Chapter 86

The following is a summary.

In the port city of Maranova, Kura was found by a hero named Ryuji and was threatened to join the Skeleton Thief extermination operation, which he had initially refused. Akikawa, who was assigned as a supervisor, suggested that while Kura was away, she would keep an eye on things to prevent information from leaking. Akikawa's words subtly implied that Kura could just run away, which he understood. The thought of information leaking made Kura feel despondent, but he also disliked the idea of living in constant fear and flight. There were not many options for Kura to live as he had before without bending the knee.

Kura went to the beast stable to pick up his companions, Shiroshiru and Azurona, and left Maranova. As they moved away from the gate, Shiroshiru's tail moved skillfully in front of Kura, inviting him to climb on. This was a very rare occurrence. Surprised, Kura took Shiroshiru's tail and stroked it. Shiroshiru turned around with a mix of surprise, pleasure, and confusion, asking why he was petting her. Azurona, also wanting to be petted, made a whining sound, and Kura stroked her mane along with her tail. "Well, it's rare, isn't it?" Kura said. The texture of Shiroshiru's tail, smooth like silk and soft like cashmere, made Kura's hand unable to stop. Despite this, Shiroshiru, showing a bit of frustration, tried to push Kura's hand away with her tail, pointing behind her. As Kura turned to look, Shiroshiru wrapped her tail around his neck, preventing him from seeing.

-- Choke!

"Choke!"

Kura's neck, which he was trying to turn to the right, was forcibly twisted to the left by Shiroshiru's tail. Kura crouched, holding his neck. Shiroshiru, looking like an old wife who had just broken a plate while washing dishes, quickly switched to a "well, it's fine" attitude, wrapped her tail around Kura's torso, and placed him on her back.

The faint smell and presence behind them. Shiroshiru had not forgotten the humiliation of being overlooked. The subtle distance in human combat. Whether the enemy was a foe, an ally, or irrelevant. The balance of forces. Whether to fight or not. Whether it was a situation where killing was acceptable or not. The presence of witnesses. The social background of the opponent. Unlike beasts, humans have complex backgrounds, and Shiroshiru's indecision in judging their incomprehensible actions led to a delay in Kura's judgment at that time. Now, she would not hesitate. Sensing the carefully hidden smell and presence, she inadvertently bent Kura's neck. Yes, it was because of them that Kura's neck was bent. Shiroshiru decided to think that way.

In reality, they couldn't dispose of them here. Kura had said to endure for now. Then, the only option was to run. There was no need to wait for Kura's decision about fleeing. Shiroshiru fixed Kura, who was holding his neck and groaning, to her back and tensed her legs.

The muscles in her hind legs bulged as she kicked off the ground.

When the dust rose, Shiroshiru was no longer there. Feeling a bit of frustration from the stunned observer, Shiroshiru accelerated. She ran with all her might. She headed towards the Baltis region to avoid being cornered. Considering Akikawa's tracking blessing, "Finger Line," she aimed to go as far and as fast as possible. If the white phantom, Ilneic, who was known for her escape in the Alerdulia Mountains, ran in earnest, most races would not even be able to catch a glimpse of her. Without any rumors of a white shadow, Shiroshiru gained enough distance and returned to Dragon Mountain with ease.

While on Shiroshiru's back, Kura, though he quickly healed his neck, could not move on the high-speed Shiroshiru and swallowed hard at the changing scenery. It was like riding a bullet train. However, he couldn't ask Shiroshiru to stop, given her fierce smile and high spirits. Azurona, caught by the tail, was also whining happily. Kura resigned himself and firmly grabbed Shiroshiru's back. The only thing he could do was to experiment with a riding position that wouldn't interfere with Shiroshiru.

Despite not getting motion sickness, Kura walked into the hidden den's cave with a somewhat haggard face. Shiroshiru and Azurona followed behind him, looking satisfied.

Kura had a specific purpose for returning to Dragon Mountain. The forced participation in the extermination operation. The order to kill Akikawa. Information would likely leak after the operation, regardless of whether he followed the order or not. Kura found the circumstances of Ryuji's threat puzzling, but whether it was to bring down Hayato or to kill Akikawa, he was merely a tool for Ryuji. No matter how things turned out, he had nowhere to run.

Kura unconsciously furrowed his brow, remembering Erika and Kuu, who had tried to kill him to keep the information secret, and Hayato, who had protected them. The situation was different, but the feeling of being cornered was the same. Last time, the situation was resolved when the priest hero, Aoi, along with Ophia, Maxim, and Akari, acted as a deterrent against Hayato and his group.

But this time, they were not around, and even if they were, the circumstances were different. Kura knew he couldn't handle it alone, but there were few people he could rely on, even considering mutual interests. The number was even fewer against a hero. The first person who came to mind was Akikawa, but he quickly dismissed the idea. To maintain the current situation and completely prevent information from leaking, Kura's victory condition was that alone. Akikawa could not guarantee Kura's freedom of action or the maintenance of the current situation. While Kura was partly responsible for this, it was a condition he could not compromise on. If Akikawa was not an option, there was only one person left, but Kura was hesitant to change their current relationship. Still...

Kura stopped at the sound of faint water in the cave. He tightened his haggard face, opened the entrance to the bath with earth spirit magic, and then opened the entrance to the outdoor bath further inside.

A skeleton was soaking in the outdoor bath, looking comfortable. Nearby, Gajiaji opened her large jawbone and yawned. Despite the impending deadline, she seemed very relaxed.

"I'm borrowing the bath," the skeleton Jiba said, dropping the ash from a smoking stick into the ashtray floating in the outdoor bath, in a casual manner.

"Yes. ... I have something to talk about. Can you listen?"

Seeing Kura's unusually tense expression, Jiba nodded.

Kura waited in the cave's living room, and Jiba, in her female form, sat across from him, as usual, in a black, thin robe. She was sitting cross-legged, but managed to avoid showing any embarrassing parts. Jiba ran her fingers through her dark brown hair, which was mixed with blonde, and faced Kura.

"So, what is it?"

Kura met Jiba's straightforward gaze.

"What do you think of the hero?"

"That's sudden. ... But, in a word, he's a hindrance. Because of them, I've had to deal with one or two more complications."

"…I see. Then, can you kill the hero during the extermination operation?"

Kura said what he had been thinking since receiving the threat letter and bowed deeply. Since they had come to take or try to take, he was prepared to resist by any means necessary. Otherwise, his life would be over. Therefore, Kura felt no qualms about killing Ryuji and saw no reason to feel any. It was more painful to ask Jiba to do such a thing. This was not Japan. Even if there were people who would condemn him, their words would not reach Kura's heart. Parents, friends, relatives, acquaintances, society, the future—there was nothing in this world that made Kura feel ashamed or guilty.

If he had been walking down the street with a woman and surrounded by thugs, with no help and no way to escape, either he would run and the woman would be raped, or he would be beaten and the woman would be raped. If he killed the thugs, he would be charged with murder. He was threatened to expose a secret with no fault, and if the secret was exposed, he would be mocked and discriminated against by society. If he killed the person threatening him, he would be charged with murder. In Japan, Kura would have been "cornered" in either case. It would mean the end of his dignity, his social life, or his life in society. No matter the reason, he should not kill anyone. It was noble but unreasonable. In Japan, self-help was legally and socially frowned upon. At least, that's how Kura felt. It was as if not being able to knock out a thug with a single punch was a sin, or not having the wisdom or connections to fend off a threat was a sin. But this world was different. Or rather, it might not be different, but for Kura, who had a tenuous connection to this world, it was the same. To save himself, he would kill those who had harmed him. That was all.

The moment Kura's words reached Jiba, her eyes, which had been those of a good neighbor, narrowed. The unshakable will that had walked through the fires of hell pressed down on Kura with a sense of oppression. Kura felt like he had lived in lukewarm water compared to Jiba and wanted to look away. The Jiba in front of him now was not the good neighbor, but the Skeleton Thief who fought alone against the northern countries and Rechiam.

On the 88th day of the White Moon, Kura, still not fully recovered, dragged his body down Dragon Mountain and received dragon material leg armor from Ekait in Baltis. The dark green leg armor, which covered from the knee down, was light and sturdy. It was a great comfort before the extermination operation.

"---Then, I'll leave it to you."

Kura, who had just happened to see Rayle, entrusted Azurona to her.

"…Is that okay?"

Seeing Azurona, who was whining pitifully in Rayle's arms, Rayle hesitated.

"Well, this time, I can't afford to protect her while fighting."

"I don't think you'll be assigned to a serious mission given your rank."

"Still, just in case."

Azurona, with a single eye welling up, was on the verge of tears. But knowing her own limitations, she did not insist on following. She still whined because her feelings could not keep up with her reason. Kura scratched Azurona's mane, and Shiroshiru's tail gently stroked Azurona's head. Then, Kura and the others left Ekait's workshop. Azurona watched them go and continued to stare at their backs even after they were gone.

In the evening, when Kura returned to the inn where Akikawa was staying, he was greeted by Akikawa, who had an indescribable look on her face, and Ryuji, who looked irritated. Ryuji, who had been threatening Kura with the threat letter, confronted him about his whereabouts.

"Do you understand your position? Huh?"

Akikawa, who had not been killed and had managed to shake off the surveillance, had disappeared somewhere. Ryuji had been threatening Kura with the threat letter.

"That's why I'm back. I can't face the Skeleton Thief without any preparation."

"You bastard."

"Don't worry. I'll keep my promise. I just need to complete the extermination, right?"

Kura subtly hinted that he would kill Akikawa during the operation. Of course, he had no intention of doing so.

Ryuji's expression suddenly changed, and he passed by Kura.

"Are you delusional about this world? Don't get cocky. Your life is in my hands."

He whispered in Kura's ear.

"Ask Akikawa about the extermination operation."

With that, Ryuji left the inn.

---

"We can't say anything, but is it okay?"

As Ryuji left the inn, the captain of the special unit, who had been standing guard behind him, said quietly.

"Leave it."

The Special Investigation Unit, known as the "Hounds," were the fanatics that Ryuji had picked up from the slums and underworld of Albaum. Despite living at the bottom of society, they were fanatical hero worshippers who pledged absolute loyalty to Ryuji, who had demonstrated his power. Their faith had been distorted by their life at the bottom. The hero, who was said to have defeated the Demon King, was a symbol of strength. For them, living at the bottom of society or in the shadows, strength meant the ability to survive by any means necessary. The prophecy of the hero who would appear in ten thousand years further fueled their belief that Ryuji, who was strong and unscrupulous, was the ideal hero they could worship.

Even the outstanding Hounds, with their abilities and loyalty, were not trusted by Ryuji, who had not shared detailed information about Kura. However, the Hounds did not harbor any distrust towards Ryuji, who was like a god to them.

Ryuji, while threatening Kura, was not as irritated as his words suggested. After all, Kura was just a mediocre errand boy, and Ryuji had no expectations for him.

He intended to use Kura, squeeze him dry, and then sell the information to the anti-Hayato faction at the right time to bring down the annoying Hayato.

When he found Kura by chance at the gate of Maranova, that was his intention. He threatened Kura to prevent him from escaping, as it would be troublesome if he did. Holding Kura captive would be more valuable and easier to squeeze. So, he first beat him up. Most people shrink from violence, and Ryuji had known and used this since his time in Japan. He also knew that it was not something that ordinary people, unaccustomed to violence, could overcome with a few years of effort in a peaceful place. It would take being thrown into a battlefield. The summoners in Albaum, who had remained unchanged from their peaceful lives in Japan, were a case in point. Kura looked the same to Ryuji. The fact that he had come out into a crowded city, despite his position being a taboo among summoners, and his lack of vigilance, was proof that he had probably been picked up by some kind-hearted villagers and lived comfortably with a lucky beast companion. Since he was not much use in Japan or in this world, Ryuji thought it was best to use him up and then use him to bring down Hayato.

Ryuji had never liked Hayato, even in Japan. Seeing him act as if he were the most unfortunate person in the world, doing as he pleased, made Ryuji feel sick. This feeling did not change even after coming to this world. Stealing blessings and rising to power, serving women with a disinterested look, and then saying he regretted it while still doing what he wanted. Yet, when Ryuji tried to do as he pleased, Hayato would interfere. To Ryuji, Hayato was an extremely annoying presence. But, he could be brought down. And with Kura, who could be squeezed for information, as a bonus, Ryuji was in a good mood.

However, that changed when he learned that Akikawa was in Maranova. Akikawa was surprised to see Ryuji, but Ryuji was also caught off guard. With Akikawa present, he had to change how he used Kura. While Ryuji lived more independently than other summoners, he did not have the power to ignore Hayato and Akikawa in Albaum. For now, he was just avoiding their attention. He was aware of this, though he found it distasteful.

Kura was now a secondary concern. He had to ensure that his primary goal of bringing down Hayato remained unchanged.

Until the extermination operation was over, he would use Akikawa's leniency towards other summoners to maintain a cooperative relationship. Once the operation was over, he would distance himself from Akikawa and, at the right time, sell Kura