As Aquaria and I continued to gather information and refine our strategy for taking down the ruthless assassin, I couldn't shake this nagging feeling that kept creeping in. It was a sense of guilt, knowing that we were about to embark on a mission to end someone's life, no matter how dangerous they may be.
"Hey, Aquaria," I hesitated, unsure if I even wanted to bring up my concerns. "This might sound strange, but... does it ever bother you that our job is essentially to eliminate other beings? We're like divine hitmen."
Aquaria looked pensive for a moment; her gaze focused on something far off in the distance before she refocused on me. "I'd be lying if I said it didn't weigh on me sometimes. But over time, I've come to understand that every being has its own path, and sometimes those paths cross in ways that can't be avoided. As divine beings, we are responsible for guiding the new beings, or at least I am. You are different, but that just makes your job that much more important. While we have to feed the chaos to them, you can just go and end them quickly. You know what we are to the world, right?"
"Harbingers of doom, basically, right? We introduce chaos into the universe with our births or something like that, yes?" I asked, and she nodded.
"Exactly. So think about that when you are going to hunt down each target. I can't really understand what your job is like because I have never really had to kill anyone. People have died because of my mistakes on my journey to become a divine being, and now I am paying for it with my debt," Aquaria explained.
I nodded and thumbed my chin, trying to process her words. "I guess that makes sense. We're supposed to restore balance in a way, right? Preventing chaos from spiraling out of control and tearing apart the fabric of reality."
"Exactly," Aquaria agreed. "It doesn't make it any easier, but knowing we have a greater purpose can help ease some of the burdens. Sometimes difficult choices must be made for the greater good. And besides, as a Chaos Trigger, your role is unique – you might just change the rules of the game entirely."
Her words left me with a lot to think about. It was true that my abilities were different from those of other divine beings, and my very existence seemed to shake up the established order. Perhaps I really could redefine what it meant to be a divine hitman, finding a way to fulfill my duties without sacrificing my own morals and conscience.
Of course, that would require me to better understand my powers and learn how to control them effectively. With every new job, I'd need to grow stronger, more skilled, and more experienced if I hoped to survive in this strange world of gods and monsters.
"So," I said, steeling myself for the task at hand, "let's go over the plan one more time; then, I would like to take you out for that meal. You have been extremely helpful with helping me to understand things."
"I am just happy to get to know you. I was wondering what type of person you were going to be, but I was pleasantly surprised. You are just a normal person, but not only that, you are immune to fame. I have never ever seen anyone that can withstand someone like Mi Dong," Aquaria said, pushing her hair back.
I smiled, feeling a bit more at ease with her kind words. "Well, I'm just trying to be the best version of myself that I can be. And who knows? Maybe my immunity to fame will come in handy someday."
Aquaria laughed lightly and nodded in agreement. "Maybe it will. Now, let's go over our plan one last time before we head out for that meal. We'll need to be fully prepared if we want any chance at succeeding in this mission."
After another two hours of going over all the information that we had, Aquaria let me out of the office. We headed to a nearby restaurant, eager to relax and get to know each other better outside of our professional roles.
As we walked together, discussing everything from our pasts to our aspirations for the future, I couldn't help but feel grateful for this unlikely partnership. Despite the dangers and moral complexities that awaited us in our upcoming mission, there was something comforting about knowing that I had an ally like Aquaria by my side – someone who shared my concerns, understood my struggles, and genuinely cared about both my well-being and success.
Over dinner, we laughed and reminisced about our own journeys up until this point, finding strength and camaraderie in each other's company. As we exchanged stories and indulged in delicious food, a sense of optimism began to grow within me. No matter what challenges lay ahead, I felt confident that with Aquaria's support and guidance, I could not only survive but thrive as a Chaos Trigger in this strange new world.
The night drew to a close, and we knew it was time to part ways and prepare ourselves for the job that loomed on the horizon. The thing was, I didn't know where I was going to be staying tonight.
"Hey, do you know if there is a hotel or something I can get a room in? I have been with you the whole day and didn't really look into getting a place," I said, and Aquaria put her hand to her head.
"That is right! I am so sorry! We don't really have anything like hotels, but you can stay at my place tonight if that is okay?" She asked, and I blinked at her in shock.
"Are you sure?" I asked, and then said, "I don't want to intrude."
Aquaria smiled warmly, dismissing my concerns with a wave of her hand. "Nonsense! It's no intrusion at all. Besides, it'll give us more time to get to know each other and solidify our partnership. I have plenty of space in my apartment, so don't worry about it."
I hesitated for a moment, not wanting to impose, but eventually acquiesced. "Alright, if you're sure. Thank you, Aquaria. I appreciate your kindness."
"No problem at all," she said cheerfully, leading the way to her place.
As we walked side by side under the starlit sky, I couldn't help but think that despite the moral gray areas and uncertainties that surrounded our divine duties, there was indeed hope. Hope for forging meaningful connections and finding a sense of purpose in this strange new realm – even for someone like me, the Divine Assassin.
But little did I know, as we embarked on this shared journey, what challenges and revelations lay waiting for us just around the corner…