Throughout my life, I never had the time to reflect on myself the way I do now, in the moment of my final breath. I was always fighting, fighting, and fighting. I didn't have a dream, only a goal.

It's funny to look back and see how I gradually abandoned that painful ambition.

When I was just seven years old, I lost my father—or rather, he was taken from me. Witnessing the murder of the only living member of my family at that age was nothing short of devastating. And so, I swore to the heavens to avenge him and truly dedicated my life to it… until this inconvenient turn of events.

If there is life after death, I'm not sure if I would be able to find him again. First of all, despite our similar fate, we'd likely end up in different places. I didn't walk a virtuous path as I would have liked; I never hesitated when it came to killing innocents just to advance my plans for revenge. And the same repeated when I abandoned those plans.

Even if I could reunite with my hero, I could never face him. No matter that he likely would have disapproved of my desire to avenge him, I still feel like I betrayed him. And ironically, in the end, I chose to protect the smile of someone I once swore to destroy.

It's all your fault. You reintroduced me to a world I had abandoned a decade ago. A world that owes me nothing, to which I owe nothing. And it's also your fault for being such a terrible actor.

Among this infinity of worlds, could there be one where we might have been happy? If only we had one more choice… I couldn't find it. Still, I remain grateful for this chance fate gave me to act on what I truly desire instead of obeying a retroactive ghost.

What the hell are you doing? You shouldn't be so kind to your supposed enemies. Even after everything I've tried, you still can't feel anger or disdain toward me?

My eyes have finally adjusted to the darkness; my last vision will be your face. There are so many things I wish I could tell you, yet it's far too late to falter or attempt to turn back now.

As I leave, I only ask that you fulfill my role and protect her.

Memories of my childhood echo in my mind.

We weren't so distant back then… If I could wish for anything, it would be for our paths to have crossed sooner. I imagine how different everything could have been.

It hurts.

Dying is more painful than I imagined. Is this the pain my shots caused all my victims? I guess they must all be mocking me now, and well, they have every right to relish my agony. Pulling the trigger became so trivial that I completely forgot what it felt like to be on the other side of the barrel. But it was a necessary act, for to become a killing machine, I had to abandon all my humanity.