Chapter 44 My Name is Hei
It has been almost a month since Hei became a partner with the Night Raid assassins. To be honest, Hei himself probably did not even see this coming since his arrival in this new world. For the Black Reaper, survival was his main and only objective among those days, and nothing else. Seriously, this man does not have interest in anything around him – except maybe the stars.
It is currently early spring. The cool air corresponds with the breathing patterns of the Black Reaper, showing shades after shades of white clusters as he walks slowly through the streets of the capital.
In this type of weather, men are nowhere to be seen. In fact, even the brownish-yellow lights from the neighboring houses are too selfish to unfold themselves in the middle of the day.
Such a large city with such a small quantity of population is not uncommon – it is the time of the year where the raw temperature itself can discourage any type of special activities. If there are no guards wandering around with their supposed patrol duties, then no one would think that this city is even alive.
Moving silently along the main street, the Black Reaper's emotionless footsteps are strangely granting the atmosphere an inadequate sense of terror.
So Awkward.
Feeling something approaching in a speed faster than normal patrols, Hei intentionally pushes his glasses back against the bridge of his nose.
SLAP.
"Hi, there! Why are you walking alone here in the wintry weather?"
The solid contact from the palm on Hei's shoulder should have provided anyone with a sense of warmth and safety, but Hei is not quite sensitive upon these feelings.
Turning his head, the vivid face of a young girl is quickly reflected through the glasses into Hei's eyes. The girl seems to be around his age, but the beautiful smile on her face is the perfect contrast to the Black Reaper. If there is a signature trait that can be easily identified from a distance, then it should be her long ponytail that is hanging lightly behind her.
GROWL…
Suddenly, an unmistakable sound of grunting appears from below.
Looking down from his current position, Hei's intuition is flinching at the sight of a… toy dog?
"Electron manipulation, Type Delta, activate."
As the world changes into the composition of particles, Hei's eyes are unintentionally widening at the making of this small creature.
"Artificial creation. Structural analysis provides data at least two standard deviations above normal body-composing quantities. Danger level rather high. Very interesting."
Narrowing his eyes at the information he just discovered about this creature, Hei involuntarily pushes his glasses once again.
Somehow, when Hei was using his contractor powers, the small dog-like creature grunted again at the expressionless man.
"Koro, what's happening? Didn't I just feed you? Are you hungry again? Just hang in there, I will bring you some more criminals under the death penalty when we get back… oh, wait."
The brown-haired girl quickly looks up at the man in front of her, finally acknowledging his presence in this awkward situation.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I was carried away."
"…" A small nod is all that the girl is receiving from the man with glasses.
"So, why are you standing in the middle of the road in such a cold day? It is really late… Oh, oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Seryu Ubiquitous of the Imperial Police, you can just call me Seryu!"
Apparently, this brown-haired girl has a mind that jumps around itself constantly.
"My name is Hei."
What? Hei? What are you doing? You are the Empire's Most Wanted, don't you know that? How can you just reveal your name like that in front of the imperial police?
At first, this brief introduction does not seem to bring anything extraordinary, but…
"What?! You are Hei?!"
After a few seconds, the girl quickly realizes what this man just told her, and directly reaches for the two black metallic canes while preparing to let Koro transform at any moment.
"Look at your wanted warrant."
"Huh?"
Keeping herself prepared to strike at any second, the brown-haired girl reluctantly turns toward the location at which Hei is pointing.
As the image of the Empire's Most Wanted comes into Seryu's eyes, she quickly realizes something that is not making any sense…
The picture on the poster… is nothing like this Hei in front of her.
"Um, you… him… um…"
Processing this abrupt discoordination in her mind, Seryu finds herself in an extremely confused state.
"Do I look like him?"
Without moving a single inch, the undercover Black Reaper looks into the young girl's eyes without any sign of discomfort.
"Um… no…"
"Do I act like a criminal?"
"Um… why are you staying out in the middle of the night?"
"I am homeless."
Sympathy is always the greatest way to be used in the art of deception, especially when you are dealing with a caring girl that would like to help out in any way possible.
"Oh, I… I am so sorry…"
Seeing the wrinkled and dirty clothes Hei is wearing, Seryu is falling into the Black Reaper's artifice due to her subconscious good-hearted nature.
"What am I doing? I am supposed to be the bringer of justice. How can I mistake a man who is in need of my help as a dangerous criminal?" Shaking her head, the young girl decides to put on her smile again.
"Oh, right! Hei, why don't you come to my house? Since you are homeless, sleeping in a shelter is always better than sleeping on the streets, right?"
That… is extremely naïve.
Expecting the young man to accept her invitation, the soldier of justice mindlessly stretches out her right hand, hoping to atone her own sense of guilt by doing what she believes is right.
"I mean, I am sorry for mistaking you for a dangerous criminal, so please let me – "
Before the girl can finish her sentence, a formidable force takes control of her body by directly pulling her once-stretched out hand toward a narrow alley on the side of the main street.
"Hei, what are you dmmmph?!"
Before she can question the black-haired man's motives, her mouth is covered tightly with Hei's right hand, effectively controlling her voice.
Since the Black Reaper is using his hands to lock her waist and cheeks in place from her back, she cannot turn her head to see what the man is doing; however, the sudden aggressive action from this expressionless man is certainly very… invasive to a girl.
As her body instincts are finally coming into their places, Seryu's first reaction is to struggle fiercely against Hei's hands, attempting to reach her weapons.
"Be quiet."
That command is not helping.
Feeling violated, the Seryu tries to push the man behind her into the wall, but soon discovers that his stand is unnaturally solid. As a result, the protector of justice is feeling very disappointed at herself right now. It seems like this Hei is not a good person after all.
"Look."
Unwillingly focusing her eyes in front of her, Seryu manages to make out the image in the darkness – what comes next causes her to completely forgo all of her struggling.
Under the shadow caused by the silver light of the moon, a large figure is slowly walking toward where the duo was standing… with a bleeding head in its left hand.