There was a shadow walking down the hallway carrying a stack of brown envelopes.

「Why do they take such an all-out and inefficient approach to something so trivial?」

Rintaro was holding in one hand a total of 893 “name proposals.” Even though they’re just piles of paper, this amount is quite hard on his back and knees.

However, it would be unwise to carelessly throw them away. Because each and every one of them contains the thoughts and feelings of the mysterious beings. It sounds good to say, but in reality, most of them are thrown in just for fun, just like a big joke.

「”Super Strong, Invincible, Strongest Sword”… That’s General Bearion. “Memento Mori (Don’t forget death)”… That’s General Zazoma… None of these are good. Everyone just talks nonsense because they think it’s about someone else.」

With one free hand, Rintaro dexterously opened the envelopes and put them back into the bundle. Just like when the four executives held a meeting to decide on their name, Rintaro himself just couldn’t bring himself to feel comfortable when it came to his own matter. Some of them were enthusiastic and submitted over 100 proposals, but Rintaro rejected them all, and in the end they decided to just call it “Black Sword.”

As he finally made it to his room carrying the heavy load, he bumped into a guest in the hallway. Batram, the confidant of General Tagaraak, dressed in a tailcoat, bowed deeply while holding a small box with the word “Tagazon” written on it.

「Death Green-sama, I’ve come to deliver the item in question.」

「Oh, made it in time! As expected of the world-famous Tagazon!」

Tagazon is an online shopping network operated by the Tagaden Group. Tagazon is the world’s number one online shopping site, boasting a distribution network that is as precise as a machine.

Last night, Rintaro had ordered a certain item via Tagaraak. The contents were an assortment of cookies from a well-known confectionery store in Ginza, which cost 7,500 yen. He had been warned by Minato to also apologize, and the gift was meant as an apology to Kirika and Samecchi.

Though it may seem materialistic, presents are very effective in repairing relationships. After all, even though there was a possibility that they might have interrupted him that night, he had excluded them by drugging them with sleeping pills, and then he had caused them so much trouble by being kidnapped. It was only natural that they should receive a gift that served as both a thank you and an apology.

「I hope this will cheer them up」

「Well then, Death Green-sama, I will now excuse myself.」

「Oh, sorry, to have you deliver it personally. Please give my best regards to General Tagaraak.」

「Understood. Well then, please do your best.」

Rintaro was a little concerned, but did not pay attention to the implied meaning.

Right now, he needed to concentrate on the task at hand rather than on that. Leaving aside Samecchi, there was no telling how angry Kirika was about what had happened. If he responded incorrectly, it wouldn’t be surprising if he ended up getting punched.

Rintaro made a bitter smile and dexterously opened the door to his room with his elbow, while holding his stuffs in both hands.

「I- I’m back～」

「Ah, welcome back, aniki, ssu! It’ll be ready soon so please wait a bit!」

The room was littered with scraps of cardboard, and in the middle of it, Samecchi was wrapping tape around a stick-like object. A quick look revealed that Kirika was nowhere to be seen.

「Samecchi, what exactly is that?」

「Mufufu, ssu. It’s about to be finished, ssuyo.」

It seemed that Samecchi wasn’t angry about the recent commotion. Rintaro put his luggage down and sat down on the sofa across the table from Samecchi.

「Jyajyaan, ssu! It’s a present from Samecchi to aniki, ssu!」

With that, Samecchi puffed out her chest and handed a cardboard stick to Rintaro with a snort.

「Present? For me? Aah…… Thank you.」

「grin…… ssu.」

Rintaro stared intently at the stick he was handed. Judging from its shape, it was likely a sword, and the blade, reinforced with cardboard, had the words “Fukahiremaru (Shark fin maru)” written in marker.　

It’s a fairly sturdy sword made from several layers of cardboard. Judging from the piles of failed swords scattered around the room, it’s quite a feat.

「Aniki, how is it, ssuka?」

「I think it’s well made. Well, let’s put it on display, so that it won’t break.」

Rintaro was not sure why Samecchi suddenly became interested in arts and crafts, but for the time being, he put the “Fukahiremaru” he received on his bedside table.

「Mumumuu, ssu……」

「More importantly, Samecchi, is Mayuzumi not here? It seems she didn’t show up at the meeting either.」

Rintaro said this as he took out a stepladder and peered into the attic above his room. There was no one on the attic, which had become Kirika’s private room before anyone knew it.

「Nn? Where did Mayuzumi go? She seems to be appearing out of nowhere lately…」

As he said this and put strength into his arms to climb into the attic, Rintaro felt someone grab both of his ankles tightly.

「Are you interested in girls’ rooms, senpai?」

「Dowaaaaaah!!!」

Rintaro’s body was caught in a princess carry as he fell from the stepladder in a sudden incident. At an unexpectedly close distance, a pair of still, sky-blue eyes gazed into Rintaro’s face.

「Thank you for your hard work, senpai. Mayuzumi Kirika, has come back.」

「Mayuzumi… didn’t you learn not to suddenly scare someone who’s up on a stepladder……？」

「Senpai yourself were never taught not to enter a young girl’s room without permission it seems.」

「No, it’s not your room. It’s the ceiling of my room.」

Rintaro was carried by Kirika in a princess carry and gently lowered to the sofa. Kirika herself sat down soundlessly next to Samechi and faced Rintaro without saying a word.

Judging from the way she was waiting for him to speak, she didn’t seem to be in a very good mood. It was an unexpected encounter, but Rintaro caught his breath, looked back and forth between Kirika and Samecchi, and finally managed to speak.

「Eee, in this occasion……」

「Before that, I’d like to share this with you as well.」

Kirika interrupted Rintaro’s apology and held out a document on the table. The document was filled with many numbers.

「……What is this?」

「This month’s income and expenditure report for the heinous legion. We had a lot of trouble with money last month. To avoid such a thing happening again in the future, we’ve been working hard together with the members to raise funds for the past month.」

Rintaro looked over the document. It was nothing more than a list of numbers, but from its pages it was clear to see that the members of the heinous legion were working together as one to support the organization.

Kirika, who has been appearing out of nowhere lately, has been secretly managing long-term funds in order to keep the heinous legion alive.

「Mayuzumi, I thought you’ve been busy lately, so this is what you’ve been doing!」

「Did you fall for me?」

「Ah, of cour… no, no. You saved me, thank you Mayuzumi. …Are you not angry?」

「I am.」

Contrary to what she said, Kirika’s tone was calm. But her eyes were completely serious.

「We barely made it in time this time, but you were close to dying. To borrow the words of Colonel Usanyi-chan, we are family. From now on, please stop hiding things from us.」

「Mayuzumi……」

「I regretted it too. I should have turned a blind eye to playing with fire a little, considering that I wanted Senpai to be safe.」

「Ugh… I do feel really bad about that.」

The words that came out of Mayuzumi’s mouth were not words of anger or blame. More than anything, they are the warmth of a family member, filled with love for Rintaro.

「Senpai, I’m glad you’re safe. Welcome back.」

Unintentionally, Rintaro almost cried a little.

Just as he was about to apologize profusely with a present in hand and ask for their forgiveness, he was taken by surprise and received a large gift.

They had always put Rintaro and the heinous legion first. He felt pathetic for having prepared a gift in a cowardly manner out of fear of their anger, hoping to ask for their forgiveness.

「Hawa……Hawawawawa, ssu……」

When he looked over at Samecchi, she was clutching the income statement in both hands and trembling violently. She probably wouldn’t have understood what it meant even if she had read it, but it seemed to have touched her somehow.

「Samecchi?」

「Can’t let it stay like this, ssu!」

Rising unsteadily from the soft sofa, Samecchi rushed out of the room before Rintaro could stop her. Rintaro tilted his head and wondered what on earth she was in such a hurry to do.

In any case, although things had deviated a little from the original plan, Rintaro was relieved that he had been able to reconcile with the two of them. In addition, the problem of funding for the heinous legion’s activities, which had been a source of worry for him, seemed to be coming to an end, so it was all good news.

However, it was surprising to learn that Kirika had such business acumen. She is the perfect junior who is skilled at whatever she is tasked with, but it was a pleasant surprise to see her take action of her own initiative.

「Hey, actually, I bought something for Samecchi and Mayuzumi.」

Although it was now just a gift, Rintaro offered the Tagazon box to Kirika as if he had just remembered it.

「You were worried that we would get angry so you tried to appease us by giving us a present? Am I wrong?」

「What, you’ve got it all figured out?」

「I like how attentive you are, senpai. …!?」

As soon as she opened the box, Kirika’s body stiffened as if she had turned to stone. Her face turned red up to her ears as she looked at it.

It was indeed an assortment of cookies that cost 7,500 yen at a very famous confectionery store in Ginza. Rintaro chuckled in his heart, knowing that the gift would be very effective.

「Senpai, um… This is? Are you telling me to eat it?」

「Ah, eat it with Samecchi. Don’t be shy.」

「Together with Samecchi-san?! Are you out of your mind, senpai?!」

What in the world was she so upset about? But when Rintaro saw the steam rising from Kirika’s head, he struck a gut-punch in his heart, if she was that happy, it was worth the gift.

「There’s a lot in there, so it’s probably not enough for one person to handle.」

「That…… That’s true…… So many……」

「Although, I think it would all be gone in three days for the two of you.」

「So fast?! Is that a joke?! Our body won’t be able to take it?!」

Rintaro was quite surprised, but he wondered if Kirika had such a sweet tooth. As far as Rintaro knows, Kirika also poured a lot of maple syrup on her pancakes, so she must have a sweet tooth.

In the first place, the expiration date for cookies from high-end stores is probably only a week or two at most. If she were to eat them together with Samecchi, who loves sweets, they would probably be gone within about three days.

Kirika squirmed as she asked Rintaro in a voice so thin it seemed as if it would disappear at any moment, a stark change from her previous words.

「Umm, senpai… this. Can I “taste” it right now…?」

「Nn? That’s fine. Wouldn’t it be okay if you just leave some for Samecchi? You don’t have to hold back.」

「I understand. If Senpai tells me to eat quickly… I’ll do my best…!」

「Hmm? Well, it’s big so it’s filling. But please savor it properly, okay?」

「Yes! I will savor every inch of it with all my heart and soul!」

That’s a lot of enthusiasm. Sure, it may be a little big, but how much effort do you need to put into something like a cookie?

It feels like they were talking about different things.

Konkonkon.

At that moment, there was a knock at the door of the room.

「Deathgreen-saaan, are you at home?」

The visitor was a zako fighter, Rintaro stood up to see what business he had.

When Rintaro opened the door, a fighter wearing a hat with the Tagaden logo was standing there holding a small box.

「Hello, this is Tagazon. I’ve brought your luggage to you. Please stamp or sign it.」

「What? I didn’t order anything except cookies.」

Rintaro checked the slip as he wrote his signature. The sender was Tagaraak, and the recipient’s column kindly read Death Green, so it was definitely a package addressed to him.

「The item name is…luxury cookies…assortment…?」

「Well then, I have certainly delivered the item you requested. Thank you very much.」

After the delivery man left, Rintaro stood with the door open for a while, unable to move. That’s because a package identical to the one he was supposed to have received arrived again.

He opened the box cautiously while standing there at the entrance, and sure enough, it contained an assortment of high-end cookies worth 7,500 yen.

「……Huh? Then what was the present I gave to Mayuzumi earlier……？」

Pipipipipi!

Just as many question marks began to pop into Rintaro’s head, his smartphone rang. The words and face of “General Tagaraak” appeared on the LCD screen.

『Oh, Rintaro. Hello, noja. You did a great job at Taga Hotel & Resort, nou, and now it’s finally all sorted out, wai. Oh, by the way, those “personal belongings” you brought with you, jagano. I gave them to Batram just now, jaga, did you receive them safely?』

「Yes, yes, I did receive it just now. He said it was the item in question. Wait a minute, personal belongings? Did I bring something with me?」

『Well, it’s that, ja, How to say it. There was a box of 144 rubber products for adults for commercial use, jaro. They were unopened, so I thought you might still use them. I’m so thoughtful, aren’t I, jaro? Well, as long as it arrived safely, that’s good. Well then, goodbye, noja.』

The call was abruptly cut off.

An unpleasant sweat began to drip endlessly from Rintaro’s entire body. His bloodless fingertips trembled, and he was overcome by a violent heartbeat and shortness of breath.

『eat it with Samecchi. Don’t be shy.』

『I think it would all be gone in three days for the two of you.』

『You don’t have to hold back.』

『it’s big so it’s filling』

『But please savor it properly, okay?』

Rintaro’s words to Kirika, whose face turned bright red, went round and round in his head.

If he was promoting the box of high-end cookies, there would be no problem. However, if he was promoting a commercial pack of 144 rubber products for adults, the story would be very different.

「…… Half of that is my quota… 72 pieces… in 3 days…」

A voice that seemed to resonate from the depths of the earth came faintly from behind Rintaro, at the back of his private room.

He could not turn around at this point, but he felt an immense pressure on his entire back that could be interpreted as either cold or hot.

There she was. A beautiful beast, given the sacrificial meal and set free.

It was not a fine cookie that would be served.

―― The one that gets eaten is――

「The one that gets eaten is ……Me.」

Just as Rintaro was about to rush out into the hallway, a thin, white arm entangled his body.

「Hel-……!」

Before he could scream, he was pulled back into the room with tremendous force, and the door slammed shut with a mighty bang. After a moment of silence, only the sound of the lock slamming shut echoed in the hallway

The closed door never opened for three whole days.

Author’s note : This is the memorable 200th episode!

I’m waiting for everyone’s support and comments.

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<199: Sword Of Pain
201: Vongole Bianco Samejima>