The Raven Dark Hero 9

Chapter 9 : Sanada Hiro, Childhood Friends

TL:SummerPeanut

Thanks for the patron rip-co virgo!

Author’s note:

※Changed the content of the conversation

If he had jumped out even a little too late, he would have died. Such instincts kicked in and Kouki ran away as quickly as he could.

In that moment, the faint hope that the misunderstanding could have been cleared up if he had been able to explain himself more properly never came to mind. That is how insane Saejima's expression was.

(That is definitely a berserker(battle junkie). Is it really alright to have that kind of human in the NDF?!!)

The National Defense Force is a righteous organization that protects the country and its people. For Kouki, who had such a belief, Saejima was so bizarre that it changed the way he thought about the NDF.

That feeling of insanity that he wore on his sleeve...Its intimidating pressure can’t even be compared to Kurosaki...

(Anyway, I have to escape for now.)

Kouki had no choice other than to run under the current situation where he can’t explain his situation.

An hour to escape after his escape.

Kouki is hiding out inside a factory in the suburbs.

At first, he considered going home and hiding in his room but he was forced to change his route because a large number of police as well as the NDF had been mobilized for this case.

On top of that, he was at the limit of his physical strength, making it difficult to activate the speed star.

(Anyway, not only the police but even the NDF moved like this, that Kurosaki...he said he was a former NDF but what the hell did he do?)

Kurosaki is already dead. But the specialists are continuing their pursuit, changing the target from Kurosaki to Kouki.

According to Saejima, Kurosaki was an internationally wanted criminal but he was also a former member of NDF. Assuming that they used to be comrades...Kouki remembered that Saejima called Kurosaki "Speed Star". This was the same name as the gift ability that Kouki awakened to.

(The same ability? ...no way. If it’s just the type of gift perhaps it is possible but…)

Even with the same gift and depending on the power, there are various ranks. Therefore, he concluded that Kurosaki’s gift is not only the same acceleration but also either higher or lower ranked to his.

(Regardless, I can't be found out now. I can't even talk, and more importantly my body won’t last...)

Gift ability drains one's energy. Moreover, Speed Star is an ability that is directly related to the movement of the body, the fatigue is very real.

In addition to that, Kouki was hurt quite a bit by Kurosaki previously. His face was bloodied and including his battered right hand his whole body was screaming.

At that moment, he heard the heavy door of the factory being opened and he quickly hid in the shadows.

"There’s no use hiding. I know where you are. Come out quietly."

It was a woman's voice. It's hard to see clearly because it's dark and far away from where Kouki is but it seems to be a pair.

"Are you sure he is here? The guy that took down the international wanted stray filth?"

"Oh? Is ‘Hiro-kun’ doubting his big sister’s gift? Then I have no choice but to tease Hiro’s nipple now!"

"Wha! That tickles! Please stop it, Kashiwagura-san!"

(Hiro?! Why is he...No matter the fact that he's enlisted in the NDF, why is he here... but wait? Hiro would listen to me, wouldn't he? Even if I can't speak, he won't attack as long as he knows it's me right?)

Hiro happened to be in a stand by in his hometown when Kashiwagura, his superior in terms of rank, forcibly brought him here, and for Kouki this was a welcome coincidence of fate.

He had no choice but to do so because Saejima does not know him, but Hiro is his childhood friend. He will surely help him.

Kouki jumped out of the shadows and appeared in front of Hiro and Kashiwagura.

"Bido (Hiro), ish mi(it's me), AmGuogiba (I’m Kouki)!"

In an inarticulate voice, Kouki desperately tried to make his presence known.

"What’s with this guy? His face is so disgusting...is he pleading for his life?"

Kouki was shocked to hear the word "disgusting" but it didn't matter now. He knows he can’t communicate with him through words. That’s why he tried to approach Hiro but at that very moment...

"Agha?!"

Kouki was struck in the face by Kashiwagura’s hard fist and blown away.

"Hiro-kun. Are you not letting your guard down too much?"

"Kashiwagura-san, that guy seems like he was trying to tell me something..."

"Idiot. That’s the usual tactics by these stray filths to lower our guard. Didn't you learn that during the new recruit’s training? ‘Don’t waver. If you waver, kill’ right?"

Kouki stood up, just barely holding on to the consciousness that was about to fly away. Kouki doesn't realize that his face is covered in blood. On top of that, his face is swollen up from all the beatings he took. Then, he approaches Hiro yet again...

"!?"

A sudden impact hit him so hard he couldn’t even scream. It was a steel frame that suddenly flew and hit squarely to his head.

(What? Just now something fell... Is it object manipulation? ...it can’t be, Hiro's ability?)

"Area Master."

Area Master, the ability to move any object in one’s field of vision as one wished. Judging from the situation, it was definitely Hiro who attacked Kouki.

In his daze, Kouki still tries to reach out to Hiro as his last hope.

"...you're still alive? Sure is tough. But well, according to lieutenant Saejima, he seems to be Kurosaki’s stray filth comrade so I should quickly deal with him I guess?"

"Lieutenant Saejima eh.... That man is a battle maniac after all. Didn't this guy killed Kurosaki? He's probably quite angry when his prey was taken."

"Huh? So if I kill him, won't he resent me for taking his prey?"

(Deal with me? Kill me? You're kidding, right? That Hiro will?)

Hiro has been too kind for his own good and because of that he was often bullied by others. Each time, Kouki would dash in and fight off the bullies.

As time went by, their position changed. Although Hiro is still someone who can’t read the air, he is kind to everyone.

The fact that the very same Hiro was easily saying killing someone else was a bombshell to Kouki.

Kouki manages to stand up one way or another and calls out to Hiro.

"Viro, Vodera(Hiro, it’s me)..."

"Oh? He still has the energy to talk. Thank god, I thought I would be killed by Lieutenant Saejima."

"But this stray is really tenacious so it might be better to render him unable to fight back."

"Understood. Activate Area Master!"

Along with Hiro’s voice, a wire rope suddenly, from nowhere, wraps around Kouki.

"--ugh?! ~~~~ah!!?"

The wire tightens mercilessly and bites into the body of Kouki. The pain he felt is way worse than what he can ever imagine.

“...still, after entering NDF my image of it has changed quite a bit...”

"Oh? How?"

"Of course, not all of them, you know? There are a lot of great people who work hard for the country and her people but there are also a lot of people who are battle maniacs like Lieutenant Saejima, and those that will do anything dirty to get a promotion. Rather than justice, it's more about them being true to your own desires."

"...I won’t deny that there are some soldiers who are like that but in the end the safety of the country is guaranteed, so it can't be helped, can it?"

"Though I'm sure you're right. ...I have a friend who has longed to be a specialist in the NDF ever since he was a child. I thought that if he knew the true nature of the NDF, he would go crazy. But he wasn’t able to manifest his gift, though."

"Is that so? Isn’t it fine then. You should cut off your relation with that incompetent person by the way."

"No, the thing is. Just like when I awakened my gift and also when I told him that I’m a member of NDF, he who should have been frustrated acted like it was nothing much. ...really, that was so fucking annoying"

(......... what? What did Hiro just say?)

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Will be shortening the National Defense Force to NDF from now onwards.