“I-I…”
Garland looked at the ground with empty eyes as he collapsed.
After straining himself to get that out, his shoulders dropped and he ceased to move. Raiha saw this, and turned to Ryuuga with worry.
“Did you, hum, cut him…”
“I did, but I didn’t kill him. The law should judge him.”
Raiha was relieved, knowing Ryuuga only did enough damage to rob Garland of his monster armor beast form.
At the same time, she smiled a little, thinking about how despite his stern attitude during battle, Ryuuga was kind enough to hold back so his attacks were not fatal.
“Let’s call the guards. I’m sure that Jinba Yuugo knows will be here quickly.”
“Yes… But it’s over, right?”
“I don’t know. But, well… I think apprehending the person inciting this mess is a big step towards it.”
Ryuuga said while pointing up, and when Raiha looked, she gulped with surprise at the whirlpool of flames in the night sky.
Something seemed to be in it, and as Raiha watched it explode, she somehow knew Yuugo defeated Glonas’ monster armor beast form.
“Let’s leave the rest to the guards. That’s all we can do.”
“…Yes.”
Glonas, the one managing the Friends of the Night Society, and Black Veil, their executioner of justice, had both been apprehended.
But was it over? The power to transform into monster armor beasts given by Black Veil was gone, but the Friends of the Night Society might cause chaos again to take them back.
And as if to confirm Raiha’s worries, Garland slowly got to his feet, and looked at Raiha and Ryuuga with wide open eyes.
“It’s not… Over…! Even if I’m down, my comrades will carry on my will, and a second, third Black Veil will emerge! The justice I extol is eternal…!!”
Garland’s delusions would not be exorcised so easily.
Ryuuga felt some regret over his prayer going unanswered, but the moment he was about to reply… A voice he did not recognize echoed in the darkness.
“Hahaha! Are you an idiot?”
“Who are you? Where did you… Aguh!?”
Garland replied to the voice that seemed to be mocking him, and looked around for its source.
But the next moment, a dull sound echoed, and he stopped moving.
He was surprised by the reverberating pain he felt, and when he turned down, he saw a bloody arm coming out of his chest.
He realized his body had been pierced just before losing consciousness… And the mocking voice echoed behind him.
“Of course justice is eternal. After all, justice is determined by the victor. That means you’re evil the moment you lose.”
“A, gua, ah…”
“Die there, not as a friend of justice, but as a losing dog.”
Garland tried to respond to the voice that seemed to negate everything he stood for, but… It was not to be, as his life painted with hatred and love came to an end.
He fell forward, and the man pulling his arm out of the lifeless body threw the body away as he turned to Ryuuga and Raiha, who could do nothing but look on at this unexpected development.
“That prevents any future problems. Case closed.”
“Who…!?”
Blood dripped from the right arm that pierced Garland, and the one who spoke with a bright voice… Was clearly not normal.
He had spiky hair and a muscular build, but it was the madness oozing off something coming off his whole body that put Ryuuga on edge, and made him draw his katana.
“Don’t be so tense. I won’t do anything today. Today…!”
“…Who are you? State your name.”
Ryuuga did not believe his claim that he did not want to hurt him, and asked him to introduce himself with his guard still up.
He responded with a twisted smile, and introduced himself with an amused tone.
“Me? My name is Zaraki. Loong Eater Zaraki. If you’re from Yamato, surely you’ve at least heard my name.”
“What…!?”
Loong Eater Zaraki, the one who ate loong meat, and killed multiple people with the power he attained.
Ryuuga was surprised to see him suddenly standing before him, and Zaraki continued.
“Don’t worry. Today, I came here to erase him at the request of the one who saved me. He knew too much, and it would be bad if he talked.”
He said while licking his right hand, tasting Garland’s blood.
His eyes were on Ryuuga and Raiha, and he squinted with a smile.
“Don’t treat me like a foul presence. We’re both from Yamato, right? You can be a little more cordial.”
“Quiet. Who would be friendly to someone who killed a person right in front of him?”
Zaraki laughed loudly, as if admitting Ryuuga had a point.
After his laughter, he showed them an evil smile and spoke.
“My work here is done. I’ll be gone before there’s trouble. We will meet again soon. Tremble with fear until then.”
“Wait!!”
With that, Zaraki kicked the ground and jumped.
Ryuuga was left looking at the sky where he disappeared, and looked frustrated over letting that criminal get away.
Raiha had fear in her face, and her fists clenched.
(That was definitely him…!!)
Her fear intensified. Her clenched fists trembled, her face turned pale, and her breathing became ragged.
“It’s all right Utsusemi. Calm down, don’t push yourself.”
“Ah…! Y-yes…”
Ryuuga’s concerned voice brought Raiha back, who nodded with a tense expression.
Ryuuga then turned his eyes to Garland’s corpse, and spoke with quiet frustration.
“…I understand how shaken you must be after seeing someone be killed in front of you. I’m sorry, if I detected his presence…”
“You don’t have to apologize. There’s nothing you…”
Ryuuga’s heart hurt because despite Garland being a criminal, the man killed right before his eyes should have been judged by the law.
Raiha comforted him… And stammered due to fear of something else.
Join my patreon to support me and read ahead.
