A Tense Encounter and Lingering Doubts
The power struggle, and… the day I finally woke up after another night of restless, frantic sleep. Only then could I check the flood of notifications on my phone.
“…What the hell. Eleven missed calls? When did I— Ah.”
It must have been right after that chaotic day on the truck. They’d come running because I wasn’t picking up. A strange feeling washed over me as I scratched my head, only for another missed call to pop up. An unknown number. And… a text?
It’s Kerberos. Call me when you wake up.
Was this about the unfinished conversation from yesterday? That oddly familiar tone bothered me. …Wait, why did it bother me?
It would have been stranger if I didn’t have one or two close people by now. If anything, this felt more normal. I quickly dialed the number the text had come from.
“…Ah, you picked up. What a relief. I was worried the Advisor might be jealous of me.”
A calm, refined voice answered almost immediately. It suited the elegant demeanor I remembered—completely at odds with her image of wild, raging flames. Still, there was something I had to ask.
“Don’t tease me too much. I’ve been through enough to be exhausted.”
“Hmm, have you now? Building quite the rapport with Bianca, were we?”
…This woman. Her laughter over the phone stabbed at my ears.
“Just kidding, just kidding. I know you haven’t gone that far yet.”
“What kind of relationship do you two have that you call her by name so casually?”
“Oh my, is that so important? Enough for you to pry like this?”
“I just want to know more about Bianca.”
A sudden silence fell. For a moment I thought the call had dropped, but the steady passage of time and strong signal proved otherwise.
“…Are you serious? About Bianca?”
Several seconds passed before her cautious reply came.
“I’ve taken on the role of advisor. I want to help as much as I possibly can. Isn’t that natural?”
It didn’t sound like a strange thing to say. Or maybe helping Bianca itself was the strange part?
“Hmm… Well. That child never seemed to have much luck. Maybe you’re something like her fated counterpart.”
“Pardon?”
“Never mind. It’s nothing. Since you answered my question, I suppose I should answer yours. But this isn’t the kind of thing to discuss over the phone.”
A soft chime sounded as a message arrived. The location listed was… a café in the city?
“Shall we meet there?”
“Wait, weren’t all of Bulph’s executives wanted—”
“It’s a place that operates in the shadows. They don’t care about their customers and there are no cameras. Even in the light of day, there are always one or two places connected to the underworld. It’s also popular with adulterous couples—mostly high-profile ones.”
“I see…”
This was the first time I’d encountered such detailed settings. Was this proof that the story was drifting further from the original plot?
“Where’s Bianca right now?”
I cracked the door open. The house was quiet. If she’d been here, she would have been making a huge racket demanding food by now. Even if not, the floor would have been shaking from her workouts.
“At least she’s not at home.”
“Then come out quickly. You have a lot of work ahead of you.”
The call ended. I hurriedly pulled on a hoodie and got ready to leave. For my face… a mask and glasses to cover it for now. I could switch to the full mask later.
“Ah, over here.”
The café I entered while wearing the mask was surprisingly quiet. Soft music played as men and women in bold or refined attire sipped drinks and chatted. The age gaps were noticeable—on both the men’s and women’s sides.
“Do you always wear that mask?”
“I’d rather not show my face.”
“Hmm, Bianca seemed awfully curious about what kind of face is hiding under there.”
Was that what usually happened when you wore a mask? There was nothing particularly special about it.
“Still, you have a decently solid build. Good head on your shoulders, and excellent execution. Hmm… I’d say you pass.”
“Pass what?”
“There’s just something like that.”
She kept smiling slyly without actually explaining anything. As I stared at her in silence, our drinks finally arrived.
“You asked about my relationship with Bianca, right?”
She took a sip of her coffee, then wore a distant expression as if recalling something—before offering a bittersweet smile.
“I wouldn’t say it’s particularly good. It’s fortunate that Bianca thinks well of me, though.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“If I had to compare it… I’d say I’m like the handler who manages the beast thrown into the arena.”
So not even at the level of friend or colleague. Was she that isolated?
“I did try to build some personal affection. The Alpha and the other executives only used her as a weapon… but I believe you can understand that dealing with people isn’t that simple.”
“…They only used her as a weapon?”
She had clearly said the successor position had been decided on her. Yet they treated her not even as an organization member, but as a tool.
“Yes. Her background isn’t clear, and those blue eyes… Well, it’s a bit harsh to say, but she’s a mongrel.”
“She’s the strongest among all the executives.”
“That doesn’t matter in this world. What matters is whose hands the money bag ends up in.”
Even so, getting rid of their best fighting force with their own hands and killing each other in internal strife was incredibly stupid. Heroes were out there everywhere, just waiting for an opening.
“Honestly, I never thought she’d genuinely believe the promise that they’d make her the boss. Maybe it was because she took it seriously that she accepted that dogfight of a life.”
“…”
I couldn’t manage a pleasant expression. My hand wouldn’t reach for the drink in front of me. The way Bianca had reacted to me so far… it was starting to make sense.
“If it’s an excuse, then it’s an excuse—the three of them checked me the hardest. I was the only one giving her any support, and I had the weakest faction.”
“So you cut contact and went completely into hiding.”
“My abilities might not work against that werewolf bastard, but facing the other two is difficult. If all three came at me… you can imagine what would happen, right?”
I gave a slight nod. Only then did Kerberos take another sip. She cleared her throat, then gently rested her chin on her hand.
…While sending me a rather burdensome gaze.
“That’s why I’m curious. How exactly did you know about Bianca when she was in such a hopeless situation, and how did you plan to save her?”
“That’s—Hot!?”
The sudden heat made me try to stand, but my arm was seized. It was wrapped in painfully intense warmth.
“Stay still. It would be easy to turn one person into a pile of ashes right here if you make any funny moves.”
“W-what are you—”
“Bianca may be rough, but she has a very delicate heart. From an outsider’s perspective, it looks incredibly precarious.”
The ice in her drink melted instantly, turning the coffee pale. Sweat poured down my captured arm.
“And yet she opened her heart so easily to someone whose face and name she doesn’t even know. What do you think about that?”
“What if I’m… a cop?”
“That would be the worst-case scenario… and also the most likely one. Obviously.”
How was I supposed to explain this? The best way to prove my innocence was to mention the recent terrorist attack. But if I brought that up, there was a risk of it leaking…
“Face. Name. Reveal them to me right now.”
“…Ugh.”
“Don’t waste time. I know the only things you have going for you are your clever hands and that quick brain of yours.”
To think such a kind-looking smile was hiding this side. I should have realized she was a villain from the start. Still… I did have one idea.
“The face and name I haven’t even shown Bianca, and you want me to show them to a mere executive like you?”
“I’m also one of the people Bianca trusts—”
“I understand the circumstances, but… didn’t you admit with your own mouth that you ran away first? Do you know how Bianca described you to me?”
Did that hit a nerve? Her eyes began to waver slightly.
“She called you a shameless bitch who never once contacted her.”
“…Do you want to burn to death?”
“Go ahead and kill me. Let’s see how Bianca reacts.”
The table shook, and the eyes of the surrounding customers turned toward us. I didn’t want to cause a scene. Especially not after the recent terrorist attack.
“The things I’m doing now. The things I’ll do in the future. I don’t know what you think, but I’m already in the same boat as Bianca. If Bianca gets caught, everything I have becomes meaningless. The same if this organization is dismantled.”
“That doesn’t prove you’re not lying—”
“And there’s no guarantee that your claim of cherishing Bianca isn’t a lie either. To Bianca, every executive is trash that sucked out all the sweet parts and betrayed her.”
Throwing her own words right back at her visibly rattled her even more. The grip on my arm gradually loosened.
“…”
“If you want to keep your life, let go of this hand and put down that fire you’re raising.”
“Ha… Such bravado.”
“It might be bravado for me, but you’d better believe Bianca.”
Thinking of how much she relied on me. And remembering what she did to Stahlleder’s subordinates who had hurt me. Even if it was one of her closest executives, they definitely wouldn’t get off unscathed.
“…Hmm.”
Was that the right answer? The heated air began to cool rapidly.
“At least that guts of yours seems trustworthy, Advisor.”
“Don’t say ridiculous things.”
Had I been burned? A faint stinging pain spread across my heated skin. Hanging around villains really wasn’t good for my body.
“I’m ready to hand over my subordinates and forces. Even if I do, it’ll probably be laughably small compared to Horn’s.”
“I think I could make use of that fire of yours.”
“Since I’m included in the handover, it won’t be lacking—”
“If you think I’m really going to overlook what just happened here…”
Her eyes hesitated. I met her gaze for a moment, then nodded.
“…Let’s take it as a token of trust. You’ll probably keep suspecting me anyway.”
“Are you that confident?”
“You’ll understand in time.”
There were no police in the picture I was drawing. I wanted a straightforward, intense hero-versus-villain story where strong clashed against strong. Trials, laws, true justice—none of that. Wasn’t the justice that came from the fist right in front of you far more interesting?
“The drink?”
Seeing it overflowing, I shook my head. To create such a mess with nothing but heat raised for intimidation—she was definitely useful.
“Then at the hideout—”
The words cut off awkwardly. Her face turned deathly pale. When I turned my head, a heavy hand gripped my shoulder.
“What are you doing here?”
“Bianca…? Why are you—”
Her face was drenched in sweat, as if she’d just been working out. Her breathing was ragged. And, as always, she leaned her full weight against me.
“Is there some reason I shouldn’t be here? You were flirting with Kerberos all by yourselves.”
But this time the atmosphere was far heavier. Heavy enough that the other customers were sneaking glances and slipping out.
“…What did you two do?”
“W-we were just talking for a bit—”
“I wasn’t asking you, so shut your mouth.”
As expected. You really couldn’t take people’s words at face value. So Bianca thought their relationship was fine? Kerberos’s instantly crumpled expression was quite a sight to see.
“Follow me.”
It was me who was grabbed by the collar and dragged out. …Wait, why? Wasn’t I the one who did something wrong?