Chapter 7

Can I really carry out a mission with people like this?

My worries were soon dispelled.

The Black Dog used some connections to easily infiltrate the town.

We walked through the night city and are now in the underground casino.

Once we arrived at the underground casino, the atmosphere around the two of them changed completely.

They were on high alert with sharp eyes, and the playful atmosphere from before was gone.

It was as if they had become different people.

“Shaven head. This is the job.”

As I was surprised by the pressure and tension the two of them were giving off, the Black Dog said this.

A white suit and a black suit.

Unlike before, their broad backs were actually quite cool.

Hot Guy was even smoking a cigarette.

In one hand, he held a slightly large attaché case. I wonder what’s inside.

While thinking about that, I looked down at the noisy casino from the second floor.

Leaning against the railing, the Black Dog started talking.

“Well, according to the informant we passed just now, the item is being bet on in the VIP room.

It seems the Self-Defense Force is already here.

If they’re following the rules here, there must be a reason they can’t forcibly retrieve it.

Anyway, we need to hurry.”

Hot Guy exhaled a puff of cigarette smoke and changed his stance.

Unlike the Black Dog, he leaned against the railing.

“Either we destroy the item by force or we destroy it through peaceful means.

Since the Self-Defense Force is here to retrieve the item, it’s probably at least a colonel.

Dealing with them is very troublesome.

The peaceful means would be to retrieve the item according to the rules here. If Death Sound were here, we could cheat as much as we want.

But...”

Hot Guy grinned.

The Black Dog probably grinned too. I could almost hear that nihilistic side effect.

“Yes, but we are Anonymous.

The item is being bet on in the VIP room, but it’s not actually in the VIP room.

It’s about how we can find it without being noticed and take advantage of the opportunity to destroy it.”

The Black Dog flashed the Anonymous mask in his pocket.

“Isn’t it thrilling?”

---

The only light came from the flashlight the Black Dog held.

Members of Anonymous.

Me, the Black Dog, and Hot Guy.

In the darkness, there were three Anonymous masks.

No one complained about the narrow space.

It’s only natural that it’s narrow since it’s not a path for people to walk through.

We held our breath and slowly crawled through the ventilation duct in the ceiling.

“How’s it going?”

The Black Dog shone the flashlight at me.

The light illuminated the map, which the Black Dog had bought from an informant for a large sum of money.

I checked the position and distance of the sounds while looking at the map.

The map only showed the range up to this floor.

“...I can hear an argument coming from the VIP room area. It’s probably the people here and the Self-Defense Force.

They’re talking about cheating.”

“Hmm. Did you figure out the location of the item?”

“Yes, it’s lower down. It’s heavily guarded by people.

We’ll have to use the elevator.”

“Then we have to get down from here.”

“Right now, no one is nearby, so we can get down.

There are two people near the elevator, so there might be a fight there.”

“Then let’s go down.

Still, Death Sound’s detection is too perfect, it’s not thrilling.”

“...I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s fine. We still have work to do.”

We were already in a place where ordinary people couldn’t go.

Up until now, I had detected everything and avoided all the fights, so the Black Dog and Hot Guy looked bored.

However, even so, the Black Dog and the others wouldn’t take unnecessary risks.

They were seeking the thrill of the best move.

The Black Dog at the front removed the entrance to the ventilation duct with a thud and landed on the passage below.

It’s quite high.

I hesitated for a moment, but Hot Guy pushed me from behind.

I landed on the passage, and Hot Guy followed.

The Black Dog signaled, and I pressed my hand against the wall and listened.

“...It’s okay. They haven’t noticed us.”

If only I could silence the sounds, but I can’t do that yet.

I’m not sure if I can even do that in the first place.

Sounds can do a lot, I think, but I haven’t mastered it yet.

I need training.

However, detecting sounds is quite tiring.

I have to limit the sounds I hear.

If I let them run wild, I have to suppress them, so I have a suppression ring on. Taking it off would make it a bit easier, but it’s just a precaution.

While being cautious of the surrounding sounds, I walked at the front this time.

When we got to the elevator area, I signaled and let Hot Guy take the lead.

There should be an elevator around the corner.

And two people, probably guards, chatting.

The Black Dog held up two fingers and bent them.

Seeing the signal, Hot Guy nodded.

Hot Guy peeked around the corner.

He quickly pulled back and looked at us.

Then he snatched the map from me, crumpled it up, and when he opened his hand, the map had turned to ash.

The ash fell to the ground.

“Great. We were given a fake map.

There’s no elevator.”

Hot Guy said this in a normal tone, and I was startled.

We’ll be discovered by the guards...!

“Is someone there?”

Sure enough, two sets of footsteps approached with a voice.

I tensed up, but their lives ended just as they turned the corner.

With a whoosh, knives pierced the foreheads of the two guards.

They were probably thrown by the Black Dog from behind.

Hot Guy grabbed the necks of the falling men and slowly lowered them to the ground as quietly as possible.

Knives... do they really go into heads so easily...?

I was stunned, and the Black Dog stepped in front of me and stomped on the ash of the map.

“Maybe they intentionally spread a fake map.

It doesn’t seem to be completely fake, though.”

“So what were these two guarding?”

“Probably a room that looks like a safe.

Death Sound, is anyone coming?”

When asked, I listened.

No one was approaching us.

“Huh?”

Suddenly, I noticed a sound moving away below.

It was a thud, thud sound.

This sound...

“...I found the elevator.”

“Good job.”

“Alright, lead the way.”

The Black Dog patted my shoulder.

I stepped in front of Hot Guy and started to guide the way.

But then I noticed something.

The argument I heard earlier had stopped.

I stopped and listened again.

I focused on the direction of the VIP room.

Then I heard a calm voice.

‘I’ve sent a subordinate to retrieve the item.’

‘The deal is done. I’ll turn a blind eye to this matter.’

‘What about the money?’

‘It’s in here.’

...I see, this is bad.

“...What’s wrong, Death Sound? Did something happen?”

“It’s bad. The item might be handed over to the Self-Defense Force.”

“...What?”

“The negotiation with the casino seems to have been successful.”

Hot Guy adjusted his mask.

“We need to hurry.”

---

We were carefully descending the shaft, following the wall.

The Black Dog and the others moved with practiced ease, but I couldn’t keep up.

Looking down, I saw darkness.

The elevator wasn’t moving.

With the help of the Black Dog and the others, I finally reached the top of the elevator.

“Well, this is it.”

We held our breath.

Approaching footsteps. The number... three.

I held up three fingers to the two of them.

“Three.”

“Three, huh? Easy.”

With a thud, the elevator doors opened.

And the sound of the doors closing.

...They’re here.

Then the elevator started moving.

“Death Sound. I’ll show you my cool ability. Hold this.”

“Huh?”

The Black Dog handed me the Anonymous mask.

Looking at his face in surprise, I saw black, glossy fur.

My eyes widened.

So this is the Black Dog’s ability...!

“Enhancement type, Assassin Dog.

That’s the Black Dog’s cool ability.”

Hot Guy said this.

A black wolf man.

That was my first impression.

But I couldn’t really look at his appearance because the Black Dog moved.

Transformed into an Assassin Dog, the Black Dog peeled off the elevator ceiling like an orange and dropped inside.

In an instant, three breathing sounds disappeared with a squish.

“It’s done. I’ve retrieved the item.”

I heard the Black Dog’s voice from below.

Looking down, I saw three bodies and the Black Dog back in his original form.

In one hand, he held a fist-sized box.

Seeing this, Hot Guy took the Anonymous mask from my hand and threw it to the Black Dog, who caught it and put it back on.

“Surprisingly easy.”

Looking up, I could see the end of the shaft.

Seeing Hot Guy descend into the elevator, I followed.

“Well, should we destroy this now?”

The Black Dog said this and opened the box.

Inside was a ring.

I already knew what it was.

Yes, the first prototype of the suppression ring.

It’s different in design from the suppression ring I have, but the effect is almost the same.

If this falls into the hands of the Self-Defense Force, the “ability suppression” technology might be taken.

The Black Dog handed the first suppression ring to Hot Guy.

Then, Hot Guy gripped the ring.

After a while, Hot Guy opened his hand to show me.

There was a melted, gooey mess of the former ring.

Hot Guy poured it into a transparent case he took from his pocket.

Then he said,

“Mission complete.

Well, now we just need to get back.”

Just then, the elevator arrived.

---

Exiting the elevator, we were heading smoothly towards the casino’s exit.

We should be able to leave here unnoticed now.

Everyone in the VIP room is foolishly waiting for “the item” to arrive.

They might not realize it’s been destroyed until we leave the city.

They will probably sigh in frustration when they see the Anonymous mask Hot Guy left in the elevator.

Hot Guy apparently brings a spare mask for missions just for this purpose.

I focused my senses and picked up sounds.

“There are two guards at the next corner.”

I didn’t slack off on detection.

I kept informing the two of the enemy’s position, and we steadily approached the exit.

We walked through the corridors instead of the ventilation ducts, as it would take too long.

The next guards would be killed by the Black Dog in vain.

Thinking this, I tapped the front to signal.

The Black Dog went around the corner first.

Hot Guy and I stopped just before it.

A small scream, and the breathing of the two guards disappeared... no, one is still alive...?

“Hiiii, please help me...! I’ll do anything...!”

“Shut up. Speak again and I’ll kill you.”

The Black Dog’s threatening voice came from around the corner.

One of the guards was already dead. I couldn’t hear his breathing.

But for some reason, the other one was still alive.

The Black Dog, who had been killing instantly without hesitation, ... why?

I turned to Hot Guy in the back, asking with my eyes, “Why?”

But he remained silent, his eyes showing no emotion.

Then, a voice came from around the corner.

“Death Sound, come here.”

Me?

I didn’t understand, but I went around the corner to the Black Dog.

The Black Dog was standing there.

In front of him, a guard was sitting on the ground, his legs giving out.

His face was frozen in terror, and his crotch was soaked.

Next to him was a guard turned into a mass of flesh.

As I stood there, unable to grasp the situation, the Black Dog threw a knife at my feet.

“Actually, there was a reason for recruiting you as a Shade.”

The Black Dog spoke, turning his body slightly towards me.

“It’s about Roll.

He’s always refused a partner, but for some reason, he chose you as his partner.”

What’s this sudden talk about?

“...”

Behind the Anonymous mask, his eyes were serious.

“This guard.

He’s a civilian hired by this casino. He’s innocent.

He lives a normal life and leads a normal life.

Death Sound, you kill this man.”

“...”

I see, I understand what you’re saying.

“I understand.”

I said this, but the Black Dog continued without waiting for my response.

“Killing a large number of people for one person.

This is the path you must take, having been deceived by such a recruitment message and joined Anonymous.

Even if it’s not for one person.

You will have to do meaningless killings from now on.

You don’t need a reason.

Kill.”

I shifted my gaze to the trembling guard.

From behind the corner, I could hear the sound of a cigarette being smoked.

“Can I still have a reason?”

“I’ll listen.”

“I kill to survive, for myself.

That’s how I want to think right now.”

I picked up the knife at my feet.

“You pass,” the Black Dog said.

I gripped the knife tightly and stepped forward.

Tears streamed down the guard’s eyes, and he desperately rubbed his head on the ground, silently begging for his life.

Does it hurt my heart?

Of course it does.

But I’ve killed a lot of people when I manifested.

I knew about Anonymous’s evil deeds.

And I’ve been thinking about this ever since I joined Anonymous.

Even if I’m asked for an answer sooner than expected, I have to give one.

No matter how twisted the reason, the answer is yes.

Sorry, but you have to die for me.

I placed the knife at the guard’s neck and slit it.

That day, I bathed my mask in the first return of blood.

I’ll never forget the words “Congratulations” from Hot Guy.

But if I had to give an opinion...

Killing a person was surprisingly easy.

---

“Yaaaaahhhhhh!!! No way, Death Sound! I didn’t expect the mission to end so quickly!”

The car was speeding.

“Ahhh! The sense of liberation after a mission is unbeatable!! Should we go drinking!?”

“Ooooh! Genius! Death Sound, you’re coming too, right!?”

This is how the two of them changed after the mission.

Even though I had just killed someone, I was feeling oddly refreshed as I looked at the scenery outside.

“I can hear the Self-Defense Force’s idiots making a fuss!!”

“Hahahaha! Speed up more!! Owee!!”

We could already see our city.

We’re going too fast.

“Hey, hey, hey! Death Sound, try shouting too!!”

Just as I was about to refuse the vibe...

My phone vibrated.

Of course, it was the work one. I left the personal one at home.

Then, the words on the screen made my spine freeze.

“Roll”

“Whoa! I got a call from Roll! Be quiet!”

“What!?”

“No way!”

“What should we do!?”

Should I ignore it? Is ignoring this call the right thing to do?

But it’s coming to my work phone.

“Hot Guy! Slow down!”

“I know!”

With a screech of brakes, the speed dropped rapidly.

Hot Guy stopped the loud noise in the car and immediately created silence.

Safe driving.

Below 40 km/h.

“...Alright, you can answer now.”

The Black Dog gave the okay sign.

My heart pounding, I answered the call.

“...Hello?”

“Hello, Death Sound? Where are you?”

“...I was sleeping.”

I acted a little irritated, pretending my sleep was disturbed.

But the next words made me speechless.

“Hmm. Anyway, I have to punish you for not following orders. I checked your mission history. It was set to private, but...”

I could hear my own heartbeat.

This is bad.

Trying to regain my composure, I heard Hot Guy mutter, “Ah, it’s over.”

Hot Guy’s gaze was on the road. At the end of the road, the city.

No... a figure?

There stood Roll.

“At this distance, you can hear me without the phone, Death Sound.”

The call disconnected with a click.

“Bad, bad, bad, bad, bad! What do we do, Hot Guy!?”

“It’s over. We’re done. We’ll just have to accept our punishment.

We’re already within ‘Stray Cat’s’ range.”

Hot Guy’s voice was trembling.

“So... it’s over?”

The car stopped near Roll.

A motorcycle was parked next to Roll. He must have come on that.

“Get out of the car, all three of you.”

Roll’s voice echoed, and we got out of the car.

Then we stood in front of Roll.

The two tall ones, unable to withstand the intense pressure from Roll, soon sat in seiza.

I was already in seiza.

“Hot Guy and Black Dog.

Put your hands out.”

The two, heads hanging low, no longer looked cool from the mission.

“Put them out quickly.”

Reluctantly, they raised one hand each.

I wondered what would happen, and Roll touched their hands.

Crack, a sound was heard, and their hands bent in strange directions.

“!?”

What was that!?

“Aaaaah!”

“Ughhhh!!”

The two’s screams echoed down the street.

“Get your hands treated by Senya when we get back to the hideout.”

Roll said this and then turned her gaze to me.

Like a frog caught by a snake, I couldn’t move.

After seeing that, how could I not be scared?

The two were writhing in pain at the edge of my vision.

“Death Sound”

“Y-Yes!”

“Don’t be so scared.

Since it’s your first time, I’ll let it slide this time.”

Roll raised her hand.

I closed my eyes.

“!”

Smack.

I flinched, thinking I would be hit, but I was slapped.

It was a strong slap, but just a slap.

I rubbed my stinging cheek.

“That’s unfair...! Shion...!”

“Damn...! We’re in the same boat...!”

The Black Dog and Hot Guy said this.

But when Roll glared at them, they immediately clutched their arms and groaned.

It seems I’m off the hook this time.

“Is that all? I was actually worried.”

Roll said this.

I looked up and met her eyes.

“...I’m sorry.”

I bowed my head in apology.

Roll seemed genuinely worried about me, and I could feel it.

Somehow, I felt genuinely sorry.

The relief that the punishment was light was overshadowed by the regret.

“I was looking forward to our first mission as partners, but you ruined it.”

Hearing this made my chest hurt.

“...I’m really sorry.”

“Hmph...!

...Let’s go. Get on behind me.”

Roll got on her motorcycle and threw me a helmet. I caught it.

Then, Roll revved the engine, signaling me to get on quickly.

Looking at the Black Dog and Hot Guy with broken arms, Hot Guy held up two fingers and bent them.

The “Go” sign.