I watched Say walking toward me, my eyes tracking every movement. She sat down beside me and remarked, "They stare at us as if we were animals in a zoo, don't they?"
I nodded with a sigh. "Yes, but we were lucky that none of the other members were here yet."
Say smiled wryly. "Hmm, but then, Nam-Sam, I didn't know you were part of the assassins' club. I always thought you were from the marksmen's club."
Say's gaze fixed on the pistols in my holster, and her voice was a sharp whisper: "It's indeed quite peculiar for someone carrying firearms to be part of the assassins' club, where speed and lethality are essential."
I averted my gaze, feeling the weight of her words. "Let's just say I'm versatile," I murmured.
Say smiled, but there was something dark in her eyes. "Yes, it must be. Those chosen to enter the assassins' club are handpicked by the battle academy directors."
"Do you know why this club exists and why its members are allowed to kill in duels?" Say asked. I simply nodded and replied:
"Some argue that in a world full of significant and malevolent threats, heroes willing to kill may be necessary to protect society." It seemed I managed to coax a smile from Say, who continued, "Yes, but that's where the dilemma lies. Are heroes the ones who save people or the ones who eliminate villains?"
"It's a good question. Observing our world's system, it seems that heroes play both roles: they kill and protect. The question remains: what is our role in all of this?" I responded, contemplating our own position in this scenario.
Say cast me a curious and somewhat pensive glance. I returned the look, pondering what she was likely thinking.
No matter how many times I speak, I still can't fully process that I'm inside my own novel, and one of the main characters is by my side.
Part of me wants to know what they think of me. After all, it seems I've become a magnet for attracting my own creations.
Before I could delve deeper into those thoughts, several footsteps were heard from outside. It indicated that someone was about to enter. Say and I looked at the door simultaneously, and there they were. Hitoriki, with his long black hair and indifferent gaze, carrying a katana at his waist, entered the room. Right behind him, Elizabeth, with her red hair and a scar beside her mouth, followed closely.
Hitoriki stepped into the room, and immediately silence settled in. The atmosphere turned icy. Say didn't take her eyes off him as he passed.
Around Hitoriki, a red and bloody aura was visible, almost distorting space. He didn't consciously emit this aura; it was something unconscious. For some reason, both Say and I shivered, and a thought occurred to me: "Why the hell did I create a monster like this guy?"
Hitoriki was the leader of the Assassins' Club and, consequently, the most traumatic character in the story. Everyone who faced him died, including Jigoro and Taiho.
Jigoro couldn't defeat Hitoriki, no matter how many tricks he used, despite being a martial arts genius. Taiho, on the other hand, posed a real challenge. Hitoriki is considered the world's top swordsman, capable of cutting through anything. However, Taiho showed that he wouldn't be sliced so easily, thanks to his invincibility ability.
"Good afternoon," declared Hitoriki. Immediately, all the members except Say and me responded in unison, "Good afternoon, sir!"
The room seemed to vibrate as Hitoriki continued: "Today is the first day, and before we welcome the new members, I want to give a warning." He spoke calmly, seemingly devoid of emotion. However, his aura intensified, and his eyes fixed on Edward, the young man who had fought against Neo and lost. Edward sat at the back of the room, head lowered, clearly aware that a reprimand was coming:
"Next time you challenge someone and lose, there will be consequences." He said discreetly. "Understood?"
Edward seemed to freeze at Hitoriki's simple words. All the other members responded simultaneously, except for Say and me, who watched the scene like blind witnesses in the midst of a shootout: "Yes, sir!"
"Excellent," murmured Hitoriki, while Elizabeth beside him observed with a smile.
He then turned to us, sitting on an isolated sofa, and said, "Say and Nam-sam, the director informed me in advance about both of you. You are the only newcomers joining the Assassins' Club at Battle Academy this year." There was a certain pride in his tone, as if he wanted to convince us that being part of the assassins' club was the best thing in the world.
"So, I congratulate you, and furthermore…" He concluded, but already leaving a hook: "While you still breathe within this academy, I will ensure that you become the most lethal versions you can be. Therefore, I need to see you in action."
"Ah, yes. I already suspected this would happen…" I thought. He'll probably make us fight, and damn… Why am I considering asking to go to the bathroom and never coming back?