I Was Blackmailed Into Accepting Bullying Using My Childhood Friend as Leverage, But When I Found Out My Friend and Bully Were Together, I Abandoned All Compassion and Swore to Take Revenge with Everything I Had - Chapter 44: Kenichi Fudo - Final Act: The Last Target of Revenge

Chapter 44: Kenichi Fudo – Final Act: The Last Target of Revenge

Emerging from the party room at the back of the cruiser was my final target for revenge… the true scum pulling the strings behind Kanamori.

“Minagawa-sensei, I sincerely thank you for taking the time to share a meal with someone as young and inexperienced as myself,” I said, bowing my head respectfully.

“Oh no, it’s I who should be thanking you. After hearing about you from Kanamori-kun, I became intrigued and asked him to arrange this meeting. No need to be so formal.”

He replied, downing his wine in one gulp. He then held his empty glass up, examining me through the curved glass.

“The first time I met you, Fudo-kun, I had the feeling we’d met somewhere before. There’s something familiar about you.”

Interesting… I had pegged him as just an old, perverted scumbag, but it seems he’s sharper than Kanamori.

“Actually, Minagawa-sensei, I’ve known of you through your works for many years. Your masterpiece, Journey to the Azure Skies, is truly a gem of modern literature. It left such an impression on me that I’ve read it countless times, considering it my personal Bible. I’ve also heard that the Imperial Household Agency is considering honoring you with a decoration.”

Minagawa, seemingly pleased by my highest praise, lowered his glass and nodded slightly.

“Come now, Kanamori-kun, Fudo-kun, it’s a rare occasion to dine together. I’ve already started with the wine, but Fudo-kun has prepared a lavish meal as well. Let’s continue our conversation in the party room.”

“Oh, that sounds wonderful! To think we get to listen to the insights of such great literary masters on modern literature!”

Kanamori, without missing a beat, delivered his sycophantic line, then pressed the “Auto-Pilot” button on the control panel of the helm. He gave me a slight nod before heading down to the party room with Minagawa.

…This is your last supper… Enjoy it while you can.

Minagawa sipped his wine, satisfied with the food I had arranged from a renowned restaurant.

“Fudo-kun, this wine is exceptional… What’s the label?”

“I believe it’s called… Montrachet. A 2004 vintage, I think… Apologies, as I’m still underage, I’m not well-versed in wine… I need to study more.”

“A M-Montrachet vintage!? Fudo-sensei!? Such a high-end wine!?” 

Kanamori exclaimed, while Minagawa, holding up his glass, squinted at the pale, greenish-tinted wine.

“Ah, I see… Montrachet… My absolute favorite wine. Among white wines, it’s the most profound and flavorful… Simply exquisite…”

With that, Minagawa poured the remaining wine into his mouth, while Kanamori began to look uneasy, glancing nervously at Minagawa.

“Kanamori-san, there’s no need to worry. It’s just you, Minagawa-sensei, and me here,” I said, flashing a broad smile.

Seeing this, the bald man—Kanamori—grinned as well, poured himself another glass of Montrachet, and took a sip.

“!? Oh, wow… This really is the pinnacle of white wine. I understand exactly what you mean, Sensei—so rich in flavor!”

The two scums, Minagawa and Kanamori, thoroughly enjoyed the four bottles of white wine I had prepared, along with the meal. They eventually moved from the party room to an adjacent lounge area.

“Sensei, would you like more red wine?”

Minagawa swirled his empty wine glass gently and handed it to me, saying, “I’d love some.” I expertly poured the wine for him.

“Are you really a high school student, Fudo-kun? Your demeanor is on par with that of a top-tier sommelier.”

Minagawa remarked, impressed by my actions. Meanwhile, Kanamori was already quite drunk, now enjoying some sake.

Minagawa cast a sidelong glance at the tipsy Kanamori, then set his half-finished wine glass on the table and turned to face me.

“Let’s get straight to the point. I want to buy one of your works, Fudo-kun, for 100 million yen.”

…Finally, he’s taken the bait… The bait I’ve been laying out for so many years…

“…Sensei, I’m afraid I don’t understand what you’re implying…”

Minagawa took another sip of his wine and then downed it in one gulp, tilting his glass as the last drops of wine dripped onto the table, leaving a small, purplish-red stain on the white porcelain surface.

“You don’t understand, huh… You’re a good liar. Your face shows confidence… But I haven’t grown old for nothing.”

“…”

“You already knew, didn’t you? That the works I’ve been publishing recently were all written by someone else… Am I wrong?”

“Sensei… Are you sure it’s wise to discuss such matters here, even if Kanamori-san, a fellow publisher, is rather inebriated?”

I glanced over at Kanamori, who was slumped on the sofa, drooling and snoring loudly.

“There’s no need to worry… Just as you suspect, Kanamori is aware and has been cooperating all along… You could say he’s an accomplice.”

Minagawa placed his empty glass on the table, sank deeper into the sofa, leaned back, and looked at me from beneath his brow, as if he were looking down on me.

“Your choice wasn’t wrong. If your editor had been someone under Kanamori’s influence, you wouldn’t have achieved this level of success. Instead, you would have been just another one of my pawns.”

This man is the worst of the worst… How many talents has he destroyed, exploiting them for his own gain?

And… he’s the one who ruined my mother with drugs, degrading her, and using her as a tool to satisfy his twisted desires…

…This scum cannot be allowed to live.