Vol 3 Chapter 40 – Tragic Double Suicide (【The Exonerator of the Maritime Nation】 Arc)

To me, he is an absolute existence—a precious and dearly beloved one.

That is the Boss.

For 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, my mind is filled with thoughts of the Boss.

Even so, I must act with the organization in mind.

To be honest, the organization means nothing to me.

No… It is something the Boss created and cherishes.

Perhaps it isn’t entirely insignificant.

I am the direct aide personally appointed by the Boss.

I have no choice but to force myself to think about the organization.

But I don’t want a relationship defined by the organization—I want to build an intimate, romantic connection.

I know it’s disrespectful.

I also know it’s unbalanced.

I despise myself.

It makes me feel sick.

When I speak with the Boss, what expression hides behind his mask?

The Boss speaks kindly and calmly to everyone.

A smile? A straight face? An exasperated look?

Even within the organization, there are rivals.

The “mentally unstable, twisted cannibalistic idiot maid” Meido Arisu.

Kirino Haruka, who carries herself with “sunny brightness.”

I don’t know what Satsuki Tsutsuka and Takanashi Hitomiko are thinking, but…

The Boss treats everyone the same.

Well, all the executives love that about him, though…

But I want to be the Boss’s number one.

I don’t want to give him to anyone else.

Though I dread thinking about it, even the Boss will eventually die.

I can hardly imagine him on his deathbed, but because I have killed many people, I understand:

People can die in an instant.

Even those who were full of life just yesterday.

Even those who had already been given a limited time to live.

Regardless of age or gender.

Everyone must eventually die.

So, shouldn’t we express our feelings before that happens?

I’m not saying I should act recklessly, but I want the Boss to notice me—even if just once.

Yes. That was what I thought.

—————————————————

“Boss!!”

Hirata Shizuku’s cry echoed in everyone’s ears.

For a moment, Kuzuryuu Kazuto and Mayuzumi Ouga didn’t understand what had happened.

Right before their eyes, Sakata Yuuto was quietly collapsing.

Hirata, as if to tackle him, scooped him up in her arms.

“Boss…! Please, pull yourself together…!”

The person who had attacked the Boss vanished in an instant.

A black vehicle, speeding by, caught Hirata’s eye.

“Kuzuryuu! Mayuzumi! Chase that black vehicle!”

Her words were rough with panic and agitation.

“…Understood.”

“Got it.”

After a brief exchange, Kuzuryuu and Mayuzumi ran toward the direction in which the vehicle had fled.

Without paying any attention to them, Hirata went to check on Sakata’s condition.

“Hey… is that you, Hirata…?”

Sakata, seemingly unaware of what had happened, had two bullet holes in his right side, with red fluid gushing out.

The pure white dress shirt he wore was stained a deep red.

In contrast, Hirata’s face turned a deep blue.

“Yes, this is Hirata… Can you hear my voice?”

“Mm…? What… It’s cold…”

His voice grew faint.

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no!!!!

Is it already too late?

Is this such an abrupt end?

Who could have done such a thing…?

No, now is not the time to worry about that.

Right now, I must ensure the Boss’s safety…

“Ugh…”

Tears naturally welled up.

When was the last time I shed such sorrowful tears?

As a child?

When the Boss saved me?

I can’t hold back the tears any longer.

“With this, even just a little…”

Hirata wraps the suit jacket she was wearing around Sakata’s abdomen.
It was her makeshift first aid.
But it was merely a temporary measure to staunch the bleeding.
At this rate, Sakata would, of course, die from massive blood loss.
Hirata no longer knew what to do.
Her mind had gone completely blank.

“That’s it…”

At that moment, an idea flashed into her mind.

“Hehe… hehehehe…”

Suddenly laughing, she reaches for the handgun lying before her.
Then, she points it at her own head.

“I will go with the Boss…”

Her hand trembles.
But I am not afraid of dying.
A fated reunion in the next life.
After all, the Boss and I are connected by the red string of destiny.
Even in death, we will be together.

And then, a single gunshot echoed.

—————————————————

Following Hirata’s orders, Kuzuryuu and Mayuzumi were chasing the black vehicle.
Of course, the difference between a person and a vehicle was too great, and the target vanished from their sight.
At this rate, the person who attacked the Boss would escape without being caught.

“Tch… What should we do…?”

Kuzuryuu was completely at a loss.
To be honest, it crossed his mind that even if they searched further, they probably wouldn’t find the target.

“I’m sorry, Kuzuryuu-san. We’ve lost him.”
“You don’t need to apologize. It can’t be helped.”

Mayuzumi, returning with a sigh, spoke as if he’d just thought of a solution.

“What should we do? Shall we mobilize all our subordinates to search?”
“That would be fine, but… let’s head back before calling in the subordinates.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, honestly, calling in the subordinates now seems pointless…”

Kuzuryuu takes a cigarette from his chest pocket.
He puts it to his mouth while lighting it with his lighter.

“Besides, I’m worried about the safety of the Boss and Hirata.”
“…? I understand about the Boss, but Hirata as well?”
“Yeah. Though she tends to hide behind Meido, Hirata is also a rather troublesome person.”
“Troublesome, huh.”

White smoke from the cigarette drifts into the sky.

“For instance, if the Boss were to pass away, she might commit suicide.”
“I can hardly imagine the Boss dying… It’s almost like a double suicide. Is Hirata really that far gone?”
“Yeah… well, I’m worried because I think about what might happen.”

Kuzuryuu disposes of the cigarette butt in his portable ashtray.
Then, turning toward the direction from which they had been running, he starts walking.

“Let’s go back. We need to check on things.”
“Understood.”

Mayuzumi follows suit.
At that moment…

“———————————!?”
“A gunshot!?”

The two heard a small gunshot.
The source was coming from directly ahead.

“Let’s run.”
“Yes!”

The two sprint toward the inn, hoping nothing would go wrong.

“…Discovered. The great organization of evil.”

A small monochrome girl glared at the two as if challenging them.
And then———————

“——————————————I will definitely kill. Righteous judgment.”

A sound, as if something inside her had shattered, echoed.