Chapter 12 (1/2)

With even the clamor of the shopping district fading away completely, the neighborhood looks much more dirty in appearance. The alley gradually went deeper into the slums. At its end there is a slightly extensive vacant plot.

It’s the place Kamui is aiming for.

Before long they could see a s.p.a.ce spreading to such a degree that one will wonder why there’s such a place in the slums. Once getting close, there is burned wood scattered about in the vicinity and it’s clearly obvious to anyone visiting that something had happened here.

The fire occurred several days ago. In addition, by many buildings getting burned down, this place became a vacant plot with nothing on it.

But even that will only last for a few days. Once the residents finish gathering up the sc.r.a.p materials, it will soon be just as before, with plain buildings, which you can’t even call a hut, standing in lines.

It’s not like Kamui came to particularly confirm the ruins of a fire. He has an appointment in this place. But even that isn’t his true objective.

At the time Kamui entered the vacant plot, the other party, with whom he had an appointment, was already there.

“How is it?” (Kamui)

The one who began to talk is Dirk.

“Judging by appearance, it’s about three people.” (Dirk)

The number mentioned by Dirk is the number of people who have followed Kamui.

“It’s the same number I confirmed from my side. There’s no doubt?” (Kamui)

Afterwards they have been followed by Dirk’s comrades. Naturally the other side hasn’t noticed that.

“It’s probably alright I think, but we can’t be careless.” (Kamui)

“For the time being I have stationed men all around the vicinity. I believe there’s no chance for them to get away.” (Dirk)

“Will it really be alright?” (Kamui)

“Where do you think you are? It’s our turf.” (Dirk)

“If you consider the fact that they foolishly followed up until here, they aren’t all that intelligent, I think. However, I don’t know about their strength.” (Kamui)

“It looks like the ones following behind are students of the academy. This is going to be hard. Well, we shall see.” (Dirk)

“That’s true as well. Ah, just for caution’s sake, take this.” (Kamui)

Saying that, Kamui gave the dagger, that he took out from his pocket, to Dirk. A complex pattern was drawn on its black-l.u.s.tred scabbard. It’s a dagger one can recognize as special with a single glance.

“This is?” (Dirk)

“It should protect you if it’s against low-level magic. It’s possible that they will come around to attack this way. Carry it with you.” (Kamui)

The dagger, he gave to Dirk, is a magic tool. A spell of the magic defense attribute has been applied to it.

“Are you often carrying this thing around with you?” (Dirk)

“It was among my father’s mementos.” (Kamui)

“Isn’t that a memento then? I can’t look after such an item.” (Dirk)

“It’s not looking after it. It’s yours. It’s unnecessary for me. Besides, if it’s about father’s mementos, I have a far more important items.” (Kamui)

“But…” (Dirk)

Dirk is an orphan, too. His emotions towards things that are similar to memories of parents are stronger than usual.

“It’s possible that there will be people aiming for your life in the future, right? It’s plenty if such an item can protect your life, Dirk.” (Kamui)

Having been told up to this point, it seems difficult to refuse. With a slightly shy look Dirk thanked Kamui and put the dagger into his pocket.

“Well then, it’s a fact that they won’t be willing to do anything if I’m together with you, Dirk. Please go back first. I will also move a little while later.” (Kamui)

“… Take care.” (Dirk)

“Easy victory. However, only if it’s about defeating them.” (Kamui)

“That’s true. Well, see you later.” (Dirk)

Dirk leaves the place. He saw him off until his back couldn’t be seen anymore. Then Kamui once again returned to the path he came from at a slow pace.

Just before leaving the vacant plot, fireb.a.l.l.s came flying at him from both sides all of a sudden. Seeing through their trajectories, Kamui swiftly evades those.

“You suck at this.” (Kamui)

Ridiculing words leave Kamui’s mouth. Moreover, there is another one, this time it’s a wind spell.

Even though wind magic shouldn’t be visible within the darkness, Kamui nimbly bent down his body and dodged the spell with that.

He was somehow able to sense the presences of the agitated enemies who are hiding their figures.

It’s three people who fired spells at me. This should be all of them. I already made sure of their whereabouts. That’s likely the same for Dirk’s comrades, who should be surrounding them in the vicinity.

Without a second volley of spells being shot, sounds of tumult began to be audible here and there. The lights that sometimes illuminate the surroundings are probably spells fired by the enemy.

And even that only lasts for a little time. The neighborhood was shrouded by silence once again.

Even so, Kamui doesn’t move from the spot. While standing motionlessly, he is examining the state of his surroundings.

What he could see before long is a dark shadow. That shadow headed directly towards Kamui. Wearing black clothes on the body, the hair is black as well. The shadow itself gave an impression of being pitch black all over its body even when it has come right next to him. Only the red pupils, which are above the black hood covering the mouth, are s.h.i.+ning within the darkness.

“Kamui-san, right? I came to report. The suppression is complete.”

He realizes that this shadow is a girl due to the covered voice.

“Are any of your comrades injured?” (Kamui)

“One person has a scratch. There’s absolutely no problem.”

“That’s great.” (Kamui)

“We kept one alive. What shall we do?”

Dirk’s comrades had the leeway to capture the enemy alive. That means all that’s left is showing confidence in Dirk.

“I don’t need them. I know from where they are.” (Kamui)

“Then we will get rid of them on our side.”

“Okay, I leave it to you.” (Kamui)

“For the time being, I will give this to you.”

“What?” (Kamui)

“It was written by whom they were instructed.”

As expected, even Kamui was surprised about this. Was it a very honest confession or was there some method to this?

“… That’s fast. Thank you. Please extend my thanks to the others who cooperated as well. Also, tell the person who got a scratch, to get well soon.” (Kamui)

“Got it.”

“Then, I’m done with this.” (Kamui)

“U-Umm.”

At the moment Kamui tried to leave, the shadow, different to until now, called out to him in a voice getting gradually excited.

“What’s up?” (Kamui)

“Kamui-san, no, Kamui-sama is really…”

With this way of calling, Kamui realized what the other party wanted to ask. Without saying anything to the bitter end, he throws a question at her instead.

“You are a half, right?” (Kamui)

“Yes. I’m a half between a vampire and a human.”

“How rare. A vampire half, huh?” (Kamui)

“Yes…”

“Ah, I’m sorry. Meeting one is nothing to be delighted about. Encountering you here means that your mother has met misfortune.” (Kamui)

“No, don’t mind it. And…”

“I don’t have any kind of connection to you. Since my situation is fine either way, I’d like you to convey that to Dirk. Even if my and Dirk’s methods are different, the thing we are aiming for should be the same.” (Kamui)

“Got it!”

The half-vampire girl cheerfully answered to Kamui’s statement. While showing a bitter smile due to her reaction, Kamui began to walk.

◇◇◇

Once Kamui returned to the orphanage, Alto’s group and Dirk, who came back first, waited for him.

“How did it go?” (Dirk)

The one who asked a question as the very first was Dirk.

“Were you worried after all?” (Kamui)

“Yes, I was. Everyone experienced such a situation for the first time.” (Dirk)

It’s completely different from brawling among their own group or with other groups. It’s a premeditated conflict with the intent to kill from the beginning.

“I was told that one person got a scratch. Well, I think they will be alright.” (Kamui)

“I see.” (Dirk)

Listening to Kamui’s report, Dirk breathed out largely. Even while speaking of leeway, he was quite tense inside.

“Rather than that, you told your friends about my situation, right?” (Kamui)

“… Was that a bad move?” (Dirk)

“No, rather than bad, they looked at me with somehow amazed eyes.”

“Amazed eyes? What’s that?” (Dirk)

“Kamui-sama~a *sparkle sparkle*, that feeling? Well those were pupils that were glittering to begin with, so it looks like it’s only my selfish impression on this.” (Kamui)

“Pu-, who’s that?” (Dirk)

Hearing Kamui’s story, Dirk bursts into laughter. It looked like he already lost all tension.

“Which reminds me, I forgot to ask her name. She said she’s a half-vampire. It’s a girl.” (Kamui)

“Ah, that’s Mito. Hee, you met Mito.” (Dirk)

The eyes of Dirk, who speaks about the girl, are smiling meaningfully.

“What do you mean?” (Kamui)

“The one who listened about you most enthusiastically was that Mito. Certainly, I heard that her beautiful pupils are s.h.i.+ning with a glitter.” (Dirk)

“That’s amazing. Was she charmed before meeting with you? Moreover, a vampire girl. To charm a vampire who is strong at charming, Kamui is…” (Alto)

Listening to the conversation of the two, Alto joined the talks while being amused, but immediately noticing that it’s not good to talk about it in a loud voice, he stopped talking.

He might not mind if it’s the bishop, but there are other clergymen in the orphanage as well.

“I apologize for having spoken about you without permission. However, they need hope as well. Someday their wishes will come true, that kind of hope.” (Dirk)

Stopping to talk about Mito, Dirk apologizes to Kamui. He believes that none of his friends will talk about it, but it’s not always true that nothing will leak out by chance.

“I don’t mind about that. Well then, is the problem finished with this?” (Kamui)

“The next ones aren’t going to come any time soon, I guess. It’s been three people? If they send the next ones right away, they don’t care about the lives of their subordinates at all. That would be a good-for-nothing.” (Alto)

Alto answers Kamui’s question.

“Guess so. If that’s not the case, there’s no meaning in going as far as this.” (Kamui)

“Even so, it would be good to consider what to do at the time the next ones come. As expected, it’s wrong to repeat the same thing over many times.” (Alto)

“Certainly.” (Kamui)

If people continue to go missing, no matter how much it’s incidents in the slums, they likely won’t leave it alone. That will plunge Dirk and his friends into a dilemma.

It’s absolutely necessary to avoid such a situation.

“Is it better to properly confront them in the slums? As one could expect, they won’t stay silent if their turf was burned many times over, will they?” (Alto)

“Will you inform them indirectly about the criminal who caused the fire? Will they make a move? The opponent is the daughter of the Imperial Magician Unit Leader. That’s not an opponent a slum boss stands a good chance against.”

The mastermind of the students who attacked Kamui is Marie. They were able to obtain this information thanks to Dirk’s friends.

“If we fight with her from the front, right? Rather than the boss of the slums, isn’t there something that has some influence, I wonder?” (Alto)

“An opponent confronting the Magician Unit. I can only think of the chivalric order.”

“A chivalric order and the boss of the slums. No way, those are definitely opposing parties.” (Alto)

“… No, that might not be the case either.” (Dirk)

Dirk, who ponders for a bit, denied Alto’s words. Dirk, who knows well about the slums, had an idea Alto’s group didn’t notice.

“What is it? The chivalric order has dispatched the guards many times to clean up the slums.”

“However, the slums are always just as before right away. As far as I know, I never heard of the top bra.s.s getting arrested.” (Dirk)

“… And if they have a secret agreement?”

“It’s not like that’s impossible, right? Since there are slums, it’s possible for the chivalric order of the imperial capital to regularly raise some achievements without much danger. The rest only gets a turn in a war or during the subjugation of a large-scale demonic beast.”

“Hee, Dirk, you are a genius, aren’t you? With that out of the way, all that’s left is getting evidence, huh?” (Alto)

Alto also gives the impression that Dirk’s guess might be possible. The corruption of the empire's bureaucracy is something even the common people are aware of. Since that’s the case, it won’t be weird for the chivalric order to have such dark parts as well.

“If that’s so, this will be a bit useful.”

Saying that, Kamui took out a paper from his pocket and showed it around.

“What’s that?”

“It’s a paper, where the name of the one who gave the order is written, from one of the dead.” (Kamui)

“Charmed, eh? Albeit young, she seems to be quite a excellent vampire.”

“Even if she doesn’t use charm, she’s a child that can enchant one.”

“Is that so? But, that is…”

Kamui hasn’t properly seen Mito’s face. Not just because of the darkness but also because Mito wore clothes that covered everything but the eyes.Going by Dirk’s way of talking, Mito is probably a beauty. It’s plain misfortune to be born as beauty in the slums and moreover as the daughter of a prost.i.tute.

“I wonder if Kamui can’t look after Mito when push comes to shove? She is valuable as war potential, but until we get stronger, the slums are a dangerous place for Mito. Besides, even if we build up our strength a bit, there are also things like taking her mother as hostage.” (Dirk)

“… Okay, got it.”

“However, will we manage somehow with this sc.r.a.p of paper?”

“This is a chance to obtain even more evidence. We will grasp the evidence of the boss with this material. For the time being it will be for learning the nature of that boss and their weak points. It’s for the sake of finding the most effective occasion.” (Kamui)