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Spoilers

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From 122. Gettan sends his remaining Clovers to attack Mitsugos.h.i.+ HQ, they get annihilated easily of course.

Gettan decides to focus his efforts on Mitsugos.h.i.+.

Alexia drags Cid to the dojo to show her sword. He realizes she's gotten a lot stronger. He says it's a good sword. It's a dry convo but cute.

Cid becomes John Smith to check up on Yukimi. She has the counterfeit notes ready and tells him to check them. He bulls.h.i.+ts his way out of it, and everyone is sasuga. Yukimi reveals scars on her back and says that her aim is to get revenge on Gettan. John says revenge is ok.

John's job is to secure the area of their money factory. Mitsugos.h.i.+ Co sends in the 664 team to investigate. John uses thread arts to defeat them without injury and lets them go.

Next, they send in Delta. She realizes it's Cid by scent right away. He promises her to do anything for her (within limits) if she goes to Outlaw City to take care of Juggernaut. She's on a Super Duper Secret Mission so she can't report back to HQ. John doesn't want Alpha to know he's John just yet.

The report reaches HQ. The presume Delta is dead. Alpha is super mad.

Beta reports to Cid. He notes down all the details related to Mitsugos.h.i.+ Co. He uses some kind of mix script with Earth languages. Beta asks to learn it and he hands over a note with the script for them to a.n.a.lyse. Beta reports that Delta is gone. Cid tells her that she's just in a far away place now.

Gettan finds out about the counterfeit cash. He suspects Mitsugos.h.i.+ Co.

Alpha finds John Smith after he's done taking care of some soldiers employed by the merchants guild to check for counterfeits.

Alpha vs John Smith. Alpha reveals new powers combining vampire techniques by turning into mist. Eventually, Alpha realizes it's Shadow. John removes the mask. Takes out his sword. Alpha is defeated. John says that 'That had to be done' when asked about delta and 'I am John Smith now.' when asked if he's just pretending for a greater cause. Alpha is left there, abandoned.

The counterfeit scheme is going well. Merchant's Guild will a.s.suredly go bankrupt. Yukimi decides to truly reveal her past.

She and her mother lived frugally in a village. Gettan was her fiance. Some tribe war happened. Village burned and stuff. She and Gettan escaped. He reveals that he wanted power and takes out a red lozenge. Yukimi refuses and he reveals that he was the one who killed her mother. She loses consciousness and when she wakes up there's a lot of (not her own) blood and she's alone. Reminder (?): Gettan is blind with his eyes slashed. Yukimi wants to end him on every level.

Gettan is angry, they're going to go bankrupt. He suddenly suspects Yukimi could be behind this. Alexia barges into the dojo where her sister Iris is training. She reports the matter of the counterfeits. Iris says it's none of their business and none of hers. That she needs to train so she doesn't lose anymore. She's a touch frantic. Alexia is sad and disappointed.

The Seven of Shadow Garden are the only ones who know of their Master's sudden betrayer. Alpha is broken. Gamma decides she needs to pick up the slack herself. Suddenly Beta bursts in. The note from Shadow was decrypted. Alpha reads it and regains her smile. It says that he's sorry but he'll betray them. He talks about his plan to counterfeit the money and the location of the vault of gold they will acc.u.mulate via the scheme. Finally, he says that this will save them and asks them to figure it out. Sasuga all around! With the gold he has in that vault, only the merchant's guild will go bankrupt and Mitsugos.h.i.+ will survive. Suddenly, Delta comes back. Says she was on a Super Duper Secret Mission. Alpha thinks she's just being a r.e.t.a.r.d again. Her Master would never say that. They set off to collect the gold from the vault.

John is elated that he got to become a power in the shadows and also got enough money to last him a lifetime. He wants to bask in it and so checks the vault. It's empty. Suddenly, he gets a report that Yukimi was kidnapped by Gettan. He's mad now.

Gettan accuses Yukimi of the counterfeit money and she says yes, it was her. Gettan vs Yukimi. Yukimi reveals deepest lore nine tailed fox power. Gettan says that it's this power that blinded him so many years back. Yukimi defeats Gettan. Gettan pops a lozenge. Gettan defeats Yukimi.

She wakes up on horseback behind Gettan. Gettan says he's going to get that gold from her vault. She asks why they couldn't fight together all those years ago. Gettan says that there are some things ordinary people can't handle. He says that he's a 3rd of the Order now. He gets mad after their argument and starts strangling her. John Smith appears. He says to return the thing precious to him.

Seeing John come to her rescue Yukimi's heart goes doki doki. John keeps telling Gettan to Say what he has to say while summarily beating him. Finally, Gettan drops a bunch of the lozenges into his mouth, going berserk.

John beats super mutant Gettan easily. Says to tell him again. Gettan, returning to sanity by dying, says that John a good guy who protects his loved ones. He points at Yukimi and mutters Yu…ki (Note: Snow. Also reminder: it's winter now.) before dying. John heals the scars on Yukimi's back and tells her to be on her way, he has stuff to do.

Yukimi goes back to find her vault empty. Alpha reveals herself. She reveals the ident.i.ty of the true enemy in the shadows, the connection of Shadow Garden with Mitsugos.h.i.+ and proposes a partners.h.i.+p with Yukimi's Snowfox Co.They shake on it. (s.e.xy vixen joins the harem!) Yukimi decides that her revenge has yet to end.

Last chapter of Arc 6. Mitsugos.h.i.+ has the gold to back up their fiat money, business as usual. Merchant's Guild has gone bankrupt. John is digging through the snow where Gettan pointing, thinking the gold is under there. Delta is helping. Delta wants to call in on that favor. He talks about Santa, and how he's an a.s.shole that never gave him what he truly wanted. Delta calls him out and wants that favor. He decides to bulls.h.i.+t his way out of hit. Says he's going on a journey and to think up what she wants for when he returns. In truth, he doesn't want to see Alpha right now cause she's probably mad at him. He decides to let time resolve it and heads for Oriana for his winter break…

End of spoilers.

144. That Ordinary Boy is Revealed to be—!

In a back alley within the Oriana Kingdom, now occupied by the Doem Faction, I was surrounded by soldiers, low level grunts basically.

"He's looks s.h.i.+fty. Kill him." Said one of them while another pulled out his sword.

I immediately lowered my head submissively.

"P-please, spare me, mercy, please—!"

"—Begone."

My pleas were all but fruitless and a sword was already making its way to cull my life.

I sighed, and kicked it away.

The sword broke off in the middle flew off with a clang.

"—Wha!?"

"Come on, you could've at least gone "He looks s.h.i.+fty, capture him"." I said to the grunts who only kept staring eyes wide.

"What in the f.u.c.k are you talking abo—!?"

"All I wanted to be was a no-name citizen getting rolled up in the domestic turmoil."

An ordinary boy unjustly accused and captured.

However, soon after they captured him, the soldiers of the occupying forces began to disappear in the dark of the nights. Slowly at first, then more and more, until only that no-name boy and the leaders.h.i.+p of the army remained.

Just who is this mysterious boy—? Sounds thrilling, right?

"On your guards, he might be trouble…"

The soldiers surrounding me all drew their swords now.

"Seriously, you guys are the 10 group already. This is getting bothersome." I muttered.

One leader-seeming soldier came up front and said, "Am I supposed to believe you're responsible for the recent a.s.sa.s.sinations of our men? A kid like you… no matter, we shall make sure now."

"Too late. That won't make me a 'no-name' boy." I told the man as I sliced off his neck with my slime sword.

His gaze, that of a decapitated head, turned to the sky. The moonlit sky from a back alley tainted with blood splatter.

"F-fiend! Kill him!"

"Hey, maybe I'll get lucky with the 11th…" I muttered after nonchalantly finis.h.i.+ng off the grunts.

This kind of felt like being a secret a.s.sa.s.sin I guess.

The fight was over fast and the smell of blood permeated around me. I checked my clothes.

Good. Not a drop on them.

I had failed in my goal yet again, but I did manage to get some clues out of the exchange.

Currently, this royal capital was being occupied by some faction and men of this faction were being a.s.sa.s.sinated as of late.

That, might be mostly my doing.

Meaning, maybe I might get captured under suspicions that I'm a spy or a.s.sa.s.sin. Of course, I'll still be a lowly falsely charged mob.

If that's the case, maybe I should've gotten some blood on me after all. Then again, that itself could make it too obvious.

I was walking out of the alley while thinking, when I sensed multiple presences approaching.

I determined their number via sound and mana signatures… 7 of them, should be soldiers.

They might be looking for the bunch I left back there.

"Oh, this could work."

I fell on my a.s.s in front of the alley and waited.

Soon—

"D-dead, in the alley, they're…!" I pointed down the alley and croaked in a terrified voice, making sure the soldiers were within earshot.

I took especial note to be on the verge of sobbing, like a helpless mob.

"What!? Dammit, don't tell me—"

The soldiers rushed into the alley.

"Dammit! It keeps happening!"

"f.u.c.k, once we catch him, I'm swear I'll!"

"Oi, kid! You see who it was!?"

One of them screamed at me as I was pretending my knees had given out.

"I, I, no… I didn't see, nothing…" I said, shaking like a frightened pup.

"You, you look like an outlander." The soldier's eyes turned sharp.

"I, yes. I'm a student from Midgar…"

"From Midgar eh. Why would someone like you be here now…?"

"I, I came to see if a friend was doing alright… I swear, please, please believe me!"

The soldier's eyes remained sharp.

"Very well. One more thing— Why would you be walking the streets in the dead of the night?"

"I, uh, needed some air…"

"Some air eh. Do you expect me to believe someone would try to go out on a pleasure walk in the current state of this country? And here in the capital no less?"

"I-it's true! Wait, please don't tell me you suspect me of causing that!? I, I could never do something, so, so horrible!"

"Hmph…" After a final glance at me, the soldier turned his eyes towards the alley. "All 9 of them were killed by a single stroke… You're right. You don't look the type to have done all that but… show me your sword anyway."

"Yes, of course." I presented my blade. As a mob, I make sure to equip a normal sword at my hip.

"Cheap iron… and it's clean."

"D-do you believe me now…?"

"I will admit that the chances of you killing them all is very low."

"T-thank you…"

"But you're still a suspect, and the fact that you're here itself doesn't smell right at all."

"Wait, no…!"

"Oi, capture him!"

"Come on, please believe me! I'm but a simple and plain, innocent civilian!"

Nice. I went the mob-but-kind-of-suspect route and it worked out like a charm!

I did a mental fist pump as I was tied up and dragged away.

145. Concentration Camp

I was given a lax pat down.

The kingdom of Oriana was in a state where war could break as early as tomorrow. They obviously don't have time to spare for a mob like me.

I had a mana sealing collar put on me and was taken to a large building.

"You'll be staying in this camp."

"Camp?"

"Lord Doem# is in the process of purging the Royalists. Prisons are all full."

"I see."

"Well, good luck, kid. Whether you can live or die in here all depends on your choices."

"Huh, what choi—"

The soldier guiding me put on a knowing grin, opened the large iron door and shoved me inside.

The door was shut behind me with a thud as I took in my surroundings.

What I'd been imagining was some dreary, medieval-fantasy dungeon of solid stone, but this was certainly not that.

In very few words, it was a big courtyard surrounded by tall walls.

The floor was paved with stone, and the place was packed with prisoners.

Some of them looked to be sleeping in tattered clothes, some just sat there with dead eyes and looked at me. Still others were standing in groups, discussing something or other. Seems they've made factions here.

Our jailors stood atop the tall walls, overseeing everything.

Actually, those walls looked like they had rooms attached to them. The prisoners seemed to be granted free entry into them.

Not as rigid as I'd imagined.

First of all, I needed to secure a place to sleep. I began walking with that purpose in mind.

And, "Ho, newcomer."

Came a voice from the side.

I turned to see a tall, thuggish man with unkempt hair. My internal Bandit Radar began tingling right away.

I was 100% positive. This guy was a bandit.

"You are…?"

"The name's Zack. Long story short, I'm a nice guy who teaches new blood like you how it works around here." Said Zack, eyeing me like prey.

"M-my name's Cid#. Thank you so much, I really don't know what to do…"

"I feel ya, buddy. Them fuzz catch you and throw you in here and there's nothin' you can do about it. I totally get that you're scared." Zack said while patting my shoulder.

He then closed in and whispered so only I could hear, "Listen, Cid. Food, bed, fun, none of that's equal in this here camp. Look over there."

Zack pointed at a group of people huddled in a corner. All of them looked thin, ragged.

"The people in this camp are largely divvied up into 3 groups. Those ones you see over there are the worst off and also has the most people. They're what we call the Trash. Useless trash who aren't worth a d.a.m.n. They get a few gulps of water and even less food. Just waiting to die. They're trash who have no power, or smarts, or even info… Now, look over there."

Next, Zack pointed at a group of people who were standing and talking amongst each other.

"Those are the Royalists. They're all idiots who went against Lord Doem and are now in here. They get the bare minimum food and bed. They're also our targets."

"Our?"

"Yeah, our group. The Doem Camp. We got people who betrayed the Royalists to people like me, actual criminals. Us in the Doem Camp gets good food, comfy bedding, and a few other, privileges."

"… Privileges?"

"I'll give you and example. You see, they don't give one d.a.m.n if he beat and kill any of the Trash— like this!" Zack kicked down a nearby man.

The ragged man cried out and ran away, and the guards on the walls watched the whole thing happen.

They said not a word of warning to Zack.

Making a bemused smile, Zack once again came close and spoke into my ears. "It ain't like fights and killing each other are allowed in here. But the guys up top will ignore it. Still, doesn't mean we can go around killing every f.u.c.ker that gives us the stink eye. Even Trash can be useful once in a while. And needlessly antagonising them isn't a good idea. You still with me, Cid? It's curious right? How we can get away with all this."

"Y-yeah, it is."

"Here's how it works… it's all 'cause we keep an eye on those Royalists and leak any info we get to the guards. Do that, and we easily get food, bed, and those nice privies. Sweet deal, yeah?"

"By, uh, info…?"

"Anything they don't want us to know. Get us some good info, and you're on the Doem side, p.r.o.nto. And if the info is really good, useful even, you can some fun too. We even got wh.o.r.es."

"B-but, how am I supposed to…"

"I get it, really do. How're you supposed to know anything? Think. Jog that noggin a little. Only Royalist traitors have that kind of inside intel, right? Now, how did someone like me get in?"

"I, uh…"

"Honestly, there's a lotta ways to go about it. One, you could try capture one of them and drag him in for some good ol torture. Well, they're also on guard lately, so that might not be so easy. And the guards can't ignore it if you go overboard.

"Two, you could try getting in their faction and gleam intel that way. They're on guard for those too, so something like that can take some real skill.

"Three, eavesdrop. They won't make it easy, but you can definitely try.

"And four, there's that fact that they likely have people who're pretty willing to sell. Really, anyone would get tired of it eventually. They'd want food, booze. They'd want to get their d.i.c.ks wet. But alas, they're still Royalists and the guards aren't exactly inclined to believe anything they'd say. That's where we come in. We make it so that they can get that food, booze, and wh.o.r.es they're starving for."

"I, understand…"

"I'm sure you do, Cid. You now understand very well that if you do nothing, you'll be part of the Trash. Useless, worthless trash. The only you can survive in here is either get us some info, or try to get the Royalists' trust."

"B-but, how…"

"I'm a nice guy, Cid. So this is all I can do. Tell you what, you get anything good, and you come to me. I know some real nice guys among the guards, so we can definitely work something out." Zack said, giving me an obviously shady grin.

"Thank you, thank you so much, Zack#!"

"Best of luck, kid."

"Oh, uh, Zack, please wait!" I called as he was about to walk away.

"What's up?"

"I— Actually, I might know something really good." I said in a whisper.

"… Huh. You know, if that info's something bogus, those jailors won't let you off with just a little beating. How about I hear you out, before you go to them."

"Can we, uh… go something a bit private?"

"Sure thing. Follow me."

Following after Zack, I went beyond the walls.

Inside were hallways of stone with cells on either side, containing prisoners here and there.

"The only guys who get private quarters are us Doem Camp and a small part of the Royalists. The Trash get to huddle down in the hallways, or just sleep outside. That said, we have our own territory in these halls and outside. You sleep there just cause it's empty and… you might not wake up. Get it?"

"… Of course."

"In here." We walked some ways into the hallway and Zack opened a door.

"This here's my crib. Not bad eh?" Zack said with grin after closing the door.

It was the size of an average bedroom#. More than enough for one person to live comfortably. There was a clean bed, a few sets of clothes, books, a board game, and even p.o.r.n mags and a shelf with snacks.

"Well, this isn't the even close to what the big shots have. Heck, they say our boss held a stripper show at his place." Zack sad with a dirty grin.

"There we go, complete privacy. Now, let's hear it."

"Right, the real good info… yeah, I got nuthin."

"Huh— wh!?"

With a single step, I got into arms length of Zack, grabbed his neck and lifted him up. His feet now dangled in the air.

"Fuh, ker, yer, gon, pay, for…" Zack croaked in pain.

"Can't work the body without food. I mean, I can easily survive going on nothing for a month, but I'll get a little weaker if I do. So I really don't want to skip meals. I guess I can go out into town and eat. And, sleeping outside isn't really a problem… Oh but, I don't want to sleep outside in the rain, I guess." I spoke while gradually tightening my grip.

"St-stahhhp…"

"Mr. Zack#, you have two choices. Live, or die. Choose wisely now."

146. [New Volume Commemoration Side Story] His name is Kageno Minoru [Cid's Past Life]

Nis.h.i.+no Akane, an 11th grader in Sakurazaka Senior High, had a cla.s.smate she didn't like.

He had black hair and eyes and a plain face, yet he always looked tired, with deep bags under his eyes.

His name was Kageno Minoru. He was the boy that Nis.h.i.+no Akane really didn't like, and to make things worse, their seats were right next to each other.

Kageno Minoru, as his name might suggest#, was ordinary to the point of blending into the background.

With below average grades in academics and athletics, this boy had zero partic.i.p.ation in extracurricular clubs, had almost zero friends, but wasn't adverse to talking with others.

He was normal, ordinary, the type of student you'd see anywhere.

Akane hadn't disliked him at first. But neither did she hold any special affection towards him. She had a.s.sumed to know him as a cla.s.smate and just that.

Yet, after having interacted with him on multiple occasions, Akane had discovered an aspect to their relations.h.i.+p that she absolutely loathed.

This aspect being, their first greeting of the day.

Both Kageno Minoru and Nis.h.i.+no Akane would arrive to school each morning, barely as the gates were closed. Barely on time, every time.

And as such, they would meet at the school gates and exchange greetings.

"Good morning, Kageno-kun#."

Today too, Akane greeted this most hated boy at the gates.

"Good morning, Nis.h.i.+mursan."

Returned Kageno in his usual monotone.

It's Nis.h.i.+no, dammit!!

Screamed Akane in her head, maintaining her smile as she situated herself to her shoe locker.

They'd been in the same cla.s.sroom three months now. This had gone on every morning for three months.

The first month, Akane had figured that he'd correct it eventually, so when this pattern had continued past Golden Week, she had all but run out of patience.

She still remembered that conversation.

◆ ◇◆ ◇◆ ◇◆ ◇◆ ◇◆ ◇◆ ◇◆ ◇◆ ◇

"Um, Kageno-kun. My name isn't Nis.h.i.+mura, you know?"

"Huh?"

Kageno blinked, several times, as if Akane had said something out of this world.

"Wait, wasn't it Nis.h.i.+mura?"

"No, it's actually—"

"Wait wait, I remember now. You're technically not an NPC, after all."

"NPC?"

Akane wasn't familiar with the jargon.

"Uh, nevermind. Don't worry, I make sure to remember the names of any major players, but I tend to mess up at times, sadly."

"It's fine, anyone can mess up."

Akane smiled seeking Kageno was genuinely apologetic.

That smile didn't last long at all.

"I'm so sorry, Nis.h.i.+tani-san."

Akane wanted to knock the daylights out of this idiot. Her hand was balled up in a tight fist, barely baring it.

"… Nis.h.i.+no."

"… Huh?"

"My name, is Nis.h.i.+no."

The boy and girl looked at each other in awkward silence.

Akane then turned away to her shoe locker, refusing to speak any further to Kageno for that day.

— The next morning.

As usual, they met at the gates.

After sleeping on it, Akane thought that she might've been too harsh. Kageno didn't mean anything bad by it, and it was silly to get so worked up over someone just mistaking your name.

Considering all that, Akane made her greeting.

"Good morning, Kageno-kun."

"Good morning, Nis.h.i.+mursan."

It's, freaking, Nis.h.i.+no!! What is WRONG with you!!

Akane wanted to scream, but her perfect smile held perfectly.

She found it absolutely infuriating that Kageno was acting as if the talk yesterday hadn't happened at all.

He simply kept calling her Nis.h.i.+mura, and he simply kept never looking at her.

Any time they said good morning, any time they talked, he appeared to be looking at her, but his eyes always seemed to be seeing something different, as if he was looking past her.

She hated that.

That was the crux of it. It was never about getting her name wrong.

What Akane hated was the fact that he would never look at her.

That realization was what led her to completely detest him.

Hence, she decided that he was not worth her time.

They would still greet each other in the mornings but that was all.

Akane had given up on correcting him.

They sat next to each other, yet not a single conversation pa.s.sed. In cases where they absolutely had to speak to each other for cla.s.swork, Akane would keep it to the barest minimum.

She wanted to just completely and utterly ignore him. But she couldn't. Due to her own circ.u.mstances, Akane couldn't do anything too obvious.

Nis.h.i.+no Akane was a very popular girl.

Her beautiful black hair and stunning looks made her popular to boys and girls alike.

In addition to being a fulltime high schooler, she was also an actress.

The people in her cla.s.s of course knew of this extravagant occupation of hers. So if it was known that she, Akane, was in bad terms with Kageno, there was a chance that rumors, base and baseless rumors would spring up. Akane wanted to avoid that.

Akane's acting career began in her childhood. However, due to a certain scandalous event in junior high, she had to take a break from the limelight.

That incident had led to Akane always wearing a mask over her true emotions.

She kept up her grades so that teachers would like her, she was sociable as can be, so her cla.s.smates wouldn't hate her. She made sure no one would dislike her.

As such, she couldn't let that hateful Kageno hate her back. She couldn't let anyone else find out either. She killed her own emotions to achieve that goal.

And she'd maintained the facade each and every day.

◆ ◇◆ ◇◆ ◇◆ ◇◆ ◇◆ ◇◆ ◇◆ ◇◆ ◇

Today as well, Akane said nothing as Kageno got her name wrong for the umpteeth time.

With that piece of conversation over with, Akane spent the rest of her day in the cla.s.sroom without another word to the boy.

Akane didn't partic.i.p.ate in clubs. She would usually go home as soon as cla.s.ses ended. Today however, she had remedials. Due to her job, Akane missed many days, and so she needed to make up for her attendance using remedial lessons.

Due to those and other obligations, by the time she left school, night had fallen.

"Aaand my phone is down…" She sighed once outside the gates.

She would usually call their chauffeur to pick her up, but her batteries had alas, run out.

Walking would take her 30 minutes. Not really an issue there.

The early summer night breeze felt good on her skin, so Akane decided to walk.

To be honest, it had been a long time since she'd walked home. Doing the walking bus back in elementary being the last time, she recalled.

Starting from junior high, her family had arranged a car and driver for her, and she had gone and went like that ever since.

So, after so long, walking on her own two feet felt nice, refres.h.i.+ng even. She didn't even care that it was dark out.

That had made her complacent.

Suddenly, a black van was behind her, and a burly man came out. She had noticed it all too late.

"—Eh?"

Before she was even aware of her situation, the man had her in a stranglehold.

"Ah…"

Her neck felt tight, and within a few seconds, she was out cold.

The last thing she saw was an all too familiar cla.s.smate, running her way.

◆ ◇◆ ◇◆ ◇◆ ◇◆ ◇◆ ◇◆ ◇◆ ◇◆ ◇

"…Ugh."

Akane woke up in a dark warehouse.

Her hands and legs were tied down and her mouth was gagged.

She still felt dazed. Right, black van, the big man, he strangled her and… someone was coming, she seemed to recall.

"Mm! Mmm!!" She cried for help, or at least tried. The gag didn't help.

"Oh? She's awake." said a voice from behind her.

The instant she heard that hoa.r.s.e voice, Akane froze.

"Keep quiet. Wouldn't want to get hurt now, would we?"

He was a big man, perhaps over 6 feet tall. His clothes stuck to him revealing a trained, muscular body.

Behind him was another man. He was the man who had strangled and kidnapped her.

"We already send the ransom note to your folks, Missy#. We get the money, you get out in one piece. Very simple."

The big man smiled at her fiendishly.

"Some luck eh? Precious daughter# of the Nis.h.i.+no Conglomerate walking all alone at night. It's like you're asking the bad men to catch you."

Heehee, he laughed mockingly while approaching Akane who was utterly unable to move.

"Mmm!!"

Get away!

She failed to scream.

Akane writhed in her bindings, desperate to distance herself from the man.

"None of that now."

The man grabbed Akane's slender leg and pulled her to him.

He then lifted her chin and gazed down on her face close.

"Well I'll be. That's the face of an actress for you. Pretty girl."

"Mm! Mmmm!!"

She tried to shake him off.

"Don't test me!"

The man slapped her, hard.

"—!!"

"I f.u.c.king said, none of that!"

Akane felt the texture of blood inside her mouth. Tears held back until now streamed down her face.

The big man was breathing roughly as he moved his hand from her chin to her neck, from her neck to her shoulder.

"Pretty girl like you shouldn't be so careless. Ah right, this isn't your first time being kidnapped right?"

Akane's movements stopped with a snap.

"Yeah, back when you were in junior high, right. Wasn't it some stalker?"

Memories she wanted to forget resurfaced in her mind.

Akane's whole body shook in trepid anxiety.

"Heck, I can even relate, with how pretty you are. Come on, Missy, what's gotten you so scared?"

"… Mm! MmmMmmMmm!!"

"Give it a rest, no one's coming here."

Akane used every bit of her strength to struggle, to resist the large man's bulging arms.

—Help!

She screamed, and,

The sound of gla.s.s shattering echoed throughout the warehouse.

"Who's there!?"

Turning, the man saw a broken window.

Moonlight entered through the broken window, s.h.i.+ning down on the individual standing atop the broken gla.s.s.

He wore a black hoodie and sweatpants with black work boots, in addition to a black ski mask that hid his face.

This extremely shady individual in all black might as well have been one of the kidnappers.

Clack, clack, clack.

Clacked his boots as he slowly approached.

"th'f.u.c.k are you!!" The big man roared.

"Oh me—? Well, I'm the… Stylish Badguy Slayer." He stopped walking to adjust his ski mask.

"f.u.c.kin' wise guy! Get 'im!"

Right as the big man ordered, and his partner, who had sneaked up behind the ski mask man, swung down his bat.

Right from the blindspot— yet, as if he had eyes on the back of his head, the ski mask man dodged it easily.

"—What the!?"

"I could see your shadow in the moonlight— beginner mistake." Said the ski mask man simply. He then turned and slugged the men behind him. Due to his black clothes and the dark environment (among other things), his punch was practically invisible.

There was a low thud, and the kidnapper accomplice dropped. And stayed there.

"Straight punch to the jaw. You… you're no amateur."

The big man released Akane and stood up. He loudly cracked his neck and glared at the ski mask man.

"Too bad for you, I was in the army."

The big man drew his knife and lowered into a stance. He too was no amateur.

"A veteran… Yes, good. I wanted to fight a military man."

Said the ski mask man as he also lowered into a stance. A practiced stance.

The two men sized each other up in the dim light.

They slowly closed their distance, then—

"Die!!" The big man slashed.

As expected of a veteran, his speed belied what his large frame might suggest. His movements were swift and minimal.

The ski mask man, for his end, raised an arm to block the knife coming for his neck.

The knife connected, with a sharp clang.

"How!?"

The ski mask man had stopped the knife with his bare hand.

No, looking closer, he was holding something.

He was holding a black… crowbar.

The ski mask man held the crowbar almost like a tonfa.

"Y-you're using, a crowbar!?"

"Crowbars are great. Super tough, hard to break. Easy to have it in hand, and even if you're taken in for questioning, it's just inconspicuous enough to make up a good excuse. Best of all— I can use it just like a tonfa"

"What!?"

The next instant, the ski mask man had already drawn back his arm.

The crowbar swung an arc just like a real tonfa and struck the big man in the arm.

The big man was disarmed as his knife flew off.

"f.u.c.k!"

The big man took a boxing stance.

Crowbar met fist.

Hardened muscles pummeled on metal pole.

The two men exchanged blows under moonlit darkness.

But gradually, the ski mask man was losing ground. Each time he would block the powerful fists of the much larger man, he would draw back. Step after step.

"Heh. I can work with his."

The big man said after a handful more punches.

"You're not bad. I can tell you've been in more than a few fights. But you can't win here. You're barely 5 foot 5. 130 pounds tops. Me, I'm 6'4 and over 250. I'm just bigger, that's it. You might have a crowbar, but I'm safe so long as I protect my head. On the flipside, you'll go down if you take just one of my punches. You're out of luck, chump."

The big man proclaimed all this with a grin.

The ski mask man replied calmly. "Correct. As I am now, I can't handle a veteran. A sad truth… So, let's get serious."

The ski mask man changed his stance.

"—You what?"

"I saw great potential in the crowbar. It's almost exactly like a tonfa, it's light, it's tough, it's portable. It truly is a weapon with great potential. Night after night, I bashed this against the biker gangs#, finally to discover its true worth…"

"— Wait! You, you're the freak going around bas.h.i.+ng biker gangs with a single crowbar, you're the Ski Mask Berserker!?"

It's been said that it's because of him that the local biker gangs have adopted to all wearing helmets. The helmet would protect their heads at least.

"The truth of the crowbar that I reached after countless biker gang bas.h.i.+ngs… that is, that rather than using it like a tonfa, it's better to just bash it!!"

The ski mask man then proceeded to swing his crowbar down on the big man's face.

A wide swing, but incredibly fast.

Almost by instinct, the big man raised his arms to block— there was a dull thud.

"f.u.c.k, my, arm…" Groaned the big man holding his left arm.

"Broke, didn't it? This is the true potential of the crowbar. The trick is to bash with the corner of the L. The force gets concentrated like that."

And so he bashed.

"Gah!! Wai, no…"

And he bashed.

"Sto, shtapid alre…"

And he bashed and bashed some more.

"Urgh… oof…"

And he just kept on bas.h.i.+ng and bas.h.i.+ng and bas.h.i.+ng!

Dull thuds echoed continuously within the warehouse.

It was a veritable storm of pure violence.

The ski mask man simple kept bas.h.i.+ng on, and at some point, the big man wasn't moving anymore.

The crowbar dripped with blood.

"Not enough… I can't even beat a veteran yet… I need, power…"

He turned to face the moon outside the broken window.

"I need more power…#"

He uttered bitterly.

It was as if he was reaching for the moon itself with his bare hands, an impossibility.

He shook his head as if struggling against the harshness that is reality.

He then picked up the knife the big man had dropped and came up to Akane.

"Mmmm!!"

Sensing as if her life was in danger, Akane struggled in futility to escape, but the knife was already on its way.

"Mm?"

The knife had cut, away Akane's bindings.

Now freed, Akane looked up at the ski mask wearing, crowbar wielding, all in back shady individual.

He also looked at her.

"Take more care on your way home." He said to her, and then left.

Akane could only watch him in a daze as he walked away. It was only after he was gone that she realized that he'd saved her.

"Stylish Badguy Slayer… just who is he…"

The only sound in the warehouse was that quiet mutter.

◆ ◇◆ ◇◆ ◇◆ ◇◆ ◇◆ ◇◆ ◇◆ ◇◆ ◇

The following day, despite her parents' worries Akane attended school as usual.

She still felt frightened recalling the events of the previous day, but then, remembering Stylish Badguy Slayer caused her to smile somehow.

"Heheh… Stylish Badguy Slayer, so lame."

Pa.s.sing the school gates, once again, there he was, that detestable boy.

"Good morning, Kageno-kun."

"Good morning, Nis.h.i.+no-san."

"—Huh?"

Stunned, Akane stopped in her tracks.

Kageno pa.s.sed her by and headed for the shoe lockers.

He, Kageno, he didn't mistake her name. Also, she also felt like he was actually looking at her that time.

"Could it be… nah."

Akane smiled and followed after him.

"Wait for me! Kageno-kun!"

She figured she might as well try to talk to him, just a little.

147. Mystery Man

Zack was struggling hard with his throat in my grasp, but my fingers didn't budge.

"Cough… ghrr…"

Finally seeing fear welling up in the man's eyes, I slightly loosened my grip.

"What do I gotta do…"

"Right… I'm going to need a room, can you get me that?"

"N-not right away. I'll need a month."

I looked into his eyes as he spoke. He didn't seem to be lying.

"I see. Well whatever. Actually, suddenly getting myself a room will make me stand out. I just need a roof over my head is all. I'll sleep in the hallways I guess."

"Sure thing. I'll get you a spot…"

"Also, I'll need meals, well balanced meals. If you can't get that, I'm afraid I won't need you."

"Y-you won't need me…?"

"Nope, not at all."

I tighten my grip momentarily.

"Oh, Ok, ok ok! I can do meals, three meals a day, no problemo!"

"Thanks a bunch. Next… info yeah, I'll need that. This place looks like it'll be fun. Lots of intrigue."

"… I'll answer anything I know."

"Then, let's talk about our relations.h.i.+p. You said you're with the Doem Camp, yes? I don't want to pick a side just yet. I'll be Trash."

"… Then I suggest you don't talk to me in public. How am I getting you the food?"

"I'll have it in this room. I can come in without anyone noticing, so it's not an issue."

"… Sure."

Zack had on an extremely bitter expression.

"Yeah, that's enough for now. I'll find you when I need something again."

"Yeah, you do that."

I let go of his neck. He sat down and looked up at me while ma.s.saging his throat.

"Who the h.e.l.l are you? How come you're this strong when we're not supposed to have mana…"

"Who can say…"

"You're no student. A spy… no, someone from the underworld…"

"Perhaps, but would I really reveal that?" I said, putting some strength in my gaze.

"…Tsk" Zack tsked and looked away.

"f.u.c.king politics… whatever, I ain't involved, just do whatever you gotta do."

"That I will, Mr. Zack. That I will."

"… Yeah, sure."

I turn my back to the dejected Zack and grab the door handle.

"Ah, right. I don't think I need to tell you, but do keep this on the hush hush."

"… I know."

"Just a friendly warning. You see, I honestly don't care if I have to kill you and everyone else in your little Doem Camp—" I said, momentarily releasing a strong helping of mana and bloodl.u.s.t.

"—Wha!? But your mana's supposed to be…"

"As if this trinket can seal me…" I said finally, opening the door and exiting the room.

"… f.u.c.k me with a sledgehammer. I just had to pick up a freakin' monster…"

Listening in to Zack's muttering from the other side, I did another mental fist pump.

148. Not Enough Calories At All

The Trash in the concentration camp get one meal a day.

All these hobo-like gents would line up in the in the courtyard and await their share. On the menu today, we have hard bread and soup.

As I took my meal, I noticed the surrounding gazes locking on to me.

They're thinking they'll pick it off of me, the b.u.mbling newcomer.

They think they're not making it obvious, but it's really obvious.

I mean, I have a good meal waiting for me courtesy of Mr. Zack, so I could just make like a mob and get it taken from me, but I'm just a little curious about this too.

Welp, whatever happens.

I make a show of hiding my food by cradling it and quickly make my way away from the crowd.

Basically, I'm saying they can take it, but I'll put up a fight.

I managed to cross the courtyard without incident and made it to the spot of hallway Mr. Zack reserved for me.

"Alright, here goes nothing…"

I started with the soup.

It was garnished with vegetable sc.r.a.ps and just a few beans. Tasted… slightly salty.

Like, it was bad, but I could eat it.

The bread was also bad, kind of bitter too. The bigger pieces were sort of better.

Tolerable if you dipped it in the soup first.

In summary: Edible, but just bad.

The meal was utterly lacking in protein. The only source of protein would be these tiny beans.

And not enough calories at all. A paltry 500 Cals at most.

I couldn't imagine this'd be enough to cover a day's worth of energy.

No wonder they're all skin and bones… I can understand the desire to steal.

"Ho, newcomer."

Two men approached as I was eating.

They were both thin and ragged, but their eyes still had a glint to them.

"Do us a solid will ya?"

"W-what do you want?"

I made like a small, scared animal trying to defend itself.

"Nothing much, just hand over the food."

"Eh, um, but this is the only meal we get today…"

"Shaddap and hand it over!"

So the threats began.

"Hand over the food, and you don't get hurt. Try anything and you're still in for pain after we take your food. Get my logic? Now let's just make it easy for all of us."

"N-no, I…"

"Tsk… f.u.c.ken r.e.t.a.r.d."

One of them grabbed my collar and shoved me against the wall.

"He'll get it after a punch or three." He said and raised his fist.

"You will stop." Interrupted the voice of a girl.

"f.u.c.k off, bitc—!?"

"Wait, that's…"

Standing there in the hallway, was a beautiful girl. She had on prisoner garb like the rest of us, and had pink blond hair. She kind of resembled someone.

"Let him go, now."

The two men relented to pink blondie staring them down.

"Tsk, we're done here…"

"Uh, yeah…"

My collar was released and the men scurried away.

"T-thanks so much. You are…"

"It's all right now." The pink blond beauty smiled rea.s.suringly.

This camp had few female prisoners. Most of them were women prepared for the Doem Camp, but I had a feeling this girl here wasn't one of those.

"Food is quite scarce for everyone. You'd best eat your fill quickly."

"Th-, yes…"

"You may speak to me if anything—"

"Lady Clara, this boy was seen speaking to a man of the Doem Camp."

A tough looking dude came up from behind pink blondie. He looked like he didn't like me.

"Was he… but he surely didn't know."

"Be that as it may, we must tread with caution…."

"… Of course."

"Um, I, uh, Zack just told me about a bunch of stuff and, so…"

"That is fine. Um… this isn't exactly the kindest place to be, so stay safe."

The girl, along with the tough dude, then left. As he pa.s.sed me, the guy gave me another glare.

I made a show of being scared out of my wits and stayed like that until they were gone.

Then I muttered, "… Major player, right there."

Mr. Zack should be able to tell me who that is while I eat.

Her name was Clara huh, she really did remind me of… right, her.

She looked a lot like Miss Rose#. Maybe she's related to Oriana royalty?

149. When it's All Over

I breached Zack's room with him completely unawares.

"—!? Oh, it's you. How'd you even do that…"

Once he noticed I was there, Zack's eyes bulged in shock.

Hehehe, nice reaction. I really liked this guy and his totally cliche reactions.

"Here's that meal. Have at it." He said, handing me a plate full of food.

"Thanks. I'll borrow the table."

"Be my guest."

Time for the moment of truth.

On the menu this time, we have bread and cream stew, along with steak and vegetables.

Simple and plentiful.

The bread was actually white on the inside and smelled pretty good.

The cream stew had a variety of veggies and lots of chicken in each spoonful. Not bad at all.

The steak was big. An 18 ouncer I reckon. The meat was lean with little fat, cooked soft and juicy. Just how I like it.

It was a far cry from real gourmet food, but it was delicious in a normal way. Best of all was the fact that there was so much of it.

"I didn't imagine there'd be food this good served at a concentration camp."

"The country may be f.u.c.ked, but it's still the Country of Art. Our average quality of food is on the upside."

"Makes sense."

In the future, when it's all over, it might not be so back to move here.

I have a dream. A dream, to be a power in the shadows.

But once I do that, once I'm satisfied with it to the fullest extent, I wonder what I'll do with the rest of my life? I'd sometimes ponder such things during my days of constant training.

I could become a power outside of the shadows, I could become a demon lord set on destroying the world, or I could become something like a master who trains future heroes. I thought on a lot of possibilities and ended up on something very simple.

I'd want a life where I could eat good food every day and sleep to my heart's desire. I'd be happy with just that much.

I'd spend my whole life at full throttle only to end up at a slow cruise.

Yes, that, just makes sense to me.

"What if I poisoned you?"

"Who do think you're dealing with? I can tell poison by smell."

I really can't.

Doesn't really matter when I can break down any poison with mana.

"Good nose on ya. Wish I had one. Especially that one time, back when I was still in the business yeah, one of my boys tried to poison me. Not a fun time, let me tell ya. Made it out of that alive, but as you can see, it all went to s.h.i.+t and here I am."

Zack began talking despondently.

"Gimme a sword and I can fight. This d.a.m.ned country, I tell ya, magiswords# aren't worth a d.a.m.n. Stealing pays more than working for some r.e.t.a.r.d n.o.ble. I honestly thought I'd make it like that… yeah, all in the past. Royalists didn't give a d.a.m.n about magiswords and it bit 'em back in the b.a.l.l.sack when Doem used 'em to take over. Some irony."

Okay.

"Talk to me about that Clara girl."

I was done eating now, so I went on to the main topic.

"Why do ya gotta ask me. You should know all there is to her a lot better."

"Sure I do, but maybe I don't know everything about the here and now. No loss in making sure my own intel matches up with everything else. Apt diligence, leads to a longer life…" I narrow my eyes and smile meaningfully.

"Tsk, you know your stuff. I really can't tell you a lot."

"Not a problem."

"…Hmph." Zack let out a snort and started talking. "Should be obvious from the name, but Clara Oriana is that infamous Rose Oriana's little sister. She tried to go against the Doem Faction early on, got caught, ended up here. Still, she's royalty, and they can't execute her right away. Even Lord Doem is having trouble on how to deal with her, but that ain't the real story at all apparently."

"Go on…"

"Clara Oriana is a big face of the anti-Doem flag. She's got a lot of people listening to her. Even here in the camp…"

Zack raised a corner of his mouth in a smirk.

"Apparently, Lord Doem's tryna use Clara Oriana to gather in the people opposed to him so he can get rid of 'em all at once. That's it. What did I tell ya, it's not a lot. Don't you know a lot more?"

"Perhaps…" I hid my mouth behind my fingers and, with serious eyes, stared directly at Zack. "Care to know…?"

Naturally, I didn't know a thing, so I used some instmana release to add on the 'pressure'.

"—!! C-cut it out, I said I didn't give a d.a.m.n about the politics!"

"—Wise decision."

My smile was a smile that implied dark, terrible secrets…

With an att.i.tude as if I see all and know all, I acted the part of a power in the shadows. It's not a matter of my speech but also my mannerisms from my eyes to my fingertips.

This is it, this is perfection!

"Come on, man, this ain't good for my heart…"

Zack wiped off the sweat he'd been building up and got up.

"I got business to take care of. Boss called."

"Your boss…?"

"Yeah… Doem Camp boss."

Zack said with irritably before finally leaving the room.

"Good…"

Nothing to do other than tail him.

150. Code 0

Through empty hallways, Zack headed towards the bas.e.m.e.nt.

Going past aged corridors that stank of rusted iron, he stopped before a large door. He retrieved a key from his breast pocket and turned the lock. Checking behind him to make sure he hadn't been tailed, Zack entered the room.

I heard the lock click as soon as the door was closed.

I too checked my surroundings and seeing no one there, I revealed myself.

I turned the door handle. Locked, as expected.

I jutted some slime into the keyhole and picked the lock. Lockpicking is something I learned in my past life so it was a breeze. What's a power in the shadows if he can't open a few closed doors?

Incidentally, I have my slimes hidden inside my body so they won't find anything even with a full pat down.

I checked the presences on the other side and, determining it to be safe, stealthily entered the room.

It was a large, dimly-lit room. A celler of sorts.

At the back of the room, there was a lit lamp with a number of men gathered around it.

I sneaked closer and hid behind a crate. I checked and the crate was empty.

The men were discussing something in the dark room. Zack was among them.

"Boss, we're all here like you ordered."

"Seems so…"

The man who the others seemed to defer to as their boss stepped forward. I'd imagined him to be something like a boss grunt, but he turned out to be a lot younger.

In his early 20s, most likely.

He had gray hair extending down to his shoulders and was well featured. He was no grunt. In fact, he even looked sort of intelligent.

From his musculature and posture, I could tell that he was trained in martial arts.

He didn't have the air of an prisoner at all.

I like it. Breaking the mold and all that.

"Well met, brothers. The Doem Faction is pleased with your various contributions."

The boss said with a practiced voice, casting his gaze over the surrounding men.

He then proceeded to ask each one of them what he desired.

I see, so the thing about giving it to a guard was a lie.

"Zack, what about you?"

"I want— food. Good food and more of it. Enough for two people at least."

Nicely done Mr. Zack!

"Gonna put on 'em pounds, Zack!"

Zack cringed from the surrounding jeers.

"Boss, let's have another stripper show with the boys!"

"That s.h.i.+t's great, boss!"

"Again? …Try to keep it in moderation, men."

Like that, Mr. handsome bossman listened to everyone's requests one by one.

And once he was done, his face turned serious for the first time.

"Brothers, we are in difficult times. Lately, there have been more attempts to cull our numbers. Why only yesterday, a coach carrying officers was a.s.saulted, resulting in 7 dead."

For a moment, I thought that was talking about me, but I didn't leave the camp yesterday, so it must be someone else.

"He's skilled. Every time he's killed, he's done so without a sound. We've taken to calling him OWL."

OWL, eh… sounds important.

"And believe it or not, there are signs that this b.a.s.t.a.r.d OWL is in this camp."

That got a slight reaction out of Zack.

"Zack, something the matter?"

"N-nothin', boss…"

Zack lowered his gaze to escape from his boss's overpowering stare.

"This OWL likely wants to get in contact with Clara Oriana. We must find him before he does. Is that clear?"

All the men nodded.

"Then that is all for now… no, there is one last matter. We have a traitor amongst us."

The bossman drew a knife and poised it towards Zack.

"—You."

And with surprising speed, he threw it.

Other than me, none of the men gathered could dodge a throw like that.

The knife grazed past Zack's ears and sunk into the face of the man behind him.

"This is the fool who dared to leak our info to the Royalists."

The other men simply looked on silently as the traitor bled and died.

"That is all. You all may leave."

And leave they did without a moment to spare.

"—Zack."

Zack, however, was the only one told to stay.

"You're— not hiding something, are you?"

The bossman looked at Zack with chilled eyes.

"N-never, boss." Zack squeaked while seating bullets.

"—All right. I will believe you." The bossman patted Zack on the shoulder once, and left the celler.

Now left alone, Zack heaved a shuddering sigh and wiped off his sweat.

Which is when I decided to also pat his shoulder.

"Oo, ooooahh!? Wait what!! You!! What the actual f.u.c.k!!"

Mr. Zack got extremely freaked, and then seriously angry.

"Oops, didn't mean to do that. Thanks for keeping the secret."

"Like I have a choice. He'd kill me soon as I told."

"Likely, yes."

"But d.a.m.n, so you're really that OWL…"

"Truthfully, I'm really not."

"… Wait, you're not?"

Zack didn't seem very convinced.

"I never went out yesterday. This OWL is likely someone similar to me."

"Yeah, sure. You think you can pa.s.s any info about OWL to me? You saw it right? Bossman's suspicious of me. Mainly 'cause of you."

"It shouldn't take me long to find out who OWL is. I can't guarantee if I can have you know, however. There are few people in my line of business… those of reputable skill often turn out to be acquaintances…"

I said this so he doesn't ask any more questions. Since I had no clue who OWL is.

"f.u.c.k me. You gotta help me out, man. Boss is f.u.c.king ruthless, you saw him right? You might be fine. You can use your mana. But me, I got nothing'."

"Oh, by the way, your boss's mana seal coller. It's a fake."

"Y-yer kidding me!?"

"Nope."

"Fuuuck… so he's even stronger than you?"

"—What do you think?"

I did the instant mana release trick causing a small gust.

"Uh, yeah, maybe not…"

"It doesn't really… oh? What's this…"

Due to the sudden wind, a small piece of paper landed at my feed.

I picked it up— and got a brilliant idea.

"— Interesting."

I muttered cryptically.

"What's going on?"

"A note from one of my agents. I know have a very good idea who this OWL really is."

"What!? That's way too fast!"

"Take a look."

I handed over the blank piece of paper.

"I, can't see anything!"

"It only responds to very specific mana signatures. Namely mine. It's also an encrypted message."

"Seriously… looks completely white to me…"

Zack scrutinized the page from all sorts angles.

"Can't you tell me something, even a hint?"

"… You're sure?"

I closed in and whispered to him.

"Code 0."

"Coat jeer?"

"Zero being the first of numbers, meaning—"

"Me-meaning what?"

Zack gulped.

"—All will begin at last."

I said while simultaneously erasing my presence and moving out of sight super fast.

"— HUH!? He's gone!? f.u.c.kin h.e.l.l, the door's still closed, how…"

Inside the empty crate, I stayed hidden until Zack left.

151. Who Do You Think You're Dealing With?

I was genuinely curious about OWL so I walked all around the camp the whole night. Results: nothing.

I'm really going at it blindly.

The only thing I know is that OWL is supposed to be somewhat strong.

I couldn't check each and every person in the camp, but I was about to determine that there were around 10 people who might fit the bill.

I did this by looking at how they walk and how they handle themselves, but that didn't mean much. Not really.

There are times when a weak looking guy is unexpectedly powerful, or when a musclehead might actually be a really weak.

So basically, I gave up. With so few clues, I couldn't do it.

Maybe I should go out into town tonight and ask around?

I'll think about it later.

Okay, that out of the way, I went ahead and had the breakfast that Mr. Zack so graciously prepared, and was currently out on a walk under the refres.h.i.+ng sunlight pouring down on the camp courtyard.

I very much liked the cool winter air coupled with a beautiful, sunny sky.

The sky was clear, and, I can't explain this well, but it sort of felt like my soul was being reinvigorated.

"Mmm."

Walking past the hobo-like prisoners having their bad soup and worse bread, I noticed that I didn't look like a mob at all.

Don't get me wrong. I can pull off the mob role no problem in a town.

But compared to these people, I wasn't dirty and ragged enough. Well, I'm still new here, and blending in should come naturally with the time, so…

I noticed people shouting.

"How dare you accuse us!?"

A crowd had formed.

I squeezed my way through them. I felt like this was going to get fun and I wanted front row seats.

"Don't you dare deny it."

Said Clara Oriana facing a mobbish dude at the center of it all. The guy was some no-name from the meeting in the cellar last night.

Behind Clara stood people who were probably from the Royalists camp, and behind the no-name stood people from the Doem side. Among them, I could see Zack and also their boss.

"Royalists and Doem Camp are going at it…"

"Things might get b.l.o.o.d.y…"

The rabble chattered.

"One of ours was murdered last night. When we found him, there were signs of an a.s.sault and torture."

Mother of c.r.a.p. Since I was out looking for OWL, I missed a key event.

"We dindu nuffin!!"

"He was tortured! You're about the only people who'd resort to that, confess at once!"

Clara cried furiously.

"Serves him right! I say good f.u.c.kin' riddance!!"

"—Knave!!"

In her anger, Clara slapped the no-name.

Suddenly, everyone got quiet, as if time had stopped.

— Then.

"Done it now, b.i.t.c.h!"

The guy who got slapped grabbed and raised the club at his waist.

Yeah, this be no good.

Clara can't handle that. Worst case, the club cracks her head open and she's dead.

Yeah, sorry, but I don't like it if some no-name mob suddenly kills a major character.

"—Huh?"

Muttered Clara, her eyes wide in shock.

Right before her eyes, the man who was about to swing down a weapon at her, had spontaneously collapsed. The club he was holding was flung high into the air.

"—HUH!? What just happened!?"

"How'd he just!?"

The rabble were scared and confused.

"It can't be— OWL?"

"Find him!! He's here somewhere!"

"…Owl?"

Both Royalists and Doem Camp went on guard.

I was the culprit though.

It was simple. I had a piece of slime detach from the bottom of my shoe and burrow underground. Then I had it shoot out from under the guy and hit him under the jaw.

No one noticed, but that's fine. That right there was very much was a power from the shadows would do.

Or so I thought, by Mr. Zack was glancing at me with suspicion.

I made a cryptic smile, and purposefully looked away— Perfection.

Now that's what I call a job well done.

Which was when I noticed it. The club that had been sent flying was coming down my way.

And suddenly, I had a eureka moment.

— Show ain't over yet!

My role of that of a power in the shadows is done for now.

However, I have yet to fulfil my role as a mob!

I took only an instant to determine the club's trajectory, and as it wouldn't actually hit me in my current position, I swiftly moved to the spot where it would land.

Having expected I'd need it at some point, I placed a small blood back in my mouth and looked upwards.

And the club struck down right on my nose.

"Bhoorfff!?"

I blew the prepared blood in my mouth from out my nose and fell back.

The blood sprayed out like a fountain, glistening in the light of the sun. Quite artistic if I do say so myself.

Mob Arts: Nosebleed Splasher

This is a pretty high level technique.

"Ugh! I'm gonna puke!!"

"Eghh, it's on my face!"

To you people of the camp who wished to see carnage, I present to you a fountain of nose blood.

— And there you have it.

While the power in the shadows aids the MC, some random mob gets the unfortunate role of being collateral!

"Wait, you're hurt!?"

I was collapsed on my back, completely sated, but seeing as Clara was running over, I quickly pretended to be out cold.

152. The Princess's Mob Friend

I was carried into a room and laid down on a bed.

The blood from my nose had dried due to the cold air outside, and someone was in the process of wiping it clean.

I took that as an opportunity to wake up.

"Ugh… where am I…?"

I made a show of looking around everywhere confused.

It was another private room. While the dimensions were the same as the room Zack was using, this room was a lot more modest, containing only necessities and no leisure items.

Clara was beside the bed, and one of her faction men was standing at the door giving me the stink eye.

"I'm so glad you're alright. You were struck hard so try not to move right away."

"Huh, aren't you…"

"Oh pardon me, I've yet to introduce myself. Though it's likely you already know, I'm Clara Oriana."

"M-my name's Cid Kageno. I, uh, see you took care of me. My utmost thanks…"

I spoke in a shaky voice as if trying my best not to offend the royalty before me.

"It's all right. In the first place, you were unluckily caught up between our dispute."

"No, I—"

That was when the man in front of the door clicked his tongue.

"Lady Clara, I believe you've done enough. We have no need to concern ourselves with him any longer."

"Guin… I understand, but he's still not able to move with his injuries."

"He might be a ploy to approach you, milady. We do not have time to deal with such minor things. We have a duty to our people, do we not?"

The guy called Guin was looking at me in contempt.

"You're not wrong, Guin, but that doesn't make it fine to ignore someone so injured right in front of me."

"Please under—"

"Enough. Guin, he doesn't know anything. And to my eyes, he seems no criminal. Is that not so?"

Clara turned her eyes to me.

"I, yes. I accidentally ran into bodies left in alley by OWL. They said I was suspicious and…"

"If I can't even help a single injured boy, how could I possibly try to protect my country?"

Clara declared and grasped my hand.

"—By your will. I shall be outside." Guin said and then left the room.

Before the door was fully closed, he gave me one last mean glare. But if I wasn't seeing it incorrectly, it wasn't just at me, but also towards Clara.

Once the door was shut, Clara let out a sigh.

"I apologize. He means well for me, it's just…"

"No, I'm alright."

"Everyone's under a lot pressure. Even I… The one who's supposed to have this role isn't even me, but…" Clara spoke glumly.

"Um…"

"Don't worry about that. It's really none of your concern after all. You're, not from Oriana, are you?"

"Th-that's right. I'm a student from the Midgar Magisword Academy…"

"—Eh? The Magisword Academy? Then, do you perhaps know of my sister?"

Clara turned and faced me curiously.

"Er, yes, I do know Miss Rose. I've spoken to her before."

"You have? Then do you know about the incident where she killed my father?"

"… Yes. I was among the spectators when it happened."

"Are you sure? Was it really her who did it…?"

"Yes, it was definitely Miss Rose."

"So it was…"

Clara's shoulders drooped in defeat.

"Father had been strange for some time before, and I knew that she was looking for the cause. Really, why did it have to end up like this… Everyone is calling her a traitor to the nation now. I couldn't believe it, I didn't want to…"

I was somewhat at a loss as to what I should say.

I let out a sigh and decided to just speak what's on my mind.

"The way I saw it, she had an important reason for doing what she did. I don't know what that reason was, and I can't say if you'll be able to accept it even if you knew her reasons. What I do know is that Miss Rose had done it with the utmost of resolve."

"Resolve… is that how it looked? Haha, thank you, that made me feel somewhat better. You know, I really loved my sister who could do anything and