Chapter 31: V.S. Cavalry – Part 1

I’m broke.

There are a lot of reasons, but the biggest one is probably getting swindled by Akito.

I believed his pitch: “Buy three units together for a discount!” So I went ahead and bought three Kibitsuhiko-no-Mikoto model Monoz bodies. At 700,000 C per unit, it seemed like a bargain compared to the average Monoz body price.

But of course, they only came with bare minimum functionality.

Just like Akito had mentioned before, the Kibitsuhiko-no-Mikoto model was built with “room to grow.” To unlock its true potential, you had to put in a lot of extra work and money.

That work ended up costing me 1.5 million C.

As I stared gloomily at the terminal showing my drained balance, Dog Unit sent me a message.

—Beep!

Gratitude: Overwhelming gratitude!!

“If you’re really that grateful, couldn’t you at least have skipped the exterior customization?”

—Beep!

Response: That was not possible.

“I see.”

Is that Dom-style design really that important to you?

I looked over at Monkey Unit. A brief flicker.

Then at Rooster Unit. Its lights blinked rapidly.

Messages arrived from them too.

Support: Affirmative. That was not possible.

Support: It is an identity issue. Therefore, not possible.

“…”

Honestly, I don’t fully understand it, but apparently, that cross-shaped eye design really matters to them.

Well, if it makes them happy, that’s the one silver lining.

Still, the fact remains: I’m broke.

At times like this, the name Hound works as bait. Potato Man always manages to get me something lucrative.

“This one’s addressed to you directly, Hound. The client’s that Primula Arawn you had a spat with before. You in or out?”

“—”

I made no effort to hide the grimace on my face.

***

The discussion took place at an open terrace café.

The reward is 2 million C, expenses included.

The job is murder.

Were they asking me to snipe an executive from a rival corporation? Stuff like that should really go to someone like Duke. I don’t even have a Swiss bank account.

“Please eliminate the individual who dragged our company’s name through the mud.”

“…”

So… a bullet through the temple, then?

I instinctively reached for the handgun in my hip holster. I shouldn’t have accepted this job.

Wait—hold on. Our company? That would mean Kamisawa Heavy Industries. In that case, maybe there was still hope.

“Oh, and by the way, I’ve rejoined Arawn Corporation,” Primula added cheerfully. “Thank you for your help back then.”

“…”

It was over. I gave up right then and there.

I glanced at the ground. At my feet were the puppy Rudo and four small Monoz units.

Could we break out of here with just this much firepower?

On the other side sat Primula in a pleated skirt, flanked by two bodyguards in suits—big, muscular types.

“…”

I gripped my necklace.

Could I pull this off?

I thought hard.

I would pull it off.

Somewhere, a clock hand ticked—

“Oh, don’t worry, the target isn’t you, Touji-san.”

“…I see.”

Thank god. I’d mentally prepared myself for nothing.

I let my hand drift away from the pistol.

“To be honest, I really didn’t want to rely on someone like you, but the target’s a bit much for the private soldiers I currently have access to. So… will you take the job? Ah, here are the target details.”

She handed me a folder with briefing materials and the contract.

So many words. I had no motivation to read them.

As always, I just nodded and said, “I see,” and signed it.

For that kind of payout, of course, I wasn’t turning it down.

I handed the signed contract back.

“Great! That makes it official! If you fail, there’s a 10 million C penalty, so do your best, okay?”

“…Wait, what!?”

…Wait, what!?

***

Primula’s smug, grinning face wouldn’t leave my mind.

I’d been set up. No doubt about it, I’d been played.

I flipped through the documents she handed me, supposedly containing the target’s info. 

Most of it was marked—Unknown. The only concrete detail was a known location, but honestly, this target might not even exist. And the location was highly suspect. Supposedly, the target was based in an abandoned city near where I’d fought Eevee. But I hadn’t sensed anything like that back then.

And considering Eevee was operating there, that area is relatively close to Tooth’s sphere of influence. Would anyone really choose a place like that as their base?

“…Dog Unit, Monkey Unit, Rooster Unit, Tiger Unit, Boar Unit, and Rabbit Unit. Head out on recon. Dog Unit, you’re in charge.”

Thinking about it won’t get me anywhere. Time to send out scouts.

Along with the recon-focused Rabbit and Rooster Units, I included four combat-oriented units just in case they ran into trouble.

Rat Unit and Dog Unit rolled up to me.

“…”

They stared at me in silence.

Uncomfortably intense. I looked away and locked eyes with Snake Unit, who had been waiting there.

Still no words.

“…Got it. I’ll make sure something like this doesn’t happen again.”

I raised both hands in surrender.

Finally, seemingly satisfied, the Dog Unit team set off on their mission.

***

The target was real.

That was the problem.

Honestly, it would’ve been better if they weren’t.

After a full day riding the Monoz, I arrived at the place tied to my memories of Eevee only to find the abandoned city had changed significantly.

There were signs of life.

In this era, unless a city is actively functioning, there’s no such thing as a proper land administrator, which is probably why they came, settling in this unclaimed ruin.

Most of them were kids. Among them was a man, though calling him a grown-up felt like a stretch.

“Shinzo.”

I called out his name.

“Huh? Oh, you? Long time no see!”

He seemed genuinely glad to see me. After a firm handshake, he clapped me on the shoulder.

“It really has been a while.”

I was happy, too.

Shinzo was, without a doubt, a comrade-in-arms.

Sometimes, fighting together on a single battlefield creates a bond deeper than friendships built over the years.

So yeah, I wanted to be glad.

I really did.

But I couldn’t.

There were too many questions I needed to ask.

Why was he here?

What happened to Dub-C?

Why were there clearly more children than before?

And yet, for now—

I took a deep breath in. Exhaled. Alright. I mentally steeled myself.

“Let’s keep this brief. Shinzo, someone’s trying to kill you. Do you recall getting into trouble with Arawn Corporation?”

“Hah. Makes sense. Yeah, actually, just recently. One of my kids got a job from Arawn. Guess they figured they could exploit a child. When they didn’t pay up, I had a little ‘chat’ with them.”

“A ‘chat,’ huh…”

Shinzo grinned like he was baring his fangs. Better not take that term too literally.

“What about Dub-C? They didn’t intervene?”

“Once we bought the kids back, I pulled out.”

“…They had their issues, but I always thought they were a decent company.”

“Yeah, for talented folks like you and me, maybe.”

I see. Yeah, that tracks. If you were a Sleeper, Dub-C was the kind of company that would toss you aside without blinking. So maybe they weren’t so great after all.

“Primula Arawn. Does the name ring a bell?”

“She was someone I had a little ‘chat’ with.”

“I see…”

I scratched my head roughly. Honestly, I was stumped.

“So, you’re the assassin sent to take my life?”

“That’s right.”

“Don’t just admit it so casually. I could kill you right here, you know.”

“Perfect. That way, I’ll have an excuse.”

Shinzo wore a feral grin. I just shrugged.

Honestly, I wouldn’t have minded if he killed me right then.

If it were just about taking Shinzo’s life, I could do it. I’m capable of that. But Shinzo is a cornerstone. If he dies, others will follow— And those others are children.

That, I can’t allow.

—Beep!

Rat Unit rolled up beside me.

I’d told them ahead of time not to interfere, but just in case, I shot a glance to reinforce the order.

Rat Unit flickered its lights, clearly trying to play innocent.

“One beautiful wife, one dog, six kids. Sounds like you’ve built yourself a nice little family, huh, Touji?”

“Wha—!”

I tore my gaze away from Rat Unit and turned back to Shinzo. Grinning from ear to ear, he held up a terminal displaying images of Eevee, Rudo, and the kids.

—Rat Unit!

I spun around, practically ready to snap, but all I saw were the large Monoz units, including Ox Unit. Their eyes were blinking innocently.

Rat Unit had pulled this stunt, but they were all in on it.

Maybe I’ve got good subordinates. But honestly, right now all I could think was: What the hell do you think you’re doing?

Groaning out an “Ugh…” or an “Ah…”, I somehow managed to force out a response.

“…The number’s wrong.”

“You don’t know? Guys only need to count up to three. Anything more than that is just ‘a bunch.’ I’ve got a bunch of kids, and you’ve got a bunch of kids.”

“That’s badass.”

“Thanks.”

“Also, she’s not my wife.”

“That so? Guess I don’t owe you a wedding gift then.”

“…Dis is mai waifu. Gib me money.”

“Idiot.”

Shinzo and I chuckled quietly together.

“If I die… take care of the kids.”

“Yeah. And if I die… you take care of mine.”

That rich girl has quite the charming personality. Even if I mess this up, there’s no telling if she’ll just let it go. If she sends someone else next time, it might not be someone like Shinzo—hard to take down and harder to corner. She might aim for a softer, more vulnerable target.

So, for now—

To cool her temper, Shinzo and I decided to go at each other seriously.