TBETW Chapter 17

Chapter 17 – Last Supper

Main Story 1, Chapter 7, Part 2

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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The door burst open as if someone was trying to break it down, and a man leaped into the car. Kagura’s eyes widened in shock as he saw who it was.  

“…Zero? Why ar-?”  

This had happened before, but they were in Macau now. Why was Zero here?  

As Kagura stared in disbelief, Zero shut the door and dropped heavily into the seat between him and Kiriyama.  

Kiriyama, unfazed, remarked, “So Enwu did have eyes and ears in this ‘Castle’ as well, after all.”  

Ignoring Kiriyama completely, Zero grabbed the back of Kagura’s head, lifting his hair to examine the burn scar on his nape, his face twisting in anger.  

“You let them leave a scar like this…”  

Zero growled the words in frustration and then directed a low, menacing voice at Kiriyama.  

“I’m taking him back.”  

“Kagura wouldn’t want that.”  

“There’s no way that’s true.”  

Kagura, still being held by the hair at the back of his head, met Zero’s piercing gaze and replied with tense lips.  

“I… have something I need to do.”  

“What is it you need to do?”  

If he answered, he wouldn’t be able to see it through alone. Remaining silent, Kagura saw Zero narrow his eyes sharply.  

“It’s about Toono, isn’t it? I heard he’s in this ‘Castle’ too.”  

Kiriyama helpfully supplied the information, unprompted.  

“Tonight, Kagura will meet Toono Ryouji. Over dinner, perhaps?”  

Zero’s jet-black eyes glinted ominously.  

“So that’s what this is about. Fine, I’ll be joining you.”  

Kagura grabbed Zero by the collar, staring him down at close range. He commanded in a low voice: “You are not coming.”  

From Kagura’s expression, Zero seemed to realize that something dangerous was going to happen tonight. He returned Kagura’s glare but spoke to Kiriyama instead.  

“Prepare a seat for me too.”  

When Kiriyama responded, “Very well,” Kagura was stunned.  

Glaring past Zero at Kiriyama, Kagura saw an unusual look of amusement on the prosecutor’s face.  

***  

It was past 11 p.m. when Kiriyama finally brought Zero to the room.  

“Dinner is ready. Li Azhar is hosting.”  

As Kagura rose from the corner sofa, he started to ask Kiriyama about the gun but hesitated. He didn’t want Zero to know his objective. Somehow, he needed to ensure Zero wouldn’t be present when the plan was carried out.  

Kiriyama, as if seeing through Kagura’s hesitation, casually announced:  

“The compact handgun is prepared.”  

Zero seemed to grasp everything instantly.  

His expression hardened as he extended a hand toward Kiriyama.  

“I’ll handle it. Hand it over.”  

“Don’t do anything reckless… Renjou will be there too.”  

Anyone who killed Toono would inevitably be killed by Renjou. Handling both of them with just one gun was impossible.  

Kiriyama reached into his jacket’s inner pocket and took out two small black rectangular objects, roughly the size of a card.  

“There’s no need to fight over it. I’ve prepared two.”  

“A LifeCard, huh?” Zero muttered grimly.  

“These are far superior to the ones available on the market,” Kiriyama explained as he handed one to each of them.  

The LifeCard was a folding, ultra-compact gun primarily used for self-defense. Kagura had confiscated them in the line of duty before but had never used one himself.  

He unfolded the thick card, transforming it into a gun. The design allowed for immediate deployment and firing. However, despite its enhanced firepower, it was a single-shot weapon. Though it carried spare rounds within the barrel, reloading on-site would be virtually impossible. Each shot had to count.  

Inspecting the ammunition, Kagura found hollow-point bullets—designed to explode inside the body for maximum lethality.  

Zero fired a test shot into a cushion, assessing the damage to the sofa beneath.  

“No issues with the performance. Still, getting as close as possible is best.”  

Kagura tested his gun as well, familiarizing himself with it before loading a new round.  

Kiriyama approached, speaking as he did.  

“Li Azhar has been informed, so you’ll pass the body check. But there are two rules.”  

“What are the rules?” Zero asked, his voice thick with suspicion.  

Their gazes locked, creating a palpable tension in the room.  

“The first rule: Whoever kills Toono will die on the spot. The one who fails to kill him will be allowed to leave the ‘Castle’ alive.”  

That much had been expected. If anything, the promise that one of them might survive was an unexpected sliver of hope.  

Standing beside Kagura, Zero urged, “And the second rule?”  

“If either of you shoots Renjou, no matter the circumstances, both of you will die.”  

“What kind of rule is that?”  

“If you’re going to spill blood at Li Azhar’s dinner table, this much should be acceptable.”  

As he folded the gun back into its compact form, Kagura thought bitterly:  

―――Playing God, are they?

Constantly observing from on high, watching how people move and act.  

Li Azhar had supported and favored Toono until now, yet he was quick to turn the dinner into a blood-soaked stage, offering Toono up as prey.  

Kiriyama and Li Azhar were strikingly similar in that regard. Both lacked a moral compass or a sense of humanity.  

―――Or perhaps…  

A faint sense of unease bubbled to the surface.  

Could there be some unseen factor driving both Kiriyama and Li Azhar? Something he wasn’t privy to?  

But there was no time—and no point—in trying to figure it out. For now, he needed to strip away all distractions and focus solely on the task ahead.  

Kiriyama opened the door and announced:  

“Let’s enjoy the banquet.”  

Inside was a massive, elongated table.  

Adorned with evenly spaced blue flowers and candelabras, the table reflected the chandelier and candlelight onto the enormous windows, which showcased the neon-lit night view superimposed with the room’s interior.  

At Kiriyama’s gesture, Kagura and Zero sat down side by side, their chairs facing the windows. Masks were not required in Li Azhar’s private space, located on the topmost floor.  

The table was set with chairs positioned one at each short end and two along each long side. Service plates and cutlery were arranged for six people.  

Shortly thereafter, Toono and Renjou entered the room.  

The atmosphere grew razor-sharp in an instant.  

Standing, Kiriyama addressed Toono: “Thank you for responding to this sudden invitation. Please take that seat over there.”  

With the night view at his back, Toono sat across from Kagura, while Renjou positioned himself across from Zero.  

From behind the tall candelabra, Toono’s piercing gaze locked on them.  

―――Toono Ryouji.

Meeting Toono’s half-lidded stare, Kagura could feel the compact pistol concealed under his thigh. Already unfolded, the weapon was primed for immediate use.  

Finally, Li Azhar entered and took his seat at the opposite short end, facing Kiriyama. With a graceful motion of his hand, he stirred the air lightly.  

“What an exceptionally tense atmosphere,” he remarked.  

Kiriyama expressed gratitude to Li Azhar in English.  

“I am deeply thankful for accommodating such an unreasonable request today.”  

“Think nothing of it. I’m thrilled to share a stimulating and intriguing dinner with you all.”  

Li Azhar’s soft smile traveled across each face, pausing when it landed on Zero.  

“I’ve been eager to meet you in person,” he said.  

Zero replied expressionlessly in Japanese: “How thoughtful of you.”  

As aperitifs were poured into six glasses, Li Azhar raised his glass slightly.  

“To this being your last supper.”  

The audacious words, spoken in unexpectedly fluent Japanese, caught Kagura off guard. But he immediately steeled himself to the utmost.  

A countdown to death had begun, ensuring that someone’s last supper was about to unfold.  

The meal began with a French course—a jewel-like array of colorful gelatin.  

Amid the soft strains of classical music played on a huqin, unspoken intentions mingled, thickening the room’s atmosphere.  

Kagura, his chest tight with pressure, sought the means and timing to fulfill his mission.  

The candelabra, while obstructive, conveniently hid his movements from Toono’s view. However, Renjou, seated diagonally across, had an unobstructed line of sight. Any slight movement Kagura made would not escape him.  

Renjou would unhesitatingly shield Toono if necessary. However, should Kagura shoot Renjou, both he and Zero would meet their end.  

Simulating countless scenarios in his mind, Kagura simultaneously kept part of his attention on Zero, seated to his left.  

―――I have to act before Zero does.

Zero, with his wealth of combat experience, had a much higher success rate than Kagura. Moreover, Zero’s seat offered better visibility of Toono and fewer obstacles from Renjou’s line of sight.  

―――If I let Zero act, he’ll never leave this place alive.

That was the one thing Kagura had to prevent.  

He thought he had changed, hardened himself after glimpsing the depths of hell.  

He believed he could do anything necessary to eliminate Toono Ryouji, even sacrificing Renjou or others if needed. But—  

―――I can’t let Zero die.

It wasn’t about reason anymore; it was an instinctive, primal wish.  

Only Zero could sustain the colossal umbrella that was Enwu. He didn’t just protect unregistered citizens; he had also saved countless foreign workers, including the Vietnamese girl Kagura had failed to protect.  

Zero would continue extending his hand to those overlooked by society.  

―――That’s why…

Kagura’s lips quivered slightly.  

―――No. I simply can’t bear to lose him. That’s all there is to it.

It wasn’t logic but an elemental part of his being.  

Suddenly, his gaze met Renjou’s.  

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*Translator’s Note: I don’t know whether Renjou means something to Li Azhar or he simply made that rule because with Renjou around, things will be difficult for them. Like a game sorta… Li Azhar is a puzzle as well. -K

Next update: 2025.12.03

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☝🏻LifeCard handgun