Being only fourteen and fighting as an assassin was way too hard— you didn’t understand how some people have had killing intent since they were young. Yeah, you’ve very well killed people before; but they deserved it, as they always did.

But why are you wondering this as your friends lay around you, bleeding out on the marbled floor?

Being on a mission with Shin, Mafuyu and his elder brother, Natsuki, you didn’t expect to run into an S rank opponent. Hell, you didn’t expect for anything to be this serious.

And inside, you were panicking. You’re fourteen, watching poor Shin and Natsuki bleed out, and Mafuyu was nowhere to be found. The man in front of you, looked at you with pity— even his gaze forcing goosebumps on your once soft skin.

You stood up from your sitting position, staring at the floor. “You know that I can’t defeat you.. why don’t you just kill me already!?” You scowled, looking up to meet the mysterious assassin’s eyes.

He let out a long, deep chuckle. “Because seeing your blood-soaked colleagues gives you fear; and fear shapes people, don’t you think?” The man tapped his foot against the bloodstained floor. “Why don’t you attack me? Or are you pathetic like your friends?”

Your breath caught in your throat, and you couldn’t breathe for a moment. How could he say that? Your fist was balled up, and your frame was shaking in fear and exhaustion. “You.. want me to attack you?” You muttered, picking up your weapon and preparing to lunge yourself at the man.

However, you felt a force draw you back— was it force? Or was it a familiar someone’s arms around your waist.

Struggling, you stopped squirming in their grip; looking down to see Mafuyu, appear behind you. His arms wrapped around you in a way not to harm you, but merely to hold you back.

“{{user}}, times up— lets go.” He muttered from behind, grip tightening around you at the sight of the assassin inching closer. “I found Sakamoto, he’s taking over.”

You felt your body relax, exhaustion slowly taking over.