Chapter 19
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Perfect Reasoning (10)
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My aggrieved tone and irritation seemed to reach Shinsuke perfectly. He grimaced, spat out the cigarette from his mouth, and shoved his hand into his pocket as he spoke.
"Stubborn to the end, pretending you know nothing. But I know everything about you. I've dug up all your secrets, starting with your family situation. So drop any thoughts of lying."
I'd thought he was just a villain with a weird look, but this guy was suspicious down to his bones. He didn't seem like he planned to hit me anymore, so I took up a defensive stance and nodded.
"O-Okay, I'll tell you the truth. Just don't hit me."
I spoke in the frailest tone I could muster. I had no idea what information the guy in front of me wanted, but whatever he asked, I planned to answer everything honestly within the limits of what I knew.
Shinsuke seemed satisfied with my attitude as he lifted his head and spoke.
"First off, why did you get into stock trading right before the Jericho Tower collapsed? Who told you to do it?"
I'd thought I wouldn't get caught, but apparently his thorough investigation had uncovered that too. I agonized over how to explain it, then decided to just tell the truth. Sincerity always gets through, right? No matter how evil or vicious a person is, if you speak from the heart, they'll believe you for sure.
I smiled awkwardly and said,
"...Uh, I just needed money?"
"....."
Shinsuke lit a cigarette.
His star-shaped sunglasses flashed, and with an afterimage, a kick flew at me.
"Eeeek!"
"Looks like you need more beatings. Guess I'll have to break something before we continue talking!"
Shinsuke unleashed a barrage of kicks in a rage. I took the hits and rolled across the floor, screaming.
"No! I told you the truth! I really did it because I needed money!"
"Still spouting obvious lies! What's Iwamoto Industry's daughter lacking that she'd pull such a dangerous stunt? Huh? How did you know the Jericho Tower was going to be blown up?"
I couldn't tell him this. I'd never even imagined getting caught in the first place, so I hadn't prepared any excuses. The only excuse I could think of was this.
"I-It was just... I had a feeling... or something?"
"Raaaaagh! You're lighting me up!"
The furious Shinsuke rolled up his sleeves and charged at me.
"Owww!"
*******
"Found it! It's the sports car!"
A red sports car came into view for Yumi and Hwayoung. Yumi, who had come running breathlessly, released her ability and flung open the car door.
"Serika...!"
But there was no one inside. Only the lingering scent of cigarette smoke hinted that someone had been in the car just moments ago. The driver who followed picked up the documents from the passenger seat. After skimming them briefly, he grimaced and said,
"Well now, this guy. I don't know who he is, but it looks like he's been tailing Miss Serika for quite a while. He's compiled all her relationships with friends and acquaintances, and even jotted down notes here on her likes and dislikes."
Hwayoung and Yumi were stunned by his words. They'd thought he was just some criminal, but he was an intelligent one who planned his crimes meticulously. Putting in this much effort and care to kidnap an elementary schooler—if they didn't catch him here, who knew where the next victim would pop up.
"He really is a criminal! Serika! Where are you, Serika?!"
Yumi jumped in shock and shouted while looking around. Then she perked up one ear, pointed at an abandoned building nearby, and yelled,
"Th-there! I hear sounds from that building!"
The moment Yumi shouted, Hwayoung took the lead.
"Leave it to me from here. Driver, wait here, and the moment I press the button, call the police right away."
The driver nodded at Hwayoung's order.
"Yes, understood."
Hwayoung drew something from her waistband.
It was a set of bells. A long handle with several small bells dangling from it like clusters of raspberries. Hwayoung gripped the bells in both hands, stretched her body, and walked forward.
"Then let's go."
Yumi watched Hwayoung stride forward with majestic poise, her eyes sparkling as she murmured,
"So cool..."
*******
"Oof!"
As I rolled on the floor screaming, Shinsuke panted heavily and spat on the ground. Sweat poured down his forehead, and his scowling face hadn't regained its composure. Even through his ragged breaths, he pointed at me and yelled,
"Damn... you're tough as hell... Definitely... a top-tier body reinforcement ability user..."
Shinsuke's strikes definitely hurt. They were too fast for me, with no real combat experience, to catch, and I had no way to match his skilled footwork. But there was one crucial difference between Shinsuke and me: physical durability and strength.
His acceleration ability delivered blows like getting clubbed, but it wasn't enough to break my bones hardened by strength enhancement. So, to properly neutralize me, he'd have to grab hold and lock a joint or grab an iron club and beat me to death.
But if he botched a joint lock, I'd counter and fold him in half, so that wasn't an option. Which left weapons, but unfortunately for him, Shinsuke hadn't brought any.
"...Damn, shoulda grabbed the baton from the car..."
He'd said he'd do his best, but even he must've thought using a weapon against an elementary schooler was overkill. And that complacency had led to this bizarre standoff.
Shinsuke could pummel me, but he had no way to fully incapacitate me.
I could endure Shinsuke's attacks, but I had no way to grab him or escape.
"Huff... huff... But give up... I'm the adult, you're just a kid. If we turn this into an endurance match, you'll drop first."
"...."
This bastard apparently had no pride as an adult.
Making such a sleazy face while saying that made his earlier cigarette-smoking pose look even more pathetic. Shinsuke smirked smugly and said,
"Glare all you want, you can't win...! This is my victory...!"
"Freeze! Kidnapper!"
Then, an unexpected bright voice rang out. Yumi, who shouldn't have been here, charged on all fours using her ability and leaped at Shinsuke. In the twilight, her eyes gleamed under the moonlight.
Shinsuke flinched and dodged to the side. Yumi flailed in the air before rolling across the floor with a pained face.
"Ouch!"
But Shinsuke's expression was filled with bewilderment. He glanced around frantically and shouted,
"...What? How'd you find me? Did you bring the cops?"
Yumi rubbed her bumped head, scowled at Shinsuke, and said,
"Cops? We'll beat the crap outta you ourselves, so get ready!"
"...We?"
Shinsuke frowned at the word "we."
The sound of bells rang out from somewhere.
A clear, pure chime echoed through the abandoned factory district.
It started with a light tinkling, then rang out rapidly like birdsong.
"Miss Yumi, announcing yourself like that gives away my presence. But don't worry. My ability won't lose to a scrub like him."
From the darkness, Hwayoung emerged under the starlight. Dressed elegantly, bells in both hands, she gently shook her wrists with narrowed eyes. Shinsuke hunched back momentarily at the sight of yet another elementary schooler appearing from the shadows.
"...What's this now? You think three kids can take me?"
Hwayoung didn't answer. She softly shook the bells in her hands and began murmuring in a small voice.
"...He is coming... He is coming... He..."
"Wh-what...?"
With her head bowed, shaking the bells like a cheerleader, Hwayoung suddenly lifted her head and started jumping in place.
"He is coming... He has come... He has come...! He has come...!"
She jumped fiercely in place, and the bell sounds grew louder. Her eerie, bizarre demeanor overwhelmed everyone, leaving us unable to move. It felt like a massive aura emanated from Hwayoung, squeezing us all.
"You think I'll just stand here?!"
Shinsuke was the first to snap out of it. He shook his head, refocused, and used his acceleration to close in on Hwayoung fast. Yumi and I shouted in surprise,
"Hwayoung!"
But Hwayoung just kept jumping in place. The intense bell sounds, Shinsuke's afterimage—everything registered in slow motion in her eyes.
Shinsuke's fist aimed at Hwayoung's head and swung hard. The bells slipped from her hand. Like someone fainting, she went limp all over, arched her back, and dodged the punch.
"Wha...!"
Shinsuke, who had punched at empty air, staggered off balance. Hwayoung, who had bent backward to evade, rose again with a wobble. Her steps were unsteady, but something was different. A strange pressure filled the entire abandoned factory.
Shinsuke looked down at Hwayoung, sweat pouring from him.
"You... What the hell are..."
Then Hwayoung raised her head.
With clear, deer-like eyes fixed on Shinsuke, she pouted her lips and said,
"Goo goo..."
"...Huh?"
The moment Shinsuke tilted his head at the incomprehensible babble, Hwayoung's body shot like lightning and slammed a precise body blow into his side.
Bam!
"Gaaahhh!"
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