"Has Tsuneyoshi Washuu summoned you?"

"Yes, my clone has already gone with Arima."

Byakuya and Eto were currently at Aogiri Tree's base.

Byakuya had received the message from his Wood Clone.

"Let them panic slowly. This is far more satisfying than killing them outright."

Eto smiled faintly.

"There's no point in eliminating them directly right now. By the way, when will your new book be ready?"

Byakuya asked.

"Huh...? I've only just finished outlining it. It'll take at least several months, maybe a year or two."

Eto answered.

"You should publish it as soon as possible. It's only a few hundred thousand words. With some effort, you could finish in a few months."

Byakuya urged.

"What do you mean 'finish in a few months'? You make it sound so easy."

Eto was somewhat displeased.

"It's definitely not easy, but it's not that hard either."

Byakuya said calmly. "I remember you saying your next book is meant to reveal the Washuu Clan's true nature to the world. That's why I'm pushing you to publish it soon."

"That's right. Are you interested in hearing about my new book's general setting?"

Eto offered.

"Sure, tell me."

Byakuya nodded slightly.

"The protagonist is based on the Norse god Odin. The title comes from one of Odin's hundred-plus names—'Bileygr.' The full title is 'King Bileygr.'"

Eto explained her new book's premise.

"A one-eyed Norse god, titled 'King Bileygr.' You're referring to yourself, aren't you? The one who should have become the One-Eyed King..."

Byakuya said.

Had she not discovered years ago that she couldn't defeat Arima, Eto would certainly have planned to become the One-Eyed King herself and lead all ghouls. After all, she was practically the only "natural-born one-eyed ghoul" in existence—she just wasn't the strongest...

"Yes, but not entirely."

Eto's tone turned mysterious. "The protagonist—a one-eyed ghoul named 'Nameless'—leads ghouls as their 'King' in a heroic rebellion against a world that oppresses them. The human organization is based on the Washuu Clan..."

When Eto said this, Byakuya understood completely.

"This one-eyed ghoul you're writing isn't just based on Odin. It's primarily based on that 'One-Eyed King' who appeared within the Washuu Clan a century ago."

Byakuya said.

"Correct. You guessed it."

Eto smiled. "You really do understand me well."

"More or less. And it's not strange that I understand you."

Byakuya said casually.

"..."

Eto said nothing more, simply smiling.

"Keep working hard. We're almost there."

By "there," Eto meant overthrowing the Washuu Clan.

Once that greatest obstacle was removed, changing the world would no longer be impossible.

"I think we're still far from it."

Byakuya said. "I don't think I've told you yet. My ultimate goal is to turn all the world's ghouls back into normal humans."

"Ghouls becoming human?"

Eto's eyes flickered with light. "That's clearly impossible, isn't it...?"

"Impossible for you. But not for me."

Byakuya revealed his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan again. "Remember these eyes? They're not simply mutated kakugan. The path to salvation lies within them."

"The path to salvation... Your eyes have always felt extraordinary to me."

Eto stared at Byakuya's eyes intently. "So what exactly is the deal with your eyes?"

"I won't go into specifics. Just know that I do have a way to turn ghouls back into humans—even on a global scale."

Byakuya said.

"I knew you wouldn't tell me..."

Eto sounded somewhat disappointed.

"Because I can't explain it clearly. You'll understand when the time comes."

Byakuya deflected casually.

"Fine... But what you just said—turning ghouls 'back' into humans. What exactly do you mean by 'back'?"

Eto had naturally noticed that word choice.

"I believe ghouls were originally human. The 'One-Eyed King' in the underground world—Roma Hoito has seen it. And there are indigenous inhabitants down there, all of them ghouls."

Byakuya explained. "That One-Eyed King was driven underground by the Washuu Clan a century ago, along with all of old Tokyo. So could those indigenous inhabitants be descendants of old Tokyo's human residents?"

"The underground world... have you been there?"

Eto asked immediately.

"Yes. If you want to see it, I can take you there now."

Byakuya said casually.

In truth, he'd never been to the underground world. Claiming he had was just to conceal his identity as a transmigrator with meta-knowledge.

"Sure, I'd like to see those indigenous inhabitants you mentioned."

Eto nodded.

Though what Byakuya said would sound incredible to any normal person, she mostly believed him. She just wanted to witness it firsthand.

After all, there were too many suspicious points suggesting humans and ghouls shared a common origin—no reproductive isolation, both having RC cells, both looking human...

If ghouls truly evolved from humans, that would be extremely significant. It would overturn everyone's understanding...

"Then let's go. We'll enter the underground world through Ward 24."

Byakuya stood to leave. "You grew up in Ward 24. Haven't you ever been to its deepest parts?"

"No. The deeper you go, the harder it is to find food. Back then, just surviving took everything I had. I had no interest in wandering into the depths."

Eto shook her head slightly.

"I see. Sorry for bringing up bad memories."

Byakuya said.

Eto brushed it off. "You're apologizing to me now? I don't care about any of that. If anything, I should thank you for helping me avenge my blood feud."

...

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