Afterward, Byakuya and Rize shared another of Takatsuki's works: The Black Goat's Egg.
He'd finished it ages ago; Rize had only read half.
The protagonist was a cold-blooded female serial killer called the "Black Goat" and her only son. Initially, the son despised his mother's actions—but gradually discovered similar violent urges awakening within himself...
Seemingly fiction, but Takatsuki had written it as a direct parallel to herself and her father.
The female killer was Yoshimura. The son was Eto—just with swapped genders.
Hard to imagine what Yoshimura felt reading it.
"I need to go. I've got something to take care of. Goodbye, Rize-san."
Byakuya stood to leave.
"Okay~ Goodbye."
Rize smiled.
After he left, she stayed until closing time, reading to pass the time. Two weeks without hunting meant boredom—books would help.
"Kamishiro-san, we're closing soon."
Touka, now changed from uniform to school clothes, reminded her.
"Sorry, sorry. Lost track of time."
Rize's apologetic smile seemed genuine enough.
"By the way..."
Touka didn't particularly want to interact with Rize, but couldn't help asking: "Have you... changed lately?"
"Hmm?"
Rize made a questioning sound, though she could guess the meaning.
"I mean, you actually sat here reading all day. And that boy—your prey, right? You didn't touch him last night."
Touka elaborated.
"Maybe I just like him?"
Rize countered.
Touka's eyes widened. "You actually like him?"
Unbelievable. Someone like Rize falling for a human?
"Of course... that's a lie~"
Rize had been playing her the whole time. "Can't tell you the details. Anyway, goodnight, Kirishima-san."
She strolled out, humming.
"..."
Touka felt annoyed but had no recourse.
Walking home, Rize stayed alert for ambushes.
Her thoughts drifted to Byakuya.
She didn't "like" him in the romantic sense, but his body... that obsession was real.
She wanted to devour him right now. Unfortunately, two more weeks.
But the enforced fasting would make the eventual feast even sweeter.
Just imagining freely savoring his flesh made her hum a cheerful tune.
...
Earlier that afternoon.
After leaving Anteiku, Byakuya headed directly to Ward 20's CCG branch.
Tokyo had twenty-four wards. Aside from Ward 24, each had a CCG—Commission of Counter Ghoul—office.
Ward 1 held headquarters. Wards 2 through 23 were branch offices.
Ward 24 had no CCG presence because it wasn't a normal district—no humans lived there. It was a ghoul stronghold, essentially an underground labyrinth.
Arriving at Ward 20's branch, Byakuya entered the lobby and walked toward the RC Gate.
"RC Gate"—a scanner detecting RC cell levels.
The biggest difference between humans and ghouls, aside from kakugan, kagune, and kakuhou, was RC cell count.
Humans typically ranged between 200-500. Ghouls started around 1,000, with powerful ones reaching several thousand or even tens of thousands. This stark difference allowed the gates to identify ghouls.
Currently, RC Gates existed mainly in government facilities like the CCG. If they became widespread, ghoul survival in human society would collapse.
"Hey, you can't just walk in. This is the CCG, not a police station."
A staff member intercepted him.
Outsiders weren't allowed inside—lobby consultations only.
"I know what this place is. I'm here because I want to become an investigator."
Byakuya stated directly.
"What? Become an investigator? You look like a student. Go back to school. This job's too dangerous."
The man's tone was impatient but well-meaning.
Though just administrative staff rather than an actual investigator, he knew the casualty rates. Deaths were constant—investigators fought monsters, not ordinary criminals.
Anyone with a conscience wouldn't recommend this career, especially to students.
The entry requirements were stringent too—this was a government position. Insufficient ability meant rejection.
"Thank you for the concern, but my mind's made up."
Byakuya's voice was firm.
"...Fine. Registration's over there. Whether you're accepted depends on your own abilities."
The man stopped arguing.
"Thank you."
Byakuya filled out an application for either the "Ghoul Countermeasures Institute" or the "Ghoul Investigator Training Academy."
[Ding! Host has activated a quest. Initiating Divine Selection!]
[Option 1: Join the "Ghoul Countermeasures Institute" and complete one year of training. Reward: 10 Fusion Points!]
[Option 2: Join the "Ghoul Investigator Training Academy" and complete two years of training. Reward: 20 Fusion Points!]
[Option 3: Skip all training institutions entirely by establishing an outstanding ghoul extermination record. Reward: 40 Fusion Points!]