RL Chapter 28

Chapter 28 – Upper Hills

Resonance 3, Part 6

Novel Title: 共鳴劣情 オメガバース (Resonance Lust: Omegaverse)

Author：岩本薫 (Iwamoto Kaoru)

Illustrator: 蓮川愛 (Hasukawa Ai)

Translator: K (@kin0monogatari)

Protagonists: 本浄天音 (Honjou Amane) & 苅谷煌騎 (Kariya Kouki) / 首藤煌騎 (Shutou Kouki)

*Please read at knoxt.space, the original site of translation. TQ*

֍֍֍

The contrast with the Midtown district—crowded with pencil-thin buildings vying for control of the airspace—and the chaotic downtown area, where unregulated construction had led to a mishmash of styles, was striking.

“…Where is this?” 

“This is Upper Hills,” Kouki replied from the driver’s seat, confirming Amane’s suspicions.

(I thought so.)

Amane had only been to this area a handful of times in the past. And even then, it had always been from the car window. He had never set foot here.

The reason was simple: Upper Hills was an Alpha-exclusive neighbourhood.

No matter how much money they might have, Betas were unable to own real estate in this upscale residential area sprawling across the hillside. And Omegas? They had even less of a chance. While Betas or Omegas married to an Alpha might live here with their spouse, they couldn’t hold property in their own name.

Only those with a national ID number starting with ‘𝛼’ were allowed that privilege.

In short, this was a de facto special zone exclusively for Alphas.

Before long, they approached a gate monitored by officers from the patrol division of the Upper Hills Police Station. Beyond this point lay an even more exclusive area within Upper Hills, requiring identity verification at the checkpoint. For those who weren’t Alphas, passing through meant not only showing their ID but also a special permit, which wasn’t something one could easily obtain.

Kouki slowed down and stopped just before the gate, lowering the power window on the driver’s side. A young patrol officer leaned in, taking Kouki’s national ID card while scrutinising Amane in the passenger seat with an appraising, almost sceptical gaze.

“Is this person a friend of yours?” the officer asked.

“Yes,” Kouki replied.

Despite this affirmation, the officer continued to stare at Amane, clearly not convinced. It was obvious that he found the passenger, who didn’t fit the image of an Alpha, suspicious.

(Got a problem with that? Huh?)

Amane glared back with intense eyes. The officer flinched and the corner of his temple was  twitching.

“Your companion isn’t an Alpha, is he?” the officer asked for confirmation.

Kouki furrowed his brow. “Even if that’s the case, it shouldn’t be an issue. I’ll vouch for him,” he responded curtly.

“Well, even so…”

The officer, clearly unwilling to back down, mumbled to himself while glancing down at the national ID card in his hand. Suddenly, his expression changed.

“From the Shutou family! I sincerely apologise!”

He snapped to attention, saluting. 

“There’s no need for that,” Kouki said coolly. “May I have my card back?”

“Yes, right away! Thank you very much!”

The officer handed the card back with both hands, bowing deeply as Kouki drove the car through the now-open gate. In the rearview mirror, Amane could see the uniformed officer bowing deeply.

“I’m sorry you had to experience that,” Kouki apologised in a stiff tone.

“What about it? He was just doing his job as a guard, right?”

Amane wasn’t trying to defend the young officer. But it was only natural to be that cautious when protecting a residential area where the Alphas who run the country’s core institutions live.

“Well, that’s true, but…”

Kouki’s voice still sounded unconvinced.

“There’s a saying, ‘Learn from others and improve yourself.’”

“Why are you bringing that up all of a sudden?”

“I’m just saying it’s a good opportunity to gain an objective perspective on how we, as police officers, are viewed by the general public. You’ve gained some experience and gotten a bit smarter today.”

Amane’s words were laced with sarcasm and Kouki made a slightly awkward face.

“Well, more importantly, being allowed to enter the ‘other side of the gate’ is what matters to me. After all, it’s an Alpha-exclusive sanctuary where regular folks like me are banned.”

“It’s not as special as you think,” Kouki said modestly. But the area beyond the gate was, in fact, a whole other world. It was far surpassing even the luxury of the residential district they had just passed through.

On the scenic, gently sloping hills, mansions stood at spacious intervals. Each residence had an enormous plot of land, making the term ‘estate’ or ‘mansion’ feel more appropriate. The buildings themselves were hidden from view by dense gardens and sturdy walls, with only the grand entrances and pathways visible, hinting at the magnificence of the residences beyond.

Without ever catching a full glimpse of any of them, they continued through this ultra-luxurious residential area. After driving along the cobblestone roads for a while, they arrived at a two-lane tree-lined street, flanked by stylish shops. Lined up were only high-end brands that even Amane recognized by name, all boasting clearly expensive exteriors, showcasing their exclusivity for the wealthy.

In front of a chic, understated storefront that set itself apart from the ostentatious, extravagant brands around it, Kouki parked the car and announced, “We’re here.” It seemed this establishment, with its air of tradition, was their destination.

Amane unfastened his seatbelt and got out of the car, standing alongside Kouki on the cobblestone pavement.

At the centre of the store’s façade was a pair of wooden double doors, flanked by glass windows on either side that displayed torsos dressed in a tuxedo and a tailcoat. Above, a sign read ‘Tailor Mizutani’ in golden letters.

“A tailor? Hey, you’re not telling me to buy something from this ridiculously expensive-looking shop, are you?”

“No need to worry about the cost. It’s better to take this opportunity to get a quality set than make do with something cheap.”

“I don’t get what you mean by ‘take this opportunity.’ If it’s just about following the dress code, renting should be enough.”

As Amane and Kouki argued, the double doors opened. A man in his sixties emerged. He wore an ascot tie at the collar of his white shirt, arm bands on his upper arms, and a collared vest. His silver-grey hair was slicked back, and he wore round glasses, presumably for reading, paired with a neatly groomed moustache. He had a very dapper appearance.

“Welcome, Kouki-kun,” the man said in a deep, resonant voice as he approached with a smile. He extended a hand to shake with Kouki.

Judging by how he showed no signs of deference despite knowing Kouki’s identity, he might be an Alpha too.

֍֍֍

*Translator’s Note: The division of the gender categories is too much, don’t you think so? -K

Next update: 2025.01.29

֍֍֍