My daily life is not peaceful
Chapter 22 - Times Have Changed

Chapter 22: Times Have Changed

Both girls were somewhat panicked. Even though Kasumigaoka Utaha had been through this once before, she was still nervous in this situation. “Hearing our plan, there’s no way we can let these natural humans go.” The man revealing his kagune licked his lips. “How about locking you all in my hobby room?” His blood-red eyes gleamed with pure violence and sadism. The hobby room was a torture chamber he had built in the erased sector, where those he captured often couldn’t count to two hundred before dying in agony. Demons might last a bit longer. “Truly vile taste.” Luo Yun’s lips twitched. He had already identified who these two were. S-rank ghouls from the Aogiri Tree organisation—though S-rank only meant something against ordinary people. As for their plan, from the bits he overheard, it was merely about banding together to rebel. Such criminal activities happened almost every moment worldwide. After all, not all demons liked coexisting peacefully with humans. Luo Yun pulled out his phone and dialled a number, only to hear a busy tone. “Tch, no signal either?” Clicking his tongue, Luo Yun knew he wasn’t leaving today. Though S-rank ghouls sounded intimidating, they weren’t much in reality, and he wasn’t exactly helpless. If it were an S-rank vampire, he’d have to be cautious today. A ghoul’s greatest assets were their kagune and superhuman physicality, but in terms of strength, they were middling—stronger than some, weaker than others, a fairly balanced demon race. “Kid, you don’t seem scared of us.” Satisfied with the girls’ fear, the man grinned ferociously upon noticing Luo Yun’s utter calm and approached. “Looks like you’re lucky enough to be the first guest in my hobby room today.” With that declaration, his right hand, twice the size of a normal person’s, swung with a gust toward Luo Yun’s head. “Danger!” At that moment, Kirishima Touka couldn’t stand by any longer. A deep purple feather kagune, like a butterfly’s wing, extended from the girl’s back, but only on one side. Moving at blinding speed, leaving only an afterimage, a loud thud followed as she kicked the man in the neck, sending his heavy, ox-like body crashing into the counter. “Oh my, oh my.” The perverted man, seeing his companion flung away, wasn’t fazed at all and even laughed. “The bunny’s pretty stylish too.” His tone and manner sent a shiver of goosebumps down Kirishima Touka’s spine. “You guys, get out and call the police. These two are…” Since these “kin” had completely turned hostile, she saw no need to cover for them anymore. They usually kept to themselves, yet they repeatedly disrupted their normal business. But before she could finish, a large hand grabbed the girl’s hair, lifting her up. “That hit just now… it hurt a lot!” The man’s large face loomed close to Kirishima Touka’s, making the unprepared girl’s pupils shrink. Veins bulged, his anger flaring. Kirishima Touka showed a pained expression. “If you surrender now, there’s still a chance to make things right.” Luo Yun said. “Hm? You’re telling us to surrender? Don’t you know… I hate the security team the most!” To outlaws, the management commune’s security team was a major nuisance, and Luo Yun’s words were like pouring fuel on the fire. “Sigh…” Seeing this, Luo Yun sighed inwardly. It was a lawful society now, yet some people still couldn’t understand reason. How could rebellious, depraved demons like these ever think of negotiating? Trying to reason with criminals was like playing the lute to a cow. The man flung Kirishima Touka aside, smashing a display case, causing her to groan in pain. Then, his right fist immediately swung toward Luo Yun’s head. That blow could shatter a concrete wall. “Utaha, Mai, close your eyes.” Though unsure why, the two panicked girls obediently shut their eyes tight upon hearing this. In an instant, the world before Luo Yun seemed to slow down. A metallic clash rang out. No one knew what happened. The blond man’s fist slammed into the side of a military sabre. Yet, despite the force capable of crushing a wall, the sabre didn’t budge a single micrometre. The grandiose punch was as feeble as a baby’s. In that moment, his eyes widened in utter shock. “What… what is this?” Luo Yun looked at him, his tone calm: “This is… mystery. Times have changed.” The power of all creation. The sabre, crafted from the particles of all matter, was an ordinary weapon in essence, but infused with the force of universal flow, it was tougher than a main battle tank’s armour. Then, with the sound of the sabre’s descent, slicing through the kagune was easier than cutting tofu, and blood sprayed in the air like a fountain, clearly visible. …

Footnote 1: Jianghu: Literally “rivers and lakes,” a Chinese term for the martial world or a subculture with its own rules and conflicts, often chaotic. Footnote 2: Kuzhong (ghoul): A fictional species from Tokyo Ghoul, human-like beings that feed on human flesh and wield kagune. Footnote 3: Qingtong Shu (Aogiri Tree): A ghoul organisation in Tokyo Ghoul, known for its radical and violent actions. Footnote 4: Hezi (kagune): A ghoul’s weapon-like organ in Tokyo Ghoul, unique to each individual, often resembling tentacles or blades. Footnote 5: Duiniu tanqin (playing the lute to a cow): A Chinese idiom meaning trying to communicate with someone incapable of understanding, implying futility.