I am Oyashiro. I am Hinamizawa's god, a god of madness, guilt, and purgation. I am the root of all sin in this village, and I am its absolution. And I understand now.

Do you, Rika?

They say that I united the people of Onigafuchi and the demons of the nearby marsh. This is true. Some also say that I brought peace between them. This is a corruption. You see, I was the first carrier of Hinamizawa syndrome. I went into the forbidden swamp and returned a monster and a begetter of monsters. I brought to this village not peace but violence and strife. The people killed me and then deified me. My death absolved them, for all their sins sprang from my own. So, you see, I deserved it. And I deserve this.

(I was only a little girl at the time. I didn't mean to do it. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.)

Takano's bullet is meant for me. With this knowledge everything becomes clear. In the June of 1983, Hinamizawa's sins have grown too many and a sacrifice is required. This story can end only two ways: with the village's death or with my own. That is why, as useless as I am, this Hellish cycle could not conclude until I manifested. This, at last, is the end.

Good bye, Rika.

Rika.

Rika!

Why? How? What did you do? There's no way she could have missed at this range. I know you did this, somehow. Don't you understand? This is the last world. If I don't die here—

You do understand. You understand everything. You know why you've had to suffer through this never-ending month. You know that it was all my doing.

And you forgive me.

All of you — Shion, Mion, Rena, Satoko, Keichi — you know that I am the Oyashiro-sama you worship and fear and hate. I all but announced as much just now. And none of you want me to die.

You forgive me.

Something within me is changing. Something that's been sitting solid and heavy in my chest is breaking apart and floating away like dust on a summer breeze. The power I felt coursing through me just a moment ago, the power of all the dark secrets of Hinamizawa, of two-thousand villagers' twisted minds and hardened hearts, the power I used to turn back time, to make and unmake worlds — I feel that power slipping away. I'm scared, Rika. I feel like a little girl. I'm scared, but it's going to be all right.

And so, tonight, in this forest, Oyashiro-sama is destroyed once and for all. Not with a bullet, but with a blessing.

* * *

I am Furude Hanyu. I live with my friends Rika and Satoko at the shrine in Hinamizawa. I have lots of other friends at school. We even have a club, in which we meet every day and play games like Zombie Tag and Old Geezer. (But not Old Maid. Never Old Maid.) All in all, I have a pretty good life. And I understand now.