The moment Kageichi showed him Mercy for the second time—an epiphany descended upon Kazamidori Gouchi.
An overwhelming understanding and impulse that completely rewrote his way of life.
His life flashed before his eyes like a revolving lantern, and what Kazamidori felt was nothing but deep, profound regret.
Ah, why was I such a fool?
If only I had reflected back then.
Looking back, there should have been countless opportunities.
“I was wrong… Ah, what have I done!”
Kazamidori prostrated himself before Kageichi, collapsing as he deeply repented.
To finally realize this at the very end, at this late stage—I was truly, utterly foolish!
“Ugh… Ah, aah…!”
Kazami, pounding his fist on the concrete floor, tearfully lamented wasting his life—
Once again, he looked up at Kageichi and bowed deeply.
I am a fool.
The greatest fool on earth.
Moreover, saying this might make me seem even more foolish and could get me killed, but still.
“Brother. I have a favor to ask, ssu… Could you give me one more chance… Ssu?”
Kageichi remained silent.
“Until now, I’ve been a liar. A coward who kept running away, ssu. But, but thanks to you, Brother, no, thanks to Kageichi-danna, I realized for the first time just how stupid I’ve been, ssu.”
“…………”
“My life, until now, felt like someone else’s, or rather, I had this naive idea that things would somehow work out… But this time, I truly realized it. This time, I really understood that I was going to be killed, and I saw it right before my eyes—I clearly understood that life isn’t so easy, ssu! That’s why…”
He knew he was asking for something convenient.
It wouldn’t be surprising if he was told, “What are you saying now?”
But, even so!
Having fully understood his mistakes, if he were to be granted Mercy—from now on, he wanted to live as a decent human being, properly, as a respectable member of society!
Kazamidori grew up at the last moment.
A new human being, so to speak, New Kazamidori.
This isn’t just a plea for life, it’s the real deal!
“If it’s no good, it’s no good! I’m prepared to entrust my life entirely to you, Danna!”
“…………”
“Please! I, I really…!”
Until now, he had always said whatever came to mind and ran away from life, but this time, he wouldn’t run away for real.
He swore.
He swore with his entire life, so please, give him one more chance—!!!
…….
…………….
After what felt like a long time,
Kazamidori raised his head to find Kageichi gone.
Looking around, he saw the slightly tilted, empty office left in the darkness of the night.
Kazamidori gasped, but—without even feeling the joy of surviving, he wiped away his tears.
“…!!”
I have changed.
This life is the second life I received from Kageichi-danna.
I will properly reform this time—a man doesn’t go back on his word.
“I’ll do it. I’ll do it—!”
First, repay the debt. Tell President Gouyoku that I’m leaving Re:Trys, and tell him that I’ll work hard to repay the debt properly!
Ah, and I have to end my relationships with the women too. After all, having affairs with two or three women isn’t good.
Next… I’ll go back to my parents’ house once.
I was disowned by my parents, but if I apologize properly, my family might forgive me.
“Alright, I’ll do my best, I’ll do my best…!”
My heart is burning. It’s boiling like hot water.
I feel like I can do anything now, and before I knew it, Kazamidori was running, no, skipping.
Having overcome death and been reborn, I am invincible. I am the strongest.
A pure white, brand new me.
Thinking about this moment, when I can have the innocent heart of a kindergartener who only knows how to play, I could almost thank Kageichi.
First, I’ll go home and take a bath.
Wash away the dirt and be reborn as a new me.
Then, I’ll look for a job on my Smartphone, get a very ordinary… a normal company with an annual income of about five million, and have a fateful encounter with a normal, cute girl and live a decent life.
That is my glorious second life—
The Smartphone vibrated.
“Hey, Kazamidori. Why aren’t you answering the phone?”
“!!!”
The caller was a loan shark different from Gouyoku. Kazamidori’s debt wasn’t just to one company.
Because, well, with repayment after repayment, borrowing from one place to pay off another, things got a little… complicated, right?
…But, I have been reborn.
I will never yield to debt collectors again—
“Don’t tell me you think you can get away with skipping out on us? We can go visit your family, you know?”
“Uh, no, that’s… my family has nothing to do with this.”
“Don’t give me that crap. Or should we go visit your women? We have all the information.”
That’s also bad. After all, my second woman, Akari, also has a husband, and if he finds out, the alimony will increase again…
Even for the new Kazami, it’s a bit much to have more debt.
“Hey. You’re human, right? Family and women are important, right? Then do what you have to do first. Okay?”
“U-uh, yes… but I really don’t have any money right now.”
“Then get a job, get a job.”
That’s right, of course. I was just about to get a decent job starting today…
“There’s a score, you know. You’re a Hunter, right? My friend said it would be helpful to have someone who can do Dungeon work.”
“…That’s…”
“In this area, we still need guys who can handle Dungeon stuff. You’re in demand, you know? Stop streaming and come here.”
You can make good money.
Let’s make some quick cash with an easy job. You need alimony for the woman you got pregnant, right?
…N-no, but,
“I’m sorry. I’m just… I was thinking of working decently from today, uh…”
“Hey, hey, are you saying our job isn’t decent? It’s more like charity, robbing money from greedy old geezers and giving it back to the young people. We’re just taking a little margin in between, right?”
“Charity…”
“That’s right. The old geezers are the ones ruining Japan. They’re gobbling up Japan’s taxes, making it hard for the young people. We’re giving it back to them, like righteous thieves. Right? Recently, the old geezers have been coming to the Dungeons as part of the health boom.”
Well, Kazamidori has thought about that. Or rather, he’s heard about it.
That the reason young people like them are struggling is because of the old geezers.
“Hey. Let’s do the right thing, okay? You have a sense of justice, right?”
“…………”
“We’re the ones who are truly decent. Look at the faces of the Salaryman who work normally, do you want to become like those dead people? No, right?”
“…”
“Our job isn’t a lottery. It’s not some foolish get-rich-quick scheme. We steadily, decently, properly punish the bad guys and get paid. You get paid properly, there’s no need to worry, right?”
T-that’s true… Thinking about it that way, it’s not a bad thing. Is it?
The bad things that Kageichi mentioned are things like murder and rape… well, a score is also robbery, but taking money from bad people isn’t a bad thing.
It’s like a modern-day phantom thief.
Stealing money from corrupt politicians is a good deed—so, then it’s safe, right? Right?
Just once… he’ll forgive me, right?
Right? Kageichi-no-aniki…?
“Ssu! I understand, then I’ll go now! The location is…”
The moment he said that—his right hand suddenly got hot.
“Ouch!” He pulled the Smartphone away from his ear and turned it over.
…Huh? Looking closely, there’s something like a transmitter attached to the back.
What is this?
Kazamidori brought his face closer to examine it carefully.
As he observed it closely, the small device flashed repeatedly—
With a small beep—
“—Huh? Hey, what’s wrong? Kazamidori… Kazamidori?”
*
There’s no way such a convenient story could be true.
While taking a break at a cafe he stopped by on his way home from work, Kageichi sipped his milk cocoa with a sigh.
From the beginning, Kageichi didn’t trust a single word he said.
There was only one reason he showed Mercy. It was because he wanted to confirm for himself that the man hadn’t truly reformed.
Evil should remain evil, foolishly fall into ruin, and die.
Instead of disposing of those who show half-hearted goodwill or repentance on the spot…
Ah, it’s better to eliminate them after clearly understanding that this guy is a truly hopeless piece of trash—there won’t be any regrets.
Comfortably, pleasantly.
I can go home with the conviction that I did a good job today, and sleep peacefully, right?
“With this, all of today’s work is complete. All that’s left is to wait for Kiraboshi-san’s report… Ah, should I order a dessert as a reward for myself for working so hard today?”
It’s a bit extravagant, but he ordered an additional shortcake.
There are several challenges ahead, but first, I’ve decided to treat myself for the day and loosen my shoulders.
Soon after, a strawberry shortcake arrived. Kageichi took a quick snapshot with his Smartphone, thinking.
Hmm.
“I always wonder. When is the best time to eat the strawberry on a shortcake? It’s a perpetual question for humanity.”
I suppose the mainstream approach is to eat the strawberry as an accent midway through the cake—but I’ve also heard of people who eat it first, while the strawberry is still fresh.
It’s troubling.
Smiling at the thought that there are more difficult problems in this world than murder or terrorism, Kageichi slowly reached out with his fork.