Unfortunately, I'dbeen on a lot of business trips lately.

Because it ran so long that day, I arrived home later than usual.

Anyway,all the aristocratshave gonethis way together.

Sometimes I have to leave my house for a while to access outside technology.

I can't believe what you're saying,even though I'vebeenmaking itbig out there. Hah

And like the night, daily life in this areawas not as smooth as I sometimes wish.

It was too late

When I came back home, I was not happy to see unwelcome guests waiting for me.

Oh, Syrinx.

I squinted at the man approaching me.

Hah, XXXX.

The man moved andspat.

I was so bored waiting for you. I heard you've been making some money lately.

A wide forehead and a large, wide nose. A thin body, with fistfuls of muscles all over.

That young catfish-like manlookedvery familiar.

Why're you so quiet?Are youreally thatexcitedto see him? Hm?

Although I've been fortunate enough to meet quite a few friendly people in this back alley, there are still some who harbor a great deal of spiteagainstme.

Standing in the middle of the throng was called Thorce, who was known for leading the second strongest group of assassins in the entire 'assassination zone.'

Why aren't yousayinganything, huh? Is it easyto play around like that?

He hatedme like crazy.

The reason was simple enough.

When I first met him, he tried to forcefully hit on me and was utterly rejected.

He lookedat me like a tiger staring at his prey, with his eyes chasingafterme as I moved.

Or do you hit on any man with that pretty face? How disgusting.

How cheap.

It wasn't looking very good.

It was a dark evening. It was Friday, too.

I knew the knight who usually patrolled this area. During spring, that knight would go to the bar on Friday evenings.

There was one person I could trust, and it just had to be the day that they left early.

'Oh well.'

I narrowed my eyes as I subtly touched the jewels in my pocket.

'I don't want to get any closer.'

Oh. If by any chance, you're still waiting for your own people to come and help, you'd better not. I know they're all gone today.

That hadn't even crossed my mind. Besides

I grinned. Even if something did go wrong, I'd still say what I had to say,

I had a feeling that you were a cruel, filthy man who'd aim for a day like today.

No matter how tough he looked,he'd always lookfor another chance. What a punk.

I looked around for an opportunity, before glancing back again. He would have to wait for a day to come and reveal himself as a cockroach.

Oh, no. Are you that childish, or are you just an idiot?

In one twitch, his face became a distorted mess.

'I knew you'd be this upset.'

He was too emotionalandtoo hot-tempered to belong to an assassination group.

Do I really have to spell it out? He's the typethat wouldnever last long in a back alley like this.

I know what a XXXX like you is thinking! You have to go through the trouble ofruiningyour pretty face, and play all nice! You think you can do anything you want just like that, huh?

Calm down. Why are you so upset all of the sudden? Oh, there was also something about height too, right?

You're shorter than me, aren't you?

He flinched.

Or are you so stupid you didn't even notice?

This XXXX!

At that moment, Thorce came up and reached out to try to strangle me.

Thorce's hand broke in front of my eyes.

Crash.

I turned my head away, startled at the soundof blood.

I was about to fall back to my last resort, but rather than do that, I gulped and stared at the face before me.

Tsk. I was wondering what you were up to on such afilthystreet.

He was a man dressed in a tightly-buttoned shirt with a cravat.

His strong chest stood out in particular.

Who are you? Why don't you just get lost?

He knocked down the short, yet muscular, Thorce, then snapped his hand like a twig.

Whing.

As if it were butter, the dagger in the man's hand bent easily.

The blade grazed the back of Thorce's hand when it fell.

Ugh!

The man stepped on Thorce's back to weigh him down. That way the man was able to control him and prevent him from escaping.

Thorce struggled wildly, flailing and pounding at the floor like crazy.

Geez, let go! Damn it, Ack! You-! Wh-who are you!

That's none of your business.