The Raven Dark Hero 98

Chapter 98 : Unconveyed Feelings

TL:SummerPeanut

Author’s Note:

※It's been a while, everyone. I'm going to start posting every day from here until my stock runs out, so even if you've forgotten about me, please look forward to this work!

『The Sendai branch of Kuroyume was destroyed in an attack by ‘Kagerou’. Return immediately.』

Suddenly, an email was sent to their terminals which had shocked Kouki and Takahiko.

“Destroyed? You're kidding. The Sendai branch is where the number five, ‘Hydro’ is supposed to be. With him around, there's no way they can destroy us……”

Kuroyume Numbers, Number 5 Hydro.

Because of his aversion to the limelight, he was usually stationed at the Sendai branch instead of the headquarters, so Bright had only seen him a few times but he had heard that he was a very capable person.

The Sendai branch guarded by that Hydro had been destroyed by the rival organization, Kagerou.

Kagerou. The second most powerful filths organization in Japan after Kuroyume.

For many years, the two organizations had been adversaries but since losing to Kuroyume five years ago in what was known as the battle of the apex, there had been no direct conflict.

The reason for this was that the power relationship between the two organizations became more clearly differentiated after that decisive battle.

However, in the recent past year, the power relationship between the two which had been maintained in perfect balance for five years began to collapse.

This was due to the fact that filths that left Kuroyume drifted to Kagerou.

Kuroyume's efforts to improve the image of the filths and to gain human rights so that they would be recognized by the general public differed greatly from Kagerou's guiding principle where the filths should act like the filths, and the filths who left Kuroyume and sought freedom had placed themselves within Kagerou.

“Oh man……At a time like this.”

In Takahiko's mind, the destruction of the Sendai branch was of course a serious matter. But now, more than that, his mind was occupied with Kouki.

From an organizational standpoint, Bright's, now the face of Kuroyume, retiring from the organization would be a much more serious blow compared to the destruction of a branch. Depending on how you look at it and more than anything as the first friend Takahiko ever made, he couldn't let Kouki go down the path of destruction.

“What are you worried about? We're going back to Japan.”

However, even though Kouki had just said that he was leaving Kuroyume, he tried to take action to save the organization as if it’s a matter of course.

“Ah, yeah. You’re right, It's not like the number one guy in Kuroyume is going to be gone when the branch is about to be destroyed.”

“My intention to leave has not changed. I just want to do what I can to help the organization one last time before I leave.”

As expected, Kouki's intention had not changed.

“Once we've solved the problem, I'll leave immediately. ……If I meet the boss, he'll ask me why after all and more importantly if I can't control my desire to kill him, that’s putting the cart before the horse, so I'll just disappear without a word.”

“……I see.”

Takahiko had no choice but to nod. At this point, he had no idea what he could do for Kouki.

But it gave him a reprieve, albeit a short one. A period of time to look for some way to solve the problem.

In order to do so, we believe that the help of someone who is familiar with Revived Hunter's abilities is essential.

“Alright. I have a suggestion for you. I know I sounded like I was trying to refuse you, but if you don't mind, would you like to go to Japan with us, Kazur?”

In order to eliminate the negative effects of Revived Hunters, it was only natural to ask Kazur, who had the most knowledge of Revived Hunters, to help out.

“……I'm sorry, I can't leave right now. I know what you're up to. And there are things I can do for you here, so when I’m done, I’ll head to Japan.”

Kazur was also thinking about what he could do for Kouki. And then he remembered something that could help him but it had to be here in Germany.

“I know that you really want to help Kouki. So I'll be heading to Japan as soon as I'm ready. So wait for me until then. Kouki, you as well, okay?”

Kazur looked at Kouki. Kouki let out a sigh of relief due to the pressure from Kazur’s gaze.

“Alright, alright. If you're ever in Japan, just let me know. But……if I feel I can't control my impulses then I'll disappear, cutting off all communication and information from the outside world.”

The current Kouki is not afraid of death which was strange to him.

It could be that he became used to it because he had died many times before, but this time, it would be a mental death and he would cease to be himself.

At this point, Kazur talked to Takahiko only.

“The current state of Kouki is that he's losing his feelings about things due to the lack of emotions caused by the gift’s side effects. In a sense, this is one step ahead of the terminal stage, and in a few more weeks, he will lose his ego and eventually go insane……. So you don't have much time left.”

“……Yeah. But still, you sure know a lot about it. As expected of a Revived Hunter.”

“……It’s nothing if it's not a bittersweet memory, but then again, I've been through this terminal illness once myself.”

All the words were from his own experience. This, more than anything else, was proof that his information was solid. At the same time, Takahiko could not say anything to Kazur who had probably spent many painful days as an experimental subject.

“Okay. I'll be waiting for you, Kazur. Also, I'm sorry about earlier. I took my chances to see what you were thinking……”

“That's fine. I'm sure you're doing all of this for Kouki's sake. Kouki is like family to me. Our interests are aligned, and I'll spare no effort to help.”

Finally, Kazur smiled at Takahiko. It was also a sign that he had reset the past troubles.

“Kouki, as a fellow Revived Hunter, you're my only comrade as well. Don't let the harm come to you. Hopefully, when the time comes, you can choose your own path of survival. I'll stand by your side, no matter how it turns out.”

“……We've only known each other for a few minutes, and we were killing each other just a few minutes ago, but surprisingly, we seem to get along huh. Well, what will be will be.”

After saying that, Kouki and Kazur brought their fists together.

Takahiko looked at the scene with a certain complexity in his heart.

He is Kouki's best friend and partner. He felt incomparably pathetic that he couldn't say the line that Kazur had just said.

After Kazur left, Kouki and Takahiko also returned and met up with Rumi and the others waiting at the hotel.

While returning home, Takahiko asked Kouki what was he going to do about Rumi.

Rumi was an ally who had spent as much time with him in Kuroyume as he had with Takahiko. Even if he were to leave Kuroyume, he felt it would be unconscionable to do so without telling her, and if there was any future where he survives, he would certainly be scolded, so he decided to spend some time alone together until their flight could be arranged.

ーーHotel Rooftop

“That's unusual. I never thought you would invite me to a place like this.”

“Well, true. Isn’t it fine once in a while?”

Below them was the night view of Munich. However, it was not a glittering night view like in Tokyo, but a serene night view of a city with a rich history.

Since this mission was commissioned by the German government, the hotel was one of the best in Munich.

“Still, I can't believe the Sendai Branch, where Hydro-san lives was destroyed……. Kagerou's guys have done quite a job, haven't they?”

“Right. I'm sure Jiren and the others are on the move by now. As soon as the plane's ready, we'll have to head out to join them.”

As he spoke without hesitation, Rumi overlap the old childish Kouki on top of him, and realized that he has changed.

Kouki wanted to get right to the point but he was still hesitant to tell her the full story of Revived Hunter.

The harm that has befallen him. And the path he was about to walk. He knew that if he told Rumi about both of these things, it would definitely make her feel uneasy.

(……I knew it, it’s better to not say anything to Rumi. That's the safest thing to do.)

Having made that decision, Kouki changed his stance to simply waiting for the time here to pass.

“……You're looking at the night view without saying a word. I thought you wanted to talk to me about something, no?”

However, Rumi, with her keen intuition, did not go along with Kouki's plan.

“No, it's not a big story, so I decided not to.”

“Say it. That may not be a big deal to Kouki right now, but it's probably a big deal to me, right?”

Rumi suddenly gave him a serious look, and Kouki flinched a little. Still, he decided that it's nothing serious for Rumi.

(Well, Rumi has always had a caring nature……)

“No, it really doesn't matter. So don't look at me so worried.”

“Kouki……you've noticed, right? Lately, more than ever…… you’re losing your emotions. Takahiko and you have been acting strange since we went to the lab yesterday. Something's wrong, isn't it?”

If he told her that something happened here, he might have to tell her everything.

The old Kouki would have been seriously troubled by Rumi's question. ‘Should I tell her or not?’ However, the current Kouki had decided not to tell the secret anymore. He wouldn’t care about Rumi's feelings.

“I'm number one of the Kuroyume Numbers. I can't stay naive forever. So I haven't changed, I've just grown up.”

Even now that he knew that he would lose his senses and emotions due to the adverse effects of Revived Hunter, he did not feel uncomfortable with the fact that he had changed. That is what tells us that Kouki's condition is nearing its end.

Just then, Kouki's cell phone rang. It was from Takahiko. Apparently, the flight was ready.

“……yeah, got it. We’ll head to the lobby immediately. It looks like the plane is ready, so let's go.”

Rumi, although her expression had not changed, was now red-faced and furious. And yet, Kouki walked towards the lobby as if nothing had happened.

Vision……. Right now Kouki had also lost the ability to distinguish colors.

“Stop, wait! Was I really such an unreliable comrade to you, Kouki?!”

“No, Rumi. You are a dependable comrade. That's why I don't want to make you feel uneasy with unnecessary things.”

Rumi walked quickly towards Kouki and gave him a slap on the cheek…… However, Kouki easily grabbed Rumi's wrist and blocked the slap.

“The organization's in crisis right now. You don't have time to be distracted by anything else. Keep this up and you are disqualified as numbers.”

If Takahiko had been there, he would have scolded Kouki. Because he was ignoring Rumi's feelings far too much.

However, the current Kouki did not have any concern for Rumi's feelings, and just said what he thought.

“Anyway, let’s go. We are the Numbers.”

As she watched Kouki leave without waiting for her, Rumi felt her tears drop.

“Kouki……are you even the real Kouki……?”

As she squeezed out her voice, there was nobody there to listen…

Author’s Note:

It's been a bit of a rush, but we've finally finished volume 5 which had a lot of dark developments…….

Tomorrow, I'll be introducing each character for the first time in a while, so I hope you'll be ready for the new chapter starting the day after tomorrow.

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