Volume 3 Chapter 62: Get Back Under Me【Assassination Organization Arc】

“Did you come back just to give such a ridiculous introduction? You must be joking, right?”

Lubucera continued smiling as he looked at Artemis.

Until now… if she had been the Artemis known as Number Two, this alone would have made her boil over with anger in an instant.

The passing years had changed not only Artemis, but also the man called Lubucera.

If you’re not impulsive, you’re hard to handle.

Thinking that, she clicked her tongue inwardly.

“Of course I’m not kidding—after all, I came here to kill you.”

“Are you serious? I was expecting at least one apology from you. Look—see for yourself: because of you, my one eye will never see the light again, you know?”

Saying that, Lubucera proudly displayed his one eye.

A single scar ran across it, and it never healed.

It was a scar he acquired during the battle with Artemis when she left the organization.

He barely escaped with his life, but he did what needed to be done.

However, since he would have been killed had he not fled, Lubucera had won the encounter.

“My condolences, nya. And besides, back then you really beat up Myah pretty badly, didn’t you? We’re even, we’re even.”

“But still, I took more damage, didn’t I? …So, how about making it up to me?”

“Huh?”

Lubucera’s words made her raise an eyebrow in puzzlement.

Of course, she harbored no such contrition, but what exactly was he demanding?

“Get back under me, Number Two.”

That was a proposal to pull her back into the assassination organization.

“Back then, when you actually faced me head-on and managed to escape, I was impressed all over again by your ability. Since then, the organization’s reputation has really suffered. Sure, you did refuse that assignment, but more than that, losing an assassin who could 【100% Complete Missions】 was a major blow.”

Lubucera’s presence was significant.

Just by being there, she gave the organization its prestige.

After all, she never failed and always got the job done.

She was bound to become popular, and that was exactly why the organization’s status was so high.

However, since she left, they could no longer boast of that.

“So, Myah?”

“Yeah. I really don’t like your personality, nor what you did back then… But let bygones be bygones. I’ll even give you more freedom than before. So, come back, Number Two. The public sphere just isn’t for you.”

For Lubucera, this was a significant concession.

Anyone who knew him would find it unbelievable that he’d allow such liberties.

It would be untrue to say that Artemis, who loves freedom, didn’t find it appealing.

If she had still been the one known as Number Two, she might have eagerly taken the bait.

But those days were long gone.

“Don’t fuck with me, idiot.”

“There’s no way I’ll be under you. I didn’t come here to return to your service. This time, I came to kill you.”

Returning? That is simply unthinkable.

If it weren’t necessary, she would never have crossed paths with Lubucera; what was truly needed was his death.

She would never follow the same path as him.

“Besides, I’m not just Number Two anymore—I’m Artemis now. I have a proper, cute name. I’m not just a number—I exist as an individual, thanks to my master.”

Her cheeks flushed slightly as she spoke in a soft, almost uncharacteristic tone for a cold-blooded assassin.

Sensing that, Lubucera burst into laughter.

“Heh, heh-heh. I never expected you’d come back so willingly… You’ve changed quite a bit, Number Two. Or should I call you Artemis instead?”

“I’m not particularly happy about you using my name, so either works, nya.”

“Fighting for someone else? You? Hah, hahahaha! It looks so out of place on you, it’s hilarious!”

He burst into laughter, clutching his stomach.

“You act selfishly, thinking only of yourself and doing as you please. And now you say you’ll fight for someone else? Don’t be ridiculous. That’ll never work. Sooner or later, your way of life will crumble.”

Karma.

One always gets what one deserves.

Just because an assassin suddenly discovers human warmth, does that mean she’ll wash her hands of her old ways?

Such nonsense is unacceptable.

It might work for now, but you’ll inevitably pay the price.

“Huh? What’s wrong with changing your way of life? And besides, your preaching sounds so old-man-ish, nya.”

“You’ve changed—you’ve become weak.”

Lubucera ignored her words.

He wasn’t listening at all.

He was merely spouting off his own thoughts.

Her irritation mounted.

“Even though we haven’t fought yet, you seem to know everything, nya. No, no, that’s impressive.”

“Idiot, don’t talk about fighting ability. What I meant is right here!”

With a frivolous smile, Lubucera struck his own head.

“Showing up alone is nothing but a desperate move. And doing it so openly, head-on. You should have prepared meticulously, but you didn’t even manage that. Did you just come out in your everyday clothes? That’s because you didn’t want to get Balor Apophis involved. Because it’s important… or am I wrong?”

“You sure do have a silver tongue, nya.”

Artemis, clearly not hiding her deep displeasure, did not retort.

Surely, there was some truth to Lubucera’s words.

The old Artemis would have taken her time and prepared more thoroughly.

She would have gathered intelligence, armed herself, and acted only when success was guaranteed.

She didn’t take that approach because she believed that if she delayed, Lubucera would set another trap.

And because that would pose even a slight risk to Balor, she acted immediately.

“Do you think you grow stronger when you have something to protect? It’s the opposite, Artemis. When you have something to protect, you become weak. I’ll show you!”

“You talk too much, nyan.”

◆

The battle between Lubucera and Artemis was now underway for the second time.

Although their personalities clashed and they despised each other, they had only directly fought on the day Artemis left the organization.

The reason was that both understood that any clash between them would come at a high cost.

In fact, Artemis was left nearly dead, and Lubucera suffered the severe consequence of losing an eye.

Strong individuals do not clash so easily.

The price, however, is immeasurable.

Thus, both knew that this would be their final confrontation.

There would be no next time.

In this battle, one of them would die.

Though there was no concrete evidence, they were both convinced of it.

“Hey, you’re not coming in close at all. As an assassin, you’re supposed to get close and take out your target, right?”

Lubucera made a simple provocation.

There was a fair distance between him and Artemis.

It was a distance where, even if both swung their arms, their attacks would likely miss.

“When I get close to you, you stink—it’s just too much.”

“The smell of blood? Well, that’s inevitable, since I’ve been living in the shadows all this time.”

“No, it’s the smell of aging.”

“No way, really…?”

“I don’t need such a lame joke.”

“Jokes…?”

Artemis, clearly puzzled, tried not to show it—she refrained from saying anything, fearing he might just die of shock.

More than that, it was a matter of distance.

Why was there such a gap between them?

At the very least, Artemis had no means of delivering a decisive hit from that distance.

Moreover, if the battle dragged on, Artemis would be at a disadvantage.

It wouldn’t be surprising if Lubucera’s henchmen suddenly jumped in.

Though she needed to settle this quickly, she couldn’t step forward too boldly.

That was because…

“The reason you won’t come near me is… this, right?”

“Tch…!”

A sharp, explosive sound rang out—“Bachi!”

It was a sound that any human would instinctively fear.

It was caused by the electricity emanating around Lubucera’s body.

“With this, just like last time, you lost, Artemis!”

With those words, Lubucera swiftly closed the gap.