki haori hakama was the most formal attire for Japanese men, usually worn only on grand holidays, and generally in black.
'Why… am I wearing this kind of outfit?'
Wakaba Mutsumi was a little puzzled, when suddenly—click—the door opened.
A young woman in a white wedding kimono walked in. She was tall, but her face seemed covered in a layer of fog, making it impossible to see her features.
Seeing the green-haired girl in the room awake, the young woman seemed delighted, and appeared to say something.
Wakaba Mutsumi couldn't hear her voice, nor see her lip movements, yet she inexplicably understood her meaning.
She said, "The wedding is about to begin."
'That's right.'
Wakaba Mutsumi suddenly remembered why she was here.
'Because… my wedding was about to begin.'
The white montsuki haori hakama she wore matched perfectly with the young woman's white kimono.
Yet she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, 'Something is wrong.'
In her mind, it was like two voices were quarreling back and forth.
'Yes, right?'
'No, not right.'
'Right, it's right.'
'No, not right.'
The young woman walked up, trying to take her arm, but Wakaba Mutsumi instinctively avoided her.
The young woman seemed surprised.
Even though her face was obscured by dense fog, Wakaba Mutsumi could feel that she was smiling, that kind of fake, stiff smile.
The room fell into silence again.
The young woman didn't move, just stood there, staring at her with a strange look.
The atmosphere became inexplicably oppressive. Wakaba Mutsumi felt uneasy, wanting to leave the room. Yet again, she heard her voice.
"Are you planning… to abandon me too?", That voice was full of sorrow, as if crying and complaining.
'Abandon? Too?'
Wakaba Mutsumi didn't understand what she was saying, but she stopped walking.
Not because she changed her mind…
But because… the only door out of the room was now surrounded by thick, tangible black fog.
"Keisuke was like this… Masato was like this…"
"Ayami was like this… Yoko too…"
"You all wanted to abandon me…"
"Didn't we promise to be together forever?"
There was no wind in the room, yet the young woman's long hair began to rise.
For the first time, Wakaba Mutsumi clearly saw her face. That smooth face was densely covered with numerous facial features.
There were male faces, and female faces.
"""Stay with us…"""
All those faces smiled together. The sticky black hair moved like venomous snakes, surging toward her.
""""Be with us… forever.""""
Wakaba Mutsumi stood motionless, her heart clenched like it was being squeezed by an invisible giant hand, terror filled her mind.
She wanted to run, but her feet seemed rooted to the floor. She could only watch as the black hair drew closer.
'Am I going to die?'
'Die here, in a dream, as one of the faces on that woman's face?'
She closed her eyes, her delicate lashes trembling, silently awaiting her fate.
Yet…
In the dim room, a sun suddenly rose.
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