Confinement King

　This is the day of the Death Game.

　However, the game does not begin until after midnight.

　And the maids will kidnap the two targets later.

　Until then, it's like any other day.

　So as usual, I pick up Saori-chan in the morning and meet up with Hanabusa-san.

　I told Tachioka's little sister not to interrupt me in the morning because I will treat her well.

　After all, it is impossible to treat another girl as a little sister in front of my lovely little sister.

　Looking aside from that, when I peeked into Hanabusa's condition, I did not see any shadow or meanness that is typical of bullied children, and as a big brother, I felt very happy to see her and Saori-chan getting along well with each other.

　But to tell the truth, I was worried.

　I was afraid that Saori-chan was so quiet that she might not have any close friends.

　So, Hanabusa-san's existence, from my perspective, was like discovering a Tsuchinoko.

　Furthermore, the tactless comment about whether she has a friend or not is forbidden.

　The following is almost the same as usual.

　The only thing that has changed is that I have been in touch with Chihiro a little.

　I had sent her some messages in the morning, and her reply came at the end of the second period, making my phone vibrate.

　When break time comes, I go into the bathroom and look down at my phone.

　There were three replies.

『If you need money, I will pay you a monthly deposit』

　This is the answer to my question, "Hire me as a short-term part-timer".

「What does she mean by "pay me a deposit"... I'm not a freelance worker with a job...」

　It's fine to be treated occasionally, but to be honest, it's a bit awkward to receive a fixed amount of money.

　To this I replied, "I want to have a part-time job".

　But the next answer was――

『The draft contained the exact wording you mentioned. What should I do? I could reject it, but...』

　This is confirmation of what Shiratori-san told me.

　Chihiro informed me that she had received a draft of the contract, so I asked her to check if there was a clause similar to the one "The producer is responsible for substituting the talent in the event of a talent change".

　According to Chihiro's explanation, I thought the contract was between Frontier Productions and the airline company, but it was set up as a contract between KKO and the airline company, with the airline company acting as a subcontractor for the production. In other words, Frontier Pro is in the same boat. Such was the contract.

　I don't know what the common sense of the industry is, but to the untrained eye, it seems a bit absurd.

　The contract is made directly without an agency, as if the entertainment agency is supposed to take responsibility for the production.

　Chihiro's comment also makes it sound like an unrealistic contract.

　And Kitou said over the phone, "The majority of the profit goes to KKO", But now that I have heard Shiratori-san's story, it is obvious that he intends to pressure KKO to pay the compensation.

（But... it doesn't matter）

　I reply, "No problem, just keep going".

　The last one, "I'll start the approach as soon as possible".

　This is in response to the instruction to "recruit Ichida and Mimura to KKO』"

　The three of them, including Nitani, may have just been tricked, but bullying is bullying if the bullied person feels bullied.

　If I think that my little sister's best friend is being bullied and I will keep quiet about it, then it's a big mistake. I have to make them feel sorry for what they've done.

　And so, when I replied, "Thank you for everything, please do", I got a big heart mark in return.

* * *

　It takes eight stops from the nearest station of the school by local train.

　Under the sparse streetlights, Earthworm and I walked along the deserted shopping street in front of the station.

　This is the countryside, after all.

　In addition, it was late at night, and we did not even feel the presence of people.

　Confinement King-sama was preparing for the death game with Ryoko and Lili after they came back from the school.

　At around 1:00 a.m., the order to go out was finally given to us.

　We asked Confinement King-sama to open "the door" in front of the station, and then we headed for our destination on foot.

「By the way, Tapeworm... Is the house near here?」

　Earthworm asks me, as if remembering.

「Yes, just past this shopping street, a little further...」

　This shopping street where I am walking now is a familiar path for me. Thinking of it, I feel a little nostalgic.

　Although it has been only a few months since I started working for Confinement King-sama, it seems as if many years have passed.

　However, I had no particular desire to go home.

　Was it because I had changed so much?

「This is it...」

　In the middle of the shopping street, I point to a building with the sign "Mangi Gym" and Earthworm gives a curious look.

「Heh~...so this is what a boxing gym looks like」

　The walls are covered with sticky posters of fights, and on the side of the building, there is a stairway directly to the second floor. Probably, it is a residence. A signboard "Mangi" was hanging on the wall.

　Looking at the window in front of the building, I could see a faint light and a moving figure through the frosted glass.

「Tapeworm, do you hear something?」

「I'll try」

　Dragon ears are just like dragon ears, but if I listen carefully, I can faintly hear a woman's breathing mixed with the sound of a sandbag or something being pounded.

「...I think it's the target」

「Okay, then... let's get started right away」

　After saying this, Earthworm suddenly split the space.

　Among all of us, Earthworm was the best at dividing the space.

　However, we can't do it as freely as Lili and the head maid.

　At best, we can only shift space one meter away from us.

　But for now, that is enough.

　Because we just shift to the other side of the wall.

　And now, after splitting the space and entering the inside of the gym, I see a ring in the center of the gym and a woman on the other side of it.

　She is a woman wearing a sports bra and shorts who is hitting a punch ball while making a steady sound.

　Her height was about the upper half of 160 cm (5.2 ft). She is probably a tall girl.

　Her dark brown hair, which I am not sure if it is dyed or natural, is tied back casually.

（Bingo... it's Manko）

　Perhaps she noticed our presence, Manko jerked up and turned around in a hurry.

　Her body was covered in sweat, and steam was rising from her body.

　Her ripped abs looked like a boy's.

　She has a pair of eyelids with a bush stare, a freckled tip of her nose, and a set of teeth that I used to mock her for her gnarled teeth when we were a child.

「W-Who the hell are you two!? Where the did you come from!」

　Since we were classmates and childhood friends, I was a little confused about how I should behave with her, and finally I decided to be polite like a maid.

「Long time no see, Mangi-sama」

　When I tell her this, she squints at me like an old man reading the newspaper.

「Ah?」

　Then her eyes roll back in surprise.

「Eri...ka!?」

　I can understand her confused mind.

　In the first place, Manko and I were friends only during our early elementary school years, and if we were in different classes, we would grow apart no matter how close we lived.

　Although we have been going to school together for a long time, we are not the kind of people whom one would call out to if we see each other.

　Such a person suddenly appeared in the middle of the night. And it was in her own gym.

「Oh, it's you? I thought you were missing...」

「Yes, the aclaim is missing」

「What the hell, the way you're talking, and the way you're dressed...」

　Besides, she is right in saying that Earthworm and I are missing as victims of the "Mysterious Disappearance Incident".

「Of course, a maid wears a maid's uniform. We're here to pick you up today, Mangi-sama」

「Ah? Maid? Pick me up? I don't know what you're talking about?」

「Don't worry if you don't understand. You don't have to understand. In any case, you have no right of refusal. You will come with us even if it is by force」

　Then she raised one eyebrow in disapproval.

「By force? Are you an idiot? Are you high on some kind of drug or something? I'll just take you to the police. Missing persons found」

（This attitude. I'm starting to feel... stupid to be so modest with such microorganisms）

「If you keep complaining, I'll rip out all your jagged teeth. Maybe you'll be a little more popular with a full set of false teeth...」

「Tapeworm, she will become a Japanese person with disability...」

　Despite Earthworm's exclamation of dismay, Manko's voice was sharply broken.

「Damn you? You dare to talk about what I care about!」

　Manko, who was in a completely pissed off mode, walked up to me and suddenly punched my cheek with all her might.

　But――

「It hurtssss!?」

　It was Manko who writhed in agony while holding her hand.

　It was obvious.

　Such a fragile fist could not damage the dragon's outer skin.

「Hey, earthworm! I thought I could tear off her hands and feet」

「That's true, but it also said not to leave any traces」

「I see... so that means we can't do anything that involves too much blood loss」

「W-What the hell are you doing, hey...」

　Manko retreats with frightened eyes.

　But I smiled at her and grabbed her shoulders, putting light pressure on them.

「Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaa!」

　Immediately I hear a cracking sound, and the bone shatters.

（Really? Are humans so fragile? To think that I was so fragile just a little while ago, it makes me shudder）

　Looking down at Manko, who was writhing on the floor, unable to speak, I said softly.

「Anyway, let's fold all your arms and legs, shall we? It's all right. Torture will fix them later」

「Hii!? Ah ah... y-you monster!? S-Stop... S... Stop...」

　Her face is covered in tears and runny nose, and she's in a state of shock.

　I think she has probably already lost her will to resist, but I was also told to completely cut off her will to resist.

　So, I grab her legs.

　Then, I gently put my strength into it.