As a Ninja, All I Want Is to Freeload in the Type-Moon World

Higashino Kanade silently praised his own cleverness before getting down to business.

Using his phone, Higashino Kanade began composing a text message.

Hello, Senior Shiratsumire. This is Kirito Kurogiri. I need to speak with you.

Ryougi Shiki leaned over to look. Her head was very close to Higashino Kanade's, and a refreshing, intoxicating fragrance drifted into his nostrils. Her smooth hair brushed against him, making his heart itch.

Just as Higashino Kanade's thoughts began to wander, Ryougi Shiki lightly chopped him on the head with her hand. Pointing at Kirito Kurogiri's name, she asked in displeasure, "Why are you using Kurogiri's name?"

"Do you care about him that much?" Higashino Kanade countered.

"He's my friend." Ryougi Shiki answered without the slightest hesitation.

Higashino Kanade shook his head. "Here's some immature advice for you. You aren't an ordinary person. You belong to the Other Side of the World, and the things you encounter in the future won't be things ordinary people can handle. Take the Murderer case, for example. Do you think an ordinary person could pull this off?"

"But Kirito Kurogiri is an ordinary person with no power at all. If you run into something like this again, he'll only hold you back. You might even get him hurt or killed. I hope you'll think about that."

Ryougi Shiki was at a loss for words and could not think of any reason to refute him.

The Ryougi Family had once been a famous demon-exorcising family. Naturally, Ryougi Shiki understood matters concerning the Other Side of the World. Even she herself was a product of that world.

Dragging ordinary people into the Other Side of the World was extremely dangerous. Her family also opposed her associating with ordinary people, but due to her status, they had never said much about it.

"You don't get to tell me what to do!"

In the end, Ryougi Shiki snapped back indignantly. Yet judging by her unnatural expression, she had already begun to waver.

"I'm a ninja. A ninja's foremost goal is to complete the mission, and I'm the kind of person who will use any means necessary to do so. Sending a text in Kirito Kurogiri's name is one of my methods. If you can't stand it, you can withdraw from our cooperation. I can kill the Murderer by myself."

In his previous life, Higashino Kanade had lacked talent and possessed little strength. In order to survive, he had long since abandoned so-called propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame. Using any means necessary was how he survived. If he had tried to complete missions with the attitude of a gentleman, he would have died long ago.

11. Freeloading Feels Great

Higashino Kanade secretly glanced at Ryougi Shiki and found that her expression was merely somewhat dark. She neither left on the spot nor argued back, which counted as tacit approval of his actions.

Born with common sense implanted into her, Ryougi Shiki innately understood humanity's base nature. That was one reason she disliked humans. Although she did not like Higashino Kanade's methods, she could understand them. After all, she was no Hero of Justice either.

Ryougi Shiki was even somewhat curious about what the boy before her had experienced to become like this. Higashino Kanade was very different from the humans in her "common sense," and that instead piqued her curiosity.

The provocation worked!

Higashino Kanade breathed a sigh of relief. He knew that with Ryougi Shiki's unwillingness to admit defeat, she definitely would not simply walk away.

Though trying to whitewash himself like this was not exactly wise, at least it would not lower Ryougi Shiki's favorability toward him.

Now that he had gained Ryougi Shiki's tacit approval, things became much easier.

Higashino Kanade sent the edited text and received a reply shortly afterward.

Yo, Kurogiri. It's been a while. What did you need me for?

Shirou Shiratsuyu's reply was ordinary, just like something a normal person would say. However, Higashino Kanade had no intention of chatting with him.

Senior, are you the Murderer who's recently been active?

"Hey, that's way too direct! Who starts by asking someone if they're the killer?" Ryougi Shiki questioned.

"I'm not Kirito Kurogiri. Chatting slowly would only expose my identity. By getting straight to the point, I'll distract him, and he won't suspect whether I really am Kirito Kurogiri." Higashino Kanade had experience uniquely his own.

Sure enough, after that message was sent, Shirou Shiratsuyu stopped replying. However, his reaction was within Higashino Kanade's expectations.

I want to have a proper talk with you, Senior. Tonight at ten, at the warehouse district by the river. Please make sure to come. I'll come alone.

Higashino Kanade sent the message, then closed his phone. "Done!"

"What's your plan?" Ryougi Shiki asked.

"If he comes tonight, I have a way to prove whether he's the Murderer. If he doesn't, it means he has a guilty conscience. Then you can use your family's power to catch him. Surely Kan'mu City's great family can handle something this minor, right?"

Higashino Kanade paused, then asked in surprise, "Why aren't you arguing against me this time?"

"No, I think what you said makes a lot of sense." Ryougi Shiki nodded in agreement. "And persuading a friend who made a mistake to turn back really does suit Kurogiri's personality. If it were me, I'd probably fall for it too."

"I didn't expect you to be so young yet so smart. I'm starting to like you a little." Ryougi Shiki did not forget to praise him at the end.

Ryougi Shiki's favorability UP!

Higashino Kanade appeared calm and aloof on the surface, but inwardly, he was already overjoyed.

This was a small step in winning over Ryougi Shiki, but a giant step in his great freeloading endeavor.

We freeloaders must strive without ceasing!

"Since I'm so smart, help me pay for the meal." Higashino Kanade made the request without a shred of shame.

"Why?" Ryougi Shiki swept him a surprised glance.

Higashino Kanade had fair skin, well-maintained hands, and wore nothing but designer clothes. At a glance, he clearly did not look like a child from a poor family. Why did he need her to pay?

"The inheritance my parents left me hasn't come through yet. If I pay for this meal, I'll be drinking the northwest wind tonight."

Higashino Kanade was not lying. Japan's administrative efficiency really was somewhat slow. These past few days, he had been living off the loose change left at home. On top of that, ninjas naturally ate more than ordinary people. After all, Chakra was cellular energy extracted from the body. This made an already impoverished household even worse off.

Therefore, Higashino Kanade decided to freeload. Freeloading felt great for a moment; freeloading forever felt great forever. Once Ryougi Shiki had experienced being freeloaded off once, she would not resist so much the next time. As long as he turned it into a habit, Higashino Kanade could freeload off her smoothly for the rest of his life.

I really am such a clever little guy!

"I feel like you're thinking something rude."

Ryougi Shiki sensed a wave of malice from Higashino Kanade, but she still readily paid for his meal.

As the Young Lady of the Ryougi Family, Ryougi Shiki's monthly allowance might have exceeded an ordinary person's monthly salary. She could certainly afford to treat him to a meal.

"If you really don't have money to eat, you can come to me. I can help you until your parents' inheritance comes through."

Perhaps out of gratitude toward Higashino Kanade, Ryougi Shiki wanted to repay his kindness. However, the moment those words left her mouth, she regretted them.

"Okay. Thanks, Sister Shiki. I'll remember your great kindness."

What a child who didn't know the meaning of politeness!

Seeing that Higashino Kanade had not hesitated in the slightest, Ryougi Shiki clicked her tongue inwardly, feeling as though she had embarked upon a road of no return.

Night had fallen.

A cool breeze swept over the river, carrying waves of damp moisture. The Warehouse Street along the bank was silent and deserted, with only rows of old streetlights casting their dim yellow glow and drawing moths and insects to circle around them.

A red figure stood by the railing near the riverbank. The crisp river breeze stirred her hair, while the dim yellow light lent her a hazy beauty.

A pair of eyes watched from not far away. Only after confirming that the girl was truly the only person in the entire Warehouse Street did he finally emerge.

"Yo, Ryougi Shiki. I thought Kirito Kurogiri would be the only one waiting here."

The newcomer was a boy around Ryougi Shiki's age. He had short, dark-brown center-parted hair and wore a school uniform of black trousers and a white shirt. His eyes held a kind, modest air, making it impossible to associate him with the Murderer recently active in Kan'mu City.

Shirou Shiratsuyu had already dropped out of school some time ago. The reason he still acted while wearing a school uniform was likely because it made him seem less dangerous.

"Since you came, that means you're the Murderer who's recently been active, right?"

Ryougi Shiki's words were utterly blunt. Even though he had once been both her admirer and schoolmate, she had no intention of having a pleasant conversation with him.

"Hey, hey, hey, I'm not some Murderer. I only came because Kurogiri misunderstood me, and I wanted to clear things up."

"Then can you show me your arm?"

Shirou Shiratsuyu's expression froze. In an incredulous tone, he asked, "You already know?"

There really was a scar on Shirou Shiratsuyu's arm. A few days ago, it had been left by a couple who resisted fiercely. Though in the end, he had killed them both.

"So it really was you!"

Anger surged onto Ryougi Shiki's face. Her gaze became as sharp as a blade as she asked, "Why did you kill people? Why did you frame me?"

"Hehehe, why do you think?"

Shirou Shiratsuyu held his face with one hand, and suddenly broke into a crazed laugh. He was utterly unlike the modest person he had been moments ago.

"Of course, it's so I can be with you forever!!!"

Shirou Shiratsuyu's mind had descended into madness. He looked at Ryougi Shiki as though a starving ghost had found bread, his eyes revealing undisguised desire. Like a religious fanatic, he also carried an unwavering devotion.

12. Shirou Shiratsuyu's Arrogance

Ryougi Shiki wore a puzzled expression. Shirou Shiratsuyu spread his arms as though releasing himself and said, "Ryougi Shiki, ever since I first saw you, I understood. We're the same kind!"

"Ryougi, you should understand me, because you're a Murderer too. You merely hid your impulse, while I released mine."

"Why hide your desires? You're obviously suffering from restraining yourself. Why not face your desires and become a killer?"

"Tell me, Ryougi, what is it that keeps you from indulging your desire to kill? Is it Kurogiri?"

"I'm so lonely, Ryougi. No one can understand me. I'm the only one enjoying the feast of killing. I truly want you to become my companion!"

Shirou Shiratsuyu's body trembled with excitement, every cell in his body seeming to cry out in joy.

Humans were social creatures, and no one could endure loneliness for long. It had been far too long since Shirou Shiratsuyu committed his first murder. From that point on, he had borne a curse called loneliness.

After he was told that Ryougi Shiki was his kind, he had constantly wanted to share the joy of killing with her, just as a child shared a newly bought toy with a friend.

And today, he had finally voiced his feelings—feelings suppressed for so long. He believed that Ryougi Shiki, also a killer, would understand him and join him so that he would no longer be lonely.

Shirou Shiratsuyu looked at Ryougi Shiki with eager anticipation, his eyes overflowing with barely concealed passion, like an infant waiting for its mother's milk. Yet what answered him was Ryougi Shiki's angry, disgusted gaze.

"Madman!"

"?"

"You're just a delusional madman!"

Ryougi Shiki made no attempt to hide her disgust. Her blade-like gaze deeply pierced Shirou Shiratsuyu's heart.

Shirou Shiratsuyu stood there, bewildered and helpless. He could not understand why Ryougi Shiki, his "kind," would refuse his invitation.

Didn't they both have the urge to kill?

Shouldn't killers be together with killers?

"Why!" Shirou Shiratsuyu gritted his teeth. His face became twisted and terrifying, and the word seemed to have been forcibly squeezed from his throat.

"I do have the urge to kill, but I won't kill."

Ryougi Shiki's tone was exceptionally firm. She disliked humans, but disliking them did not mean she wanted to kill them. The reason she had always been able to restrain her murderous impulses was the kindness buried deep in her heart, a kindness even she had not noticed.

"Shirou Shiratsuyu, I think your actions are utterly childish. You actually tried to lure me into killing with battered corpses. Were you really so sure I would take the bait?"

"The greatest difference between humans and beasts is that humans can restrain their desires, while beasts cannot. Your behavior feels to me like a stray dog that wants to gnaw on every bone it sees. It's revolting."

"And even if I really did kill someone, what makes you think I would become your friend? Putting aside the fact that your obsession with torturing people until they are battered does not match my own beliefs, my family is a great one. If I wanted to kill people, all I would need to do is have my family send me to a battlefield."

"On a battlefield, I could kill openly without worrying about others condemning me. And with my skills, surviving would be easy. Why would I abandon my status in a great family to become a shameful killer with you?"

"Shirou Shiratsuyu, from beginning to end, you've been defining my actions according to your own way of thinking. Aren't you being far too arrogant?"

Ryougi Shiki's words were merciless and cutting from beginning to end, leaving Shirou Shiratsuyu not a shred of dignity.

The upbringing expected of a Young Lady should have prevented her from saying something so excessive. But Ryougi Shiki was furious now—furious enough to want to kill Shirou Shiratsuyu herself.

Ryougi Shiki had never imagined that Shirou Shiratsuyu had murdered so many people for such a ridiculous reason. He had even made her suspect that Ori was the killer. If Higashino Kanade had not appeared and cleared her of suspicion, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

"No! No, no, no, no! We're the same kind! Ryougi Shiki, why are you treating me like this?!"

Shirou Shiratsuyu clutched his head with both hands. Like a fanatic whose faith had collapsed, he fell into a whirlpool of self-doubt. His expression was agonized as tears and snot streamed down his face.

What had protected Shirou Shiratsuyu from being swallowed by the vortex of loneliness was his twisted love for Ryougi Shiki. He firmly believed that what he did was right. Whether murder or framing her, it was all to bring Ryougi Shiki to his side.

But now Ryougi Shiki was telling him that was impossible. Did that not prove that everything he had done was wrong, all for nothing? Was a Murderer like him, someone no one could understand, destined to be lonely for the rest of his life?

He could no longer endure loneliness!

"Ryougi, you're lying, right? You must be lying! The only reason you don't kill is because someone is restraining you. Who is it? Kirito Kurogiri, or your parents?"

Shirou Shiratsuyu viciously ripped out a large clump of his hair. Blood gushed from his scalp and streamed down his cheeks. At that moment, he was no longer lost. A conviction like that of an enlightened monk appeared on his pale face.

"As long as I kill all of them, no one will be able to restrain you anymore. Ryougi Shiki, I'll definitely make you mine!"

"Has he completely lost his mind?"