Chapter 198
It was over.
It was all over.
DCPD and Felix were gone. The Chainsaw Man Murder Case was closed Just like this.
I told Hina and Angela not to worry, as Felix would surely pay a heavy price for his crimes, and sent them back to their respective residences.
Both of them seemed to have quite a few things they wanted to ask and talk to me about, but it was simply impossible right now.
If I had been a superhuman with physical strength, I would have stopped by the bar for an after-party and had a drink together, but I didn’t have the energy for that.
Too many things had happened in the span of a single day, and my nerves felt frayed from the accumulated fatigue and stimulation.
The two of them left me with many words of thanks and headed back in Paulo’s car.
It was understandable. Even I thought I had accomplished quite a lot. Although most of it was merely pulling strings through my connections rather than doing it directly with my own abilities.
In the case of the Shaolin Monk, who was one of those connections, it was actually a situation where I should be the one apologizing.
The favor he owed me was merely pulling his stuck arm out of the notorious Ever Vending Machine, Bobby’s 'Hole', and while it was true that it was an important issue directly tied to a monk’s dignity, it wasn’t to the extent of dragging him into a life-or-death battle with bullets flying everywhere.
When I bowed my head deeply to the Shaolin Monk, he spoke.
[There is no need to mind it. The Buddha said that without Bosi (Dana), that is, giving, there is no joyful Gwabo (Karma), that is, happiness. Since the favor the patron bestowed upon this Monk in the past has multiplied and returned as such great help, the good karma this Monk will receive back in the distant future will be even more immense. I merely look forward to that day.]
Then he grinned, lightly accepted my greeting, and walked away.
His striding gait seemed to have absolutely nothing holding it back.
Without demanding any compensation from me, the Shaolin Monk just took long strides like that and disappeared somewhere.
It was a retreating figure that left me with many thoughts.
He looked even more radiantly bright now than when he was using that bizarre Techno-Buddhism-style martial arts that spewed golden light everywhere, like the Golden Light Immovable Body Technique or whatever it was called.
“…Or maybe his scalp is just so smooth that it reflects light well.”
Even a regular bald head has excellent reflectivity and is dazzling when it catches the light well, but since it was a metallic chrome bald head, it couldn’t help but sparkle even more.
Having silly thoughts, I figured I should head back now too, so I took the monorail.
As expected of late-night at The public, there were a lot of people.
Belated regret bloomed that I should have just ridden home together in Paulo’s mech truck.
As is always the case with people, they only feel the regret after it’s over.
I arrived at the monorail platform in the upper levels of the Kabuki Condominium. From this point on, the platform was luxurious, and the elevators were surprisingly smooth and swift.
I was home in no time.
I definitely hadn’t planned on staying long, but before I knew it, I had naturally started calling this penthouse on the 53rd Floor of the Kabuki Building my home.
After one went through the security procedure and stepped into the entrance, a quiet warmth lingered in the air.
Sey must not have gotten off work yet, as it was quiet with no sign of anyone around.
I was so tired that I went into my room and collapsed onto the bed without a moment to think about anything else.
I lost consciousness like a switch being flipped off, and when I came to, it was bright daylight.
“…Ah.”
My voice was hoarse upon waking up. Half-asleep, I shook my groggy head.
There is a subtle downside to living in a house that’s too nice.
The sunlight exposure is so good and the ceiling is so high that the stinging rays of the sun pierce right through even the pollution-induced purple smog to forcefully wake you up.
Normally, I would have utilized the blackout function built into the windows, but because I had passed out without the chance to do so, sleeping in became an impossible dream.
I blankly stared at the view beyond the curved glass window that gently wrapped around the room.
The sunlight shattering against the edges of buildings cascading dizzyingly far below, the aerial vehicle looking unrealistically like a tiny bird, and the neat, clean electric lights, unlike the lower levels, were visible.
Despite my gloomy mood, the city shone brilliantly and moved restlessly again today.
It would be nice if it stopped to take a break once in a while.
As I sat still, just leaving my mouth open without a single thought, I felt a presence outside.
Unless an unidentified assailant or a ninja had broken in, it was bound to be Sey.
Normally, I would have at least tidied up my haggard appearance - my messy hair and the drool marks around my mouth - before stepping out of the room, but I didn’t feel like doing that right now.
When I came out into the white living room looking disheveled, Sey, sitting on the old model inflatable sofa, turned his head to look my way.
Seeing my complexion, he raised an eyebrow and asked.
“The thing you went to do, is it over?”
“Yes. It’s over now. I guess I’ll have to go back to work starting today.”
“Did it go well?”
I thought for a moment before nodding.
Sey didn’t ask any further and spoke calmly.
“Good job. You must have been through a lot.”
Even though it wasn’t a very long statement, a corner of my heart grew warm.
Of course, it was just a customary pleasantry, and there was no way Sey could know the hardships and effort I had put in over the past day… but still, the empty, hollow feeling inside me got a little better.
“Ah, right.”
Sey suddenly spoke to me as I stood there blankly.
“There’s an item that came for you.”
“For me?”
I asked, dumbfounded.
I haven’t ordered anything recently, though?
Because I had gone through such an intense day, suspicion naturally arose first. Could someone be playing a trick? What if it’s a trap like a bomb?
Sey chuckled.
“It’s nothing like that. The delivery came via Mitsibichi Black Quick, and I roughly checked the contents too. It’s safe. And it is yours.”
It’s definitely mine? My head naturally tilted in confusion.
Sey wasn’t the type of person to easily make such assertions.
“Open it yourself.”
Sey said that and gestured toward the entrance.
I had to check this out, if only out of curiosity.
When I came out, a large aluminum case that made my jaw drop was lying elongated on the floor.
Given the times, a robot probably delivered it, right? If a person had carried that all the way up here, it wouldn’t be strange if their back was completely shattered.
It wasn’t just big and light either; when I grabbed the handle and applied a little force, the weight was quite substantial.
Looking at the size, I felt like I had an idea of what it was, but also like I didn’t…
I didn’t want to bother with deduction regarding the package’s identity, so I tried to open it right away. The problem was that I couldn’t see a part for opening the lid.
Just in case, I tapped my watch against the digital device engraved with the Mitsibichi logo, and with a beep, the case automatically split open with a whir.
[Recipient Aaron Nakamura, Identity confirmed. Thank you for using the Mitsubishi Black Tier Delivery Service.]
Before I even had time to marvel at the technique befitting a large corporation prominent in Dusk City, I was left speechless by the vicious item inside, revealed as if a gift box had been untied.
Present were a bright yellow body and multiple handles attached to a massive engine, a steering wheel and controller, a filtration device and a pump.
The dark saw blade stretched out jaggedly over the guide bar, showing off its presence.
It was a Super-Vibrating Jet Engine Saw.
Sey was right. It seemed this was indeed my item.
A small note was attached to it.
[This is what Hyung-nim intended to gift to little brother. Though belated, I am keeping the promise in his stead. When we talked over drinks, there were several candidates, but since there is no one to discuss it with now, I just chose as I pleased. I don’t know if it will be to your liking, though.
It’s the new Steelhusk 480T model, and it’s a good product. Hyung-nim would have suggested choosing something else, saying it lacked the tactile feel, but I think this is just right. It’s relatively less burdensome and light.
Thank you for everything you’ve done. I hope you put it to good use.]
A heavy stone rolled into my empty, hollow heart.
As I carefully pulled out the chainsaw, lifted it, and examined it, a line of crooked handwriting was faintly stamped on the side of the guide bar.
In memory of him…
A hollow laugh escaped me naturally.
Even without such a phrase, carrying around such a vicious chainsaw would naturally bring to mind that man who left an intense impression anyway.
Why on earth did he send such an overwhelming item as a gift…
Though it wasn’t really my place to think that, considering I had impulsively joined the “Chainsaw Lovers” Club' just at the mention of being gifted a chainsaw.
As I sat on the floor examining the jet engine saw, the events that had occurred since I joined as the final member of this suspicious club slowly flashed through my mind.
Most of them were irreversible memories tangled with sorrow and resentment, blood-soaked revenge and murder, but there were definitely things left behind as well.
I don’t regret my choice now.
Joining the Group/Gathering, deciding to help Hina, killing people…
However,
I thought, immersed in a strange lingering feeling.
As expected, from now on, I feel the need to be much more careful when joining a club.
Especially when the club’s name is bizarre and its members are peculiar.
Even more so if the chairman or other people are unnecessarily endearing figures, making it likely that I’d end up caring about them later on.
“…”
That day, I continued to spend my time like that until I had to go to work.
The technician proceeded, looking over the jet engine saw and practicing the disassembly method and cleaning method according to the maintenance method written in the manual.
Just as a certain someone I knew used to do, I spent my time just like that, meticulously tending to the saw with all my heart.
After doing so, I felt quite a bit better.