"This masked gentleman…"
Shuu Tsukiyama shifted his gaze toward the silent figure in the doorway.
His lips still carried that polite, aristocratic smile.
"If you leave now…"
"I can pretend nothing happened."
He attempted to make his tone sound generous.
"Is that so?"
The reply was cold.
Ren slowly raised his hand.
His fingers touched the edge of his mask.
Then—
He removed it.
Under the dim candlelight—
His familiar face appeared clearly.
Tsukiyama's smile froze instantly.
"Why so quiet now?"
A mocking smile appeared on Ren's lips.
"Didn't you just promise to let me go?"
Tsukiyama swallowed.
Trying to steady himself.
"Mr… Ren…"
"There must be some misunderstanding."
"Misunderstanding?"
Ren laughed softly.
He pointed toward the battlefield around them.
Toward the nearly dead Nishio Nishiki.
Toward Touka Kirishima, bleeding heavily while struggling to stand.
Toward Ken Kaneki, collapsed with a horrifying wound in his abdomen.
His voice rose sharply.
"You kidnapped Nishiki's girlfriend."
"You beat them half to death."
"You tried to eat Kaneki."
"And now you call this a misunderstanding?"
Tsukiyama spoke quickly.
"I know Manager Yoshimura pays you 500,000 yen per month."
"If you hand Kaneki over to me—"
"No… sell him to me."
"The Tsukiyama Group can offer you a job worth five million yen per month."
He inhaled deeply.
"You have no reason to involve yourself in this conflict for these… insignificant people."
"It brings you no benefit."
Ren nodded slowly.
"What you're saying…"
"…does make some sense."
Hope flashed across Tsukiyama's face.
Then—
Ren's expression turned cold.
"But I refuse."
He stepped forward.
An invisible pressure filled the room.
"You forgot something."
His smile was sharp.
"If I capture you and send you to your father…"
"Tsukiyama Mirumo…"
"I could probably demand far more money."
Considering how much the old man valued his only son—
Ren had no doubt the ransom would be enormous.
Tsukiyama's composure collapsed.
"We can negotiate!"
"Name your price!"
"No need."
Ren's voice was calm.
"You and your father can discuss that later."
As the final word fell—
Dark crimson symbiote matter erupted from his body.
It spread instantly.
Covering him completely.
Carnage rose from the darkness.
A towering crimson monster.
Tsukiyama's pupils shrank.
Survival instinct took over.
He turned and ran.
But it was too late.
Two enormous crimson tentacles shot forward.
They wrapped around his body instantly.
Bones cracked under the pressure.
Then—
The tendrils snapped backward.
Dragging him helplessly through the air.
"Ugh—!"
Tsukiyama roared desperately.
His rinkaku kagune spiraled around his arm.
He thrust the sharpened kagune forward.
Directly into Carnage's chest.
THUD.
The kagune pierced deep into the crimson flesh.
But stopped.
The symbiote simply closed around it.
Returning to its original shape.
"It doesn't hurt."
Carnage's deep voice carried open mockery.
The massive claw rose.
Then—
Crashed down.
THUD.
The impact echoed through the church.
Tsukiyama's resistance ended instantly.
His body went limp.
Blood spilled from his mouth.
He collapsed unconscious in the tentacles.
Silence returned to the church.
Only the breathing of the wounded remained.
Nearby—
Touka and Kaneki stared.
Even after seeing this power before—
It still shocked them.
The symbiote retreated.
Flowing back into Ren's body.
"Are you two alright?"
He asked calmly.
Both nodded slowly.
For ghouls—
As long as they consumed enough food—
Even severe wounds could heal.
Ren glanced at the unconscious Tsukiyama.
Then Nishiki.
Then Kimi Nishino, still tied at the altar.
He sighed.
"Alright."
"Let's take everyone back to Anteiku."
…
By the time they returned—
It was already late at night.
Ren placed Tsukiyama and Nishiki on the lounge sofa.
"What if Tsukiyama wakes up suddenly?"
He asked quietly.
Carnage answered calmly.
[Don't worry.]
[He won't wake up for a while.]
"Good."
Touka and Kaneki had already gone to the kitchen.
They needed to eat immediately to heal their injuries.
Only Kimi remained beside Nishiki.
Watching him anxiously.
Her hands trembled slightly.
Ren walked to the freezer.
Then returned with several oil-paper packages.
He handed them to her.
"Feed him everything."
"Don't leave a single piece."
Kimi hesitated.
The cold package felt unsettling.
She looked down at Nishiki's pale face.
Her lips trembled.
But she didn't move.
"If this continues…"
Ren said flatly.
"He won't live to see tomorrow."
She looked up suddenly.
"You must be Kiryu-kun."
Her voice was soft.
"Nishiki talks about you often."
He raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"Did he complain about me skipping class?"
"And forcing him to cover for me?"
"That I'm troublesome?"
Kimi shook her head gently.
Her voice was quiet.
"He said…"
"You're someone he trusts."
"One of his few… real friends."
Ren paused.
His gaze fell on Nishiki's unconscious face.
After a moment—
A faint smile appeared.
"…Not bad."
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