[Alex POV]
" C -Could you slow down a bit. "
" Just a little more Alex. We're almost there. "
My hand felt numb because I'm holding Haruki's neck for too long when he jumped up the mountain cliffs to cliffs like goats. My face is pale when I accidentally look below. It was an abyss down there, I held his neck even tighter, my hand was sweating.
" Haruki, the circus… they will be fine right?"
" This is the third time you ask that. There there, don't worry. They're gonna be all right."
After leaving the city, we disguised as brother and sister then Haruki carried me and ran straight to this remote area. He said that we couldn't come back to the circus at least in the meantime because we or the circus might have been tailed.
Haruki told Sabatini's group to leave immediately before he went to save me. I knew he just tried to calm me down, Alan Gurrag is a dangerous and careful man There was a high chance that he had people to keep track of us. After listening to Haruki's words about how he saved me, my worry became more justified.
" Haruki nii, did you really pass the Teigu to Alan Gurrag?"
That thing was still bugging me. I know that there's no way Alan let us out alive after we gave him a fake Teigu.
" Don't worry about that. He can't use it anyway, and even if he somehow manages to find a person that's able to hold that thing, it would take a long while."
" How could you know that?"
" Instinct. "
Of course, I'm not that naïve to believe that nonsense but I knew I shouldn't stick my nose in certain things.
I did not ask Haruki about the place to which he was carrying me. I could guess it had to be one of the revolutionary army's bases.
Many years ago, I eavesdropped on the conversation between Haruki and Sabatini about his joining the army. After that Haruki began to disappear from the circus to the point he only came back to visit us a few times a month.
The scenery was rapidly passing before my eyes making me feel like I'm sitting on a high-speed train. I wonder if the guy carrying me was still human, did he somehow have some engine attached to his feet. I doubt the strongest man in my old world could even do this. With this ability, this power he was definitely not just any random cannon folder in the revolt army.
Was he an assassin? Night Raid? It caused me to fear the road ahead. Groups like Night Raid operate in the shadow. Once a person got involved in them, either that person would be killed, forced to join them, or would be closely monitored. If I can I wouldn't even want to know about them.
After running and jumping constantly for an hour, we finally reach the destination on the top of the mountain. It looked like a huge mansion. There were a pool, a statue that sprayed water, and even gym equipment scattered everywhere...
" What the hell is this ??"
My mouth couldn't close at what I was looking at. I always thought that assassins lived in darker and gloomier places like caves, sewers, dungeons, or something. Why did it look just like a resort! I remember in Akame ga kill the base of Night was also not gloomy at all but this place was on another level.
" What's wrong Alex?"
" No, I just didn't think that the place we're heading to looks like this."
" Heh, you think this would be a dungeon filled with traps or something? Like those assassins' base in novels?
" What assassins! I didn't mention anything about assassins! "
Haruki smiles warmly at my panic as if he can read my thought.
" Now that you're already here It's no use to hide anything anymore. I think you already knew about it though. In short, I belong to an assassin group and this is our base."
When Haruki finished his line, we were surrounded by six people.
One of them was a big muscular young man with his hair like a Yankee, he didn't wear a shirt as if to show off his perfect muscle, his below body was only covered by a tower.
The second one was a middle-aged dark skin man with a left eyepatch I can see a white long scar stretching from the forehead to the chin, on his mouth was a pipe, he wears a traditional Japanese yukata, and on his hip was something looks like a katana.
The third one has hair as curly as Rambutan fruit, he wore a black thick rubber suit that sticks to the skin as his large muscle protrudes.
The fourth one was a brown hair girl, her hair length has just reached the shoulder, she looked around Haruki's age and was wearing a blue swimsuit with a bottom skirt. Her face flushed red when she was looking at us.
The fifth one was a red hair beauty in a black bikini. Her stance showed off her seductive figure.
The last one was another beauty with black hair tied in a pony style, she dress like a maid. For some reason, her green jade eyes brought a familiar chilling sense to my spine.
' What's this? An outdoor party? It makes me feel nostalgic. '
" Hahaha brat, So this is the reason you always have that silly look on your face whenever your home is mentioned? It's a pleasure to meet you, m'lady." The Yankee guy laughed loudly as his eyes directed at my head on Haruki's shoulder.
" C-Captain i-is this your girlfriend?" – The brown hair girl.
Before I could say anything, Haruki shakes his head and replied.
" He's my little brother and he's going to stay here for a while."
When the surprise sound was about to escape the brown hair girl's mouth, the middle-aged with an eyepatch raised his hand as a gesture to be silent. He glanced at me then stared at Haruki.
" Captain, this is not a kindergarten. Whatever he is to you, he should not be here. Do you even understand what you're doing? "
I swallowed my spit when I felt an intense aura emit from the man. Haruki didn't seem to be bothered by that at all he replied with a steady cold voice unlike when he was talking to me.
" I understand what I'm doing vice-captain. He will stay and I will report all of this to the upper. Is that clear?"
" What happened if the upper doesn't allow this?"
" I'll take responsibility if that happens."
" Are you sure about that? "
The man's sharp eye again directed at me, I felt like there was a knife placed right next to my neck. I knew this sensation, I experienced it a few times, it was called murder intent. Haruki didn't say anything, he calmly nodded his head.
" I hope you could keep your words."
With just that, the man turned his head and return to the mansion.
" Haha don't worry m'lady, that guy always grumbling like that from time to time. This place is lacking a delicate, elegant flower like you lady."
In an instant, my hand was inside the Yankee's as he was about to give it a kiss, a hand wrapped his neck, and the red hair beauty whispered to his ear.
" Hey what did you mean? Was that I'm not 'elegant' and 'delicate' enough for your taste?"
" S-Shana, that was not what I meant, you're beautiful, it's just that..."
" Hmm ??"
Her hand squeezed harder making the man gasp.
" Cough cough. Y-You are gorgeous… Like the sexy type! Besides she's captain's."
" E–Excuse me but I'm a boy "
" …"
" …"
" Not kidding?"
" Y-Yes. Didn't Haruki just tell you guys from the beginning?
" What? I thought that was a joke from the captain! It wasn't? "
" Have I ever joked before? "
The Yankee's mouth was wide open while the red hair beauty stared at me from head to toe.
" I couldn't believe it, I've already seen some guys who look like girls but this level… are you sure you are not a disguise master or using some kind of transformation Teigu? "
Her hand intended to touch something down there but Haruki hit her on the head.
" Alex is injured, Lily, if you don't mind, kindly arrange a room for him."
The maid nodded her head in reply, her eyes made me feel like a hank looking at prey. Haruki patted my back gently gesturing me to follow her which cause some giggling in the surrounding. This guy, he didn't need to do that! I quickly ran after Lily to escape the eyes that were glued to me. I saw the curly-haired whisper something to the now depressed-looking Yankee and the Yankee's face became brighter and brighter.
-------------------
" Here's your room ."
The first time in 12 years had I seen a room like this. Although it wasn't luxurious like those of noble it was spacious and clean, with a large bed that has a mattress, and a soft white sheet placed neatly on top. There was a shelf for books, a shelf for clothes, and even a big bathtub. No smell of humidity coming from the walls. Everything here was so smooth and not even a speck of dust.
" Now then Alex san, your clothes, please take them off."
" P-Pardon?"
" Please take them off, aren't you injured?"
" T-Thanks but Haruki already treated me."
I lightly tremble because of fear that the person before me would force me to strip, I can tell she's highly trained, there's no way I'd be able to resist her but contrary to my thinking, Lily threw me the key then turn away.
" It's up to you. Hot water is over there. My room's right next to yours but kindly remember I'm not always available to take care of a child like you and if you feel good enough, help us prepare meals."
Just with a few short words, Lily left my room, as if it was a habit she gently close the door without any sound. There's only my sigh in the empty room, I took off my clothes and poured the water into the bathtub.
….
When my butt was about to hit the warm. Wrinkled emerge from my face, that feeling, that horrifying feeling made every cell in my body scream. I looked into the big mirror in front of me, inside of it was a face that twisted beyond human, it was painted with fear, the fear of the inescapable painful death. I had to use all of my beings to not shout and crawl outside the bathtub but my shaking legs made me tumble hard and that feeling became even clearer in a moment. I was writhing, and squirming on the cold floor for almost 20 minutes, but finally, I made it to the bed. Lying upside down I cried.
" It hasn't healed yet."
I rub my butt. For 12 years, The incident of that night never drifted from my head. Every time I suffered any kind of injury even a minor one that terrible sense kept coming back. It was like that thing etched deep into my brain and just waiting for something to trigger.
" This stupid curse, I hate this stupid curse… 'sob'."
That was the only explanation I had. I didn't know how many curses that are placed on my head, I tried not to think about them. I prayed that this place doesn't have any children, after coming to this world I began to hate children, or more precisely I was afraid of them. Did I tell you that even a tiny scratch makes me feel like dying? That tends to happen a lot when there's a kid around. I touched my mouth and my neck, there was no scar but I still can felt them, the wound, as if they would never heal.
The sky became dark, no one visited my room including Haruki, he must be busy with something. Now my butt felt better, I can take bath. Lily told me to help her cook dinner, I'm a little hesitant because our first impression didn't seem to be good. I don't know if I made her upset at some point or that's just her character but I still don't want to be a freeloader so I tried to drag my exhausted body out of the room.
The atmosphere outside was strangely gloomy contradicting the luxurious feeling I had when we came here at noon. Not a spark of light everything was sunk into the darkness, but I still heard the sound of footsteps, the talks, the fight, and even some sensitive sounds.
" Don't tell me that this place is always like this every night"
" It is."
I jumped when I realized that there was a shadow standing behind me.
" M-Musui san."
" I don't remember telling my name? And more importantly, you seem to have good eyes."
The one-eyed man Musui lightly smiles and he looks like he suspected something.
" T-That was the what people often told me. About your name, I heard it from Ryuu san. Oh, I forgot to introduce myself, I'm Alex." – I scratch my head
I put my hand in front of him but instead of a handshake, I hear a sharp sound toward my hand and 'Thud...', the sound of something dropping to the floor.
" Ah ."
' Tach Tach', the dipping sound of a black liquid dropped on the floor. I look down to the place that should be my right hand was just an empty space. The first of my thought was not to run, not to scream from the seething pain of a limb cut off from my body, it was the fear of the terrible feeling would come back but as I waited nothing came. I stare at the man in front of me shaking partly from anger but mostly from fear, there was a surprise in his eyes.
" Musui san are you perhaps possess a Teigu that causes illusion?"
" …"
The pain gradually disappeared and I could feel my right hand.
" Excuse me but could you tell me the direction of the kitchen? "
After a few seconds of silence, he pointed to the area of the kitchen. I bow my head and quickly get away from him. Sweats were still pouring out. I know it would be out of context had he tried to kill me there but how could I was not afraid.
' Noted: never try to shake hand with an assassin.'
In the kitchen area, I could hear some laughing from the Yankee guy Ryuu. After I just show my face, Lily slightly frowned. At this point, I was 90 percent sure that she hate me.
" Food is already done. You can help bring them out."
" S-Sorry I arrive a little bit late ."
" I told you only help when you recover but it seems like your injury was nothing but a bluff. I can't understand the exaggerated attitude of the captain."
" S-Sorry. "
" Hahaha are don't mind it, Alex kun right? This miss here is the third rank in terms of salty.
" T-Then who the first?"
" Haha who else but our beloved captain?"
When the arm of Ryuu like a giant club was about to hammer down my shoulder he immediately withdraws it, because resting on my shoulder at that time was a very big knife the one holding it was Lily who staring at the Ryuu with bullet eyes.
" Have you already forgotten what the captain told you?"
" Ouch! I did! I'm sorry but that was just an inch from saying good by to my lovely hand!"
" You don't need it if you keep ignoring the order. Please pay attention if you want to live."
" Yes, Madam."
" Here, hold it."
I used both hands to take the big pot from Lily and the first thing that came to my mind was 'It's freaking heavy!'. I have to use all my strength to be able to lift it. Seeing this Lily raised her eyebrows.
' Hey, don't tell me that you expected me to spill the food! '
Time skip (Awkward assassin dinner skip. Haruki sneaked into my room and pillow talk skip. Strange moan at night (Not of MC ) skip. Sleepless night because of Haruki loud snoring skip)
" Kyaa!"
My morning began with a cute scream when I had just stepped out of my room. In front of me was the short hair girl Mia, her face was bright red in the set of Pajamas. Her mouth constantly closed the opened as she stutter.
" W -WW-WH"
" Hmm?"
I check my body I was not naked. I couldn't understand why she made such a fuss.
" W-Why you're wearing the same shirt as captain!"
" I don't have spare clothes so I borrowed from him, what's wrong?"
By the way, I was not wearing any pants, I only had Haruki's oversized shirt on me but it was enough to cover both the upper body and the bottom. I did try to wear his pant but it's too loose.
Her eyes kept switching between my face and my thighs and it began to make me feel embarrassed. When I decided to go back to my room, some idiot start crawling out of bed while still yawning. He then stripped and his body lies on top of mine.
" Agh Haruki nii… you're heavy, please stand up."
I try to get him out of my body but I swear this guy weights tons.
" C-C-C-C-Captain??"
" What's the fuss?"
People start to gather all of them wearing sleeping clothes except curly hair guy Gochi and one-eye Musui they seem to stay up guard.
" Hmm…" – Musui
Licking her lip (Shana)
" Hahaha look at this brat!" – Ryuu
" …" – Gochi
The murderous aura was emitting intensely from Lily.
" Okay allow me to explain in case of some misunderstanding …"
" P-Prevert!"
A net came from nowhere and caught Haruki who was still sleepy hanging him upside. The silly uproar continue for an hour before finally settled.