There obviously weren't enough seats to begin with, so naturally, the strange newcomer had no place to sit. Yet he didn't seem bothered at all, simply sweeping the hall curiously with wide-open eyes.
Admittedly, the unabashed gaze made people uncomfortable, but his openness was so brazen that no one could really object. At most, they just murmured, "Is that guy really an Investigator?"
Lancer, however, immediately recognized him—Suzuya Juuzou.
An important supporting character in the original "story," Suzuya was immensely powerful but had a bizarre, unsettling personality. Towards humans, he was at worst mischievous, fond of unsettling pranks. Yet, when facing Ghouls, he would turn into an outright monster.
But just like Mado-san, his past was heartbreaking.
If Mado Kureo's hatred for Ghouls stemmed from losing his wife—motivating him to hunt down Ghouls so no one else suffered his fate—then Suzuya's twisted psyche came from the cruelty he himself had experienced.
After being kidnapped by a Ghoul, he was forced to slaughter fellow humans as a "Scrapper." When he grew older, the Ghoul destroyed his genitals because she bizarrely thought, "You won't be cute anymore when you grow up." Such experiences utterly fractured his mind, shaping him into what he was today.
...
"The detailed operation plan will be issued tomorrow. When the time comes, everyone must follow orders to the letter. For now, all Rank 2 Investigators are dismissed for rest. All others, remain here. Meeting adjourned!"
"Lancer, you head to the Medical Division for a check-up. Amon and I will find you after we're done here."
"Yes, sir."
Undoubtedly, First Class Investigators would lead the individual teams in the upcoming mission, while Associate Special-Class and Special-Class Investigators would act as emergency responders. Yet, among them was one unmistakably peculiar figure.
"Mado-san, we'll be counting on you for this mission."
Compared to his earlier calculating demeanor before the entire assembly, Marude Itsuki's current smiling face was a bit unsettling. But Mado wasn't surprised. After all, he had been in the business longer than Marude, and back when Marude was still just a Rank-2 Investigator, the two of them had even partnered up.
"I've already prepared Kura."
Mado's words elicited a satisfied nod from Marude. Due to certain "widely-known" reasons, Mado had always favored using Quinques crafted from Ghouls he personally slew. But these Quinques weren't particularly high-ranked. His true specialty was Kura.
Kura was a dark-blue, blunt-looking greatsword with a red core embedded in its blade. Unlike most Quinques, it was exceptionally heavy. Yet despite its bulky appearance, it was actually double-edged. By detaching the hilt and reattaching it, the weapon would separate into two blades.
With this weapon, Mado had successfully exterminated multiple SS-rated Ghouls. Deploying his trump card now clearly demonstrated just how seriously he was taking this operation.
...
Meanwhile, lying on the surgical bed at the Medical Division, Lancer endured the stitching of his wounds. Taking this moment, he finally checked his recent gains. Why hadn't he done it earlier? Because, exhausted beyond belief, he had only wanted to rest a little longer.
First, was his points.
60 points.
6 Ghouls.
4 points.
Ordinary humans.
95 points.
Mission reward.
However, within the Supplies, the items he either couldn't afford (skills, equipment) or didn't need (RC bullets, food) didn't help him much right now.
Aside from this were a few title progresses, none completed, none significant. The only tangible improvement was a new skill:
[DEATHMATCH F ]
RECOVERS VITALITY UPON TAKING DAMAGE.
ACTIVATES AUTOMATICALLY WHEN SEVERELY WOUNDED.
He wasn't sure how to evaluate this skill. Normally, he fought cautiously. It was only due to the overwhelming fury sparked by witnessing humans treated like livestock that he had impulsively pushed himself into such danger, leaving him nearly unconscious.
But complicated feelings aside, he welcomed this skill. Without a doubt, it could potentially save his life.
Yet, thinking back to the "mission," he glanced at the ring on his finger again. True, he'd completed the mission in the end, but that didn't erase the reality that the last few targets had died without him even seeing them.
Though he had gained powers he'd never imagined possible, he was still, just months ago, nothing but an ordinary human. While fighting, he could ignore this fact, but afterward, doubts and dark thoughts always flooded back. Especially remembering how the numbers steadily decreased as he hurried towards them—knowing each disappearing digit represented a lost human life—left him chilled to the bone.
No one knows. And even if they did, they wouldn't blame me. After all, I was never strong enough to change any of it…
He'd never been a saint. He simply wanted to do what felt right.
He'd become a CCG Investigator initially out of gratitude and the simple desire to survive. Under his colleagues' influence, he decided to fight Ghouls to protect humanity. Facing Fueguchi Ryouko, who had only wanted to shield her daughter, he had lowered his weapon. And now, despite never even seeing the victims at the restaurant, he was drowning in self-blame over their deaths.
Though seemingly unrelated, all these choices came down to one simple truth: he had acted because he'd wanted to.
The only difference was that the first two times, he had succeeded. This latest time, he had failed.
I want power. Enough power to change things, enough to act without regrets.
If initially he had been pushed forward by the grim reality of his situation—driven onward by his fear of death—today's emotional shock had prompted him to take a step forward entirely on his own.
No matter how small, it was the first step he'd consciously chosen himself.
Perhaps this newfound determination silenced the scattered thoughts tormenting him, or perhaps sheer exhaustion had simply overtaken him. Either way, he drifted off right there on the surgical bed. When he awoke, it was already the next morning.
Seeing the rising sun, he squinted slightly. Just then, a man carrying a paper bag walked cheerfully into the room.
"Yo! Lancer! You're awake? Great timing—I brought breakfast!"
---
A/N: Previously, I mentioned that the central theme of Volume One isn't romance, or even combat—but rather, it's about making choices. Initially, he was just an ordinary person; even after gaining power, he still lacked a heart capable of bearing that strength. This chapter is just another prologue of sorts—a small step forward. But as for whether this step is right or wrong… please keep reading to find out.
bonus chaps
100 stones -> 1 chapter
200 stones -> 2 chapters
300 stones -> 3 chapters
and so on
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