「Outlaw... ーー Are you specifically from *that* group?」 (Subaru)
「Yes! Of course, outlaws do not tolerate despicable acts. ーー Now, both of you, scram quickly!」 (Aro)
「... Agency girl, do not interfere in matters that do not concern you and your kind.」 (Android)
「Hah! I cannot bear to hear a saying like that from scum!」 (Aro)
「I warned you. I will kill you now.」 (Android)
「So be it.」 (Aro)
The bullet fired by the android barely grazed Aro's cheek.
The two androids Subaru had pushed were gradually closing the distance between themselves and Aro. Aro's weapon was a sniper rifle, and since she had revealed herself, they would not waste the opportunity.
When Subaru saw that the shared target of both androids had shifted to Aro, he secretly dragged the bound student toward the alley exit... and at the exit, his head collided with someone else's.
The fault was 100% his, yet because the situation was critical, he tried to quickly apologize and move on.
「Sorry... ーー "I apologize, I apologize, I am so sorry!!... Excuse me, excuse me, p-please move aside!!」 (???)
「Oh!?」 (Subaru)
She pushed Subaru away and dashed off in a state of extreme emotional distress.
In this world full of students with similar appearances, the number of people Subaru could distinguish was limited; they were referred to as "pedestrians." He had seen many students with the same aura and the same clothing. But the student who pushed him and rushed into the alley now... caught his eye with a thorn-like aura.
That student headed directly toward the androids who had their weapons aimed at Aro.
「Don't touch Ms. Aro!!!!」 (???)
「ーー Hah, what, what is this thing!? Ugh...」 (Android)
「Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!」 (???)
Continuous, continuous, continuous gunfire.
She pounced on him like a rabid dog and rained a volley of punches upon his face, straddling him in a wrestling position befitting villainous wrestlers. She continued firing her short rifle until the trigger nearly cracked.
— As soon as she realized she had destroyed the target, she moved to the next one.
「Hgh...」 (Android)
「You! You you you aimed a weapon at Ms. Aro!!! Die, die immediately!!」 (???)
「Hey! Haruka!」 (Aro)
But Aro's warning was useless; the android's head exploded. Even after its destruction, the student's frenzy did not cease, and she continued to smash the rest of its body with her fists.
— It was then that Aro hugged her from behind and tried to stop her.
「M-Ms. Aro!?」 (Haruka)
「Calm down, Haruka.」 (Aro)
「Oh... I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry... A girl like me, causing Ms. Aro the trouble of intervening, I'm useless, aren't I?」 (Haruka)
「Hold on, hold on! For heaven's sake, calm down for a moment!!?」 (Aro)
Subaru watched Aro from a distance, struggling desperately to halt the bizarre behavior of the girl aiming the short rifle at her own head.
— He could not fully comprehend the situation, even though he had done nothing but respond to a cry for help.
Subaru removed the restraints and the gag from the abducted student, then carried her on his back and approached the two distressed girls...
Just then, two additional voices joined the scene.
「... As expected, this is what ended up happening.」 (Another Girl)
「You are so wonderful, Haruka-chan!」 (A Third Girl)
「... Wait, wait, this gathering has become far too large...」 (Subaru)
「You two! Don't just stand there watching; stop Haruka!?」 (Aro)
●○●○●
「Hah, oh... ーー Are you calm now, Haruka?」 (Aro)
「Hic! ... I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry...」 (Haruka)
「Is she truly calm...?」 (Subaru)
After the chaos subsided, the atmosphere finally allowed for quiet conversation.
The rabid-dog-like girl who had crushed the androids was now trembling and weeping inside Aro's coat.
「She looks like a puppy on a rainy day; a sense of fatherhood, or maybe motherhood, a desire to protect... Hah, it surges strongly within me.」 (Subaru)
「Kufu... Young man, you seem to understand Haruka-chan well.」 (Another Girl)
「ーー Although she's a puppy who will latch onto the enemy's throat the moment the leash is released.」 (Subaru)
Currently, the slender, fair-skinned student, one of the two who arrived later, was attending to the girl who had almost been abducted.
Following the incident, Aro and Subaru confirmed to each other that there was no hostility between them, exchanging talk about the *principles of outlaws*. The conversation evolved into an exchange of information.
*「Outlaws, truly, they possess a special charisma when they commit evil and simultaneously fight a greater evil...! As for the gallantry and elegance involved in these actions, I could write an entire book about it!」*
*「You... ーー Do you realize what you're saying! Yes, that's right! It seems natural-born outlaws are attracted to their own kind!」*
*「President, this young man is probably talking about movies, mostly... ーー」*
*「[I will repay the favor, for I am an honorable man]... My name is Natsuki Subaru, yes! I will definitely repay this debt to you, Aro Rokuhachima!」*
*「Heh... I shall look forward to it! (What a handsome and wonderful man〜!!)」*
*「...ーー Hah.」*
After this interlude, the two parties became connected by a bond that could not be expressed in words.
After the fight ended, Subaru immediately introduced himself to the four girls with complete honesty, telling them he was from "outside," that he was weaker than a microbe, and that he would die if they shot at him as a threat.
Of course, he did not mention the most important thing... ーー his core objective.
「Well, this chaos we are witnessing is expected in the Gehenna region... but the (Kaiser Group) has really crossed the line this time...!」 (Aro)
The reason Aro and Subaru rushed into the alley was the same for both: a cry of "Save me."
Subaru, being the closest, arrived first and stopped the abduction. Aro, upon arriving, assessed the situation and decided to shoot the android in the head.
— Incidentally, after hearing this story, Aro considered Natsuki Subaru a "decent-level outlaw."
「Muscle relaxants; even the Kaiser Group is resorting to something like that... ーー This means the abduction was genuine and dangerous.」 (Aro)
「Uh, Kayoko... Miss, thank you for looking after that girl. Wh-what is her condition?」 (Subaru)
「Minor bruises and contusions. Other than that, she'll be fine once the drug wears off.」 (Kayoko)
「...! Thankfully. I was worried because she couldn't move after being freed from the restraints.」 (Subaru)
「I can also provide first aid for your hand wounds; you won't be able to hold a gun with your chipped fingernails... ーー Ah, look, President, Haruka is about to explode again. Pat her head.」 (Kayoko)
「I can also provide first aid for your hand wounds; you won't be able to hold a gun with your chipped fingernails... ーー Ah, look, President, Haruka is about to explode again. Pat her head.」 (Kayoko)
「No, I don't have time to waste. Once I put on bandages, my energy will be complete, even multiplied by a hundred! So, I'll just appreciate the concern. Anyway, I can't shoot.」 (Subaru)
The conversation with "General Services 68" ended. They clarified to him that they were a so-called "all-purpose service office" and were visiting the administrative area of Gehenna Academy upon request. They had helped the girl purely by chance when they heard the screaming.
Subaru left the student, who was still fully paralyzed, in the care of General Services. Despite his good intentions in instinctively helping, he had other things he needed to accomplish.
He couldn't immediately ask these "outlaws" to drive him to the airship station right after becoming indebted to them.
「Heh? Young man, where are you rushing off to?」 (Mutsuki)
「Mutsuki... Miss, I'm sorry, I'll call you Mutsuki without 'Miss'. Yes, there's a reason deeper than the Mariana Trench but less deep than the Bermuda area, but no need to worry about that.」 (Subaru)
「Hehehe, I asked, 'Where to?'... Young man, you lack an aura, and where must you go with those hands?」 (Mutsuki)
「... ーー The airship station. I need to go to a specific administrative district.」 (Subaru)
「How interesting?」 (Mutsuki)
「It's very far from here, and I have a time limit; I must leave quickly... ーー」 (Subaru)
「Well then, how about we give you a ride there? Right, Aro-chan!」 (Mutsuki)
「Really?」 (Subaru)
「Alright, alright, Haruka... ーー Eh? What did you say?」 (Aro)
— What an amazing coincidence, as if a ship had arrived in the moment of greatest need, or treasure had fallen from the ceiling. It is true that a good deed returns with good fortune to its doer.
He hadn't intended any of that, yet they offered to help him get to his destination.
Subaru chewed on his good fortune and turned toward Mutsuki.
— But.
「Mmm... Before that.」 (Mutsuki)
Before he could express his thanks, Mutsuki's gun was aimed at Subaru.
「!!?」 (Subaru)
「...!! Mutsuki! What are you doing... ーー」 (Aro)
「Haven't you realized yet, Aro-chan?」 (Mutsuki)
「ーー President, are you oblivious?」 (Kayoko)
「Eh? Eh? Wh-what is it?」 (Aro)
「... Hah, just by looking at this boy's appearance, don't you recall anything?」 (Kayoko)
「Eh...?」 (Aro)
Away from the bewildered Subaru, Aro began to carefully examine and observe Subaru's face, which could not move, and his general appearance.
After staring at Subaru for dozens of seconds, one piece after another came together in her mind.
「...『A normal human, with black hair and eyes, possessing no aura...』」 (Aro)
「The Kaiser Organization's abduction target... ーー Subaru, you are...」 (Aro)
The prevailing atmosphere changed completely, and Aro's gaze shifted to Subaru—a gaze befitting the CEO of "General Services 68" and an outlaw.
— How foolish I was to expect decency from them.
Subaru wished he could escape this difficult situation, but he felt he could not resist while surrounded by hostility from every side, like a cornered rat.
He had just heard them call the androids "Kaiser," and now they were saying they had received a request from Kaiser. How shocking that those he considered saviors had helped him merely by misunderstanding...
Thus, with the enormous disparity in fighting power, an expression of despair and surrender was etched upon Subaru's face.
「I beg you, Aro! Can't you overlook me here...? I, I haven't done anything yet...!」 (Subaru)
In the midst of his desperate plea for survival, and moments before he could humiliate himself by putting his forehead on the ground...
「ーー You chuckled softly... Subaru, there's no need for you to do that.」 (Aro)
「...?」 (Subaru)
「Did you think I would easily abandon the bond that unites outlaws? Well? I am a natural-born outlaw, and I perfectly understand the quality of person you are, fellow outlaw.」 (Aro)
「ーー A person who responds quickly to a scream of 'Save me,' I do not consider him 'evil.'」 (Aro)
She clapped her coat once with her hand, rested the butt of her sniper rifle on the ground, and placed her hand on Subaru's shoulder in a stance that embodied the meaning of an outlaw.
「Lower your weapon, Mutsuki. We will now terminate the contract with Kaiser!! We will go crush Kaiser, who is pulling the strings of this incident from behind the scenes!」 (Aro)
「That's what we expect from you, Aro-chan! That's the way to go~!」 (Mutsuki)
「She's making a sudden decision again... But, if the President says so, there's no escaping it, is there...」 (Kayoko)
「ーー Aro, no, Ms. Aro...!! You truly are a real outlaw; you are seriously amazing! D-do you really have no intention of abducting me...?」 (Subaru)
「Not backing down from a vow we have pronounced, that is also among the principles of outlaws.」 (Aro)
It must have been an encounter that left the best impression on both parties. Subaru succeeded in making a decisive impact in an unexpected place.
In principle, it is impossible for "General Services 68" to prioritize anything over carrying out a mission... let alone betraying the client himself.
Remembering the shameful stance where he was hesitantly about to kneel, Subaru extended his hand toward Aro, asking for a handshake of reconciliation.
As soon as Aro pressed his hand firmly, reassurance finally returned to Subaru.
「... Ah, but even if you say you'll drive me... do you have a car or something?」 (Subaru)
「... O-of course.」 (Aro)
「Aro-chan~? Don't pretend! But we do have a car, yes. It's over there.」 (Mutsuki)
「Over there... ーー Is that the car the androids were going to use for the abduction!?」 (Subaru)
「Since they committed a bad deed, it's only natural to repay them with a bad deed, isn't it? Come on, get in, get in!」 (Mutsuki)
Subaru got into the passenger seat, feeling an overwhelming wave of admiration due to the irony, as he watched Mutsuki, who was clearly younger than him, skillfully start the engine.
Being seventeen years old, Subaru was often the oldest in this world predominantly filled with younger individuals.
Precisely for this reason, he felt a stronger sense of guilt when inconveniencing others or accepting favors. However, the members of General Services were all overwhelmingly older than him, which made him delude himself into thinking they were reliable people.
「Sigh... I will say it again and again, thank you very much, truly, Aro, Mutsuki, Haruka, Miss... Kayoko.」 (Subaru)
「... Why am I the only one you address with 'Miss'...?」 (Kayoko)
「No, it's due to... ーー an overwhelming aura, I would say. I'd even prefer to call you 'Commander Ma'am.'」 (Subaru)
「... Fine.」 (Kayoko)
「So, why does Subaru want to go to the airship station? The Kaiser targeting you for abduction is a serious matter. Do you have any specific reason?」 (Aro)
「Ah... Well, truthfully, I don't know the reason why Kaiser is targeting me, but I want to believe it's just a misunderstanding. Or rather, I'm going now to confirm whether it's a misunderstanding or not.」 (Subaru)
「Ahaha, what strange talk~... Hey, Subaru, is this something you can't confide in us? And we're going to the airship station together?」 (Mutsuki)
「Ugh... Well, yes... After all you've done for me, I can't leave without speaking...」 (Subaru)
「Alright, listen to me! Listen to me without any questions about the evidence or the source of my knowledge for what I'm about to say! Listen to the sagas of Natsuki Subaru... ーー」 (Subaru)
●○●○●
— The Kaiser Corporation.
It is a colossal company that manages various businesses across Kivotos. When Subaru looks out the car window, he sees the logos of Kaiser's subordinate groups everywhere.
This logo is very distinctive; it is designed in the shape of an octopus wearing a crown. It features various sub-logos for its groups, which include private military companies, bank management, resort development, arms dealing, and many more.
As Subaru witnessed from the wicked deeds, Kaiser's administrative policy is: "Profit is what matters." If we say this, the principle would not differ from what lies at the root of Japanese companies... but the level of methods used here is completely different.
Fraud, deception, kidnapping, and the use of armed force are just the beginning. Kaiser seeks profits through methods that even the Yakuza would be ashamed of, and unlike delinquent students, there is no element of fun in their actions.
It is an organization...
「... Tied to us by an impossible knot to untangle, isn't it...」 (Subaru)
Subaru muttered as if he were a lost traveler, constantly looking out the car window.
Subaru is currently escaping reality, and this is not due to any psychological breakdown he experienced.
It is simply that he wants to let his heart wander a little right now...
「...」
Suddenly, he turned his attention to the source of the noise beside him.
「ーー Hey, Mutsuki!!? Wait, I said wait! A-are we really going to storm the chalet like this!?」 (Aro)
「This is the fastest way! Right, Kayoko-chan?」 (Mutsuki)
「... I apologize, President, but I believe this is the best solution to foil Kaiser's plan.」 (Kayoko)
「Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh...!?」 (Aro)
「I, I am ready to wipe out everything, everything, for Ms. Aro!!」 (Haruka)
「How did we get to this point?」 (Subaru)
Yes, before him was a scene indescribable in terms of madness and chaos, a scene that might surprise even 'Party Night' dancers.
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