Chapter 78
Fortuna was convinced that something massive and dangerous was lurking in North Africa.
That's why he threw himself into getting close to the being the family had been pursuing, no matter what.
He believed that doing so would be his way of cleansing his sins.
As time passed, he was certainly drawing closer to it.
At the same time, skilled members of the 'Scorching Wind of Sicily' began to fall one after another.
One by one, they disappeared.
Eventually, Fortuna was left all alone.
After losing so much, he finally found it.
"Hello, Shirokko. Or maybe I should call you Fortuna now?"
"You bastard... I'll never let you walk away alive."
The one Fortuna met in the middle of the desert was tall, big-bodied, with long limbs.
Most notably... it had no face.
It was wrapped in a thick cloak to protect itself from the harsh sun.
But it couldn't hide the overwhelming evil seeping from it.
Swarming around it were blasphemous monsters.
With countless human heads and layers of twisted limbs sprouting from fleshy masses, they clumsily crawled across the desert.
"Aren't they cute...? Haha, they're failures though..."
"You sick freak. What the hell are you?"
""I'm Alaragi," the man said."
"Alaragi...? As in, that Alaragi...?"
"I'd love to have a kid like you. Won't you join me?"
"Don't screw with me, you little brat. Watch your damn mouth."
"Ahaha... Are you angry about your little friends...? Maybe playing family was that fun because you grew up without knowing your parents' love. But don't be sad—look, everyone's right here."
As he said that, the man gestured toward the monsters.
The blasphemous monsters were crying as they looked at Fortuna.
"B-boss... i-it huuurts... l-let us... ou-out..."
"Well, now that we've had our tearful reunion, how about giving me your answer, Fortuna?"
"...... I've had enough. I don't even feel like hearing your last words. I'll blow you to pieces."
"Ahaha... so full of life. I love that bloody smell—you're a true Siciliano. But you're amazing, really—you—"
It was after that encounter.
That Fortuna went back to calling himself Shirokko.
That he could no longer walk with pride.
————
This was the second time Shirokko had used a 'Sacrifice Bullet'.
Silence returned to the area.
*Clap clap clap clap*, applause echoed.
"Haaahahahaha! Splendid! Absolutely splendid! As expected of 'Catania's Dust'! You brought down that Finger Man beautifully!"
"Of course. I've seen far more action than any amateur."
Dr. Shita Chichigasky approached Shirokko with a deeply satisfied expression, applauding enthusiastically.
If one were to describe Shirokko's expression in a single word, it would be: neutral.
It wasn't joy, nor anger, nor sadness.
The only strange thing was that the Contender's muzzle was still pointed at Finger Man's corpse. He hesitated to lower it and take a breath. Even Shirokko didn't know why.
What he had fired belonged to the most powerful class of bullets in the world.
It was especially effective against entities like Finger Man with unique defensive abilities. Shirokko knew this well—he had fired it with full awareness.
Even if, hypothetically, Finger Man possessed a rare revive-type anomaly—something almost unseen worldwide—even then, this victory would stand. Because those killed by a 'Sacrifice Bullet' cannot be revived.
And yet, Shirokko couldn't bring himself to lower the gun.
"Shirokko, what are you standing around for? You both went way overboard. Finish off that dime-store scientist and let's get out of here. Memory manipulation and concealment aren't all-powerful."
"Yes, I know, Doctor."
Shirokko kept the Contender aimed—still wary of Finger Man's revival—and finally lowered the muzzle after six full seconds.
Shirokko let out a breath.
Strangely, it didn't feel like a sigh of relief.
"...Maybe I was expecting too much from you."
With resignation in his eyes, Shirokko turned to leave.
"Chi-chi."
At that moment, a chirping cry echoed from somewhere.
(A white bird. One of Finger Man's underlings.)
The Calamity Beast swooped down and, upon spotting Finger Man's corpse, let out what sounded like a shocked "Chi, chi?!"
Clearly panicked, she tried to use 'Blasphemous Morning Star Lv2' to revive Finger Man—just then, the hammer clicked.
The echo rang out through the corridor.
White feathers scattered in the air as the Calamity Beast fell to the ground.
"Chi, chii...!"
Without a word, Shirokko fired three more shots.
He used a skill to amplify the bullets. Forty-eight rounds traced gentle arcs as they closed in on the small bird.
The Calamity Beast tried desperately to dodge, but the homing bullets gave her no chance.
In her tiny form, a direct hit could easily tear her apart.
So the Calamity Beast resumed her full size, boosting her physical durability to withstand the attack.
She braced herself and took all forty-eight rounds head-on.
The spinning lead tips tore through her white feathers like drills, piercing her flesh.
"Chii, chii—!"
Even a single hit could induce shock death. The pain was unbearable.
It was an endless chain of torment, the kind that feels like dying without actually dying.
The Bullet Rain brought pain beyond imagination.
For the first time, she couldn't hold back her tears—large drops spilled freely.
The damage was immense.
(This human... is seriously dangerous, chi...!)
The thought of fleeing flashed through the Calamity Beast's mind.
Staying here would definitely get her killed.
She began a pitiful retreat, vanishing beyond the corridor.
"Well... it's just a bird, after all..."
"Shirokko, that underling was trying something. Just to be safe, destroy Finger Man's body completely."
"There's no need to go that far. He absolutely can't come back."
"Do it anyway. The enemy is Finger Man—we can't afford even the slightest chance."
"...You're right."
(Damn old raccoon...)
Shirokko pointed his gun at Finger Man and pulled the trigger.
He fired two shots—amplified to sixteen rounds of .45 ACP raining down.
Suddenly, a white blur darted across.
Feathers flew, blood sprayed.
The large white body spread its wings, shielding her fallen master.
"So you came back, bird. You should've just stayed gone."
"Chi, chii..."
Determined not to move, she tried once again to secretly use 'Blasphemous Morning Star Lv2'.
"You... You've been trying to do something this whole time, haven't you?"
"Chi, chii... (Translation: I'm not doing anything, chi...)"
Without mercy, another Bullet Rain slammed into the Calamity Beast's back.
Her fluffy white feathers turned bright red.
The Calamity Beast endured with all her might.
But HP is not infinite.
Unable to even find a moment to use a skill, her HP was shredded in an instant.
Her vision blurred and faded into darkness.
Life spilled away. Cold crept in.
The Calamity Beast had lived several bird-lives until now, but never had she experienced a death so bitter.
Yet, she felt no emptiness.
She even felt proud to have died protecting someone.
Her cold, white body draped over Finger Man's corpse.
(A new skill has been unlocked)
A voice echoed through her fading consciousness.
(......Shimaenaga-san?)
"This is where I stop. You've gotta surpass me, Finger Man."
Shirokko tucked his gun into his coat, lit a cigarette-shaped 'Recovery Potion 4000', took a puff, and said, "Let's go. Finger Man's dead anyway."
"Hmph, fine. No point wasting time."
"All that's left is the black slug. As long as we watch out for that, we'll be fine."
The two turned their backs and began to leave the scene.
At that moment, a crisp and satisfying snap rang out.
——Snap
It was the sound of his finger snap, one only he could make.