Vol 3 Chapter 28 – Sister Calling (【The Exonerator of the Maritime Nation】Arc)

“Ha… I’m so sleepy from doing something that’s just not my style.”

After swapping movie theater stakeout duty with Hirata and Mayuzumi, Satsuki was wandering through town in the early afternoon, heavy with sleepiness.

The sunlight beating down on her only made her drowsiness worse.

Still, with one more job to do, she couldn’t afford to fall asleep.

“Really, this town is so bright…”

The shopping district she strolled through was bustling—in a word, “peace” might be the best description. Everywhere she looked, people were out and about. Shopkeepers and customers alike were chatting away, filling the streets with life.

“Really, it’s disgusting.”

That lively atmosphere was utterly unsettling to Satsuki. How on earth could one go about twisting those happy faces?

“———————I wonder what would happen if I threw a hand grenade right now…”

Satsuki rested her hand on her chest pocket. There, a small bulge was noticeable. However, her soft remark was quickly drowned out by the surrounding chatter.

“Oh no, oh no—I nearly caused an incident.”

She shook her head slightly while murmuring, clasped her hands together, and then stretched up high.

“Maybe I’ll just finish my ‘job’ quickly and get some sleep.”

With that, she headed straight for a certain place, her demeanor reminiscent of a hunter about to take on a contract.

————————————————————

“I walked more than I thought—I’m wide awake now.”

Satsuki’s destination was the inn serving as the base for this operation. She proceeded directly into the front entrance of the inn.

“Welcome back.”

The first to greet her was the inn’s proprietress. Satsuki offered a small nod in response.

“Yeah. Have you heard anything from the organization?”

“Yes. Please enjoy yourself to your heart’s content.”

“I know that even without being told.”

Smiling at the proprietress’s words, Satsuki began walking down the hallway.

————————————————————

“Now, where did they say it was?”

She was on the hunt for something, checking room after room in her search. From the guest rooms to the entertainment areas—even the baths and toilets—she scoured nearly every corner, yet couldn’t find what she was after.

“Hmm… they’re not here. I wonder where those two went.”

Frustration began to creep in at not finding what she sought. It was then that a voice spoke from behind.

“———————Maybe I’m what you’re looking for, Satsuki onee-chan.”

Startled, Satsuki’s eyes widened at the sound of a woman’s voice coming from behind her. Yet before she could react further, the voice continued, its owner wearing an unparalleled beaming smile:

“Oh my… Kuroda-chan, you were awake. Where on earth had you been hiding? You sure startled your big sis by suddenly speaking.”

“Question. Who are you all?”

Kuroda glared openly at Satsuki’s still-beaming face. At that, Satsuki burst into a sudden laugh.

“No Need to Check the Answers, Right?”

“I didn’t think we needed to go over the answers?”

“Incomprehensible. Then why did you save me?”

“Hmm…”

Satsuki tilted her head as if in thought.

Then, after about two minutes, she slowly spoke.

“Maybe… I just got attached when I found you looking like a ragged old mop?”

“I don’t understand.”

“There’s no meaning to it. We just act on our whims, that’s all.”

With those words, Satsuki raised the revolver at her hip.

The barrel caught the light, gleaming faintly.

“You’re with Empress, aren’t you?”

Kuroda hit the core of the matter.

Without the slightest hint of panic, Satsuki simply—

“Yep, correct answer! Full marks for you, sweetie.”

—responded in a flat, expressionless tone.

“I knew it. Then I can’t let you escape.”

“Well, since you’ve figured out who we are, guess that means you’ll have to die.”

Kuroda gripped the dagger in her right hand and took a stance.

Blade and gun. Their weapons were set against each other.

“……”

A tense silence stretched between them.

Then—

“Haa… let’s stop this.”

Satsuki sighed and lowered her revolver.

Kuroda, however, kept her dagger up.

“…What’s this? I don’t understand.”

“Big sis doesn’t like killing if she can avoid it. Can’t we settle this with a nice chat?”

With that, Satsuki took a step forward.

“Stay back. Take one more step, and I’ll kill you.”

Despite her words, Kuroda’s hands trembled.

“Kuroda-chan, you’re forcing yourself, aren’t you? You’re the type to return a favor when someone helps you, right?”

Right in front of Kuroda, who was visibly shaking—

Satsuki pulled her into a tight embrace.

“Why… Why are you being kind? It’s messing with my head.”

“Because I couldn’t just abandon you, Kuroda-chan.”

The two embraced, sharing a smile.

The dagger slipped from Kuroda’s right hand.

“Kuroda-chan…”

“…What?”

And then—

“You really were an idiot. And adorable, too!”

—Bang! Bang!

Satsuki fired two shots directly into Kuroda’s stomach.

“———————gh…!”

Kuroda let out a silent scream and collapsed.

Satsuki looked down at her, a satisfied smile on her face.

————————————————————

“I wanted to play with you a little longer, but I’m short on time. Oh well.”

Kuroda lay completely motionless.

Just as Satsuki reached out to pick her up—

“——————Careless. Got you.”

Suddenly, Kuroda’s body jerked back to life, grabbing Satsuki’s arm.

Satsuki’s expression twisted in shock.

Taking advantage of that split-second opening—

Kuroda drove her fist into Satsuki’s stomach.

“Guh…!”

Satsuki was sent flying, crashing into a table and chair before rolling across the floor.

As she tried to get up, Kuroda grabbed her by the hair—

Then yanked her upward, lifting her off the ground.

“How are you still alive…? I thought that was an instant kill.”

“Ever since those two knocked me out, I’ve been more cautious.”

Looking at Kuroda’s torso, Satsuki spotted something wrapped around it.

A bulletproof vest.

“Hehe, I see how it is.”

“It was tough pretending to be vulnerable just to land a strike.”

Kuroda said that before hurling Satsuki across the room.

This time, Satsuki failed to break her fall—slamming into the wall, back first.

“Guh…! Hah… hah…!”

Panting, she glared up at Kuroda.

Kuroda, in contrast, looked down at her with something like admiration.

“Impressive. You still have the will to fight.”

Satsuki let out a small sigh, then smiled.

“Ara ara, big sis is a mess now.”

Kuroda remained cautious, keeping her guard up.

“Give up. You have no chance of winning.”

“Oh my, aren’t you getting bold?”

As they spoke, Satsuki noticed something.

Kuroda was smiling. A full, beaming smile.

“Not bold. I’m certain.”

“Hmm. Then let me say just one thing.”

Satsuki slowly stood up.

And then, flashing a manic grin—

“It’s not ‘you’—it’s ‘Satsuki onee-chan,’ right?”

With those words, she raised her revolver once more.