TBCTW Chapter 9

Chapter 9 – Stolen Identity

Chapter 4, Part 2

Novel Title: 獣はかくしてまぐわう (The Beasts Copulate This Way)

Author：風結子 沙野 (Fuyuko Sano)

Illustrator：小山田 あみ (Oyamada Ami)

Translator: K (@kin0monogatari)

Protagonists: 鹿倉 陣也 (Kagura Jinya -MC) & ゼロ (Zero -ML)

*Please read at novels.space, the original site of translation. TQ*

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They left the apartment with staggered timing and agreed to meet up locally by boarding the Joetsu Shinkansen separately. Once they left the Kanto area, there’d be no one familiar with Detective Kagura’s face, so there was no worry of being recognized while travelling with Zero.

Today, the usual bodyguards, Kataware, Riki, and Haiiro, weren’t around. But Kagura suspected that Enwu’s members were likely nearby, keeping an eye out for potential pursuers or enemies without him noticing.

Two hours after boarding, they met up as planned after exiting the ticket gates at the station.

Zero had changed somewhere along the way; he was now wearing a mod coat with chinos, carrying a leather bag and a backpack.

“You look like the perfect picture of a reporter.”

Zero handed Kagura a pair of black-rimmed glasses in response to his comment.

“I’m a freelance writer, and you’re my assistant. Mess up your bangs a bit.”

Kagura put on the glasses and ruffled his bangs until they were suitably messy. Zero tilted his head, scrutinising him, and added a suggestion.

“Try acting like that small animal-like guy who’s always with you.”

Kagura imagined Sanae Suguru, who resembled an otter in glasses.

As the image formed in his mind, Kagura’s shoulders relaxed naturally, and his posture and facial muscles softened.

“That’s it,” Zero narrowed his eyes. “Now you really look like a slightly useless assistant.”

If Sanae heard that, he’d definitely protest loudly.

They took a taxi from the station to the former principal of the local public elementary school’s residence. Looking at the grand gate, Kagura muttered, “This is extravagant,” to which Zero shrugged, “People in teaching jobs tend to go nuts easily, don’t they?”

Teachers, doctors, politicians—especially in rural areas—often have close ties with the local police.

“Well, that makes them easy to flatter and handle. Let’s see what we can get out of him about Renjou.”

As he spoke, Zero pulled a digital camera from his backpack and handed it to Kagura.

“Act like a good assistant and fire off some shots to boost the ‘great teacher’s’ ego.”

They’d already made an appointment, and they met with the former principal smoothly.

“Congratulations on having your former student, Toshimi Hasumi, nominated for the Japan Venture Award for his startup company,” Zero said, bowing alongside Kagura.

―――I see. That’s the story they’re going with.

The Japan Venture Award, supported by the government, is intended to recognize young entrepreneurs and innovators, giving a boost to society as a whole.

This kind of praise was more than enough to feed the former principal’s vanity, and, at the same time, a nomination would be vague enough to avoid any scrutiny. It would also feel natural to receive this type of interview.

Renjou, or rather, Toshimi Hasumi, was twenty-one years old, which fit well with the story of a university-born venture company.

Kagura didn’t know what kind of student Renjou had been in elementary school, but given his eccentricity, the story of a daring venture startup was plausible.

With that personality, it was likely he didn’t maintain local friendships either.

The freelance writer act Zero put on was as flawless as the backstory.

He loosened up the target with lighthearted banter. He expressed exaggerated admiration, and, before long, the former principal was talking freely, with not a trace of suspicion, becoming more and more talkative.

―――I remember when he first introduced himself to me as a freelance writer.

As a detective, Kagura’s instincts had told him that Zero was no ordinary guy. But he’d never imagined he was the leader of Enwu, a group whose very nature was shrouded in mystery even within the police’s knowledge.

The former principal’s tales—eighty percent of which were about his own accomplishments—were as sleep-inducing as the long speeches he likely gave during morning assemblies. Still, Kagura held back his yawns and focused on his role as the cameraman.

“It seems Mr. Hasumi’s success can be traced back to the guidance he received from such a high-minded principal,” Zero commented, feigning admiration.

The former principal, his already large nostrils flaring, looked pleased.

“I’ve always treated every single one of my graduates like my own children… no, even more attentively than that.”

If he knew the Renjou of today, he’d probably want to retract that statement immediately.

“What kind of student was Toshimi Hasumi?” Zero asked.

The former principal opened a notebook that had been placed on the low table. It seemed he’d scrambled to gather information from Hasumi’s former homeroom teacher or others after receiving the appointment request.

“He was a kind-hearted child who volunteered to be in charge of the school animals every year. He excelled in language and science and was very cooperative.”

Kagura glanced over at Zero, who was pretending to be absorbed, scribbling notes in his notebook with an impressed expression.

“What kind of family did he come from?”

“His father worked in a factory, and his mother was a homemaker—a typical family.”

The principal spoke unusually quickly, hinting that he was hiding something.

“Both of his parents are deceased now, correct?”

“Yes… yes, I believe so. We wouldn’t know about anything after graduation.”

Sweat trickled down the rounded contours of the former principal’s face.

“It’s truly impressive that he’s become a major award nominee after overcoming such hardships.”

Zero avoided delving further into family matters and instead directed his attention to an album and a booklet on the edge of the table.

“If possible, could we see his graduation essays or photos?”

“Oh, sure.”

There were already sticky notes marking the pages on Toshimi Hasumi in the essays and the graduation album.

Kagura lowered his camera and looked at the opened album alongside Zero.

―――Toshimi Hasumi…

Under his glasses, Kagura’s eyes widened instinctively.

“He still has a bit of resemblance, don’t you think?” Zero said casually to the former principal.

―――No, he doesn’t.

The sixth-grade Toshimi Hasumi was a gentle-looking, long-faced boy. None of his facial features resembled Renjou’s.

His heart racing, Kagura then looked at the graduation essay that Zero had opened.

In small, precise handwriting, the essay detailed his dream of becoming a veterinarian and working at a zoo. He’d written about an experience speaking with a veterinarian at a zoo and even outlined the steps to become one. It ended with a declaration that he’d work hard in his studies, even sacrificing time with friends, to earn a scholarship.

“It’s impressive that he was thinking about scholarships in sixth grade. At that age, I wasn’t thinking about anything,” Zero remarked to the former principal with a hint of awe.

Kagura stole a glance at Zero’s profile as he spoke.

At twelve, Zero had spent every day simply trying to survive without the safety or support others had. Through a faint image in the dark, Kagura could see a shadow of Zero’s childhood.

The vision stirred a tightness in his chest.

By the time they left the principal’s home, it was already getting dark.

“…So he wasn’t Renjou,” Kagura murmured softly. Zero replied casually, “It was within expectations.”

“Given Renjou’s nature, there’s a possibility of him having stolen someone’s identity to cover a crime. Or perhaps he’s originally foreign.”

“We’ll need to dig around a bit more. Tomorrow, we’ll question people around Toshimi Hasumi’s registered residence.”

“We already know that Toshimi Hasumi isn’t Renjou, so why keep investigating him?”

“Yes, there’s a point that’s been bothering me.”

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*Translator’s Note: Renjou’s background is more complicated than that. -K

Next update: 2025.10.18

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