High above the Underworld, upon a tributary of the Sanzu River, black clouds gathered in dense clusters. Within these dark clouds, three massive slits of light flickered indistinctly. Beneath this gap-light flowed the serene waters of the Sanzu River, where a towering torii gate stood amidst the current. Beneath the gate, a small wooden boat drifted on the surface. Enma Ai, who should have continued rowing through the torii toward Hell, stood frozen in place. Her hands held the oars, yet she did not move. "What did you say... the Hell Girl Project? Hell Girl... I only exist because of some project?"
Facing the black-haired girl in a high school uniform who wore a faint smile, Enma Ai murmured in stunned disbelief. Although she had worked as the Hell Girl for centuries, resolving countless grudges and sending innumerable souls to Hell, she had never truly understood the purpose behind her actions. Why did the Hell Girl need to exist in this world? Who was responsible for her creation? Enma Ai had never pondered these questions during her long years of service; for centuries, she had been a mere tool, perfectly fitting the mold of the Hell Girl. Seeing her shock, Miketsu raised a single finger, wagging it as she spoke.
"Indeed. Four hundred years ago, disasters caused by malicious spirits were frequent in the mortal world. To curb the emergence of these spirits, the Underworld took a series of measures. The Hell Girl Project was one of them. This plan was proposed to the Ten Kings by a certain Yama, based on the logic of 'damage reduction and cost minimization.'"
"Damage... reduction?" Facing Miketsu's words, Enma Ai spoke with continued confusion. Miketsu continued her explanation.
"In the mortal world back then, the Boundary Wall was not as thick as it is today, and the demon-slaying forces were not as abundant. Therefore, whenever a malicious spirit formed—regardless of its strength—it could cause the deaths of dozens. Lives were lost, and souls were devoured. As the number of devoured souls grew, the spirit's power intensified rapidly. The strength and risk required to eliminate such a spirit climbed just as fast. Even if the spirit was eventually destroyed, the damage it caused was irreparable. To address this, the Hell Girl Project was proposed as a way to reduce damage and minimize costs."
"Since the cost of eliminating malicious spirits was high and the damage they caused was irreversible, it was decided to nip them in the bud—at the stage where a grudge is first born. The goal of the Hell Girl Project was to create the role of the Hell Girl to patrol the human realm. Through Hell Exile, the grudges of the world would be resolved, extinguishing them before they could accumulate and explode into malicious spirits. That is the essence of the Hell Girl Project."
As Miketsu explained, Enma Ai remained rooted to the spot, motionless. After a long silence, she spoke hollowly.
"I resolve grudges... just to prevent those consumed by hate from turning into malicious spirits after death and causing greater disasters?"
"Precisely. That is the so-called 'damage reduction.' Compared to sending just one person to Hell, isn't the damage caused by a malicious spirit far greater? Furthermore, compared to mobilizing precious demon-slaying forces to face an increasingly dangerous spirit, isn't the cost and risk of sending a single mortal to Hell much lower? That is 'cost minimization.'" Miketsu spread her hands as she spoke. Hearing this, Enma Ai spoke again.
"Then... according to what you say, it was the Underworld that made me the Hell Girl? In essence, I am an existence similar to a Shinigami? But... but why was I taught to stay away from them?" Enma Ai asked in confusion. She knew clearly that the power that had made her the Hell Girl and controlled her every move had warned her long ago never to have contact with a Shinigami. This had led her to believe that her existence was not permitted by the Underworld. Miketsu's smile remained unchanged as she answered directly.
"It is true that the Underworld spearheaded the Hell Girl Project, but it was not maintained. In fact, the project lasted less than a hundred years before it was completely abolished."
"Completely abolished... Why?" Enma Ai asked, bewildered. Miketsu extended her fingers one by one as she explained. "The Hell Girl Project was abolished for several reasons. First, it had significant moral issues. The person being hated was not necessarily guilty. Sending someone to Hell simply because they were hated was a violation of the Underworld's principles of fair judgment—even with the rule that the harborer of the grudge would eventually follow them."
"Second, human emotions are complex. Even if there is immense hatred, there is a high probability it can be resolved through negotiation or the passage of time. A person only risks becoming a malicious spirit if they die while consumed by that hate. Sending both parties to Hell just to prevent the birth of a spirit is like sending someone to prison just because they 'look like a criminal' or 'might commit a crime.'"
Looking at the stunned Enma Ai, Miketsu smiled and raised a third finger.
"Third, the demon-slaying forces in the mortal world have grown significantly. The Inari of the divine realm, the Onmyoji of the human realm, and the Grand Commanders of the demon realm have formed a joint exorcism mechanism. They can now detect and eliminate newborn malicious spirits almost immediately. The necessity for a Hell Girl has diminished."
Miketsu listed the flaws of the project, finally delivering the most critical point while Enma Ai watched with a wooden expression.
"In short... though the Hell Girl Project reached a significant scale after running for nearly a century, it was ultimately abolished for many reasons. The project itself violated the laws of heaven. The Underworld should focus on its own affairs and not interfere excessively with the mortal world. Such a plan should never have existed in the first place... However, there are some stubborn faction members in the Underworld who do not see it that way..."
As she spoke, Miketsu looked up at the three thick slits of light high in the sky. Then, she raised her voice.
"Am I right, Escapee Yama? You self-righteous mastermind in the shadows."
As soon as Miketsu finished speaking, a dull, thunderous roar echoed from the black-shrouded sky. The three slits of light among the clouds suddenly intensified in brightness. Then, a massive orb of pitch-black flames erupted from the clouds, hurtling toward the small boat floating on the water. The black fireball was several times larger than the boat, appearing as if it would swallow it whole in an instant. A look of clear terror appeared on Enma Ai's face. She reached out, condensing a tiny spark of black fire to resist the massive sphere of flames descending upon them. However, her black fire was far too small compared to what fell from the sky.
Facing the attack from the black clouds, Miketsu remained unperturbed. She picked up a disposable chopstick she had used earlier for her bento. After twirling it twice in her hand, she aimed it at the rolling, massive black fireball and threw it upward like a dart. Suddenly, the air vibrated and the water surged into waves. The disposable chopstick shot into the sky after leaving her hand, easily piercing and scattering the massive fireball. Its momentum undiminished, it soared into the clouds, striking directly into the middle of the three massive slits of light.
Instantly, the black clouds churned, and a scream like rolling thunder echoed. As one slit of light vanished, the remaining two suddenly expanded several times over, filled with a blood-red glow.
"This is..." Enma Ai spoke in shock as she watched something struggling wildly within the black clouds. As the Hell Girl, she knew exactly what those slits of light represented. That was the culprit who had made her the Hell Girl, the one who had always controlled her very origin. After another agonizing roar, a massive body fell from the black clouds of the firmament. It had gaudy patterns, long and thick limbs, and a bloated body featuring two enormous eyes—one open and one closed. It was a colossal spider.
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