Chapter 30,5: Assassin's way of life

I felt my ears twitch. I never was a light sleeper, but ever since I destroyed Red Drops and later the Four Fingers, I never was able to sleep calmly. I kicked off my sheet and jumped down from my dresser that also worked as my bed. I picked my clothes from the ground and put them on. Given how warm even nights were in this early summer, I was sleeping naked, which made my scars easily visible in the morning sun. Once dressed, I started stretching my body and made some basic mixing to keep my fingers in touch with my abilities.

I don't want to kill more people than necessary. Should I try the truth potion today? Maybe Imbecilization potion would be better…

Once I was done mixing the drugs, I chug them down to not let any loose ends. Given my years in the underworld, I became immune to all kinds of drugs. These weak drugs are nothing more than spicy water now… but what the heck did that jerk Mausen used?!

My mind wandered back to the time I was escaping the rest of the Four fingers.

The First finger, Death's Scythe Albent. The Second finger, Whore user Naaden. The Third finger, the Executioner Mausen. The last fourth finger was me, the Untouchable Ennen. No, I'm Nene now, I casted my name away…

When I killed all the Red Drops, I was escaping to the east-south, but Albent was soon behind me.

"You won't get away you traitorous bitch!!!" His scythe glowed red and a slash that went through trees trailed behind me. I used my strings to propel me high into the air and landed on a nearby rock.

"I expected that." I used the strings again and this time threw rocks, trees and other things at him. He spun his scythe and I used his blind spots to get behind him and cut off his ankles.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!! You bi——" I cut off his head, so he could no longer scream.

"Hah, haaah… I need to get somewhere else… Are those Skull bears? Well, no one would expect him to survive when facing these demons," I threw irritation incense between them and started running for my dear life.

I escaped to the south with all my might, but Naaden's slave girls came up to me. I had no troubles cutting them down as they were barely stronger than any C rank adventurer. I decided to camp in the forest and kill any and all slaves he send after me. It didn't take long until I forced him to get out and cut him down as well.

"Haah­– Hah– Haah!" I jumped to the side, but got hit by an arrow anyway.

"So much for the Untouchable part, huh?"

"Mausen… you used Naaden as bait? Why doesn't it surprise me?"

"I see the poison worked. Given you are immune to most of the Drugs our organization uses, I had to come up with new ones. Truly, Red Moon Viper's poison is really effective. But mixing it with Murder Ant's venom is even better."

"Grrr… you talk too much."

"And what are you gonna do? Blow up?"

"Heh… Exactly!" I used my strings and threw my last explosive stones held on magic strings at him. The explosion was however too strong and I flew into the air and fell unconscious at landing.

When I woke up, I started walking south until I made it near Aula city. I hijacked a carriage and secretly entered the city. I wandered the city, my eyes were spinning, my body was heavy and I was barely walking. I was in the slums and once again fell unconscious in a back alley.

Heh. Who would have thought I would die a dog's death so close to the capital… it doesn't even feel like I run that far… Damn it! This is so frustrating!!! At least the kids are safe now… They should arrive in Principality in a few days anyway…

Tears spilled from my eyes, my heart hurt. The smell of mud and grime entered my nose. Were it raining on top of all this, I might've already been dead.

"Oya, you okay little girl?"

Huh? My heavy eyes tried to look up. Above me was standing a girl in maid clothes holding a basket.

"So you are still alive, I see… hmmm, you don't look tasty at all, so drink this," the maid stuck a bottle into my mouth. My eyes almost instantly got lighter and my body felt similarly floaty. So she was his agent too? I guess they wanted me gone really badly.

***

I opened my eyes and noticed the wooden ceiling above me.

"Huh?"

"Good morning, little girl."

"Huh? So I… am still alive?"

"Of course. The antidote was administered at the right time," the maid smiled at me, her red eyes glowing slightly.

"Who… you?"

"My name is Romana Dutka, but please call me Romi. I am the maid of Arito Aruze, a great man of many great talents."

"But you… are a…"

"Yes, I am a Vampire as you've realized. Master Arito tamed me as well as made those antidotes that saved you. Anyway, who are you?"

"I'm… I am… Nene."

"Nene, eh? Nice name. Do you know what you are going to do now?"

"I can't… run anymore…"

"A runaway assassin, eh? I've seen my fair share of those."

"What'd…you say?"

My blood ran cold, yet my heart beated so quickly it could jump out of my chest. How could she know I was an assassin?

"A runaway assassin. That's what you are, are you not?"

"Y…yes…"

"You can stay here while you heal. Though, you will need my master's approval to stay here for longer. You could work as my subordinate."

"Thank… you…"

***

I took a deep breath and lightly slapped my cheeks sending memories to the past to the back of my mind.

"I have to prepare breakfast for the kids and then I'm off to the shop…" I felt a smile growing on my face. I can't have kids of my own anymore, but helping these kids grow… it's making me so happy…

With a smile on my face I stepped into a new day, shedding my dark past like a snake would shed its skin.