Vol 3 Chapter 13 – Unrest  (【The Exonerator of the Maritime Nation】Arc)

The sharp crack of a gunshot echoed through the café.

“I never thought I’d encounter a maid who feeds her master pieces of her own flesh.”

Kuroko, the café’s owner, muttered as she looked at Arisu, who was collapsed before her.

Shot with a handgun, Arisu lay motionless, showing no signs of getting up.

“And yet, despite figuring it out, coming here to confront me… That’s just plain stupid.”

“Maybe so.”

A voice spoke up from behind her.

It was unmistakably Arisu’s voice.

“—What!?”

Kuroko whipped around instinctively.

“But from where I stand, someone who monologues and confesses without realizing the ‘person they shot isn’t bleeding’ is the real fool here.”

A small hole was visible in the left side of Arisu’s maid uniform.

From that hole, red blood should have been pouring out.

Yet, not a single drop fell.

“…A bulletproof vest?”

“Bingo. Took you long enough to notice.”

Kuroko’s expression was hidden behind her black veil.

But from Arisu’s perspective, it was clear Kuroko was flustered.

“Back to the matter at hand, Kuroko-san. Where are you getting this meat from? Judging by the looks of it, you’re not using the ‘same method as me.’”

Arisu removed the eyepatch from her left eye and the bandages from her right thigh.

Kuroko’s face twisted in disgust at the sight of what had been hidden.

Arisu’s left eye was entirely missing, as though gouged out with a spoon.

Her right thigh, meanwhile, looked as if it had been shaved down in layers. The flesh was worn thin, replaced with stitches holding artificial materials in place.

It was as though—

“I’d heard you were feeding your master your own flesh, but this… You’re insane.”

“‘Insane,’ you say? To me, this is the purest form of love.”

Arisu gazed indifferently at her mutilated body.

Kuroko felt a chill of fear creep into her at Arisu’s unhinged demeanor.

“Well, I’ve seen all I needed to. Let’s bring this to an end, shall we?”

“Bring what to an end?”

Arisu unsheathed the dagger at her waist and answered.

“—Why, Kuroko-san, your life, of course.”

Arisu slashed her dagger toward Kuroko’s neck.

Kuroko narrowly avoided a fatal strike, but she couldn’t evade it entirely.

The black veil covering her face was torn, revealing what lay beneath.

Or so it seemed.

“I thought I’d finally get a look at your face. But that’s quite the unusual mask you’re wearing.”

“It’s not a mask. This is my true face.”

What had been hidden now lay exposed.

A Hannya mask stared back at Arisu.

“I see. In that case, I’ll simply cut through that face as well.”

Arisu readied her dagger again.

At that moment—

“—That’s not gonna happen.”

A bright, cheerful voice came from behind.

Arisu instantly spun toward the source of the voice.

Standing there was—

“And who might you be?”

“Hmm… most people call me the ‘Punisher.’”

“I see… Should I assume you’re one of Kuroko-san’s allies?”

“Correct. She sent out an emergency signal, so I came to help.”

The Punisher answered Arisu’s question with a bright smile.

For some reason, that smile conveyed neither hostility, malice, nor even the will to fight.

“Now then, here’s a question. What fate do you think awaits you, dear maid?”

Unfazed by the sudden question, Arisu calmly responded.

“Let’s see… ‘killing you two and earning my reward from my master,’ perhaps.”

At Arisu’s reply, the Punisher crossed her arms dramatically.

“Wrong! The correct answer is—”

“‘A bargaining chip for your master.’”

The voice came from behind the Punisher.

There stood Sugiyama Reina, wearing a white T-shirt, jeans, and her silver hair tied back in a ponytail. Her voice rang out boldly.

“You shouldn’t focus only on what’s in front of you.”

At the same moment, a knife slid silently into Arisu’s side.

With a grimace of pain, Arisu turned to look behind her.

There stood Kuroko, wearing her Hannya mask, gripping the knife.

“—Gah!!”

Arisu kicked Kuroko with all her strength, sending her flying, and then yanked the knife out of her side.

Blood began to flow from the wound, but there was no time to worry about that.

“I’ll kill you.”

Turning to finish off Kuroko, Arisu lunged at her with the dagger.

“That’s enough.”

At that moment, she felt something hit her neck.

Her strength drained from her body in an instant.

She couldn’t even stay on her feet.

Panicked, she tried to rise, but her body no longer obeyed her commands.

“What… is this?”

Arisu fell onto her back, her arms and legs quickly restrained.

No matter how hard she tried to resist, she couldn’t move.

Before her stood three women.

“An instant anesthetic. Just a small amount takes effect immediately. The syringe is tiny and can be shot from an air gun. Pretty convenient, isn’t it?”

Before Arisu could finish listening to Reina’s long explanation, she sank into a deep sleep.

“She’s sleeping so peacefully.”

“Well, with this, we’ve secured a great bargaining chip. Let’s take her to the basement.”

The Punisher hoisted the unconscious Arisu onto her back.

“Kuroko, are you alright? That kick looked pretty rough…”

“I’m fine. Somehow. Though, I’ll probably end up with a bruise.”

Kuroko rubbed her stomach as if to soothe the pain.

“Glad to hear it. If you can walk, let’s get moving, you two.”

“Understood.”

Reina’s words prompted the three of them to start walking.

“Sakata-san. Please wait for us.”

She whispered softly with a smile.

————————————————  

“The pancakes at this café are delicious.”

“…”

“They’re so fluffy, and the butter and maple syrup add the perfect touch.”

“Uh…”

“And this tea pairs so wonderfully with the pancakes. It’s divine.”

“Satsuki-san…?”

Sakata’s hesitant voice broke through Arisu’s thoughts.

“Oh, Boss, what’s the matter?”

“What’s the matter? Aren’t we staying here too long? You don’t seem to be doing any proper investigating…”

“Really? I think I’m being quite serious in my actions.”

“Then how about we head to a different place soon…?”

Sakata sighed in exasperation at her behavior.

Satsuki dabbed at the maple syrup on her lips with a paper napkin.

“There’s no need for that.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Because, look. Feast your eyes on this.”

Satsuki casually pulled out her phone and showed the screen to Sakata.

“This is…”

Displayed on the screen were her text exchanges with Arisu.

The contents of their conversation detailed the investigation of the café.

————————————————

“What’s the progress?”

“I’ve found a suspicious café. It’s highly likely they’re dealing in human meat, so I’m planning to investigate.”

“I see. Then, the boss and I will enjoy a graceful tea party in the meantime.”

“I’ll kill you both when I get back.”

————————————————

“So, Arisu already had a lead?”

“Exactly. That’s why the boss and I were taking it easy with a tea party.”

“Considering the possibility that something might have happened to Arisu, shouldn’t we head to the café she found?”

“Please, that murderous maid could probably fend off anyone who came at her. She’s not the type to get taken down by some average joe.”

Satsuki’s tone was dismissive, almost exasperated.

It was true that Arisu was one of their most capable members, with an unshakable composure that didn’t flinch no matter the situation.

If anything, it was the attacker they should worry about.

But Sakata couldn’t shake a growing concern about something else.

“Even so, isn’t it unusual for her to go silent for over thirty minutes when she’s usually so diligent about reporting back?”

“Now that you mention it… you’re right.”

Sakata’s words made Satsuki’s expression stiffen, concern flickering across her face for a moment.

They exchanged glances and nodded simultaneously before standing up in unison and leaving the café.

“Let’s use Arisu’s location data to find the café.”

They followed the location data through the shopping district.

As they walked, Sakata began to recognize the familiar streets.

“No way…”

Finally, they reached their destination.

It was the café run by a woman named Kuroko, the same one Sakata had visited earlier that morning.

“Boss, do you know this café?”

“Yes. I’ve been here twice before…”

“I see…”

The two opened the door and stepped inside.

A soft bell rang pleasantly as they entered.

But there were no signs of life—not from the owner, nor anyone else.

“Arisu? We’ve come to get you.”

Sakata’s voice echoed faintly in the quiet café.

The eerie stillness unsettled them both.

“Is anyone here?”

Satsuki wasted no time stepping behind the counter and opening the back door.

Her bold behavior made Sakata grimace.

“Satsuki, isn’t this trespassing…?”

“Trespassing? Oh, please. Isn’t it a little late to worry about that?”

“I mean… you’re not wrong…”

Ignoring him, Satsuki continued searching for Arisu.

The door led to a six-tatami kitchen.

But there wasn’t a soul in sight.

“No one’s here.”

“If anyone were, they would’ve come out by now.”

“That means our dear maid must’ve been taken somewhere else.”

“But her location data is still pointing here…”

The worst-case scenario crept into Sakata’s mind—Arisu might’ve been attacked, fatally injured, or worse.

Even Satsuki, usually so carefree, wore a grim expression.

“I can’t imagine that murderous maid getting taken down… but I guess we’d better investigate.”

“Agreed—huh? My phone’s ringing.”

The caller ID displayed Sugiyama’s name.

“Now that I think about it…”

Sugiyama had been the one to recommend this café.

Hoping for some information, Sakata answered the call.

“Sugiyama-san, good to hear from you.”

“Sakata-san! I’m glad you picked up.”

Sugiyama’s unusually cheerful voice came through the line.

Hearing it gave Sakata a bad feeling.

“What’s going on?”

“Oh, I was just thinking you’d be arriving about now.”

“Arriving?”

“Yes—at Kuroko’s café.”

Sakata froze upon hearing her words, quickly arriving at one conclusion.

“Where is Arisu!?”

Sakata’s rare outburst made Satsuki’s eyes widen in surprise.

“Don’t yell like that! You scared me.”

“I don’t care about politeness when it comes to someone taking someone precious to me!”

“But Sakata-san, don’t you think your attitude might affect her fate?”

“So you are the culprit…”

“Well, you could call that the correct answer.”

At that moment, a photo came through.

In it, Arisu lay bound hand and foot on the floor.

Her maid uniform was in tatters, exposing her wounded body.

“What’s your goal…?”

“Oh, I’m so glad you asked! My goal is—”

Sugiyama’s voice became even brighter, almost gleeful.

“We want you to join our organization!”

Her tone was brimming with hope, like a hero recruiting a new party member.