My youth story cannot be a knight war

16. Cruel (5K)

【Fukushima Prefecture, Fukushima City, Medical University Hospital. 】

【04:23 PM】

According to the time, the hospital should be in its peak period, approaching the end of the working day. Patients who usually come to the hospital for treatment are swarming in and out like ants in this largest hospital in the area. Both patients and medical staff are working hard to finish their work before the end of the working day.

But today, this hospital, which should have been packed with people, was utterly silent. In stark contrast to its usual bustling atmosphere, a heavy, murderous atmosphere, reminiscent of a battlefield, enveloped every corner of the hospital. Under this oppressive atmosphere, even the faintest chants of Zen, the last audible at this time of year, seemed to sense the impending danger and vanish without a trace.

[In fact, this place is really no different from a battlefield now.]

Dozens of police cars surrounded the hospital's entrances and exits. Armed guards were stationed every ten meters or so in the hospital's corridors. They vigilantly scanned the hospital for any disturbances, and if they spotted anything out of place, they would point their guns in that direction without hesitation.

[These were merely the outward arrangements. Behind the scenes, countless surveillance devices were installed in every nook and cranny of the hospital. Countless police officers were stationed in nearby buildings, remotely monitoring the hospital. If they spotted anyone inside the hospital who wasn't on the roster, they would immediately sound the alarm outside.]

[At that time, all the police lying in ambush here will be mobilized, and this hospital will become a virtual prison. No intruder will be able to escape even if they have wings.]

Even though the security forces, both overt and covert, were already so tight, no one dared to let down their guard.

The battle that took place at the beach villa this morning had clearly demonstrated to everyone the capabilities of Unidentified Lifeform No. 33. Even with a much stronger defense force then than today, they were easily able to penetrate the core of their position and nearly kill their target. With such a past, continuing to underestimate them would be tantamount to suicidal stupidity.

According to the police's internal prediction model and psychological analysis of No. 75, there's at least a % chance it will launch another attack today, putting everyone on high alert.

To prevent No. 33 from sneaking into the hospital while the medical staff were off duty, all staff members were not allowed to leave their shifts today. Knowing the dangers involved, they dared not say anything. They all locked themselves in the staff dormitories inside the hospital, separated by gender, and waited patiently for the day to pass.

Although everyone was fully prepared and waiting for Number 33 to arrive, if he didn't show up, that would naturally be the best outcome. I guess all the guards would be relieved.

If No. 33 really came today, given the strength it had demonstrated in this morning's battle, they, as the hospital's first line of defense, would undoubtedly be the first to suffer.

Although they all knew they would die in the line of duty, no one wanted to die.

[——Unfortunately, this is just a wishful thinking.]

【“——”】

In the hospital ward on the third floor, Kousaka Kyosuke, who was resting quietly on the bed to recover his strength, suddenly opened his tightly closed eyes, and a red light flashed in his dark irises.

He looked at the white ceiling of the ward, his eyes becoming extremely solemn as he muttered.

“Number 33, it’s coming…!”

……

"It's time to change shifts."

Sakurai said this while looking at the watch on his right wrist. His expression was no longer as cold as before, but rather worried. His slightly inverted triangular eyes held an unconcealable worry.

"Hello, this is Cuttlefish. This is Cuttlefish. Black Wolf, please reply. Please reply."

He walked slowly toward the other side of the corridor, holding a sniper rifle, and spoke while picking up the intercom hanging from his waist.

[“This is Black Wolf. Received. What’s the matter?”]

A mature and steady voice came from the intercom. Sakurai felt a slight sense of relief when he heard it, and then spoke.

[“Shift change time has arrived. Please confirm the password and come to exchange positions.”]

[“Received. Password—‘Kousaka is two-timing today.’]

[“It has been confirmed. The password is correct. Please come and exchange positions as soon as possible.”]

[Hearing this strange command, Sakurai's mouth twitched, and he spoke into the intercom with a strange expression.]

"By the way, Officer Sugita... if we set this password, wouldn't Mr. Kosaka be angry if he found out later?"

"I'd rather he'd come down here angrily to settle the score with me right now. At least I'd feel a little safer after seeing him... But he's still bedridden. According to the doctor, a normal person with his injuries would have to stay in bed for at least three weeks."

Officer Sugita, on the other end of the intercom, walked down the corridor, weapon in hand. He scanned the area warily, not wanting to miss a single spot.

"But according to common sense, if it were anyone else, they'd probably still be in the ICU receiving emergency treatment. But this guy was unconscious for less than an hour before he regained consciousness and was transferred to a regular ward. What a terrifying guy."

“As expected of Mr. Kousaka, but it’s precisely because of him that I still can’t believe it…”

Sakurai gave a wry smile and quickened his pace slightly.

"Mr. Kosaka, who was so powerful, actually lost to No. 1 while using the G1. He even had his equipment stolen. And according to him, it seems that the other party can also use the G to transform. This..."

"Not to mention you, I still can't quite believe it. I never imagined that one day, G1, created by the police, would actually stand against us. This is truly a ridiculous outcome."

"If Number 1 is using the G against us this time, and one of our men gets killed... forget it. That's a headache for the higher-ups, not for me, a seasoned veteran who just wants to gather my experience and wait for retirement."

Sugita subconsciously continued to think along these lines, but then he immediately came to his senses, smiled, and shook his head.

"Yes, this is a headache for those above us, and has nothing to do with us who are just following orders."

Sakurai looked towards the corner of the corridor ahead. He could already vaguely hear footsteps coming from there.

"But Officer Sugita, you're lying again. If you really just wanted to gain experience, why did you join the Unidentified Lifeform Investigation Department in the first place? This doesn't seem like a good place to gain experience at all."

"I had to come because my superiors told me to. I don't think you'd believe that reason, would you?"

Sugita also heard footsteps coming from the other side of the corner. After thinking for a moment, he simply put down the intercom and quickened his pace, talking as he walked.

"Do you want to know the reason?"

"Well, after all, you don't usually give the impression that you care about orders from above. Besides, you're a veteran in the Metropolitan Police Department after all, and you've accumulated a lot of connections over the years. If you refuse, the higher-ups will probably give it some consideration."

[Sakurai's voice came from the corner of the corridor. Sugita thought for a moment and then spoke.]

"Actually, there's nothing much to say. I just promised an old friend that if his son could ever join the Metropolitan Police Department like I did, I would take care of him as much as I could."

[His eyes were filled with memories as he spoke of this, and the corners of his eyes and eyebrows became calm, as if he had returned to the day more than ten years ago when he had agreed to someone's request.]

"Because I owe that guy a favor, and his kid has joined the Countermeasures Headquarters, so in order to keep my promise, I can only..."

"Huh? So there's such a thing. Your old friend's son is—huh? Officer Sugita?"

Sakurai turned around in surprise and raised his eyebrows. Just as he turned the corner and was about to ask about the man's identity, his expression suddenly froze.

Because there was no one at the corner of the corridor, Officer Sugita was nowhere to be seen.

"What's going on? Officer Sugita, you—"

[Sakurai, startled, picked up the intercom to inquire about the other party's whereabouts, but his words and actions suddenly stopped.]

He stared blankly at his right hand. A red flower silently blossomed on the rough skin, and bright red liquid flowed down his palm.

[Tick tock. 】

A second red flower blossomed on his palm. Sakurai raised his head slowly with a stiff expression and looked up at the top of his head.

[He raised his head and met a pair of wide, dead eyes.]

His superior, Inspector Takeo Sugita, a well-known veteran of the Metropolitan Police Department, was currently nailed to the corridor ceiling.

Densely packed silver needles pierced his limbs, immobilizing them. A silver spear pierced Officer Sugita's chest. Blood, so crimson it looked like black, dripped down the spear, staining the pristine white shaft blood-red.

The reflection of the window railings casts a shadow on Officer Sugita, who is nailed to the ceiling in the shape of a cross. The intersecting grid imbues this bloody scene with an eerie, twisted religious quality, like Jesus, crucified and awaiting his resurrection. The silence is filled with silent solemnity and heaviness.

It took Sakurai three full seconds to recover from the scene. He looked at Officer Sugita, who had already lost his life, and let out a terrified cry.

【"Police Sugita——"】

【Puff.】

[A sharp sound of tearing cloth was heard, and Sakurai's movements suddenly froze.]

[——Another silver spear pierced through his left chest.]

An indescribable chill suddenly spread from the pierced chest to the entire body. The intercom slipped from my loosened hand and fell to the ground with a resounding thud.

Sakurai's lips trembled as he looked at the spear emerging from his chest. The scene before him gradually became blurry, and blood flowed from his mouth.

[He fell forward to his knees, then fell to the ground sideways.]

The spear that had pierced Sakurai's chest suddenly began to twist and deform rapidly, the slender spear shaft turning into a tiny hair, falling into the pool of blood that slowly spread from under Sakurai's body.

"The power of this belt is so comfortable~"

[Looking at the tragedy he had created, Jaraji, transformed into the G1 Alien, patted the black belt reflecting the display screen at his waist with satisfaction. He stepped through the pool of blood and walked forward, leaving a row of bloody footprints on the ground.]

[“Next, it’s time to find my prey.”]

The two policemen were brutally attacked, and the police outside the hospital watched them through surveillance cameras. They immediately activated the red alarm button without hesitation.

[Woo——]

[A sudden alarm rang out, centered around the hospital, completely shattering the originally silent atmosphere.]

At this moment, the hospital seemed to come alive. The previously sealed wards opened one after another, and police officers with pistols rushed out and ran wildly into the corridor.

【“——”】

[In the ward, Kousaka Kyosuke listened to the alarm ringing in his ears, but fell into silence.]

Sitting on the hospital bed, he suddenly lowered his head deeply, as if bowing, and his hands, which were connected to an IV drip, tightly clenched the white bed sheet, his body trembling slightly.

[“Now, it’s not the right time… I can’t waste this one and only chance… I’m sorry.”]

"Please forgive me...Uncle Gangxiong."

"Forgive me..."

……

[Patter. 】

[Two pistols fell to the ground. The two policemen who rushed to the ward door clutched their throats in horror.]

They stared at each other with wide eyes, their mouths open but only making strange hoarse noises. Red liquid gradually oozed out from between their fingers covering their necks, and their eyes gradually became dull.

[Eventually, both officers fell to the ground, their bodies twitching slightly as they struggled. After a short while, they were still.]

[Patter. 】

[With a melodious snap of two fingers, Jaraji stepped briskly over the bodies of the two policemen and pushed open the door of the ward in front of him.]

“It’s right here.”

[Looking at the girls lying on the beds in the ward, Jaraji said happily.]

To facilitate unified arrangements and protection, the police placed these girls in the same ward and also assigned female officers of similar build to the girls in other wards as disguises, hoping to confuse Jaraji.

However, they still underestimated Jaraji's ability. It has a special method of identifying prey, not just relying on its eyes. Once it sees you, there's no way you can escape its pursuit.

To help them recover from the rough ride, the girls were all given sedatives and fell into a deep sleep. Some of them even frowned, revealing a hint of fear, as if their bodies instinctively sensed the approaching danger.

[The most deadly danger had indeed arrived, but they had all fallen into a deep sleep and could not wake up until the sedatives wore off. In this situation, they could only let Jaraji slaughter them like fish on a chopping board.]

"Even though I can't enjoy the fear you feel while awake, dying without knowing anything... can be considered a kind of happiness, right?"

Jaraji didn't intend to stall any longer. He had already had enough fun and pleasure from these girls. It was time to deal with them and go find the first-year students who hadn't been attacked yet and have some fun with them.

It walked into the ward and strolled towards the girls lying in beds at the end of the room. As it walked, it reached out and plucked a few messy hairs, holding them tightly in its palm.

【Buzz.】

Several long silver needles extended from Jaraji's clenched palms. The triangular reflective needles flashed with a chilling cold light like venomous snakes.

[Because of the perspective, Jaraji, who now has his back to the door, didn't notice anything.]

After it completely entered the ward, one of the doors of the sliding wardrobe on the left side of the ward entrance swung slightly, then slowly and silently opened to the other side.

From the inside of the opened cabinet door, a pitch-black eye emerged from the darkness, reflecting Jaraji's defenseless back.

[At this time, Jaraji had already walked to the nearest bed. It looked at the short-haired girl sleeping with her eyes closed on the bed and hummed with pleasure.]

This girl is none other than Hirasawa Yui. Now that she's fallen asleep, her expression no longer bears the hysteria and pain she once wore, but a faint rosy red tint can still be seen in the corners of her eyes, the traces of tears she shed earlier.

Looking at the sleeping Hirasawa Yui, Jaraji picked up one of the silver needles from the handful in his right palm, turned it in front of his eyes a few times, and then stabbed her neck.

【"Goodbye, lovely Lin——"】

The silver needle stopped just a few centimeters away from the girl's neck, unable to move forward any further.

A hand with bulging veins stretched out from the side and tightly grasped Jaraji's wrist. While the hand looked unmistakably human, the terrifying strength within made Jaraji feel like it was a pair of titanium pliers, nearly shattering his wrist.

【“!!!”】

Jaraji was startled and turned to look in the direction of the wrist. What he saw was another hand with five fingers spread out. The next moment, everything went dark.

The hand's five fingers tightly grasped Jaraji's upper face, then used it to forcefully pull him away from the bed and toward the window at the end of the ward.

【“——”】

Through the gaps between his fingers, Jaraji clearly saw a face half-hidden by white hair, its eyes half-obscured. The other person was also staring at him through the obstruction, his mouth open in a cold expression.