The Kansai Villain’s Rebirth: I Accidentally Ended Up With a Harem. - Chapter 143: The Former Protagonist Makes a Deal.

The Former Protagonist Makes a Deal.

The dangerous cop Tsuruhashi mentioned—the demon Toneyama. That Detective Toneyama had been tailing me…? Why the hell…? Sure, I was about to light a cigarette just now, but…!

“Regular tobacco, huh. Boring. If it’d been weed, I could’ve arrested you on the spot and maybe dragged Hineno in too.”

“U-um… I really don’t want to know, but… what’s ‘weed’?”

“Weed? Obviously marijuana, you idiot. Looks like they haven’t forced it on you yet.”

“Mari… juana…?”

When they said they’d let me try something even better once I got used to cigarettes… they meant marijuana!? I really knew nothing—absolutely nothing. No wonder they used me so easily… Hahaha…

“You jumped into this world with that much ignorance? Before long they’d have you hooked on weed or worse, selling your body to dirty old men! Hyahyahya!!”

Selling!? Me, to filthy old men…!? No way!! Absolutely not, no, no, no!!!

“That’s why I’m gonna teach you a thing or two. Listen up, then quietly crawl out of that cesspool and go back to a decent life.”

“…I can’t leave yet.”

“Oh? You telling me to arrest you?”

“That’s not it! Those guys… they’re planning to abduct my childhood friends… to gang-rape them. To stop that, I want to stay with them, find out when and how they’re planning it… and pass that information to someone I can trust.”

“Hoh… so you want to play spy. Didn’t think a soft kid like you could pull it off.”

I am soft. I didn’t even know what weed was. I had no idea why they dragged me into their world—a complete naïf who knew nothing about society. But… even so… if I can protect Mio and the others, even a little… I’m not pretending it’s atonement. Still… after all the trouble I’ve caused them… Tennouji. I need to tell him about this… and ask him to protect Mio and the girls…!

“You’re not backing down, huh? Fine by me if you get killed—I won’t take responsibility. They’re outlaws, semi-criminals. I can’t guarantee your safety.”

“Even so… I have to do this! I can’t betray the guy who still called me a friend!”

I can’t chicken out and run now. I wouldn’t be able to face Momodani…! I’m going to show some guts…! It might be the wrong choice… but if it means protecting Mio and the others, this is the only way.

“Well, if you weren’t that stubborn, I wouldn’t bother making a deal with you. Your name?”

“Imamiya… Toshiya.”

“Imamiya. I’m chasing Shien’s drug supply lines and Hineno’s marijuana source. Though Hineno smokes the stuff herself too.”

“Um… does marijuana smell kind of… sweet?”

“You’ve got a good nose. Yeah, that’s right. What, you smoked some?”

“N-no! Not me… it was… the girl who was my girlfriend…”

“Hah? Who? Spit it out.”

“…Tsuruhashi Ayumi… Tsuruhashi’s little sister.”

“Ah, the one selling herself…”

“She’d smoke it sometimes and make this… intense face. At first I thought, wow, there’s tobacco that makes you feel that good? But…”

“Blissed-out expression?”

“Yes… she looked… not normal.”

I thought she was climaxing. Her eyes glazed over, totally spaced out… and, well… it was pretty erotic. After that she’d always say she was going to meet “Daddy.” …Daddy meant sugar daddy—prostitution. I thought I’d gotten lucky at the time… but losing my virginity like that… no, it felt good, sure… but I don’t want to do it again. Apparently I didn’t even make her feel anything! Damn it! I described her expression and everything in detail.

“She was high. And the smell was different from regular cigarettes, right?”

“Yeah. Sweet… or maybe just weird.”

The moment I said that, Detective Toneyama grinned wide—creepy as hell.

“Private Second Class Imamiya… next time that idiot girl smokes and gets that doped-up look on her face, take a photo that clearly shows both her expression and whatever she’s smoking.”

“Eh, that’s all?”

“IGNORANT IGNORANT IGNORANT IGNORANT IGNORANT IGNORANT!!!! YOU’RE TOO DAMN NAIVE!!!! SHOULD I FORCE-FEED YOU A DANGO DROWNED IN SUGAR SYRUP!?”

“!?!?”

What the hell!? So loud!? He thrust his finger right in my face like he was about to headbutt me!

“She probably knows she’s smoking something illegal. Getting photographed doing it means death for her—hard evidence. And she’s surrounded by people who live outside the law. How would you feel if someone snapped a picture of you doing the same thing?”

…Yeah, I’d think, what the hell are you photographing? wonder if they’re betraying me… or ratting me out to the cops…

“Now that you say it… it’ll be hard to take the picture.”

“Use your head more. But that very ignorance might work in your favor. There’s a good chance you’ll pull it off. If you say something like ‘your face looks so erotic I could use it as jerk-off material,’ she might even let it slide.”

I don’t even want to think about Ayumi anymore… after what I overheard… same with Cha-ko… well… remembering how it felt… what am I thinking. But if Detective Toneyama moves because of this… if they get arrested beforehand, maybe they’ll never lay a hand on Rinko and the others!

“I’ll do it. If it helps protect my childhood friends even a little.”

“I’m not forcing you. And a photo alone might not be enough for an arrest. Ideally we catch them in the act. Things probably won’t go exactly as you hope. I’m not after small fry—I want Hineno to cough up her supply route, and I need to trace Shien’s drug lines too. Still, it might stir the pot a bit.”

If I can disrupt them from the inside without them knowing I’m doing it… that’s the ideal scenario. But even just making them think the police are sniffing around could slow down whatever they’re planning against Rinko, Mio, and Shina…!

“Even so… I’ll do it!”

“If anything happens, dial 110 immediately. I’ll come running as fast as I can.”

“P-please! Save me… no! Save my childhood friends!”

“My duty isn’t to protect specific individuals. It’s to safeguard innocent citizens who might fall victim in the future. You and your allies protect the people you care about. But if your life is in danger, don’t hesitate to use the full power of the state. It’s all for driving illegal drugs out of this city.”

Even if he won’t directly save us… this man is still someone I can count on. An incredibly reliable ally…!

“Detective Toneyama… I’m in your hands!”

I held out my hand for a shake. How often does a kid like me get a grown-up this dependable on his side?

“Idiot. I never said we’re teaming up. Especially not with an outlaw still hanging around that group. The police don’t shake hands with semi-criminals.”

Ow, what the hell…! I get it already! You don’t have to slap my hand away that hard! You’re seriously not cooperating!? Wait, that would be bad…!

“I can’t extend my hand that far. Protect yourself. When push comes to shove, don’t stay undercover—run like hell. Got it?”

“Understood.”

“Hmph. Well, your face has gone from goldfish turd to something almost human. Don’t overdo it.”

“I know. I’ll keep playing the clown.”

“Value your life above all. I can’t be seen talking to you any longer. I’m leaving.”

What kind of deal was this…? I barely understood what just happened. But… someone like him is at least a little on my side… right? If so, that’s reassuring. Next is… Tennouji. Momodani said he’d put in a word, but… Tennouji is Mio and the girls’ boyfriend. Everything I’ve done to him has been nothing but harm… Even so… the only one who can protect them now is Tennouji…!

“I’ve got no choice… but to do it. Then… I’ll do it…!”

Even if I can never regain the trust I lost, if I can help Tennouji even a little…!

“Monday… with Tennouji… ugh, this is depressing… no, don’t run away, me! You’re doing this!”

I slapped both cheeks hard with my hands to psych myself up. From now on, I’m starting a huge battle—with myself. I won’t run. That alone I swear.