Chapter 44

When I looked up, I met Yoiyami's eyes.

His appearance was as I had heard, with even more severe dark circles under his eyes than Senyaku, and a very fierce gaze. His black hair, mixed with white, covered one eye, and his thin lips and pale skin were distinctive. He was a little taller than me and was thin. He looked a decade or two older than the boss. Honestly, he didn't look very strong.

But this guy is dangerous. There's an aura that makes you feel it intuitively.

"Desuko, what's with the role? And who's this kid?"

"This is Shinon, the new guy. But more importantly, Yoiyami, you look old."

"What did you come here for?"

"Of course, to bring you back."

Desuko, who usually isn't serious, had a very serious expression. I thought he wasn't interested in this mission.

"Did you come to persuade me with three lackeys? Don't make me repeat myself. I won't return to the organization."

The moment Yoiyami said that, Roll, who was holding me, jumped back. The shaking made me feel like vomiting again. Combined with the pain from my injuries, it was all pretty bad.

"...You've improved your reaction time, Roll."

"Thanks."

Because of this guy's abnormal killing intent, I finally understood the incomprehensible plan to use alcohol to ease the tension.

I moved away from Roll and managed to stand, despite my wobbly legs. I drank too much. I should have just been a little tipsy.

"Yoiyami is as quick to fight as ever. We didn't come here to fight, you know?"

"Is that so? Then go back. If you can subdue me by force, I'll return to the organization."

"Then I won't hold back."

Thud. The sound of Desuko's foot hitting the ground, and suddenly she was behind Yoiyami. The straight punch she threw seemed to hit Yoiyami's side.

But there was no sound of impact.

"...Did you forget my ability, Desuko?"

Desuko's arm was being absorbed by a mysterious black "mist" that appeared on Yoiyami's abdomen.

"You haven't declined at all."

Desuko remained in the position of throwing the punch. No, she was caught.

Yoiyami brought down a knife-hand strike on Desuko's captured arm.

"Trouble...!"

Roll moved. She immediately went into stray cat mode and kicked Yoiyami. Yoiyami dodged Roll, who attacked like an arrow, by slightly twisting his body.

Taking advantage of the opening, Desuko escaped from Yoiyami's restraint and put some distance between them. She glared at Yoiyami for a while, then suddenly relaxed her stance. Roll, who had landed behind Yoiyami in a low stance, also relaxed her stance as if giving up.

"You understand now, right?"

Yoiyami's voice echoed.

"Roll, five times; me, nine times. If Yoiyami was serious, you would have been dead. I can kill you anytime if I'm serious. I knew you were strong, but you're still strong."

"Tell Hyde to come directly instead of being scared."

"Sure. But I don't think the current Yoiyami can beat Hyde."

"...What?"

"I figured it out after a little fight. Yoiyami has declined. Have you been soaking in warm water since you left the organization? It must have felt good. No wonder you've become so weak. The heart of Yoiyami, who was once feared as a 'demon.'"

...Why is he provoking him?

Roll, who was behind Yoiyami, was looking at Desuko with her cat ears perked up.

"You always see through things."

"I do. Yoiyami, I can easily read your current heart without your ability. Ah, I want you to come back. The cool Yoiyami from the past."

"You're annoying. Should I kill you?"

When Yoiyami took a step toward Desuko, Roll prepared herself again. However, she couldn't move when Yoiyami glared at her.

I have to do it. As I was about to release a sound strike at Yoiyami, Desuko said in her usual bright voice. Her voice echoed clearly.

"By the way, Yoiyami, you've been living here for quite a while, haven't you? Have you met someone important?"

"..."

"The waitress at that izakaya, she's cute, isn't she? She's the owner's daughter, right? Yoiyami seems to be treated well. Even someone who has killed many people and is covered in blood, like Yoiyami, can be kind. Have you been touched by the warmth of people?"

"You want to be killed."

Snap.

Desuko snapped her fingers. The izakaya's door opened, and the owner stumbled out with a vacant look.

Looking through the gap in the open door, everyone inside was unconscious.

This is... Desuko's ability.

"Mind Layer Manipulation." It can read and manipulate people's minds under certain conditions. However, it's unclear if it's really such an ability. It's unknown how much of what she says about her ability is true. The strongest ability in communication.

People who don't guard against Desuko can be easily manipulated by her. Her childlike appearance makes ordinary people even more powerless against her.

"If I kill this person, I'll give up on Yoiyami... Can I try killing this person?"

"...Go ahead."

"Okay, it's fine."

When Desuko said that, the owner who had come out of the izakaya fell to his knees and collapsed.

"A...!"

I couldn't help but exclaim, but I quickly realized. He wasn't dead. He was still breathing and his heart was beating. But from Yoiyami's perspective, it would look like he was dead.

I was overwhelmed by Desuko's ruthlessness. This is probably why she is a high-ranking member of Anonymous. The strength of Desuko, who is the partner of Tashigoto.

"Next."

Without hesitation, Desuko said that. The next person to come out of the izakaya was the female waitress from earlier. She had the same vacant look as the owner. She was also being manipulated by Desuko.

"..."

Yoiyami was silent.

"I'll kill her. Got it?"

"..."

Yoiyami remained silent.

"..."

After a while, Desuko whispered, "I see."

She snapped her fingers again. The female waitress's eyes regained their light.

"Huh, me...?"

The owner, who was lying nearby, also got up.

"Huh? What am I doing?"

They looked confused and went back into the izakaya without paying any attention to us.

Not understanding what was happening, I looked at Roll. But Roll also seemed confused and shook her head.

"..."

Desuko's eyes no longer had the sharpness from before.

"..."

Yoiyami stood there, his killing intent gone, looking like he had given up. He looked weak and had lost his spirit, like a broken man.

Desuko slowly approached Yoiyami.

Roll and I were still confused.

When Desuko stopped in front of Yoiyami, she said in the same tone as before.

"Yoiyami, you can't kill people anymore."

After a long silence, Yoiyami answered with a helpless voice.

"...Yeah."