Chapter 65 – A Bold Statement

Yuki Аsutо wаs not a villain.

Тhе moment hе realizеd this, Таtеkаwа Masаyoshi fеlt аshamеd оf his оwn injustiсе.

Hе was in аwe of Yuki’s mаgnаnimitу in fоrgiving him so reаdily.

Вut that alonе wоuldn’t settle his own feеlings.

(I gоtta do something to rерay him…)

For Masауoshi, who hаd beеn thinking just thаt, thе рroposals frоm Yuki were а gоdsеnd.

The first рrорosal wаs to join thе newly establishеd Guild.

Мasaуоshi agrеed to this withоut a secоnd thought.

Не was leaving the Shisei Guild аnywау, sо joining аnother Guild wаsn’t аn issuе.

And if that Guild wаs under Yuki Аsutо’s influеnсе, it was mоrе thаn he соuld have hoped for.

The second was a request to protect Ginzan Makoto, even if just for today.

Masayoshi readily agreed to this as well.

The Shisei Guild had used the forbidden technique, the Parasitic Tree. Moreover, if their target was still alive, it was entirely plausible they would attack without restraint.

The problem was the third proposal.

“Mr. Yuki, what are you planning to do?”

Yuki was about to venture alone into enemy territory.

He wasn’t just going to the Guild headquarters.

It was the place where he would likely face the most hostility right now.

He had not a single ally.

Everyone around him would be an enemy.

And they were all opponents he couldn’t hope to match in terms of Hunter prowess.

Masayoshi could only imagine a future where Yuki would be swallowed by the enemy.

Yet, Yuki did not change his decision.

(He must be that unwavering in his convictions…)

“…That’s so cool.”

Watching Yuki’s back as he left, Masayoshi muttered unconsciously.

“Life would be easier if he just went with the flow, but he never bends his beliefs. He must be a pretty clumsy guy, huh?”

“Yeah. But it’s cool.”

“Mhm, mhm.”

“Mr. Ginzan, did you fall for that part of him too?”

“My, aren’t you rude.”

Ginzan put on an angry face he seemed to have crafted, placing his hands on his hips.

Then, his expression suddenly softened.

“You know, I’ve fallen for Asuto—all of him, the good parts and the bad parts.”

It was the smile of a maiden in love.

○

Asuto, having gotten out of the taxi, headed towards the massive building before him—the television station.

Himuro Seiya of the Shisei Guild was currently in this building.

He was scheduled to appear live as a commentator on an evening wide-show program.

Asuto was currently suspected of being the Hound Dog Hunter killer.

Himuro was the one who had cast this suspicion.

Using his influence, he had raised smoke where there was no fire.

Thanks to that, Asuto faced a storm of slander and defamation online.

He was also under suspicion by the Hunter Association and had been driven to the point where, if he didn’t appear before them today, his license would be revoked.

(I’ll pay back this debt with interest.)

Near the entrance of the television station, he sensed four strong presences.

They were Himuro’s entourage members.

Their role here was to stop any nuisance—namely, Asuto.

It was the insurance Himuro had set up in case Uzuki failed.

If he got held up here, he’d miss his chance to make it to the stage on time.

“Kanzaki—”

“Yes, I’m here.”

The moment he called her name, Kanzaki appeared immediately.

He had summoned her to this location beforehand, but…

(Still, her timing is incredible. I couldn’t sense her presence at all, could I?)

She appeared before he could even ask, ‘Are you there?’ startling him.

To begin with, Asuto hadn’t been able to detect any sign of her approach beforehand.

Even though his focus had been forward, he shouldn’t have been careless enough to let someone enter his effective range unnoticed.

Nevertheless, she had approached him effortlessly.

It just showed how much Kanzaki’s True Strength had increased.

(Just how much stronger did she get in such a short time…?)

Standing beside her, he could feel her increased imposing presence.

Compared to before, Kanzaki had grown frighteningly stronger.

“Members of the Shisei Guild are over there. They’ll probably try to interfere if we get close.”

In fact, the last time he had reached this point, he had been held up and missed the perfect timing.

(That’s why, this time, Asuto decided to ask for Kanzaki’s assistance.)

Since being killed by Uzuki, Asuto had used Return four times.

Twice during the confrontation with Uzuki, and twice after coming to the television station, he had died and returned.

This was his third attempt to break into the television station.

The insurance the Shisei Guild had set up in case their plan failed was so thorough that it had taken four deaths and returns to break through.

But this was the last time.

His preparations for the opponent’s cards were complete.

Nothing was lacking anymore.

“Can I leave holding them off to you?”

“If it is your command.”

“Huh?”

Asuto’s expression stiffened.

Huh, are we in that kind of commanding relationship?

Asuto and Kanzaki were not in a master-servant relationship.

But there was no time to question it now.

Suppressing the urge to correct her, he let it slide.

“You said ‘hold them off’… but Mr. Yuki, it’s fine if I just defeat all of them, right?”

“Eh…”

Asuto froze at this bold statement.