That’s Amazing. You Really Are Proficient At This

[Uriyaa-!]

After leaping from the wave barriers, Ramone dashed near the Santana, coming in a ten metre range of them.

[Haa-!]

The leader who was facing Tsurugi, immediately rushed towards Ramone, doing an attack like a spinning tornado.

Bang!

The sound-waves echoed throughout the beach, and the Santana were pushed back to the sh.o.r.elines.

During that moment, Neito noticed something peculiar.

After the Santana were pushed back, the wristband that their leader wore shone brightly in a deep blue color. Among them, two beads s.h.i.+ning more brightly than the rest flew away from the beach.

[Only two? I know you guys have about twenty in reserve. Hurry up and summon all of them!]

Apparently, Ramone knew what was going on.

[Kukko! Kukko! Ramone! Defeat! Defeat!]

[Ha-! This perfect! Come at me all at once! … Err, can you guys run to a safer place?]

Apparently, Ramone identified Neito and Tsurugi as common civilians. (Even though Tsurugi was wielding a katana and fighting with the Santana.)

Can it be? This guy is too innocent?

Neito hesitated for a moment, but this was perfectly normal (considering the situation they were in).

Maybe it is because he is strong, that he can naturally say those things to the people who are attacked by the Santana…

Of course, everything would change if he knew that we are from Metallica.

[T-Thank you very much! Do your best Ramone!]

It would be too disadvantageous for us to declare him as an enemy here.

Neito honey coated his word to fit what a normal civilian would say.

[But Boss…]

[D-Don’t call me that Mister…! I’m just a kid in the neighborhood… Stop calling me “boss”!]

Neito pretended to scold Tsurugi, and immediately withdrew from the area.

After gaining some distance, they were in between the seash.o.r.e and the forest. They observed the battle from the safety of the forest.

In terms of battle capabilities, Ramone and the Santana were equal. But apparently, Ramone had the upper hand here. With his burning fists and his karate techniques, he was pus.h.i.+ng the six Santanas back.

The Santana projected their scales and fired strong water currents as a projectile from their mouths, but Ramone was superior. Neito wasn’t an expert on martial arts, but he knew Ramone was a master in the art of karate.

But, it couldn’t be said that victory would come easily. Ramone would sometimes get hit by the attacks of the six Santanas.

[What do you think Tsurugi? Ramone and the Santana’s fighting capabilities?]

[Well for one, Ramone will win this fight. If the Santana had more numbers, then it would have been a different story.]

Tsurugi is strong. His evaluation skills are certainly more refined…

[How many Santanas will it take to defeat Ramone?]

[Hmm… nine? No, maybe ten would make their fighting capabilities equal. Anything more than that, Ramone would have a hard time.]

[……]

[Boss?]

[No, this is enough. Let’s withdraw.]

Neito thought that conquering Okinawa would be impossible, but know he can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

The day after they encountered Ramone, Niina said something unusual. There was something peculiar in the a.n.a.lyzed data. He wanted them to hear his report. Neito gathered up his squad members into the conference room.

[You already have collected information? That’s was quite fast.]

[Hehehe. Well, ever since we started investigating, things turned out to be more interesting than expected.]

Niina lacked sleep, and his face was fatigued. But there were signs of excitement in him. He was in a drowsy mood, but something kept him up.

[We-ll, it’s been a while since I got this serious!]

[Anice did her best too! Niina was too afraid on collecting the information himself, so Anice went with the guys from G.A (General Affairs Dept.).]

[Wha-, give me a break Anice-san!]

Anice was posing with an [Ei!], making herself more appealing.

They most likely acquired the information through illegal methods… well, that’s that.

Now thinking about it, Niina should be older than Anice, but he’s using keigo. Well I guess that’s also fine.

(TL Note: Keigo – the act of speaking politely towards elders/someone superior – Daikyun)

[A-Umm. Anice is a good girl.]

Neito patted Anice’s head.

(TL Note: pats Panda – Daikyun)(ED Note: confused but accepts pat – Panda-emic)

[Ehehehe.]

Since Anice was all in smiles, they continued their meeting.

[Then? What did you find Niina?]

[Ui—s. Well, look at this data.]

Niina did something on the computer and projected the data on the screen.

[This is the data for the past two years for the cases of coma within Okinawa. In other words, the victims of the Santana’s attacks. This information was acquired from the police.]

Over two years, four hundred and fifty people were attacked.

Thinking about it, it’s an unusually high number. Even with that kind of fighting power, Ramone had a limit to how many he could protect.

[Then, this is the data for those who woke up from the coma.]

It’s a weird case, but after being attacked by the Santana, human souls are stolen thus ending up in a state of coma. There were cases of some victims in the state of coma recovering from it. I already know this. In the past two years, twenty-two people woke up. Comparing it with the total attacked victims, that is a small number.

[This point is important, but please look at the day when they woke up in the hospital. I’ll display it on the screen.]

On the screen was a calendar. Those days when someone awakened from coma were marked in circle.

[…? I don’t get it Niina.]

[Wait a second there, Tsurugi-san. Take a look at this first. The next data are the days when Ramone and the Santana were confirmed fighting. There were a hundred and twenty-two occasions when they fought.]

The screen once again projected a calendar. Circles marked the days someone when woke up, and triangles marked the days when Ramone and the Santana fought. The circles and triangles overlapped with each other.

[….! This is…]

[So you finally noticed Senpai. Yes. The days that someone would wake were the days where Ramone fought with the Santana.]

There were one hundred and twenty-two occasions where Ramone fought with the Santana. The days when the twenty-two patients awakened were perfectly aligned with the days Ramon fought with the Santana. This was certain.

[Also, the twenty-two who woke up from the coma woke up within one month after they fell into the comatose state. Anybody who was in coma for more than one month died due to the body being too weak.]

[I see…]

[At first, I thought this was our greatest discovery, but there were more interesting things that that.]

Niina let out more information.

The Santana started moving on the year 2111, which is exactly four years ago, on November 11. At that same year and same date, something famous happened in Okinawa.

An ancient monolith was discovered in the seabed near Okinawa. For some reason, as soon as the investigation on the ancient monolith started, it suddenly started crumbling apart.

With regards to this event, Niina was suggesting [Maybe it has something to do with it somehow? Because they’re sakana-man after all] or something like that.

(TL Note: Sakana : Fish – Daikyun)

The following information was also important.

When people first encountered the Santana, their numbers were confirmed to be ten creatures. But, after the battle with Ramone, they decreased by one and only nine were left.

After that, there were reports of them increasing and decreasing in number. Since there were no sightings of them being more than ten, Niina suggested [Maybe they can only increase themselves up to a number of 10. 10 is probably their max number. Maybe it’s something like “law of mother nature” or “genetic restriction”.]

[That’s about it.]

Niina concluded his report.

[Good job. That’s amazing. You really are proficient at this. I was honestly surprised.]

Neito spoke from the bottom of his heart.

As expected of someone who pa.s.sed the entrance exam with high marks…

Maybe it was att.i.tude, enthusiasm or something in that corner that made him feel less superior. Neito understood himself well.

[Now now, what with the face? Finding more ways to compliment your subordinate maybe?]

[No, you’re really amazing… Then, from your point of view, what do you think of the data so far?]

[What about it?]

[No. Well, any strategies? Ways to conquer Okinawa? If you come up with something I’ll be here to listen.]

[? I haven’t thought that much…]

[Not even once?]

[Not even once.]

[Is that so? Well, good work. You can go and take a rest now. You can take a nap in the break room.]

[Eh? Are you sure?]

[Yeah. Good work. You did well. You were amazing.]

Neito wasn’t used to having subordinates. He wasn’t great at conveying his ideas, so he just said it as honest as he could.

[……]

Niina hesitated for a moment, then brightening up his mood, replied in a small voice.

[…Thanks]

[A-.Umm. Hey, if you’re up for it, will you accompany me as my drinking partner today? Oh, I forgot. You weren’t up for those kinds of things.]

Niina said that his work is separated from his private life. Remembering this, Neito withdrew his offer.

[… Is it your treat, Senpai? … if that’s the case, then I’ll accompany you]

Niina replied rejoicefully.

[Oh, then let’s go.]

My salary isn’t that high, but I don’t mind treating him for free today. It’s thanks to him that we are able to gather this much information. The conquest can finally start.

Neito knew information that Niina didn’t possess. Adding up today’s information, Neito started thinking.

In yesterday’s battle, the Santana, after receiving Ramones attack, lost two flying brightly s.h.i.+ning beads. Ramone mentioned [Two people huh?]

“

[Gather… Souls… Castle, rebuild….]

[Give it… Before… Ramone comes…]

“

The Santana definitely said those words.

They are collecting souls for a purpose. And it is possible to get the taken souls back in a short period of time. The Santana apparently tries to avoid a battle with Ramone. Then…

[Ku-kuku-…]

He unconsciously let out a laugh.

[Senpai? Are you alright?]

[Aa-, no, it’s nothing.]

[Is that so… For a moment there, your face expressed something like a “demon” or some sort of absolute evil.]

Niina’s words… Well, I can’t deny it. It’s true in a sense.

[Nate? Is it possible that you found another villainous way to solve this?!]

(TL Note: It’s obvious, but if you ever encounter “Nate” in the dialogue. It’s Anice speaking – Daikyun)

Anice knew Neito for quite some time now. Anice easily saw through Neito’s intentions. Neito displayed a sinister smile.

No doubt she can easily guess what I have in mind if she saw my face.

[Well, just a little something…]

Yes, it’s just as you think. I’ll defeat the Santana and Ramone in one go. In some points of view, it is considered an absolute evil, but I’m from Metallica, and orders are orders. I’m gonna conquer the special region Okinawa.

Even if they’re cold blooded creatures or an island hero, I’ll crush them. I’ll crush anybody that gets in my way. I’ll show no mercy.

But can I really do it?

No, there is no choice. I have to do it.

I’ll become a villain.  Become a b.a.s.t.a.r.d if it comes to it.

He felt the black flame inside him rapidly igniting, antic.i.p.ating the incoming battle.