For I Am A Side Character - 58: Assassin's Assassinating
At around afternoon, right as the sun was about to set, the group decided to go home.
With the progress they made from the elemental compatibility thought by Marilyn, not much was made successful.
In the end, Zelisha could only fire one lightning arrow out of twenty shots, Thors was capable of moving a pebble and inch off the ground and Soril and Jessica just spent the day feelign the waters that were mixed with their mana.
Jessica tried to offer her friends to stay the night but each one of them had plans right after this…especially Soril who couldn’t be reasoned with from his girlfriend.
“You sure you can’t stay the night at my place? My dad was really eager to talk to you.” she said as they both stood at the gates of her mansion.
“No its okay…I really had something to do tonight and I can’t miss it no matter what.” said Soril.
“If that’s the case…then okay.” as Jessica was down from this event, Soril felt bad for her.
“But maybe tomorrow might work.” said Soril.
“Really?!” as Jessica heard this exciting news, she looked to her other friends to see if they too agreed.
“Hmm, yeah…I’m fine with that.” said Marilyn.
“Yeah I just can’t today…my parents are visiting my apartment to see if I’m doing well for myself, but tomorrow works.” said Zelisha.
“Hmm, as long you can promise me that I can use the simulation machine tomorrow.” said Thors as he bargains with Jessica.
“Sure we can do that too.” said Jessica as she agreed to Thors request.
“I mean we only have four days left before school starts again so staying over the night might help with the paperwork.” said Marilyn.
“…and you did say that your family has an alchemy lab right? We can make our potions tomorrow too if its possible. I’ll help you guys make the high-grade potion since I’m pretty good at it.” said Zelisha sounding as if she as bragging.
“Great, then lets all meet same time as tomorrow. Oh and before you guys leave, here…these are the result of the simulation machine. The person managing the machine took his time with it so I only just got it about a minute ago.” said Jessica as she handed them a piece of paper regarding their status.
“Hmm okay…lets see just how much we’ve grown.” said Marilyn as she was quite excited to figure out her growth.
For Marilyn…from the start of her entering the academy, she was but a level 10 E-ranked student…now she was a level 20 D-ranked student.
For Zelisha, she was also a level 13 E-ranked student when she entered the academy, but now she was also a D-ranked student with a level over 21.
For Thors, he had quite the growth since his last examination…from a from a level 12 E-ranked student to that of a level 25 C-ranker. He’s grown more than Marilyn and Zelisha could.
As for Jessica, with her being a top leveled E-ranked student around 18 levels, now her current growth placed her around level 26 with a C-ranked profile.
As for Soril…the one who they wanted to see the most, from the start his evaluation for his status was but a measly F-ranked hunter…but now in his current strength, he was a B-ranked hunter with a level of 32. with his contribution in the past few days with hunting over 20+ rogres, a few dozen Goblins and the assistance with killing the Goblin king, he gained a lot of experience from these fights that it actually brought him this far in his levels.
“…Hmm, I did expect that you would reach B-rank, seeing as how you were able to defeat a B-ranked orc…but seeing it on paper really is something.” said Zelisha as she got a look at Soril’s records.
“Yeah…I’m really surprised by the end result. Its clear that you actually are one of the top strongest hunters in the academy” said Thors. As he was quite curious about his growth.
“At this rate you might even reach A-rank before the semester even ends.” said Zelisha.
“…That depends really. Because of the fights I’ve been through…the experience is just the pay off. ” said Soril.
“Still, I’m really happy for you. ” said Jessica.
“Hmm…from what a friend once said to me, Although our levels does show how strong a person is, its not a guarantee that we can always win against someone weaker then ourselves.” said Soril.
“What do you mean?” asked Thors.
“Its all about skill, talent and the desperation to survive. Without these things, it doesn’t matter if a hunter is stronger than the other, in the end, dying is what gets us for not being smart about living.” said Soril in a calm manner.
“Hmm…I guess your right.” said Marilyn.
“Good, see you guys tomorrow.” said Soril as he waved goodbye to his friends. For him, his level or rank didn’t matter…he had a more prioritized job to care for rather than just his growth.
As he did, he left his classmates quite taken aback by his words.
“He’s kinda weird right?” asked Zelisha to Jessica.
“Yeah…he is. He should at least be excited about his new rank but he isn’t. ” said Jessica.
“Maybe he just doesn’t know how to.” said Marilyn.
“He doesn’t know how to celebrate? Hmm…he really is weird.” said Zelisha.
“If he doesn’t realize just how big this is, why not surprise him? Lets throw a surprise party for the idiot.” said Jessica.
“Oh, that sounds like a great idea.” said Zelisha.
“Totally, and not just him, lets all celebrate our growth together.” said Jessica as she found this to be the right time.
“Right, I’m really down for that.”
“So lets do it tomorrow!” suggested Jessica.
“Right.”
“Okay.”
As Zelisha and Marilyn agreed to Jessica’s plan for a party, Thors only stared at the three with quite a shooked expression.
‘…a party?’
With that said, as her friends left, Jessica was all on her own at her house. She said her goodbyes to her friends as they too left her house. And with it, she turned to find her maid by her side.
“Now, get ready Catherine, we’re going to plan a party tomorrow! And this time, I really might just have the chance to give Soril his armor which just coincidentally matches with mine.” said Jessica with a smug look.
“Right….very well young miss, shall I call the party planner and have her set a theme for the party?” asked her maid.
“No need, lets do it by ourselves.” she said as she placed her hands on her hips, feeling confident as ever.
As everyone agreed to meet tomorrow again, they all left the Young’s quite fulfilled and ready for tomorrow.
As Soril made his way home, seeing as he still had some left-over stew, he brought some with him to the Dojo for his Master and brother to enjoy.
As soon as he got to the Dojo, he noticed that his brother wasn’t at the usual tree again.
‘Their probably waiting for me inside.’ he thought.
And he was right, as soon as he got inside the house of the Dojo, he found his brother and master sitting formally in front of him with their eyes closed…waiting patiently for his arrival.
“It looks like you came after all.” said Cecil as he opened his eyes to his brother.
“…You asked me to come, so I came.” said Soril.
“Good, now listen carefully Soril…we intend to give you a mission under the category of assassination. No matter what justification you make out of it, murder is still murder. Do you have any conflicts with this idea?” asked his master as he looked very intentful.
“Murder is murder, there’s no justification around it.” said Soril.
“Good…although the burden is heavy to bear, know that we only do this to keep the peace within the world of Atlanta. Each house commits an action that is planned to undergo a peaceful route…that is what the house of Shadows is made for.” said his master as he pulled something from behind.
“…what is this?” asked Soril as he saw his master pull out a box.
“This is what you will be wearing into every mission given to you.” as his master opened the box, it showcased a uniform similar to what Cecil wore just about this morning. It was…
[Shadow Garm Set]
As Soril opened the box, he was introduced to a pair of gray clothing that had the capacity to blend well with the night.
Where in the clandestine world of assassins, where stealth and agility reign supreme, the Shadow Garms stand as a testament to the prowess and secrecy of those who dwell within the shadows. Crafted from elusive materials and imbued with ancient enchantments, these garments are more than just clothing; they are a symbol of the deadly artistry embraced by those who walk the path of the silent blade.
Seeing it in front, Soril couldn’t help but be amazed by the sheer status of this uniform.
It has the capacity to do everything that increases the character of being an assassin.
It grants the wearer silent steps that ables him to sneak in wthout clear detection form enemies, the ability to blend well with the shadows even at the clear days, and has the four-seasoned fabric that goes against all types of nature-deadly seasons like winter and heavy winds and most of all.
“This is the Shadow Garm Set, a uniform given to each child under the authority and care of the House of Shadows.”
“This is an incredible item.” said Soril as he was excited for receiving it.
“I’ve had it fitted to your size, so it shouldn’t be a problem when wearing it.” said Cecil.
“Hmm…I’ll go and try to see if it does fit.”
“Hmm, sure.”
As Soril left to wear his uniform, it left time for Cecil to talk with the master.
“Hmm, he seemed unbothered by the fact that he’s going to kill someone later.” said Cecil.
“Indeed, but its probably related to the Ethereal Will of the Dark…it might be that his emotions are starting to get numbed.” said his master.
“After conquering his fear?…maybe it did.” said Cecil.
“Its not just that…he fully conquered it. No, maybe its more closer to the fact that he’s reaching a point where he’s about to master it.” said his master.
“Hmm…you told me once that mastering the Ethereal Will of the Dark has its downsides? From my experience, I only feel less emotion every time you ask me to kill a man. Yet I do recover in time and It never really went far beyond that. My emotions are still intact and with it, I can freely control my will towards and intentful murders…”
“Yes…and it was because you gained an understanding with the concept of morality, you had time to process fear…you looked at fear differently.” said Master Yagami.
“Hmm…I see. So you’re telling me that Soril is at a point of his training where he can’t differentiate moral killing from that of a psychotic tendency?”
“Maybe…maybe I’m thinking too deep into this. But this issue will only be proven under the guise of this mission.”
“What do you want me to do?” asked Cecil.
“I want you to watch over him…see to it that if he ever does commit the act of murder, I want you to tell me his expression. Whether he acts in the bliss of murder or he feels no sense of emotion towards his kill…or even the fact of hesitation. Tell me what goes about his way of killing his target.” said master Yagami.
“Hmm, I understand.” said Cecil.
“If things does go in the worse of expectations…I guess we have to detain him and put him under a leash.” said Master Yagami as he had this disgusted expression on his face.
“…”
***
At midnight…in the city where the street lights were at its peak, where certain streets wouldn’t sleep.
Leaping from building to building, two shadow-like figures were heading towards a certain 30-storey company building named the [Axorax Pharm Company.] A company that manages to make high-end potions and pharmaceutical medicine from raided dungeons and what-not.
“…Looks like we’re coming in close.” said Soril as he had an earpiece in his right ear, with his only communication being his brother.
“Land on the rooftop, by there, you should be able to enter through its doors.” said Cecil as he followed behind Soril.
“Alright…so to be brief with the mission, first I have to find a certain document on the 27th floor, then once I do find it, I have to find a key-card that lets me have access to the basement level. If I don’t have the key-card, I just have to go through the vents right?” asked Soril.
“Right…the focus of this mission is to find Dr. Yohan Rogers, who right now should be at the basement level if we were to base it off of his schedule. Tell me, what reason do we have for killing Yohan Rogers?” asked Cecil as he fastened his pace to be at the same speed as Soril.
“…Its in the details. He is a scum of a man for allegedly adopting children from some local orphanages and testing his drugs on them. He is specifically looking into the kind of children blessed with mana higher than 20.”
“Right…Kill him and have his document findings be given to a branch of the house personnel waiting for us at the meet up point at hour from now.
“You said that the house has a branch here at the city? What do they handle?” asked Soril.
“Their called the Crow’s Coop. Their the ones who issues a mission for us, the 11th branch. We need this to be a success since this mission is directly from the Main house itself…the documents we intend to steal from the 27th floor contains information that may lead us to the next target.” said Cecil.
“Right…from my guess, I only have less than an hour to complete this?” Soril asked.
“Yes…keep it quick and clean. I won’t be coming with you since Master specifically said that you should do it alone, but I will be here if things do get hairy.”
As they landed on the rooftop, Soril didn’t wasted anytime and made his way to the door. Having to be able to lock-pick it, he was able to easily pass through without any issues.
As he got on the 30th floor, he came to find that most of what this floor had in store were office desk where a few security camera’s were found securing some important areas.
‘Okay…lets do this.’ as Soril sneaks in, he made the Shadow Garms sets do their work and it made him invisible on the spot. Even with the Security Cameras, he could not be spotted. He was like a true invisible man.
‘Nice, its working.’ he thought as he could see through his arm.
He didn’t waste time with being impressed by the uniform and instead, made his way directly to the 27th floor using the stairs.
Moving at a pace that seemed very fast like that of a ghost, with the help of the silent footwears, he never made any sound whatsoever.
As he made it to the 27th floor, The sleek, modern interior of the pharmaceutical company’s headquarters is dimly lit, with the only source of light coming from the moon filtering through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Soril, clad in his gray attire, moves with silent grace through the empty corridors. His steps are deliberate, his senses keenly attuned to any sign of movement or sound.
As Soril reaches the door marked “Research and Development Department.” He glances around cautiously before swiftly picking the lock. With a soft click, the door swings open, revealing rows of cubicles bathed in the soft glow of computer screens.
He slips inside with his movements fluid and calculated. The air is heavy with the scent of chemicals and the faint hum of machinery. As Soril’s eyes scan the area, searching for his target—the document containing valuable information sought by his master.
As he navigates through the maze of cubicles, Soril’s senses prick with alertness. He hears the distant sound of footsteps echoing down the hallway. With no time to waste, he quickens his pace, knowing that a few security guards were roaming the floor.
Finally, Soril spots the office of Dr. Yohan Rogers, the lead researcher. He approaches the door and peers through the small window, confirming that the coast was clear, with a swift motion, he produces a set of lockpicks and begins working on the lock.
Inside the office, Soril’s eyes immediately land on the file sitting innocuously on Dr. Roger’s desk. He crosses the room in silent strides, his movements practiced and precise. Just as his fingers brush against the document, the door creaks open. With it, he decided to put the documents back before he could fully recover it.
And he waited to see who it was that came into the door.
‘…’ relying and trusting the very equipment he wore, he saw that a person had walked into the floor but he didn’t panic. Even when a flash of light was pointed at his foot, the item never malfunctioned.
“Hmm? Is someone here?” asked the masculine voice of the security guard.
…yet no response was made.
“Weird,the door was left open.” said the Security guard.
“they must have forgotten to lock the damn thing. We should probably lock it.” said one of the other guards.
“Wait, isn’t one of the doctors still working on something down at the basement?” asked one of the security guards.
“Yeah, it’s the Doctor Rogers, he usually comes by here from time to time since he’s very forgetful about some stuff.”
“Maybe we should just let it be. He might just come back and pick something from his office again and I don’t want to waste my time locking and unlocking the room.” said one of the security guards.
“Fine, but if we get in trouble, I’m blaming you for this decision.” said one of the security guards.
With that conversation made, they left the office unlocked and Soril finally has the room to move about and recover the document.
With that said, as he recovered the document, he tried to find a spare key-card for him to use ot the basement. Searching through the drawers, he only found pens and other documents…and also, luckily enough, a spare keycard.
‘Good…lets get this over quick.’ he thought as he made his way out.
Having to look around, he found that the guards were no longer in the area.
‘Okay…lets get going.’
With that said, he made his way back to the stairs. Using the gap between the stairs, he slipped in and fell straight down to the bottom floor. Figuring that this was faster than taking the elevators.
*thud*
‘…’
As he landed, with the help of the uniform, he never made any form of noise loud enough to catch the attention of the guards. Although his feet were a bit numbed by the fall, they soon recovered.
And with that, he made his way to find the entrance ot the basement level
But as he did, searching through all of the basement doors as he went deeper and closer to the basement’s level, he noticed that he came to find a trail of blood on the floor on the floor. Some were dry…some were new…and the smell was rotten as ever.
‘…what the.’ looking to where all of this blood was leading to, he noticed that as followed this trail, he found the entrance to the basement level.
Having to open it with the key-card, he was instantly being showered by the smell of strong chemical.
“Hmm…” but that didn’t stop him.
As Soril descends into the darkness of the basement, the air heavy with the scent of dampness and neglect. His footsteps echo softly against the concrete floor as he navigates through the labyrinthine corridors, guided only by the dim glow of emergency exit signs.
His mission to find Dr. Yohan, a key figure in the pharmaceutical company’s clandestine operations, weighs heavily on his mind. The rumors whispered in the shadows spoke of unethical experiments and hidden truths buried deep within the bowels of the facility.
As Soril ventures deeper into the maze of corridors, he comes across a heavy metal door, slightly ajar. A flicker of curiosity ignites within him, urging him to push forward despite the foreboding atmosphere.
With cautious steps, Soril pushes open the door and steps into a dimly lit chamber. His eyes widen in horror at the sight before him—a row of refrigerated units lining the walls, each one emitting a low hum.
Moving closer, Soril’s heart sinks as he realizes the truth of what lies within. Through the frosted glass doors of the refrigerated units, he sees rows of small, lifeless bodies, their pale faces haunting in their stillness.
Soril’s stomach churns with disgust and rage as he realizes the extent of the atrocities committed within the confines of the pharmaceutical company. These were not mere test subjects—they were innocent children, their lives sacrificed in the pursuit of scientific advancement.
Just then, a voice breaks through the silence, sending a chill down Soril’s spine.
“Surprised, aren’t you?” said from a voice that came from the man who he searched for.
Soril whirls around to see Dr. Yohan standing in the shadows, his expression unreadable.
“.…” in the silence of it all, Soril remained keen to see what the Doctor was up to.
As Dr. Yohan steps forward, a sinister smile played on his lips.
“I know that you came for me…Isn’t it obvious? I’ve made groundbreaking discoveries, thanks to the sacrifices of these children. Their deaths were necessary for the greater good of science.” he said as his smirk never left his expression.
“.…” Yet still, Soril remained quiet.
Dr. Yohan shrugs, his eyes glinting with madness.
“Call me what you will…a murderer, an abuser, a bastard… but soon the world will know the true extent of my genius.”
With a sense of revulsion, Soril realizes that he stands face to face with a madman, one whose ambitions know no bounds. But as he gazes upon the rows of innocent lives lost in the name of progress, Soril knows that he cannot let Dr. Yohan’s atrocities go unpunished.
With determination burning in his eyes, Soril prepares to confront Dr. Yohan and put an end to his reign of terror, no matter the cost.
“You know, I expected for some person to come for me soon..but that doesn’t matter. I already made my contribution and soon…everyone will know my genius.”
“…?”
As Dr. Yohan said this with an upfront smile, he pulls out a syringe from his pocket and he struck it straight to his neck, injecting something that instantly made him fall and squirm on the floor.
He squirmed and squirmed until finally he stopped moving.
There, it seemed like he had died…
But it all felt so rushed to Soril.
He doubted his death…
So he came close to the dead body and he pulled out a knife from his arsenal of weapons.
“…Don’t fucking lie to me.” as Soril said this, he cuts through the Doctor’s neck in a slow process, making sure that he experienced pain on the same level as these children did. And as he did, he noticed the doctor’s eyes twitching.
“…Hmm, the report did say that you had a few tricks up your sleeve…but a fake death is as clear as fucking day.” he said as he too pulls out a syringe from his pocket.
This wasn’t the first time the Doctor had been filed for assassination. Many attempts were made on his life, yet each and everyone that came for him simply failed. They couldn’t process that unbeating heart wasn’t yet his end…
And even with his head cut, Soril wasn’t done. He knew the doctor was still alive.
“My brother said that to truly finish a job, one should melt its corpse.” so with that said, he injects the syringe through the Doctor’s eyes and he started pouring it in with no hesitation whatsoever.
And soon enough, his head started to squirm once again.
And this time, he truly was in pain.
“Khk!-Khakk!” the doctor, the head of the doctor tried to struggle to live, but in the end, the syringe started taking effect and soon, his entire head started puffing out smoke and acid that brought out the entire change of his form.
From a head to a sludge of goop, Soril finally finishes the job.
“Haa…Murder is murder, there is no justification for it. But for some people like you, you really only make it easier for people like us.” he said
He said as he started making his way out.
‘Really though, I thought this was going to be harder than I thought…bastard must have been confident with his fake death.’ thought Soril as he quickly made his escape.
For this day…it seemed like not all experiences in battles were that hard. In some random days like this…a fight rarely ever occurs. To some, it was just an assassination and nothing else.
A: Sorry there wasn’t really a fight scene in this one…it just an assassination and nothing else. So yeah…hope you guys enjoy and comment what you like about this chapter.