Volume 3 Chapter 57: Won’t You Keep Me Company for a Bit?【Assassination Organization Arc】

“What did you intend to do if Myaa hadn’t saved you? You’d have been dead, right?”

Number Two cast an utterly exasperated glance at the man――――Balor.

If she hadn’t helped on a whim, he would have been stabbed by that knife and dead.

Sure, if he had had some means of defense, it might have been different, but there was absolutely no sign of it.

In other words, he was utterly unprepared, facing these men head-on.

A feudal lord ought not to behave like this without any escort.

“If you don’t have the strength to fight, you really shouldn’t be sticking your nose into this kind of business. Honestly, you’re nothing but a nuisance.”

“…Indeed, you might be right (am I really just in the way…? Should I be grateful just for existing…?)”

Balor did not refute Number Two’s words.

If he were an arrogant noble, he would have revealed his anger the moment his actions were denied.

Had that happened, Number Two might have killed him on the spot.

But that didn’t occur—Balor simply took her words in a grave manner.

“However, if I were to abandon this child here, I’d never forgive myself for the rest of my life. So I shouldn’t do that.”

“And if that puts me in danger, wouldn’t it be pointless?”

Frankly, whether Balor lives or dies is of no consequence.

He can do as he likes.

But if he goes off and dies now, the job won’t be done.

Irritated, Number Two looked at Balor.

“I’m not alone, you know. I always have the maids to help me.”

“No, you didn’t get any help this time.”

“But you helped me.”

“…After all, you’re an absolute idiot, you know.”

She said it with a beaming smile—so free of malice that any venom was instantly dissipated.

A fool like him would probably end up dying on his own even if I didn’t kill him.

He was the kind of man who made you wonder that.

“Whoa, another one has arrived. That’s unusual.”

“Since Nee-chan also got in the way, why don’t we apologize together? Come on, say ‘I’m sorry.’ Make sure you come over here and apologize.”

While Number Two was lost in thought about that, the men spoke up.

Without raising their voices, they turned their gaze toward the new nuisance.

They directed their malice not only at the child but also at Number Two, as if both could be exploited.

Balor was, of course, already slated to be killed.

The large men coolly and unhesitatingly launched their malice at him.

It was a situation that would have intimidated anyone else, but for Number Two, it was laughable.

“Why are you all getting so cocky? Strutting around in public like you’re big-time outlaws? It looks just like child’s play—it’s embarrassing.”

They were nothing more than a bunch of self-important fools in high society.

To Number Two, who had survived in the shadows, it was nothing more than child’s play.

“You’re ridiculously full of yourselves. You look stupid.”

“Stick with this little child’s play a bit longer. I’ll make it fun for you.”

“Ah… that’s enough.”

Seeing that Number Two wasn’t even threatened, it was clear that these men no longer deserved to live.

They were nothing more than that.

A man smoothly extended his thick arm.

He looked up at Balor with a cold gaze…

“You guys aren’t really my targets, so I won’t actively kill you. But if you get in Myaa’s way like this…”

“Huh…?”

The man who had been extending his arm suddenly mumbled in a nonchalant tone.

It was because his outstretched arm vanished.

Fresh blood burst forth like a fountain from the severed end.

“I’ll kill every last one of you!”

And as his neck was deeply cut, fresh blood gushed out from it as well—the force and volume far exceeding that of his severed arm.

The large man crashed to the ground with a heavy thud.

Number Two watched it without any emotion, then looked at the remaining men.

She didn’t even glare.

She didn’t even have that intention.

She had made it abundantly clear that if any man got as close as that, she would kill him.

“Damn. This is definitely a situation you shouldn’t get involved with.”

“Goodbye! We’ll never meet again!”

The men decided quickly.

They immediately turned and ran off at an incredible speed.

“You sure have quick legs. And you don’t hesitate to abandon your comrades; it seems you’ll navigate the world just fine.”

Number Two was impressed.

Of course, if she wanted to, she could have chased after them, caught up, and killed them.

But since it wasn’t part of the assignment, there was no reason to go that far—and besides, it would have been too much trouble.

“Thanks, you saved me.”

“It wasn’t for you, you know. It was for Myaa, so you have no reason to be thanked.”

“No, it’s thanks to you—whatever your intention, anyway. So, thank you.”

“…Alright, alright.”

She tilted her head, wondering what she was doing.

What other assassin would save his target if not me?

Sure, if I didn’t kill him, I can’t really say I fulfilled the assignment—but at least it wasn’t a failure.

Still, being lazy, Number Two might have simply ignored it.

And yet, just this time, why…?

“Thank you, Onii-chan, Onee-chan!”

“That’s alright (just make sure that when you grow up, you pay taxes and support me, okay?)”

“…Okay.”

The child responsible for this turn of events left the back alley with a smile.

There was a murder right before their eyes, but of course Balor had firmly covered his eyes, so the shocking scene wasn’t seen.

She would likely grow up without developing any splatter-esque trauma.

“Alright, then, Myaa, I’m coming along too.”

Number Two also began to leave the scene.

She had saved Balor on a whim, but originally, she was here to kill him.

Now that there’s no escort, taking his head would be simple.

However, because of what had just happened, her urge to kill him had completely vanished.

I suppose I’ll come back later.

She began to leave with nimble steps…

“Ah, wait up!”

When Balor called out, she turned around with a puzzled frown, and he smiled as he began to speak.

“As a token of thanks, will you keep me company for a bit?”

“…Huh?”