Surviving in a World Teeming with Monsters with the Useless Skill 【Everyday Items Master】! I Was Just Hunting Wild Animals with a Crowbar, So Why Is Everyone Screaming It's an S-Rank Monster? - 118

Chapter 118: Koto Ashura

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He had been dreaming of his father.

Shuuya, who had been abandoned by his parents and raised in a facility, had been an unruly and violent child. Part of that was because the facility itself was corrupt, with abuse being a daily occurrence.

Whether it was fortune or misfortune, Shuuya had been strong even as a child. He was strong enough to beat down the abusive staff members using nothing more than a stick and a rubber band gun.

Because he had fought and subdued everything around him at the facility, Shuuya did not trust adults in the slightest when he was taken in by Rakan Koufukuji, the man who would become his father.

To the distrustful Shuuya, his father had said this.

“Hah? You don’t trust me? Gahahahaha! Good, good! You shouldn’t trust people so easily! Gahahahaha!”

While rubbing his proud bald head and scrunching up his already wrinkled face even further, his father laughed. His father had been a temple priest. Though he had married, he had not been blessed with children, and his wife had recently passed away.

“Sorry about that. I know it’s better to have a mother around too, but she passed not too long ago. I’ve got no intention of marrying anyone else, so I hope just me is good enough for you.”

At first, Shuuya had thought of him as a strange adult. He had been cautious. But for better or worse, Rakan had a hands-off approach. They never went hungry, and their home environment was comfortable. That said, it wasn’t as if he was never around—come nightfall, he would always be in the living room.

So whenever Shuuya found himself exhausted from dealing with his overly clingy new older sister or his needy twin younger sisters, he would often complain to his father.

“Hah? Saya is annoying? Ain’t that fine? That means you’re in your popular phase! Ain’t she cute, waddling around like that at her age? Gahahahaha!”

“The twins follow you everywhere? That just means they adore you. Be good to them. Before you know it, they’ll be hitting their rebellious phase and won’t be so cute anymore. Gahahaha!”

His father’s advice was never particularly useful. But perhaps that was exactly why someone like Shuuya—who had always pushed back against pressure—was able to gradually become part of the Koufukuji family.

The distance between him and his father was just right. And with his newly acquired sisters, he never felt lonely. In time, Shuuya came to feel at ease in the Koufukuji household.

Then, the problem struck suddenly. His older sister Saya came home, soaked to the bone. When he asked her what happened, she refused to say a word.

So Shuuya took it upon himself to investigate at school. There, he discovered that Saya had been bullied—and he found out exactly who was behind it. The very next day, Shuuya sent every last one of them to the hospital.

“Shuuya, you sure raised hell.”

His father had said it casually on the way back from the juvenile detention center. When he had first heard Shuuya was arrested, he’d rushed over in a panic. Yet now, on the walk home, he was laughing just like always.

Shuuya had said something in return—he couldn’t remember what. And to that, his father had said.

“Shuuya, if you’re that strong, how about you learn something? Like kendo or something.”

Shuuya had been dumbfounded by the suggestion. He asked all kinds of things. 

Isn’t violence wrong? Wasn’t he angry? Shouldn’t he be punishing him?

In response, his father had patted his head and said.

“If you hadn’t done it, I would’ve. Thanks for protecting the family, Shuuya.”

Hearing those words, Shuuya thought to himself. 

I want to be like my father. Someone warm, generous, and strong.

Snapping out of a brief blackout, Shuuya realized the ruins had collapsed from an explosion. He pushed aside rubble and stood up. Pain wracked his body, but if it was only this much, he’d heal quickly enough.

“More importantly… Monobe.”

He scanned the area and found him. Nearby, an umbrella lay on the ground. Monobe was bleeding from the back of his head. He had probably tried to defend himself but got blown away and hit his head against a pillar.

He would be easy to finish in this state.

With that thought, Shuuya popped open the cylinder of his revolver and dropped the empty casings. He casually grabbed new bullets from his gear and reloaded with practiced speed. He aimed. At that moment, Monobe mumbled in his sleep.

“Luna… I’ll definitely… Save you…”

“…”

Shuuya glared at him.

“Monobe. Your perspective is too narrow.”

With hatred in his eyes, he continued.

“Do you have any idea how much damage your little family act has caused? A terrorist bombing at the Ministry of Defense, and nearly a thousand people suffering from brainwashing.”

Clenching the grip tightly, Shuuya went on.

“That disaster of a being you dote on like a daughter… That’s what she is.”

Monobe didn’t regain consciousness. Even though he could have shot him and ended it right there, for some reason, Shuuya didn’t.

“And that’s not all. If left unchecked, the Offspring might summon an SSS-class entity. If that happens, a large part of Japan’s territory will be lost. Countless lives will be affected.”

Shuuya continued on.

“That’s why we’re recovering the Offspring. Things beyond human control should be handled by the government. What’s wrong with that?”

Monobe didn’t move. Shuuya grit his teeth. He found himself wondering why he was talking to someone unconscious.

“Two to the torso, one to the skull.”

He recited the routine. His mind settled. He was ready.

“It’s over, Monobe.”

He pulled the trigger. But just then, Monobe sprang up.

【Close Umbrella】

“!?”

It happened in an instant—too fast for Shuuya to follow with his gun. Monobe vanished from his sight. The bullet missed and shattered rubble. Monobe landed behind him.

“What does that have to do with anything?”

【Crowbar Warhammer】

The crowbar’s tip smashed into Shuuya’s shoulder.

“Gah—you bastard—!”

“Let me ask you this, Koufukuji. If one of your sisters hurt someone, would you calmly send them off to prison?”

Shuuya stumbled backward, trying to put distance between them.

“O-of course… If they committed a crime, then it’s only right that they be punished for their crime…!”

“Oh yeah? Then why don’t all of you turn yourselves in right now? You killed all my comrades.”

“What are you saying, this is the quarantine zone—!”

“Yeah, exactly. No laws here. So why should Luna’s misbehavior be handled by the government? I can scold her myself and that’s the end of it.”

Regaining his footing, Shuuya drew his blade.

“Because dangerous powers must be suppressed.”

His wounds had begun to heal. Taking a deep breath, he answered. Monobe scowled.

“Says who?”

“It’s self-evident truth. Dangerous powers hurt the innocent. That’s why they must be contained. There’s no valid reason to leave them unchecked.”

“Sure, maybe. But whether something should be left alone and whether it should be suppressed—those are two different things.”

Monobe hoisted his crowbar. He, too, adjusted his breathing. The next moment, the two clashed. They stepped forward at the exact same time—Shuuya slashing with his sword, Monobe swinging the bar.

【Sudden Slash】【Crowbar Warhammer】

Metal struck metal with a screeching wail. Their weapons were knocked aside, but they immediately clashed again. As they exchanged blow after blow, they shouted at each other.

“Then you answer me, Monobe! Why shouldn’t that dangerous ability to brainwash others be suppressed!?”

“Talent, inborn traits.. They don’t flourish under suppression! Suppression method bounds to backfire! What, are you gonna lock a dog inside and force it to study instead of letting it out for a walk, Koufukuji!?”

“Don’t spout nonsense!”

“You’re the one who doesn’t get it!”

No matter how many times they clashed sword and hammer, they made no progress. So, as Monobe knocked his sword aside with the bar, Shuuya quickly aimed his revolver.

“Two to the torso, one to the skull.”

Monobe had just delivered a powerful strike, leaving himself wide open. Shuuya didn’t hesitate to take advantage of that opening.

【Triple Shot】【Open Umbrella】

But Monobe kicked a plastic umbrella lying nearby into the air, opening it with just his foot. The bullets bounced off the airborne umbrella. It spun in the air. Monobe charged with his crowbar, a serious expression on his face.

“No human can live without confronting who they are!”

【Crowbar Warhammer】【Willow】

Shuuya redirected the crowbar with his blade. But Monobe had predicted the parry—and swung back immediately.

“Luna is the same! Even with her brainwashing power, she has to face it and live with it! Sure, it’s dangerous, but so what!? Then how is she any different from you or me!?”

“Hah…!? Monobe, are you saying you can’t distinguish between brainwashing and our combat skills!?”

“Why should I!? Do you play chess or something? Don’t you know in shogi, you can reuse captured pieces!?”

Thrown by Monobe’s absurd logic, Shuuya faltered. Violence and brainwashing—both affected others. In that sense, they were the same. Violence was simple. You didn’t use it on allies, and using it on enemies was considered justice. Monobe continued.

“It’s like a blade! You just have to face it, think about it, teach her how to use it! What’s with all this suppression crap!? Do you know how many people had their lives ruined because of that!?”

Overwhelmed by Monobe’s passion, Shuuya found himself on the defensive. He wavered as Monobe pressed him. Parrying desperately, he shouted back.

“Then is it okay if someone else’s life gets ruined in the process!? Is it okay if someone ends up resenting you, and that resentment destroys everything you care about!?”

【Parry】

Shuuya knocked the crowbar aside and went in for a slash.

“We suppress dangerous talents because there are things worth protecting! Can you truly guide the Offspring!? Are you saying she’s no danger at all!? Answer me, Monobe!”

【Big Slash】

With a powerful downward swing, Shuuya tried to cleave Monobe in half along with his weapon.

“I don’t know! I’m not perfect! There’ll be things I can’t do—but still!”

Monobe narrowly dodged, gasping for air, and shouted.

“Still! I don’t want to hurt Luna just because of some duty or responsibility!”

Swinging his bar with a roar, he cried.

“I want Luna to be happy! Sure, I don’t know how far I can go as her parent figure—but she’s important to me! I want to fight for her!”

Desperate. Monobe was desperate through and through. No immortality, poor physical endurance, already wounded—yet he stood firm against Shuuya.

And at that moment, Shuuya suddenly recalled his father. How he had rushed over when Shuuya was arrested. How he never scolded him, and simply stood by his side.

“Even so!”

Shuuya shouted.

“What if she might hurt others?! If you can protect her and the people around her only by suppressing her—then isn’t that what must be done!?”

He struck the bar away with a powerful 【Parry】. Exposing a huge opening, he aimed his gun at Monobe’s forehead. This was Shuuya’s surefire finishing move.

【Point-Blank Shot】

“You’re so damn loud…!”

Just before Shuuya pulled the trigger, Monobe spoke.

“You sound just like my dad.”

Those words… Froze Shuuya completely.

“Wha-…”

“ORAAGH!”

Monobe struck Shuuya’s hand with the crowbar. The gun flew from his loosened grip. Shuuya tried to swing his sword in a panic, but Monobe kicked his wrist, and then knocked the blade from his hand as well.

“Ugh—damn it—”

“Give it up, Koufukuji!”

The crowbar was raised high. Shuuya knew he couldn’t block a Master Skill strike with his bare hands. As that red flash came down, Shuuya murmured.

“I said… The same thing as your dad?”

The man he’d looked down on so much—was Shuuya saying the same things? Which meant—

“Was I saying the opposite…Of what my father said…?”

That shocking realization pierced his skull. As he realized his mission had failed, Shuuya’s consciousness faded into darkness.

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