Morning came with noise.
"WAKE UP!"
A pillow hit his face.
He didn't move.
"IF YOU DON'T WAKE UP, I'M EATING YOUR FOOD!"
His eyes opened instantly.
"…You've crossed the line."
From the door, his sibling grinned. "Desperate times."
He sat up slowly, staring.
"…You value food more than your life."
"I've accepted my priorities."
At the table, chaos was already waiting.
"Hurry up!" his mother said. "You're moving like someone without a future!"
"I have a future," he replied calmly. "It's just not in a hurry."
His father nodded seriously. "That's deep."
"…It wasn't meant to be."
His sibling leaned over. "So, future man, what level are you now?"
He took a bite of food.
"Higher than yours."
"…I regret asking."
Later…
"Since you're so free," his mother said, handing him a small list, "go get these."
He glanced at it.
"…This is a full mission."
"It's called being useful."
"I trained all night."
"And now you'll train your legs."
His sibling waved. "Good luck. If you don't return, I'll take your room."
"…You won't survive in it."
"I'll take my chances."
The City
The streets were busy.
People moving, talking, living.
Normal.
He walked calmly, list in hand.
Then—
Everything stopped.
Not gradually.
Instantly.
Like someone pressed pause.
Ahead, a group of guards stood in formation.
Armored.
Cold.
In the center—
A young man.
Well-dressed. Calm. Arrogant.
The air around him felt… controlled.
A guard stepped forward.
"Kneel."
No one moved.
Then—
One by one—
People started bowing.
Heads lowered.
Eyes down.
Silence.
"…Seriously?" someone muttered under their breath.
A guard turned sharply.
"Do you wish to be punished?"
The man immediately bowed.
Faster.
Lower.
Fear spread.
He stood there.
Watching.
Unmoving.
A guard noticed.
"You."
Their voice hardened.
"Bow."
He looked at them.
"…Why?"
The word landed quietly.
But it echoed.
The guards froze for a second.
The young man's eyes shifted.
Finally noticing him.
A faint smile appeared.
Amusement.
"Interesting," the mayor's son said.
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
"You don't recognize me?"
He didn't respond.
Didn't move.
Didn't bow.
"…Should I?"
A few people nearby almost choked.
One whispered:
"He's dead…"
The smile faded slightly.
Not anger.
Worse.
Displeasure.
"Make him understand," the mayor's son said.
The guards moved.
Fast.
Disciplined.
One reached him first—
A strike aimed cleanly.
Efficient.
Trained.
He stepped aside.
He stepped aside.
Effortless.
The guard missed.
Before they could react—
He moved.
A single motion—
Clean.
Precise.
The guard was on the ground.
Silence.
Another attacked.
Then another.
Three.
Four.
Each one faster than the last.
Each one falling just as quickly.
No wasted movement.
No struggle.
Just control.
People stared.
Someone whispered:
"…What is he?"
The last guard hesitated.
That was enough.
He stepped forward—
And the fight ended.
Just like that.
Silence returned.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
He adjusted his sleeve slightly.
"…Are we done?"
The mayor's son stared.
The amusement was gone.
Replaced with something colder.
Calculating.
For the first time—
He looked properly.
Not at a commoner.
But at a problem.
"You've made a mistake."
He picked up his bag.
"…You started it."
A pause.
Then he walked past them.
Like nothing happened.
Like they didn't matter.
Later…
The atmosphere had changed.
Dark.
Quiet.
The mayor's son stood alone.
No guards.
Just silence.
"Find out who he is."
A voice from the shadows:
"It's already being done."
A pause.
Then—
"And after that?"
The mayor's son's eyes darkened.
"Erase him."
Somewhere else…
A dimly lit room.
Still.
Cold.
A figure sat in silence.
Presence alone made the air heavy.
A voice echoed:
"Target identified."
A pause.
Then—
"Level?"
Another voice replied:
"Estimated above Level 10… possibly higher."
Silence.
Then—
A faint chuckle.
Low.
Dangerous.
A figure sat in silence.
Presence alone made the air heavy.
A voice echoed:
"Target identified."
A pause.
Then—
"Level?"
Another voice replied:
"Estimated above Level 10… possibly higher."
Silence.
Then—
A faint chuckle.
Low.
Dangerous.
"Then send someone appropriate."
A name was spoken.
Quietly.
Carefully.
Like it carried weight.
"Send… a Level 20 Assassin."
Silence followed.
Because everyone understood what that meant.
This wasn't a warning.
It was an execution.
The figure stood.
Slowly.
Calmly.
"Targets like this…"
A step forward.
The shadows seemed to move with him.
"…are the most interesting to kill."