"T... that hurts."
Despite all the experience from my two lives, I've never felt such sharp pain pierce through my body.
My brain wants to end this suffering through sleep.
But no.
This is neither the place nor the time.
I felt two cold hands touch my cheeks as I tried to pull myself together.
Surprisingly, it helped.
I open my eyes, which I had reflexively closed due to the pain, and I caught sight of a face... magnificent.
I had already seen her during the selection, but seeing her this close and... magnificent.
Especially the vulnerable expression she's showing at this moment... m-my heart...
It starts beating extremely hard in my chest.
"A... are you okay?"
I immediately pulled away from her after this question.
My current identity is that of a shinobi, and others think I'm some sort of immortal because of my sorcery.
I can't break this image.
On this island, a sign of weakness simply means death... or exploitation by the stronger.
"Hmm... I'll survive."
I don't have Aqua's healing magic right now, so I depend on the medicine brought by Genji.
So, I won't be at my best for a while.
"Impressive, shinobi. You have a certain sense of honor and duty."
Genji eliminated the monster that slashed my back with its tentacles, thanks to a katana strike.
"Thanks... could I have some medicine?" I indicated the laceration on my back.
Genji hesitated for a moment, but he finally approached to apply cream to my wound and wrap it with bandages.
His movements weren't gentle.
On the contrary, he moved roughly, without regard for me.
"I'm here just to watch you, but... thanks."
During our brief time together, I've already somewhat figured out what kind of person Genji is.
He's a taciturn man, rigid in several aspects.
However, he knows how to adapt quickly to situations and has a good heart.
His only real flaw is his weakness concerning women... but I'm in no position to criticize him on that front.
"I'm Yuzuhira, a fellow Kunoichi, and the boy over there also seems to have some shinobi knowledge."
During my treatment, Yuzuhira didn't waste time.
She started a discussion with Gabimaru.
Like me, Sagiri had a tired expression while looking at this woman's smiling face.
Female intuition is extraordinary... she instinctively sensed her little game.
"Thanks for helping Sagiri and for the monsters, but what are your intentions?"
Despite his sincere tone during the thanks, Gabimaru didn't lower his guard for a second.
His jaded look toward Yuzuhira wasn't synonymous with weakness, but confidence in his strength.
And unlike the original story, he hadn't been injured protecting Sagiri.
"Hmm~ you're too tense, you should relax a bit more."
Yuzuhira nonchalantly shrugged while approaching the shinobi.
"But also, you're really strong, Gabi~"
"Despite your injuries, you were able to take down all those creatures without real difficulty."
She says that, but Yuzuhira didn't mention my ability to have achieved total elimination of the monsters alone.
A voluntary omission, to insinuate her invaluable help.
"Sigh... Since my arrival at this god-forsaken place, my brain has fried from thinking too much..." I muttered while watching the interaction between the two ninjas.
"Happy to hear a normal thought... my name is Yamada Asaemon Sagiri."
Surprisingly, she extended her hand toward me for a greeting.
"R... Renji. Or just Ren."
She was slightly surprised by the nickname proposal, but grabbed my hand.
"I prefer to stick with Renji."
That's logical, it's still too early for a more familiar appellation.
We are, after all, in feudal Japan... even more rigid than my Japan with Kazuma.
"No problem, Sagiri. I just got too ahead of myself haha."
Yeah.
I'm just a criminal now.
Our statuses are different, despite having saved her.
I just earned the right to have a proper relationship with her... and not pure mistrust, like with the other criminals.
"I... I see"
She didn't continue the conversation.
Her attention, and mine, were directed toward the duo closely intertwined with each other.
Yuzuhira had embraced Gabimaru to seduce him.
"Wanna team up? This island is swarming with dangerous and unknown creatures. If you protect me, then I'll do..."
She didn't have time to finish before Gabimaru immediately pinned her to the ground in a hold.
"Ow, ow! Are you crazy?!"
"Charm has no effect on me, because I know the standard tactics of Kunoichi... and I'm married."
I nodded toward him, to express my admiration.
Genji and Sagiri also seem to have approved of Gabimaru's act.
After a small contest of flexibility and ground holds, the two finally separated.
"*Sigh* I already suspected my seduction attempt would fail, but I had to try."
As usual, she reveals her lie again to lower her interlocutor's guard.
It didn't take long for Gabimaru and Sagiri to lean toward accepting Yuzuhira's alliance proposal.
Even though there was a small muscular interaction in the middle of the conversation, and Yuzuhira's crude declaration of a potential future betrayal on her part...
Frankly, I'm happy to leave this place soon to stock up on skills.
Of course, I plan to come back!
Me and this fox of a Kunoichi have a score to settle.
Sure, she didn't hurt me physically.
But mentally... yes.
I really don't like the idea of walking around knowing I'd get thrown aside at the next real danger.
In our pseudo-alliance, Genji and Senta lean toward her side.
(Image)
After all, I'm officially a criminal, and Yuzuhira knows how to be convincing in front of men like them... *cough* simp.
Our alliance is just in name, really.
That's why... I'm preparing a plan to ensure my survival, and Sagiri is an important element.
"Stop wasting my time, and tell me why I should team up with you guys."
After putting some distance with the crazy woman, Gabimaru got to the point.
"You handle the strategy, and I provide the information," she said while pulling out notes.
These were hidden in Senta's clothing.
"And them?"
Gabimaru glanced toward me and Genji.
"I... I know where we are."
All attention focused on me, but I didn't flinch.
I haven't finished the Hell's Paradise manga, but I know enough canonical elements to support my words.
"Haha, are you so desperate to survive that you're starting to lie?"
Yuzuhira approached me, wearing a teasing smile.
But still... I could see through it.
She's intrigued.
"Can you talk about it?"
Sagiri immediately pressed me.
"Okay... but it might disappoint some, and push someone to do something stupid..."
I hadn't finished speaking when I found myself on the ground, with Gabimaru on top of me.
A clear, undisguised murderous intent.
The idiot who might do something stupid manifested too quickly for my taste.
"Speak..."
"Why? I'd lose my value immediately after."
Who does he take me for? An idiot?
I'm at the bottom of the food chain in our group, so I have to play dirty.
Yuzuhira obtained her information about the island by manipulating a criminal, to use him as a tester for various venomous creatures.
She's ruthless for her survival.
I can't rely on her.
My only chance of survival is these two: Gabimaru and Sagiri.
Both have a certain morality.
If I teach them the basics of Tao, which they're supposed to learn later, right now... my words will carry more weight.
So, I have to bet.
Not on Yuzuhira, who's using me now and will throw me away later if things get ugly, like with her jailer Senta or Genji.
But I have to rely on Gabimaru, and preferably on Sagiri.
As Genji mentioned in the canon: she's a gentle and kind person, but also strong.
"... Fine, okay."
The murderous intent disappeared as quickly as it appeared.
I was a bit surprised by the situation.
But the presence of Sagiri, who was holding her katana, gave me my answer.
Gabimaru didn't withdraw out of pure goodwill, but because Sagiri didn't want to see her savior hurt, or worse.
In the end, the back wound wasn't a loss.
"You're really letting him? Do you even have a way to verify his claims?"
At Yuzuhira's question, I knew it was time to use a weapon worthy of a person from the 21st century:
Words.
"What you're saying is interesting..."
An illusory question mark appeared above Yuzuhira's and the others' heads, but I didn't stop.
I had to continue.
"Now, you're convinced that I'm just lying, right?"
"Huh?!"
"You refuse, consequently, to believe what I'm saying... but if we believe our previous interactions, I wasn't lying before, was I?"