Luke looked as the boy zoned out in obvious terror.
That, in itself, told him a lot about the kid. For a Cryptologist, Faceless, and Astrologer, every action and inaction was a clue to put together the full story. Of course, as the kid was also a vessel of an evil god, he dared not use such an ability, cogitating to keep his mind as clear as possible.
Old interrogation it is, Luke told himself repeatedly. Do not try to find a meaning behind his words. Just listen and store…
Meanwhile, the boy, with the plague mask still on his face, came out of his momentary terror.
The moment that happened, pain shot up from his buttocks, making him turn around and plant his face against the rocks.
"…"
Kannagi distinctly remembered being shot near his chest.
When he looked at the same spot now, though, he couldn't see any wound, only blood.
"Sorry about that," Dr. Blessed said, looming over him, playing with the Mecha toy. "I transferred the wound to your ass."
Kannagi's face twisted under the mask. "… Pedo!"
"…"
[Hahahaha…]
Luke's lips arched up under the mask, too, carrying a twitch at their corners.
"Sequence 8 Reporter…" Dr. Blessed's voice rang loud and clear, jolting the boy's body to a shocked standstill. "What's the name of your Pathway?"
Kannagi looked over his shoulder frame by frame.
His heart was beating so loud in his chest that he could feel it more clearly than pain.
Other than Shie Hassaikai's top people, no one else knew of his greatest secret — the matter of Sequences!
Not only had Dr. Blessed named it a Sequence, but he had also accurately assigned it a number and title.
Which meant it was safe to assume that the Villain knew of Sequence 9 Shaman as well.
Oi! Kannagi screamed in his mind. What's going on?! Tell me what to do now!
Silence.
And, in a matter of moments, Kannagi experienced another shock.
Ever since God had contacted him, he had never stopped receiving his directions. The God did like to maintain silence, often. However, God was always there, and always replied when asked a question, giving advice and encouragement.
Now, for the very first time, Kannagi experienced a silence… a silence that he had forgotten… a silence that he had become used to when he had still been an urchin, scraping for food, shelter… life. It had only been months since he became a Beyonder. However, in these few months, he had buried the memories of that silence deep, because… it made him remember the past; it pulled him away from his ideal fantasy.
Kannagi hated that silence.
He hated it now.
So, when Dr. Blessed made him remember that silence… somehow… he hated the Villain even more!
Luke frowned as he felt that hate.
It was unnatural. It was just too grand for a mere boy of Kannagi's age. Which meant the evil God had been influencing the boy for far too long. Which meant…
"… Have you killed?" Dr. Blessed suddenly asked. "Have you already killed?"
Hate had been filling the silence in Kannagi's mind.
The moment he heard the Villain's question, it again blanked.
Involuntarily, Kannagi remembered the two Yakuza members who had come after him that day under the orders of one of the Eight Bullets. It was then that he had first used his Territory Creation ability. Accidentally, not knowing how powerful he had been, he had ended up killing the two men.
Shin of the Eight Bullets had appeared later while he had been silently looking at the two dead bodies, Kannagi remembered.
Instead of attacking him, though, the Bullet had taken him to the Boss, beginning this new fantasy.
But, yeah.
He had killed…
With time, Kannagi had gone past that matter, especially with the evil God telling him that he hadn't done anything wrong.
But the way Dr. Blessed asked that question…
"I…" Kannagi spoke, hissing through his gritted teeth. "… I… did… nothing… wrong!"
Luke sighed.
The day he had moved into the dorms, Trick*Step had dropped by, reporting that Iron Mentor had found two bodies that belonged to a Yakuza organization, with some signs of lingering Spirituality.
Later, Luke had gone to the location to have a look.
He had not expected to find anything strange, as even the use of Quirks left traces of Spirituality. And he hadn't.
Now, Luke knew what must have happened there.
Now, he knew who must have killed those two men.
[It could be in defense…] Miss Justice commented. [Perhaps, the evil God manipulated him?]
Could be… Luke admitted. It could also be because the evil God chose Kannagi, knowing that the boy already tended to…
He stopped himself.
It wasn't in a Cryptologist's nature to guess so wildly.
"And I didn't say you did," Dr. Blessed said, chuckling. "Believe it or not, despite me looking so handsome and honest, I have killed, too."
Kannagi ground his teeth.
Boss was right about this, Dr. Blessed, he realized. A lunatic! These Apostles were all lunatics!
"I am nothing… like you!" Kannagi said, taking deep breaths in between bouts of pain. "You are a Villain. I… I will be a Hero!"
"…"
Dr. Blessed began crouching.
Spooked by the sudden action, Kannagi pulled himself away, dragging his legs behind him.
Too bad. Dr. Blessed took one more step and bent, and instantly, the plague mask and clownish mask almost touched, the gap between them falling to mere millimeters.
"A Hero, first and foremost, listens to himself, Kannagi," the Apostle said. "He does not dance on others' fingers. Do you… understand?"
Kannagi continued to look over his shoulder as if he could see the blankness of Dr. Blessed's face.
Abruptly, Luke threw himself up and took several steps back, the boy finally turning his neck and taking deep breaths.
"I will be seeing you again, Kannagi," he said, throwing the Monocle's dead body on his shoulder, Nyx silently slashing her wing in front of him using Descorrer. "Because… I am very interested in your fantasy…"
Then, leaving Kannagi shaken, Luke stepped into the darkness, disappearing.
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