Alya glanced down at her device.
The screen flashed rapidly.
Her expression changed.
"Saito!"
He blocked another swing from Frox.
Clang!
"What is it?"
Alya looked toward the window.
"I detect more auris."
"They're coming this way."
Saito quickly glanced toward the corner of the broken window.
Dozens of figures were rushing uphill.
Their black uniforms were different from the assassins already inside.
"...Tch."
Frox noticed Saito's expression and smiled.
"It seems..."
"Our reinforcements have arrived."
He spread one arm confidently.
"This..."
"...is Darren Company."
"Welcome to your grave."
Saito clicked his tongue.
Then looked toward Rin.
"Rin!"
"Take care of the outside!"
Rin spun his scythe once.
"Got it."
Without hesitation—
Crash!
He smashed through the broken window and landed outside.
He slowly stood up.
In front of him...
More assassins surrounded the hill.
Rin rested the scythe on his shoulder.
"...Here we go."
One assassin immediately rushed toward him.
"Die!"
Before the blade could reach Rin—
Bang!
A gunshot echoed across the hill.
The assassin's shoulder exploded with blood.
He collapsed before even reaching Rin.
Rin blinked.
Then looked toward the distant rooftop.
A familiar woman lay behind a sniper rifle.
Cici.
She pulled the bolt back with practiced ease.
Click.
Rin smiled.
"So..."
"You're back."
Cici sighed.
"Yeah, yeah."
She aimed through the scope again.
"I'll watch your back."
Rin gave her a small nod.
"...Thanks."
He lowered his stance.
Then charged straight into the crowd.
The assassins hesitated for only a second.
Then dozens rushed toward him at once.
Frox's crimson greatsword crashed downward.
BOOM!
The wooden floor shattered beneath the blade.
Saito moved instantly.
He twisted his body and narrowly avoided the strike.
The heavy sword carved through the ground where he had been standing.
Saito slid backward, his feet dragging across the broken floor.
Frox grinned.
"You're fast."
"But..."
Auris gathered around his leg.
"Not fast enough."
Before Saito could react—
BAM!
Frox's kick slammed into his side.
Saito was sent flying across the room.
He crashed through a wooden wall and rolled across the floor outside the house.
"Saito!"
Fanny shouted.
Frox stepped forward slowly.
Dust fell from his shoulder.
His crimson sword rested against the ground.
"You fought well."
"But..."
He lifted the massive blade.
"You die here."
Frox swung.
The air itself shook from the force.
But—
He stopped.
The blade froze halfway.
A strange sound reached everyone's ears.
Footsteps.
Many footsteps.
The assassins inside the house stopped moving.
Rin, who was surrounded outside, looked up.
Cici lowered her rifle slightly.
Even Frox turned his head.
From the bottom of the hill—
A large group of soldiers marched upward.
Their armor reflected the fading sunlight.
A symbol was painted across their shields.
Royal Roma City.
The soldiers moved in perfect formation.
At the front stood a man wearing a commanding uniform.
Darren.
He raised his hand.
"Soldiers of Royal Roma City!"
His voice echoed across the battlefield.
"The order is simple."
"Arrest the assassins."
A moment of silence.
Then—
"Charge!"
The soldiers rushed forward.
The hill erupted into chaos.
"Royal soldiers?!"
"Fall back!"
"How did they find us?!"
The Darren Company assassins immediately scattered.
Some tried to escape into the forest.
Others raised their weapons and fought back.
But the sudden arrival completely broke their formation.
Rin smiled slightly.
"Heh..."
"Looks like we're not alone anymore."
Cici looked through her scope.
"Don't get distracted."
She fired.
Bang!
Another assassin dropped before reaching Rin.
Inside the house—
Frox clenched his teeth.
"No..."
His grip tightened around his sword.
"This wasn't supposed to happen."
The confidence on his face disappeared.
Saito slowly stood back up.
Dust covered his clothes.
A small cut ran across his cheek.
He looked toward the battlefield.
Then back at Frox.
"Looks like your plan failed."
Frox glared.
"You..."
Saito took a step forward.
"Hey."
Frox froze.
A voice came from below.
"Down here."
His eyes widened.
Saito was already there.
Auris gathered around his sword.
Frox tried to move.
Too late.
Flash.
Saito's blade pierced forward.
Straight through Frox's chest.
Silence.
The massive crimson sword slipped from Frox's hand.
Clang.
It hit the ground.
Frox looked down slowly.
His eyes widened.
"No..."
His voice was barely a whisper.
"No..."
Saito pulled his sword back.
Frox staggered.
His knees weakened.
The giant who had dominated the battlefield...
Finally fell.
BOOM.
Frox collapsed onto the ground.
The battle became silent for a moment.
Then—
Bomb looked toward the approaching Royal Roma soldiers.
A huge grin appeared on his face.
"Reinforcements are coming!"
Fanny raised both fists excitedly.
"Woohoo!"
She jumped slightly.
"Now that's what I call good timing!"
Alya looked down at her device.
The readings slowly decreased.
"The enemy forces are collapsing."
Rin landed back near the group, spinning his scythe once before resting it on his shoulder.
"Guess Darren Company wasn't as scary as they thought."
Cici walked down from the rooftop, carrying her rifle.
She glanced at the defeated Frox.
Then at Saito.
"You're trouble, you know that?"
Saito looked at her.
"Why?"
Cici sighed.
"Because everyone keeps trying to kill you."
Bomb laughed.
"That's true."
Fanny nodded seriously.
"Very true."
Saito looked at the battlefield.
The assassins were surrounded.
The Royal Roma soldiers had taken control.
For the first time that night—
The fighting finally began to disappear.
The sound of hooves echoed across the battlefield.
The Royal Roma soldiers slowly cleared a path as a horse moved forward.
At the front of the formation—
Darren rode toward them.
His expression was tired.
Not angry.
Just exhausted.
The horse stopped in front of the Blue Scarf crew.
Darren looked down at them.
Then sighed.
"…You give me a headache as always, Blue Scarf."
Bomb immediately grinned.
"Heh."
"Missed you too, Darren."
Darren ignored him.
His eyes shifted toward Saito.
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then—
Saito smiled slightly.
"…Thanks, by the way."
Darren stared at him.
Then slowly nodded.
"Don't mention it."
A brief silence followed.
The battlefield around them was finally calming.
Soldiers were securing the remaining assassins.
The broken house stood behind them, smoke drifting from the damaged walls.
Saito looked around.
Then his expression softened.
He turned toward his crew.
Rin.
Bomb.
Alya.
Fanny.
Everyone who had stayed beside him.
Saito lowered his head slightly.
"…Sorry, guys."
The others looked at him.
Saito continued.
"I still couldn't find Kaito's whereabouts."
His hand tightened slightly.
"I don't know where he is right now."
A quiet wind passed through the hill.
"But..."
He looked away for a moment.
"If he chose to be on that side..."
A small smile appeared.
"Who am I to complain?"
Bomb's grin faded slightly.
Fanny watched him quietly.
Rin remained silent.
Saito looked back at them.
"Still..."
His expression became warmer.
"I have you guys."
For a moment—
No one spoke.
Then—
Bomb smiled.
A wide, confident grin.
"Heh."
"Of course you do."
He crossed his arms.
"Did you really think we'd leave?"
Fanny winked at Saito.
"You're stuck with us now."
Alya adjusted her device.
"Unfortunately, that's true."
A small smile appeared on her face.
Rin rested his scythe against his shoulder.
"Guess we're already too involved."
Saito laughed quietly.
"Yeah..."
"You're right."
From the side—
Darren watched them.
He clicked his tongue.
"Tch."
He turned his horse slightly away.
"Always making things complicated."
Bomb looked at him.
"You secretly like us."
Darren immediately looked back.
"No."
A pause.
"Absolutely not."
Bomb laughed.
"Sure."
Darren ignored him.
He raised a hand toward his soldiers.
"Secure the area."
"Take the prisoners back to Royal Roma City."
The soldiers saluted.
"Yes, sir!"
Darren looked back at Saito one last time.
His expression remained serious.
"Try not to cause another incident."
Saito smiled.
"No promises."
Darren's eye twitched.
"That's exactly what I was afraid of."
He turned his horse around.
The Royal Roma soldiers began moving down the hill.
As Darren left, Bomb watched him go.
"He really cares."
Fanny nodded.
"Yeah."
Saito looked toward the path where Darren disappeared.
Then toward the night sky above them.
Kaito was still somewhere out there.
But for now—
He wasn't alone.