Chapter 29: Transform Villain - Omokage ②

"So, who did this to you?"

I start questioning him. I saved his life, so I figure I’ve got the right to ask a little.

Ratlord had collapsed with a knife stuck in his chest. No doubt about it—it was attempted murder.

"That’s just it, I don’t know who it was."

"Come on now. Not even knowing who tried to kill you? You wouldn’t be able to rest in peace even if you were dead. You should’ve paid attention."

"Maybe it’s because I didn’t pay attention that I can’t rest in peace even after dying, huh?"

"Hah. Fair point."

Still, Ratlord is an informant. You’d think he’d be curious about who tried to kill him, but he looked unfazed. Maybe he only gathers information because it’s his job, not because he’s naturally curious. Not everyone works in something they like, after all.

"Was he faster than you? I don’t know exactly how fast you really are, but I’ve heard the stories."

"Speed-wise, not really. People call me fast ‘cause I’m good at running away. It’s less about raw speed and more about spotting danger quick, avoiding it, and taking paths nobody else knows."

Ratlord is small. He can slip into cracks and passages most couldn’t. Seems like a survival trick that only really works in the city.

"I see. Too bad, though. Without info, I can’t even take revenge for you."

"If it’s information you’re after, I’ve got some."

"Oi. Don’t hold back on me."

"Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t dream of charging a life-saver for intel."

So he does have some sense of honor. He even said earlier he’d repay the debt somehow.

"I don’t know who actually stabbed me. But their villain name’s clear enough. Transformation Villain—Omokage. They can turn into anyone, which makes it impossible to know their true identity. Second only to Delta when it comes to being shrouded in mystery."

"Got it. So they turned into someone else, got close, and stabbed you while you let your guard down."

Ratlord shrugged. Guess that’s how it went. Figures—he’s an informant. If a client transformed into someone he knew, it’d be easy for them to close the distance.

"Well, I’ve been playing bat, selling info to whichever side seemed to need it, and the villain crowd ended up cutting me off. Guess I’ll cozy up to the heroes for a while."

So Omokage’s cut from the same cloth as Flux. An assassin who kills on request. Whether it’s under Delta’s orders is unclear, but most villains should be assumed to be under Delta’s control. Those who strayed from Delta’s designs—like Ratlord—ended up erased. Well, almost erased.

Still, calling himself a "bat"? He probably meant that he plays both sides—hero and villain. But with mouse ears and a tail sticking out, is that really something he should be saying?

"You got no pride as a rat?"

Chichichi! "Living any way I can—that’s the pride of a rat, y’see."

"That’s badass."

When I praised him, Ratlord squeaked again. Funny—when we first met, he barely squeaked at all. And come to think of it, as a rat-themed villain, shouldn’t his quirk be talking with ‘dechu’ instead of ‘deyansu’? Nah, scratch that. A middle-aged man saying ‘dechu’ would just be too creepy.

"You got a place to go? If not, you can stay here. Cramped place, lots of bloodthirsty villains around, but the shrine maiden takes care of all the housework."

"Shrine maiden…?"

Ratlord had been washed clean by Sudama, but he’d been unconscious at the time. I wonder—are foxes natural enemies to rats? Sudama wouldn’t actually eat him, but how Ratlord feels about it is another matter.

"Appreciate the offer, but rats can survive anywhere. I’ll drop by again if I pick up some good intel. We’ll meet again then."

"Alright."

Ratlord didn’t become freeloader number five. He’s just test subject number two. I gave him a piece of paper with my contact info, just in case. I’d given him some unfinished medicine, and ideally I’d monitor his progress up close. But since it’s his choice, I can’t force him. Still, I told him to let me know immediately if there was even the slightest change in his condition, and then I saw him off.

"Better keep an eye out for Omokage. I want the young miss to live a long life, after all."

"You too, man."

She said that, and Ratlord left.

One of my room outfits went missing, but Sudama, returning from shopping, gave me a pink pajama set.

I don’t like the color, but I guess I can tolerate it indoors.

Honestly, she should at least know my taste. I mean, she’s done the laundry—she should know what clothes I like.

"You two seemed pretty close~"

"Really?"

With Ratlord gone, Mio poked his head in.

"Really, Inori, you’re such a flirt. I can’t believe you haven’t been stabbed yet."

"Ah…? What, am I someone people would hate enough to stab?"

"Never had someone like Inferna like you before?"

"Ah…? I get what you’re implying. I don’t think anything like that ever happened though…"

"Is that so? Sudama, what about you?"

Don’t ask my guardian!

Sudama was putting away the groceries she’d bought and replied:

"Inori as a child? Oh, she was something else. Let your guard down and she’d come back with all sorts of spirits tagging along."

"Who are you talking about? Wait… were there actually things clinging to me I couldn’t see? Ghost stuff? Stop it—I’m not good with that."

I’m not much for horror.

At least, I never voluntarily watch it. Jump scares are the worst. Yeah, your heart jumps, but why is that fun?

"So Inori’s hometown is full of spirits~. Hell?"

"Don’t call someone’s hometown ‘hell’."

Sure, it was a laid-back area where even someone like Sudama didn’t raise eyebrows—but wait, maybe it was. Maybe rumors that it accepted non-humans spread, and all sorts of beings started gathering there.

After all, Naname-san was hanging around the waters there.

"You’re incredibly good at charming spirits. Even I got totally smitten."

"Sudama likes pretty much anyone human, right?"

"Don’t say it like I’m promiscuous. I don’t crash at just anyone’s house."

"Eh~? But with locals, you like anyone, right? So how much do you like me?"

Folding the laundry, Sudama thought for a moment.

"For you, I’d even tilt a country."

"Whoa…"

"Special treatment, you know? You’d probably make a country run better than I would."

"Oh… that kind of thing? Absolutely not. I don’t need a country. If you did, take responsibility and rule it yourself. Could you even do that—assassinate a prime minister or something?"

"There are plenty of ways. Back in the day, I was quite the powerhouse~"

"Really? Didn’t know that."

So her strength diminished as shrine faith declined, and now she’s just a little girl? Good, at least my taste won’t get weird. Not a lolicon—phew.

"I struggled plenty to fit into human society too. I think I understand how everyone feels."

Just lowering her tone gives Sudama a serious, imposing presence. Probably the weight of centuries lived.

"Hehe. I, on the other hand, struggled to decide whether to fit in or not. I was born too capable—if I wanted, I could blend in anywhere."

Mio’s struggles seem opposite to Hina’s.

Hina forced herself to hide her flaming head, suffering as she tried to live disguised in society.

Water and fire, maybe their personalities are opposite too.

Sudama nodded repeatedly at Mio’s words.

"Ah, I get it too. No matter how well you disguise yourself as human, being non-human leaves a lingering emptiness. It took me centuries to decide to live showing my ears and tail."

"Oh, I get you! The more I get close, the guiltier I feel for deceiving them. But when I muster the courage to reveal my true self, being treated like a monster hits hardest. In that case, it’s better to just stay a monster from the start."

"Mm, mm…"

Sudama nodded deeply at Mio’s words, clearly empathizing.

To speak on the same level as a fox that’s lived for centuries—that’s impressive. How intense must his life have been?