Chapter 38 : BOTTOM

White Wolf.

Ikazuchi’s special forces.
An elite unit, silently executing any deed for the corporation’s profit.
Ruthless hounds, living solely for their master.

In Neotopia, ruled by the law of power, they stand unrivaled, the undisputed strongest.

Wave’s Surfers or Ombre’s Noir, corporate-trained special forces, are deemed far inferior to White Wolf.

Mercs rotting in Rat Town?
Comparing them is embarrassing.

But what about Red Dog, called the strongest among mercs?

I’d never considered it, but now, I might learn the answer.

“Oh, you’re finally here.”

A man stood calmly in a hall littered with corpses, greeting us.

Glossy purple hair, a squinting smile—he seemed a gentle youth.
But a droplet of someone’s blood trickling down his cheek betrayed his danger.

Seeing his white coat and the wolf emblem on his back, I knew his identity.

White Wolf had arrived.
That meant Ikazuchi knew I was the culprit.

Not just me, but my teammates too were targets, as the corpses here suggested.

Was Lycan right?
Did we truly have no future?

This was all because of me.
The moment I killed Ikazuchi’s inspector, an inescapable end was sealed.
I should’ve left alone with Ruby, never joining Red Dog, sparing everyone harm.

Regret* now was too late.
Karen, Marco, and the mercs here—all died because of me.
Lycan, Franklin, Mary would soon share the same fate.
Then, Ruby and me.

The man, scanning us one by one, grinned slyly.

“Sorry, can you wait a bit?
Cleaning’s not done yet.”

As he shifted, a small figure appeared, previously hidden.

“…Sion?”

Recognizing the boy often with Ruby, my face twisted.

This wasn’t right.
Even so, there was no need to target an innocent child.

“Let that kid go…
You’re here for me, aren’t you!!”

“Hm.
Yelling like that hurts my *ears.
You’d better not provoke me.”

I glared at him, teeth clenched, murder in my eyes.

But I could do nothing.
The Stone that gave me worth was in Karen’s hand.
A mere pistol couldn’t kill a White Wolf.

“But, you know, I heard there’s one more.
Why can’t I see her?”

I assumed he meant Karen, but his next question froze me.

“Where’s your sister?”

“…What?”

Ruby, where?
She should be here.

Then, Sion, held by the man, shouted at me.

“Ruby escaped to find you!
Why aren’t you together!?”

“She escaped…?”

My mind reeled.
Should I be relieved she wasn’t here?
But the outside wasn’t safe.
Rat Town wasn’t kind to a child without a guardian.

“This annoying brat.
I ask, and you clam up, huh?
So, she’s not here, is she?”

The man tossed Sion aside carelessly, turning away.

“See ya, little friend.”

Seeing him aim a pistol—I don’t know when he drew it—I sprinted instinctively.

BANG!!

The gunshot echoed through the space.

The smoking muzzle was in Franklin’s hand.
With blinding speed, he’d drawn and shot a hole through the enemy’s forehead.

Joy at downing him faded quickly.
Despite a perfect hit, the man stood unscathed.

“What…?”

How was that possible?

No matter how advanced implants were, replacing the brain was impossible.
A bullet to the forehead was the surest way to kill.

“It’s a hologram.”

Amid my confusion, Mary glared at the enemy, explaining.

“It’s distorting vision through light refraction.”

“Spotting that at a glance?
Not just sharp instincts.
I’m a bit annoyed, so die.”

BANG!!

A bullet flew without him aiming.
It felt like magic, defying comprehension.

CLANG!

Lycan blocked the shot with his armored fist, shielding Mary, speaking lowly.

“Run.
I’ll handle him.
Scatter and find the little kid.”

Red Dog versus White Wolf—who was stronger?
Now wasn’t the time to ponder that.

“No.
I can’t leave you alone.”

Lycan was exhausted from the previous fight.
Facing this enemy now, he wouldn’t survive.

“Don’t let emotions cloud your *judgment.
What’s most important to you now?
If you’re gone, who’ll protect your sister?”

“…”

“Go.
I’ll win anyway.
Don’t doubt your comrade.”

That was too much.
Saying that at the end, what was I supposed to do?

Ultimately, I had to leave Lycan and flee the hideout, as he *said.

Right.
Trust my comrade.
Lycan could crush that guy with one punch.
Without a Stone, I’d only hinder, not help.

Outside, I felt lost, unsure where to *go.

Looking at the two following me, I made a *request.

“…Please save Sion.”

I tried to ignore him, but the boy I left haunted me.

Ruby was my world, but to someone else, that boy was just as precious.
I couldn’t turn away from a child dying because of me.

Call me foolish, I don’t care.
He’s Ruby’s friend.

And if they return, they’ll help Lycan.
Franklin’s reflexes outmatch any foe, and Mary can read enemy weapons.
Both are far more useful allies than me.

I’m just a rookie with little time in, but they’ve stood by Lycan forever.

This must be the right choice.

Without waiting for their reply, I ran, fleeing the scene.

I’ll find Ruby and leave.
As expected, I was just a burden.
Without me, everyone’ll be happy.
I’d already ruined too much, beyond repair.
Staying would only worsen things endlessly.

The price of my greed.

Ruby alone was more than I deserved.
Not content, I clung to Red Dog’s comrades, and paid for it.

This was the result.
Red Dog was crumbling, and I was pathetically sobbing, unable to find my sister.

“Ruby!!
Where are you!?
Ruby…!!”

Screaming her name until my throat tore, no answer came.

I felt prying eyes.
Clicks of tongues.
Whispers.
Sneers.
Fingers pointing at me.

My sins were known, gossiped about everywhere.

The mightiest merc crew fell because of one fool.
That fool was me.

“Ruby… I’m sorry.
Your sister’s sorry…”

My legs ached.
One shoe gone, my bare foot’s blisters stung with every step.
Breath heaved, my chest near bursting, my hoarse voice tasting of blood.

What if Ruby abandoned me?
Ashamed of her sister, fled?
Maybe she’d found a better family, living happily, forgetting me.

No strength left, I collapsed to the *ground.

I was exhausted.
Today’s events felt like a plot designed to torment me.

This morning, parting with Karen, it wasn’t like this.

My tears had dried—no more flowed.

“…Ha.
Haha!!
Look who’s here!
Red Dog’s proud rookie!
Why’re you sprawled pathetically here, huh?
Pfft!
Hah!”

Hearing mocking laughter above, I looked up dazedly.

A blond man, half his face ruined.
Recognizing that familiar face from memory, I knew him.
The blond thug *who’d relentlessly harassed me before.

“…Ha.
Haha.”

Laughter escaped me.

Right.
This suits me.
Rolling in this filthy dirt with him, living like trash—that’s my life.

“Tch.
Looks like the dumb chick finally snapped.
Still, your face’s decent, so that’ll *do.
Brace yourself, you brat.
From today, I’ll break you in.”

As the thug yanked my hair, dragging me,

Pfft.

A muted shot from a silenced gun.
The thug collapsed limply.

“Hm.
You look awful.”

Following the shadow cast over me, I looked up.
A gaunt man in a suit stared down at me.