[68] Just Thinking About It Feels Like Kira Yoshikage

Chapter 68: Just Thinking About It Feels Like Kira Yoshikage

Kirari Momobami departed, leaving behind a business card that Shunsuke toyed with, his expression laced with amusement.

Suzuna, however, wore a grave look as she spoke. "That woman's name includes the character for 'devour.' It reminds me of that infamous clan from the rumors. Nishio-sensei, you must be cautious. Don't provoke her, or one day you might find yourself at the bottom of Tokyo Bay…"

The Hundred Devouring Families controlled half of Japanese's underground world and funded countless politicians, a force of immense power.

Unlike the more overt Four Great Zaibatsu, such as the Shinomiya family, who openly dominated affairs, the Hundred Devouring Families operated discreetly.

To most, their existence was merely an urban legend whispered among the elite.

Suzuna had once been associated with them but wasn't foolish.

Hyakkaou Private Academy, a prestigious institution with a history rivaling Shuchiin Academy, boasted a powerful student council. However, unlike Shuchiin, the student council president at Hyakkaou wielded even greater authority.

Yet, even with that authority, the president was still bound by the board of directors.

But Kirari Momobami, with a casual remark born of whimsy, could overturn the academy's long-standing rules.

Suzuna couldn't fathom the extent of such power, but it undoubtedly exceeded her imagination.

A figure like that, even if not part of the rumored clan, was someone ordinary people could only look up to in awe.

Crushing the likes of Suzuna and Shunsuke would be as effortless as squashing ants.

It might sound absurd—how could such power exist in modern society?

But Japan was a place where the underground could brazenly dump bodies into Tokyo Bay. If the "dogs" dared to do such things, why wouldn't their masters? At least the underground acted covertly; hereditary politicians with deep roots would openly commit heinous acts, like assaulting women in broad daylight, exuding sheer arrogance.

Suzuna's caution earned a smile from Shunsuke, who chose not to comment.

What a joke.

With Star Platinum, The World, and Gold Experience at his disposal, he wasn't worried.

If he weren't so content with his current lifestyle—showing off and maintaining the occasional "maintenance"—he could easily spark a Third World War. Why would he fear the Hundred Devouring Families?

This wasn't just empty bravado.

Anyone who'd seen Puella Magi Madoka Magica would understand Akemi Homura's methods.

Shunsuke wouldn't need to be as extravagant as Homura. With a few rifles and grenades, he could wipe out every public figure who dared to show their face.

If it came to that, imagine every elected president of a country dropping dead one after another, or every pacifist congressman suddenly dying en masse during a meeting.

It would surely drive the country's hawks into a frenzy, possibly leading to a nuclear showdown where everyone goes down together.

Of course, Shunsuke wasn't a misanthrope or someone out to destroy the world.

He wouldn't escalate things to such an extreme.

However, quietly causing the untimely demise of a few influential figures who targeted him?

That was definitely within his capabilities.

And to further reduce suspicion, he could even eliminate a few others just to muddy the waters.

This was why Shunsuke had no fear of the so-called elites.

Sure, he was currently preoccupied with writing novels, drawing manga, gambling, and earning money.

That was only because, mentally, he still considered himself an ordinary person, bound by basic social morality and societal expectations.

Much like how early-stage Accelerator in A Certain Magical Index considered himself invincible but still followed the orders of the Board of Directors, Shunsuke, too, played by society's rules as long as he had the luxury of doing so.

But if someone pushed him too far? Heh.

From Kirari Momobami's perspective, Shunsuke was an amusing individual, someone who could entertain her whims.

She made exceptions for him because, to her, he was a plaything.

Yet, unbeknownst to her, Shunsuke saw her as an equally entertaining toy.

In the original story, nearly everyone had suffered some form of humiliating defeat, but Kirari always maintained her composed, all-knowing demeanor as though she had everything under control.

Shunsuke couldn't help but wonder—if she lost everything, what kind of expression would she make?

The thought was a bit indecent, perhaps even unsettling.

Just imagining it gave him the same twisted thrill as Kira Yoshikage.

...

After a single afternoon of successfully earning 150 million yen, Shunsuke returned home as if nothing had happened.

In the past, this would have sent him over the moon—after all, the total amount he'd earned from writing books over the years was about the same.

Noticing his father sitting stiffly on the sofa, dressed neatly yet visibly uneasy, Shunsuke glanced at the clock. "Dad, what's the matter? Can you tell me now?"

Though he asked, he already had a feeling about what was coming.

"Well, um..." His father fidgeted awkwardly, his demeanor unnatural. "Actually, I've been meaning to tell you for a long time, but I couldn't find the right time. I kept putting it off, and now it's come to this, so…"

"You're getting remarried?"

At this point, if Shunsuke couldn't figure it out, he'd truly be a fool.

"Huh? You already know?"

"I guessed. Also, Dad, you don't need to worry so much. Mom passed away over a decade ago. It's good that someone will be there to take care of you moving forward."

He spoke calmly, but inwardly, Shunsuke was grinding his teeth.

Damn it, here I was worrying about you being overworked and exploited to death by some shady company, and all this time you've been spending your nights with your new lover? Give me back my concern!

"Ah, hahaha, is that so? Shunsuke, you've always been so smart and reliable. You really are my pride and joy." His father scratched his head sheepishly. "It's good you're prepared. They'll be here soon, so tonight the two families can get to know each other."

"If I hadn't asked, were you planning to wait until they showed up to tell me?"

Shunsuke grumbled, suddenly struck by deja vu.

This whole scenario seemed oddly familiar, like something out of a story he'd seen before.

Could it be…?

His father avoided answering directly, only giving a nervous laugh.

Shunsuke understood his hesitation.

At the end of the day, his father was worried Shunsuke might not be able to accept it—having to suddenly call a stranger "Mom" at his age. That hesitation had dragged on until the very last minute.

Just as this rare father-son conversation unfolded, the doorbell rang.

"Ding-dong! Ding-dong!"

"They're here, they're here! Quick!"

At the sound of the bell, his father jumped up and grabbed Shunsuke's arm, practically dragging him to the entrance in his haste.

Shunsuke had never seen him so eager—he must truly care about this woman.

Let's just hope he isn't being taken advantage of, Shunsuke thought.

The deeper someone falls in love, the more vulnerable they become.

His father, a widower for so many years, was now experiencing a second spring in his life.

The emotions he'd bottled up for so long were bursting forth like a flood.

If the other party turned out to be a bad person, things would get messy, not just for his father, but for Shunsuke as well.

"Hello!"

The door opened, and Shunsuke's father greeted the guests with a trembling voice.

Standing at the entrance was a woman whose face radiated happiness. "Hello, thank you so much for inviting us over."

Shunsuke scrutinized the woman carefully.

Judging by her age, she was no longer young, and though she had clearly made an effort to hide it, the wrinkles on her face were still visible.

Yet even so, there was a trace of the beauty she must have possessed in her youth.

Her well-proportioned figure left little doubt in Shunsuke's mind—she must have had no shortage of admirers when she was younger.

What stood out even more was her understated style.

Despite her charm, she dressed very modestly—no jewelry, only light makeup.

She seemed like the type of woman who was both beautiful and traditionally grounded.

Comparing her to someone he knew, Shunsuke thought she resembled the Chitanda type.

He couldn't help but wonder—how in the world had his father managed to win her over?

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