Grimgal of Ashes and Illusion - Volume 11 - Chapter 4

4. My Precious Teacher and Him

When had it started?

I really hated coming back to the house.

When I stood in front of the door, I suddenly felt like I was being shut away in a stupidly narrow place, and it made me nauseous.

Had it always been this way? That couldn’t be right. When had it started? I didn’t really know.

Anyway, I hated my house.

I had really wanted to sing today, so I’d invited some people along, gone for a karaoke session, extended it, and extended it, and extended it. One person had left, then another, then another. Once everyone had said they had to go home, I reluctantly ended it, but in the end, we were there a total of four hours. I generously footed the whole bill. I mean, I was the one who’d invited them, after all, right? While singing like crazy, I’d also been eating and drinking, so I wasn’t hungry.

This time of day, someone was probably back already. The lights were on, too.

I took my key out of my bag, and opened the lock. The door opened. I went inside.

The trick was to do this all in one motion. If I stopped partway through, I’d want to run away. Not that it’d help.

Even if I told everyone we should go somewhere after this, we’d just finished four hours of karaoke. Nobody was going to come with me. Playing by myself was no fun, either. Once in a while, it could be good. I’d gone to a game center alone today, after all.

The lights in the entrance lit up as the sensor picked up my movements. There were high-heeled shoes. My mother’s shoes.

I took off my shoes, and went into the house.

I climbed the stairs in the entrance hall up to the second floor. I went into my own room, and turned on the lights. Throwing my bag down, and trying not to step on the objects scattered across the floor, I headed for the bed.

Without stripping off my uniform, I dove into bed and rolled over onto my back.

Looking idly at the posters on the ceiling, I thought, Huh, when did I put those up again?

The posters varied: from idol posters, to posters from manga magazines, to movie posters. There were all sorts. After running out of space for them on the walls, I’d started posting them on the ceiling, too.

Pulling off my socks, I threw them away to land wherever. My right foot touched something. It was a tiny basketball. I grasped it with my feet, threw it up, and caught it with my hands. Sitting up, I aimed at the miniature basketball hoop in a corner of the room. I took the shot.

“All right! Go in...!”

The ball was mercilessly deflected by the hoop.

“Gahhhh! What the hell! Enough of this!”

I got pissed, and decided to sleep it off.

Nah... I’d have loved to sleep, if I could have, but I wasn’t able to yet.

“...Ahhh.” I let my voice out for no reason.

I pulled on my hair.

“Urgh,” I groaned.

I sighed.

I let my voice out. “Uhhh.”

Then I changed my tone, and went, “Ehhh” instead.

Changed it up, and went, “Ohhh.”

Heh heh. I chuckled.

“...So bored.”

Lying on my front, I pressed my face into my pillow. It smelled of hairstyling products, shampoo, and other things. It was by no means fragrant. But I didn’t hate it. It wasn’t good, but it wasn’t bad.

Maybe this is what life’s like, I suddenly thought.

“It could be... That might be how it is. Yeah. Damn, I’m cool. Whoa. My throat’s dry...”

I got up, and scratched my head. I should’ve stopped by the convenience store to buy drinks on my way back. But it was too much of a pain to go out again now. It looked like there was no choice.

“Guess I’m going downstairs...”

I got out of bed, left my room, and went down to the first floor. There was a narrow hall stretching from the entrance hall. The door on the left was the toilet, and the door at the end went to the living room.

When I opened the door, the TV was on. My mother was still in her outdoor clothes, sitting on the sofa and drinking something. That something was probably wine, as usual.

There was a ridiculously huge wine cellar in this house, and it housed close to a hundred bottles. Just about every night, my mother would drink wine out of a stupidly large wine glass.

My mother glanced over in my direction, then said nothing. If she had said anything, I’d have gotten mad, but being ignored was infuriating, too.

I passed through the living room to the kitchen, and dug through the refrigerator. “...Damn. Why does this house have nothing but carbonated water and mineral water? What is this shit? I can’t believe this.”

When I muttered that aloud without meaning to, I heard my mother click her tongue, and that rubbed me the wrong way.

“...What?” I demanded. “I didn’t say anything that wasn’t true. You got a problem with me?”

“Why are you so foul-mouthed? I don’t know who you took after. It must have been your dad, though, I’m sure.”

My mother was apparently drunk. That didn’t mean I was obligated to shrug this off, though. I slammed the fridge door shut.

“By my ‘dad,’ I suppose you mean that husband of yours? Or is it someone else?”

“Huh? Someone else? What do you mean?” she asked.

“How should I know? You don’t seem to like your husband much, so I figured maybe you’re having an affair. Nah, not just now, maybe you had one before?”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

“It’s not nonsense. It’s a fairly serious problem, you know. Am I the old man’s kid?”

“Don’t be stupid. But it’s true, you don’t look like your brother or sister. They’re not rude like you are.”

“You’re saying Bro and Sis aren’t like me, they’re honors students, is that it? I figured.”

“What? You’ve gone bitter? The reason you’re such a failure is you make no effort, isn’t it? That’s your own fault.”

“I’m not bitter. Sure, I’m jealous of them, yeah. They left me alone in this shitty house, and got out as soon as they could. Like, what the hell? Seriously. Seriously.”

“If you’re going to say that, why don’t you get out already, too?”

“You don’t have to tell me that. Once I graduate from high school, I’m out of here.”

“If you’re so against sponging off your parents, why don’t you drop out and get a job?”

“Wow, you’re a piece of work. I haven’t heard of many parents telling their kid to drop out of high school.”

“If you don’t want to be in this house, that’s all. If you’re going to play around with the money your parents earned, would you mind not complaining so much?”

I got so pissed off, I kicked the kitchen counter.

My mother shouted, “What are you doing?!”

“What d’ya think I’m doing?! I kicked it!”

“The way you take your anger out on things is just like him!”

“That doesn’t make me happy at all!”

“I’m not trying to make you happy!”

“It’s my birthday, damn it...!”

Once I had said the words, I couldn’t cover my mouth. It was too late.

Honestly, why had I said that? Obviously, I hadn’t meant to. It didn’t matter one bit that it was my birthday. It had nothing to do with this.

Besides, think about it. When was the last time we’d celebrated my birthday? When I was in elementary school? Third grade, maybe fourth? That had to be about it. The atmosphere in this house had been terrible for that long. And once my mother started working, things got even worse.

My father only came back home about twice a week. Even when he did, it was late at night. He probably had another house. My mother probably had a lover, too. Despite that, she came home every day.

I didn’t know how many times I’d seen my mother and father fighting. It always mystified me. If they got along so poorly, why didn’t they divorce?

My brother had gotten a job last year. My sister was in university. Both of them never came around to the house anymore.

For my brother and sister, the way they saw it was apparently, Well, it’s between them as husband and wife. Let them do what they like. They’re sending us money like they’re supposed to.

Well, sure, they could see it that way. For sure. When my brother found a job, my father bought him an expensive car, and when my sister had her coming-of-age ceremony, they ordered a wonderful kimono for her. When my father occasionally went to Tokyo on business trips, he ate sushi with my brother in Ginza. My sister kept in frequent contact with my mother.

Was it my father who bought my sister that ring from Tiffany’s, or my mother? Well, it was one of the two.

I had no expectations of my parents. The thing was, I was receiving money. I had a dedicated account, and when the balance got low, whether it was because they were making deposits or for whatever other reason, it went up on its own.

I had never wanted for anything. That was enough. There was no need to expect anything out of them.

Who cared about a birthday? It was just one day out of 365 in a year. Naturally, I hadn’t told my friends today was my birthday, either. Even if they asked me, I wouldn’t tell them.

What, you don’t know my birthday? Man, you’re hopeless, was about all the response I’d give them.

I made the effort to find out my pal’s birthdays and to plan parties for them, though. Preparing little gifts for them, and stuff. I mean, why not? It’s basic human decency. I wasn’t expecting anything in return, okay? I was only doing it because I felt like it.

Yeah, that didn’t matter. Seriously, it didn’t. Neither did the fact it was my birthday today.

“And?” My mother looked even closer to snapping, for some reason.

Whew. Was she going to blow up at me, when I was the one who ought to be mad? Knocking back her glass, she kept the wine in her mouth for a moment. Then, she swallowed. I couldn’t stand the way she drank.

“And... nothing, really,” I muttered.

“If it’s money you want, I’m already giving you it, aren’t I? Why don’t you go buy whatever-it-is you want?”

“That’s not it...!”

“I know you won’t be happy if I buy you something, so could you not expect it?” she snarled.

“I never said I wanted you to buy me something, and I don’t!”

“Well, what?! Your brother and sister texted me on my birthday, and even sent gifts, but you didn’t even wish me a happy birthday, you know?! Isn’t it a bit much to expect me to celebrate yours after that?! You don’t do anything yourself, but then you complain I don’t do this, or I don’t do that! You’re just like him! When I look at you, you make me sick!”

“Then be sick!” I screamed. “Puke, puke, puke your guts out! Gulp down your wine, and then puke it back up, you bitch!”

“How dare you...!”

Suddenly, my mother gagged. She dropped her glass, and clutched her mouth with both hands. She bent over on the sofa.

Oh, crap. I tried to look away quickly, but it was too late. I saw the decisive moment clearly.

“What are you doing, at your age?” I muttered.

I’d thought she was drinking a lot, but not that she’d actually had enough to throw up. It was enough to make me feel sick, too. If I wasn’t careful, I’d get nauseous. If that happened, it wouldn’t just be the worst. It’d be the absolute worst.

My mother must have given up, because she decided to let it all come up there. She leaned over the low table in front of the sofa, coughing and sputtering.

I should’ve left that bitch and gone back to my room. Despite that, the next thing I knew, I was fetching a box of tissues and chucking it to my mother.

“...Thanks,” my mother said awkwardly in a quiet voice, and began wiping her hands and face.

Gross. This was seriously pathetic. I’d never liked my mother, but this was the first time I’d ever felt such strong contempt for her.

“A cloth...” I started to say, then closed my mouth. But my mother had apparently already heard me.

“In the changing room, beneath the sink...”

“Yeah, whatever.”

I wasn’t rushing, but I headed to the bathroom with long, quick strides, and opened the doors to the cupboard beneath the sink. Buckets, cloths, and cleaning supplies. I tried to put water in a bucket, but the faucet was in the way, and I couldn’t put it in the sink.

“What, I have to use the bath...?”

With no alternative, I used the shower to fill up the bucket, and threw the cloth into it. When I brought the bucket to the living room with some soap, my mother said, “I’m sorry.”

What exactly was she apologizing for? I wanted to ask, but I didn’t want to know the answer.

I left the bucket and soap, went back to my room, killed the lights, and jumped into bed. Once I had gotten under the covers, I took off my uniform, leaving myself in nothing but a T-shirt and underwear.

I turned to the side and curled into a ball. I was calmest when I was in this position, with my right arm between my legs and my left arm holding my knees.

It was my birthday, though, I wanted to mutter.

Seriously, what a laugh.

My old man had a natural perm, but my big bro and big sis weren’t even slightly curly. My mom’s hair, by the way, was dead straight. Of three siblings, I was the only curly one. I took after my old man.

But my old man, I was sure he hated me. He’d never praised me, not even once. But I could remember a load of times he’d gotten mad.

Lately, he didn’t even get mad at me. I rarely even met him. It might have been less that he hated me, and more he didn’t care. My big bro and big sis didn’t think about me, either. Even though it was my birthday, they hadn’t texted me.

I had friends. Lots of friends. I was always popular, y’know? Never had a shortage of people to play with.

If I said I’d pay, everyone came along. If I hadn’t paid? Who knows. They were used to it, you know. Having me treat them. They weren’t going to grow up to be decent adults.

They were trash. Yeah, trash. Nothing but trash.

Trash. Trash. Trash. Trash. Trash. Trash. Trash. Trash.

This was a trashy world, full of nothing but trash covered in trash.

Ugh, I didn’t care anymore. Nothing mattered. Maybe I was better off just staying here like this forever. I liked narrow spaces, anyway.

Being alone wasn’t bad. Everyone else was trash, after all. Nothing but trash.

Come on, text me, at least. It was my birthday today.

Yeah, what did that matter? It didn’t. It had nothing to do with this. It didn’t mean a thing. Damn, I was tired. Like, seriously, so ti...

“...Uh?” Ranta murmured, rubbing his eyes.

For a bit, just now... had he fallen asleep?

“Seriously?” he muttered.

He didn’t remember what it was about, but he felt like he’d had a dream. Probably not a very good one.

Man, I’ve got some guts, he thought with a stifled laugh.

Ranta was in a tree.

To describe the tree in a simile, it was like tens... no, hundreds of snakes had intertwined, supporting each other as they reached for the skies. Ranta was lying low with his back to it.

Of course, he wasn’t doing that to kill time, or play around. Obviously. Ranta thought it was important to always maintain a sense of playfulness, but considering the fact that the guy chasing him, old man Takasagi, was a concrete threat and was bearing down on him, he couldn’t afford that now.

That being the case, when Takasagi’s voice had gotten gradually closer, Ranta had sensed he was in trouble, left his hiding place in the shadow of the tree, and gone inside it instead.

The tree trunk that was like hundreds of intertwined snakes didn’t just look like that; it was actually made up of many thin trunks. Thanks to that, with some searching, he found a gap, it looked like he could get inside.

He was aware it was a dangerous gamble. From outside the tree, Ranta probably wasn’t visible. In the same way, he couldn’t see outside of the tree, so he was forced to guess at the situation based on sounds.

It had taken some work to get inside, so the same would likely be true on the way out. That meant if Takasagi sniffed out his location, he couldn’t get away.

His heart was pounding, to say the least.

The old man was constantly shouting, “Ranta! Rantaaaaa!”

The old man’s voice was getting closer, too.

Honestly, you know what? I’m kinda maybe thinking I may have screwed up.

Yeah. Well, sure? If you were to ask if he was really thinking that, he wasn’t really, or maybe he was just a little bit, but maybe not. That’d be being a defeatist, you know? This was a man who never doubted he’d succeed, okay? What good would it do him to think about what’d happen if he failed? He’d cross that bridge when he came to it. He was a rare man with wisdom, bravery, and nobility all in one package, after all...

He wasn’t afraid. Not one bit. That could be said definitively.

As proof, Ranta didn’t budge an inch when right over there—it was hard to say exactly how far, but it was probably really close—he heard Takasagi’s voice yelling, “Rantaaa!”

He held his breath and stayed put. Was he scared out of his wits, you ask? No, no, no. That wasn’t it at all, okay? He was convinced he’d be fine, all right? It was all smooth sailing from here, after all, y’know? Man. Seriously.

I wish I could show you how calm and self-possessed Ranta was then, he thought, smirking. To show the whole world, and announce him for all to hear. Like, ‘Here is the great Ranta-sama, mightiest of all dread knights!’

Whatever the case, since he couldn’t run away, he had to keep quiet. He was honestly and truly prepared for that.

But I obviously wasn’t expecting to fall asleep, okay...?

Now, then.

How long was I out for?

Exactly how many minutes had passed since he heard Takasagi’s voice exceptionally close to him? Tens of minutes? Or a few hours?

He thought about it, but—

Yeah, I dunno. How would I know? Like, about the length of time, and stuff. But should I hold out for a while, right? This is the time to be patient, right? The old man could still be nearby, after all, right? If he’s right there, I’d be in trouble, after all, right? Like, a crazy amount of trouble. Patience, patience. The tree. Become a part of the tree. No, become the tree itself. I am a tree. Tree. So tree. No matter how you look at me, there’s nothing but tree. The treeiest tree. Perfectly tree...

He... tried to be patient, you know?

I’m being patient.

But, still...

It’s tough.

This is suffering.

What is this? Training?

Meditation?

Am I a monk?

Why would I be a monk? I’m no holy man. That makes no sense. But seriously?

I wanna take a piss.

Taking a leak here was probably no good. He might have to consider it in a worst case scenario, though. It went without saying that Ranta-sama was a realist, and if push came to shrub... er, no, if push came to shrug... no, push came to shove, he wouldn’t be adverse to doing it, but right now, was it so bad he just had to go? Was this a crisis situation? Was the end of the world near? No, not really...?

Let me come out and say it. A man cannot win against his bladder. This is a truth.

Well, he had his ears wide like saucers—only not, because you don’t open your ears wide like saucers, you do that with your eyes—but setting aside whether one’s ears can be like saucers, he’d had his ears perked up while he was holding his bladder, and he’d heard nothing that indicated anyone was nearby, so it was probably fine.

Takasagi had certainly passed through here. However, he was no longer nearby. Just like the end of the world, Takasagi was not near.

No one had any right to complain if he came to that conclusion. Like, he couldn’t hold it in. He couldn’t. He had to piss, piss, piss, piss, damn it. If he didn’t, he was going to turn into a piss demon. He could beg for help, but no one was going to help him, so he’d just have to do something about his piss himself.

Basically, I’m gonna do it!

It’s the only option! That’s all!

Pushing through the flexible trunks, or branches, or whatever they were, he jumped out into the world outside. Naturally, he looked around, and confirmed that there was no one around.

Look, look, look, see? No one was there, okay? Just like he’d thought, right? Which meant, basically, it was just as planned, wasn’t it? Damn, he was going to burst.

No, calm down, don’t panic, he told himself. He hummed something as he relaxedly, but quickly, dropped his pants, and...

“Ah...”

His voice leaked out.

This feeling of R-E-L-E-A-S-E...

But, wow, was it coming out. It sure was. It was splurting out. Had he held back this much?

Thinking about it, he hadn’t gone in forever, so he had to have been holding it in for a fair bit, but could this much urine fit inside a single person? How about it? This volume of piss. Wasn’t it weird? It was hard to believe it was all his own. Was his urinary tract connected to somewhere else, maybe? Like, and there was a tank with ten people’s worth of urine in it there? He suspected that, in truth, this urine was coming from there...

“Ooh...”

He shuddered.

It looked like it was all out.

Ranta forgot to put his thing back in his pants as he let out the deepest sigh ever.

This sense of achievement, it was nothing to make light of.

Like, I dunno. Maybe I was born for this moment? And thus, I’ll begin walking forward once more to create my legend?

To engage in a bit of hyperbole, at that moment, Ranta was baking in a feeling like he had become an all-knowing, all-powerful god. Everything would work out, and nothing was impossible. He believed that, so when he suddenly heard his name being called, he never expected it.

“Ranta!”

That was why it didn’t feel real, and Ranta turned around slowly.

He came out of the shadow of a tree maybe ten meters ahead.

“That’s where you were, huh?” the one-eyed, one-armed man said.

Ranta’s first thought was, That oughta be my line, or something like that, but he couldn’t get the words out. Instead, something like a hiccup came out. “Eep...”

Takasagi stopped walking, and frowned. “Hey.” He gestured to him with his chin.

With that, Ranta finally responded, “...Yes, sir.”

What am I saying, Yes, sir, for? We’re not a teacher and student, he thought, strongly embarrassed for a moment.

When he thought about it, though, their relationship hadn’t been entirely unlike that of a master and apprentice for a short while.

Well, maybe it’s fine then, he thought. Yeah, no, it isn’t. I dunno? Hm. Which is it...?

“For now, do something about that thing,” the old man said.

“...What thing?”

“Don’t tell me you came out of hiding to take a piss.”

“Ah...!”

Ranta realized his thing was still hanging free and loose, and hurriedly stuffed it in his pants. In a fluster, he drew RIPer, and got into a stance.

Takasagi showed no sign of even placing his hand on his katana’s sheathe. What was he seeing with that right eye of his? What exactly was this man thinking? His face seemed to say, Maybe it’s time for a smoke, but that clearly couldn’t be it.

Whew, Ranta took a breath. His body was shrinking away. You can’t move like this. That old man’s going to one-shot you. Keep it together, me, he warned himself. Or should you relax instead? Hard to say. Hold on, how could you possibly relax, you idiot?!

The distance between him and Takasagi was about seven meters. Should he close the distance with Leap Out and go for a surprise attack? No way, no way, no way. This wasn’t an opponent that would work on.

Was Takasagi alone? Did he have allies? He’d have liked to look around, but it was dangerous to take his eyes off Takasagi now. Too dangerous. It would practically be suicide. Seriously, seriously, this old man was just too crazy. It was ridiculous.

Ranta was sweating in no time.

“Just let me say...” Takasagi sighed. He twisted his neck, and there was a cracking sound from the joint. That noise made Ranta jump, and he felt a burning shame in his chest from that fact.

“...Wh-Wh-What?”

“You don’t stand a one-in-a-million chance of beating me now.”

“I-If it’s a one-in-a-million chance, it’s worth trying, at least...”

“I said you don’t even have that one-in-a-million.”

“You don’t know that! Not until I try it!”

“Then try it. I’ll take you on.”

Takasagi drew his katana with ease.

His left arm hung limply, and the tip of his sword was almost touching the ground.

Even I know, Ranta thought clenching his teeth. I’m not an idiot. I’m well aware you’re not an opponent I can beat.

What was the difference in their abilities?

If Ranta was level 50, Takasagi was level 99...

Huh? Level? What kind of level? Well, combat level, or something like that? Whatever the case, even if he wasn’t twice as powerful, Takasagi was close to twice as powerful. That was a pretty big gap. To give an example, Ranta was around 170 centimeters tall, so double that would come to a little over 340 centimeters. If he fought a guy like that, his chance of winning was zero.

Were there any openings he could take advantage of?

Fundamentally, there were none.

This man never missed a trick, after all. If it looked like there was an opening, that was instead reason for caution, and it was best to assume it was a trap.

How was this one-armed, one-eyed, middle-aged man so powerful?

If only for a short time, Takasagi had trained Ranta like a master would a disciple. So, of course, Ranta had thought about this in his own way. Where was the secret to Takasagi’s power?

In terms of his athletic abilities, they probably weren’t above average. That meant he wasn’t exceptionally fast, or strong. For endurance, he wasn’t young anymore, so he should have been past his peak. Was it experience? He had that, naturally. But that surely couldn’t be all there was to it.

It wasn’t just Takasagi. There was one thing that all strong guys tended to have in common, and that was grit. If there was one thing about strong guys, above all else, well, it was that nothing shook them. Even if they were in a crisis where they ought to think, I’m totally screwed now. I’m absolutely gonna die, they were totally calm, weren’t they? They had the guts it took to be able to be like that.

Were all tough guys dense? Did they not feel scared, or threatened?

That probably wasn’t it. If that were the case, they’d just be idiots.

It wasn’t that they weren’t afraid, it was that they knew acting scared wouldn’t do any good, and they dealt with the threat with the proper recognition that it was a threat. That was it, right?

Takasagi was scary. Super scary. So scary that, even though he’d already taken a piss, Ranta might wet himself. When he had an enemy that scary in front of him, what could he do?

He stopped sweating.

His breathing had been ragged all this time, but now Ranta was breathing normally.

Takasagi’s lips curled upward on one side.

“Yeah. That’s good.”

Does he think he’s my teacher or something?

No, if I get mad, things won’t be any different from before. I have to look at things as they are, and accept them. I don’t know what Takasagi’s after, and it doesn’t matter. There’s lots I can learn from Takasagi. That’s the key thing.

“So, what next, Sensei?” he asked.

Takasagi’s one eye narrowed a little. “I’m not much of a verbal teacher. You’ll have to learn as we go.”

“Oh, yeah? Well, okay then.” Ranta jumped straight backwards. “That suits me better, too!”

Exhaust. To an onlooker, it might seem like he was just jumping, but it was actually different. When an ordinary person tried to jump high or far without a running start, they would bend their knees and crouch, then quickly stretch out their knees to leap. Dread knights didn’t do that. They used a special method to not so much bend as twist their ankles, knees, and waists, which instantly created an explosive burst of power.

In addition, by kicking the ground with their heels and toes in alternation, they could increase their propulsion. This special technique called the Shadow Step was, in a way, the thing that made a dread knight a dread knight. It used leg muscles that weren’t usually used, so it couldn’t be learned just by watching, and it was likely only a dread knight would know precisely how it worked.

Because of Shadow Step, a dread knight’s calves were unusually developed, and misshapen. Furthermore, using Shadow Step not only polished their movement skills like Exhaust, Leap Out, and Missing, it also lent a sharp edge to various attack skills like Hatred.

The difference in power between them was beyond obvious, but Takasagi wasn’t a dread knight. There were things Ranta the dread knight could do that Takasagi couldn’t.

If Ranta had one thing in which he held the advantage over Takasagi, it was this: The fact he was a dread knight.

“Are you all talk, Ranta...?!”

Takasagi immediately came after him.

For a middle-aged guy, he was ridiculously fast on the start up. That said, he wasn’t as good as a dread knight’s Exhaust.

Without a word, Ranta used Exhaust a second, then a third time, and put even more distance between him and Takasagi. If he could keep using Exhaust forever, it would be possible to escape like this. However, obviously, that was impossible. Thousand Valley had a lot of obstacles like trees, and the ground wasn’t level.

While he was in the middle of making his fourth Exhaust with Shadow Step while avoiding hitting any trees, he nearly got his foot snagged on a dead branch. He couldn’t afford to fall over. Stumbling a little, Ranta came to a stop.

Takasagi closed in. He was still more than ten meters away. Well, it was probably twelve, maybe thirteen meters. Ranta had a lot of room to work with.

“So long, old man...!”

Ranta turned his back on Takasagi. If this were a pure game of tag, Ranta being the younger of the two, he wouldn’t lose.

Besides, he had a twelve-meter head start, so he could run away. Make it look like he was going to fight, then book it out of there. This was very much the sort of thing Ranta would do. It was a common, but effective move.

While confirming the locations of the trees, Ranta ran for twenty meters.

The distance between him and Takasagi was hardly changed.

What about the guys from Forgan? For now, he didn’t see any. Were they not around here?

Is it about time?

The moment he thought that, Ranta leapt backwards with Exhaust without hesitating.

Twisting his body in midair, he used Leap Out. He sprang at Takasagi.

Takasagi... laughed.

Laugh. Laugh all you want.

Ranta swung RIPer down diagonally.

Hatred. It was a strike with speed and all his strength behind it, but Takasagi’s katana easily brushed it aside. Ranta was being treated like a child.

Of course. I knew I would be.

Ranta immediately retreated with Exhaust. Then used Missing. With this skill, to describe it in the broadest terms, he swung his upper body left or right then jumped in the opposite direction. Most people relied on their vision, and that made it easy to trick them with what they saw. The opponent would be caught on the dread knight’s motion, and they’d look in the direction his upper body swung despite themselves. However, the dread knight would actually move the opposite way, so it would feel like they lost sight of him for an instant.

However, Takasagi wasn’t deceived. His one eye was firmly fixated on Ranta.

It meant a trick like this wouldn’t work on a battle hardened veteran like him.

It was good to have that made clear, if nothing else. Takasagi seemed like he’d be good at outfoxing his opponents, after all. Ranta had no intention of fighting him that way.

Ranta used Leap Out diagonally to the left. He got seven to eight meters away from Takasagi.

Takasagi didn’t move. He was waiting. He saw through it, was that is?

I’m impressed, old man. But I’m not backing down just because you can read me. I’m gonna do this.

From Exhaust, he twisted his body and did a Leap Out. It was the same attack as before, but this time he didn’t swing down with RIPer.

He thrust.

Anger.

Takasagi didn’t block with his katana, he smoothly dodged to the left.

Here it comes. A counterattack, huh?

Ranta used Missing to make it look like he was going left, then jumped to the right.

Takasagi didn’t bring his katana out. It looked like he’d hesitated, but who knew? The movement of his upper body with Missing should have had an even stronger effect at close range, so maybe even Takasagi had gone, Oh!

Could he use this?

He was going to test it.

Even if he kept calm, and used all his strength and ability as a matter of course, that wasn’t going to be enough on its own. Ranta’s power was far from being on par with Takasagi’s, so he needed a little something extra.

He used Exhaust and Leap Out again to gain some distance, then twisted and used Exhaust and Leap Out to spring towards Takasagi.

Ranta took the position for Hatred. The range was the same as for Hatred, too.

Takasagi was getting ready to block with his katana. Maybe this time instead of turning it aside, he’d knock it back.

Before that, Ranta used Missing to make it look like he was going left, then jumped to the right while swinging his sword.

It looked like he’d managed to surprise Takasagi. He backed away to avoid Ranta’s sword.

“Interesting.”

Oh, yeah? This is interesting for you, old man? Well, I’m just getting started, he thought, but he didn’t say it. It took a fair bit of perseverance to fight without talking. But Ranta had to do it.

He used Exhaust and Leap Out to get away from Takasagi.

Remove anything unnecessary.

He’d finally started to understand.

I wasn’t serious at all. I want to get strong. I’m going to get strong. I’ll definitely do it. I was all talk. I might have thought I was giving it my all, but it wasn’t nearly enough.

Well, yeah? When there was a crisis, I was always as serious as could be. But that’s true for anyone. No matter how easygoing of a fool you are, you get desperate when things are bad. I was only doing what anyone would, but I got full of myself, thinking I was doing things the right way.

I was naive.

In the end, I was complacent.

There has to be more I could have done, but I didn’t.

So, what did I do?

I blamed others.

“I’m doing what I ought to just fine, so what’s the problem with you guys? You’re a bunch of trash without a shred of talent, aren’t you? Well, I guess I can’t blame you. In the end, we were just the leftovers. We’re a bunch of small fry. I’m different, though, you know? I mean, I knew that from the start. I see all sorts of things. I never expected anything from you people to begin with, okay? Just do your best. But either way, if we succeed, it’ll be thanks to me, and if we fail, it’ll be your fault. Haruhiro. You especially. It’s your fault for being leader when you have no aptitude for it. Isn’t the reason we’re in this sad state because you mess up every little thing? If this is all you people can do, then why should I be any better?”

It’s not that I was actually thinking that way, Ranta thought. But part of me was looking at you guys with a sense of detachment. Even if you people do everything you can with the one life you get, there are limits to what you can do. I mean, look at you.

I’m different. Because I’m with you guys, I can’t seem to move up in the world, but if I joined a better party, I’d work crazy hard and achieve super amazing things. I’m a man that Renji himself recognized, all right? I’m made of different stuff from the rest of you. Different stuff.

Though he’d believed that, on the other hand, he’d probably felt uncertain.

Ranta twisted and used Exhaust, Leap Out, and closed in on Takasagi. This time, it was Anger.

Takasagi put his weight on his right leg, and raised his katana slightly. That said, the tip was still lower than his waist. It was a defensive, lower position. He was watching to see what Ranta would do. Takasagi had gotten cautious. Ranta had made him raise his guard.

But don’t get happy, he told himself. Don’t let it go to your head.

Ranta didn’t unleash Anger. Instead, he used Missing at the last moment. Made it look like he was going right, then jumped left. But he didn’t swing his sword. Takasagi was following Ranta with his eyes just fine. His katana wasn’t moving an inch.

Well, how about this, then?

Here he used Missing once more.

Takasagi raised his katana slightly.

Ranta attacked Takasagi with Hatred.

Takasagi’s katana collided with RIPer and sparks flew.

When their blades almost locked, Ranta used Reject. Using his wrists, elbows, shoulders, waist, and even his legs, he knocked his opponent away.

Takasagi only stepped back once before managing to hold his ground. He came at Ranta.

Ranta used Exhaust to head backwards. Exhaust. Exhaust.

Takasagi didn’t pursue.

Whew. He took a breath, and loosened up. I have potential—or I ought to.

But, seriously, seriously, is this all the ability I have?

Is the real me stronger?

Is the reason I can’t bring out my power because I hang out with a bunch of small fry?

But still.

If I pushed myself to my limit of limits, where I couldn’t possibly do any more, doing training or whatever, and this was all I amounted to, I’d be beyond shocked.

Even I know it. Shouting all the time in the middle of combat is pointless. I think of all these special attack names, but they aren’t that special in the end. Haruhiro and the rest are seriously, seriously pushing close to their limits, and I’m actually getting saved by them, I know. But that’s not my style, is it? Focusing on just one thing like an idiot and keeping at it. Taking forever thinking about this and that. I’m me, and they aren’t serious about trying to stop me, so what’s the harm?

I have power to spare. I’ve got room to grow still. This is easy for me. Easy. What’re they getting so serious about? They’re too serious, man. What a bunch of killjoys. I’m not kidding, they are.

You guys are always so serious, and it’s lame. That’s not cool, okay. I mean—

I mean, you struggle your hardest, get covered in blood and mud, keep struggling, and if that doesn’t work, what then...?

“I can’t get along with those guys,” I thought. “Our philosophies are different. Our beliefs don’t match up. There’s a difference in the way they think and I think. In the end, we’re a poor match. That’s not where I belong.” But, well, keeping with something because I already started it? That’s a thing. I toughed it out, and managed to make it this far.

But eventually our roads were going to diverge. I was always going to part ways with those guys. Because it had to be out there somewhere. The place I belong. Guys I could like from the bottom of my heart. They’d value me properly, and I’d respect them, too.

The reason I’m like this, Haruhiro, it’s your fault.

It’s not my fault. I wasn’t wrong. I’m not weak.

I’m a heel. Everyone hates me. That’s fine. It doesn’t bother me in the least. That sort of role is actually easier to play, you know.

I don’t need to be liked. If I accept that, I don’t need to pay attention to your needs. I don’t need to contort myself. I can do as I please. Yeah, say whatever you like. No matter what you guys think, I’m fine, damn it.

“Rantaaa.”

Takasagi raised his katana. The left hand that was gripping the hilt of his katana was near his chin. The blade was inclined a bit to Ranta’s right. His left foot was forward. His knees were bent, and his hips lowered.

Ranta didn’t know much about how a katana was used, so he was working on speculation, but that was probably a combined offensive and defensive stance.

Next time, at the very beginning, in other words when Ranta tried to attack, he meant to crush him. Never letting him get started, so to speak. Takasagi had seen enough of Ranta’s movements, and he’d gotten a grip on them. At the very least, that was what Takasagi had decided.

...He thinks he can underestimate me.

Let’s do this!

If you think you can stop me, you can damn well try!

If Ranta had been the same as he’d been up until now, he’d have let the blood rush to his head and charged at Takasagi like that. That’d be showing no growth whatsoever.

He was eight meters from Takasagi. Ranta deliberately came to a stop.

“...Huh?” Takasagi frowned slightly.

Don’t worry. I haven’t gotten cold feet. I’m a dread knight.

He could fight as a dread knight. It was his one advantage.

And a dread knight had more than just their dread martial arts.

“O Darkness—”

When Ranta tried to cast his spell, Takasagi charged. Ranta somehow managed to keep chanting without losing his concentration.

“O Lord of Vice, Demon Call.”

“You dog of Skullhell...!” Takasagi’s katana stretched out. It wasn’t a slash or a thrust. It was like Takasagi’s arm had merged with his katana to become a whip.

It was a close call. If he had been even a moment slower in backing away with Shadow Step, Ranta would have fallen victim to Takasagi’s katana. If he had panicked and ran away even a little sooner, even if he had managed to keep chanting as he fled, the spell might not have been completed.

In the spot Ranta had been a moment before, right behind Takasagi, a blackish purple cloud-like thing had appeared. The cloud rapidly formed a vortex.

Inhaling sharply, Takasagi began to turn, then leapt to the side.

The cloud was already taking on a familiar shape. It could be described as like a human with a purple sheet over their head, carrying a knife in their right had, and a club-like weapon in their left. Despite floating, it had two proper legs, and that made it feel strangely raw. Its two eyes were like holes, and beneath them was a gash-like maw.

Its name was Zodiac-kun.

The dread knight Ranta’s demon.

“Kehe... Ehehehehe...! Long time no see, worthless Ranta...! Go die ten thousand times right now...!”

“No—” Takasagi took a sharp swing with his sword. “You die!”

Zodiac-kun did a floating backflip to avoid Takasagi’s slash. “Kehe... Kehehe... You want to die before Ranta, geezer...?”

“I’m not a geezer! I’m only barely middle-aged!”

Takasagi went at Zodiac-kun. He was uncharacteristically worked up.

Zodiac-kun slipped backwards, getting away from Takasagi. Zodiac-kun would then do yet another floating backflip, or twist around to avoid Takasagi’s katana.

While catching his breath, Ranta watched Takasagi. Would someone like the old man snap that easily? He didn’t know. It could be a ruse, or he might be sensitive about how he was aging, and gotten angry despite himself. Ranta couldn’t tell which it was.

Takasagi was a good actor. He didn’t reveal what was in his heart so easily. Did that mean he was acting, after all? He was luring Ranta in? Or maybe Takasagi’s goal was to confuse Ranta?

Every move he makes has some intention.

This is a battle, huh.

I have to use my head to the max like this?

What a pain. I can’t do this. I’ll settle this quickly, in one go. I’m going to say goodbye to the old me that thought that way, right?

“O Darkness, O Lord of Vice, Dread Venom!” Ranta called forth a dark miasma, and tried to engulf Takasagi in it.

Takasagi ran from the miasma, and from Zodiac-kun. He raced with a swiftness you wouldn’t expect from a middle-aged man, and ran away. The miasma had little ability to trace him. However, Ranta had predicted the direction Takasagi would retreat.

Ranta used Leap Out to jump in the direction Takasagi was going, and used Slice. He swung RIPer in a figure-8 shape. No, halfway through the 8, Ranta’s sword was knocked away by Takasagi’s katana.

“Kehe...!” Zodiac-kun caught up to Takasagi, and was swinging down with the knife-like weapon.

That was where Takasagi did something awesome. He likely swung his katana down diagonally as he turned, then immediately, without stopping, turned again, and swung his katana up.

Zodiac-kun somehow blocked with the knife-like weapon, and Ranta blocked with his sword, but—Ranta landed on his backside, his hands were numb, and he had come close to dropping his sword, while Zodiac-kun was sent flying five or six meters.

What power.

I could barely see it, too. That was devilishly fast now, you know...?

No, now wasn’t the time to be surprised. Ranta bent over and used Exhaust. Though he put some distance between him and Takasagi.

Dammit...

Screw you, old man.

“So you can do it if you try, Rantaaa.” Takasagi boastfully tapped the flat side of his katana on his own left shoulder, and gave Ranta a lopsided grin.

This is easy for you, is that it?

Yeah, that figured. Just now, Takasagi had given Ranta a pass. While Ranta was flat on his ass, he should have been able to bisect him if he’d so desired. He’d deliberately chosen not to.

Takasagi let out a throaty chuckle. “You just died once.”

Why? Why didn’t he kill me? Is he trying to make me owe him? Is he seriously still playing teacher, or something? Screw you. Screw you to death.

“...Yeah.”

Ranta accepted it all.

Zodiac-kun was looking this way, but not providing any of the verbal abuse that was the demon’s specialty. In the depths of his hole-like eyes, something flashed—or maybe Ranta just imagined it.

“You’re right.” Ranta recognized it, then sighed. “But I’m not dead. That means I can keep fighting with you.”

“Not so much.” Takasagi shrugged and sniffled. He looked down. He then immediately raised his face, and fixed his one eye on Ranta.

“This is all I’m gonna say. We’ll forgive you just this one time. The boss ain’t mad. I dunno about the rest, but if I side with the boss, they’ll fall in line. Come back with me, Ranta.”

Ranta tried to open his mouth. But what was he supposed to say...?

I’m supposed to listen to you? Old man, is that how you really feel? You aren’t trying to catch me by surprise, are you? You wouldn’t do that, huh. You’d do it if you had to, sure, but not against me. Even without doing that, you can kill me. In that case...

You’re serious?

You mean that for real?

You came all this way, not to kill me for stabbing you in the back, but to bring me back?

You’ll forgive me?

Me, who basically spat in your face? I can be forgiven? I can go back to Forgan, you’re saying? That’s really...

Ranta blinked. Not once. He repeatedly blinked. He felt something building up in the back of his nose. His eyes were itchy. He came close to clicking his tongue. He gritted his teeth.

Don’t do that.

Don’t say that stuff to me.

I finally resolved to take off, and you’re gonna hold me back.

“...I was at my limit,” said Ranta.

Even if the old man said that, I shouldn’t be saying this stuff. That’s no good. Keep my mouth shut. I stabbed them in the back. It was a betrayal as clear as any, and I did it with a, “Ha, how’d you like that?”

No matter what I say now, it’s just making excuses. That’s fine. That’s why I betrayed them that way. So that even if I waned to go back, I couldn’t.

“If I stayed with you guys any longer... I was going to become a member of Forgan, body and soul,” said Ranta. “I felt like I was going to love you guys from the bottom of my heart. To live and die with you. I felt like I was going to start being okay with that, and not have a shred of doubt about it... That was my limit. I was at a crossroads. I had to make a choice. To become a member of Forgan, or...”

“Or what?”

“...To stay me.”

“When you say ‘me,’ what do you mean?”

“Like... The me before I encountered you guys.”

“The you who was wasting time, playing around with a bunch of brats you barely even knew?”

“It’s not that I was playing around.”

“Huh?”

“It might have looked to you like we were playing around. They were trying hard, in their own ways. We went through a lot, and some guys even died.”

“If you’re alive, everyone dies eventually. You and me, too. Even our boss, who it feels like you could kill him and he still wouldn’t stay dead. Even with Arnold the undead, if you split his head in two, he’ll shut up for good. So what?”

“...I had a partner. I wasn’t strong enough, and I let him die.”

“You let him die? Big words there, Ranta. Are you that big a deal that you can shoulder the life and death of other people?”

“If I had it more together, he might not have died.”

“No, that’s wrong. The reason he died was because he wasn’t blessed with the fortune or personal power to struggle against his fate. That’s how each and every one of us dies on his own.”

“I’m sure you’re right,” Ranta said. “Old man, it’s probably exactly as you say. If I stayed in Forgan, I’d eventually think like you. Even if you guys get along, you’re not weirdly clingy. Everyone stands on his own feet. Even if you’re hanging out with a bunch of like-minded guys, you know you’ll be alone when you die. That’s life. You guys are real men. You’re cool, and I respect that. I want to be like you guys, too.”

“Then be like us. Don’t flinch over every little thing, and live boldly, whether that life is long or short. That’s the kind of determination you need.”

“It’d be a lie.”

“What?”

“That’s not the kind of person I am. I could stay in Forgan, and I could imitate you. I’m sure I’d enjoy that. But that’s not who I really am.”

“Word of advice from a middle-aged guy. Listen, Ranta. There’s nothing so important as a real you that exists out there somewhere. That doesn’t just go for you. It goes for me, too. Don’t think some path has been prepared in advance for either of us. If you see a road in front of you, it’s an illusion. The road gets left behind you as you walk it. When you turn back and look at the footsteps behind you, that’s who you are. One second later, they may turn in a completely different direction. That’s you, too. The real you isn’t something you search for and find. The way you live decides who you are. In other words, that is you.”

“You sure can talk,” Ranta laughed, but Takasagi smiled slightly, unabashed.

“I’m getting on in years, after all. I don’t look it, though.”

“You do look it, damn it.”

“I do, huh.”

“Yeah. I can tell you’ve lived twice as long as me. Honestly, what you’re saying seeped in. Basically, you’re saying no matter who I am, and who I’ve been, if I decide it, I can be anyone I want to be, right? If I want to live as a member of Forgan, I can do that...”

Ranta took a deep breath, then exhaled.

Takasagi said nothing. However, if Ranta kept quiet, Takasagi was going to have to push for an answer, or ask the question again.

Are you coming back?

He didn’t want to let Takasagi say those words. It was only for a short time, but Takasagi really had trained Ranta like a teacher. Even now, he was teaching him things. Did he like doing that? Probably.

If he’d only had his skills going for him, he wouldn’t be so trusted by the guys in Forgan, and wouldn’t be in a position of authority and leadership. Jumbo might not be particular about it, but he was human, after all.

Was Takasagi looking after Ranta because they were both humans? That might be part of it. Either way, though, Takasagi had come to bring Ranta back.

Ranta was grateful.

He’d never thank him, though.

“In the beginning, I only became one of you to save my own skin, and to help that worthless woman,” said Ranta. “It was only out of expedience. I thought I could get along with you guys, and I figured it wouldn’t be bad to hang with you for a while, too, though. If I was in your ranks, I wouldn’t have to think about every little thing, I could drink good booze, party, and have a fun and entertaining life and death. It was the best, dammit! It was so great, it made me sick! No matter what hell I’ve got to go through, I’ve got a reason I’ve gotta open Moguzo & Ranta’s Ramen Shop! What reason, you ask?! Because I decided that’s what I’m gonna do! I am! A dread kniiiiight...!”

He lost track of what he was even saying somewhere in the middle, but there was something seething inside him so hot it felt like it would gush out.

This was blood. Hot blood. Something he hadn’t felt at any time he was with Forgan.

It was lukewarm then. I see. So that was it.

When I was with Parupiron and the rest, I was being too easy on myself, and that left me feeling lukewarm as a result. Even so, they were such a bunch of worthless losers that the situation was usually severe, and life and death crises were a near daily occurrence, so my blood ended up boiling on its own. However, when I tried to run away to Forgan, I was lukewarm again.

I could respect Jumbo, look up to Takasagi, and made friends with lots of people. Is that my path in life?

I say nay.

It was really appealing, and I’m sure it’d have felt good, but it’s not what I, my magnificent self, seek from the depths of my heart and soul.

“Kehehe...!” Zodiac-kun suddenly let out an ominous laugh.

Takasagi tensed a little, then turned to face Zodiac-kun.

“Ehe...! Ehehehehehe...! Well said, Ranta...! Get cursed to death...!”

“You—”

Takasagi was speechless. Well, of course. Even the old man was going to be shocked.

I mean, even I’m at a loss here, okay?

Zodiac-kun was changing as they watched.

Wait, Zodiac-kun, that sheet-like thing... You actually were wearing it?

The sheet was now rolling up, or rather peeling back, and a smooth figure that wasn’t quite male or female, and was human-like, but clearly not human, appeared. It had a head—but no face! There were no eyes, or nose, or mouth.

Seriously? That’s kind of gross, you know?

Though it was only for a second, he was able to see Zodiac-kun’s naked body, which he had been curious about, but hadn’t wanted to see. The sheet-like thing that had been peeled off the demon came apart and fell to pieces, turning into something like strings which wrapped around Zodiac-kun. In addition, the knife and club-like weapons went ba-bam, and turned into strings, too, taking new forms in Zodiac’s hands.

“He... Hehehehehe...Hehehehehehehehehehe... Hehehehehehehehehehehehehe...”

This is crazy.

Seriously crazy.

My tears.

My runny nose.

Ranta shuddered.

There was someone with dark purple armor covering the entirety of their skinny body, leaving no gaps, and holding a long naginata-like pole arm with a heavily curved blade in both hands there.

The weapon’s shape, the design of the armor, they couldn’t have been more ominous, and that was indescribably amazing.

Yeah. That’s the stuff.

Right?

That’s the stuff, right?

If you’re talking about dread knights, that’s how it ought to be, right?

“...Damn cool,” Ranta said.

“Ehe... Ehehehe... Praise me more... Die praising me...”

“No, hold on, Zodiac-kun—That’s you?”

“Ehe... Hehehe... I demand a -san, you weak piece of crap...”

“Uh, okay, Zodiac-kun-san, then...?”

“...”

“Zodias-san? Is that better?

“...”

“Oh! How about we change your name to Zodie? Then I’ll add a -san, making you Zodie-san.”

“...-sama.”

“Zodie-sama? Sama, huh? Hm...” Ranta cocked his head to the side. “Yeah, about that -sama. Zodie-sama. It just doesn’t sound right. It’s not bad, though, I guess. How about Zodi-sama? Nah, no matter how I think about it, -sama just isn’t right. Neither is -san. That said, you’re my demon, right? Hold on, what’re you going and evolving on your own for?! I haven’t done any of that ritual stuff where I offer sacrifices to Skullhell to accumulate vice lately! I haven’t done it in ages! I couldn’t have even if I wanted to, though! I was praying in my heart, but we were in Darunggar, and then stuff happened!”

“The thing about that is...”

“Is what?”

“Heheh...”

Something like foxfire lit up in Zodie’s eyes and flickered. That wasn’t all. There was a faint air reminiscent of Dread Venom rising from the demon’s whole body.

“It’s a company secret... Ehe... Writhe and suffer until you eventually die...”

“But, no, you’re not a company!”

“Skullhell is watching...”

“Huh?”

“I aaaam... Skulheeeell... The Daaaark Gooood...”

“N-No way! Skullhell?! The man himself?! You’ve manifested?! No, it’s not ‘the man,’ I guess you’re technically a god...”

“Teeeechnically...?!”

“S-Sowwie! Not technically! You’re a total god, God! I mean, damn, look at that divine aura! Hey, God! You’re so godly! A god among gods! If you weren’t a god, Skullhell-sama, would there be a god anywhere!”

“Rage... Heh...”

“I-I’m sorry...!”

There was only one thing to do here.

The moment he had that flash of inspiration, his body was moving.

He leapt up, and contorted his whole body in midair. Then, landing so hard his head almost struck the ground, he got down on all fours and pressed his forehead into the dirt. It was his ultimate trump card.

THIS WAS THE KOWTOW!

NO!

THIS WAS THE JUMPING KOWTOOOOOOOW!

“I beg you...! Have forgiveness, Skullhell-sama!”

“Heheh... Heh...”

“I’ll do anything, okay?! Maybe ‘anything’ is too much?! Erm, I’ll give you anything short of my life. Well, honestly, I hope you’ll let me off with just this show of my feelings, but I’ll have to do whatever I can to compromise, really...”

“You don’t seem... contrite enough... Ehehe...”

“Y-You think?! I-I don’t think so, though! Hey, old man, you agree with me, right?!”

“You’re throwing the conversation over to me?” Takasagi said incredulously. “How shameless are you?”

“You can see, can’t you? I’m this shameless, okay?!”

“I have no words...”

“You’re going to abandon me?! You coward!”

“Seriously, what am I supposed to say...?”

“Think for yourself, stupid! Whoops, that was a little far just now. Sorry, sorry.” Ranta laughed, stood up, and held RIPer at the ready. “Okaaaay, I dunno how it happened, but the way I went around killing all sorts of stuff in a dread knight-y way must have made my rank up, or level up, or power up my Zodie! Now, let’s do the dread knight-y thing and heinously double team the old man!”

“You’re a natural piece of trash, aren’t you?” Takasagi had a look of exasperation on his face.

It wasn’t just that his body was not tensed; he even looked relaxed. Maybe it wasn’t just a lack of tension; maybe his guard was down, too. If so, great.

Zodie, who was possessed by Skullhell—but not really, the demon had only been doing that as a comedy bit—spun the vicious-looking long naginata around once, then slowly approached Takasagi.

“O Darkness, O Lord of Vice... Dread Aura.” Ranta immediately called forth a blackish purple air and wreathed himself in it.

This air was Skullhell’s favor given form, and it boosted a dread knight’s physical abilities, and that increased with the amount of vice accumulated. Ranta had, at some point, accumulated enough vice to make Zodiac-kun evolve into Zodie.

I’m in top shape.

My body’s light. It feels like my weight dropped by half.

Man, this is awesome.

The power’s not just overflowing, you know?

I feel like I’m gonna have a nosebleed.

Even so, he couldn’t let it go to his head. He was quick to get carried away and get tripped up. It was a bad habit of Ranta’s. No matter how hot his soul burned, he had to keep his head cool.

If he was honest with himself, he wanted to shout. To let out a loud war cry. But he wouldn’t. Not because it was pointless. Because it would be a negative.

Takasagi glanced at Ranta, then at Zodie. There was a little tension in Takasagi’s left arm as he swung his katana. Lowering his jaw, he placed himself on a straight line between Ranta and Zodie. Takasagi didn’t face Ranta or Zodie, and he didn’t turn his back to them, either.

Have at him! Ranta gave the order and Zodie moved.

There was no sign remaining of the time when Zodie had been the adorable Zodiac-kun. At the same time, he could see a representation of himself in the demon, and he was already forming an attachment. However, a demon was only a demon. It might be fine to anthropomorphize it and adore it in his spare time, but he had to use it efficiently in battle.

Be heartless, Ranta told himself. No, it’s a mistake to show affection for a demon in the first place.

“Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee...!” Zodie swung its long naginata at Takasagi.

Ranta jumped with Leap Out, too. But not straight forward. He tried to get around behind Takasagi’s back. Takasagi would have wanted to prevent that, but Zodie was here.

Takasagi’s katana knocked back Zodie’s long naginata.

Zodie used the momentum from being pushed back to spin the naginata around, and took another swing like that.

Takasagi jumped back to the left diagonally. That’s where Ranta attacked him.

Anger.

Takasagi twisted himself out of the way of Ranta’s sword.

Then, the next thing he knew, there was a counterattack.

Takasagi had swung his katana with something like a backhand attack, so it had been hard for Ranta to predict. If his body hadn’t been sharpened by Dread Aura, he probably wouldn’t have been able to react and dodge it so quickly.

Ranta was still thrown off balance, and barely managed to escape with Leap Out. Takasagi wasn’t able to follow and attack him.

“Eeeeeeeee...! Eeeeeee...! Eeeeeeeeeeeeeee...!”

Zodie swung down its long naginata. Thrust, thrust, it kept attacking Takasagi.

Takasagi didn’t block with his katana. He avoided the long naginata with ease. However, he didn’t ignore Zodie and go after Ranta. He couldn’t do it.

Zodie wasn’t going in for the kill with Takasagi. There was no way Zodie could beat Takasagi alone, so the demon put him in check, keeping him pinned down, and focused only on doing that. No, that was what Ranta was having the demon do.

That said, even if he had Zodie focus entirely on the tank role, it wouldn’t last long. Takasagi would see through Zodie’s attacks soon. When that happened, Zodie was going down. In no time flat, probably.

Ranta twisted and chained an Exhaust with a Leap Out to charge at Takasagi.

Hatred.

Though Takasagi’s breathing was frantic for a brief moment, he brushed Zodie’s long naginata aside with his katana, and immediately turned to Ranta and—No. That wasn’t it.

When the long naginata was swept aside, Zodie was wide open in front.

Takasagi stepped inside the demon’s reach, tackled Zodie, and pushed it down. Then, turning back towards Ranta, he swung his katana diagonally.

When Takasagi had tackled Zodie, that had gone against Ranta’s expectations, and he was already in mid-swing.

It felt like time was stretching out as Takasagi’s katana closed in little by little. Ranta was trying to bend over backwards to avoid it, but he wasn’t going to make it like this.

Why am I slow, too, not just the old man?! If we’re both slow, there’s no point.

His anger was misdirected. He knew that. Time had done nothing wrong. But why was it moving slowly to begin with? It seemed his head was moving faster on its own, and he had time to argue with himself about whether to do this or that. He could think all he liked, but if he couldn’t move fast, it wasn’t going to do him any good.

Takasagi’s katana looked like it was going to bite into Ranta’s chin.

He was almost there. If he could just bend his body a little more, he could dodge it by a hair’s breadth.

He couldn’t bend that little more.

If he gets a good cut in on the lower half of my head, it’s gonna hurt like hell, and I won’t be able to fight decently. With the enemy I’m facing being an experienced old man, that’ll be the end, right?

No.

It’s not over. I’m not going to die... Probably. I won’t die.

In that case, I still have moves to make. Take the lightest wound I can manage, and fight back. I can do that, right?

Yeah, I can do it. I’m gonna do it. I’m a dread knight. I feel like, “So what?” But what dread knight has ever given up gracefully? Dread knights are stubborn to the point it feels greedy. Probably, at least!

But... huh?

That’s weird.

Takasagi’s katana has lost its edge. Maybe I can dodge this?

“Gwah...!”

Ranta’s body bent back all at once. His head impacted the ground.

Ow!

A bridge, right? That’s what it’s called, yeah? This position?

“Hungh...!” It went without saying he couldn’t stay like this, so he used his head as a fulcrum and spun his whole body, picking up momentum, and jumped up. “Hoh...!”

Having missed, Takasagi clicked his tongue with an awkward look on his face, and then he took a thrust with his katana. “Argh...!”

That’s not like you, old man.

Ranta shouted and hit Takasagi’s katana aside, then took a slash at him. Takasagi blocked this with his katana, then, before their blades could lock, he adjusted the angle of his blade and pushed.

Takasagi wanted to get away. He didn’t want to lock blades. If that was the case, Ranta would cling on.

“Ngh...! Rah...!” Ranta’s voice leaked out on its own.

Takasagi was a sly old fox. He used little moves, some push and pull, the direction he faced, and where he was looking to shake up Ranta. Takasagi was trying to knock him back.

There was no doubt about it. Takasagi didn’t want to lock blades.

Thinking about it, of course he didn’t. Takasagi had a larger build than Ranta. He had more arm strength, too, probably. But Takasagi only had one arm. If he tested that strength against Ranta who was holding his sword in two hands, even Takasagi was going to struggle with that.

Even if Takasagi was a katana master, there was no changing the fact he’d lost his dominant arm. He couldn’t use what he didn’t have.

It was true, Ranta’s ability was far from touching Takasagi’s. Because of that, Ranta had overestimated Takasagi. Basically, he’d been spooked.

He couldn’t be overconfident, but being overly hesitant was no good, either. If his spirit were a set of scales, he wanted to keep them balanced. That wasn’t easy. Even if it was difficult, though, he’d do it.

“Damn...!” Takasagi shouted.

Maybe out of impatience, Takasagi tried to sweep Ranta’s right leg with his own. Ranta hadn’t only been being cautious of the katana but of leg attacks, too, so he thought he could handle it. In that moment, a certain image appeared in his mind, and Ranta’s body moved on its own.

Moving his sword up in a upwards rolling motion, he slid his blade along the top of Takasagi’s katana. At this point, the tip of his sword was in a position where it could stab into Takasagi’s face.

Takasagi also rolled his sword, trying to knock Ranta’s sword upwards.

Ranta chose not to resist, and after raising his sword, he rolled it downwards. The tip was aimed at the end of Takasagi’s nose again.

Takasagi’s one eye went wide.

Ranta pushed the sword in.

Takasagi twisted his body and, gasping, he jumped back.

It was shallow. Too shallow. Ranta’s sword had only left a gash about two centimeters long on Takasagi’s right cheek. It was just a flesh wound, too.

Ranta retreated with Exhaust, then took a breath. Time to refocus. He had to move on to the next thing.

But, still...

I did it, partner.

He wanted to yell out his name in thanks, but he kept it to himself.

Now isn’t the time for getting sentimental. Right, partner?

“That’s Wind, huh.” Takasagi lightly spun his left shoulder in a circle, then spat on the ground. His eyes were upturned. They were glazed over. He was different from before, somehow. Wild, yet terribly cold. That was... Bloodlust, huh.

“What, you’re a warrior?” Takasagi sneered. “You’re not a dread knight?”

Ranta didn’t answer. This was the middle of a serious battle. Like he was going to run his mouth. Though, even if he’d wanted to talk, he wasn’t sure he could. It was like he’d swallowed a rock or something, because his voice wouldn’t come out.

Takasagi.

“You’re more skilled than I’d have expected, Ranta. If I trained you for a number of years, I’m sure you’d be pretty useful.”

Old man.

Damn, you’re scary.

If I take my eyes off you for a second... no, if I take so much as a breath, I might get cut down. That’s can’t be right, though. I think that, at least, but is that true? Can I say for sure I won’t get cut down? I dunno. I can’t say for sure. Regardless, this is a completely different Takasagi from before.

A manslayer, that was the word that passed through Ranta’s head. Was that Takasagi’s true nature?

“For my part, that’s what I intended to do,” said Takasagi. “For better and for worse, in our group, we’re all a bit irresponsible. Between us, that sort of master and student relationship is fundamentally impossible. I thought I was fine with that, but I’m getting on in years. I was stupidly thinking I might try training someone. You had a decent amount of experience, and you’d seen hell. You had guts, too. That tends to actually be more important than talent. I mean, if you leave a genius alone, they’ll grow without you. You’re mediocre, but not bad material to work with. I was thinking I’d beat everything I have into you. That it’d be a good way to kill time. I’m disappointed.”

Ranta shook his head.

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Don’t waver.

No matter what Takasagi says, I can’t let it bother me. Ignore him. Don’t listen.

Besides, why am I letting the old man ramble on like this? He’s wasting his breath. There has to be an opening I can take advantage of. There can’t be nothing. But despite that...

Not only could Ranta not move forward, the hand holding his sword was quivering slightly.

Hey, Zodie. Do something. No dice, huh.

Zodie, who had been pushed down before, had long since gotten up. The demon could hit Takasagi with its naginata from where it was now, but it wasn’t budging.

What am I, a frog freezing because a snake’s glaring at it?

No—I’m not a frog. I’ll eat the damn snake. Eat it whole.

He went to jump, but Takasagi forestalled him. He couldn’t imagine that was a coincidence. The timing made it seem like he’d seen right through him.

The next thing he knew, Takasagi was in front of his eyes.

He’s huge.

The old man with his one eye opened wide and his lips twisted in a slight smile looked like a giant. Ranta tried to defend himself with RIPer. Though, not intentionally. It was some sort of instinctive self-defense.

Even so, Ranta’s sword caught Takasagi’s katana. Or perhaps Takasagi had deliberately hit Ranta’s sword. He clobbered it, you could say. Or even: He beat the hell out of it.

There was an incredibly loud clang, clang, clang sound. Takasagi’s katana was like one of the giant’s pillars. Ranta’s sword was screaming. Ranta was close to screaming himself, too. The one thing he didn’t do was close his eyes. That was the best he could manage.

Look, he told himself. Keep looking. If I don’t keep my eyes open and look, I’m dead. He’ll kill me. Though, even if I am looking, he may still kill me.

“Wahahahahaha...!” Takasagi laughed.

What’s with this horrifying creature? Is this guy human? He’s a monster.

Ranta didn’t think that so much as sensed it. The guy had been released from the limitations of being human. This was crazy. This was clearly impossible.

It wasn’t about winning or losing. That wasn’t the problem. He was a step away from his will breaking.

But I’m still alive, aren’t I?

Even now, he remembered it. It was burned into his memory, and it would never fade.

Deadhead Watching Keep. The keeper orc. The venomously deep red suit of armor and helmet that covered his massive body. The black and gold hair that spilled from his helmet. The two terrifying scimitars. The dual-wielder, Zoran Zesh.

Even Renji had been sent flying, but his partner hadn’t flinched. He’d tried to hit him with a Thanks Slash.

Zoran hadn’t been just huge; he was fast. He’d hit Ranta’s partner before he could get hit. First in the left shoulder. Then the upper right arm. Left forearm. Right hip. Left side of the head. He hit the top of his head, too.

Even after that beating, his partner had still been standing, with Zoran clearly disturbed.

Why won’t this human go down? He must have been mystified, and creeped out, too.

It was thanks to Ranta’s partner that they’d been able to take Zoran down. Because, until his strength had run out—no, even after that—his partner had stayed on his feet.

Moguzo.

I don’t need to shout out that it’s thanks to you I’m able to hang in here. I’ll risk my life and prove it.

If I do, it’ll be the proof that you lived.

It was less that he failed to block the katana, and more that he couldn’t block anymore. RIPer was chipped like crazy and went flying. However, that was also his last chance.

When the sword left Ranta’s hand, Takasagi swung back as if to kill him with the next blow, and in that instant—

“Ramen...!”

Why did that word come out? Naturally, it was connected to Moguzo & Ranta’s Ramen Shop which he would one day open. In other words, it was hope, it was greed, and it was an expression of his will to live no matter what.

Ranta jumped back with the best Exhaust he could manage.

Naturally, Takasagi chased close behind him. For a middle-aged guy, he was fast!

What are you, old man, a wild beast? Well, I anticipated this, though.

“Keeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee...!”

Zodie attacked Takasagi from behind. The demon had had Takasagi in range of its long naginata all along. The demon had been unable to move because Ranta was intimidated, but once it could move, it was able to attack right away.

Takasagi had to respond. If he didn’t, he’d be cut down by the long naginata.

In the end, Takasagi dodged and avoided Zodie’s long naginata. Without missing a beat, he yelled, “Oorah...!” and made an incredible thrust that made his arm seem to extend. Not missing its mark, the katana pierced Zodie’s chest.

“He...” Zodie turned into something like black steam, and diffused in an instant.

“Rantaaa!” Takasagi turned and shouted.

He couldn’t see his face anymore. Or rather, Ranta wasn’t looking at Takasagi.

He ran.

He was intent on running.

He didn’t think, I’m not gonna die, or, I want to live, or, I’m gonna live, or anything like that. Body and soul, he was running. That was all he was focused on.

The direction didn’t matter. He wasn’t even consciously fleeing. Ranta just ran and ran.

He kept running with everything he had.