Chapter 96

 is the ninety-sixth chapter of the Dead Mount Death Play manga.

Official Blurb
The Corpse God readies himself to battle whatever is waiting for him in the basement…but unexpectedly encounters another mediator!

Synopsis
Corpse God opens the door to the rooftop and the source of the screams: an amalgamation of chained, wailing heads that are in no condition to listen to anyone. Thus, in lieu of questions, Corpse God divines that the spirits are unwillingly shackled to Earth by their intense fear of whatever lurks in the hospital's basement. He reaps the energy keeping the spirts Earthbound to replenish his magic—at least one head smiles upon being freed—and casts a magic circle for the purpose of converting the hospital ruins into a sanctuary. Framrodia Byandiraz, looking elsewhere, abruptly exclaims, "Riz!" Corpse God follows his gaze to Katashiro, crouched on the roof's walled edge. This comes a shock; even a second ago, Corpse God had not detected any living human's presence.

Minutes earlier...

In the hospital's backyard, Katashiro briefly frets over whether going with a "tough guy" persona was the right call. Nevertheless, he launches an assault against the armed men while internally reassessing the situation. It seems that these men are pro-Kuon Higuro and anti-Agakura: ergo they have taken offense to Katashiro's acknowledgement of Yumeji Agakura as Higuro's replacement, ergo they and Katashiro were enemies at the outset, ergo Katashiro had attempted to resolve a misunderstanding that never existed. Great! he thinks. I'm so unhappy!

However, based on the men's shouts, it sounds like the men believe the Agakura sent Katashiro to fight them. "Just proves they know the situation we've got going on here!" All Katashiro knows about the situation is its likelihood of a body count, i.e. one that he probably ought not to increase given how he "pushed it" the other day with Gioacchino Soldati. To call in the cleaners now would be to nigh guarantee a turf war. One of the several outraged men firing rounds at Katashiro voices yet another conclusion derived from his presence: it must be true, then, that Katashiro conspired with Agakura to 'disappear' Higuro. Katashiro mockingly asks about a whistleblower rather than deny what he knows to be a falsehood. As for knowing who made up such a rumor, he is "like, ninety percent sure it's Gioacchino"—and immediately disappointed in himself for jumping to a conclusion from the altar of personal prejudice.

Unwilling to continue the gunfight lest the gunfire draw too much attention, Katashiro kicks and leaps his way up the hospital's walls to the roof, where he discovers a lad spinning a magic circle while talking of a sanctuary—whatever is meant by that. Although Katashiro arrives noiselessly, the lad jolts and turns his way a very familiar head on which rests a very tempting bounty. Unless Katashiro is mistaken, this must be... "Polka Shinoyama."

The confirmatory expression that harshens Polka's face is worth a cool 500,000,000 yen.

Majiri Agakura, observing this encounter via her bats, chuckles next to Xiaoyu Lei at this unexpected development. She murmurs that the time for Yumeji to be tested as a mediator seems to be fast approaching.

Yumeji's stamina and dodging skills are presently being tested by the beasts in the basement, of which there are at least four. Aware that the first beast may still be in the room above, Yumeji nevertheless asks Kana Agakura if she can reach the overhead hole with her wire. She says she can provided nothing interferes. Yumeji looks up to check for any such obstacles and spies a silhouette standing by the hole's edge. Should the newcomer side against the Agakura siblings, said siblings will find themselves in checkmate. Yumeji reluctantly decides that he will have to "throw in the towel" in that scenario.

The first beast roars and lunges for the newcomer, who catches its swinging hand in his bandaged one without looking. Then Lemmings does turn to look. He squeezes slowly. The beast's wrist cracks and pops until—inexorably—snapping altogether.

Referbacks

 * By "pushing it" with Gioacchino, Katashiro is referring to his murderous self-defense against Gioacchino's ambushing men in Chapter 87, whose corpses he suggested Gioacchino clean up.