Convict Unit: Black Parade

A windbreaker. A type of sports jacket designed to shield the wearer from wind and cold.

“A windbreaker!” Jae-hee repeated the word, grinning like an idiot.

Having a new piece of clothing made just for him? It was a luxury he’d never even dared to imagine!

He’d always wanted a windbreaker, even when he wasn’t a convict. And for someone with a “Wind” ability to wear a windbreaker… there was something amusing about that.

“Yes, please! A windbreaker would be great!”

“Alrighty then. Now, why don't you c’mon on over here and let me get you sized up?”

After measuring Jae-hee’s height and other dimensions, Grease Gal asked, “Say now, are you still growing?”

“Woah! How’d you know? Yes, I am.”

“You seem young, and… well, this might sound a bit strange.” Grease Gal gave a dry laugh. “But a surprising number of folks have a growth spurt after they get sent here. Three square meals a day'll do that to a body, yessiree.”

“Whoa, you’re right. I’ve been eating better here than I ever did on the outside.”

“Heh heh. Alrighty. I'll be sure to leave you some growin' room, so it'll still fit just right when you fill out some more.”

Once the measurements and adjustments were finished, Grease Gal snapped her fingers.

“Oh, right. How were the boots?”

Jae-hee nodded enthusiastically. “They’re great! Super comfortable, and maybe it’s because of that Core with the regeneration ability, but I feel like my stamina has improved when I run!”

“In that case, I'm guessin' you haven't yet tried out the hidden function I built into them boots?”

Startled, Jae-hee asked, “What? A hidden function?”

“Yep. Went and worked a little somethin' extra into them.”

Grease Gal winked. “You be sure to give that a try on your next job! Now that you're swingin' a sword, I'll bet you'll find it comes in mighty handy.”

Gate Gear could only be worn during missions. He’d have to wait until the next one to try out the hidden function.

After bidding Grease Gal farewell and leaving the Workshop, Jae-hee swallowed hard.

What the heck could it be? A hidden function…!

He found himself looking forward to the next mission before catching himself with a jolt.

He was risking his life every time he went out. What was there to look forward to?

***

After descending from the Rooftop on the tenth deck, Jae-hee entered the Shopping Arcade on the ninth, fully intending to blow some Credits and have a little fun.

That plan was immediately thwarted.

“Hm?”

Just as Razor had been waiting to greet him last time, someone else was there to meet him now.

It was a tall, sturdily built man in a prison uniform. He stood at the entrance to the arcade with his arms crossed, and as soon as he spotted Jae-hee, he approached.

“You ‘Boy’?”

“Uh, yes sir…?”

“I’m ‘Big Fist.’”

True to his callsign, the man’s fists were particularly large.

He thumped his chest with a massive hand. “I’m the temporary Deck Leader for Deck 1, while Razor’s away.”

“Oh, hello, Big Fist bro.”

“I heard. You still haven’t been assigned a room?”

“Huh? Uh, no…”

“Follow me.”

Big Fist took the lead without another word. Jae-hee had no choice but to follow him straight down to Deck 1.

So much for my dream of living it up…!

As they passed through the glamorous shopping arcade, Jae-hee felt a pang of disappointment.

Big Fist spoke. “I also heard you didn’t get your basic supplies. Is that right?”

“Eh, right. There are basic supplies?”

“You’re supposed to get them when you’re assigned a room. The Deck Leader hands them out. You never got these because you never got a room.”

Big Fist pulled a vacuum-sealed package from a bag he was carrying and handed it to Jae-hee. Inside were a towel, a spare uniform, underwear, a toothbrush and toothpaste, and a pair of slippers.

“Take it. These are the basic supplies,” Big Fist said.

“Ah, thank you…!”

“Just so you know, this is the first and last time they’re free. If you need more, you have to buy them yourself. There’s a supply shop on each deck. Ask for directions there.”

The quality was as poor as one would expect from basic-issue supplies.

Jae-hee let out a low groan as he held up a pair of underwear that was not only stained but also had a frayed, dangling hem.

“And I’ll give you your personal stuff now, too. The ones they confiscated from you at the Quarantine Station when you first arrived.”

Big Fist pulled out another package and handed it over. It contained the personal belongings the quarantine team had held for additional inspection upon his arrival.

“Oh, my cassette player!”

Among the items were the cassette player and earphones that were Key-maker’s last gift to him. The trot music tape was still inside.

“Hehe, thank you so much!”

“No need to thank me. This is just part of the job.”

Having said his piece, Big Fist asked cautiously, “I heard Razor gave you a hard time. Didn’t assign you a room, didn’t give you your supplies, and even tried to kill you?”

“Yeah, well, it just sort of happened…”

“Typical of that cunt. Strutting around Deck 1 like a tyrant. Seems he was neglecting his duties as Deck Leader.”

Every word was true, yet Jae-hee felt a faint, nagging sense of unease.

They took the elevator and arrived on Deck 1.

Big Fist led the way. “Come on. I’ll get you a room.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Hmm, let’s see, what’s left… over here.”

As they walked down the corridor, Jae-hee worried that Razor’s men might ambush him.

But nothing of the sort happened. The inmates they passed in the hallway groveled before Big Fist while giving Jae-hee wide, almost friendly grins.

“…?”

The atmosphere was different from before. Jae-hee was bewildered.

Entering the aft section of Deck 1, Big Fist asked Jae-hee, “Do you want a two-person cell or a four-person cell?”

As Big Fist went on to explain, the ship had originally been a passenger liner. The single rooms for solo travelers had been converted into two-person cells, while the twin rooms for couples had become four-person cells.

“The upper decks are a bit more spacious, but this is how it is on Deck 1. We try to use the space as efficiently as possible.”

“I see…”

“So, two-person or four-person?”

“Uh, it’s gotta be a two-person cell, of course!” It had to be better with fewer people, right?

Big Fist’s expression turned peculiar. “You think so? There aren’t many two-person cells on Deck 1, and there’s only one spot left right now…”

Making a thoughtful humming sound, Big Fist led Jae-hee onward.

“Here it is.” Inside the room Big Fist gestured to…

“…Grrrr.” A dog, lying on the floor.

Jae-hee rubbed his eyes, unable to process what he was seeing.

But there was no mistaking it. A massive dog was sprawled out inside the cell.

Its filthy, matted fur was a golden-brown—or maybe a brownish-gold—and it was as big as a man.

Baring its teeth at Big Fist and Jae-hee, who stood outside the bars, the dog let out a low growl.

Jae-hee’s mind went blank.

Wait, a dog? There’s a convicted dog? Why?

“Apparently he’s a Therianthrope.”

“Oh. You mean… like a shape-shifter?”

“Well, that’s the story. But no matter how you look at him—”

“Grrr—BARK BARK BARK BARK!”

Barking wildly, the huge dog charged, gnashing at the iron bars with its sharp teeth.

“Whoa!” Terrified, Jae-hee leaped backward.

Also recoiling, Big Fist was sweating. “—no matter how you look at him, he’s just a dog.”

“…That’s a dog, all right.”

And not just any dog—an incredibly ferocious one.

Despite being called a Therianthrope, there wasn’t a trace of humanity left in him.

“This one’s callsign is ‘Rabid Dog.’ As you can see, he’s got a shitty personality, so he’s had this room to himself until now.”

After introducing the dog, Big Fist asked, “So. You want in?”

Jae-hee immediately shook his head.

That was no room.

It was a colosseum where he’d have to fight a rabid dog for territory.

“Um…” Jae-hee asked cautiously, “I have some Credits saved up. Could I possibly get a better room…?”

“If you’ve got the Credits, of course it’s possible. But you don’t meet the conditions yet.”

“Conditions?”

Big Fist nodded. “Every inmate has to live in a basic cell on Deck 1 for their first month. Only after that are you granted the right to stay on an upper deck, in a better room.”

To wear the worst clothes, eat the worst food, and live in the worst room, all to properly brand the reality of your imprisonment onto your very being.

This period lasted for one month.

Prisoners could use loopholes to get better clothes or food, but there was no getting around their living situation.

“So, right now, you really only have one choice.”

“…”

On the verge of tears, Jae-hee finally asked, “Where’s the four-person cell…?”

***

And so he arrived at the four-person cell.

The room, originally a twin cabin, now had two bunk beds crammed inside. It was incredibly tight but surprisingly clean.

And an unexpectedly familiar face was already there.

“Yo, Boy-kun!” It was Status Window, the chubby otaku. “You’re in this room too desu?”

“Window…!”

Jae-hee and Status Window had a happy reunion after only a few hours apart.

Outside the cell, Big Fist spoke. “It’s a four-person cell, but… I specially picked one that was empty. And I’ve only assigned you two newbies to it. Make yourselves comfortable.”

“Oh, thank you…”

Jae-hee was grateful, but he couldn’t understand why Big Fist was being so kind, which left him feeling uneasy.

Big Fist explained the reason himself. “You two just got back from the mission, yeah?”

“Yes.”

“Thank you.” Big Fist gave a slight nod. “Thanks to you taking out Razor and his gang, my group finally managed to break free. That motherfucker was suffocating us all.”

“Ah…” Only then did Jae-hee begin to understand the situation.

Big Fist, the temporary Deck Leader of Deck 1. He was the boss of the gang that had been hostile to Razor.

“Oh, so right now…”

“That’s right.” A cruel smile stretched across Big Fist’s lips. “Razor’s side has collapsed. Deck 1 is under my control now.”

“…”

“Things are chaotic since the power shift just happened, but it’ll calm down soon.”

Big Fist extended a large hand toward Jae-hee, offering a handshake. “It’s all thanks to you two. I’m truly grateful.”

“Oh, it was nothing…”

“Let’s get along from now on. I’ll be maintaining strict order on Deck 1.”

Jae-hee hesitantly took Big Fist’s hand. Big Fist grinned, pumping his arm up and down.

After the handshake, Big Fist turned to leave, tossing a “rest well” over his shoulder.

“Um…” Jae-hee hesitated, then called out to his retreating back. “What about… Razor bro…?”

“Hm?”

“I mean, what happened to him…?”

“Ah, him?” Big Fist scoffed, a cruel sneer spreading across his face. “Well, I saw him being carried in on a stretcher after my boys jumped him.”

He made a choking gesture, wrapping his massive hand around his own throat.

“Who knows? By now, he’s probably dead and hanging upside down somewhere.”