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~3rd Person Perspective~
“According to our common sense, when a tree dies, it rots and returns to the soil, right? But in the coal era, trees did not rot but were buried in the ground. Why? Because there were no fungi that decomposed the cellulose and lignin that made up the dead wood. The end of the Carboniferous was brought about by the evolution and development of fungi. But that’s all I learned from an old friend of mine.” (Tsuruhashi)
Unless this man is spouting some kind of unscientific nonsense, what he is saying now must be knowledge he inherited from Tsuruhashi Minato. He sounds as if he heard it from the person himself.
“…Just as fungi ended the Carboniferous, modern civilization was reduced to dust by ‘Super Fungus’. Why did such a thing suddenly appear? Where did the ‘Super Fungus’ come from in the first place? The guy said something like, ‘Maybe someone thought it was necessary for the planet.’ I don’t give a damn about that ecologist’s fantasy.” (Tsuruhashi)
“…so, what is your point?” (Giran)
“I’ve been hanging around this country for over a hundred years, and I’m one step closer to an answer. My goal is to destroy the source of the problem. How does that sound to you, Puppy?” (Tsuruhashi)
Every time he was called Puppy, with that face and voice. Giran felt a churning sensation in the pit of his stomach, at this man’s impersonation, and he had a faint feeling of nostalgia.
“I’ll say it again. Come to me, Taichi. I need your strength.” (Tsuruhashi)
“… Did you think I would shake my head up and down if you said that with his face?” (Giran)
“It’s the tail that you shake, not the neck, right? Hihi!” (Tsuruhashi)
Giran opened his palms and prepared himself so that the hypha could be released immediately.
“Have you forgotten how grateful you were for me not killing your master? The future of Ikebukuro is in the hands of Margame and his son, who is so stupid and raw that his whole body oozes stupidity and laziness. To tell you the truth, I’m worried about Ikebukuro’s future. I don’t think he is the kind of master you’d put my body on the line to serve.” (Tsuruhashi)
“My master is a splendid person–more so than any of the previous chieftains. And it is Ikebukuro now that supports him with all the people.” (Giran)
The smile faded from the Commander’s face. He sniffed in a bored manner and scratched the back of his neck.
“Well… I’ll let you know who the real master is.” (Tsuruhashi)
Giran could feel the air squish and distort with their mutual killing intent.
(Whoever this guy is…) (Giran)
(Doesn’t matter.) (Giran)
Giran pulled out his [Knight Sword] in both hands and covered it with the [Flame Blade]. Just as he had done when he beheaded his former mentor.
“I will kill you. For Ikebukuro’s sake, for Lord Minato’s sake.” (Giran)
“Hihi. If you, dog, don’t listen to me, I’ll put a collar on you and drag you home.” (Tsuruhashi)
“Hmm… I haven’t heard anything from you at all.” (Kawataro)
Kawataro sat down on a reasonable stump and rested his head on his hands in a daze.
“It’s so boring, deputy commander. It’s hot and I hate it. Yes, pyon.” (Spooky)
“I don’t think you have to force yourself to end with that, ‘Spooky’.” (Kawataro)
The young man with rabbit ears, “Spooky,” flapped his hands to his face. He has given up his real name, so everyone calls him by that nickname.
He is from the same village of Hikifune as Toroko and the others, however, that do not know him, and he says that it is natural that they do not know him since he left the village with his parents when he was very young. To tell the truth, Kawataro doubts if that is the truth, but he has no choice but to trust him as a fellow villager who have the same history.
“But still…” (Kawataro)
“Pyon?” (Spooky)
“Is it okay for me to be the deputy commander like this?” (Kawataro)
The “Cross Border Brigade” was a revenge group started by Kawataro, Toroko and the other survivors of Hikifune Village. Now, led by the self-proclaimed “Tsuruhashi Minato,” it has transformed into a genuine ideological terrorist organization that seeks to “liberate this country from the wall.”
After the Grand Tournament incident, the former underlings, bandits, mercenaries hired for money, etc., came under the command of the commander. There are many people who are more skilled than Kawataro, and it would be better if they would just take over, but if they really rely on him, it is a little bit awkward.
“Isn’t that fine, pyon? To be frank, I have always been a muscle brawler, pyon, and more importantly, the Commander is a monster that doesn’t have common sense. Rather, it’s easier to get involved with an ordinary person like the deputy commander.” (Spooky)
“I don’t know if that’s a compliment.” (Kawataro)
The three units of about ten men are positioned a few hundred meters away from the location of the secret meeting between the commander and Giran Taichi. Kawataro and “Spooky” were on the west side, while Toroko and the other villagers from Hikifune and Musashiro were on the north side.
The Commander had already proposed a number of plans.
If Giran wanted to challenge him to a duel, the commander would agree to it. There was no way he could lose.
If reinforcements were lurking nearby, they would branch out from there to other plans. If they were to be faced with soldiers or hunters from Ikebukuro, Kawataro and the other ambush soldiers would deal with them. Another plan is to go into Ikebukuro, which has been stretched thin, to rob it of its gold and other goods, but to be honest, Kawataro was not keen on this idea.
In any case, the leader of the group will decide which plan to go with, and will give instructions directly to Kawataro and the others using [Whispering] that is attached to their eardrums. But—they haven’t received any word yet.
(Well, the commander…) (Kawataro)
(You make plans in advance, but you just go with the flow, don’t you?) (Kawataro)
If that’s the case, just sit back and wait for instructions. Kawataro doesn’t want to take the responsibility for making a move on his own.
“-?” (Spooky)
“Spooky” looks up, his long ears twitching.
“What is it?” (Kawataro)
“Well, I just—” (Spooky)
Suddenly, something caught Kawataro’s eye.
It was a sphere. It was a beautiful sphere, like a full moon, its surface glistening gold in the sunlight.
It was standing perfectly still at the height of Kawataro’s eyes. It was as if it was glued to the spot.
“What–” (Kawataro)
Before they knew it, it was right in front of them.
He twisted his head before realizing the sense of danger and fear. Kawataro’s sunglasses shattered, and his grazed cheeks sizzled. He just fell off his stump and was knocked down.
“Hey! Just now–” (Kawataro)
He rushed to his feet, and at the same time, his men around him collapsed on the spot. They remained motionless, not uttering a single moan.
“Hey, are you okay!?” (Kawataro)
“Fumu, only two of them dodged. The quality of terrorists has declined over the years.” (Man)
Looking back in the direction of the voice, Kawataro flicked his thumb. A [White Bullet] that was shot flew away exactly where it was aimed—Gin! with a high-pitched sound echoed.
“Eyebrows, corpuscles, haze, medulla oblongata… I did moderate the death, but I’m sure I’ll wake up for three days. Ah, the guys on the south side are also done.” (Man)
Standing there was a strange-looking old man. He hides his face with a black turban and wears a cloak directly over his nude body. Hanging from his waist is a golden gourd.
“…Deputy Commander, this is dangerous, pyon.” (Spooky)
Kawataro and “Spooky” are the only ones standing here. This man, who is said to be one of the best fighters in the hunter industry, is now smiling with sweat on his face.
“He’s a hunter, right?” (Kawataro)
“The “monster” who was ranked eighth in the nation last year… no until twenty years ago, for-ten-con-se-cu-tive-years, pyon.” (Spooky)
“…eh?” (Kawataro)
“Now then, you traitorous little rabbit and common stranger. To those of you who were lucky enough to escape my first attack, let me tell you the golden rule.” (Man)
The old man took a step forward, and Kawataro and the others took a step backward in response. Almost instinctively, their bodies refused to fight the old man, who looked like a withered tree.
“No matter how sharp his fangs and claws are, no matter how experienced he may be in battle, no matter how well he has honed his skills. Even the “thread reelers,” who boast of their immortality, are nothing more than tadpoles. The difference is whether or not you are headed towards a girl’s belly is paper thin.” (Man)
On the palm of the old man’s hand, countless golden balls are dancing like insects attracted to the night light.
“Do you understand, little children? No one can escape the providence of life. I am the incarnation of the omnipresent source of life, that is to say, in this world, only golden balls can win.” (Man)
A/N: Balls has a hidden double meaning.
T/N: It’s not hidden Author-san.
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