Chapter 80: CH 79

Chapter 79 – Betrayal

Author’s Note: It’s time for the appearance of our protagonist at last.

“Not if I take it from you first!” (Kuzuhara)

I dashed out, planning to defeat Ryudou first before the black ogre. But a bunch of zombies appeared and blocked my way to protect Ryudou.

“Y-You guys…!” (Kuzuhara)

More than that, they were once my former comrades.

“Kukuku, if only you could kill your former comrades, eh?” (Ryudou)

As always, he was a guy whose methods were as nasty as ever. But at that moment, the heads of the zombies were blown off.

“―Sorry, but they don’t have anything to do with Sol!” (Sol)

It was Sol. This was her first time meeting them, so they were just enemies to her. It was hard to thank her for it, but it still opened the way.

“Ryudooooou!” (Kuzuhara)

“Tch, if you’re gonna come at me, you better be prepared!” (Ryudou)

I threw my right fist at Ryudou, and he mirrored me with his own fist.

―Our fists collided, causing a shockwave to spread through the area.

“Kuu… Evenly matched!” (Kuzuhara)

“You better not think for even a second that you’ll always be the only one who’s stronger in a fight, Kuzuhara!” (Ryudou)

I was stronger in terms of pure strength, but he had also continued to train a lot.

“Besides. I have this power―” (Ryudou)

I suddenly felt a sharp pain from the place where our fists had been in contact, and I reflexively backed away. When I looked at my fist to see what was wrong, I saw that the part where we had been in contact was burnt raw.

“Kuhahah! You can’t touch me so easily anymore, Kuzuhara. I’m the <King of Decay> after all.” (Ryudou)

His skill didn’t only turn people into zombies; it could also corrode and decay the places that he came into contact with. This was his power.

Geez, what a ridiculous power.

If a god had given him this power, I wished that I could give that god a good fist to the face.

“Saito-san! Behind you!” (Chake)

Suddenly, I heard Chake’s voice. There was a zombie approaching me from behind. Clicking my tongue, I jumped back and used an <Air Wave> on the zombie, sending it flying.

“Kuku, looks like your skill allows you to manipulate impacts. It’s a pretty powerful skill, but if you can’t get close, you can’t do shit. That owl really caught me off guard earlier.” (Ryudou)

As if to say that it wouldn’t work this time, he began to build a wall around himself with a massive number of zombies.

“Originally, you should have been the one in this position, don’t you think?” (Ryudou)

“….?” (Kuzuhara)

“You, who loves to be in a group. ‘I stand together and fight with my friends.’ Just like the protagonist of a story. But now look at this situation. I have the power of numbers, and you’re standing there all alone. How does it feel? How does it feel to have your friends stolen from you, and now you only have a mercenary to rely on?” (Ryudou)

Ryudou directed a smile at me, which was filled with an air of superiority.

“…I already know how you do things.” (Kuzuhara)

“Hah?” (Ryudou)

“You’re planning to try and take everything from me and break my heart, aren’t you?” (Kuzuhara)

“……….” (Ryudou)

“But unfortunately for you, I still have Chake by my side, and Komon is a trustworthy person. I…am not alone.” (Kuzuhara)

“…….Ah, is that so?”(Ryudou)

He showed no sign of surprise as if he expected me to say that. If anything, it looked like his smile deepened.

“Seriously… Do you really think Komon Shiina is your ally?” (Ryudou)

“….Hah?” (Kuzuhara)

What the hell is he going on about all of a sudden?

“You don’t get it, do you Kuzuhara? Do you really think I’d leave your insecurities alone?” (Ryudou)

“……! N-No way…!” (Kuzuhara)

An unpleasant thought passed through my mind. I wanted to think that there was no way, but I couldn’t get rid of the thought that if it was this guy, he really might do it.

“Kukuku, that’s right. Komon Shiina is a pawn that I prepared from the beginning.” (Ryudou)

“…?! T-That’s not true! That’s impossible!” (Kuzuhara)

“I can understand why you want to trust her. In the end, she’s someone who is only motivated by the rewards. If you give her a better deal, she can easily be lured to the other side.” (Ryudou)

“B-But…!” (Kuzuhara)

“Think back on it. You were betrayed by your own people, weren’t you? Then how do you know mercenaries won’t betray you either?” (Ryudou)

“T-That…” (Kuzuhara)

Once he said that, I was lost for words. I directly reached out to Komon, and I knew I could trust her. But it was true that it had been the same for my people. I actually met them, talked to them, and thought that they were worthy to be my comrades and friends.

But in the end, they left me.

“T-That’s right! Sol! Sol can confirm it!” (Kuzuhara)

“Sol isn’t sure what she needs to say here to prove it to you. In the end, it’s up to you as a human to decide.” (Sol)

That might be true, but I really just wanted her to deny Ryudou’s words here. Slowly, a seed of doubt began to settle in my chest.

“Kukuku, I told you, didn’t I? You’re all alone.” (Ryudou)

“….?! I… I’m not alone! I still have friends by my side that I can trust!” (Kuzuhara)

Exactly. Even if Komon was actually on the other side, I still had my dear old partner by my side.

“…..Chake.”

It wasn’t me. It was Ryudou who called his name.

Why is he calling Chake’s name?

The next moment, I saw a shocking sight.

“―Yes.” (Chake)

Chake straightened his posture and replied in a cold, business-like tone. Then, he of all people made his way over to Ryudou’s side.

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No way… No way, no way, no way!

When Chake came to stand in attention behind Ryudou, a fiendish smile appeared on his face.

“This is reality.” (Ryudou)

The shock and pain felt like it was tearing my heart apart. The reality that I didn’t want to accept felt physically painful to me.

“C-Chake….? Y-You’re joking, right…? Tell me it’s not true. Right? You were… my…” (Kuzuhara)

“…..Sorry, Saito-san.” (Chake)

The moment I heard those words, I felt something snap inside me.

“RYUDOUUU!! You fucking bastard, what the hell did you do to Chakeeeeeee?!” (Kuzuhara)

“Kuhahahahahaha! Good, good! I love that face! That’s the face I wanted to see!”

“Answer me, Ryudooou!” (Kuzuhara)

All the blood felt like it was rushing to my head. The seething anger boiled over, and I could feel it turning into an overwhelming desire to kill.

There was no way that Chake wanted to betray me. No, it was the same for the others, too.

This guy was making cowardly moves to take away their freedom. He even did something to my best friend. That was why I couldn’t bear it any longer.

“Die! <Air Wave>!” (Kuzuhara)

I immediately unleashed an all-out shockwave. But then, Chake stood in front of Ryudou as if he was protecting him. Naturally, the shockwave went right towards Chake.

“―Shit!” (Kuzuhara)

I changed the direction of my outstretched right hand towards the sky. The shockwave also changed directions and flew upward.

“Wow, looks like you really can control that shockwave to some extent. Good for you, not killing your precious friend by your own hand, Kuzuhara.” (Ryudou)

He got me. That move just now was one that I hadn’t yet shown to Ryudou. I was going to hit him with that move when I saw an opening.

“Chake…You…!” (Kuzuhara)

“Sorry, Saito-san. I… have to protect this person.” (Chake)

“Why… Why this guy…?!” (Kuzuhara)

“….To protect… her.” (Chake)

“Her…?” (Kuzuhara)

For a moment, I couldn’t understand who on earth he was talking about. But then, Ryudou responded to my question instead.

“Chake, just say it, man. That your beloved girlfriend is being held hostage.” (Ryudou)

“…?! ….W-What… Ryudou, you bastard! How far do you have to go…!” (Kuzuhara)

I knew it. There was no way Chake would betray me for no reason. There was definitely a reason, and that was because Ryudou was using the girlfriend he recently found as a pretext to make him betray me.

“I… don’t want to lose her. I really love her from the bottom of my heart…!” Chake cried out with heartfelt sorrow. This alone showed how much Chake really cared for her.

“So… I’m… I’m sorry…!” (Chake)

Chake began to shed tears. He was torn between me and his girlfriend, but in the end, he chose her. I was somewhat relieved to hear that.

“…Hahah, good for you Chake. You’re a real man, aren’t you?” (Kuzuhara)

“….?! Saito-san…?” (Chake)

“That’s right… A real man should take action for the woman he likes.” (Kuzuhara)

In the past, I couldn’t do that. Even though it all happened in an instant, I… couldn’t protect Tomoe.

“Chake, it’s fine. That’s… the way it should be.” (Kuzuhara)

“Saito-san…!” (Chake)

“Alright, alright, alright. Sorry to break the emotional scene up right there, but your situation hasn’t gotten any better, you know?” (Ryudou)

As always, he was great at ruining the atmosphere.

“Now you’re truly alone. How is it? How does it feel to have everything taken from you? Kuzuhara Saito.” (Ryudou)

With all of the measures he had taken, I had always been dancing in the palm of his hand. As a result, there was now no one left by my side.

Alone―I was the very embodiment of that word right now. It was frustrating. I couldn’t forgive Ryudou for taking away the things that were precious to me one after the other. There’s no way I can forgive him.

“Ryudou….” (Kuzuhara)

“Kuku, this is the humiliation I felt at that time.” (Ryudou)

That time… He was probably talking about that time I couldn’t keep my promise. The only friends Ryudou could speak of were me and Tomoe.

With the loss of Tomoe and me betraying his trust, he had lost the ones who supported him emotionally and spiritually all at once. Just like I was now, he had to experience cruel loneliness.

I… was the one who made him like this.

“Here’s a proposal, Kuzuhara.” (Ryudou)

“A proposal?” (Kuzuhara)

“Yeah. Admit defeat and pledge lifelong loyalty to me. If you do that… I’ll let Chake go. Of course, his girl, too.” (Ryudou)

“Chake…” (Kuzuhara)

“I’ll even promise you that I’ll never get involved with him again. What do you say? If you don’t accept this proposal, the life of Chake and his girl will always be in my hands.” (Ryudou)

…It was an obvious choice.

The fist I had raised overhead slowly lost strength and dropped to my side.

“Saito-san…?” Chake called out my name anxiously.

Don’t make that face, Chake. Don’t worry. Only for you… I’ll protect your life alone.

That’s how I’ll repay you for continuing to support me until now even from the time that I entered prison, all alone.

“…….Fine. I’ll submit to y―” (Kuzuhara)

At that moment, something flashed in between Ryudou and I. It was the swing of a familiar katana.

“―My, my. Your feelings for your friend are admirable, but you’re being a little too thoughtless.”

Click, clack, click. From the darkness, there was a figure approaching us one step at a time. Her gorgeous hakama swayed gently with each step as her dignified appearance slowly came into view.

“Sorry to make you wait, Kuzuhara.”

“―Komon?!” (Kuzuhara)

It was the entrance of the hakama-wearing katana user―Komon Shiina.

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