I Am All At Sea of Blood: Before Chainsaw Man

Chapter 5 : Compromise

Overflowing blood, guts, and nose-burning stench, as if the devil's large dead body wasn't troublesome enough, now civilians had to witness and smell it as well. To deal with it, the damage control team were called in, but the devil's dead body was the least to worry about.

"Hmmm..."

Watching over the men as they cleaned up the deceased devil's blood and guts from the alleyway was Makima, her face showing a clear frown.

"Must I say... I am pretty disappointed..." She sighed, resting her cheek on her hand. "To interfere with a private devil hunter's target is a huge violation of our policies as a government body. Normally you would get arrested for it."

Just a few minutes ago, she was urgently called to the scene. Usually, it would have been reserved for emergency aid for stronger devils normal hunters couldn't take down. Fortunately, or rather unfortunately for her own time of day, it was something much tamer as instead, she had to settle a dispute with a pair of private devil hunters. They had their target killed by her own men, and with all devils essentially having bounties on its head, they demanded compensation.

She turned her back, looking down at the presumed perpetrators, Izuki and Arch.

Izuki guiltily slouched, but from the corner of his eye, he glared at the fiend who got them into this mess as she herself had her arms crossed, trying to avoid the stares at her.

"Arch, you stepped into the public area and revealed yourself too rashly. I trusted you because you were once an Anglerfish devil, but don't forget that You are a fiend now. You could've gotten yourself killed if it weren't for Izuki, so think about your actions more next time."

"Y-yes.." Arch mumbled.

"And Izuki, you are her senior and know better. Direct her better next time."

"I'm sorry... Makima-san," Izuki replied softly, his hands tightly gripping his coat. "I really tried... it's just that..."

"It's just what, Izuki?"

He hesitantly raised his hand and pointed at the fiend beside him. "Every time I told her something, Arch didn't want to listen to me at all."

Arch gasped, "What?!"

Makima's eyes widened in interest. "Oh... is that so?"

"Ye-"

"No! That's wrong! That's wrong, Makima-sama!" Arch yelled out, pointing back at him. "I've been listening to this human this whole time! He even chased after it to kill it himself before I did!"

"Huh?" Izuki raised his voice. "I never told you to kill it straight up. I just wanted us to follow it first!"

"Who the hell just follows a devil without killing it? How the hell am I supposed to understand that?"

"Well, obviously anyone but you! Even if there were no private hunters, that devil could do anything! Might as well plunge yourself into its mouth for all I know! You're a devil. You should know!"

"Well, if it WERE a strong devil, it wouldn't be running away now, would it?" Arch poked tauntingly at his chest. "I guess that is too hard for you to understand, human!"

To hear such words and actions coming out of who used to be someone he had loved so much was an insult to both him and his sister.

That's it... this... this little...

Feeling something snap inside him, Izuki grabbed onto Arch's collar. "Again with the 'Human'! How many times did I tell you to address me by my name? That's it! If it weren't for your face and body, I would definitely-"