Chapter 29

This is the final chapter of the yakuza storyline.

I hope you enjoyed the conclusion.

I instinctively placed my hand on my chest.

"...There's no heartbeat."

The pulse of my heart, which should be there, cannot be felt at all. Sweat suddenly breaks out all over my body. No, stay calm. If my heart was really gone, I would have died long ago.

Then, is this some kind of hallucination? Talkers have resistance to mental abnormalities, but Finocchio, being a higher rank, can still induce hallucinations.

But my intuition told me this was not a hallucination.

"Remaining calm enough to check the situation without panicking, impressive indeed."

"...What did you do to me?"

"This is a skill called 'Divine Punishment,' which activates when the target rejects my request twice in a row, allowing me to forcibly extract the target's heart."

"A specialized instant-kill skill for humans... But I'm still alive."

"Because we are connected across space. If I move more than five meters away from you or crush it, you will die instantly. In other words, I literally hold your life in my hands."

Finocchio smiled and lovingly stroked my heart. Though there was no pain, a wave of nausea and chills ran through my body.

"Noel, you are... no, you are so outstanding that it's beyond a joke. You don't seem like a sixteen-year-old kid at all. This is just a queen's intuition, but you will bring disaster to the Luciano Family. Yes, definitely."

"So, you want to nip the disaster in the bud?"

"Exactly. But I'm not a monster. I'll give you one last chance. Noel, accept the cup of the Luciano Family. If you do, I won't take your life."

"Understood. That's very kind of you..."

I pondered, trying to think of a way to turn the situation around. My body, still recovering from the previous battle, couldn't move properly. Even if it could, I couldn't escape from an A-rank opponent.

Should I call Alma through thought sharing? No, Alma can't defeat Finocchio. What if I ask Alma to bring Laios? As an A-rank, Laios might be able to neutralize Finocchio.

The problem is that if I make a move, Finocchio will crush my heart. This queen isn't stupid enough to let others intervene.

Then, what should I do? Should I yield to the queen's threat?

"......Ha, impossible."

I pushed my wobbly body up and approached Finocchio.

"What? Trying to get your heart back? Let me tell you, with the power difference between us, it's impossible even if you stand on your head. Even if you somehow managed to get it back, that would be the end. As long as I don't deactivate the skill, your heart won't return to you."

"Finocchio Balzini, you are right."

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

Tilting her head, Finocchio took a step back as I approached.

"I am the man who will stand at the pinnacle of explorers. Once I reach that point, even the Luciano Family won't be able to touch me. So, if you want to kill me, do it now."

"Hey, hey! Don't get so close! If I drop your heart, you'll die instantly! Do you understand!?"

"You want to kill me, right? Go ahead. Try it."

Another step forward. The distance between Finocchio and me is now so close that our breaths mingle.

"But don't forget. The moment you kill me, you will lose your pride as a direct subordinate of the Luciano Family and the leader of the Balzini Family."

"W-What are you saying?"

"Killing a potentially troublesome person while they are weak is the right thing to do in a world of the strong preying on the weak. But it's not something a man should do. In other words, it means you're scared. Do you have the capacity of a man? Answer me, Finocchio."

"You... to think you can say that in this situation..."

Finocchio's face contorted with anger and confusion. There was a height difference of about a head, and I had to look up at her.

But I didn't back down, glaring at Finocchio.

"My king is only me. I won't be bound by anyone."

"Damn, you..."

At that moment, Finocchio took a step back, her face showing disbelief.

"Did I... lose my nerve...?"

Finocchio, who had been stunned, suddenly burst into laughter.

"Ahahaha! Noel, you look so scary! Just kidding, just kidding! I wouldn't kill you, Noel. Okay, the show is over!"

She flipped her hand holding my heart, and a pulse ran through my body. A sure sign of life. The steady thump-thump echoed in my chest.

"Sorry for scaring you. I'll be going now. Bye-bye!"

As Finocchio headed for the door, she muttered in a deep voice before leaving.

"Don't go back on your word, brat. I won't forgive it if the man who outwitted me in nerve doesn't reach the top."

"Of course. You just watch."

†

†

In the pouring rain, Finocchio, holding a purple umbrella with frilly petals, walked with a frown.

One of the burly subordinates following behind sighed and spoke.

"Boss, was it really okay?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"I mean Noel. Won't it cause problems later if we leave him alone?"

"I don't know! It will be what it will be!"

Finocchio, speaking in a sulky tone, suddenly stopped and slumped her shoulders.

"...Was it a bad idea?"

"It was a bad idea. You'll definitely regret it later."

"That's true... My intuition is always right..."

"Should we go back and kill him now?"

"Wh-What? How could I do such an embarrassing thing!"

Despite her rational thoughts, Finocchio couldn't bring herself to finish off Noel. However, the subordinate felt more amused than disappointed by the boss's appearance.

"Boss, was Noel Stollen such a good man?"

Finocchio, suddenly asked, made a face as if she had bitten into a bitter bug.

"Well, for his age, he was pretty composed and a good man... Even though he's actually weak, he tries hard and it makes you want to cheer him on... But! I don't like men with such ambiguous faces! I like dashing older men!"

"Boss..."

"What? What is it?"

"Love, I guess. It's beautiful."

"Wh-What are you saying!? I'll kill you! I can't fall for a kid like that! You're getting a month's pay cut! Pay cut!"

While they were having this noisy conversation, another subordinate appeared.

"Boss, we caught Albert."

Laid out on the street was Albert, covered in mud and trembling like a puppy.

"Oh, Albert. You're all dirty."

"Ah, Ah! F-Finocchio!"

"Call me 'sister,' right? But, he's not part of our organization anymore, so it's fine."

"Please, please help me!! I don't want to die!!"

Finocchio, looking at the pitiful Albert, had eyes like ice.

"On one side, a man who doesn't lose his pride even when his heart is held, and on the other, a piece of trash who doesn't even have pride to protect. They don't seem like the same species at all. ...Do you really not want to die?"

"I don't want to die!! I'll do anything if you help me!!"

"Then, I'll help you."

"R-Really!?"

"Yes, it's fine."

A sinister smile appeared on Finocchio's face.

"I'll keep you in our pig farm."

"......Pig farm?"

"Yes, a pig farm. I'll cut off your hands and feet so you can walk like a pig. You'll also be a mate for our boars."

"N-N-No..."

The cruel treatment left Albert speechless.

"But, pigs are omnivores, so you might get eaten. If that happens, I'm sorry. Try to please the boars as much as you can."

"H-H-Ha! Don't joke around!! Hey, stop it!! Don't touch me!! Let go!! Let go!! Stop!!"

Albert, lifted up by Finocchio's subordinates without a word, struggled and screamed for help, but no one came to his aid.

"Will the boars be happy with their new mate?"

Finocchio, tilting her head and placing a hand on her cheek, had a smile that was truly that of a mad clown.

†

†

After the duel, 50 million fil were transferred to my account from Finocchio.

After what happened, I thought she might attach some conditions to the payment, but there were none. In that sense, she is a principled queen.

I used 30 million fil of the 50 million to buy the necromancy technique book. The shop owner was surprised but also pleased when I prepared the money as promised.

Additionally, the item I had ordered as a bonus arrived. A silver ring and a piece of leather paper with blood writing. The contract of servitude that binds Kōga.

"Well, now you belong to me."

I sat in a chair with my legs crossed and unfolded the leather paper.

In a room I rented at the Star's Droplet Inn, there were two other people besides me. Alma, who looked unhappy, and Kōga, who stood expressionless.

"But, let me make it clear. I don't need a slave."

"Then, why did you get this? With this, my power is yours to command. You can do whatever you want with me."

"Don't get too cocky just because you have some skills. In the world of explorers, your power is at the bottom. The ones at the top are at a level where a mere slave can't even compete."

"...What is your wish?"

My wish, huh?

It's been decided since the day I swore to my dying grandfather two years ago.

"My wish is just one. To stand at the pinnacle of all explorers. For that, I don't need a weak, emaciated lapdog. I need a fierce wolf."

I held out the leather paper and ring to Kōga.

"Do what you want with this. You are free now."

"Free..."

"Tell me. Are you a weak stray dog? Or a fierce wolf?"

Kōga stared at the contract of servitude in his hand.

"I... have always been used by others... So, even though I'm free now, I don't feel any sense of it. I'm just a weak stray dog. ...But, there is one thing I know."

Kōga's black eyes, now raised, were filled with a strong will.

"Noel, I want to see you achieve your dream. If you seek a fierce wolf, that is the path you should take. So, please. Let me be your companion."

"Accepted, swordman Kōga Tsukishima."

Sunlight from the window illuminated the three of us.

Finally, I gained my second companion. Now, the party has taken shape. After being back at square one, we can finally move forward.

Compared to the goal we need to reach, it's a small step, but it's a sure one. With this step, we can start running.

And I am certain.

With this team, we can definitely establish the strongest clan.

"Let's go outside. We'll start training to synchronize the party's movements."