In a corner of an abandoned apartment building, its concrete exterior coldly illuminated by the full moon, Takeshi Nishimitsu leisurely lifted a cup of freshly brewed tap coffee to his lips. The victim, sunk in the water tank, lingered only faintly in the back of his mind. He inhaled the aroma, savored the taste, and smiled at the subtle aftertaste—a gesture that revealed the calculated cruelty of a rogue without pretense.

Moonlight cast long shadows across the room, and the curtains by the window swayed with a gentle breeze. Every shadow, every beam of light was recorded by Nishimitsu’s watchful eyes, integrated into his calculation for the next move. Even the movement of his fingertips rolling the cup was perfectly timed with his heartbeat and breath. It was the flawless tempo of a rogue’s world.

Silence weighed heavily and coldly across the room. The victim rested at the bottom of the tank, beyond the reach of the moonlight. Nishimitsu took a sip of coffee, his senses as a rogue sharp, missing nothing.

A faint metallic sound. A subtle vibration from outside the door. Nishimitsu didn’t even raise an eyebrow, inhaling the aroma of his cup while continuing his calculations. His indifference to the origin of the sound was a testament to his rogue nature.

A smaller knock followed—more rhythmic, deliberate. A shadow in the distance slightly tore through the room’s stillness. Nishimitsu slowly lifted his head, checking the reflection of the moonlight outside the window. No one was there yet—only a faintly shifting shadow in the darkness.

The knocking continued. Its rhythm was irregular but confident. Nishimitsu incorporated even this subtle change into his calculations, stroking the rim of the cup with his fingers and bringing it to his lips. There was no intention of putting it down. In the moonlit shadows on the wall, the presence of Ryumbo flickered, then vanished.

Then—the doorknob quivered slightly, metal scraping against metal. Nishimitsu finally turned his gaze toward it, a faint smile forming. The figure was still unseen. But his rogue instincts sensed the bloodied Ryumbo sneaking closer.

“…So, you’ve come,” Nishimitsu muttered softly. His voice made the moonlit shadows shiver slightly, the cold air of the room quivering in response. Unaware, Ryumbo held his breath in the distant darkness, trying to read the calculations—everything still in the palm of the rogue’s hand.

“Oh, sorry. I’m not used to such high-end apartments. Ah, excuse the blood and stomach mess—please ignore that. Didn’t know my wife’s disciplined contributions would go to organ brokers. My insides are completely empty thanks to that.”

Nishimitsu was taken aback. The unconscious victim, Ryumbo—its presence alone made his pleasures seem trivial, overwhelmed by Ryumbo’s almost divine force.

“I’m the culprit. I’ll give you my organs. Now, let’s get to the hospital.”

For a moment, Ryumbo froze, brow furrowed.

“Ah, so you’re the culprit. No wonder it seemed strange. My mind was hazy because of uric acid levels.”

“Yeah, got it. I’ll even include organs from my frozen body collection. Come on—hospital, got it, you bastard.”

“Ah, yes.”

The end.

満月が無人のコンクリート外壁を冷たく照らすマンションの一角。西光猛は貯水タンクに沈めた被害者のことを、頭の片隅に軽く置きながら、沸かしたばかりの水道コーヒーをゆっくりと口元に運ぶ。香りを確かめ、味わい、微かな余韻に微笑むその所作は、計算尽くされた外道の冷徹さを隠しもせず露わにしていた。

月光は室内に長い陰を落とし、窓際のカーテンが微風に揺れる。影も光も、西光の観察眼にすべて記録され、次の行動の計算に組み込まれている。カップを手で転がす指先の動きまで、彼の心拍と呼吸に合わせた完璧な調整が施される。すべてが完璧な外道の時間。

沈黙が重く、冷たく、室内に支配的に横たわる。被害者は水底に、月光の届かぬ場所に静かに眠る。西光はコーヒーを一口飲む。その間にも、外道としての感覚は鋭く張り巡らされ、何一つ見逃さない。

微かな金属音。ドアの外からかすかな振動。西光は眉一つ動かさず、ただカップの香りを吸い込み、計算を続ける。音の正体に気付かぬふりをするその態度こそ、彼の外道たる所以。

さらに小さなノック。もっと規則的で、確信を帯びた響き。遠くの影が、室内の静寂をわずかに引き裂く。西光はゆっくりと頭を上げ、月光に反射する窓の向こうを確認する。そこにはまだ誰もいない──ただ、暗闇の中で影がわずかに揺れているだけ。

ノックは続く。ドアを叩くリズムは不規則だが、確信的。西光はその微細な変化も計算に入れ、指先でカップの縁を撫で、唇に運ぶ。カップを置く気配はない。月光に照らされた壁の影の中で、竜ンボの存在がかすかに浮かび、また消える。

そして――ドアノブがわずかに震え、金属が擦れる音。西光はようやくその方向に目を向け、かすかな微笑みを浮かべる。まだ姿は見えない。だが、血まみれの竜ンボが忍び寄っていることを、西光の外道の本能は察知している。

「……来るか」西光は低く呟く。その声に、月光の影が微かに揺れ、室内の冷気がわずかに震える。竜ンボは遠くの暗がりで息を潜め、計算を読み取ろうとするその視線も、すべて外道の掌中にあることを知らぬままだ。

「あ、すみません｡あまりこういった高級マンションには無縁なものでね。あ、ちょっとお腹か血が出てますが無視してください。かみさんの怒られていった定期献身が臓器ブローカーだとは。おかげで内蔵はすっからかんです」

西光は度肝を抜かれた。その竜ンボの無意識なる被害者。その姿に己の快楽などはただの矮小に過ぎず、ただ竜ンボの神々しさに圧倒される。

「犯人は俺だよ。あんたには俺の臓器をくれてやる。さっさと病院に行くぞ」

竜ンボは一瞬、呆気にとられて眉をしかめる。

「あ、あなたが犯人ですか｡参ったね。道理でおかしいと思ったんです。尿酸値のせいで意識がぼんやりする」

「ああ、わかった｡俺のコレクションの冷凍遺体の臓器も使ってやる。いくぞ、病院、わかったか、この野郎」

「あ、はい」

おしまい。