(All translations are done by V.)

“日本人の男性を見つけました.” 

(I found a man from Japan) said the young boy V met earlier.

“アキラ、何を言っているんだ?”

(Akira, what are you talking about?) said a young girl about the same age.

“先ほど図書館に本を返却しに行ったとき、背が高くて痩せた白人男性がいて、私たちは日本について話しました。”

(When I went to the library earlier to drop off those books, there was this tall, skinny, white man, and we talked about Japan.) 

“さて、その男はあなたにとって少しでも特別に思えましたか？”

(Well, did that guy seem special to you at all?) 

“「彼には何も特別なところは感じなかったわ。 

魔法の力なんて持っていないと思うわ。 確かに服装は変だったわね。

トレンチコートに青いスーツ、カウボーイハット、サングラス…

ねえ、ケンジをどこかで見かけなかった？」”

(“I didn’t feel anything special about him. 

I don’t even think he has any magic powers. 

He did dress oddly; he wore a trench coat, a blue suit, a cowboy hat, and sunglasses…

Hey, have you seen Kenji anywhere?”) 

“ええ、彼は外で剣術の練習をしています。”

(”Yeah, he’s outside working on his swordsmanship.”)

”彼はここに来てからずっと神経質になっている。”

(“He’s been pretty jumpy ever since we got here.”) 

そうですね、彼は仕事に没頭するのではなく、仕事で頭を満たそうとしているんだと思います。

(“Yeah, I guess he's trying to fill his mind with work instead of sitting in it.”)

Leaving the common room in which the two heroes sit in and entering the King's room, a young man bowed, and the king sat on his throne.

“Mr. Minamoto, I have a request for you.”  

“Your wish is my command.” said Kenji Minamoto, the last of the three heroes.

“Well, there are these people who call themselves the Devils, and I would like you to capture them.” 

Alexander the king leaning closer to Kenji.

“Now I don’t have much of a problem with what they’re doing. 

The only thing these two people seem to do is steal money from the rich slavers or kill corrupt nobles. 

They seem to be trying to destroy the slave market in this country, something I've been trying to do for years. 

Now, if you can capture them and bring them to me so we can discuss the reasons for their actions, I would be internally grateful.” 

“I will do my best, my king. Do you know where they may attack next?” 

“I believe it will be somewhere west of the royal capital. 

I’ll give you a map of the markets and give you a carriage. 

Bring anyone you think will be useful, and I’m truly sorry for making you do such a thing, but I must know the reason for these men's actions.”

“No, my King, for housing us, we are grateful, and we are thankful to be able to help you.”

The man who called was named Kenji, left King's room with a cold expression.

“Akira, Akikoa, we're heading out west.” 

“ねえ、ケンジ。日本からの別の人を見つけたよ。”

(“Hey, Kenji. 

I found another person from Japan.”)

“「彼を連れてきたの？」”

(“Did you bring him with you?”) 

“「いいえ、ちょっと話しただけで、それから別れました。

もし後でその人を見つけられたらしたかもしれません。

でも、彼はただ姿を消してしまいました。面白い人で、ケンジ、あなたなら気に入ったかもしれません。」"

(“No, we just talked for a bit and then parted our ways. 

I would have if I could find the guy afterward. 

But he just vanished. Interesting guy, I think you may have liked him, Kenji.)

“それで、彼は役に立ちそうでしたか？"

(“Well, did he seem useful?”) 

“もしあなたが言いたいのが力強そうかどうかなら、彼はそうは見えませんでした。実際、彼は割と普通でした。”

(“He didn’t seem powerful if that’s what you mean. Actually, he seems pretty normal.”) 

“それほど重要な人物なわけがない。彼も私たちと同じことをしているに違いない、ただ家に帰ろうとしているだけだ。”

(“He can’t be that important, then. He must be doing the same as us, just trying to get home.”)

“ねえ、西に出かけるってどういうこと？”

(Hey, what's this thing about heading out west?) Akikoa asked.

“ 王様は、悪魔と名乗るこの二人を追いかけるよう私たちに命じました。

彼らは市場から奴隷を解放しており、王様は彼らの動機について話を聞きたいと思っています。もしかすると、そのうちの一人はあなたが会ったことのある、アキラかもしれません。

今夜出発するので、準備してください。”

(“The King has asked us to go after these two people who call themselves the Devils. 

They’ve been freeing slaves from the markets, and the king wants to discuss their reasons.

Maybe one of them is that guy you met, Akira.

We're moving out tonight, so get ready.)

As the sun rises upon the day, I look upon the star, remembering all the times I woke up for work or school.  

A feeling of melancholy wraps around me as if a noose were being tied around my neck as I stand on the gallows…

I built a bomb. More like I built grenades—four of them. 

It seems like they would be useful if we ever have to kill groups of people if we need to do something like that again. 

I remember reading about how people make explosive devices, for no real reason, but I couldn’t recall the steps. 

So I had to make some guesses.

There's been a dark cloud following behind us for the last few days, not ominous at all. 

 We've been continuing our night raids, but things are starting to feel off.

We may be too hot right now, or it may be due to how much more secure these markets have been gotten. Making things harder, causing us to spend too much time at one place

All in all, I have 160 rounds left and 7 rounds in the magazine within the gun.

The humidity made me feel nasty. 

The plan tonight is to hit a pretty large market. It would be the last one we would hit for a bit; as I said, we pretty hot right now. But I have always been like going big or going home in the last play of the game. We are taking both bikes and, of course, leaving the sidecar behind.

Everything I’m saying feels like the last thing a side character says before getting snuffed out.

I yelled over the engines of the bikes that we'll be setting up camp. 

Let’s just say I didn’t like the look of the clouds.  

The clouds were trying to hide the sun while we set up camp. I wonder who would win in the war above.

I keep talking about camp… I guess I just don’t have much to say.

Walking around the camp, which was hidden within a forest, I started talking to my comrades. 

The ones I have only met a month or so ago.

Miyamoto was leaning on a tree, cleaning his blade.

“Miyamoto.”

“Yeah, V.”

“Doesn’t this raid feel a bit different than all the others?”

“Yeah, my gut is telling me off, but a warrior must ride into battle even if he knows of dangers beforehand. When a warrior picks up his sword, he knows that he will die with it tight in his hands.” 

“Well, if tonight is the night we dance with death, I would happily go have my last stand with you, my friend.”

I looked upon the sky, no longer seeing the sun, just the abyss of black clouds. I’ve always pondered about my wretched demise and what happens after death, if there’s anything really there. 

In this campsite we set up in, there was this picnic table that sat in the middle of it all. 

Who put this here? 

Does someone live near here and place this here, or was this made by the local town?

I’m just trying to hold off on talking to Celeste. We don’t talk much, but I’m shouldn’t skip a possible final chat because things are a bit awkward between us.

She was reading this leather-bound textbook; it wasn’t written in Japanese or English. 

Huh.

This place has their own langage; ain’t that a kick in the head.

I sat down with my back to the table, looking at some tree.

“I’m sorry, kid. 

About saying those things in front of the capital. 

I’m an old foolish man who bites back at those who are just trying to help. 

You're a good kid, kid. And I’m both sorry and glad that you’ve been helping the small kid.”

I heard a small sniff and looked over to Celeste's face.

She was trying to hide that tears were falling down her face. I don’t know why she would be crying for this old bastard. 

But I placed my arm upon her left shoulder and just sat next to her, letting her cry.

Before I got up to go talk to the kid, Celeste spoke up.

“I’m sorry for being a bit of a mess; just don’t get yourself killed, V.”

“Okay, kid.”

I tipped my hat down to cover my already covered eyes. I didn’t want to look at another kid I’m lying to. Maybe I just remind her of someone she once knew, and that's why she shed tears. 

I don’t know…

The last one, the youngest, the kid.

She was sleeping under a tree, using her dog as a pillow. 

I didn’t want to wake her up, so I just looked at the kid’s peaceful face. Even after all the horror she had seen, she could live on with a smile upon her face. I patted the dog's head and gave the kid a little puck on the forehead.

It seemed like a thing a father would do. I know I’m no father, but it felt like the thing I should do.

A lightning bolt lights the sky, and thunder booms. 

The engines bellowed, and the heat was hot. 

Night had fallen, and we rode.

Leaving those kids behind. No longer any feeling of fear or worry about what will happen. I said what I needed to.

Now there will only be blood.

We made it to town and hid the bikes. 

We placed our masks on and readied ourselves.

When I kicked up the door, I knew in a second it was all a trap, but I continued to play my role in this final act.

"We are the Devil and Here to Do the DEVIL'S WORK." 

"またしても正解のようですね、ケンジ。"  

(“It seems like you got it right once again, Kenji,” Akira said.)

“Give up now, and we won’t need to kill you,” Kenji said.

“Kill me.

Boy, have you ever killed a man? 

Have you ever felt warm blood cover you after killing man after man? 

Have you seen the devil dance in front of you with only two weapons in your hands and the pits of hell opening up to take him or you? 

Boy, you know nothing of what death is and what killing is like, for you have never been to hell and become its king.”

A silence filled the room in which we all stood.

These kids shouldn’t be killing or threatening to kill; they should be doing whatever kids like to do.

This was always going to become a battle, however much I didn’t want it to. Not a fan of beating up kids. I’ll do it, but it just feels worse than normal.

The first shot was from a large icicle that passed my cheek, drawing blood.

I fired back 5 rounds, leaving me with 2 bullets in the mag.

Miyamoto drew out both his katana and wakizashi. 

Akira lunged right at Miyamoto with his longsword. 

Kenji and Akikoa started firing off spells at me. 

The ice kept cutting me like razors, and I kept firing, having to reload after every 17 rounds. 

I know winning this battle was a fool's game, so I pulled two grenades out of my pockets, lit both ropes, and chucked the grenades to those kids.

“FIRE IN THE HOLE!

FUCKING RUN, JOHNNY BOY!”

BOOM!

Miyamoto and I made it out of the building, but we got split up once more.

When those three guys came around the building.

Two of them jump on Miyamoto.

And I just got one.

“Why are you doing this?” Kenji asked.

“Because, no matter where you are, you have to keep your ethics. And if I were to be killed for what I have done… Then let it be done.”

The wounds were deeper than I had believed. 

Blood was starting to fill my throat.

“Come on, give up and come with me.

The King just wants to know why you are doing this. 

Deading on this hill is useless. ”

I pulled my gun up. 

“I knew I was dying today, kid.

It's a foolish thing to do. 

To die for your ideals.

But I guess man is a fool.”

He pulled his katana.

“Then you will be dead as a warrior.

Do not worry; I will treat your death with as much honor as a samurai's death.”

The rain fired down like bullets out of a machine gun—fast and remorseless.

Time to die.

“I am the Devil and must do my work.”

I fired. 

Kenji dashed toward me.

We stood there for around 30 seconds…

He stayed up…

I dropped.

Before he walked away, he talked to me, believing I was now a corpse.

“勇敢な戦士よ、安らかに眠れますように。” 

I gave it about five minutes before I dragged myself to my bike and started driving.

 I don’t know where, but I couldn’t stay. 

I started to unpack the cigarette box that I alway keep in my inner pocket and light one. 

My eyes were growing weary, and my mind was becoming foggy.

My race was coming to an end.

Thud.

I found myself face food in the mud.  

Everything was becoming cold now.

I pulled out my flask and placed it upon on my lip.

Having my last drink. 

I don’t why I decided to go, knowing I’ll die… I think I know I couldn’t run from this.

Rather die like a man than a dog.

Of course, now I’m dying on the side of the road like a fool.

I placed the burning cig from my hand and took a drag.

I took another drag…

Death has finally come for me.

God, I hope Miyamoto made it back to camp. 

I hope the kid doesn’t shed any tears.

 I hope Celeste gets into a good school and lives a long and delightful life.

If only time allowed a bit more time. 

Well, let the record show that I took the blows and did it My Way.

The darkness crept in all around me. 

I took one long final drag.

Raised my arm and said…

 “Bang!”