“You avoided it well! In general, most guys will panic and cut it with their sword.” (Dominuq)
“Aniki warned me about things like that. He said that many things could be hidden in such a thing, like paralyzing powder or a poison. He also warned about knives being strapped somewhere on an opponent, or a needle-like projectile that can be shot from a device on a wrist.” (Reus)
“You have knowledge to that extent? Is that Aniki your Shishou or something?” (Dominique)
“That’s right. He is the person who taught me everything!” (Reus)
I understood after fighting him from a bit that he is far weaker compared to Aniki and Jii-chan, and I think I might be stronger in terms of strength and swordsmanship. As evidence, I can fight on par with him using a sword of much lower quality.
But… it’s still very difficult to fight him.
He retreats step by step when I get closer and if I try to pursuit him, he either throws knives or uses a petty trick like throwing that small pouch. It can’t be helped given our age difference, but he has a lot more battle experience than me.
While I was troubled in deciding on how to attack him, Dominique sheathed his sword and held his hands up.
“Oi… you said you are Reus, right? Would you like to become our companion?” (Dominique)
“… What are you saying?” (Reus)
“It would be a waste to kill you when you have such talent at your age. Plus, since we live in the underworld, we aren’t bothered by things like race. We even have many beastkin allies. There’s no need to worry about discrimination because of who you are.” (Dominique)
“Your employer plans to exterminate and ban all beastkin.” (Reus)
“The reward for this mission is quite attractive. However, if I am to speak honestly, I have no sympathy for them. I plan to take the reward and run away as soon as the barrier comes down.” (Dominique)
“Aren’t you just a bad person after all? I don’t want to be a companion of someone like that.” (Reus)
“A bad person? Are you really saying that?” (Dominique)
Why did I feel annoyed somehow when he laughed at that? If it isn’t true, why did you make it seem that way?
“Isn’t your Aniki someone from the same world as us?” (Dominique)
“Haa? Such a thing is impossible, I’ve never seen him do things like that. Don’t joke around with me.” (Reus)
“I can tell from how you predict my attacks. Your Aniki has taught you things that only someone who has lived in the underworld or experienced it first hand should know about. The fact that he knows the techniques well enough to teach their various intricacies all but confirms my suspicions. His life and my own are not that different.” (Dominique)
“Aniki… and you are similar?” (Reus)
Thinking on it, Aniki often went out on his own at night. When he would return, he would always smell of blood. And few years ago, I heard something from a thief that I interrogated about Aniki.
That his eyes are like a murderer. That there is a bloodlust there that is barely detectable, but can’t be hidden.
“There’s no doubt about it. While saying that you don’t want to be a companion of such a person, your Shishou is exactly that kind of man. Poor you, does it hurt much, knowing you’ve been betrayed by the one you trust most?” (Dominique)
“…It’s unrelated.” (Reus)
“Haa?” (Dominique)
“I say it’s unrelated! Whatever Aniki is, I…” (Reus)
That’s right. After finding out that I was a cursed child, he just laughed and said it was a trivial matter. When I lashed out and tried to escape, he was the one who hit me and made me see reality.