TBETW Chapter 23

Chapter 23 – Indulgence

Main Story 2, Chapter 3, Part 1

Novel Title: 獣はかくして囚われる (The Beasts are Ensnared This Way)

Author：風結子 沙野 (Fuyuko Sano)

Illustrator：小山田 あみ (Oyamada Ami)

Translator: K (@kin0monogatari)

Protagonists: 鹿倉 陣也 (Kagura Jinya -MC) & ゼロ (Zero -ML)

*Please read at freenovels.net, the original site of translation. TQ*

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On Sunday morning, a message from Kiriyama came through Kagura’s phone, and ten minutes later, Itou appeared on the intercom screen.

Still sporting bedhead, Kagura changed into a shirt and slacks and climbed into the backseat of the sedan.

“What’s this about?” he asked, but Itou remained silent.

At the door to the penthouse of Kiriyama’s high-rise, four suited men stood like statues. Their diverse appearances suggested a multinational mix, yet their commanding presence marked them as specialists in VIP security.

Kagura already had a hunch, but stepping into the apartment confirmed it: seated elegantly on the spacious sofa in the living-dining area was Li Azhar.

He exuded his usual refined, affable demeanor, devoid of aggression or overbearing charisma. Yet, with the Tokyo skyline spread out behind him through the wide windows, he looked every bit the ruler of all he surveyed. It was easy to imagine the same impression, no matter which country or city served as his backdrop.

Between the sofas, a low table held an Arabic-style tea set.

Without waiting for Kiriyama’s instruction, Kagura seated himself beside him.

“Where is Toono now?”

Kagura asked the man on the opposite sofa in Japanese, only to receive a response in English: “I won’t tell you.”

Leaning back into the sofa, Kagura shifted his gaze between Kiriyama and Li Azhar.

Kiriyama was an elite product of Japan’s legal world—a thoroughbred. Li Azhar, on the other hand, was a self-made titan whose origins were unclear.

Though their backgrounds and upbringings couldn’t have been more different, there was an odd resonance between their worldviews.

“The idea of a set path will soon become meaningless,” Li Azhar said, continuing what was likely a conversation they had started before Kagura entered.

Kiriyama nodded. “Leapfrog phenomena have far exceeded expectations. Emerging and developing nations may soon overtake the established ones.”

“This has already been demonstrated in Asia’s developing nations. Africa will also leap ahead,” Li added.

Kagura, still shaking off the remnants of sleep, let the conversation sink into his mind.

The ‘leapfrog phenomenon’ referred to the rapid adoption of cutting-edge technologies, such as digital services, in countries where social infrastructure was still underdeveloped. This allowed them to advance quickly.

The most prominent example was in IT. While developed countries had painstakingly climbed the ladder with technologies like analog phones and personal computers, developing nations leapfrogged directly to widespread smartphone adoption, creating enormous economic zones.

In contrast, developed nations, bogged down by vested interests, often found themselves trapped in stagnation.

Li Azhar shrugged.

“It’s ironic that what has been meticulously built up now becomes a ceiling, capping progress.”

“However, if the world is swept into this major shift, it could lead to the destruction of order,” Kiriyama added.

“That ‘order’ you speak of is nothing more than a temporary construct set within the short span of human history. Letting go and redefining it is sometimes necessary.”

Kiriyama’s expression turned bitter.

“Destruction, followed by chaos, leading to the rise of new order—it’s a headache for those with vested interests.”

“Then we should simply move to the side that wields the new order,” Li Azhar said, smiling as he turned his palm upward.

It was as though the entire Earth was resting on that hand.

In the eyes of the two enjoying this lofty thought experiment, the image of people wailing in agony from the collapse of order did not appear. Or perhaps it did, but it wasn’t worth their attention.

Suppressing a yawn, Kagura leaned forward.

“Was I called here for some tea-time chatter?”

He redirected the conversation to something of actual interest to him.

“What’s your stance on Toono? Where do you stand with him?”

At Kagura’s pressing tone, Li Azhar opened his mouth to respond.

“As I’ve said before, he’s someone who can thrive on chaos. I acknowledge that.”

He continued in fluent Japanese.

“To me, he’s a pawn—a means to an end. As long as he’s useful, I’ll keep him. Once he’s no longer necessary, I’ll discard him.”

“Answer me more directly. Do you want to protect Toono, destroy him, support him, or do you simply not care?”

“That question is meaningless. These things are as fluid as sand.”

It wasn’t much of an answer, but it was predictable in its own way.

Like sand dunes in a desert reshaped by strong winds, the landscape could completely transform in an instant. People who navigate such fluidity with ease are often those who reach heights unattainable by those with conventional values.

“In that case…” Kagura began.

Surely, just as during that ‘Last Supper’, there would come a moment when Toono’s life became trivial to Li Azhar.

“When you decide he’s no longer necessary, let me kill Toono.”

Of course, if the opportunity arose, Kagura would do so without permission. However, Toono traveled freely across borders and was protected by the fanatic Renjou. To ensure a successful strike, it was best to secure a promise from the one harboring him.

Li Azhar narrowed his eyes slightly, shifting his gaze from Kagura to Kiriyama. Then, switching to English, he asked, “Did you summon Detective Kagura here to make a request? You’ve been quite indulgent.”

Kiriyama neither confirmed nor denied the statement.

Li Azhar’s blue eyes returned to Kagura.

“I won’t make any promises. I despise being bound by anything—so much so that it makes my skin crawl.”

***

On the way back from this ‘summit’, Kagura once again rode in the car driven by Itou. This time, however, he climbed into the front passenger seat instead of the back.

Itou barely raised an eyebrow but did not reprimand him.

From this distance, Kagura noticed for the first time the tiny tear-shaped mole beneath Itou’s left eye.

He wanted to confirm how much this man knew about Zero. Since he couldn’t ask directly, he began circling the issue with indirect questions.

“Why is a lawyer working as a driver?”

“…A lawyer, a driver—there’s no distinction for me.”

“Does that mean your work for Kiriyama doesn’t change?”

It seemed as if Itou glanced at him for a moment, but his perpetually squinting eyes made it hard to tell.

“Have you been with Kiriyama long?”

To loosen his tongue, Kagura added a small provocation.

“Not that the length of time matters for relationships.”

Through the white gloves he wore, Kagura noticed Itou’s grip tighten on the steering wheel.

Without moving his mouth much, Itou replied, “I’ve served at his side since our early childhood.”

Pride unmistakably bled into his voice.

“So, you’re his school friend?”

For an heir to the legal world like Kiriyama, it wasn’t surprising to have an entourage arranged for him.

“My family has devoted everything to the Kiriyama household for generations.”

―――Ah, so that’s how it is.

To become a prosecutor, one must pass the bar exam and complete legal training. It was likely that even during that period, Itou shadowed Kiriyama like a second self.

Not becoming a prosecutor and instead becoming a lawyer was undoubtedly because it was more fitting for serving as Kiriyama Shungo’s right hand.

While it was satisfying to understand this dynamic, Itou was a troublesome presence.

Itou shared and supported even the ‘darker’ aspects of Kiriyama’s life.

―――He probably knows about Zero, too.

More than that, he might have uncovered the secret of Zero’s origins and his role as the leader of Enwu.

“Is Kiriyama really worth devoting everything to? Has he ever done anything for you?”

Kagura asked the question out of pure curiosity.

“Measuring a master’s worth or expecting something in return is repulsive,” Itou answered immediately.

His tone was like that of a follower speaking of their messiah. It was likely the result of being raised with such teachings from birth, much like a second- or third-generation adherent of a religion.

Even so, Kagura found Renjou’s devotion to Toono easier to understand. Toono had saved Renjou—he was the one and only person who had ever done so.

“Take a good look at ‘Shungo-sama’ at least once. Make sure you won’t regret it.”

As he spoke this advice, which he knew would go unheeded, Kagura turned his gaze to the passenger-side window.

And so, he focused all his attention on Itou.

Depending on the circumstances, eliminating Itou before Kiriyama is also an option to consider.

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Next update: 2025.12.09

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