Chaos Mate ~Revenge In This Chaotic Academy~ - Chapter 65: Shadow's Thread

Chapter 65: Shadow’s Thread

Some felt pain in their right hand and immediately committed suicide, seemingly unaware of what was happening to them.

The conclusion: they had no intent to die but did so anyway.

In other words, their body acted on its own to kill itself.

But Mogami and the others felt pain without any changes, and I didn’t act on Mogami’s word, nor did I feel any hand pain, even without my red eyes.

So, what criteria make which students act?

Maybe it’s specific to death-related words.

“Ugh, what is this… I’m so close to the answer but can’t grasp it. It’s driving me nuts!!”

Frustrated, I scratch my head on a schoolyard bench, chugging strawberry milk for calcium.

But that solves nothing.

Now, I just wait for Izumi’s info…

Looking up at the sky, someone above yells, “Whoa!” to startle me, but I stay deadpan.

Nee-san once said I’m no fun to scare when deep in thought, always unresponsive.

A girl, her face shadowed by the sun, leans close.

“No reaction? That kinda stings,” she says.

“Uh… that voice… Izumi?”

“Bingo!”

The light red-haired girl pulls back, smiling brightly, and sits beside me.

“I dug deeper through my connections. Wanna hear?”

“Definitely. Thanks for the effort.”

Izumi shakes her head, pulling out her phone to show me.

It lists victims’ locations, circumstances, which hand held the weapon—every detail I asked for, meticulously recorded.

“This is impressive. I didn’t expect such a thorough rundown. Honestly, I’m a bit shocked.”

“Glad you think so. Makes the effort worth it. So, about this part…”

Izumi suddenly closes the distance, angling her phone so we can both see. Nice gesture, but as she leans in, her… soft, distinctly feminine part brushes my left arm.

She explains, oblivious, but I can’t focus, distracted by her chest pressing against me, rivaling Mogami’s cluelessness.

Hold on, let me clarify—this isn’t lust. I’m on guard for that guy.

Imagine if that hardheaded idiot saw this? I’d get a disgusted glare and endless hassle.

Focusing elsewhere, Izumi peers into my face, pressing closer.

“Hey, you listening? Focus, okay?”

“Y-Yeah! I’m listening, all good. Man, Izumi, you nailed it. This key detail is huge. I couldn’t have dug this up myself.”

“You could’ve, right? Why’d you want me to do it?”

She tilts her head. I look away, scratching my cheek.

“Seems the academy’s got me flagged as a person of interest, so I gotta keep moves minimal. I’m really grateful for your help. Thanks, Izumi.”

Smiling faintly, she pulls back, clears her throat, and turns away.

“S-Spare the thanks and figure out how to stop the game. You started this.”

“Got it. Thanks to you, I see the strategy. This shitty game still follows the academy’s core system. That’s enough to work with.”

“What’s that mean?”

“Sorry, can’t say yet. But I’ll make it clear the day after tomorrow. Look, your sidekick’s waiting over there. Go back.”

Cutting the talk, I point to Usui, who’s probably looking for her. She spots him, stands, and heads over.

But she turns back, remembering something.

“Madoka, I’ll cash in this favor later, got it?”

“W-Wait, for real? Yeah, no free lunch, huh. Points? I’m low… Money, maybe…”

“Nope, not points or money. Details later—look forward to it!”

With a dazzling, sun-like smile, she waves and leaves.

Seeing her off, I slump on the bench, staring at the sky.

Izumi Kaname… useful, but exhausting to deal with.

Her radiance feels like it’s purifying the dark lump that is me.

Terrifying woman.

Still, her info is a game-changer.

With effort and cooperation, no one else has to die.

The strategy’s simple, but it should crack the Mandatory Word Game.

Now, just figure out how to catch Jack.

※

This feels like bullying from the organizers.

Yesterday, I watched the wristband all day, but no weird notification sound came, so I got suspicious. Checking the screen today, the mystery cleared up.

Between 10 PM and 5 AM, while I slept, a word notification hit.

They’re blatantly trying to drain my points.

Current ability points: 25,256.

Only a small drop in three days.

Some probably lost more, others less.

What’s the difference? I could guess dozens of possibilities, but without proof, it’s pointless.

I need a decisive move. Finding a way to keep everyone alive should get me closer to Jack.

Morning, in my room, my phone chimes with an email from Motoki.

He’s finally reporting what I asked for yesterday.

Got details from Saeki. The suicide? His friend just did it outta nowhere. Weird stuff happened. Grabbed a compass on the desk with his right hand and stabbed his neck. Said, “Huh…?” like he didn’t get what he was doing. Also, something odd: he laughed it off, saying he wasn’t gonna die, but when his right hand started hurting, he grabbed the compass. Super important, right? I felt that pain too, so I’m freaking out!!

Double shock.

Didn’t expect Motoki to be this thorough.

That’s why I had Izumi as a backup.

I might’ve underestimated Kano Motoki.

He got more than I asked for. The email’s second half is critical.

The stinging pain from the wristband as a penalty.

That’s the key.

But even knowing this, I’m not at a no-deaths strategy yet.

Saying a word might make someone act on it.

Not saying risks getting a death word and dying.

Eliminating—or at least reducing—this fear would help. It’d buy time to find Jack.

I pull out last night’s notes, reviewing Jack’s data.

Nee-san documented every detail about the Scarlet Phantom and Pokers.

Jack’s info is the most detailed.

*Jack.

Rivals King’s right-hand status among the Pokers.

Others act sparingly, but Jack, with a sadistic thrill in killing and making others kill, is proactive.

Jack’s traits:

• • Seems impulsive but rational. Kills without leaving traces, using words or objects to mislead.

• • Appears prideful. Minds hierarchy but rages at insults from perceived inferiors.

• • Main weapon: crescent-shaped axe. Excels in close combat. Subordinates all wear black helmets to hide faces.

Despite my efforts, all leads were decoys. Jack seems to have skilled subordinates.*

That’s the end of Jack’s record.

If true…

Jack’s a cautious maniac.

No clue how many subordinates lurk in the academy, each a potential decoy.

Then, I have to use this game.

※

Jack-o-Lantern, in Western legend, is a fairy or demon wielding fire, or a soul stuck in this world, like a ghost.

Why the sudden explanation?

Simple: ghost or not, I’ll catch it and make it spill everything.

The game’s strategy is clear.

Now, they just need to move as planned.

From here, it’s my issue.

Despite the warning, Jack won’t ignore me meddling with the game.

They’ll make contact again.

I’m waiting for it…

“Bait’s alone in a quiet spot, but no bites… Am I being watched?”

In a deserted underground alley, I’ve been reading Seven Samurai for two hours with no action.

What now? Embarrassingly, I can’t do much unless they move first.

An email, another letter, anything would do.

“…Wait, email? Letter…? That’s it! I already have their clue!!”

I rush from the alley to my apartment room.

How’d I forget this?

Bad call, prioritizing other stuff too long.

Procrastination’s a trap.

You forget critical things.

Pulling my phone from my jacket pocket, I check Lesta on the screen.

“Lesta, you awake?”

“Yes, been up this whole time. What’s wrong, Tsubaki-san?”

“Urgently trace an email address. It’s critical.”

I show her an email from my inbox. She checks it, faces me, and salutes sharply.

“Got it! If I can help, I’ll give my all!”

“No… you don’t need to go that far…”

I give a wry smile, sigh, and keep running.

※

Shadow Side

“Stop! Don’t chase me!!”

In a narrow alley, someone in a pumpkin mask—Jack-o-Lantern—runs toward the exit.

Like last time, I think: it’s not Halloween, why the weird mask? I’m not alone in that thought.

Foolish pumpkin.

The moment I spotted you by chance, escape was impossible, yet you keep trying.

Caught in a spider’s web, the more you struggle, the more entangled you get.

Watching Jack-o-Lantern’s fleeing back, I gesture with my gloved right hand as if pulling.

Their movement stops abruptly.

“What…!? What’s with you!? Are you one of his guys? Wait, don’t kill me!! I haven’t screwed up yet!!”

Anyone seeing me now would feel the same terror as this pumpkin.

In a black coat, hood up, with a white mask—purple spider pattern on the left half—covering my upper face, I’m as suspicious as they come.

But this is my ceremonial garb, no helping it.

“You’re mistaken. I’m unrelated to your master. However, you’re an obstacle to mine. So, you’ll stay quiet for a bit.”

“Your master…? I don’t know them!! I was just told to show up like this in front of Tsubaki Madoka!”

“…By whom?”

Stepping closer, I stand before Jack-o-Lantern. They scream, trembling.

“I-I can’t say! They’ll kill me!!”

“Don’t, and you die here. Ultimate choice. What’s it gonna be?”

Smirking menacingly, their shaking intensifies.

“O-Okay… I’ll talk… Just don’t kill me!!”

“Good, that helps. Who sent you to interfere with my master?”

As they open their mouth, a BANG echoes behind me. A bullet aimed at their forehead—deflects at the last second.

“Knew there’d be interference. Cautious Jack wouldn’t send a small fry like this alone, right?”

Turning, I face black-helmeted men in leather suits, radiating killing intent, weapons—guns, knives—in hand.

The Scarlet Phantom’s real assassins.

Don’t they know who I am?

One aims a gun at me.

“Who’re you? You deflected that shot, didn’t you?”

“Correct, but I don’t like revealing tricks. Why not experience it and figure it out?”

As I finish, I raise and drop my left hand, gloved like the right. Their weapon hands jerk upward.

“What!?”

“You should’ve fled the moment you saw me. …You’re already caught in my spider’s threads. Now, you’re just my playthings…”

Flipping my coat, iron threads extend from a square box at my waist, freely manipulable.

Invisible, steel-strong threads form wire knives or nets, heat- and weight-resistant, sticking to anything and not detaching for a time.

Since spotting Jack-o-Lantern trying to contact Madoka, I’ve spun threads throughout this alley.

The helmeted group and Jack-o-Lantern were ensnared the moment they neared me, becoming puppets.

Manipulating the threads, my hood slips, revealing some hair.

Jack-o-Lantern gasps in disbelief.

“You… that blonde—”

“Shut it! One more word, and I’ll sew your mouth shut!”

I snap back instinctively, clear my throat, and point at the helmets.

“Now… time for a dull puppet show.”