The Raven Dark Hero 81

Chapter 81 : Post War

TL:SummerPeanut

धन्यवाद for the support David Luis!

After that... the members of Kuroyume returned to their headquarters, and the remaining members of NDF were forced to deal with the postwar situation.

From inside the Shiroyume hideout, the unconscious Fuuka and Hiro, and the members of the Byakkotai. The dead Yellow and White were recovered, and there were 20 army soldiers who were rendered incapable of combat on the surface and the dead Sato. Gonda had exploded to the point where there were only pieces of flesh left, and it was deemed impossible to recover him.

The death toll on the Kuroyume and Shiroyume side was zero, while the NDF side had four dead and 43 seriously injured, making it clear to anyone who saw the battle that Kuroyume and Shiroyume were the winners.

On top of that, the general, Gonda, went out of control. The whole thing was broadcast live to the whole world, which was not a light blow to the NDF.

――Kuroyume Headquarters

After returning home, all the members of Kuroyume and Shiroyume went to the infirmary, where Kiryu told them the true purpose of this mission.

Firstly, including the attack on the Nerima branch, the attacks by Kuroyume to NDF have created a sense of crisis and anger within NDF. Then, that succeeded in encouraging the NDF to move to eliminate the filths altogether.

Due to that, the NDF had moved to destroy numerous filth organizations but they wanted to show a more tangible result which could only be done by eliminating larger scale filth organizations. That was where Kiryu and his team created an opening for NDF to bait them.

The NDF that had taken the bait...and they secretly passed information for Gonda. In the process, they used Gonda and White as camouflage to conceal the source of the information and succeeded in luring Gonda himself out.

To get rid of Gonda who had become a cancer-like existence for Kuroyume and NDF due to his influence. This was the true purpose but Kiryu also wanted to use the media in order to herald Bright to the public and to spread the fault of NDF to the world.

“To be honest, the only bottleneck to this mission was whether or not Bright would awaken, but I guess it turned out okay.”

“There’s no way it’s okay risking your life just because the outcome is alright. That’s just not the right way to go as a boss, YO?”

According to the prophecy, the chances of Bright awakening was not high. In other words, there was a greater chance that Kiryu would die in this operation. Naturally, Line was vehemently opposed to this plan, but in the end, Kiryu pushed it through.

Line had always thought that Jiren, Vendetta, the other numbers, and himself are all followers of their leader, Kiryu. In other words, if Kiryu is lost, Kuroyume could easily collapse.

He discussed this concern with Kiryu, the man himself. Kiryu himself was aware of this, and he knew that he would eventually have to raise his own successor.

That's why Kiryu was trying to train Evil as the next boss. He hid Evil’s identity from everyone but the Numbers. However, Evil didn’t have the self-awareness of his position and he remained easygoing until now.

At that time Himiko's prophecy said that Kiryu would be able to meet a potential new boss by being arrested once so he turned himself into the police quietly.

While the police, NDF, and the government could not decide how to respond to the sudden surrender of a major figure without any evidence, Kiryu escaped. From the country point of view, they had no idea what Kiryu wanted to do.

And that was when Kouki appeared.

Aside from his unparalleled gift, he knew from the first time he talked to him that he had a straightforward nature deep inside. However, he was still unstable in many ways, and there was still the danger that he could kick the bucket one way or another depending on the situation.

That's why Kiryu gave him difficult trials to test him while encouraging him to grow.

Attack on Nerima branch.

The incident at the shopping mall…… the apparent death of Kouki.

And the interception operation at Shiroyume hideout.

All of this was rigged by Kiryu from behind the scenes, but Kuoki Suo(Bright), overcame all of this in the way that Kiryu and Line wanted. Of course, it was something he didn't know about.

“This time, the results of the mission are terrific. Now, Kuroyume(we) can move on to a new stage.”

Kiryu's mood changes. The people in the room… Line, Jiren, Vendetta , Evil, Asami…… All of them, except Bright, straightened their postures like believers waiting for the next words of a sage.

“I will retire from the Numbers.”

Number One, Kiryu, is retiring from the Numbers. It was the same meaning as saying that Kiryu, who is also a combatant, would not be standing on the front line but for the members who had originally hoped that he would not do so because he was the boss, it was rather a welcome declaration.

“And the new number one will be ......Darkflash Bright.”

“………Hmm? ME!?”

……They all look at Bright and then at Jiren.

Jiren had been the number two of the Numbers for many years, and he had received tremendous support from the members of Kuroyume, not only in terms of combat but in other areas as well, as the big brother for the other members to rely on within the organization. The fact that Bright, a newcomer to the organization, would become the new number one instead of Jiren would surely create a backlash within the organization even if the members present approved of it.

“Boss… why me? If it’s number one then it should be Jiren-san…”

Jiren interrupted Bright as he tried to put his question into words.

“I also think that Bright deserves to be number one. Kuroyume's numbers are a symbol of strength. It's only natural for the strongest person to be the number one.”

Jiren acknowledged Bright's number one easily. In other words, he admitted that Bright was stronger than him.

“……I'll follow whatever the boss decides, but Jiren, are you sure about this?”

“That's the point, Vendetta. To us, the boss is already someone with absolute authority. If he asks us to kill, we kill and if he asks us to die, we die. It's not just us, probably more than half of the members of Kuroyume would do so.

Even though I knew that boss and Line were worried about this, I had no intention of changing my mind. But Bright is different. Bright will not follow blindly to boss’s orders, and if he had any questions or opinions, he would express them honestly. I think that's the kind of person that boss and Line-san are looking for.”

Bright had already started to trust Kiryu quite a bit but that was probably still insignificant compared to Jiren and the others.

“Wait… I don't mind being number one but what does number one actually do?”

Bright was too ignorant about the position of Number One. It was only natural since he was not one of the numbers and had only just joined.

But from now on, Bright would learn this the hard way. The number one of Kuroyume... how much of a burden it is to take over from Shinichiro Kiryu.

Other than that, a person’s position changes one’s personality and leads to much growth. Kuroyume’s Darkflash Bright as the new number one...... and, by extension, will become the Japanese filths’ representative...

--NDF Headquarters, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations

“Pardon our intrusion!”

“Pardon our intrusion…”

As soon as they woke up after Operation Shiroyume, Hiro and Fuuka were summoned to the headquarters of the NDF’s Navy General Zaizen.

“Hoh…. I heard you got beaten up pretty bad, but you're looking pretty good, Sanada.”

“Thank you very much. But it's true that we were completely outmatched by our enemies... and by Bright.”

“Hmph, It's no exaggeration to say that he's a true monster. The two of you probably made him that way, but I guess it can't be helped. Thanks to that, it seems you've grown a lot too. It was worth the effort to forcibly put you into the Byakkotai. By the way, Mizutani. You're not looking too good.”

Fuuka was still having a hard time clearing her mind. She wondered if Bright and Kouki were the same person. No, she was almost convinced but she didn't want to admit it.

“Now, I'm going to ask you two to do something for me... no, I'm going to give you an order. From now on, no information about Kuroyume's Bright is to be divulged.”

The words that came out of Zaizen's mouth meant that Bright's information should not be leaked to others. This included, of course, the entire NDF, with the exception of Zaizen.

Hiro didn't understand either. Everyone already knew that Bright was a threat to the NDF. He was a multi-gift holder who had kicked the crap out of the doped-up General Gonda easily. In addition, Bright's secret, which only Hiro and Fuuka knew, was that he could come back to life after death, a phenomenon that was hard to believe. So it was only natural to share as much information as possible with the military.

However, a different thought crossed Fuuka's mind.

“About that…… Bright’s identity is, Suou…”

“I believed I said not to talk about this? Major General Mizutani.”

At that moment, the killing spirit that overflowed from Zaizen was as strong as Bright's, it overwhelmed even Hiro and Fuuka.

“I'll say it again. All information pertaining Bright is strictly confidential. I won't accept any objections, and I won't accept any questions. Do you understand?”

Zaizen's words made Fuuka's suspicion grow even larger. However, she could not pursue the matter any further and had no choice but to leave the room...

“Major General Mizutani.”

“……What is it?”

As she was about to walk out of the room, Hiro called out to the gloomy-faced Fuuka.

“Just now, I’ve been meaning to tell you…”

“Have you forgotten that you were told to keep your mouth shut? And don't ever think that I approve of you, even if we did fight together.”

Fuuka hadn't forgiven Hiro yet. As the one who had caused Kouki's death.

“Approve of me…… no, the reason you can't forgive me is that I abandoned Kouki. I don't expect you to forgive me for that. Rather, you can continue to blame me. Because that's what I deserve after what I have done.

But, just now you believed that Kouki is still alive, don't you? And also...... that bright is……”

“SANADA! I told you to shut up, didn’t I?!”

Fuuka's slap caught Hiro on the cheek. Hiro made no pretence of avoiding any of them.

“……there were too many things happening yesterday that I wasn’t able to notice it. But now that I think about it, Bright was strangely eager to hear about myself and Kouki and the moment he saw your face, I felt like his attitude suddenly changed.

If you think about it, there's no reason why he wouldn't have killed us right there and then, yet he let us go because...... of you, isn’t it?

For Kouki, the closest woman he’s ever known was you.”

Fuuka glared at Hiro as if she was about to kill him. But her emotions got the better of her and she burst into tears.

“Kouki-kun is dead! He was kind, shy, and compassionate! He's not the kind of person who could kill someone so mercilessly!!”

“……I'd like to think so, too. But when you add up all the hints, it's as if the pieces of a puzzle fit together to form an answer. That Bright is Kouki.”

“Don't you dare say another word!!”

A wind blade emerged from Fuuka's hand but it was too dangerous to take the hit so Hiro erased it with his World Master.

“……You too…… You're crying because you feel the same way, aren't you?”

Fuuka fell to her knees on the spot, her shoulders shaking as she began to cry.

“Then what am I supposed to do! I want to go see Kouki-kun right now! But he's my enemy! I…… Tell me, what am I supposed to do!”

When Fuuka started to cry, Hiro could not speak to her. He was aware that he was the one who had caused Fuuka so much grief and distress.

(I want to make sure that Fuuka can talk to Kouki again……. Even if it's not right now.)

Of course, there were feelings of atonement and guilt. But more than that, in Hiro's mind, he knew he had to do something to help Fuuka who was whimpering like a normal girl in front of him. ……and also, for Kouki’s sake.

Author’s Note:

This wasn't the time to bring it out on the sacred night….[1]

……Kuroyume is reborn. Bright, who is in the middle of it all, goes to the place where she waits for him to make a complete break with the past.

Next time, "Forever" ……When everything is over, can I come to see you again?

<<Prev 

Next>> 

TL’s note:

1. I think the author is referring to how the chapter got uploaded in syosetsu during silent night.