There's a switch inside the human brain.
It's the killer switch.
Normally, I'm off.
The so-called normal, everyday state.
Turn it ON in case of an emergency.
A so-called emergency.
Dead or Alive—abandoning common sense for the sake of survival. Forgetting legal penalties and becoming capable of unrestrained violence. Reaching a psychological state where even murder is permissible.
A skilled soldier can smoothly switch this on and off.
Anytime, anywhere, if you decide to do it, you'll be able to plunge a knife into your target's vital spot in seconds.
I recall the practices that took place in the secret room.
As a result of accumulating steps and repetitions, my switch has become very light.
Switching between them without hesitation, with just a blink of an eye.
Without needing to explain why, he could break his target's neck as easily as breathing.
To ordinary people, we probably looked like demons.
In fact, I recall being mocked in that way by a public security officer just the other day.
—I thought he was a genuine killer created by the Soviet Union, like a Terminator.
I cannot completely deny that.
It certainly probably looked that way.
But... this isn't an excuse or anything, but I think it's a huge overestimation.
Because I, and even the cruel Veronica, had a switch.
No matter how lightweight it was, it had an OFF function.
If it were a real Terminator, there wouldn't be a switch at all.
That is the limit of human beings. No matter how ruthless we become, no matter how much we train, no matter how accustomed we become to killing in practice, we can never truly become killing machines.
--But that's how it should be.
Even now, I still can't fully understand it. There was once one exceptional woman in that secret room.
She was definitely a human being, yet the switch itself was missing.
Or perhaps it's been "ON" ever since birth.
From the very first moment she was brought to the secret room, she was able to make the decision to take the life of a living creature in zero seconds.
—I am invincible.
It wasn't just bravado.
It wasn't an exaggeration to show off their enthusiasm.
Her mental fortitude was impenetrable from the start, she was blessed with physical abilities, and above all, she possessed the flexibility to absorb techniques like a sponge.
A combat machine equipped with an algorithm that moves straight ahead towards completing its mission. It accumulates victories and survives even the harshest battlefields. She was truly invincible.
At least all the guinea pigs thought so, and of course I did too.
Until the day she is executed.
"Game over!"
The mock battle ended, and the man, bleeding from his nose, bowed his head.
"Grrr... Thank you for your guidance!"
"thank you very much"
The girl, who bowed with a cool expression, was unharmed. The winner, who overwhelmed the burly man with her delicate physique, was named Reze.
He is also acting as the instructor for this simulated battle.
"Well then..."
Turning my head, I saw the Public Security Devil Hunters lined up along the wall of the dojo.
Half of his expression was grim, the other half serious.
That's surprising, Reze thought.
Given that a young girl from out of nowhere was suddenly appointed as their instructor, and that their representative had just been humbled, their resentment is rather weak.
"As you can see, there's a big difference between a rule-bound battle against another person and a no-holds-barred battle against a demon. Do you understand that now?"
"...wall"
Before the mock battle, Reze said this:
"How seriously do you want me to teach you?"
Those words rubbed the Public Security Devil Hunters the wrong way. They, too, are warriors who risk their lives every day fighting demons, and they couldn't just ignore such remarks, no matter how much their opponent was a professional agent who had received elite training in a military state.
"Show me your true potential, Sensei."
A bald giant appeared before Reze, snapping his fingers.
Among the many members of the Anti-Demon Division, she was the foremost of the combatants, having won numerous trophies at national karate tournaments—in other words, she was the perfect opponent for Reze to demonstrate her skills against.
"Understood"
The man is over 190cm tall. Reze, on the other hand, appears to be just an ordinary high school girl. The difference in their physiques is equivalent to that of a parent and child, and the sight of the two facing each other looks like nothing more than a cruel joke if you apply common sense to it.
"Is a mock battle okay?"
"Of course! I mean, aren't you going to become a demon? You could become a bomb demon, couldn't you?"
"It's fine as it is."
"...Are you kidding me?"
"This is a simulated battle. When it comes to technical discussions, it's easier to understand when it's between humans, right?"
"Oh, really?"
The man's temples were twitching.
Reze remained unfazed.
"Let's make it a best-of-three match, two minutes each."
"Unlimited is fine too?"
"I want to play three rounds with different rules."
"Hmm... What are the rules?"
"The first round will be karate only. The second round will allow all kinds of unarmed combat, including striking, throwing, and grappling."
"What about the third one?"
Anything goes.
"...Well, never mind. Let's just get started."
The mock battle has begun.
In the first round, Reze was on the defensive the entire time until it was up.
The second round was almost evenly matched. The game continued without either player landing a decisive blow.
The spectators' reaction was, "He handled it well." Considering the difference in physique, the result clearly showed a significant gap in skill. However, being a devil hunter is a life-risking profession, and demons don't take differences in physique into consideration.
I can't feel any respect for an instructor who is only on par with me.
The gazes directed at Reze as she returned to the starting line of the dojo remained cold.
Just before the third round began, Reze pulled out a piece of paper.
"This is a duel oath."
To put it bluntly, it was a promise that "no matter what the outcome, I won't complain."
Of course, that piece of paper doesn't override the law. If you cause serious injury, you'll be held responsible.
However, Reze is a weaponized human.
It was clearly stated that no matter how broken or cut it was, it would recover once the pin was removed, and it was also explicitly stated that Reze would not sue. Furthermore, the name "Kishibe" was thoughtfully listed in the section for those jointly responsible.
"What is this?"
"It's exactly as it reads."
"Are you a masochist?"
"Oh no, that's not true. This is just a procedure to reach a common understanding."
"Huh?"
"Even if you say anything goes, you won't really understand it if it's just talk, will you? I can tell from the two matches so far. You only see me as a cocky little girl, don't you?"
"So what do you mean... you want me to kill them? Are you sure? I've even exterminated humanoid demons before."
"Go ahead, think of it that way. This is real combat, I'm a demon, I'll gouge out your eyes if you give me the chance."
"Do you think that'll scare me? ...Don't underestimate me."
And then the third two minutes passed.
Reze won overwhelmingly.
The slightest movement of her joints, the direction of her toes, and the direction of her gaze spoke more eloquently than any words could conveyed Leze's intentions.
I'll blind you.
I'll rip your ears off.
It wasn't that the man was intimidated by the genuine malice unleashed upon him. Yet, there was only one reason why he had to go on the defensive: Reze had launched a reckless offensive that was willing to result in a mutual kill.
I don't care if I lose, I'll just cripple them.
I don't care if it kills them, I want to inflict a wound that will last a lifetime.
...There's no way an ordinary human being would fall for such a foolish game. Moreover, this is just a mock battle, not a battle that absolutely cannot be lost.
Abandoning strategic thinking by using immortality as a shield—frankly speaking, in a combat situation, that's a ruthless move.
However, not a single public security officer complained.
Such outrageous aggression is something only certain demons possess. As a devil hunter, I must naturally be able to deal with it. In other words, saying "we couldn't deal with it because it was used by a human weapon equipped with combat skills" is unacceptable. Public safety devil hunters are the shield that protects citizens from all evil forces.
"So, everyone, please be more cowardly."
"What should I have done? ...No, was it okay?"
"In this particular case, I should have kept a weapon hidden all along. If I had suddenly stabbed or shot it, my chances of winning would have increased. Or I could have had someone watching join in and ganged up on me."
"No, no, this is just a mock battle, right?"
"that's why?"
"But even so...the rules..."
At least in the places where I was educated, there were people who did that much, she said.
The instructors there apparently turned a blind eye. They didn't want someone who would fail due to a lack of foresight in any situation.
"Anything goes. At least if you really wanted to win this time, you should have done that. ...I'm saying you should always have options like that in mind."
"..."
"Above all, please do your best to survive. That will allow more citizens to be saved."
@
"That's harsh."
As I went down the stairs, a huge man with a crew cut was standing there.
He was a man I knew well.
The man who gave me a tour of the Devil Hunter headquarters in Tokyo just the other day.
"Well, it's my job."
I gave a slight bow and walked beside him.
His strides are short, and he's matching my pace.
I'm pretty sure he said that his best friend, a junior from high school, died because of me.
I glanced up and our eyes met.
"...I don't hold a grudge."
After saying only that, he fell silent, looking sullen.
The sound of two sets of footsteps continued to ring out.
...Hmm.
I wonder if the previous incident made you think about something.
If that's the case, it's way too easy.
"There's a lot of media coverage about me on TV right now... but I shouldn't let myself be influenced by all that, right?"
"I saw it with my own eyes."
"I only saved one child."
"Yeah, that's what any Public Security Devil Hunter would do."
"Then..."
"But not just anyone can become a Devil Hunter for the Public Security Bureau."
"...Haa"
The man's expression remained stern. He seemed to be hesitating about something, feeling ashamed of something.
He just kept walking beside me, avoiding eye contact.
"Thank you"
It wasn't uncomfortable.
After parting ways with the man, I entered the designated archives room, where Ms. Kishibe was standing.
"You guys should go on a trip during your next vacation."
It came out of nowhere.
"I'll give you the money."
"No, no, I haven't submitted any applications."
"I've already let it through."
"I'm surprised they even approved it..."
Dangerous people like us.
Now, what exactly is going on here? Kishibe isn't the type to proactively arrange leisure time for his subordinates. So, did someone higher up order it? Something like, "Give the former Soviet agent, who just caused trouble recently, the Control Devil, and Chainsaw Man—all such sensitive beings—a fulfilling holiday."
That's impossible.
I suspected something was up, so I tried to trick him.
"Oh, Denji said he wanted to go to Enoshima."
"No."
"Why? I'm allowed to travel, right?"
"Enoshima is in Kanagawa Prefecture, isn't it? It's not under my jurisdiction."
"Then maybe a leisure facility in Tokyo?"
"Rejected"
Hmm, I see.
It has to be in Tokyo, where risk management is easier.
And crowded places are also a no-go.
Then there's only one answer.
"So, assassins are coming?"
"I appreciate that you get straight to the point."
"Where are you coming from?"
"They're from all sorts of countries."
"Isn't that a bit too vague?"
"What can you do? We're not getting any decent information."
"Makima's intelligence network is gone now... How about training more spies?"
Kishibe lowered the window blinds with his fingers and squinted.
"There are rural areas in Tokyo too. It's called Okutama, and it's just one train ride away, with mountains and rivers. It's less like rural and more like it's just on the verge of being undeveloped land. It feels like houses are clinging to the slopes."
"So, it's okay if they act out there, right?"
"It's camping, camping. Tell Denji that."
"Just giving them one thing to look forward to makes a big difference in their motivation," Kishibe said.
How kind of you.
"This time, the Public Security Bureau will provide full support. Confront the assassins and eliminate any potential threats from behind."
"I got it"
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