I Don’t Want to Die as a Mob in My Second Life! ～A Story Where I Kept Training from Inside the Womb and Ended Up Being Mistaken for a Monster～ - Chapter 26: Interlude- The Shiranui Family’s Collapse

Act 4: The Spirit Conductor Qualification Exam Arc!

Chapter 26: Interlude- The Shiranui Family’s Collapse

“What do you want?”

Sitting in his office was a strikingly handsome man—the Supreme Commander of the Spirit Conductor Agency, Ouma Shiranui.

A warlord who had sacrificed everything for Japan. The black warrior.

It was no surprise that he had many fervent followers.

And among the most devoted of them were—

“Hey, Boss. Just let me kill that brat Kanata for you.”

“Mm. I’ll take care of Lord Ouma’s enemy.”

A silver-haired young man and a girl approached the seated Ouma.

Their names were Rouga Shiranui and Riru Shiranui.

Though not related by blood, as their shared surname implied, they had a parent-child relationship with Ouma Shiranui.

That alone made the siblings notable.

But for anyone who encountered them, what truly caught the eye was their unusual appearance.

From atop their heads, wolf ears protruded.

“Boss… we owe you everything. If it weren’t for you, we’d still be the murderous tools of those damn Medium scums.”

The silver wolf-eared young man, Rouga, spoke with conviction, acknowledging that their current lives were thanks to Ouma.

“Riru, too. I live… because Lord Ouma saved me.”

The silver wolf-eared girl, Riru, whispered softly, expressing her deep desire to serve him in gratitude.

“We’re beasts born of monsters. Those damn Mediums offered women to the spirits of [Werewolves], forcing them to bear us, making us ‘demi-humans.’ Before you became Supreme Commander, we were nothing but targets for execution.”

“But Lord Ouma saved us.”

Mediums—individuals who use spiritual abilities illegally—remain an ever-present threat.

Rouga and Riru were victims of one such Medium organization.

Born as abnormal beings, subjected to twisted indoctrination, they were used as assassins by the organization.

A nightmare of a life.

Living as monsters designed to kill.

Their emotions erased, to the point they couldn’t even recognize their misery for what it was.

The one who freed them from that hell was…

“Ouma Shiranui… it was you. You stormed into the organization by yourself and slaughtered every last one of those bastards.”

“With blood-soaked hands, you saved Riru and the others.”

This is why the siblings revere Ouma Shiranui.

Even though they, as tools of the organization, once attacked him themselves, the guardian demon of the nation saw through it all and chose to spare them.

He saved them.

He gave them warm blankets and food, registered them as citizens, provided proper education, and, more than anything, treated them like humans.

“That’s why, Boss… we can’t forgive ‘Kanata Soranaki.’ That brat dared to bare his fangs at you—the most incredible person there is. Let us kill him right now.”

“Please, Lord Ouma. Grant us permission to execute him. Let us eliminate that evil.”

The enemies of Shiranui (God) must be destroyed.

That was the belief of Rouga and Riru.

Ouma, seated in silence, listened to their pleas with his eyes closed until finally—

“Rejected.”

“”—!?””

He dismissed their murderous intent without hesitation.

“W-Why, Boss!? That white-haired brat is pure evil! One day, he’ll turn against Japan!”

Rouga recalled the figure of Kanata Soranaki.

The worst and most beautiful young demon king he had seen in leaked videos and TV broadcasts.

From behind his long, white bangs, those mismatched red-gold eyes glared like a predator.

Even through a screen, the sheer presence of those eyes triggered Rouga’s animalistic instincts as a demi-human to scream: ‘Bow down!’

“That kid… he’s dangerous.”

In those depths, there was an endless abyss of darkness.

How much malice was hidden in that child’s heart?

“I’d bet my life on it—if that thing’s pretending to have a ‘harmless mob mentality,’ I’ll dress in drag and ride a tricycle around Tokyo. But that’s impossible. Kanata Soranaki is pure evil, and he needs to be taken out.”

“You’re not wrong.”

“Then—!”

“But it’s still a no. Do not lay a hand on him.”

Ouma once again denied them. He forbade the killing of the supposed demon king.

“Why!?” Rouga shouted in frustration, while Riru tilted her youthful face in confusion.

“That Kanata Soranaki… he’s so infuriating.”

“Hmph… True, he is aggravating.”

Ouma allowed a faint smile to cross his face.

The siblings were stunned. It was rare—perhaps only twice a year—that their adoptive father ever smiled.

“There are three reasons I won’t let you touch him. First, he’s now the Soul Bond contractor of [Hihiirokane]. If we kill him, Japan would lose the miraculous mythical metal we’ve just secured.”

“Tch…”

Rouga clenched his teeth in frustration.

He wanted to eliminate Kanata Soranaki, but losing [Hihiirokane] wasn’t an option.

“Damn it. It’s a trump card we need to resist… the Holy Libertarian Empire.”

The moment Rouga uttered those words, the air in the room seemed to drop to freezing temperatures.

Ouma Shiranui… the vengeful lightning burning in his soul flickered in his eyes, its intensity palpable.

Rouga felt a chill run down his spine. The sheer force of Ouma’s seething hatred made it hard to breathe.

“…Apologies.I let my irritation show.”

“N-No… That was careless of me. I shouldn’t have mentioned it so lightly in front of you…”

As his foster son, Rouga knew the story.

Thirty years ago, during the Second Spirit Eradication War, Ouma Shiranui lost everything to an invasion by Libertalia. His family was wiped out, and his hometown was burned to the ground.

It was no surprise that a deep, burning desire for revenge against the empire still lingered in his heart.

“As those barbarians call me… I’m just the ‘Warlord’ of national defense. In other words, I’m not even human. Even my wish to see my homeland prosper is, in the end, nothing more than a selfish desire to crush Libertalia.”

That was why Ouma never took pride in himself.

He did have patriotism, no doubt about it. His will to protect the people was genuine. But—

“All I really want is war.”

He wanted to use the nation’s strength, its growing population, to exact his revenge on Libertalia.

Because of that wish, he despised himself.

Every time a citizen smiled at him in gratitude, Rouga knew, Ouma would clench his fists in self-loathing.

And yet, this led to a vicious cycle. He threw himself entirely into the defense of the country, and the people admired him even more for it.

“Boss…”

“Ah, forget it. I’m rambling. For some reason, I can’t help but loosen up when I’m talking to my family.”

“!”

Family.

Hearing that special word made Rouga’s heart, and that of his sister Riru, swell with pride.

To be the ones closest to Ouma Shiranui, the great warlord, was a source of burning pride for both of them.

“Now, let’s continue. The second reason you shouldn’t touch Kanata Soranaki…” 

Ouma shifted his gaze from Rouga to Riru.

“The second reason is that Kanata Soranaki hasn’t committed any crimes… yet. It seems he’s discovered the art of manipulating people and is now choosing to expand his influence legally.”

“…It’s impossible for anyone to be drawn to such a monster. Everyone says he’s pure evil.”

“That’s exactly it.”

Ouma replied, picking up on her words.

“It’s because he’s seen as evil. Imagine what happens when someone approaches such a figure, expecting the worst, only to encounter unexpected politeness or calmness.”

“That would… catch you off guard.”

“Exactly. And then they’d start to think: ‘Maybe he’s not as bad as everyone says,’ or ‘Perhaps I’m the only one who can see the good in him.’ Foolish thoughts like that.”

In other words, Kanata was weaponizing his bad reputation.

As Ouma explained this, Riru muttered, “Like a carnivorous plant,” her usually blank expression showing a rare flicker of unease.

“Damn it. So, Boss, what’s the third reason why my sister and I can’t attack him?”

“The third reason is—”

Before Ouma could finish, there was a knock at the office door.

At the same time, the half-wolf siblings caught the enticing aroma of roasted meat wafting through the slight opening.

“Excuse me, my lord.”

“Tanaka? Come in.”

At Ouma’s command, the door opened, and an elderly butler entered, pulling a wagon behind him.

His name was Tanaka, Ouma Shiranui’s devoted servant, responsible for taking care of all his needs.

“I’ve brought your breakfast as requested. I prepared it exactly as you specified, but…”

Tanaka glanced at the wagon and lifted the silver lid on top. Underneath were a massive salad and a sizzling, oversized steak.

“”Eh!?””

Seeing this, Rouga and Riru were stunned and immediately turned to look at their foster father.

For breakfast, it was an undeniably heavy meal. But what shocked them even more was…

“N-No way, Boss. You, the man who lives so frugally, are eating this!?”

“You usually just scarf down a little rice, miso soup, and dried fish in the morning, and put every penny and second into your work, don’t you?”

The siblings were at a loss for words.

Ouma Shiranui, the man who dedicated his life to his homeland, was known for his austere lifestyle, bordering on negligent.

Money that could’ve been spent on luxurious meals was instead redirected to the organization or donated to welfare. He barely ate, viewing meals as an inconvenience to be rushed through before returning to work.

That was who he was.

So… why now?

“Kanata Soranaki.”

Their father spoke, breaking their confusion by uttering that accursed name.

“W-What does he have to do with this, Boss!?”

“When I met him, for the first time, I was made to truly feel defeat.“

As Rouga growled in disbelief, Ouma began to explain.

“I will not lose. I will grow Japan, and one day I will destroy my sworn enemy, the ‘Demon Emperor of Libertalia.’ That’s how I’ve lived my life. But…”

However, if I were to face Kanata Soranaki one-on-one…

“I couldn’t help but think, I might not win. While I currently surpass him in technique, the sheer spiritual potential that boy possesses is nothing short of terrifying.”

A true monster.

Even his body isn’t structured like a normal human’s—it’s optimized, not for survival, but purely for killing.

Such a thing can no longer be called a living being.

“To make matters worse, according to Ujimaro’s report, he spends over twelve hours a day happily training on top of that. It’s no laughing matter. For the first time in my life, I’ve felt the urge to tell someone, ‘Just stop trying so hard.’“

“That’s… impossible…”

Rouga was stunned. His foster father—the man he believed to be the strongest—was admitting there was a chance he could lose.

His chest tightened as his vision dimmed. Beside him, Riru softly murmured, “Lord Ouma…” her voice heavy with sadness.

“But.”

Ouma’s voice sliced through the tense air like a blade.

“That is precisely why I’ve decided to prepare. For the inevitable showdown… to ensure victory against Kanata Soranaki. And for that, proper nourishment is essential.”

Thus, Ouma declared he would begin by changing his diet.

With that, the elderly butler cheerfully placed the extravagant breakfast in front of him, as if pleased with this new resolve.

“Hohoho. To think the day would come when my lord abandons his frugal meals. I was considering finding a strong-willed wife to prepare better meals for you, but it seems unnecessary.”

“I have no need for a partner. I don’t have the time to care for a household. Right now, the only things that matter are Japan’s future… and Kanata Soranaki.”

As Ouma took the utensils prepared for him, Rouga and Riru looked utterly defeated.

“Boss…”

“Lord Ouma…”

Their minds drifted back to the rare times they shared meals with their foster father.

While they were served delicious food, Ouma’s meals were painfully modest.

They once protested, pointing out how little he ate compared to his immense workload.

“I supplement the necessary nutrients with supplements. My body exists not for enjoying meals, but for feeding Japan.”

Each time they brought it up, he would shut them down with that same heartbreaking logic.

And yet… despite all their efforts, they had never been able to change him.

But now, Kanata Soranaki had done what they could not.

“Kanata… Soranaki!”

“That brat really pisses me off…!”

The silver wolf siblings’ hearts burned with unmistakable murderous intent.

Until now, their desire to eliminate anyone who disrespected their father was rooted purely in their admiration for Ouma.

They had repeatedly pointed out Kanata’s so-called “evilness” to Ouma, but the truth was simpler than that.

Rouga and Riru didn’t possess some profound love for their homeland. They simply wanted to eliminate Kanata because of their unwavering respect and devotion to Ouma.

—If Ouma Shiranui sets his gaze upon someone, the natural reaction should be fear.

—So why doesn’t he flinch? Even we, his family, and his closest allies feel compelled to step back.

—Why does he meet that gaze head-on?

—Why does he act as though he’s on equal footing with Lord Ouma?

They couldn’t stand it. They hated it.

And as if that weren’t bad enough—

“Tanaka. Prepare high-definition footage of Kanata Soranaki’s combat. I’ll analyze it during my personal time.”

“”!?””

Ouma mentioned personal time.

He said he’d use time outside of work.

…Ouma, who had dedicated every moment of his life to Japan, was now setting aside time for something else?

Not only was he changing his diet, but now this?

What was happening to their father?

“For Kanata Soranaki…”

“He set aside time…?”

—Even on their birthdays, Ouma would only prepare a gift but wouldn’t come home.

“And speaking of a partner… I would like to arrange for a mother figure for Rouga and Riru, but… hmm? What’s wrong, you two?”

Ouma’s gaze landed on them.

Under that piercing look, Rouga and Riru could only remain silent, their frustration evident.

—As half-wolves, their sharp canine teeth bit down so hard they tore into their own flesh.

“What’s really wrong? I might be a foolish revenge-driven demon, but at least let me pretend to be a father. If something’s troubling you, speak up.”

“…No, it’s nothing, Boss.”

Rouga replied, his fists clenched tightly.

“Then, Boss… what’s the third reason we’re not allowed to lay a hand on Kanata Soranaki?”

He forced out the question, his voice stiff with suppressed emotion, as if something primal and incomprehensible was raging inside him.

“Ah, I haven’t explained that yet, have I?”

In a flat voice, Ouma delivered his answer clearly:

“Because you wouldn’t win.”

“!”

“The only one worthy of facing him… is me.”

“…!”

In that instant, blood splattered from Rouga’s fist.

His nails had dug so deeply into his palm that they pierced the skin.

“Rouga?”

“Thank you for your answer.”

Rouga bowed respectfully, then tightly grabbed his sister’s hand and left the office.

Riru followed, her usual blank expression unchanged, but the hand that gripped Rouga’s was tense, with veins bulging visibly.

“Brother.”

“Yeah, I know.”

—We’ll kill Kanata Soranaki.

The siblings’ thoughts were in perfect sync.

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[Tips]

Rouga Shiranui:

A young man with distinctive silver wolf ears. A demi-human. Age 18.

Born as a result of a twisted experiment by the Medium organization ‘Inverted Cross,’ where women were forced to bear children through [Werewolf] spirits, turning him into a tool for slaughter.

Five years ago, he was rescued by Ouma Shiranui during an attack on the organization and became his adopted son.

Though his words and actions are rough, he holds deep respect and affection for his father.

The arrival of Kanata Soranaki shattered his mental stability.

Riru Shiranui:

A young girl with distinctive silver wolf ears. A demi-human. Age 12.

Shares the same tragic origins as her brother, Rouga.

Unlike her brother, Riru suffers from stunted growth, leaving her body frail and small, and her speech slow and hesitant.

She loves her adoptive father, Ouma Shiranui, with all her heart.

The arrival of Kanata Soranaki shattered her mental stability.

Demi-Humans:

A general term for beings who are not entirely human.

Primarily refers to those with bloodlines linked to Conceptual Spirits.

Many demi-humans are emotionally or psychologically unstable. Before Ouma Shiranui became the Supreme Commander of the Spirit Conductor Agency, all demi-humans with Conceptual Spirit ancestry within three degrees of relation were sentenced to execution.

Even now, while Ouma has eased those harsh measures, demi-humans whose personalities or biological traits make them irredeemable and cause significant harm to people or the environment remain subject to execution.

As a result, discrimination against them persists.

Initially, there were debates about whether Kanata Soranaki could be classified as a demi-human.

Tanaka:

The elderly butler of the Shiranui family.

Deeply concerned about Ouma’s well-being, Tanaka has repeatedly reprimanded him for his complete disregard for his own health. However, Ouma rarely listens, and Tanaka had almost given up on convincing him.

For this reason, Ouma Shiranui’s recent changes have shocked Tanaka just as much as the silver wolf siblings.

Internally, Tanaka feels a sense of gratitude toward Kanata Soranaki.

Ouma Shiranui:

A patriot and a vengeance-driven demon. He lives solely to strengthen Japan and crush the empire.

He is fully aware of his monstrous nature.

Because of this, he has always neglected his own well-being. However, upon meeting Kanata Soranaki (Second Timeline), not as a “target to kill” but as a “rival he refuses to lose to,” his health has gradually started to improve.

This unexpected change, however, has completely shattered the mental stability of his family.

Kanata Soranaki:

A guy who knows nothing about any of this. Somehow, the Shiranui family just kind of self-destructed on its own…

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I’m so happy to have received my first Supporters’ Gift…!