“Mew-mew-mew-mew~!”
“Milady, please be careful!”
Lady Ayano charges ahead, fur fluffed and streaming behind her like a cape.
“What the hell is this cat?!”
“Meowrr?!”
She leaps onto the man’s back, trying to pin him down. He shrugs her off with ease.
A Mage she may be, but her feline body is no match for a grown man. Still, solid effort.
I stop running, raise my pistol, and aim.
Eighteen meters.
I fire as he shoves through the service entrance—blood sprays from his thigh.
The runner stumbles, then vanishes into the hallway.
“Milady, are you hurt?”
“Mew, meow...”
“Don’t push yourself.”
A scream rips from beyond the door.
While I check on Lady Ayano, Ophelia finishes the chase... and apparently, the man.
Carrying Lady Ayano, I follow.
The runner’s pinned to the wall by a silver sword, skewered clean through.
Blood paints the corridor floor in thick red strokes.
Ophelia and I lock eyes. We nod.
“I’m just an employee! I swear! Please—believe me!”
The man’s voice shakes as much as he does.
He’s in work clothes—overalls, cap, gloves. A box cutter hangs from his belt.
Looks like a warehouse grunt, nothing more.
“Why’d you run?”
“You people scared me! What are Exorcists doing here?!”
“There was an evacuation order.”
“I was hiding out in the bathroom watching videos on my phone! Had my earbuds in, didn’t hear a thing...”
“Mister Akamuro, what are you playing at?” Ophelia says. “The moment that man ran at a non-human speed, he was already guilty. He was going over thirty miles an hour. Why not ask him to explain that first?”
The human world record’s around twenty-five. And that’s on a track, in proper gear—not warehouse boots and coveralls.
“I wanted to hear what kind of excuses he had lined up.”
“My, how sadistic of you.”
“Well, you’re—never mind.”
Close one.
“Hee-hee-hee. Ahahaha.”
“Did I say something funny?”
“Akamuro, huh? So you’re from the Akai.”
His voice shifts. The casual fear is gone, replaced with something uglier.
“I know all about it. Red lineage, right? Every retainer gets pulled into the bloodline. You’re one of them—just another Akai mutt.”
I shoot him through the kneecap.
Bone cracks. Blood splashes.
He screams.
“Ahhhhh! Why?! You psycho bastard! It hurts! Don’t fuck with me!”
“Answer the question.”
“You’re insane! Doesn’t that noble family of yours teach you manners? Respect your elders, you—”
I blow out his other kneecap.
“Not answering’s your right. Just like it’s my right to keep pulling this trigger. Next up: your right elbow. Then your left.”
He sobs, twitching like a dying insect.
“What was so funny?”
“Nothing. Nothing at all...”
“Good. Let’s try again. Are you with the Hidden Flame?”
He shakes his head.
“...So what if I am?”
I punch him across the face. Blood and teeth fly.
“You don’t seem to get it. I ask. You answer. One-word responses are fine. Lying isn’t.”
“Fuh... fuh...”
“Did you take part in the Akai assault two nights ago?”
“...Damn right I did. We changed history that night. Hundreds of Exorcists, a dozen nobles, all burned alive. It was glorious. Hahahaha...”
I press the gun barrel to his temple.
“Mister Akamuro. Don’t kill him. He’s an asset now.”
“...I’m aware.”
He’s right in front of me. One of the cowards who slaughtered my family. Who took everything.
My breath’s uneven. My vision tunnels.
Remember your training.
You trained for moments like this.
Hold the line.
I exhale. Reset.
“Who’s calling the shots?”
“That’d be me.”
“You’re just a finger. Who’s the hand?”
“Useless. Totally pointless. You think this ends with me? You think the Hidden Flame is scared of a dog like you? We took down the Akai. You’re a leftover. A fluke. You think you’re fighting for justice, but all I see is a little doggy chasing its own tail~”
“I’ll destroy every enemy of the Akai. Every last one.”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself. You can’t do it. You don’t understand our power at all. You’re pathetic, Akamuro.”
“That’s enough. Tell me who—”
“Boiling Blood!”
He hisses the incantation through clenched teeth.
His wounds begin to glow. His veins ignite, pumping red-hot.
Blood bubbles and hisses, steaming off his skin.
“Go to hell, Exorcist!”
I turn and toss Lady Ayano back with all my strength. Throw myself over Ophelia.
The explosion hits a second later.
Heat. Shock. Roar.
“You all right, Lady Ophelia?”
She blinks up at me.
“I’m fine... but could you kindly remove your oversized self?”
Her small white hands press against my chest.
Her face is flushed. Eyes averted.
“Right, right. My apologies.”
I stand and offer her a hand. She hesitates, then takes it.
“You’re heavier than you look.”
“I’m the type who looks thinner in clothes.”
“Hmm.”
“...Milady! Are you okay?!”
“Meow~!”
Lady Ayano bounds back over, fluffy coat still pristine.
Safe and sound. Thank goodness.
“Mister Akamuro.”
“Yes, Lady?”
“Ahem. I didn’t need saving, but... proper etiquette dictates I say thank you. So, thank you. For your consideration.”
She says it while looking off to the side, like she’s choking on the words.
That’s a shocker.
I’ve got about twenty different comebacks lined up.
“Did you hit your head?”
“First time you’ve ever said thank you. Should we celebrate?”
“Let’s mark today on the calendar.”
I swallow all of them.
“You’re welcome. I’ll always have your back.”
“Hmph. Quite the do-gooder, aren’t you?”
Ophelia sighs, crossing her arms.
* * *
Three Hours Later
* * *
We’re back at the Red Guild.
Lady Ayano’s unhurt. I’ve got burns and some bruising, but I’m fine.
“Meow...”
“I’m okay. Really.”
Master Mikael’s healing ability was a special constitution. Naturally, Lady Ayano doesn’t have it.
She presses her paw pads gently to my cheek. No magic—just cat.
But it helps somehow. Maybe that’s just how cats work.
“Ikaku Akamuro. Got a minute?”
It’s Fuji, the guy from the reception desk. Middle-aged, rough voice, same grumpy glare.
“So, I heard today was rough. Hidden Flame. Five of our best dead. I heard you were on scene.”
“I just happened to be there.”
“The team leader—scarred guy—that’s my brother. Said you saved his life.”
Figures. Same surname.
“Thank you. If you hadn’t stepped in, I’d be short a brother.”
“...That all? I was about to sit down.”
“Hang on. One more thing. You’re digging into the Hidden Flame, yeah?”
“Where’d you hear that?”
“Search logs. Printer logs. That sort of thing. We’ve got a talented info specialist here.”
“Info specialist?”
“Can’t say much. But they might be able to help you.”
Probably a Red Guild underworld contact.
Demon cults are full of criminals. To chase criminals, you need someone who understands the criminal mind. Master taught me that once, long ago.
I pull the scorched ID and phone from my coat. The ones taken from the self-destructing bastard.
Fuji takes them and nods.
“They’ll find something with these. Count on it.”
“Can I trust them?”
“...I don’t like the Akai family. But I owe you. You saved my brother. That counts.”
“All right. I’ll trust you. What about this informant?”
“They’re good. Professional grade. You’ll see.”
Fuji holds my gaze. Steady and unblinking.
I look into his eyes and see no lies.
Fine. I’ll bet on them.