Chapter 128
Joshua let out a light chuckle as he spoke.
“Use us as much as you like. We’re always ready.”
“Don’t regret saying that.”
Ashmia then turned her gaze to Leon.
Bianca Mercedes Leon, along with the White Fishes and four others, had been sentenced to life imprisonment—hundreds of years, to be exact.
In other words, they were to be confined within the Hexahedron until death.
“So, I’d like to make you an offer.”
As if she had expected this outcome all along, Ashmia handed over a document bearing the imperial seal.
“…A special unit?”
“Yeah. The official name is ‘Special Detachment Directly Under the Commander of the Imperial Guard,’ but that’s way too long, so we’ll just call it the Special Unit. If you think of a better name later, feel free to use it.”
“What is this supposed to—?!”
Seeing Leon’s flustered reaction, Ashmia blinked.
“Can’t you tell just by looking? You’ll be working with Joshua. The Imperial Guard will be deployed more frequently from now on, and there’ll be plenty of dangerous enemies. Joshua’s skills are exceptional, sure—but shouldn’t the Imperial Guard have at least one unit of ability users?”
“Then…”
“If you join, that missing final piece will be perfectly filled. Oh, of course, the pay is minimum hourly wage. But we provide food and lodging, so it’s not that bad. And—”
Grinning, Ashmia tapped the last line of the document with her finger.
“This is what matters most to you, right? For every bad guy you help catch, we’ll reduce your sentence.”
“What?!”
“You’ll still have to catch quite a lot to earn your freedom, but don’t worry. There are still more than enough scumbags running around to make that possible.”
“……”
Ashmia tilted her head as she looked at Leon, who was staring at her with a dazed expression.
“Don’t you like it? Sorry, but I can’t negotiate the finer details.”
“N-no! That’s not it!”
“If you don’t want to work with Joshua, I could consider assigning you to a different unit—”
“I don’t hate it!! I mean—no, that’s not what I meant! I-I like it! Not that kind of ‘like’—just ‘okay’! Don’t misunderstand!!”
“Misunderstand what?”
Ashmia frowned in confusion. Leon, his face burning red, turned away and cleared his throat.
“…It’s nothing. So, uh, where do I sign?”
Leon hurriedly changed the subject.
“Right here. Are you sure you don’t want to think it over more?”
“Think about what?”
It was a hundred—no, a thousand times better than rotting to death in the Hexahedron. And working with Joshua on top of that…
‘Am I insane?! What am I even thinking?!’
As if trying to shake off those thoughts, Leon hastily scribbled his signature onto the document.
“Good. The contract is official now. Be prepared—I’m going to work you hard.”
“Then don’t go easy on us. I want to earn my freedom as soon as possible.”
Half saying words he didn’t truly mean, Leon lifted his chin proudly.
* * *
“Please—help me!!”
A woman ran desperately through the alley.
“Oh my! Of course I’ll help you!”
“Eek!”
The moment a man appearing from the front grabbed her with filthy hands, two more men who had been chasing her approached with leering smiles.
“She’s a pretty one. We can have our fun first, then sell her.”
“Couldn’t have said it better myself.”
“Please… please spare me…”
“Oh, sweetheart. Of course we’ll spare you. You’ll fetch a nice price. But before that, let us have a little taste—huh?!”
Thud—!
Crash—!
“…?!”
The man speaking had his head crushed between a foot that kicked his face and the wall.
“W-who the hell are you?!”
“You crazy bastard! There’s a code in this business! We caught her first!”
Startled by the sudden appearance of a giant man, they pulled out guns and knives.
The giant spoke in a deep, incredulous voice.
“A code of conduct in back alleys? That’s the best joke I’ve heard all year. Thanks for the laugh.”
Despite his words, his eyes radiated razor-sharp killing intent.
“Hey! What are you waiting for?! Just shoot him!”
“Damn it!”
A gunshot would surely draw the police, but they had no choice.
Click—
Just as the man was about to pull the trigger—
Crack—!
In the blink of an eye, the giant’s hand crushed the man’s hand along with the grip of the pistol.
Crunch—!
“Gaaah?!”
Thud—!
As one man went flying from the giant’s punch, the remaining man swung his knife.
Whoosh—!
Dodging the sharp blade with ease, the giant said calmly,
“Not bad skills for trash.”
“Shut up!”
Avoiding the stab, the giant swung his elbow, shattering the man’s facial bones and neck at once.
Crack—!
Thump—
Having subdued all three men in an instant, the giant approached the woman, who was sitting on the ground trembling.
“Are you alright?”
“Ah… th-thank you…”
“Can you make it home on your own?”
After he helped her up, the woman glanced back at him several times before disappearing down the alley.
The giant—Ethan Freeman—searched the fallen men and collected bundles of cash.
“Hm.”
He frowned as he looked at the wound on his arm.
‘…Still too sloppy.’
After stopping the bleeding, Ethan stood up.
After his clash with Claudia at Randolph Riding Grounds, Ethan Freeman had lost his powers.
‘This is… not an inhibitor. Don’t tell me…?!’
He realized too late what the drug Claudia had injected into him was.
His already excessive regeneration ability went berserk due to a regeneration enhancer, repeatedly destroying and restoring his body until his internal mana was exhausted.
In that agony, Ethan could have crossed the threshold of death.
If only Claudia had injected the remaining dose.
It would have taken nothing more than applying a bit more pressure with her thumb. But she didn’t.
When Ethan awoke, barely able to move from pain and exhaustion, he looked at the syringe pulled from his back and then at Claudia.
“……”
Even now, when we meet as enemies, you’re still trying to teach me, Instructor Ranieri.
After injecting the remaining regeneration enhancer into Claudia, Ethan left without returning to Leon.
To save the Empire through “rebirth via destruction.”
But was that truly worth killing and being killed by an old comrade who once valued others’ lives as their own?
If that ambiguous future—neither clearly destruction nor salvation—were realized, what kind of dreams could people even dream there?
‘And I… what do I want from such a future?’
Drunk for the first time in ages, Ethan stared at the falling snow and passing pedestrians from the window of a rundown motel.
Just as Claudia had said, “this world” did not suit Ethan Freeman.
Ethan entered a bar.
When the large man stepped inside, the noise briefly died down before returning to its usual clamor.
As everyone debated the shocking news of recent events, Ethan strode up to a man.
“Are you Tom?”
Tom nearly spit out his drink.
“Y-you are…?!”
Recognizing his face, Tom accepted the wad of bills Ethan handed him.
“I hear you’re an information broker.”
“…Y-yes. What kind of information are you looking for?”
“Everything about the Kalashniel Family’s recent activities.”
Assuming this was revenge from a former member of the Leon Family, Tom’s expression darkened.
“I’m sorry, but that might be difficult.”
“Is the amount not enough?”
“No, it’s just… honestly, if you listen to what people here are talking about, you’ll get the general idea.”
Ethan plopped down beside him.
“Then let me change the question. I want to know about Claudia Ranieri. Not for the reason you’re thinking. As I said—I just want to know how she’s been.”
“…?”
Though Tom had grown into a renowned information broker after many twists and turns, this was a first.
If he wasn’t lying, Ethan Freeman was the first client to buy information simply because he wanted to hear it.
After checking that no one nearby was listening, Tom spoke.
“That person is…”
Ethan’s eyes widened slightly as he listened.
“But it’s just a rumor.”
“…No. That rumor is probably true. Thank you.”
As Ethan stood up, Tom reflexively asked,
“W-where are you going?”
It might have been professional instinct, but Ethan sensed the genuine concern in Tom’s voice.
“…I’m leaving.”
Answering just as sincerely, Ethan exited the bar.
Ethan Freeman stood at a dawn train station.
Whooooo—
As the locomotive blew its whistle, people began boarding. Ethan, however, remained still, a military backpack slung over his shoulder that looked small on his massive frame.
Was he hesitating now that it was time to leave?
“……”
As if resolving himself before that hesitation deepened, Ethan stepped forward at the next whistle.
Or rather—he was about to.
“Running away?”
If not for the voice behind him.
“…As impressive as ever. How did you find me?”
“You’re not the only one who can use information brokers.”
Ethan turned with a bitter smile and looked at Claudia.
“Where are you headed?”
“To the north.”
“And what will you do if you return to that hell?”
Claudia’s gaze flicked briefly to the wound on Ethan’s arm.
“…I’ll try to save as many lives as I can before I find a place to die.”
Claudia pulled something from her coat.
“There are more than enough lives to save here too, Ethan Freeman.”
Ethan silently accepted the document she handed him.
“I need a strong warrior who fears death. But the choice is yours.”
After saying that, Claudia turned and walked away.
