Chapter 11
Thin lips curved into a cynical arc. A smirkâmocking, condescending, and laced with a feigned sense of ease.
The youth with deep indigo hair narrowed his violet-tinted blue eyes, staring straight at me. With his pale skin and slender limbs, he didn’t look like someone who had trained a single day in his life. Yet, the crescent shape of his distorted lips and the intensity in his eyes spoke volumes.
Eliminating you would be child’s play… they claimed.
…But unfortunately for him, I could tell. Despite his utterly cool and collected exterior, this youth facing me for the first time was internally panicking out of his mind.
He didn’t have a millimeter of composure to spare. The only thing echoing from his inner voice was an endless loop of ‘Holy crap, I’m screwed.’
Yeah, I get it. It’s super terrifying, right? Hanzo is radiating some seriously genuine, bone-chilling killing intent right behind him, after all.
Honestly, I’m scared too.
Now, as for who this youth actually is… He is the very assassin currently shaking up the entire populace!
An elite assassin well-known from newspapers and street gossip. Popularly dubbed the “Grim Reaper,” it is famously rumored that anyone who lays eyes on him is instantly erased.
And currently, I am facing down this exact dangerous individual right inside my own home. Rif is standing firmly by my side as a rock-solid guard!! And Hanzo is positioned perfectly behind the guy!! An absolutely flawless formation!!!
As for why we are in this situation, it’s because I invited him over.
See, our household has a lot of enemies. People look down on me because they think I’m just an inexperienced brat.
It would be a massive disaster if my cute little brother and sister were targeted by a veteran Grim Reaper like him! So, figuring it takes a thief to catch a thief, I decided to ask Hanzo about it. To my surprise, Hanzo mentioned he had actually seen the guy before. Man, my inner monologue practically exploded with a witty retort.
I thought anyone who saw his face was supposed to be instantly erased?!
Moreover, when I pressed for details, Hanzo apparently picked up on my anxiety and asked, “Shall I dispose of him?” Just like that. So casually. It completely threw me off…
When I involuntarily asked if he could actually pull it off, he replied:
“An individual of that caliber can be killed at any time.”
Our resident ninja is just way too dependable.
…And so, the decision was made to invite him over instead of killing him for the time being.
Yep. Hanzo just straight-up went and captured him normally.
I only put in the request to “bring him here” this morning. Talk about being fast at your job… And now, Mr. Assassin over here is shaking like a leaf… I’ll refrain from asking what kind of terrifying threats were used to get him here.
“Nice to meet you. Forgive me for calling you here so abruptly.”
“Whatever. I’m used to the arrogance of nobles anyway.”
As the youth shrugged with blatant mockery, the killing intent swelling from both in front of and behind him intensified.
Stop it already…!!
Knowing from his inner voice that he was merely putting up a tough front, I screamed internally.
There are some people in this world you absolutely should not make enemies with, young man!
“So, what does the noble lord want with me? Got someone you want killed?”
‘Just tell me what you want and let me go already!! That ninja is freaking terrifying!! What the hell is he?! There’s no way I shouldn’t be able to escape, yet I can’t!! That’s literally not humanly possible!!!’
Feigning composure on the outside while a storm of panicked retorts rages on the inside… I can’t help but feel a strange sense of sympathy for him.
By the way, I am currently activating that mysterious ability of mine on purpose. Usually, I intentionally choose not to listen to people’s inner thoughts, but right now, I’m focusing my consciousness to listen intently, so the youth’s inner voice is coming through crystal clear.
This youth… is undeniably a reincarnated person!! He keeps calling Hanzo a “ninja” in his mind, after all!!
“I have something I want to ask. Are you an ‘Ability’ user?”
At the question, the youth’s eyes widened slightly. Involuntarily, he took a small step backward, but he immediately tried to cover it up by tilting his head and giving a theatrical shrug. “Who knows?”
But his inner voice was entirely honest. Triggered by my question, it freely provided the answer all on its own.
‘How the hell does he know?! Wait, what’s his goal? Could it be he found out that despite being an assassin, I haven’t actually killed a single target? No, that’s impossible. I used my ability to teleport every single target to a land far, far away. It’s not a distance where they’d be found easily. But then, why…? I even left bloodstains and cut off their hair to fake it. Did they get suspicious because there wasn’t even a corpse…?’
Yes! Thank you very much for the incredibly detailed explanation!! Ah, so he hasn’t been killing them. I see, I see, teleportation, huh? That makes perfect sense!!
As expected, since he was a reincarnator who lived in a peaceful world, he’s the type who has a natural aversion to easily taking a life. Same here.
However, if anyone dares lay a hand on my angels, they are going down!
I guess after obtaining a special ability, he decided to cut loose a bit and play the part of a legendary assassin. Come to think of it, the fact that he has an ability means either one or both of his parents must be nobles.
While carrying out this mental conversation (though it’s a one-way street since my thoughts aren’t transmitted to him), I offered a bright smile and raised a single finger.
“Then, one more thing. Would you be interested in being employed by me?”
“And if I refuse?”
“Nothing in particular. I don’t intend to do anything to you. Only… let’s see.”
Along with my words, I drew my sword and swung it down. The down-slashing tip stopped a fraction of an inch right next to his pale throat.
Before the youth could even stretch his arm toward me, the longer reach of my sword reaching his neck was far faster. And simply put, my movements themselves were overwhelmingly superior. On top of that, the moment the youth even attempted to move, Hanzo had instantly shifted into an offensive stance.
Whoa, close one!! I’m so glad I told them beforehand not to lay a hand on him!!! Otherwise, the youth’s hand might have been lopped clean off…!
“You are free to refuse. But could you remember just one thing? If you ever try to harm my household, I will absolutely never forgive you. When that time comes…”
Leaning close to his ear, I whispered in a low voice.
“No matter how distant the land, even if it’s from the depths of hell itself, I will come to kill you.”
Hearing his sharp intake of breath, I distorted my lips into a crescent smirk in return.
Those were words whose true meaning only the youth could comprehend. Watching a single bead of cold sweat roll down his temple, I sheathed my sword, reached out, and grabbed a strand of his indigo hair.
“To think such beautiful blue-silver hair would be treated so cruelly. How dreadful.”
I was referring to the latest victim who had stirred up the newspaper headlines. A certain noble daughterâa shattered glass window, fresh blood left on the carpet, and her long hair ruthlessly hacked off.
“To kill such a young lady. And when hair is a woman’s life…”
Being able to maintain beautiful, long hair is proof of wealth, which is precisely why noblewomen cherish their hair above all else.
Watching his sweat drip down his chin, I released my grip on his hair.
“But then again, hair grows as long as you’re alive, and the dead have no need for it.”
“How… do you…?”
As I hinted at knowing his secret, his pale skin turned even whiter. His eyes, wide with sheer shock, held absolutely none of their initial composure.
It was actually Hanzo who had suspected that the “assassinations” were the work of an ability.
Apparently, when Hanzo caught a glimpse of the assassin before, his movements looked entirely like those of a rank amateur, completely unbefitting of an assassin… and yet, for the split second he vanished, even Hanzo couldn’t track him with his eyes. It would be one thing if all his movements were fast, but it was specifically only the movement when he disappeared.
And so, we brought him here, I threw out a bluff, and he kindly provided a detailed commentary via his inner voice.
“You’ve been operating so openly, it wouldn’t be surprising for people to start noticing by now.”
“…”
“I have no intention of forcing you into our employment, but I think it would be rather interesting for the ‘Grim Reaper’ himself to vanish from the grid around now, don’t you think?”
What would his clients do if they found out the truth? As I hinted at the danger that might fall upon him, a audible gulp escaped the youth’s throat.
“What… do you want me to do?”
“I believe I mentioned I wouldn’t force you. If you don’t wish to, you are free to walk out that door right now. As long as you remember my warning from earlier. However, let’s see… if you do accept my employment, I want you to protect my cute little brother and sister.”
“Protect them?”
“Having the ‘Grim Reaper’ as a guardian would be quite reassuring. As long as you keep them safe, I don’t care what methods you use.”
In fact, if he can resolve things peacefully without causing unnecessary deaths, he is more than welcome!
“…Fine. I’ll take the job.”
‘What is up with these guys… This dude, that ninja, and the attendant are all freaking terrifying. I stand absolutely zero chance of winning… If they aren’t going to make me do anything dangerous, wouldn’t staying by their side actually be safer for me?’
How rude… I only threw out a bluff; as long as you don’t touch my siblings, I’m not scary at all.
But seriously, Rif and Hanzo are two people you absolutely must never make enemies with!! If you don’t learn your place around them, you won’t live a long life.
“Then we have a deal. Your name?”
“Sora.”
“Nice to meet you, Sora.”
A bodyguard capable of teleportationâsecured!!
