Hiding is not something he's accustomed to.
When on Earth, Kenji was an ordinary person who lived an ordinary life. Like others, he went through elementary, middle, and high school before entering university. Then he enlisted in the military, and after graduation, found a decent job to make a living.
A commonplace, utterly ordinary daily life. That was Kenji's life.
So it was hard to adapt.
What kind of place is Kivotos? A place where explosions suddenly occur on the streets, and indiscriminate shooting happens before fistfights. Fortunately, Trinity was a place with a lower level of that, but other autonomous districts were not. Gehenna, standing in direct opposition to Trinity, was a place where terrorism, kidnapping, and robbery commonly occurred. If he had fallen into that damn place... he probably would have died before long. To the point where such thoughts arose, Kivotos was a dangerous place for Kenji.
Overcoming that was only a few months ago. His body is still a paper doll, but he's become able to cope. Somehow dodge bullets, and if he can't, minimize the damage. Then get close and pummel them.
It was a simple but effective combat method. Around the time he stayed in the mental world, Kenji thoroughly refined his fear in that direction, and succeeded. That's why he couldn't be accustomed to stealth. He never even tried it in the first place.
It's an unsuitable aspect for prey. Prey that can't hide. How is that any different from openly shouting 'Please kill me'? But what if that prey is violent enough to tear the hunter to death?
He clenched his fist. Although he lowered the power as much as possible, a threatening aura still condensed. He cast his gaze forward. Atsuko and Saori are lowering their bodies and approaching this way.
'Fast.'
He did leave traces on purpose, but. Didn't think they'd find them in less than 5 minutes. Did they learn tracking separately? He could only sigh, wondering just what they taught these middle schoolers. If an opportunity ever comes to kill Beatrice, he definitely won't let her die easily. Thinking that, Kenji sharpened his eyes coldly.
The approaching speed is unusual. Their movements are neat and efficient to the point where you'd wonder if highly trained special forces move like that. If this continues, getting caught will be momentary. Moreover, a sharp, eerie sensation has been felt from some building rooftop since earlier. A sniper. Probably Hiyori. Misaki and Azusa weren't seen separately.
His accelerated thoughts unconsciously predicted their positions, but he intentionally cut them off. If this were a real battle, he'd find the two's positions, track them down, and subdue them, but this is training, isn't it? No need to unnecessarily raise the difficulty.
The moment he thought that, the distance grew closer. No more leisure now. But Kenji smiled slightly and twisted his waist a little.
The distance is close? Just make it far again.
*Kwarururu!*
He threw a punch. An ink-colored wave spread through the air. Like drawing a picture with a brush on white paper, the ink spread and fiercely covered Saori and Atsuko. Saori, who already knew about his strange ability, and Atsuko, who had heard about it, skillfully lowered their waists to escape the wave's range.
"Oh."
Kenji let out a short exclamation at their flawless movement. Although he lowered the power as much as possible, he didn't know if that could be dodged just by dodging.
No time to keep admiring. Since the technique used to create distance was countered, the distance is closing moment by moment. He could run away by focusing fear on his legs and dashing, but for now, it seemed better to clash once. That way, they'd also gain some sense of urgency. Kenji exhaled, then pushed his foot forward.
*Bang!*
He kicked off the ground and shot forward. Not expecting him to approach, Saori frowned and quickly raised her gun muzzle. Atsuko did the same.
*Tatadatadang!*
Bullets spewed from the cold firearms. Instantly, the barrels heated up, and flames surged. The characteristically pungent smell of gunpowder drifted around. Bullets embedded in the ground kicked up dust. With fog already settled, dust rising made securing vision difficult. Saori and Atsuko stopped firing and turned their heads to find Kenji's position.
A voice came from the earpiece in their ears.
[Behind you!]
The moment it came, Saori reflexively swung her dagger.
Blocked. Her wrist was caught. Through the thick dust and fog, she saw ominously glowing black eyes. Those weren't the eyes of fleeing prey, but the eyes of a predator that tears apart everything that comes close. The alarm bell in Saori's head rang madly. Nausea rises. Is this how a rabbit placed before a lion feels?
Just a gaze. Just eye contact, yet fear overwhelms. Atsuko, who could view the situation from afar, was in better condition. She pulled Saori's shoulder back and poured bullets toward Kenji who was holding Saori's wrist.
Gunfire loud enough to tear eardrums echoed. Kenji twisted his waist sideways to dodge the bullets. But exactly one, a single sprayed bullet grazed past his cheek.
Skin tore. Fortunately, it wasn't torn deep, but enough to bleed. Kenji wiped the flowing blood with a bitter smile.
'Made a mistake.'
His thinking was short. All Kivotos students are superhumans who only feel a sting even if hit by bullets, but he isn't. If hit, he dies. If he had failed distance control just now and a bullet embedded in his forehead, he would have instantly died with no way out. Considering this is training, he should have told those kids to use rubber bullets or salt rounds instead of live ammunition.
But what can he do? Training has already started, and he can't replace all the ammunition right now.
'Guess I just have to endure today.'
Fortunately, he's accustomed to pain. No need to roll on the ground over a torn cheek. Kenji swung his arm to gather the dust obscuring his vision, then swung his leg toward Atsuko. An ink-colored tsunami flew aiming for her abdomen.
Atsuko calmly flung her body sideways. Saori moved to the opposite side and placed her finger on the trigger. Just before pulling it, she saw the red liquid flowing down Kenji's cheek.
'Blood?'
Can't be mistaken. During harsh training, skin scraping and bleeding were common, so she was familiar with blood. But just from a bullet grazing, blood flows? Does that make sense normally?
Something was strange. Leaving the trigger she was about to pull as is, Saori spoke toward Kenji.
"The woundㅡ"
"Focus."
Saori's words couldn't continue. Because Kenji threw a punch straight at her. Following that movement, fog, dust, and blood adorned the air.
But Kenji didn't mind. As blood flowed and death's crisis approached, adrenaline began secreting madly.
Effective striking point. Chin. Opening? Abdomen. Where's the gun muzzle pointing? Bandage wrapped around arm. Where is Hiyori aiming? Head? Or leg? If hit, will limbs be severed? In the slowed world, conversely, his thoughts accelerated fiercely.
The words telling her to focus weren't just for Saori. I also need to focus. If I don't, I die. That alone must be avoided. Not wanting to die here was one reason, but also because he didn't want to make these kids murderers. Even if it's an accident from a mistake, killing eats away at the heart. Unless one experiences enough killing to become numb to it.
He wiped expression from his face. Naturally, it became so. Ink seethed from Kenji's clenched fist, then burst.
White Lotus Demonic Art, Ink Flower.
An ink-colored flower bloomed before Saori. The flower bloomed roughly and struck Saori's upper body. Her body was pushed back greatly. But her organs weren't shaken. Thanks to Kenji controlling the power. Still, breathing was difficult, so Saori glared at Kenji while panting. Kenji met that gaze and gave a faint smile.
"Next time we meet, don't hesitate. I'll also be prepared to knock you out."
He didn't hear the answer. Kenji stamped the ground hard, raising the dust that had thinned. When it cleared, his figure wasn't seen. Saori let out a hollow laugh and slowly raised her body.
"Are you okay?"
Atsuko asked. Saori nodded and held her slightly throbbing stomach.
"...Stronger than I thought. Seems we need to revise the plan."
"Indeed. More than that, what's with that blood? A trick?"
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Like Saori, Atsuko also saw the blood flowing from Kenji's cheek. It was so stained red that she couldn't see the wound. But Saori confirmed the wound formed on his cheek.
"Probably not a trick."
"Then? Is his body so weak that wounds form even from getting grazed by bullets? But his movements were fast and attacks threatening for that."
"...I don't know. Can only ask directly, I guess."
Saori sighed and spat that out. Putting back on the metal mask she briefly removed, she communicated to Misaki who was watching the situation from afar.
"Misaki, has Azusa located the position?"
[I planted IEDs in the main buildings in the training ground. Also set many traps.]
"...If possible, retrieve dangerous traps. Set the objective as suppression."
[Suddenly? Then I'd have to retrieve most IEDs.]
"Plan revision. Replace traps with restraints."
[...Got it. I'll tell Azusaㅡ]
*Kwaaaaaang!*
A huge explosion shook the ground. Before sorting out the confusion, noise came from the earpiece.
*Zizizik.*
The communication channel changed. From beyond the earpiece, Azusa's urgent voice came.
[Engagement begun. Target, entered abandoned chapel. Multiple IEDs activated. Chapel on verge of collapse.]
"...What?"
[Target, no injuries. Will commence engagement immediately.]
The communication cut off. Saori made an expression of disbelief and let out a hollow laugh.
IEDs activated, but no injuries? With bullets, just grazing tore skin? The mystery deepened. So he's not physically weak? Is it really a trick as Atsuko said? Then what about the torn wound?
As questions linked together one after another, the cut-off communication connected. It was Azusa. Saori immediately asked her about Kenji's condition.
"Azusa, how's the executive's condition? Any wound on his cheek? Blood? Hit by explosives, are his limbs intact?"
[What, are you worried about him?]
"...Executive?"
[Call him teacher.]
A voice mixed with laughter came through the communicator. While Saori's face froze like ice, the voice continued.
[Proceed for now. I'll check my own condition. I'll give a proper explanation afterwards.]
"...What happened to Azusa?"
[You'll know if you see the situation, right?]
From beyond the communicator, noise mixed in. Shortly after, Azusa's voice came.
[...Shirasu Azusa, out of action. Tied to a pillar. Failed to respond as it happened instantly. Sorry.]
[That's how it is. Communication ended.]
*Tuk.*
The communication cut off. Atsuko and Saori simultaneously let out hollow laughs.