Chapter 64: CH 63

Chapter 63 – Suspicion

―The next day.

Today was the day of the decisive battle. That said, I was just playing a support role.

Kuzuhara Saito and Ryudou Eiichi. To be honest, I didn’t care what happened to the two of them in the end.

However, I had to let Kuzuhara win, since I had accepted his request. I had done some information gathering beforehand, albeit for just a short time, and I found that Ryudou had the upper hand in terms of power. In clearing the dungeon, he would have a considerable advantage.

However, at least according to Kuzuhara, Ryudou was still completely unaware of the existence of Core Monsters. It was the same with the existence of labyrinthine buildings, too. The Core Monster was probably in one of those buildings, so it would be good if Kuzuhara could defeat it first. That would allow him to save a lot of time instead of having to search all of the buildings one by one like Ryudou and his boys.

But the problem was that the Core Monster wasn’t an opponent that Kuzuhara could defeat.

“That’s why we need to make sure that Kuzuhara can deliver the final blow. Shiki, Sol, it’ll be up to you two to make that happen.” (Komon)

Behind me, there were two figures who looked different from before.

Sol had been promoted from C-Rank to B-Rank. Her entire body was covered in bright red plumage, and the tips of her feathers were dyed silver, making her appear both cute and dignified.

Shiki, on the other hand, had been promoted from B-Rank to A-Rank. He was now a size larger and the sharp scythes on his arms could be retracted and extended at will. He also had an even more ninja-like appearance now, wearing a black ninja attire, a black hood, and a forehead protector. His mouth was covered with a cloth, so only his eyes could be seen.

From their appearances alone, it was hard to tell that they were monsters. This was the result of them taking the [Level-Up Pudding II]. Their strengths had now increased by a lot. The current Sol could probably easily take down that Red Armor, which she had struggled with in the past.

The difference of one rank was just that significant. With these two the way they were now, the monsters that they had scouted out in the dungeon wouldn’t be a big deal. And against the Core Monster, we should be able to win as long as we combined our strengths and worked together.

“It’s about time. Let’s hurry to the rendezvous point.” (Komon)

Shiki disappeared into my shadow while Sol led the way from the skies above as we headed for the house where Kuzuhara lived. I had originally planned to meet up with him at our alma mater, Ohsaka High School. But I decided that it would be better if we went to the school together, so I decided to first meet up with him at his house.

There was still an hour until the appointed time, but I thought it was strange because there weren’t many people in front of and around the house.

Perhaps he had sent his boys to the school first…?

While I thought that, I entered the premises and continued to the wooden porch garden area, where I found Kuzuhara and Chake alone. Something seemed off about them. The two of them seemed restless, as if they were anxious.

“Good evening. It’s a nice night, isn’t it?” (Komon)

I greeted them as I approached. I sarcastically asked if the others were late, but―

“……Sorry.” (Kuzuhara)

Suddenly, Kuzuhara apologized.

“…What do you mean?” (Komon)

“All the information you gave me… Ryudou knows about it now.” (Kuzuhara)

“…?! …Explain to me exactly what happened.” (Komon)

His words couldn’t be dismissed. I had to figure out why this had happened.

“―All of the people standing guard by my side at the time… aside from Chake, were actually working for Ryudou.” (Kuzuhara)

Kuzuhara sounded like he was forcing the words out as he conveyed this terrible truth.

“A-All of them?” (Komon)

The Inochi-shirazu was a community started by Kuzuhara and Chake after the world had transformed.

This group was meant to cope with the world’s transformation, fight against monsters, and face off against Ryudou. At first it was just the two of them, but gradually, the number of people began to increase, and they were able to grow into a group of reasonable size.

Of course, they didn’t just let anyone and everyone join their ranks. Kuzuhara actually interviewed them, welcoming those who had trouble fitting in with society and sincerely wanted to join the Inochi-shirazu.

Among them, many had a long history with Chake. While Kuzuhara was in juvenile prison, Chake had been gathering these people around him in hope that they could be of some help to Kuzuhara after he got out. However, all of them had now gone to Ryudou’s side.

…In other words, Takasu and Tengawa did too, huh?

Well, I wouldn’t be surprised if that was what they’d done. After all, they were guys who could only yield to power. It was highly likely that they thought it would be wiser to follow Ryudou than Kuzuhara and became spies as a result.

“Then your guys are at the back gate of the school right about now?” (Komon)

Ryudou and his group should be waiting there. And in response to my query, Kuzuhara nodded his head regretfully.

“…Probably all of this… was planned, just for this day.” (Chake)

“But hey, Chake-san? …There were some of your friends among those people, weren’t there? Does that mean that they betrayed you, too?” (Komon)

I wasn’t the type of person to spout ‘friendship is forever!’. I knew that connections like those were fragile strings that could be severed in a heartbeat. I just wondered if there was any reason to make enemies with Chake, whom they must have had a bond with for a long time.

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“…Ryudou will do anything to manipulate people. He wouldn’t hesitate to give them what they desire or even blackmail them if he has to.” (Chake)

By desire, he probably meant giving them money, work, women, and so on… Things that could easily sway a man. Kuzuhara said that in this case, the rewards of women and food were much more significant.

It made sense that if there was a place where one could live without any troubles and even satisfy their sexual desires at any time, anyone would jump at the opportunity.

It wasn’t that the Inochi-shirazu was lacking in food, but they weren’t wealthy, and they weren’t in a position to afford luxury either. In comparison, Ryudou had a large amount of food and women that he took from others by force. It was for this very reason that he had managed to succeed in securing the hearts and minds of the members of his group.

“….It can’t be helped.” (Komon)

“Can’t be helped…?” (Kuzuhara)

Sensing the coldness in my words, Kuzuhara glared at me.

“In the end, it’s just bonds with other people we’re talking about here. Even if we were to say that we’re family or have bonds with one another, it would be an easy matter to betray one another. Everyone only cares about themselves.” (Komon)

“….!” (Kuzuhara)

“Ryudou probably understands this as well. That’s why he can cleverly manipulate peoples’ emotions and treat them like mere chess pieces.” (Komon)

He could use others the way he did because he held contempt for everyone aside from himself. If it was as Kuzuhara said, that Ryudou had really planned all of this just for this day, he was a man with a completely twisted character.

In all likelihood, he had been thinking of ways to trick Kuzuhara the entire time Kuzuhara was serving time in juvenile prison. After Kuzuhara was released from prison, Ryudou moved his pawns around little by little and, in the end, executed his plan to corner Kuzuhara both mentally and physically.

Kuzuhara had probably believed in the people who had gathered around him, and he would have even told them all kinds of information—even though the time they spent together was short.

Kuzuhara was a compassionate man who firmly believed in all the people who had gained his trust. But because of this, our information had been passed on to Ryudou. Without a doubt, he now knew about the existence of the Core Monster and the labyrinthine buildings, which was supposed to be our advantage.

If you thought about it, that would mean that Kuzuhara had lost his chance to win the game.

“But rest assured, Kuzuhara Saito.” (Komon)

“Eh?” (Kuzuhara)

“Even if you lose all of your friends, you still have me.” (Komon)

“Komon…” (Kuzuhara)

“Even if Ryudou has dozens, or even hundreds of subordinates, they are no match for me alone.” (Komon)

“…! Hahah, just how self-confident can you be?” (Kuzuhara)

“Ara, but I can be this confident. After all… I’m strong.” (Komon)

Well, it isn’t exactly me who was strong, but the ones by my side.

“E-Exactly, Saito-san! You still have me! You’re not alone!” (Chake)

“Chake… Yeah, you’re right. I’m not going to give up now! I… can’t lose to Ryudou!” (Kuzuhara)

To put it bluntly, having a large number of people in the team would only slow us down. Depending on how you looked at it, it would be more efficient to have a small group of elites.

However… I looked at Chake, who was trying to cheer Kuzuhara up. It was easy to see from the way that Ryudou was trying to deny Kuzuhara at every turn.

He didn’t just want to kill Kuzuhara, but to ruin and destroy him and everything around him. The reasons weren’t clear, but his resentment was unmistakable. I didn’t know what had happened in their past, but if Ryudou really wanted to destroy Kuzuhara, I had the feeling that Ryudou’s schemes weren’t over yet.

After all, aside from me, the irregular part of the equation, there was still Chake by his side. What would I do if I were Ryudou? I would naturally take action against Chake and push Kuzuhara deeper into the gaping pit of loneliness.

Ryudou’s plan would succeed only after he had destroyed Kuzuhara’s bonds with his friends, his environment, his heart, and everything in between.

If that was the case, then Chake was already…

Judging by Kuzuhara’s attitude towards him, it was easy to understand that Chake was special even among his friends. Even back when I first met Kuzuhara as Torimoto, Chake was the only one who spoke up desperately to defend Kuzuhara.

They had certainly known each other for a long time, and he was probably the person that Kuzuhara trusted more than anyone else.

Would the cunning Ryudou leave such a person alone?

Even now, I found myself looking at Chake, who was still smiling as he interacted with Kuzuhara, with a hint of suspicion.

Humans could betray one another at the drop of a hat. Perhaps the only person who could truly be trusted was a directly blood-related family member.

But in the end, even family could betray you. It was unlikely to think that someone would do something as foolish as continuing to trust another person until the very, very end.

…Chake would definitely betray Kuzuhara somewhere down the line.

I had already decided to label Chake as a traitor.

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