Gintetsu seems to have a preference for Chashu Ramen.
“Welcome! Oh, it’s rare to see soldiers from the Alliance Army and the Mechanist Army together.”
The proprietor, with a bandana tied around his head like a hachimaki, cheerfully served us cold water.
Yeah, this is how a ramen shop should be.
“It’s a temporary ceasefire. Mister, I’ll have soy sauce ramen, no green onions.”
“Coming right up! But if you’re worried about the subtle flavor of the green onions disrupting the soup, don’t be. Our green onions have a mild flavor, and…”
“You only use white onions?”
“You understand, young lady.”
“Then, the regular one.”
“I’ll have the chashu ramen, no bean sprouts.”
“Got it. What about you, sir?”
“Ajitama ramen, soft noodles. And a beer too. Two glasses.”
“Here’s the beer, shall I bring it out first?”
As I nodded, the ramen shop owner placed two glasses on the counter and opened a bottle of beer.
Bishamon Beer, huh? …You’ve got taste, old man.
“It’s great news about the temporary ceasefire. I know I shouldn’t say this in front of soldiers, but when will this war end?”
“If the war ends, we’ll be out of a job. It’s not exactly welcome news.”
“Why don’t you switch careers to street vending? Well, let’s drink.”
I poured Bishamon Beer for Gintetsu.
“I’m not cut out for customer service. You can see that, can’t you?”
“You think you’re suited for being a soldier? I suppose that’s not entirely untrue. We have soldiers who came from the yakuza world like you.”
“Snake Woman Rin? Is she doing well?”
“You know Uroko?!”
“We were in the same business (yakuza). I know her name, at least.”
“I see. Gintetsu, why did you become a soldier?”
“I don’t like talking about the past. Why are you asking such things?”
“It’s natural to be curious about how a yakuza became a soldier. I’ll even buy you another beer.”
” …I am curious. Snake Woman was a renowned female yakuza boss. Why did she become a soldier?”
“A trade-off? If so, I’ll tell you.”
Uroko didn’t tell me to keep it a secret.
“It’s a trade. Tell me.”
“Tozen, who was Uroko’s組’s bodyguard, was scouted by our commander. He apparently came along with him.”
“Ah, that Tozen. My father told me never to lay a hand on that man, no matter what.”
Tozen-san was really feared, even in the yakuza world.
“So, how about you?”
“I enlisted in exchange for my father’s early release. When I say father, I mean my adoptive father in the yakuza world.”
He joined the army to get his oyabun out of prison. Even if it’s an adoptive father, he’s still a father. And he didn’t want to cause trouble for law-abiding citizens, sounds like something out of a Showabyaka movie.
“A thankless task for the sake of the organization. You’ve been through a lot.”
“The organization is gone. After my father was arrested, his so-called sons started doing their own thing and started an internal conflict. My father, seeing how pathetic his sons were, disbanded the組. Those who refused to accept the disbandment might still be killing each other, but it’s none of my concern anymore.”
“What is your oyabun doing now?”
“He lives alone in a tenement. After a long time serving as a street boss, this is the result. Being a yakuza is not worth it.”
” …I see. Old man, another beer, please.”
“Coming right up. Too foolish to be of use, too clever to be of use, and stuck in the middle. The yakuza world is a tough one. This one’s on me. Have it with your snacks.”
The old man placed sliced chashu and a piece of something on a small plate for me.
“Thank you. …Too foolish to be of use, too clever to be of use, and stuck in the middle. Modern yakuza are all half-baked. Being a soldier is much better.”
Gintetsu drank, a self-mocking look on his face, like someone eating ramen that was too salty.
“Here you go! Sir, please eat my pride and joy ramen and cheer up.”
“Drinking with the enemy would be one thing, but eating ramen with them… but it looks delicious.”
“The yolk of the ajitama is reddish. Is it from a hen fed paprika?”
“Lieutenant, let’s eat it while it’s hot, lectures later.”
Yesterday’s enemy is today’s enemy, but there sat a former yakuza, a former university student, and a former countess’s daughter, sharing a long bench and slurping ramen.
“That was delicious ramen. It reminded me of the ramen I ate with my father when I was a kid. My father, a poor yakuza, used to let me eat chashu ramen.”
Stop making me emotional. I’m already so vulnerable.
“Gintetsu, try to meet Rose, the Princess of the Crimson Rose. If you feel like it.”
“I don’t understand the meaning of your words. An imperial princess would never meet a former yakuza like me.”
“She will meet you. Tell her it’s a message from me, along with this pendant. Say, ‘I’ll reveal the mole on your backside.’ If it reaches Princess Rose’s ears, she should meet you.”
I removed the magatama from the pendant and handed it to Gintetsu.
“Hey, if I deliver a message like that, I can’t complain if I’m executed on the spot! And what is this pendant? Do you really think anyone would believe such a story!”
“Whether you believe it or not is up to you. But Princess Rose will provide the best path for you and your oyabun.”
“What’s in it for Kenrou to do this? It feels like a trap.”
“The Lieutenant simply followed her own rules.”
“Your own rules?”
“Yes, ‘I will not leave any regrets in my heart’ is the Lieutenant’s rule. So it doesn’t matter if you believe it or not. The Lieutenant did what she could. The rest is your problem.”
“That’s how it is. With this, my debt is repaid. If we meet on the battlefield, I won’t hold back.”
” …The same goes for both of us.”
“Thanks for the meal, I’ll leave the payment here. Let’s go, Lilith.”
“Right. Adieu, handsome yakuza.”
Leaving Gintetsu looking bewildered, we headed for the taxi stand.
Inside the taxi on our way back to the barracks, I enjoyed the night view of the unfamiliar city.
The people walking on the street… I wonder what kind of lives they’re living? All I can say is they’re probably luckier than me…
Or maybe not. If I had stayed in Japan, what would I have become?
Wouldn’t I have lived a bland, flavorless life, just breathing and with a beating heart, without even seriously thinking about the meaning of life?
My life is unpredictable and full of trouble, but I am living in the present.
…Grandpa, thank you. I’m glad I came to this planet.
I never imagined I’d be surrounded by quirky kids who want to share my fate, a capricious angel, and a devoted blonde beauty.
“Hey, Lieutenant, can I ask something?”
“What is it?”
“Why did you meddle with Gintetsu? It wasn’t just to repay a debt, was it?…And isn’t that pendant something important?”
It is important, but it’s borrowed. It should be returned to its rightful owner.
“There are allies I dislike, and enemies worthy of respect. I hate yakuza and mafia, but I felt a sense of aesthetics in that man’s unyielding way of life. Especially because it’s a way of life I couldn’t possibly live myself.”
“And then to the Crimson Rose?”
“Yes, Rose knows how to handle men like that. A kitchen knife is still a knife, and with the right use, it can be helpful, just like Tozen-san.”
…Gintetsu the Hitman is a professional assassin. A professional assassin is also a professional bodyguard. He knows the methods of assassins.
Gintetsu, a man who lives by repaying favors, might become the dagger that protects Rose.
“Hmm, you think highly of Princess Rose… How unpleasant.”
Oh dear, she’s sulking.
We got out of the taxi in front of the dormitory attached to the dock.
“Well then, I’m going for a talk between women.”
“What will you talk about?”
“A preliminary consultation to avoid reaching a conclusion. I want to have a talk to postpone things.”
Isn’t a preliminary consultation held to reach a conclusion?
“I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
“You don’t need to. I don’t expect a lower life form to understand.”
“Who are you calling a lower life form!”
As if my protest was carried away by the wind, Lilith placed her index finger on her lower lip and began to mutter to herself.
“The current situation is fine, so postponing the conclusion is okay, right? Prioritizing the process over the result is my style… Right! Since it’s your life that will end up a mess anyway, I’ll just make it haphazardly.”
“Hey! Don’t mess up my life arbitrarily! And what do you mean by haphazardly! I don’t know what you’re planning, but at least do it seriously!”
“If it’s going to be unmanageable anyway, I might as well add chaos to chaos and make it super messy. Multiplying a negative by a negative might result in a positive.”
“Listen to me!”
“You’re so noisy. I have the right to toy with your life!”
“You don’t! When did you get that right!”
“Have you forgotten our promise to share each other’s fate? You and I will share any fate, meaning your life is my life. I have no right to complain about toying with my own life.”
Lilith smiled as if it were obvious.
“That syllogism is too much of a leap! Don’t say absurd things!”
“Heh heh, that pinky promise cost me.”
Seeing Lilith lick her lips with a smile, I finally understood.
That pinky promise was a contract with a demon.
…It seems I have sold my soul to this little devil.
Oh well. If my soul becomes a collection of such a cute little devil, it will be honored.
