Slinger

Nebula: "Brother, what happened?!"

Sun: "Is Shizuru..."

Nebula: "I'm sorry, but... I did my best..."

Sun: "I know you did."

I couldn't save her... but I can't die again. I have no lives left. I got another chance, but what if this is my last?

I feel my leg healing.

Karen: "Who is this?"

She points to the body I was dragging with my hand.

Sun: "Don't heal her. I'm taking her to ask some questions."

I notice that D is kneeling in pain.

Sun: "D, were you hit?"

D: "I tried to protect Shizuru, but... the bullet went through my wings."

Karen: "I healed his external wound, but something is damaging him inside."

Sun: "The same happened to me... Since it didn't hit my brain, I guess I'll be fine in a while."

Nebula: "Sun, how did you know someone was about to attack?"

Sun: "The food sharpened my senses... Let's go home and get some rest."

We fly to our island. I hold the gunslinger, Nebula carries Shizuru.

Sun: "D, go rest somewhere. I have some problems to solve."

D: "Understood. Thank you for your understanding, Sun."

We part ways. Nebula and I head to the cemetery.

Sun: "Burier, can you watch this woman? I have to ask her some questions, but I need to rest a bit."

Burier: "Of course, young master! Do you have any preferences on how I should care for her?"

Sun: "Just don't let her escape. And don't kill her, preferably. Nebula, can you wait here for a moment? I need to tell mom and dad about Shizuru."

Nebula: "Are you sure you're okay alone? It's not your fault, brother. You can always count on me if something bothers you."

I stare at her for a moment, considering her offer.

Why am I trying to solve this alone? I can trust her with my life.

Sun: "Why do you think she went after us?"

Nebula: "She looks like a hitwoman. Someone sent her to kill us. The only notable thing we've done recently is save the village. Someone didn't like that."

Sun: "If you could travel back in time to save Shizuru, which moment would you choose?"

Nebula: "The luncheon, of course. The shooter wasn't after us before we saved the village. We wouldn't be able to find her."

Sun: "Why not before saving the village?"

Nebula: "Then we would have no reason to recruit Shizuru. Besides, even if we did save the village without her help, they would still target us."

Sun: "But why Shizuru? If saving the village made the other adventurers angry with us, why would they target her specifically?"

Nebula: "I guess we'll have to ask the assassin directly."

Sun: "How didn't you notice her? I know you have perception powers."

Nebula: "I couldn't. She has many abilities, cloaking included."

Sun: "Sorry... I know you would have saved Shizuru if you could."

Nebula: "No, I'm sorry I couldn't be more useful..."

An awkward silence descends.

Sun: "Anyway, I'll tell mom and dad what happened. I don't know how to deal with the Kagehara family, but they might know."

I walk into the castle and go straight to their room. They stand up as soon as they notice me.

Albert: "You're back, our Sun! Did something happen? You look tired."

Sun: "Shizuru is dead... I don't know what to do..."

Mom: "Shizuru? From the ninja family?"

Sun: "Yes... Even if I kneel before her parents, they'd probably kill me."

Albert: "I know them personally. I can guarantee they would understand it's not your fault."

Sun: "That's because they respect you... They don't take kids seriously."

Albert: "I see the problem. You're lost. You made the right choice by coming to us."

He hugs me.

Albert: "When something seems out of your control, you can always ask for help. We are your parents, of course we will help."

Sun: "Dad..."

Mom: "We love you, honey. We won't make the mistake of letting you die twice."

Sun: "Mom... it was not your fault. It was my mistake."

Albert: "It doesn't matter whose fault it was. What matters is that we will help you with any problem that overwhelms you. We will talk to the Kagehara family."

Sun: "Are you sure...? What if you die?"

Mom: "We won't let you die, but we won't let ourselves die either."

Albert: "Don't worry, Sun. Everything is under control."

Sun: "Thank you so much, mom, dad..."

They smile warmly at me. I feel like I should have been born here from the beginning.

Honestly, I hope Sun is dead... I wouldn't want him in my body, living my boring old life. It's just cruel, you know?

I go to the castle prison, where Burier is watching the assassin. Nebula is also there.

Nebula: "Sun, we left Shizuru's body at the morgue."

Sun: "Thank you, Nebula, Burier. I'm really grateful I have you two by my side."

Nebula: "Brother? You seem relieved."

Sun: "I just had a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. Mom and dad will go talk to the Kagehara family. I feel like I'm running away from my problems..."

Nebula: "No, you did the right choice. We're just kids."

Sun: "Kids, huh? I hope we can be kids forever, then."

Burier smiles at me. She holds a bloody morning star. The assassin is awake, but injured, and chained to the wall.

Sun: "Did you wake her up?"

Nebula: "Burier asked me to heal her just enough so she could wake up before you got here."

Sun: "That saves time, but... what's the point of healing her if you're just going to torture her later?"

Burier: "Mental damage. We need to destroy her mind so she can respond faster. Besides..."

Burier hits the woman with the mace. She groans in pain.

Burier: "...you had blinded her. It's easier for her to understand the situation if she can see her master."

Sun: "I'm not her master..."

Burier: "Soon you will be."

She continues to hit the woman while smiling maniacally.

Sun: "A-Alright, you can stop right there. Can you give us some space?"

Burier: "Understood, young master. If you need me, I'll be waiting outside."

She leaves immediately at my request.

Sun: "She's a good girl... A bit crazy, but good."

Nebula: "Do you want me to heal her again?"

Sun: "No, she deserves to feel pain after what she did."

I kneel down to face her.

Sun: "What's your name?"

— Kill me already.

I slap her in the face.

Sun: "What's your name?"

— I admit defeat. Kill me or release me!

I slap her again.

Sun: "I will release you under certain circumstances. But you have to answer my questions. What's your name?"

She glances at Nebula, trying to take refuge. She looks back at me, a little scared.

— I don't have a name... I have nicknames... Rookie Hunter, or Slinger...

The adventurers at the guild mentioned a certain Hunter...

Sun: "How do you prefer to be called?"

— Why are you doing this to me?! Just end it already!

I slap her again.

— S-Slinger... I'm more of a treasure hunter than a rookie hunter...

Sun: "So your job is to kill people with bounties... Why did you target Shizuru? Who sent you?"

Slinger: "I can't answer that..."

I punch her in the stomach. She groans in pain.

Sun: "I'm trying to be nice, but you're making things difficult."

Slinger: "I-I don't know who sent me! It was an anonymous request!"

Sun: "But you know why they wanted Shizuru dead."

Slinger: "Because you were rookies... and completing a C-rank mission made you a threat to them..."

Sun: "I'm talking about the ninja."

Slinger: "I don't know why her specifically! I was told to aim for her and leave the rest for later!"

Sun: "The rest being us?"

Slinger: "Probably... they just said the ninja would be trouble for them..."

What did Shizuru have that we don't have? A dangerous family? Ours is also powerful...

Sun: "Do you have any clue why she would be their priority?"

Slinger: "Ninjas are masters of deception... maybe they wanted me to find out if she was a clone, or if she could turn invisible and escape, or dodge my bullet..."

Sun: "They wanted you to test her abilities? By killing her?"

Slinger: "I wasn't sure if she would die... I didn't want to kill her, it was just my job..."

Sun: "So you were ordered to kill someone? And you just accepted?"

I punch her in the face.

Slinger: "It was my job... adventurers also kill people for money..."

Sun: "Don't compare us to you! You didn't expect to lose to beginners like us, huh?!"

Slinger: "You knew where I was before I could even fire the first shot..."

Sun: "It was instinct, something you don't have. You don't know what's right and what's wrong."

She spits blood onto the floor and smiles.

Slinger: "And you do?"