Paperback Writer

"Wait! He is working with me."

Tarik interjects

"Yes! I was checking for spies. I found some, we can go after them right away!"

Sweating is covering me all over. These people's imposing presence is overwhelming. 

Don's voice thunders, strong and firm. 

"Thy colleague is a known criminal, I am sure you can comprehend that?"

"Of course! I do! Nevertheless, we don't have a police force or a tribunal here, so I figured he could work for us to pay for his crimes?"

A sincere smile is born in Don's face

"Oh hoho. I like you. What happens to be thy name?"

"Tarik, sir."

"I've been advocating for the foundation of a police for force for years now. Who knew, we just needed to do it without any approval! You went and started our own intelligence agency with servile labor?"

"Hehe. Yeah. That is what I've been saying! People here are so gullible. They think that if only they can just do their best work and nobody gets in the way, everything will work out just fine."

That smile is now a grown kid, helping with labor around the house. They really hit it off and seem to have similar ideas for the future of this place.

"Can you believe those lunatics didn't agree to actually establish a government? 'It might hinder our progress'. Now they fail to converge on the simplest of issues and I end up taking matters on my own hands, and that is for everything! I haven't been to my own guild in two months!

"Can I believe? I see it every day. The poor Smith guild's affiliate, being only a branch, can barely put forth any ideas to be heard by the other two."

They seem to be talking politics. It's safe for now. How much time did I go without breathing? 

They decided to move in the offense tomorrow night. Don's crew have been traveling for the better part of the week, and we can better plan for it tomorrow. 

I wonder if they'll allow me the same liberty to come home after the expedient once this operation is done … Well, there is no point in thinking about it. 

I'll also try to not alarm Biel and Joy. They don't need to know about the nitty-gritty of my job, I don't want to talk about it and I want to relax. Furthermore, I'm sure it'll go very well.

I sleep well, wake up feeling refreshed and ready to earn my spot in society. I'll prove myself today! 

The strategy adopted consists of a simultaneous attack, with views to capture all of them at the same time, so that they cannot call for help or notice each other's missing. 

Tarik will go to the north-western house, Beth to the northeastern and Sally to the southeastern. Bobby and I were assigned to the southwestern one. Bobby is their least experienced member, and I am not that useful in close combat, so they assigned me to the section of the town which I can travel above the houses and provide long rang support. 

Don will be stationed closer to the central market. If anyone needs help or simply cannot subdue them, we should at least try to lure them towards him. 

That is why I move past the spy's house and hide my presence, 

The sun dawning and the angle doesn't help me much, I can barely see Bobby. There is a slight breeze, today the air is a bit colder. 

I am nervous, my heart is a bit fast, but I am in control. I take a deep breath before signaling that he can invade. 

There is a bit of a quiet moment. I check my arrows. I have 8 of them. Only 3 with iron tips.

Suddenly a sharp feline roar all too familiar

RARWW

Bobby gets out of the house in a jump and turns sharply to get behind the wall. A Jaguar comes out right after it. While landing, the beast's back and arms change shapes into more human and manages to make a roll. By the end of it, it is a human with yellow fur wielding a sword. 

I draw my first arrow. 

He swings horizontally for Bobby. Booby dodges down and tries to stab into his chest with a knife, but he was already transforming into the beast to get on top. I release my arrow, aiming at its belly. 

TSK

I was able to give Bobby an opening. He takes it. And runs towards Don. 

Arrows are terrible against that. Knifes aren't any better. There is no way he outruns it. He is making sudden turns right before the cat pounces to get houses in the way.

I can cover more ground from above. I quickly reach him.

"Follow my lead!"

I guide him though a path to get to Don, with good amounts of houses. 

Few people walk around outside in the dark night, but people are starting to get curious because of the commotion. Luckily, the Jaguar isn't trying to maul anyone else, as we might not even be able to help. 

We get to the big building and follow until its most eastern point. This is my last stop, cannot keep moving from above, the density of houses isn't enough to reach the market from here.

"Continue that way! Take a left and a right, should be enough to get close enough."

He darts ahead. 

Where is the Jaguar? 

RARWW

To my right! 

It jumped. It is hanging from the edge of the roof. Such an aggressively beautiful animal. 

I draw my arrow, but it almost instantly manages to get up … 

I don't have an angle. Its skull is too thick and I'm trembling. I have to run. 

I have an idea, might gain a few seconds. I run towards the top. I fire the bow behind me. 

I only need a distraction. 

I jump into the hole in the ceiling. I hang from the edge. It leaps into it.

I can feel heavier blood flow in my arms from having stopped my fall. The hole isn't nearly deep enough to delay it. 

I barely manage to get back in the roof just before I let myself roll down to give me some space advantage while it has to change its momentum. I just need to adjust my own momentum to not ~

WHAM!

Oh god. I fell from the roof. 

"AAHHH" 

My shoulder and by back are burning from the pain. I won't be able to move. 

The Jaguar jumps from the roof. It slowly turns to me. Only a human would do it like that. As if he wants me to despair a bit. 

I smile and can relax my body. 

I get to deny him that satisfaction. Behind him, Bobby bringing Sally and Tarik. 

My vision goes dark.

…

"They all had the same skill?"

That unparalleled tender voice is the first thing I hear. 

"Yeah, they~ Oh, you woke up!"

OUCH

I try to lift my upper body, but my shoulders are stinging with a deep and sharp pain.

"Hehe, you did great. You'll be better by tomorrow!" 

Oh, that's Tarik. 

"You slept a whole day. Hihihi"

And Lily. 

"Sorry to bother."

We are in a very small house with lots of flower ornaments. It is only the bedroom section where I am right now and a kitchen-living room hybrid where they were chatting. 

"No problem! I'm glad you finally visited my humble home. Hihi"

I answer with a half smile.

"You should move in with me, we're making our house as we speak. It is me, Biel and Joy, from class."

"You lovebirds can discuss that later. The work is not done." Tarik interjects. "We uncovered that they'll try to interfere with iron trading routes coming from the capital, we're planning an ambush, and we're counting on you. The bandit supposedly has a very powerful defensive skill, and we need everybody to try to neutralize him."

Cannot help but think about how tired my body is right now. Can I really help? 

My thoughts might've been too clear, as he quickly adds

"You'll be able to participate in society after that. Hang in there, things will get better soon."

Yes. He is right. It is almost there. 

I take one day with Lily and go back home the next night. 

I've had a crush on Lily since time immemorial, but I don't know why I feel so much better with those two. It is as if I am allowed to actually feel everything that is deep inside me. Come to think of it, that is precisely how I unlocked my secret skill. 

For some reason, however, Joy snapped earlier. Was she that worried about me vanishing? I don't really get what Biel said … 

Anyway, it is better I focus on tomorrow. I'm very sleepy. I got a skill point, I can probably help tomorrow. I close my heavy eyes. I won't beat or kill anybody, I'll only use [Kingdom] to neutralize the dude's defzzzzzzzzz …

~~~

My hands are materializing. I'm holding a bow. Next are my arms and torso. I can feel that cold from the air displacement. I can hear chaos, crackling from flames and clashing of swords. 

Finally, my eyes are back, and I can see my arrow wobbling through the air, guided by the silver reflection from its tip.

It firmly pierces into the heart of a girl wearing the high school uniform I am so familiar with. Long black hair with the faintest red locks. 

What is happening? She looks in pain, falls to her knees and looks in my direction. That tanned skin and undertow yellow eyes. There is no doubt about it. It is Joy. 

What have I done?