The Raven Dark Hero 83

Chapter 83 : The New Kuroyume

TL:SummerPeanut

Author’s Note:

Here's a new development!

About a year and a half had passed since Kouki had joined Kuroyume as Bright.

After the mission to stop the destruction of Shiroyume, the interior of Kuroyume underwent a major transformation.

Kiryu who had been on the front lines as the number one of the Numbers left the Numbers and Kiryu as the boss of the organization completely stopped appearing in battles.

Kiryu was prepared for the new number one, Bright, to face some criticism within the organization but with Jiren's simple admission to the position, no one made a fuss except for a few.

Kiryu's new direction for Kuroyume was a plan to improve the filths' image by taking the initiative in dealing with private organizations and people, which was unusual for a filth organization.

At this point, the rogue members who were not satisfied with the new direction left Kuroyume, including Skull and Joker.

Kuroyume's goal can be said, in the worst case, to overthrow the state so as to build a world where people with gift can live equally. In order to do so, the support of the majority of ordinary people who are non-gifted is indispensable.

And it was Darkflash Bright, the proud number one of the Kuroyume Numbers who played a leading role in this campaign to improve their image.

He goes out into the streets at night and when there is trouble, he dashes in and brings justice to evil.

After a year of such activities, Bright, who had been called the symbol of fear(last boss), had established himself as a dark hero, helping the weak and crushing the strong, even though he’s supposed to be evil.

Of course, the activities were not limited to Bright, but were carried out by the whole of Kuroyume, resulting in the social recognition of each member.

Jiren is the dependable elder brother.

Vendetta has won over some enthusiastic fans with her bewitching charm.

Evil has become revered by many followers through social networking sites and the Internet as a consultant(mentalist) who solves various problems.

Of course, the other members of the team also demonstrated their abilities in their appropriate fields.

By doing so, Kuroyume is now breaking free from the confines of the anti-social organization and proving that even those who are recognized by the government as filth can be excellent and contribute to society.

In other words, it raises the question to the country itself, which has laws that isolate the filths.

However, Kuroyume is still filths after all, and there are many people who cannot forgive the filth's past brutality, so the percentage of people who accepts Kuroyume's activities is about 50-50. In terms of age, the majority of Kuroyume's supporters are from the younger generation, and the group is struggling to gain favour with people of a certain age.

However, the steady activities have made it possible for them to sign sponsorship contracts with overseas blue-chip companies and their immediate financial problems have been solved.

Initially, the government had disregarded Kuroyume's movement as futile moves but now they changed their mind. If it continues like this, the government's policy stating that all people with gift who don't follow the government's rules are a danger to the country may be doubted.

But it was already too late. By the time the country sensed the crisis, Kuroyume had become an organization that was recognized by many people as being closer to justice rather than evil, and it had become impossible for them to take any action against Kuroyume carelessly.

It was thought that the national organization, the NDF, would react strongly against Kuroyume's movement but under the leadership of Navy General Zaizen, some of them showed a more cooperative attitude. That, of course, helped Kuroyume to be recognized by the world but that action contrasted with the intention of the centre of the country and it seemed that there will be a great divide internally. However, after the battle with Kiryu, hero Onijima retired from the position of general and was less likely to interfere in the military's policies. Furthermore, the fact that Senzaki who replaced Gonda as the new Army’s general showed understanding of Zaizen's policy created a great deal of friction within the NDF between the faction that approves of the filths and the faction that supports the intentions of the government, which is to declare that all filths are evil just as before.

―Kuroyume Headquarters

Kouki who hadn't had a day off in a long time was having lunch with his kindred spirits Takahiko and Rumi at a restaurant in their hideout.

“Delicious! It's hard to believe that just a short time ago this place was a diner in the middle of nowhere!”

“You’re absolutely right~. I don't want to eat boiled barley rice anymore……”

Takahiko and Rumi were enjoying the food at the restaurant in the hideout, which had recently regained its former quality. At one point, the organization's cash flow was in trouble due to Operation Clean, so Line had decided to implement a money-saving campaign in various areas of the hideout.

“Really? I didn't mind the food before.”

“……as expected of the last boss. I never knew you could get used to any taste.”

“Kouki used to tell me that everything tasted good, but I didn't realize he was just a tasteless person....... What a disappointment!”

As for Kouki, he didn't intend so himself but recalling the fact that he had become less particular about food lately, he stopped before he argue otherwise.

“Hey, guys! It's been a while since we've had a day off, right? Let's go out on the town for a bit!”

“What are you talking about? I don't mind but some people in the NDF know that Takahiko and Kouki are Evil and Bright, right? I don't think they've announced it out in the open but don’t you think you are being a little too careless?”

“It's no big deal! The NDF wouldn't dare mess with us now, would they? Bright is already a superhero recognized by children and adults alike, you know?”

In fact, it’s not only Bright but also the same for Evil and Teaser, if they were to go out on the streets in their current forms, they would probably be looked upon more favourably in some places than others. However, there would be just as many people who would be repulsed.

For Kouki, being the hero he had always wanted to be and becoming the object of public admiration was a dream come true.

However……

“That doesn't change the fact that we've killed many of NDF soldiers in the past, or that we're killing stray filths and outlaw filths as a purge, albeit bad ones, right?”

Kouki did not feel upbeat from the current situation. No, the feeling itself disappeared.

“……I knew it, Kouki, recently you have changed, huh.”

Rumi had also noticed these changes in Kouki.

“I have?”

Rumi was of course surprised when Bright informed her that he was Kouki, but more than that, she was glad that he was still alive. For Rumi, Fuuka and Kouki were like a younger sister and brother. At the same time when Rumi found out that Fuuka was a Major General in NDF, it pained her to know that the two of them would never be together.

However, as Teaser… She understood that the Bright that she had taken a liking to was Kouki and that he was also the love of Fuuka, someone she thought of like her own sister.

But even if there is no future for Kouki and Fuuka to be together, there is a great possibility for Rumi or Teaser to be together with Kouki or Bright.

Perhaps it’s because she’s Teaser that she was able to notice it? Recently...... Over the course of a year and a half, Kouki has been slowly changing.

First of all, he doesn't laugh as much as he used to. And he doesn't make jokes anymore. All in all, he doesn't show his emotional ups and downs as much as he used to.

He was acting more of Bright’s image. A mature and calm man that Rumi had longed for…….

“I haven't changed at all, have I? Hey, Takahiko.”

“Hmm? Ah…… Well, I think you've been spending a little more time in dark hero mode, but after all, you are the number one of the Kuroyume’s Numbers. Well, I don't want you to be too restless and flirtatious, though.”

“……Takahiko, I don't want you to be the one to say that to me.”

“Well~, really, It's thanks to you joining Kuroyume! The only reason I'm allowed to act so casually.”

Originally, Kiryu had wanted Takahiko(Evil) to take Bright's current position. Evil had thought of that as nothing more than a heavy burden though.

“I'm only number one in the end. Just because the boss says he's retiring doesn't mean I'm going to be the next boss. I think you're more suited to be the boss.”

“I told you~, I’m not that type of person, I'm a free-roaming strategist. So, partner, keep it up.”

“Sigh……”

Rumi also felt uncomfortable with the conversation between the two. Whenever Rumi starts this...... story about how Kouki has changed, the conversation always goes off on a tangent. It's not only Kouki but even Takahiko also tends to intentionally divert the conversation.

She’d like to question him properly but Takahiko is usually easygoing but when it comes down to it, he's serious as if he’s a different person. Even Rumi can't handle the serious Takahiko.

“……Well, it’s fine I guess.”

Rumi gracefully dismissed the talk. This is because she has been denied by the man himself(Kouki) and even his partner Takahiko has denied it softly, so she has decided that there is no point in saying anything again.

“……Ah, here you are, Teaser. And Bright......and also Evil.”

A girl came to the table of three. Her name is Hannah. She is half German and half Japanese with a cute appearance like that of a Western doll.

Her gift ‘Texture Artist’ ranked at B- and she is also Teaser's partner.

The reason why Rumi was able to change her hair and eye colour when she goes out as Teaser is because of Hannah's ability.

“Ara, to see you outside, isn’t it quite rare?”

“Yeah, only once in a while.”

Hannah is usually shy and timid. She's basically an introvert and she's not a fighter, so although she and Teaser are partners, they rarely go on missions together.

“Yo! Hannah-chan! Long time no see~. As usual, you're as cute as a doll~”

Rumi slapped Takahiko's hand hard as he tried to pat Hannah's head.

“Don't touch her. You'll get Hannah dirty.”

Rumi was of course only half-joking but even so, Rumi could be said to be overprotective of Hannah.

“Saying that I will dirty her…… how awful of you? Hey, don't you think so too, Kouki?”

“Well, that’s because of your daily deeds.”

“Aren’t you being too awful as well!?”

“So, what's up, Hannah? What's wrong?”

“Erm…… well…… Actually, I have a favour to ask……”

“What is it? How could I refuse your request? So, what's this about?”

“No…… that…… it’s not that……”

Hannah pointed at Kouki with a sense of timidity.

“Hmm? Me?”

With a small nod, Hannah nodded.

“Oh, is that it~, You want to speak with Kouki~ If that's the case, you can go through me, the spokesman for the last boss."

“Shut up for a second. Hannah, why do you want Kouki’s help?”

“Well… Erm…… Actually…”

After that, the content of Hannah's request to Kouki which took a full three minutes of what would normally be a 30-second conversation was that she wanted him to accompany her to Germany to look for her sister who had gone missing…….

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