When I leave the police station, I say I’m heading out for a bit and go to the convenience store, but they don’t have steamed buns, so I go to one after the other looking for it.
Then I’m surrounded by nasty looking guys.
Again? Give me a break, I think as I’m shown the screen of a smartphone.
There’s a schoolgirl on the ground, and they tell me to inform my employer if I get it.
I guess they think I’m her bodyguard.
…Seriously, stop it.
Right now, that sort of threat is a joke to me.
“…Where is she?”
“An?”
“I’m asking where she is, asshole.”
“Ah, ah…”
Anger silently overflows.
My chest is in turmoil, because that image reminded me of her.
Even someone as dull as this guy can feel the anger rising.
He looks at my face, and his smug expression is replaced by fear.
And the same happens to the others around me.
I wonder what my face looks like right now.
◇ ◇ ◇
Yuzuki Kanba’s father was a city council member.
He worked for the public, and did his best to provide a better life for them.
The recent amendment to the labyrinth law was expected to lead to a rise in population, and sure enough, it was steadily rising since its announcement.
That in itself was very good, but of course, it was not all positive.
More people meant more people with bad intentions.
The new arrivals had a common goal, the dungeon. More companies entered the market, whether to take advantage of favorable tax rates or to put out dungeon related merch.
That was fine, but so-called criminal groups targeted the land. And there were those who took advantage of it.
And to them, Yuzuki Kanbari’s father was a nuisance.
He had a strong sense of justice, and an upright character. He refused financing of unknown origin, denounced colleagues who had done something unlawful, and was popular with the population.
And he was also a strong man who explored the dungeon to the twenty-fifth floor.
He proposed a law to maintain the peace in this land. A law that prohibited prior offenders from registering as seekers.
This prohibition would be lifted if they did not re-offend in the span of three years, but they would also have to perform examinations such as personality tests, to relieve public concerns. However, human rights organizations and influential people protested, and the media also condemned it.
Still, it was welcomed with open arms by the municipality, and many voices rose in its support. And similar laws were adopted in other places with dungeons.
It was received with a lot of praise in the seeker association as well.
And so the law was passed with both support and criticism, but the ones who were troubled by it were prior offenders and shady people.
People already registered were fine, but ones who had not yet had no place to go.
They gathered naturally, and many had strong grudges.
Some intend to live honest lives, and their hearts were broken by this law.
They could explore the dungeon without registering with the seeker association, but without money or weapons, it was likely they would die.
It was only natural that someone would appear that would use these resentful people.
One thing was asked of them. Kidnap the daughter of the city council member who proposed the law.
The reward was an attractive million yen per person, and it gathered a ragtag gang of close to thirty lowlifes.
City council member Kanba had two daughters. The oldest was Yuuka Kanba, and they feared being beaten back by her, since she was a seeker.
Then there was the sixteen year old Yuzuki, who seemed to have never been in the dungeon and was an easy target.
◇ ◇ ◇
In a corner of a bankrupt pachinko hall, a regretful Yuzuki laid on the floor, tied up.
She was almost kidnapped the previous day, but was careless as she went out just because she was with her friend.
And next to her, her friend who was also kidnapped, trembled with fear.
She wanted to apologize for getting her involved, but her bound mouth meant she could not.
And around them were people she would usually not be around.
They all looked like predators in front of prey.
“Can I have a taste? It’s been a while.”
“I guess you can. They just have to be alive.”
“Let’s decide the order!”
The friend trembled more upon hearing that.
Yuzuki was also scared, but she glared at the men with a strong will to protect her friend.
“…What are you looking at!? It’s your damn father’s fault we can’t be seekers!”
This man was one of the better ones among the ones with a record.
He was arrested for theft and released that year. He cut ties with former partners and was dedicated to giving being a seeker a shot, but his heart broke when the wind was taken from his sails.
His frustrations were targeted at the daughter of the one he hated, and he shook her strongly after grabbing her by the collar.
“Lemme have this one. I don’t like her eyes.”
He said to the others as he turned around.
He was told to do what he wanted by all except one.
This suspicious fat man holding a convenience store plastic bag put a stop to it.
“Hey, let’s decide an order. Rock paper scissors!”
Was that guy always there?
Everyone had that same question, but he quickly started playing rock paper scissors.
The man he challenged was forced to accept, as a fist approached.
“I pick rock!!”
“Gupeh!?”
The man was hit, his nose broke, and so did his cheekbones, and teeth hit the wall.
“…”
Everyone’s eyes were on the man twitching on the floor, and then they all moved to the suspicious man with the plastic bag.
“What are you doing? We’re all in this together.”
A nasty looking guy admonished the suspicious man, but he continued moving his hand as if playing rock paper scissors.
“What, you wanna play too?”
“Ah?”
“Let’s go. I pick paper!!”
The man was slapped in the face and dived to the floor.
The man with the plastic bag walked next to him as he spasmed a little, and the air around him changed completely. It went from aloof to the intimidating air of a powerful man.
“Come on, who’s next?”
That voice seemed to be coming from the depths of hell.
◇ ◇ ◇
Yuzuki and her friend were released by the suspicious man, and had steamed buns for some reason.
The kidnappers were motionless on the ground, most likely unconscious. All done in by the suspicious man with the plastic bag.
They saw it all happen, but did not fully understand why he saved them.
Yuzuki wondered if he was a seeker hired by her father to save her, but figured that was not it. They were not poor, but not wealthy either. They did not have the money to hire a pro seeker.
Then who was he? She then remembered the fat man from the previous day, and her friend spoke.
“You saved us, right?”
“…Yes.”
“What do we do with the sweet buns?”
They were still warm, and clearly bought recently.
The man told them to eat them and leave once they calmed down. When they received them, they felt it was something quite hot, but did not know what they were.
But since they were given…
“So we eat them?”
“…Yep.”
A warm sweet bun was tasty even with bodies lying around.
◇ ◇ ◇
I go back to the police station after getting my steamed buns, and meet the middle-aged policeman, but for some reason he starts moving his eyes in a suspicious way.
“Ah… You can go.”
“Did you forget about me?”
“O-of course not. Come on, I’m busy! Go!”
“What do you mean busy!? I was waiting for hours! I don’t even get an apology!!?”
At least apologize after such a blatant lie. I say to the corrupt middle-aged police officer who’s doing as he pleases under the protection of the umbrella that is government authority.
He stammers, and takes something from his pocket after a sigh.
“Eh, ah, okay, sorry. Here’s my contact. Call me if you’re in trouble. Even if it’s just for a meal or something, I’ll help if I can.”
I can’t help but think he’s looking down on me, but an apology is is an apology.
I thought he was corrupt, but he does apologize.
Might as well use it now.
“I want to make a reservation with the restaurant on top of the hotel.”
“Please consider my budget.”
He blocks my quick attack.
Let’s ask something else then, I think, but it looks like he really is busy, because he asks to leave it for another day and leaves.
Apparently he can’t deal with me because there was a kidnapping.
I leave the police station and head home.
I was just supposed to be taking a walk, but ended up staying the night. I guess a walk is a kind of adventure. You do it casually, but your life might be in danger. From now on, I’ll leave after I get ready. And by that, I mean armed.
◇ ◇ ◇
‘In other news, former city council member xxxx has been arrested under suspicion of having paid a small time gang to perform a kidnapping. He was investigated last year for improper flow of funds and…’
I wake up at noon and eat as I listen to the news.
I know this lifestyle can’t go on forever, but I just can’t work up the motivation. Ai contacts me from time to time, but we just chat a little about what’s been going on lately. She wants me to test new products too, but I refuse it.
Watching a daytime variety show makes me feel more disheartened, so I turn the TV off.
I lay around, not feeling like doing anything, and I hear my smartphone ring.
It’s my sister.
I swipe the screen to answer, and hear her kind of flustered voice.
‘It’s been a while. How are you doing?’
“…I’m okay. You?”
I’m okay. Physically anyway, so it’s not a lie.
‘…Me too. Are you coming here for the new year?’
“Ah, is it already time? I don’t think I will this year.”
‘Busy with work?’
“No, just some personal things. I’ll go back once I sort them out.”
‘I see… hum, Haruto, can you listen to something and stay calm?’
“What? Did something happen?”
‘Hum, I’m pregnant.’
“Ooh, congratulations! The second one.”
‘Thanks.’
“…That’s good news. What’s with the serious tone?”
‘I’m not the only one.’
“Bro is having a kid too!? That’s great… So, what is it actually?”
I feel like we’re not getting to the main point, so I press her to get to it. Having a kid is nice, there’s no need to put on airs like that.
Actually, there is one reason. Is it the child of an affair?
That makes my heart skip a beat. Maybe I’m just excited.
‘Hum, he’s also having a child, but so is mom.’
“…Ah?”
‘Mom is having a baby.’
??
“Sorry, I didn’t catch that. Can you say it louder?”
‘I said! Mom is pregnant!!’
“Uuuuuuu.”
A weird voice escapes my mouth.
I didn’t mishear it.
It’s not bad news, it’s just… I don’t want to know what’s been going on with my parents.
‘You’re going to be a big brother next year..’
My sister’s usually cheerful voice sounds robotic.
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Why I reminded of Uzaki-chan right now?