Yamiyo no Hotaru

Chapter 40

The time was already the 5th hour past the dog... Or in short, it was already evening. Even though Fuso's capital is a city that never sleeps and has the largest population in this country, it was a time when there was no electricity. Therefore, not all of the area of the capital is filled with people.

　And the area, which was crowded, is so-called "downtown cities (towns)", main streets, or "inner quarters" and "brothels." These areas are lined with bonfires and lanterns, and many people are going in and out, or in residential cities (towns), many people are still not sleeping, although it is almost time for them to do so.

　However, a warehouse... in other words, a warehouse city (town) is a place where people have no reason to enter even during the daytime unless they have something to do, and at night, it is literally doubtful if it is popular at all. Normally, Kebiishi (police and judicial chief), guards, or bouncers of merchant houses would patrol the area, but they disappear when they are bribed with money under their sleeves and there is a boundary to ward off people.

　Therefore, the warehouse city, which is somewhat deserted with not a single soul to be found, gives an inexpressible uneasiness to those who see it, partly because it is midnight and there is only moonlight as a source of light.

　And then, there was a figure standing in the warehouse city...

　"Tsk, I screwed up, didn't I? I can't smell...!!!"

　Iruka clicks his tongue as he cautiously watches his surroundings. The underlings are frustrated by the fact that things are not going as smoothly as they would like.

　Unlike the combat-oriented Ryuuto and the highly versatile Kamui, Iruka's abilities were not really suited for combat, contrary to his aggressive nature. In fact, Iruka's power should be called a detection type. However... Iruka was not able to make full use of his power.

　His night vision is clear, but his eyes are still moistened by the tearful effect of the white smoke. His sense of smell is even worse, the pungent odor has made him a complete idiot. Hearing is fine, but... probably because the servant and the girl are holding their breath, no sounds can be heard.

　"So the only guide is this bloodstain..."

　Iruka takes a glance at the reddish-black traces of blood on the ground.

　"...is it just up ahead?"

　Iruka squints her eyes and looks ahead to where the bloodstains continue. The red spots on the ground continue to the shadow of the warehouse.

　Iruka silently raises his sword and heads toward it. Without a sound of footsteps, he reaches the corner of the warehouse with stealthy steps as if he were a ghost. Then, with the utmost caution, he quickly steps into the shadow.

　...however, all that was there was a piece of cloth, soaked in blood and strewn on the ground.

　"A trap...? I know what you're doing, you piece of sh*t!"

　Iruka roared in the next instant and turned his head up as if he had prepared for it. Then, he quickly cuts down the shadow that jumped down from the roof of the warehouse...