CH 100.2

CHAPTER 100.2: “FAMILY” AND DEPUTY COMMANDER

~3rd Person Perspective~

A few minutes before the battle between Shuu and Boss Met was to end.

“…Hey, Commander?” (Toroko)

“Toroko, how many times do I have to tell you that I ain’t the Commander anymore? I gave the chair to that monstrous old man?” (Deputy Commander)

“…sorry, Deputy Commander. What are you going to do with this? He’s going to beat that thing up, isn’t he? That brother is so strong.” (Toroko)

“I know, he’s not half bad, that baby smooth brother might be a master or even a top ranker. I don’t know if we can fight him. That loli-bitch drew an impossible card, not to mention the cheap card.” (Deputy Commander)

“…That child, even though I made them ‘family’, is it okay if I don’t help them?” (Toroko)

“I’m not sure if they are “family,” but they are not really my subordinate. Aren’t they that old man’s pet dog or goat? A pet goat? It doesn’t listen to me at all.” (Deputy Commander)

“…Didn’t the Commander say it was necessary for the plan?” (Toroko)

“That’s right, but it’s impossible to break in there, right? It is absolutely impossible for me, I’m weak. I can only track, pickpocket, and act like some small-fry thug. Impossible, impossible. It’s pretty much impossible.” (Deputy Commander)

“…I’m going?” (Toroko)

“No, no, don’t do it. Even with the ‘Bone Flute’ it can’t be manipulated freely, and fighting together is almost impossible. It’s like a moth flying straight into the fire. Worst case, it’s just going to be a three-way fight. If we fight, unreasonable death is certain.” (Deputy Commander)

“…Then what are you going to do?” (Toroko)

“I’m going to change my plans. That “family” may be disposable here, but that brother will definitely be taken care of here, even if it’s by force. He’s dangerous, and I have a feeling he’s going to get in the way of our plans.” (Deputy Commander)

“…will we kill him?” (Toroko)

“Hmmm… well, I don’t think we should keep him alive. If you let him keep his life, that’s fine, but don’t push it, okay? The last thing I want is for you to die here.” (Deputy Commander)

“……all right.” (Toroko)

“Kehihihi… Deputy Commander, what should we do?” (Mujirami)

“If the ‘family’ loses to him, move right after that. We all create an opening. Mujirami and I will hold down Utsuki and the Carbuncle. Toroko and the others are facing that big brother. Match the timing, don’t overdo it. Go.” (Deputy Commander)

~Shuu’s Perspective~

The huge body losing the thing above its neck falls on its back. I retreated to the side so that I wouldn’t be crushed.

“…ugh…” (Shuu)

It was a stronger enemy than expected. Not quite on par with Jaguar, but without the actual experience and leveling up in Ouji, I might have struggled more.

The combination of [Ashura] + [Katana] was one of my forbidden moves.

Like my arm, the hypha arm can’t swing with one hand. Moreover, since it grows near the shoulder blades, the range of motion is slightly narrow, and if I hold it with both hands, the direction and angle of swinging will be even more limited. The length of the blade can get in the way, and it’s more difficult to handle than the normal Four-[Katana]-style.

It would be nice to be able to attack from the front and push like before, but it seems like it would be better to seal it in a normal fight.

“…now.” (Shuu)

I have no time to rest. It’s not all over yet. I have to check on Tamiko and Utsuki’s situation.

When I look up,

“–eh?” (Shuu)

A young man was standing there.

He had shaggy black hair, a square face, and long, gangly arms and legs like Baphomet. Squinty eyes are glazed over, and he lets out a vulgar laugh, “Kehihi.”

In his hand, which he thrust out toward me, a familiar silhouette is clutched in hisgrasp–Tamiko.

“Tamiko—” (Shuu)

The next moment, a chill runs down my spine.

—Carelessness?

That word crossed my mind.

Facing the Boss Met that uses gusts of wind, I had at some point cancelled the dispersal of the [Sensory Spores] and focused on the battle.

That’s why I was beyond late in detecting the moment they came in.

Or, since I had defeated the powerful enemy that controlled this floor, I assumed that there would be no further attacks.

No, no. Apart from those things–

(Fast—) (Shuu)

A presence appeared behind me without a sound. The moment I turned around – blood splattered.

A stab from a sharp blade. The tip of the knife reached for my side.

It pierced through my left hand trying to protect my flank.

“Ouch…” (Shuu)

“…I’m surprised. To react at this distance…” (Girl)

Holding the bloodied knife—a small girl with a bandana wrapped around her forehead, her eyes widen in surprise.

A girl, I was frightened, and in that instant, the girl’s left hand moved. There is also a knife held in her reverse hand.

The knife is halfway down her arm, as if aiming for the neck, but the trajectory of the knife cut halfway through my upper arm. Just before her blade broke through my cloak, I punched the girl’s stomach and thrust her away. With that momentum, the knife stuck in my left hand is also pulled out.

“Okay, what the hell—” (Shuu)

Without a pause, three shadows jump in from above. Each of them is wielding a sword, spear, or other mycelial weapon.

“Gah!” (Shuu)

I pull out the accumulated [Katana] standing on the ground and mow them down with a single swing. The three people who then blocked with their hypha weapons were immediately blown away. Furthermore, I catch the [White Bullet] fired from the fifth person caught at the edge of my vision with the flat of my sword.

“You’re still here…” (Shuu)

Four men, including a man who looks like a [Sniper], surround me from a distance. The three men who had just been knocked out were still in a state of shock, their hypha weapons and arms shattered, but the girl who was supposed to have been kicked in the stomach joined the encirclement, moaning “…stay…”. Now there are eight people in the square and one on the roof. That’s at least nine people.

(I kicked her with all my might.) (Shuu)

Judging from her response at that time, she probably jumped backward at the moment I kicked her. This kid is the most skilled of all the other people in this room.

“Yes, that’s it!” (Voice)

I heard a voice above me. I look up to see the tenth newcomer standing next to the man holding Tamiko.

All the men present here are young and dressed “very much like bandits,” with tattered, dirty little cloaks and shirts, but only the middle-aged man (with the exception of the girl) is clearly out of place. Or rather, he looks out of place.

He has a small fat figure, short hair, a bearded face, black tinted glasses. And above all, he wears a yellow aloha shirt and knee-length half pants. I wonder if such a culture still exists in New Tokyo.

The man in the shabby “street vendor” look places his hand on Utsuki’s shoulder, who shook frightenedly next to him.

“Brother, you can’t resist uselessly, you can’t do it, it’s impossible. It’s a cliché, but don’t your friends matter?” (Voice => Hawaiian Shirt)

“Kehihi!” (Giggles)

The man holding Tamiko jumps down into the square.

“I was surprised to see this little guy bite Baphomet to death. She was a fine fighter for a small animal, but she’s a piece of cake in my poisoned hands.” (Giggles)

“Tamiko!” (Shuu)

He giggled and lightly shook his hand as if he was drinking from a glass of ice. Tamiko remained flaccid and motionless, not even uttering a moan.

“She’s still a little warm, but she hasn’t moved since a while ago, huh? If you leave her like this, she’ll probably die. If that happens, I’ll stuff her and use her for decoration. Kehihi!” (Giggles)

My head was ready to pop in instant. My eyes were dyed bright red, and the impulse took a step was there. Then I realized something, I felt relieved and my shoulders relaxed. I desperately bites the smile that wants to appear in my face.

“…Huh? What’s wrong?” (Giggles)

“…No, nothing…” (Shuu)

I am now aware of it. The one in that trash lowlife’s hand is not Tamiko. It is a clone, or rather an “Avatar”.

Tamiko’s sixth Fungal Skill, the [Squirrel Avatar].

Tamiko can create a puppet that looks exactly like herself with hypha and control it remotely.

At first, she could only make one doll at a time, a pure white one with a hypha-like appearance, and I often teased it as a “house mouse” and I got my earlobe chewed on.

Even now, the limit of one is still the same, but later, as her level and skill improved, she was able to produce an “avatar” that slightly resembles Tamiko’s body color. In other words, the quality and realism of the “avatar” had increased.

Now, the man with the giggling f*cktard is holding an avatar. They look very similar, but its fur is lighter in color and the jewel on its head is pink mixed with white. Clearly, it is not the same person. Having seen her face every day for the past five years, I know this.

I never thought that she would realize the substitution technique beyond the Heisei era. As expected of Squirrel Kunoichi.

If that is the case, Tamiko herself must be hiding and looking for an opportunity to counterattack. If possible, I should be able to save Utsuki.

Just as I thought that, a furball ball slipped through the encirclement jumped onto my shoulder.

“Whew, it’s dangerous, squeak.” (Tamiko)

“Don’t come out. Don’t wipe the jewel on your head.” (Shuu)

Giggles compares the one in his hand with the one who appeared, finally realizing that it’s a fake, slamming it on the ground and stomping on it. There must have been some kind of sensory feedback, and Tamiko shuddered, saying, “Kyauu!”

“Ahaha, I was fed a bowl of sh*t.” (Hawaiian Shirt)

Hawaiian Shirt laughs. He doesn’t seem to be the least bit perturbed, and the atmosphere seems to indicate that he is the leader.

“… Well, that’s okay. I’ll tell you a little bit about it now that we’re all here, hunter brother.” (Hawaiian Shirt)

A/N: The tone of the Deputy Commander and others in “Chapter 97: Mutant Individuals” has been partially revised to match the content of this story.