The hall was drenched in blood, screams echoing off the walls. Broken furniture, shattered glass, and terrified shouts filled the air. Ren's knives spun around him, lethal and precise. He wiped a streak of blood across his mask and smirked.
"Ah… you guys are really making my day!" he said, voice dripping with mock cheer.
A guard screamed, mouth wide as he raised his gun. Ren tilted his head, smirk widening, and pulled a fallen pistol from the ground.
BANG!
Blood erupted like a geyser from the guard's mouth, painting the walls. The body collapsed.
"Oops… hope you had dental insurance!" Ren chuckled, spinning a knife between his fingers.
Another guard lunged at him. Ren shrugged and threw five knives into the man's backside, laughing as the man screamed in agony.
AAAAHH!
SPLAT!
"You know… too much of a good thing can be fatal," Ren joked, stepping over the writhing body.
He grabbed a nearby guard as cover, swinging him like a weapon into two others.
THUD!
CRASH!
Ren snatched another gun from the floor and fired through the bodies.
BANG!
BANG!
The bullets tore through the two guards' chests, blood spraying in high arcs.
"Hah! Need a hand? Borrow one of your friends!" Ren laughed, tossing the limp body aside.
Another guard thought he could sneak up from behind. Ren closed his eyes, spun, and threw knives blindly—every one hitting perfectly, piercing chest and thigh.
SHING!
THUNK!
AAAAHH!
"Blind trust is deadly!" Ren shouted, spinning toward the remaining guards.
Only a few were left. Their faces white, fear flooding their eyes. The vice-captain stood frozen, trembling, sweat and blood running down his uniform.
Ren sauntered closer, knives spinning lazily.
He raised a knife, aimed carefully, and threw it between the vice-captain's legs, grazing just below.
SHING!
The remaining guards panicked and ran, screaming as they scrambled.
The vice-captain, face pale, barked orders uselessly, then turned and ran, followed by the remaining guards.
"Don't… leave me alone!" he screamed, pants visibly wet, terror breaking every ounce of authority.
SCREECH!
CLATTER!
Ren laughed, spinning in the chaos. "Ah… now that's more like it! Who's next?"
He climbed onto the auction stage, sitting on the broken desk, fully covered in blood. Knives scattered at his feet. His mask streaked crimson, looking like a god of carnage.
"Finally… some time to take a breath," he muttered, amusement dripping from his tone. "Though… I think I just made some new fans."
Julius came running to Ren.
"I secured all the goods! Now we can leave—" His expression shifted mid-sentence as he saw Ren, covered head to toe in blood.
For a moment, admiration and fear crossed his mind simultaneously. Brother… is really something else.
Ren let out a slow breath. "Let's go. I've had enough fun already." His hands raked through his hair.
His eyes flicked over Julius, the blue-haired girl, and the small girl.
Hmmm… Ren thought. He didn't bring anything else?
With a flat expression, he said, "Hey… is this all you got?"—pointing at the two girls.
Julius' face lit with pride. "Of course! I got our goods." He gave a thumbs-up.
Ren slowly smacked his face. "Seriously!? I meant… aren't there money and stuff back there too?"
Julius waved it off, uninterested. "Of course there's a ton of other stuff backstage. Money… valuables…"
Ren burst out, "Then… WHY DIDN'T YOU GET THEM TOO!?"
Julius shook his head firmly. "No, no, brother. That's against my morals. I never take anything without a reasonable and equivalent price—even if it's just lying on the street."
Ren stared blankly. Morals…? What kind of horse-ass morals are those?
"Whatever. Let's go," he muttered, heading for the door.
Julius followed, the two girls trailing behind.
---
All four of them walked down the quiet road. The stalls and shops were still closed—it was sleeping time for the city.
At a path dissection, Julius offered a faint smile. "I'll take my leave here, brother."
Ren's piercing eyes fixed on him. "I still haven't forgiven you."
Julius gave a hesitant chuckle. "What are you even staying… haha… Aren't we brothers?"
Ren flatly replied, "Of course we're not."
Julius shook his head. How can you be this cold toward your own brother…? "Anyway, I'll take my leave," he said, scooping up the little girl.
Ren thought, Just go already. Annoyance simmered behind his mask.
Julius turned with a scumbag smile. "Be sure to enjoy the night, brother!"
This bastard! Ren's anger flared.
He took his own path with the blue-haired beauty.
As they walked, Ren realized something. I can't go back like this… Lucia would probably faint seeing all this blood… He was drenched from head to toe, no spot spared.
He scanned the area. An inn was open. He pointed at it. "We're staying here tonight."
The girl silently nodded, her face betraying no emotion.
Ren thought, What's her deal…?
---
Ren and the girl checked into the inn, renting the best room available for the night. The blue haired girl quietly followed him inside, her steps soft and almost nonexistent as if she wasn't even there.
CREAK
The door closed behind them.
Ren let his guard down, his shoulders dropping as he stretched his arms with a tired groan.
"Ahh… I'm getting sleepy…" he muttered, his voice heavy with exhaustion.
His gaze drifted toward the girl, who stood near the door with her head lowered, eyes fixed on the ground, completely still.
Not a single reaction. Not even a flicker of emotion crossed her face. Ren narrowed his eyes slightly, studying her for a moment longer than necessary.
Really… what's her deal? Not even fazed by all that blood… He clicked his tongue lightly. I'll think about that later.
With a casual motion, he began removing his mask and clothes, tossing them aside without care.
"I'm going to take a shower. You can go to bed," he said, not bothering to look back at her.
"As you wish, master," she replied in that same flat, lifeless tone. Her voice carried no hesitation, no emotion—just obedience.
Ren paused for half a second at the door, glancing back at her. …She's like a living doll. The thought lingered for a moment before he shook it off and stepped into the bath.
SPLASH
Warm water hit his body, washing away the dried blood and grime layer by layer.
The sticky, suffocating feeling disappeared as the warmth spread through his muscles, loosening every bit of tension.
Ren exhaled slowly, closing his eyes as a faint smile formed on his lips. "…This is heaven…" he murmured, letting the water run over him as if cleansing not just his body, but the madness of the night.
Minutes passed before he finally stepped out, his body feeling light, refreshed, almost reborn.
"That was refreshing…" he said under his breath, like someone who had just escaped hell itself.
He changed into the clothes provided by the inn and walked back into the room, not paying much attention to his surroundings.
The atmosphere was quiet—too quiet—but his tired mind didn't register it as anything unusual.
Without a second thought, he walked toward the bed and dropped onto it.
FWUMP
"This is comfy…" he muttered, his body sinking into the mattress as his eyes closed almost instantly.
Sleep crept in fast, pulling him into its embrace as his thoughts began to fade.
Just a few more seconds… and he would be gone.
"…Hmm?"
His brows twitched slightly as something felt off. His hand moved unconsciously, brushing against something that definitely wasn't part of the bed.
Soft. Warm. Far too soft.
Ren's breathing slowed for a brief moment as his fingers pressed slightly, testing the sensation. His mind, half-asleep just seconds ago, began to wake up rapidly.
What is this…?
His hand moved again—this time more deliberately—pressing, pausing, feeling the shape beneath his palm. The texture, the warmth, the unmistakable form…
His thoughts sharpened instantly.
Wait… this…
His fingers traced it again, slower now, as if confirming what his mind was desperately trying to deny. The realization crept in, piece by piece, until it hit him all at once.
Ren's eyes snapped open. His entire body stiffened as his brain finally caught up.
There is no doubt…
It was boobs… Boobs of that blue-haired girl who was laying beside Ren… completely naked in the bed.
She said, "Do you like it, master?"
Ren thought, What… WHAT!! Happening…!?