Chapter 33: The Doomsday of Childhood Shadows

When Director Tsugawa turned back with a grim expression, the elevator had already reached the floor below.

Glaring furiously at the changing numbers on the display, he lunged toward the stairs, intending to run to the first floor to intercept them.

...

While Director Tsugawa was racing against the elevator's speed,

Inside the elevator, Conan was saying, "Great job, kids!" while simultaneously pressing the elevator buttons, intending to make it stop midway to avoid being cornered by the director on the first floor.

However, before he could press the button, the elevator's descent slowed down, and it looked as if it was about to stop.

Conan's first thought was that his classmates had finally shown some wit—they knew, without him saying a word, that they shouldn't go to the first floor right now.

But upon closer inspection, Conan suddenly realized that the floor button for the second floor on the inside had not lit up.

...In other words, the elevator wasn't stopping on the second floor because they had selected it, but because someone outside had pressed the button for them!

Conan: "?!"

The director's dark face flashed through Conan's mind, and a chill ran down his spine.

He had thought his plan would be enough to fool the enraged Director Tsugawa.

Who would have thought that this time, the director had anticipated his anticipation, seen through his plan to exit midway, and was leisurely waiting for him to take the bait!

...

With a pale face, Conan frantically tapped the door-close button, trying to prevent the elevator from opening.

It was useless. He could only grit his teeth and watch as the elevator came to a halt.

It was only then that Conan deeply felt the meaning of the saying, "One only regrets not having enough knowledge when the time comes to use it."

—If only he had grabbed a heavy tome on his way out, he wouldn't be facing this predicament of having "Power-Enhancing Kick Shoes" but nothing to kick.

...

Under the desperate gazes of the children, the elevator finally stopped on the second floor.

Conan crouched down and flipped the switch on his sneakers.

—There was no other way. Since there was nothing to kick, he could only try a sliding tackle again.

This time, if he could use the power-enhancing shoes to kick the director in the crotch or somewhere else as he passed by, there might be a slim chance of survival.

With this thought, Conan pressed himself against the back wall of the elevator and, the moment the doors opened, he kicked off the wall and slid out with a *whoosh*.

However, before Conan could deliver his long-awaited kick, a baton lightly swiped him.

Conan's trajectory shifted drastically; he flailed as he slid out and slammed into the adjacent wall with a *thud*.

Conan: "..."

...Wait a minute.

That baton that swiped him... why did it look so familiar?

Conan jumped up in surprise and saw that Natsuka was standing at the elevator entrance.

...

Natsuka held an extended baton and didn't bother asking why Conan had suddenly decided to audition as a floor mop.

He looked at the three children in the elevator and commanded succinctly, "Come out."

Mitsuhiko and Genta huddled together, feeling like they wouldn't stand a chance against the instantly defeated Conan, and shuffled out tremblingly.

Ayumi was calmer than the two boys.

She recognized Natsuka as the person who had saved her and Conan in the dungeon last time.

*Natsuka-niichan appeared again just when we were in danger...* As Ayumi thought about it, her eyes sparkled with excitement.

...

As the kids walked out of the elevator,

Natsuka passed them by and stepped into the elevator.

Then, he pressed the button for the first floor.

Under the stunned gazes of the children, the elevator doors gradually closed.

Before the doors fully shut, Natsuka glanced at them through the gap: "Stay where you are. Do not make a sound."

The four children instinctively stood at attention and nodded in unison.

...

In the library stairwell.

Director Tsugawa, wielding a metal pipe and wearing a distorted expression, was charging toward the first floor.

Running frantically toward the elevator, he was delighted to find that it was still descending from the second floor to the first.

He didn't stop to wonder why he was running so fast; he simply assumed his extreme rage had unlocked his infinite potential.

...

Soon, with a *ding*, the elevator stopped on the first floor.

Unable to wait, Director Tsugawa reached out and gripped the elevator door as it cracked open: "Let's see where you're headed thi—"

*Thwack—*

A slender black shadow flashed through the gap, striking Director Tsugawa precisely on the forehead.

His vision blurred, and before he could recover, a heavy blow landed on his abdomen.

He flew backward, hitting the wall and sliding down. In the chaos, the director saw a figure emerge from the elevator against the light—the person inside wasn't the "weak little kids" he had expected, but someone who looked even taller than him.

...When did this person get into the library?!

How much did he know about the drugs and the corpse?! What was his relationship to those kids?! Was it too late to silence him?!

Looking at the approaching Natsuka and the baton he held raised, Director Tsugawa panicked: "...What do you want to do?!"

"To return a book." Natsuka casually tossed *The Detective's Handbook* at him. "And to perform a good deed while I'm at it."

Amidst the fluttering sound of turning pages, the elevator doors closed behind Natsuka. The bright light from the elevator narrowed into a thin line before vanishing completely, plunging the corridor back into darkness.

Before the last sliver of light disappeared, Director Tsugawa saw the "ordinary citizen returning a book" swing the baton with a whistling *whoosh—whoosh—*, then look down at him with a strange, expectant smile.

Director Tsugawa: "..."

...Don't come any closer!!!

...

Fifteen minutes later.

Inspector Megure arrived anxiously with his team, only to find a bruised and purple pig... no, a swollen Director Tsugawa in the library.

"..." Officer Sato reached out and gave Director Tsugawa a light poke, receiving a pained groan in return.

She breathed a sigh of relief: *Thank goodness, he's still alive.*

...

Beside them, the three children stood as quiet as mice, their eyes wandering nervously.

Whenever Natsuka moved, they all flinched in unison, huddling together and not daring to make a sound.

Natsuka did not walk toward them.

He simply walked to Sato's side and said in a low, apologetic voice, "I'm sorry. Director Tsugawa was shouting about silencing the children. It was very dark in the corridor and he knows the library well; I was afraid he would escape and hurt the kids. In my haste, I accidentally used too much force..."

The phrase "the children" simultaneously bubbled up in the kids' minds—*Liar!*

But they swallowed it back down.

"..." They didn't dare speak.

Besides, even if Natsuka was a little brutal, he had indeed saved them.

Relying on their simple emotions, the children felt they couldn't do something as ungrateful as backstabbing their savior.

...

Miwako Sato did not notice the children's terror.

She patted Natsuka on the shoulder and encouraged him, "You didn't do anything wrong."

To be honest, after learning what Director Tsugawa had done, Officer Sato practically wanted to praise Natsuka for "hitting him well."

...But unfortunately, a police officer cannot say such things.

So, she could only remind him kindly, "However, don't be so impulsive in the future. Otherwise, if the suspect dies, you'll be the one in trouble."

"Mm." Natsuka nodded with a gentle expression. "I'll be careful next time."

(End of Chapter)