Shija carried me the short distance to the Rosehold family facility.
Her long black claws occasionally cut deep into my torso — which only made it more… thrilling, maybe? I had dreamed of something similar when I first saw her at the school, when she killed those guards.
Right. And Kayle's brother.
It may sound strange… but I intentionally pressed my head against her back.
Before I could fully analyze the sensation, she dropped me gently onto the ground.
We had reached the gates. Hooray.
Through the metal fence, I spotted a couple of guards — heavily armed with grenades, lava shotguns, and a couple of sleek gadgets that would most likely tear my pathetic body apart.
"Hey, Shija." I called out and she finally looked away from the building and stared at me.
"So what's the plan? Or let me rephrase — do we even have one?"
She smiled. Which is not a good sign, usually.
"We do."
I smiled back. "Oh! Something like going undercover and taking the data quietly?"
She didn't answer, just raised her left claw slightly — so I kept going naturally.
"Or make one of us a bait?
Have four eyes coun—"
She waved her claw and destroyed the fence completely.
Then stepped forward calmly, ignoring the sirens and the soldiers swarming the place, and said,
"This is the plan."
I was shocked. And astonished.
She is so cool.
Even the soldiers — who were shooting in panic and terror — exploded one by one.
It seemed so strange, her ability. How can she just make people go BOOM? It's insane. I want to do something like that too.
Well. We might find out today.
"Sammael — walk!" she snapped.
"Yes, ma'am!" Then I ran, following her.
We wandered through the vast facility, searching for the real entrance — the place where they kept the data.
No luck.
As I was thinking through this problem, Shija was about to tear apart the last remaining soldier — but I called out.
"Shija, I think I have an idea."
She loosened her grip on the soldier.
"What idea?"
"Just put him on the ground."
She nodded and set him down silently, though I could feel frustration in the air. She must have really wanted to tear the poor man apart.
The soldier was a bit old and… weathered.
His tears kept flowing, yet his frown made me reconsider my entire existence.
I coughed and spoke gently.
"Dear sir — would you like to hear a jok—"
The man spat on my face and yelled with a crooked voice.
"I know your damn trick, boy! You're that psycho who murdered those brave soldiers!"
Shija chuckled.
I really am getting famous, aren't I?
I wiped the spit from my face — but spotted something interesting on the man's neck. A round locket. The kind soldiers kept photos of their loved ones in.
I smiled and reached for it, though he tried to push me away with what little strength he had left.
"Get your filthy hands off my wife!"
His wife?
I opened it. An old photograph — a woman so beautiful… though of course no match for Shija or Alice, but still.
"You love her, don't you?" I asked.
"Of course I do!"
I tilted my head. "Then why are you wasting what little life you have on wars and battles instead of being with her?"
"To protect her from filthy monsters like you two!" He said it with anger — and something else. Conviction.
He reminded me of Joe for some reason. The way his grip wouldn't let go of the locket.
"But what good does it accomplish if you're not by her side protecting her from us 'filthy monsters'?"
His eyes drifted downward. The star mark began to form on his forehead slowly.
"I can let you go — if you tell me where the database is. Or make it impossible for you to ever see her again."
"That's the joke?" he asked.
"Bingo!"
The star completed and the man burst into laughter.
"Yes! How funny it all is!"
Shija's eyes widened.
He gave us specific directions.
"When will I get to see my wife again?"
I pulled him to his feet and pushed him forward.
"Whenever you decide to, old man!"
As Shija and I watched the man running with joy, she commented,
"Well… that was kind of you.
Who would have gues—"
Suddenly, as the man crossed through the ruined fence, he exploded.
"W-what?" She looked at me with confusion.
I walked straight ahead in our direction, hiding my smile. The real victory was seeing her shocked face — I think the old man would understand.
"I sort of forgot to warn him about the explosions the soldiers left behind…"
"Silly me!"
After a while we finally found a small building. Well — it wasn't really small, but compared to the Rosehold one, it was tiny.
A clever trick. Small things are most often considered insignificant.
But what was enormous — was the man covered in gold, holding a hammer taller than both me and Shija combined, standing with complete confidence directly in front of the entrance as he drank from a barrel of wine.
I looked at Shija. "That's some alley… right?"
She didn't answer.
Instead, the coin Four eyes had given me began shaking furiously in my pocket.
"What the hell is Almond doing in this place?" Four eyes' voice was unusually tense.
"Is he bad news?"
The coin went quiet for a moment.
"Well — for you, yes.
But Shija can kill him."
"Then why were you freaking out just now?!"
"Don't you know what happens when a royal guard is found dead?
The price of cigarettes shoots through the roof!"
I didn't quite follow the relevance between those two things.
"You don't understand how serious this is? The government will make honest civilians suffer — raising the prices of pleasure houses, cigarettes, even drinks — just to pressure the culprit into surrendering!"
I noticed his British accent thickened when he was serious, which made no sense whatsoever. 'Honest civilians?' Aren't we terrorists? And aren't we rich too?
"Rich?! Us?! Do you know how expensive it is to feed and supply those farmers — and we haven't even discussed those damn witches!"
Witches?
Shija exhaled with frustration, so I naturally chose to stay quiet.
But then a calm, loud, deeply masculine voice spoke.
"You two — I don't mean to be rude.
But don't you understand the situation you're in, filthy demons?"
I looked at Shija, waiting for her to blow his head off like she had with the others. Seconds passed. The giant man remained perfectly healthy.
I leaned close and whispered,
"Why is his head still attached?"
Before Shija could answer, the man stepped forward and said with an arrogant tone,
"You think I — Almond, descended from the Sun God — can be killed by such tricks, famous clown?"
He had excellent hearing. And who exactly is this sun god?
He pointed at Shija.
"And you… the infamous demon of red?"
He smirked and licked his lips.
"You don't look like a demon to me. More like a lady of breathtaking beauty… and indecent clothing."
Shija and I shuddered in unison.
Before Almond could say another word, Shija shot toward him at the speed of light and struck his golden great hammer.
The giant staggered back a step from the doorway.
But before I could cheer, I noticed his hammer didn't have a single scratch.
Almond smiled.
"Hot-blooded too… you're completely my type."
He reached for his hammer — but before he could swing, Shija drifted back.
That's when I saw it. Her tall black claws were scratched.
This man was no joke.
How is that even possible?
I looked at Shija — her expression hadn't wavered in the slightest. If anything, she seemed fired up. Excited.
Which made me jealous, if I'm being honest. That giant pig drew such expressions from her — and I couldn't?
I'll kill him.
Almond nearly laughed, his laughter too loud and too arrogant. He held his huge hammer in his left arm, right arm raised.
When I looked closer — his hand was scratched, and the wound seemed to darken with every passing minute.
"You truly live up to your reputation, my lady.
May I know your name?"
His voice was sincere — and almost happy. I think that's the right word.
Shija smiled and stepped closer.
"Shut up," she muttered, then launched herself at him again, kicking his waist.
Her attacks were strange. She usually goes straight for the eyes, head, and heart — but here?
She was just trying to move him out of the way.
As she kept striking, she looked at me — and that's when I understood. It was my turn. Not to fight, of course. Clowns don't belong in wars.
But to run for the entrance.
So I did exactly that.
But the giant caught Shija's leg with his left hand and swung his hammer straight at me with his right.
"You'd really abandon your comrade, coward clown?!"
The hammer came crashing toward my head. I slipped — barely dodging it.
Standing at the threshold, I smiled and waved.
"I sure would."
Shija chuckled and drove her claws toward his head — he dodged using the hammer.
"Get inside!" she yelled.
I opened the door and entered the database.
And let me tell you — it was the complete opposite of what I imagined. Instead of young armed soldiers laughing and mocking me, there were only a bunch of old men — the same age as that soldier I accidentally blew up.
They stood unevenly, holding their old guns incorrectly with trembling hands.
Some had already given up and dropped their weapons entirely.
"The Corinthians are here… we're going to die."
"It's the vile clown."
It was strange. Unexplainable.
Shouldn't I be the one trembling? After all, I was surrounded on every side.
Then why was my heart pounding with joy?
A smile stretched across my face as I looked at the old men on the ground.
I stepped closer and knelt.
To my surprise, one of them looked awfully familiar.
"What's your name, old man?"
The old man's jaw trembled, his legs tapping the floor repeatedly.
"There's no need to be afraid of me.
I'm nothing but a peaceful clown, my friend."
I held his hand gently.
"Now — will you tell me your name?"
His eyes lit up bright blue. The star began to form as his fear faded and twisted into a crooked smile.
"I'm John Alfred, sir clown!"
J-John Alfred?
That name was too familiar. I remembered a middle-aged man by that name — a friend of my father's. One day, when I turned ten, he disappeared.
They said he had committed suicide out of guilt and self-hatred for his bloodline. The curse of being a gypsy.
I touched his face and looked closely.
"It's really you, Uncle John."
Uncle John didn't respond, so I asked in a faint tone — almost inaudible.
"Do you remember me?"
The star on his forehead flickered, then he answered.
"I'm sorry, sir clown… but I haven't met you in myself until now."
"Clown, huh?" I chuckled and stood up, looking around at the terrified soldiers.
"Would you gentlemen be interested in a joke?"
They nodded with hesitation — some out of fear of what I might do if they refused, which was frankly ridiculous in my opinion.
I spread my hands wide and announced,
"How about we blow this entire facility to the ground?!"
The star began spreading to each of them — except one. A man so old he looked like a corpse.
"I won't be part of your monstrosity, damn Corinthian!"
My eyes widened with admiration. Until now, only a handful of soldiers had resisted the curse.
I walked slowly toward him, hoping to change his mind.
"Don't come any closer!" he yelled, his hands trembling, yet his grip on the gun tightening.
I stopped.
"Feisty man," I muttered, tilting my head.
"Tell me — why are you against having fun, old timer?"
"I'd rather die than become whatever the hell they are!" he barked, pointing the gun straight at my head.
A brief silence.
Then the man coughed blood.
He touched his bleeding chest tightly as his body froze.
A knife had pierced through from behind.
"Huh…?"
He looked down slowly, as if trying to understand what had just happened.
His knees gave out.
And he collapsed.
"…Uncle John?"
"I killed the buzzkill, sir!
I couldn't stand him disrespecting you like this!"
His voice was calm and gentle — with just a touch of madness.
I hugged him and whispered,
"You haven't changed a bit, uncle."
Suddenly the world shook. Tables fell, countless files scattered across the floor — and it reminded me what I was actually here for, and how I'd even managed to get inside in the first place.
Shija. Fighting that giant. Alone.
Though most likely she was winning.
I gritted my teeth, let go of Uncle John, and clapped loudly to gather the brainwashed soldiers.
"Now, now — I want two things from you, my companions and fellow entertainers!"
The soldiers' eyes glowed bright blue as they cheered.
"What is it, sir clown?!"
"Anything for you!"
I smirked.
"Besides blowing up this building — I need a specific piece of data."
"What data specifically, sir clown?"
"Oh right, the data is—"
Wait. I didn't actually know what data we needed.
I took the coin from my pocket and shook it.
"Hey, four eyes!"
After a few seconds it spoke — and I hate his voice.
"Don't shake the damn coin, kid!
Has no one taught you how to be gentle?
No wonder you're still a virg—"
"Shut up and tell me what data you need."
He exhaled.
"The data on the alliance between the Rosehold family and the Sun God's family."
The Sun God's family. That name was awfully familiar. Is it…? No. It can't be.
Just as I was about to shove the coin back into my pocket, it spoke again with urgency.
"Hey — wait."
That wasn't Four eyes' voice. Too feminine. Too beautiful. No insufferable British accent.
"Alice?"
"Yes, it's me.
Can I ask something of you?"
I blushed instantly, my voice far too eager.
"Anything for you!"
"Can you grab whatever data is available on the Lust God — if it's there?"
"Don't worry! If it's not here I'll break into other databases!"
Four eyes interrupted.
"Such a virgin."
Alice laughed — which was a melody on every level — but the soldiers staring at me made me feel like a complete creep.
I shoved the coin back into my pocket.
"Stop staring at me like that and get to work!"
"Yes, sir!"
I exhaled.
But Uncle John was still standing beside me.
"You're the data manager?"
He nodded.
How convenient.
"Shall we begin, sir clown?" He walked forward, leading the way.
What made the whole thing uncomfortable was him calling me "sir clown." He used to chase after me when I was a toddler. It just felt wrong.
"Hey, John."
"Yes, sir clown?"
"God… could you please not call me that?"
He stopped at a red door, searching through a vast ring of keys for the right one.
"What would you like me to call you?"
For some reason I couldn't tell him my real name. Not for any secret identity nonsense — the building was about to explode and bury everything in rubble anyway.
"Call me… Alex," I said.
My father's name slipped out.
His hand stopped moving entirely. Holding a key — presumably the right one for that red door — yet he didn't open it.
He stood frozen for a couple of seconds. Then he looked at me.
His left side was full of remorse — left eye overflowing with tears — while his right side wore a wide smile.
He pressed the key into the door and said,
"As you wish… Alex."
My hands were shaking.
Not from fear or pain. I could distinguish those feelings now, having experienced both. But I couldn't name this one.
If I had to guess — given my legs stepping back involuntarily, my eyes refusing to meet Uncle John's directly — I'd call it
DISGUST.
"Alex," John called, interrupting whatever this was.
He handed me a bundle of papers and documents.
"These are all the available data on both the Rosehold family alliance and the Sun God's family."
I took the documents without looking at him.
"Thank you, Uncle John."
"Not to worry, sir."
I smiled crookedly and opened my mouth, intending to ask him one last question — but a scream cut through everything.
A scream of pure pain and agony.
I rushed to the nearest window and looked through it.
"It… can't be," I muttered, pressing my hand to my chest.
Can you blame me? Because what I saw was a disaster.
Almond — the giant — looked larger now, glowing like a second sun, smirking with complete satisfaction. And the reason for that satisfaction was what he held in his hand.
Shija's arm.
Torn off.
Her tall black claws melted and broken at her side. She was covered in wounds, barely able to take a few steps. Almond stood between her and any escape.
I grabbed the coin and yelled.
"Four eyes — what the hell is happening?!
You said she'd be fine against him — look at this!"
The coin answered instantly. But Four eyes' tone was calm. Composed.
"Well — it's to be expected, kid."
Cold. As if none of this was part of anything that mattered.
"She's going to die, you sadistic maniac!" My voice was loud and jagged.
His tone — the complete opposite. As if all of this was simply part of his grand plan.
"You don't remember what I told you before Shija forced you to come here?
We cannot die. That giant can try as many times as he likes."
"…"
"But don't worry — she will kill him. No matter what. After every death she comes back stronger. More… monstrous. From where I'm standing, you should be afraid of her — not that royal guar—"
"She's in pain!" I interrupted.
I couldn't take it. His careless, emotionless tone, while Shija's screams carried through the glass — whatever lives behind my chest broke open.
He exhaled. Almost irritated.
"Look, kid — I'm stating facts.
The mission is a success. We have the data. Almond will be dead within a few hours. Shija wouldn't mind a little pain for the greater good."
The greater good.
It made me laugh.
"But if you can't handle watching for a little while… you can always look away."
Look away.
"Or just run. It's your choice.
See you soon."
The coin went silent. Leaving me with his last word.
Run.
A wonderful idea, isn't it?
I did my part. I shouldn't care what happens to her.
Outside, Almond grabbed Shija by the neck with his burning arms, searing her skin.
I don't care.
Right?
I tried to look away. My body wouldn't move. My legs had frozen. My eyes were fixed to that window.
Then my reflection became very clear — so clear that I could no longer see what was happening outside.
How is my reflection frowning? Jesters can't do that.
I touched my face with sweaty, trembling hands, checking whether I was actually frowning.
As I suspected — I wasn't frowning.
I was smiling too widely, lips shedding blood.
Then—
"How long are you going to keep running from me?"
My reflection spoke.
My voice — yet completely different. Too emotional. Too angry.
"You can't help it, can you?
Why did you even bother becoming an apostle?"
Before I could answer, it interrupted itself.
"To avenge your parents who abandoned you?
Don't make me laugh."
"You just wanted to be seen.
To be something other than a pathetic abomination that's neither loved nor feared."
Setting aside the fact that I was going mad — that my own reflection was tearing me apart —
It was right.
"And what did you do when you had the chance to shine?
To be the center of your own stage?
The same thing you always did before.
Running."
I gritted my teeth and punched the window.
"Who said I'm running?" I muttered — and climbed through the broken frame, ready to fall directly toward that giant fireball of a man.
But before I jumped, I felt the need to look at Uncle John one last time.
He was standing quietly in the corner of the office. Smiling.
"John."
"Yes, Alex?"
"Do you remember a toddler named Sammael?"
The mark on his forehead erupted. His eyes nearly burst.
"I… I haven't heard that name before, Alex."
I stared at him for a moment.
Then said,
"Say hi to my family for me."
Before he could answer, I jumped.
Not out of bravery.
But to see Shija praise me — a lot.