The Raven Dark Hero 56

Chapter 56 : In-between Missions

TL:SummerPeanut

Mahalo for the support Leonel and Touma Kamijou. Too bad there’s no imagine breaker gift here.

Author’s Note:

This story and the next one are kind of an idle talk, but I think this is the right time to write them, so I threw them in. (^^)

-Tokaido Line

After the year 2020, all areas other than the residential areas are no longer inhabitable as they had become the habitat for the phenoms. But there are still routes for vehicles to travel between areas and Bright and Evil are currently in the vicinity of the former Shizuoka Prefecture. They were on standby in a building where they could monitor the Tokaido Line (road) to eradicate a certain filth organization, the target of their current mission.

Even if it’s considered as non-residential areas, the buildings from 70 years ago were still standing. The collapsed wreckage of the buildings showed how the threat of the phenom had affected humanity... but on the other hand, the buildings that had escaped collapse were left intact.

"I like it here, maybe I'll make it as my second house~”

Kouki and Takahiko were in a suite on the top floor of a building that was originally a luxury hotel. The building, which had been spared from the attack of the phenom, was without electricity, but with a little cleaning, it could be used without any problems.

Takahiko muttered as he dived into the king-sized bed of such a suite. ...In case you were wondering, Kouki was the one who dusted off the bed using his wind gift.

"…aren’t you being too laid-back?”

In contrast to Takahiko, Kouki was sitting on a sofa by the window overlooking the Tokaido Line. He was looking out with a nervous expression on his face.

“Hey hey, what is the guy who killed more than 100 soldiers of the NDF thinking so hard about~?

Anyway there are no rules as filths. Besides, the organization we're targeting, ‘Glory’, is planning to do something that will be detrimental to Kuroyume.”

-Yesterday.

While they were nonchalantly working on their own training in preparation for the mission to defeat the NDF that was coming up in three days, Kouki and Takahiko were called in by the boss of Kuroyume, Shinichiro Kiryu, and were given the mission directly by Kiryu.

"Your mission this time is to protect a certain transport vehicle and intercept the filth organization Glory.”

"Intercepting filth organization? Do filth organizations not get along with each other?”

“Obviously there are organizations with which we have friendly relations. But there are also organizations that don't get along so well... and are rather hostile to each other.

I've just received information that an organization called Glory is planning to attack the transport vehicle of a company that Kuroyume is close to. I need you guys to fight off this organization and ensure the safety of the supplier.”

“I see~. I guess I should escort the convoy and kill Glory's guys when they attack, right?”

“No, not as an escort. Glory is a cautious organization, and if the protection target has escorts... and if they realize that the escorts are from Kuroyume, they will cancel the attack and look for another opportunity.

As for Kuroyume, it's too much trouble to escort them again and again, so I want to ambush and intercept the moment they attack.”

“Eh? Then, I'm supposed to stay on my feet all the time?”

“No. I had our number 5's ability to determine to a certain extent the place and time of the attack. So you guys stay near that point.”

Number 5, of course, Kouki had never met him before, so he wondered what kind of ability he was using to determine the location of the attack…

“I see~. If it’s that person, I guess it's okay.”

Takahiko, who seemed to know about number 5, nodded his head in agreement.

-Now.

While looking out the window at the predicted attack point, Kouki looked at his watch. The time was now 13:45, only five minutes away from the predicted time.

“...So, I guess we can trust that number five's gift, right?”

“You're talking about that again? I'm not sure if you've heard of it, but number 5 is the only non-combatant among our numbers in Kuroyume. ...Well, to be honest, I'm more of a non-combatant myself.

And that person’s prediction, or rather, prophecy, are highly accurate. ...well, not 100%, that's the point.”

“Prophecy? Is there even that kind of gift? But the fact that it’s not 100% sure is a cause for concern, isn't it?”

“Yeah~. But don't worry, it's probably about 98% accurate.”

Ninety-eight percent. The odds were almost unbeatable, but that didn't stop Kouki from feeling uneasy. In the past, all he had had to do was let his strength run wild. However, he had realized firsthand how tense it could be just to have someone to protect.

As he was looking at the attack point with such a sense of tension, he saw two cargo trucks coming from the Tokyo side of the Tokaido Line. Probably those were the vehicles to be escorted this time.

And from the other side... a group of hijackers that looked like they were from the end of the century and would shout ‘HYAHA’ were heading towards the cargo truck in a group.

“.........Is that Glory? That's something different from what the boss said…”

“Aah…. They don’t even try to mask their presence at all~…”

The two were stunned for a while, but then regained their composure.

Kouki stands up and places his hands on the belt around the waist. And…

“Transform.”

At the same time as Kouki's words, the belt glowed red, and the red light enveloped his entire body, transforming him into Bright in a matter of seconds.

Last time, Vendetta gave him a transformation bracelet, but he asked Cid to make him a belt anyway. So Cid got him a special transformation belt.

“... Kouki... you like it, huh~, that sort of thing...”

Takahiko put on his hood in disgust and transformed into Evil Mode, covering his mouth with his mask.

...

“All~right, let's go over the plan. I'll snipe them from here with my Evil Laser and distract them. You'll use your Silent Stealth to neutralize them.”

“Copy that. It's just... you know…?”

“...Huh, are you serious? ...It's seriously a pain in the ass, but I'll go along with you for now.”

“Thanks, bud. Don't screw up, okay? Evil.”

“I know~. So Bright, my dear partner, please do your part properly, okay?”

Soon Glory would get into contact with the cargo truck. Bright took off through the window, using his Speed Star and Elemental Windr to his advantage.

The Tokaido Line. The two cargo trucks were stranded by the filth organization, Glory, at the exact spot where the attack was predicted.

“Hyaha! Let's disinfect the filths!”

Five ATVs and ten men. Everyone had eccentric hairstyles and thin costumes that created a true fin de siècle atmosphere.

In the midst of all this, a figure who looked like Glory's boss, also wearing a bizarre helmet, got out of an especially ornate carriage and pointed a gun at the driver of the cargo truck, who was shaking in the driver's seat.

“Hey... my name is Gube-?!”

Just as he was about to say his words, a spiralling laser beam shot through the boss's hand.

“Ouch~! It hurts~… E-enemy attack!!”

Instantly, the members of Glory prepared for battle. Bright, who had activated his Silent Stealth, was watching from the back of a cargo truck.

(Well... it's time to hunt, predator time.)

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