The story we started

“…Is it really that simple?”

Hikigaya Hachiman, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke up.

"You know, even if we get rid of all the Gurongi from the 'GO' group, there are still the two judges from the 'RA' group, and the still mysterious Zero... I don't think Zaimokuza can completely deal with those monsters with his current strength."

"Especially No. 0. Although he has only attacked a few times, the feeling he gives me... is probably far beyond all the Gurongi that have appeared so far."

"Xiaoqi, aren't you being too - worrying too much? After all, Zaimokuza-san is really strong now. Since he got the golden power, he has never lost to any Gurongi. Maybe he and Officer Kousaka can really maintain this state and win to the end?"

Yuigahama Yui, who was sitting next to him, said with an optimistic smile. Obviously in her eyes, it was only a matter of time before "Yoshiki Zaimokuza" and "Kousaka Kyosuke" won.

"I hope so...but I still think things are not that simple."

Hikigaya shook his head and said that although the situation of the human side in the light curtain can be said to be clear now, for some reason, he always has an unspeakable ominous premonition in his heart.

He felt that the Gurongi side still had some reservations, and the cards they were hiding were probably far beyond everyone's imagination.

Moreover, as the story progresses to this point, there are still many questions that have not been revealed. Can it really end so easily? Hikigaya feels very uncertain about this.

Whether it's the ultimate goal of the game that the Gurongi have always talked about, the so-called "ultimate darkness", or why Asahina, a person from the future, came to this era, and why there is such a huge deviation between the history she knows and the future in the light curtain... Will the answers to these puzzles really be buried in the darkness along with the demise of the Gurongi clan before they are revealed?

What concerned him most was the scene of "Kousaka Kyosuke" standing alone by the river that was shown when the light screen appeared. The loneliness in that back figure is still fresh in Hikigaya's memory.

At the end of this story, something must have happened, otherwise the man with a mind as strong as steel would not have shown such a decadent attitude.

Every time he thought of this, he couldn't help but look at Zaimokuza's back, with unspeakable worry in his eyes.

Author's message:

ps: I am too busy today and only have time to write this one chapter.

Chapter position: 196 / Chapter price: 25 / Word count: 5411 / Update time: 2023-08-01 02:41:34

16. The Most Vicious Enemy (5K)

【Ibaraki Prefecture, Mito, Hitachi Seaside Park. 】

【03:43 P,M】

[“On behalf of all members of the Unidentified Lifeform Search Headquarters, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Miss Kotobuki for the assistance provided by the Kotobuki family to our police’s encirclement and suppression operation this time.”]

[Kousaka Kyosuke, who had taken off his armor and put on his usual suit and windbreaker, stood under a tree with his phone in his hand and spoke solemnly to the person on the other side of the screen.]

[“If it weren’t for your father’s generous donation to provide us with the ship, I’m afraid we wouldn’t be able to lure the 29th into the trap as planned. However, I am deeply sorry for the damage to the ship caused during the operation. Therefore, I will apply to my superiors in my personal name for compensation in accordance with the regulations for the economic losses suffered by the Kotobuki family during this operation. Please rest assured, Miss Kotobuki.”]

[“Please don’t mind it. It’s just a few cruise ships. Compared with Mr. Kosaka’s life-saving grace, it’s really not worth mentioning. You really don’t need to take it to heart!”]

[The person communicating with him on the other side of the screen, Kotobuki, saw Kousaka Kyosuke's serious look and waved his hands in panic, then asked with concern.]

[“Compared to this insignificant matter, are you okay, Mr. Kosaka? Are you injured in this operation?”]

[“Thank you for your concern, Miss Kotobuki. The wounds I received in this battle were only minor. I will recover naturally after a few days of rest.”]

[“Uh… I told you not to be so polite.”]

[Faced with Kousaka Kyosuke's formulaic answer, Kotobuki lowered his head dejectedly and muttered a few words, then raised his head and asked after hesitating for a few seconds.]

[“Um… Mr. Kosaka, do you have any free time recently?”]

[When she said this, her eyes wandered unconsciously, and her index fingers kept tapping, and a few suspicious blushes appeared on her fair face.]

[Kousaka Kyousuke's eyes twitched unnaturally when he saw Kotobuki's expression. Although he subconsciously wanted to answer that he was busy, he had to say it because he felt guilty for owing a favor to the other party after thinking about his assistance to the police in this operation.]

[“Although the investigation headquarters is busy, if you need my help, as long as it does not violate the law, I will do my best to help you.”]

[“Mo~ If you continue like this, I’ll really get angry!”]

[Kotobuki? Her cheeks puffed up like a pufferfish, and she said indignantly, angered by his stubborn attitude.]

【“…”】

[Kousaka Kyousuke rationally kept silent about her words, which were more like a spoiled child than a rebuke, and didn't dare to say a word more.]

[——Nothing can be done about it. He is grateful for what he has received. This sentence sums up his current situation.]

【“That’s it…”】

[The girl with long beige hair spoke hesitantly, her face getting redder with every word she spoke.]

[“Father, he wants to find time to invite you, Mr. Kosaka, and our whole family to have a meal together. He said that he wanted to thank you in person for saving our family from the hands of the unconfirmed life form last time. He wants to repay you for saving our lives…”]

[After hearing this, Kousaka Kyosuke felt his tense face suddenly start to shatter. This time, not only the corners of his eyes, but even half of his face began to twitch involuntarily.]

[Invite him alone to have a meal with the other party's family... In a sense, how is this different from meeting the parents? ]

[He admitted that Kotobuki is indeed a rare beauty, and a rich woman who can save a man a hundred lifetimes of hard work after marrying her. How many people would not want to eat the free rice handed to them by such a beautiful and rich woman with a spoon?]

[However, the age gap between the two meant that Kousaka Kyosuke could only regard her as an ordinary junior at best, and could not really regard her as a mature woman with whom he could get along. Moreover, his moral sense that he had cultivated over the years could not allow him to do such an act of being an old cow eating young grass and bringing shame to the reputation of the Kousaka family.]

[——If my father were still alive, he would probably break my legs with a stick without thinking twice after knowing this, right? ]

[Kousaka Kyousuke smiled bitterly in his heart, but it was difficult for him to directly refuse, so he could only continue to speak. 】

[“Please tell your father, Miss Kotobuki, that saving people is just my duty and obligation. Please don’t worry about it.”]

[“In addition, I am extremely grateful for your kindness. Please rest assured that after I finish the things in my hands, I will definitely come to your house to express my sincere gratitude in person.”]

[“I still need to finish the cleanup work on the battlefield. Please allow me to hang up first. I will contact you next time, Miss Kotobuki.”]

[“Hey? Please wait! Kosaka first——”]

【Di-】

[Without waiting for Kotobuki to finish speaking, Kousaka Kyosuke quickly hung up the phone. His tense face suddenly collapsed, and he stretched out his hand to rub his nose with a headache.]

[“Really… I hope this young lady won’t take this matter to heart.”]

[“Don’t worry, Mr. Kosaka~ Xiao? has a very gentle personality. I believe she won’t care about such a small matter!”]

【Zaimokuza, who had been listening attentively for most of the day, put away the gossipy expression on his face, smiled, reached out and patted his shoulder, and said with a mischievous look in his eyes.】

[“But I never thought, Mr. Kosaka, that you are the kind of man who would not only not make a move, but would also capture the heart of a young girl directly once you make a move. You are truly a man who never reveals his true colors!”]

[“But please don’t do anything illegal on impulse. Otherwise, as a police officer, you will be breaking the law knowingly, and people will stab you in the back in the back~”]

[“…Who do you think is responsible for this situation?”]

[Kousaka Kyosuke's face darkened instantly after hearing Zaimokuza's teasing. He turned his head and looked at the white-haired rabbit with a sunny smile with an unfriendly expression, and said with gritted teeth.]

[There is no way. Just like the "having an affair with No. 4", the gossip that "the daughter of the Kotobuki family has a crush on Kousaka Kyousuke" is not only spreading in the investigation headquarters, but also in the entire Metropolitan Police Department. Even the cleaning lady sweeping the floor in front of the police station knows about it.]

[All of this originated from the Unconfirmed Lifeform Incident No. 27 a few weeks ago. ]

[No. 27 is a Gurongi that looks like an owl. Not only does it look like an owl, it also has the ability to fly. Its killing method is very similar to that of No. 14, both of which rely on shooting from high altitudes to take the victim's life.]

[At that time, the 27th started its hunting game in Nerima District, Tokyo, and among the people involved were Kotobuki and his daughter, who happened to be accompanying their father to Tokyo for a business reception. They happened to be driving by there and unfortunately became the target of the other party.]

【It was Kyosuke Kosaka's turn to drive around there on patrol duty at that time. When he learned from the police communication that No. 27 appeared in Nerima District, he drove there without hesitation and saved Kotobuki and his daughter who were almost killed by the unidentified life form at the critical moment.】

[What's even more coincidental is that just like the process of case No. 14, Kousaka Kyosuke chose to use his own body as a shield to block the attack from No. 27 that was aimed at Kotobuki, and the result was that his own right shoulder was pierced by the silver needle again, while the person he was protecting was unharmed except for being splashed with blood.]

[Zaimokuza arrived in time later, and in that battle, he used his Pegasus form, which was strengthened by the power of spiritual elements, to kill No. 27. Then, he teamed up with Kotobuki and his daughter to send the seriously injured Kousaka Kyosuke to the hospital.]

[Every teenage girl has had the fantasy of meeting her prince charming one day, riding a horse and saving her from danger. Even a rich lady like Kotobuki is no exception. It is better to say that for a woman like her, the effect is simply outstanding.]

[The eldest daughter of a noble family meets her knight. This kind of plot has always been the favorite of all noble daughters, regardless of nationality, since the rise of chivalric literature in the Middle Ages. 】

[Therefore, it is no surprise that Kotobuki, who is just beginning to fall in love, falls in love with Kousaka Kyousuke. She is a bit slow-witted and does not hide her admiration for him.]

[Even Zaimokuza could sense this. When he went to visit Kousaka Kyousuke, the pink atmosphere in the ward almost materialized. He felt like an oversized light bulb, feeling the death gaze from a certain female doctor behind him, and there was a fear that he would be implicated at any time.]

[So after visiting him, Zaimokuza ignored Kousaka Kyosuke's look of pleading for help, and abandoned him in the Shura Field without hesitation in the face of his disbelief, and fled, fearing that if he ran a step later, his life would be in danger.]

[During the hospitalization, Kotobuki, who felt responsible for Kousaka Kyosuke's injury, took care of him every step of the way. Although they had met several times before, it was only then that Kousaka Kyosuke knew the family background of the girl he saved.]

[For the Kotobuki family, the phrase "wealthy enough to rival a country" is not an adjective, but a statement. ]

[In this way, while enjoying the meticulous care of the rich lady and worrying about whether he would be poisoned by a female doctor in the middle of the night, Kousaka Kyosuke and Kotobuki quickly became familiar with each other. The girl patted her chest and promised that if she had any difficulties, she would definitely help. ]

[Although Kousaka Kyousuke repeatedly refused, he still couldn't resist the stubborn Kotobuki, so he could only take out his mobile phone and input the other party's mobile phone number, although he felt that there was basically no possibility of it being used. ]

【But I didn’t expect that it would actually come in handy this time. 】

[When the encirclement plan against No. 29 was formulated, there was a problem that the police did not have enough ships to form a blockade of the sea area, and the funds required were too high. Just when everyone was struggling to know what to do, Kousaka Kyousuke remembered the number of Kotobuki in his mobile phone. ]

[Although he felt deeply ashamed for asking a little girl for help, his sense of responsibility for the nation and the overall situation ultimately overwhelmed his complex inner thoughts and drove him to call the other party for help.]

[Originally, Kousaka Kyosuke was just trying to ask for help, but he didn't expect Kotobuki to give them several large cruise ships for free after hearing what he said about the difficulties the police were facing. Not only that, even the Unidentified Lifeform Search Headquarters received a huge amount of financial support from the Kotobuki family.]

[Because after a certain white-haired bastard escaped from the hospital, he excitedly called his ex-girlfriend who also worked at the Metropolitan Police Department and told her about it. Then when Kousaka Kyosuke was discharged from the hospital and returned to his post, he found out that the fact that he was suspected of being kept by a rich woman had already spread throughout the police station by word of mouth. When he learned the truth, his brain almost froze on the spot.]

【But at that time, his colleagues only regarded this matter as a rumor and a joke to talk about after dinner. No one took it seriously. At most, they used it to tease Kousaka Kyousuke, because they all knew him well and knew that he would never do such an outrageous thing.】

【But when he received the assistance from the Kotobuki family this time, especially when the butler who handed over the check said to him in front of all his colleagues, "This is just a small reward for the master's life-saving grace. If you need anything in the future, please let me know. In addition, the lady asked me to tell you that she misses you very much and hopes you can contact her more often." After this sentence, Kousaka Kyosuke could imagine what the Metropolitan Police Department thought of this "rumor". 】

[——They've sent real money to your door, and you're still telling me you're not being kept? ]

[When he was on the expedition, the strange looks from his colleagues behind him made Kyosuke Kosaka feel uneasy, and the police leaders who should have reprimanded him for his "malfeasance" remained silent. They all chose to be blind to the fact that Kyosuke Kosaka, as a policeman, was suspected of knowingly breaking the law and dating an underage girl.]

[There is no way, the Kotobuki family gave too much. ]

[He has become the real leader of the investigation department, and the money from the reward is enough to upgrade the entire department and there is still more than enough after the bonus. With such huge benefits visible to the naked eye, only people with a problem in their brains would investigate the fact that Kousaka Kyosuke was "kept" by a rich lady. ]

[To some extent, they are now all supported by the "sponsored" Kousaka Kyousuke alone. They just need to find a shrine to worship him as the God of Wealth. Not only will they not hold him accountable for his behavior of being an old cow eating young grass, but their superiors even gave him hints of encouragement when they talked to him later, asking him to sacrifice himself and sell his body to earn more funds for the Metropolitan Police Department.]

[This shameless act made Kousaka Kyosuke so angry that he almost spat out blood on his desk. He felt that the Superintendent in front of him, whose face was usually as majestic as a Buddha statue, was now as lowly as a brothel madam, and he was the good girl who was forced to fall from grace.]

[When everyone thinks you are being kept, even if you are not really being kept, you have already been kept. ]

[With this ironclad "fact", no one would believe him no matter what he said. Everyone has already determined that Kousaka Kyosuke is a man kept by a rich woman. ]

[Kousaka Kyosuke has sadly foreseen that his reputation in the police station will no longer be positive titles such as "the nation's strongest shield" or "the recognized heroic detective", but rather "a younger lolita lover who likes young girls" and "the legendary kept man". ]

[Whenever he thought about how he would be surrounded by people every day in Tokyo, Kousaka Kyousuke felt heartbroken. He didn't even want to argue with Zaimokuza anymore. He turned around with a bleak expression and walked towards the police car parked on the roadside in the distance.]

【Zaimokuza followed with a smile, and the two of them walked away together, playing and joking, with a cheerful atmosphere in the air.】

[“Well, well, isn’t it just a rumor that someone is keeping you? I think this might be normal for you, Mr. Kosaka. After all, you are so popular. On the contrary, it would be strange if you have no girlfriend. Xiao? She is really nice. Maybe you could consider her, Mr. Kosaka?”]

[“…Can you please stay away from me? I don’t want to talk to you now.”]

[“That won’t do. After all, Xiao? Please, I have to monitor—cough cough cough! Keep a close eye on Mr. Kousaka to prevent him from being kidnapped by other girls.”]

[“…You wanted to say surveillance, didn’t you? You must have!”]

[“Your illusion~”]

……

[“Hmph! Is that KUUGA’s new power?”]

[On a tall building not far away, a figure looked down at the backs of Zaimokuza and Kousaka Kyosuke disappearing into the woods, and reached out to hold down his hat, which was a little unstable due to the strong wind blowing through the tall buildings. ]

[Gamego recalled the shot that seemed to be able to penetrate the sky. Obviously, the sound and power of that shot were extremely astonishing, but a disdainful smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. ]

[“That’s all. It’s nothing to me.”]

[“…Next, it’s your turn…Are you ready?”]

[Dorudo in a white robe slowly walked over from behind it and spoke slowly. As he spoke, he took a pen and drew a lightning-shaped hook on a stone tablet. The symbol on the stone tablet was the totem of Bemiu.]

[“I’m ready and can play the game at any time. I can’t wait to see how much KUUGA’s strength has improved.”]

[Gamego said without turning his head, and at the same time threw a stone tablet back, and Dorudo reached out to take it. ]

[It calmly looked at the game goal written in Gurongi on the stone tablet and read it word by word.]

[“Use a hammer to kill the prey. The time limit is three days and nights. The target number of people…”]

[Speaking of this, even Dorudo, who is as indifferent as he is, couldn't help but look up at Gamego who turned around with some surprise, and said the last sentence.]

【“…Target: 10,000.”】

[“Are you sure you want to set so many game goals?”]

[“Hmph~ Of course.”]