Chapter 80: Run's Revenge
After receiving the Minister's order, Wild Hunt began to move. But unlike the Jaegers, who actively sought out troublemakers and suppressed surrounding rebellions, they chose a different method.
They enjoyed the pleasure of wanton violence and slaughter, while also looking forward to becoming targets themselves. This way, if Night Raid took the initiative to attack, they would be saved the effort of looking for them.
But their opponents were, after all, all Teigu users. Night Raid would not act without first understanding their capabilities. However, they had not expected Wild Hunt's acts of violence to reach such an unprecedented level. A large number of citizens could no longer bear it and commissioned Night Raid to assassinate them.
And now, having obtained intelligence on the other party, the members of Night Raid finally decided to move out.
"The target is—"
"The group from Wild Hunt, who have committed every evil imaginable!"
"Bury them!"
All members of Night Raid, dispatched!
Run was not a person who could hide his thoughts well. Or perhaps it was because he was about to kill the murderer of his students with his own hands that his emotions were in great turmoil.
Late at night.
He walked alone on the empty street, his steps slow yet unwavering, indicating that he had made up his mind about what he was about to do.
But his movements were noticed by Kurome. She chased after him and asked loudly, "Run, where are you going?"
Run stopped in his tracks but did not turn back.
But Kurome had already deduced the general situation from his recent abnormal behavior. "You're not going to Wild Hunt's base, are you? Of course, not to switch sides after all your recent fawning, but because the murderer of your students is in Wild Hunt. I'm right, aren't I?"
During the time Esdeath and Kobayashi were on the island, Run had told Kurome and Wave about his ambition. —In order to avenge his students and change the rule of the Empire, he must hold great power.
But now, he was acting so abnormally.
"So my expression has allowed you to deduce so much," Run said, turning his head. His helpless and mournful expression spoke of the pain and anger in his heart.
Kurome was suddenly stunned.
She knew that expression very well; she had even experienced it many times. It was the expression she only showed when she had lost a companion.
She gritted her teeth and said, "I will assist you. No matter how you look at it, those guys are not for the good of the country. What's more, they are harming the people of the Capital even though it's not a mission. I will absolutely not forgive them!"
"...Thank you, Kurome."
Run did not refuse his companion's kindness.
Kobayashi had also said that he could rely on external help; there was no need to face Wild Hunt alone. Night Raid was, in its own way, another set of companions meant to share his burden. Now, with the more reliable Kurome by his side, he was even more confident in killing Champ with his own hands.
"By the way, Wave doesn't know about this, right?"
"Wave hasn't noticed at all."
"It's better that way. Acting privately like this doesn't suit him."
Like Kobayashi, Run thought highly of the kind and simple-hearted Wave, so he didn't want him to get involved in a matter of personal grudge.
"By the way, Kobayashi and the Captain don't know either, right?"
"The Captain took Kobayashi back to her room early on. I don't know what they're doing."
"...It's better that you don't know."
The two chatted casually as they arrived at Wild Hunt's base.
"Good evening. Pardon the intrusion."
Run pushed the main door open naturally. From his appearance, it seemed he had been here many times.
His arrival caused the members of Wild Hunt to turn their gazes towards him.
"Oh my, if it isn't little Run. You're here again."
Cosmina's eyes lit up. She stood up and came to his side, taking his arm and pressing her fine figure against him.
"I say, I say, isn't it about time you spent a passionate night with me?"
"Ahaha, if you agree to let me join Wild Hunt, I will definitely..."
She, who enjoyed toying with men, had had her eyes on him for a long time. Unfortunately, Run was very smooth and would not take the bait.
Enshin, seeing this, was somewhat contemptuous and mocked in a low voice, "Fawning on her so desperately..."
He was a pirate who had dominated the Southern Islands. He was proud and powerful, and had joined Wild Hunt only because he had a good relationship with Syura. That was all.
Run just smiled, not refuting.
He then looked around and asked curiously, "Huh? Where are the others?"
At this moment, only Cosmina, Enshin, and his target, Champ, were at the base. If he wanted to make a move, he had to know the whereabouts of the others.
Cosmina said boisterously, "They went to Syura's house. It seems he got a harsh scolding from the Minister."
"Is that so," Run said in realization.
It was certain that he would be scolded. To have made a move on Esdeath... if it wasn't handled properly, it could easily cause a rift between the two sides. That was something the Minister would absolutely not allow.
Syura was not here, and half of his subordinates were also gone.
This was a heaven-sent opportunity!
Suppressing his feelings, Run walked towards Champ in the corner. Under the other's wary gaze, he leaned in and whispered a few words in his ear.
Champ's eyes shone with a strong light. He asked eagerly, "Oh, really?!"
"Mmm, it's true," Run smiled and said, "How about it? Want to go and see with me?"
"Of course! Let's go, quickly!"
Champ wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth.
The two of them hurried away. Cosmina didn't react, but Enshin couldn't help but frown.
Out on the street.
"Hey, Run! Are we there yet? To the place with the super cute kids?!"
"We're almost there, Mr. Champ."
Run walked gracefully and briskly ahead.
Champ snickered, "You're really good at flattering, Run. First you offered up your wealth, and now you're helping me find prey."
"Because this is a good opportunity to get ahead."
Run used his usual excuse. And it was because of this that he had gained their trust.
Champ also believed him. He began to fantasize, "Ah, I wonder what kind of children they are. I really want to dote on them."
Run paused slightly.
"...After doting on them, why do you kill them?"
"That's, of course, to prevent the little angels from becoming filthy adults!"
Champ seemed to have a strange theory of his own, speaking eloquently to Run about his love for children, completely unaware that Run's hands had already turned pale and blue from clenching them so tightly.
The two arrived at a ruin.
"Hey! What's going on?! Isn't this a ruin? There's not a single child here!"
"Do you... still remember what you said when you were drunk?"
"Huh?!"
"In your hometown, about how you attacked the children and then killed them all."
After Kobayashi had given him the intelligence, he had probed Champ from the side. Finally, after getting him drunk, he had revealed everything, confirming it for Run.
"Ah, that."
Champ still didn't know that he was enveloped in killing intent and was still savoring the memory. "Mmm, there were quite a few of them at that time. I passed my love on to them properly. Even now, the memory makes my heart flutter... Wait! That has nothing to do with what's happening now, right?!"
"Of course it has something to do with it! Because I am... those children's... teacher!"
Run roared, and his Teigu suddenly activated.
Countless feathers transformed into sharp knives and flew towards Champ, completely enveloping him.
"W-wait...!"
Champ hurriedly dodged, but his posture was completely distorted, and it was impossible to avoid them all. Not only that, he couldn't even counter-attack!
"I know it. The weakness of your Teigu," Run said, floating in mid-air, looking at him coldly. "Your Teigu is very powerful and has many effects, but it's meaningless if you don't have time to throw your weapons."
Countless feathers rained down from the sky like a heavy downpour, overwhelming Champ and making it impossible for him to resist. He could only desperately guard his vital points.
In just a few seconds, he had been turned into a pincushion.
Finally, his body gave out, and he collapsed on the ground, unable to get up again.
"It really... it really has been a long time..."
Run said softly, as if reminiscing, "I have waited for this moment for a long time. But compared to the pain the children suffered, this is nothing."
He took out a pure white flower from his pocket.
"Wh-what are you doing?!" Champ wanted to run, but he couldn't move at all.
Run pressed the flower hard against his wound, using so much force that the flower's juices were squeezed out.
"It hurts, hurts, hurts, hurts, hurts—!!!"
Champ's painful howl pierced the sky. He shouted, "What is this? It hurts so much!!!"
"This is a plant that can cause intense pain when applied to a wound. I specifically asked the Captain about it."
Run took out a small knife and widened Champ's wound.
His intellect and elegance were gone in this moment. A wicked smile curled up on his lips.
"—Come, the revenge begins."
(End of Chapter)