Ren Kiryu walked calmly through the streets of the 20th Ward.
Originally, his task today had been to negotiate contract details with a supplier.
But since the entire meeting had turned out to be Eto Yoshimura's attempt to recruit him into Aogiri Tree, the discussion had already lost its purpose.
There was no need to continue.
Even after rejecting her proposal, Kiryu did not believe Eto would be petty enough to cut off Anteiku's supply chain.
After all—
The so-called "supplier" had never really existed.
"Unexpected paid leave."
Kiryu thought with mild amusement.
"Still…"
He murmured thoughtfully.
"Takatsuki-sensei's resentment toward her father is deeper than I expected."
Inside his mind—
Carnage sounded curious.
[…What exactly happened between them…?]
"You already heard Yoshimura's story."
Kiryu explained calmly.
"Because of pressure from V Organization, Kuzen Yoshimura had no choice but to send Eto away."
The caretaker entrusted with raising her—
Was a ghoul named Noroi, later one of Aogiri Tree's executives.
Yoshimura hoped his daughter would grow up surrounded by love.
And Noroi truly fulfilled that promise.
He devoted his entire life to protecting her.
Until he was eventually killed by V.
After losing that protection—
Eto was forced to survive alone in the depths of the 24th Ward.
A half-ghoul inheriting Yoshimura's bloodline—
Her talent and strength were extraordinary.
By devouring other ghouls and constantly fighting for survival—
She eventually awakened a kakuja.
Later—
After leaving the 24th Ward—
Her mixed heritage allowed her to slip into human society.
There—
She began writing novels.
Her experiences inspired the book "The Black Goat's Egg."
Thus the famous author Sen Takatsuki was born.
If the story ended there—
It would almost be beautiful.
Unfortunately—
Reality rarely follows perfect narratives.
When Eto finally returned to reunite with her father—
Holding her newly published novel—
What she saw through the café window was something else entirely.
Her father.
Living peacefully inside Anteiku.
Sharing warm daily life with the café's staff.
As though—
He had already forgotten her.
And so—
Hatred began to grow.
She rejected the world itself.
Carnage sounded confused.
[…I still don't understand…]
"That's normal."
Kiryu chuckled.
"Sometimes even humans don't understand themselves."
Carnage grew quiet for a moment.
Then asked seriously:
[…What will you do…?]
[If what she said is true…]
[The peaceful life you want…]
[…might disappear.]
Kiryu smiled slightly.
"You care about that now?"
"I thought violence was all you cared about."
Carnage snorted.
[I don't care about your peaceful nonsense…]
Then his voice softened slightly.
[…I'm just concerned about you.]
[After all…]
[We are one.]
The words surprised Kiryu slightly.
Then he smiled faintly.
"Then I'll rely on you."
Carnage huffed.
[…Hmph.]
Their conversation had only lasted about thirty minutes.
So Kiryu decided to walk back slowly.
As he strolled through the evening streets—
Someone suddenly approached.
"Excuse me!"
The man sounded anxious.
"Do you know where the nearest convenience store is?"
"I've been looking everywhere."
Kiryu glanced at him.
Ordinary jacket.
Natural expression.
Friendly tone.
He looked like a lost tourist.
"Turn left ahead."
Kiryu said casually.
"About two hundred meters."
"Thank you!"
The man bowed repeatedly.
But he didn't leave.
Instead—
He stepped closer.
"Actually…"
"My sense of direction is terrible."
"Could you walk me there?"
Inside his mind—
Carnage chuckled softly.
[…Heh…]
A faint coldness flashed through Kiryu's eyes.
But his expression remained polite.
"Alright."
"Follow me."
He turned into a narrow alley.
The man followed behind him.
The alley was dim.
Old apartment walls pressed close on both sides.
Rusty pipes stretched overhead.
Kiryu stopped after turning the corner.
"Wasn't the store supposed to be ahead?"
The man asked.
Kiryu turned slowly.
Looking at him calmly.
The man's expression had changed.
The polite smile vanished.
In its place—
Hunger.
Greed.
Two crimson lights glowed in his pupils.
"…Looks like you figured it out."
He licked his lips.
"I'm starving."
"You smell human."
"But there's something else…"
"…something irresistible."
A kagune slowly emerged from his back.
Thin.
Spider-web-like.
Waving greedily in the air.
"Don't worry."
He stepped forward confidently.
"I'll make it painless."
"After all…"
"You're just an ordinary person—"
Before he could finish—
BOOM.
Crimson symbiotic matter exploded from Kiryu's arm.
It instantly formed a monstrous claw.
In a blur of motion—
It seized the ghoul by the throat.
And slammed him violently into the wall.
Bricks shattered.
The ghoul's kagune froze in midair.
His greedy expression instantly turned into pure terror.
Another tendril snapped his kagune apart like dry twigs.
"An ordinary person?"
Kiryu tilted his head slightly.
"Seems your luck is bad."
Carnage sounded delighted.
[…Breaking the rules in District 20…]
[…An unexpected reward.]
The ghoul struggled desperately.
His feet kicked helplessly in the air.
"You… you are…"
His voice trembled.
Fear overflowed in his eyes.
Kiryu ignored his panic.
"If I remember correctly…"
"The rule in this ward allows hunting once a month."
His gaze turned cold.
"And you…"
"…ate someone three weeks ago."
The ghoul froze instantly.
His pupils shrank in terror.
"I—I know I was wrong!"
He cried desperately.
"Please let me go!"
"I won't do it again!"
Tears streamed down his face.
Kiryu looked at him calmly.
At the twisted expression of fear.
At the trembling body struggling to survive.
Then he spoke softly.
"You don't regret what you did."
His voice was almost gentle.
"You only regret…"
"…that you're about to die."
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