"Well, I just wanted to guard a specific place and ideally avoid the battlefield."
"From what I see, you're cut out for this. On the battlefield, besides physical and mental strength, the most important thing is to stay calm, no matter how dangerous the situation."
"I'm definitely not cut out for it. I'm a coward."
"Cowards don't rush into danger recklessly and get themselves killed."
I was starting to feel slightly uncomfortable with my conversation with Instructor Cattleya.
What exactly is she trying to say?
"But, Instructor. The cabin where the assassin lived has been burned, and there are several bodies around. Considering the situation, it's possible that the assassin faced retribution from her colleagues or employer for failing her mission."
"...And?"
"Earlier, Kurtana, which I had, flew in this direction. I think it's because its owner was in danger."
"I see. So there was a deadly struggle between the assassins here until just a moment ago."
"Exactly. You have a good intuition."
"'?'"
Suddenly, from nowhere, a third person's voice could be heard.
Looking in the direction of the voice, someone using the same invisibility ability was approaching us from the depth of the forest. Kurtana's ability is to erase its user's appearance and mute their footsteps. Even with that ability in use, we could hear footsteps and a voice, meaning the individual was deliberately making noise. This implies that their ability to handle the saintly sword of the divine blade has increased.
Instructor Cattleya positioned herself protectively in front of me, hand on the hilt of her explosive blade.
"Wait a second. We no longer intend to harm you."
"Oh?"
"Just as you said earlier. The assassins were fighting amongst themselves. That's exactly what happened." "I'm being targeted by my own kind as punishment for failing the assassination," the assassin said.
"Haha! It's a given outcome for an assassin who fails. Quite a fitting end for someone who earns money by killing," retorted Cattleya.
"Yeah, I think so too," she replied.
At that moment, the assassin suddenly became visible.
As expected, she was a young woman.
Previously, she had hidden her face with a mask, but now she revealed her face.
She had black hair that looked purplish, cut short, but it was messy due to its natural waviness.
She was petite, and there was still an innocence in her expression.
Clearly, she looked younger than both me and Iris, who were currently eighteen years old.
"You know, I began accepting assassination jobs to survive. My only options were to become an assassin, a thief, or even a prostitute. I chose to be an assassin because it seemed the most fitting. But once I failed, those who were my colleagues until yesterday now want me dead. It gets pretty tiresome," she explained.
"I don't care. You brought it upon yourself. Let me send you off right now," Cattleya threatened.
"Like I said! I no longer have any interest in dealing with any of you. It's already tough with people after my life. I don't have the intention to assassinate the man over there anymore. Besides, I heard he's a despicable guy trying to conquer the world using the hero, and that he's weak and easy to kill. But that's not true at all," she rambled.
"Huh?"
"He's a master of self-defense, and he has no intention of using the hero who's fond of him. It's so different from what I've heard, it's frustrating," she added.
At that moment, Instructor Cattleya turned and whispered to me, "What's she talking about?"
"It's all a misunderstanding. I can't use any self-defense techniques," I replied.
As we were having this conversation, the young assassin shifted her gaze from Cattleya to me.
"Hey, you let me go the last time, right? And you mentioned something about wanting me to join your team?" she asked.
"Huh?"
"Do you still feel that way? I'm in a tough spot right now. Would you hire me?"
"Hey! Don't get ahead of yourself!" Cattleya interjected on my behalf.
"Do you think we can trust someone who kills for money? We won't know when she might stab us in our sleep!" she continued.
"Instructor, wait. Let's bring her into our team," I suggested.
"Are you kidding me?! The sword she possesses is too dangerous!"
"Even if she uses the Vacuum Sword's ability, to my eyes, she only appears semi-transparent. And Holly, the spirit of the sword, can pinpoint her location. I'll know immediately if she betrays us," I reasoned.
"Even so, she...," Cattleya began.
"Her invisibility is quite useful. It's better to have her as an ally. If she turns against us, as you said, she would be too dangerous," I interrupted.
Hearing my words, the young assassin approached, clapping her hands with a smirk, "Sounds good. If you provide for my basic needs, I swear I won't betray you."
Cattleya continued to glare at the approaching assassin, but I stepped forward to face the girl.
"I understand," I said, observing her closely.
She possessed an endearing appearance and retained an innocence suitable for her age. But her small stature emitted a bizarre aura.
From her eyes, it was clear.
She had taken countless lives without any remorse. The blood she had been drenched in seemed to cling to her.
She had probably just retaliated against those colleagues who were after her life.
She felt nothing about it.
An innocent girl who had continuously committed brutal and cruel acts.
Just looking at her made me feel a shiver. Unlike boastful soldiers or mercenaries who claim, "I am strong," she did not have that sort of confidence.
She presented herself plainly and unpretentiously, giving off an aura that she was no ordinary human, instilling a sense of awe in others.
"My name is Saffron. Nice to meet you."
"I'm Crow."
I shook hands with the girl who introduced herself as Saffron.
Had she embedded a poison needle in her palm, I would have been instantly killed, but thankfully, that wasn't the case.
"If you have someone you want dead, just tell me. I can kill them for you."
"... I won't ask you to assassinate anyone."
"Eh? Then what do you want me to do?"
Still holding my hand, Saffron looked puzzled.
"Perhaps scouting, reconnaissance, or gathering information. With your invisibility ability, it'll be a breeze."
"And killing?"
"You don't need to. I won't ask you to."
"Why? If you need to do reconnaissance on someone, why not just kill them?"
"I won't ask you to kill."
"But why? Not to be rude, but it seems like a lot of people are after your life, right? You'll probably be targeted by assassins in the future too. You don't want to kill those who have put hits on you?"
"Someday, I might get involved in killing, but I won't ask you to."
"But why are you avoiding my question?"
"I don't want to become like those who hired you to kill."
Saffron looked puzzled again.
By the way, when will she let go of my hand?
Our handshake has lasted too long, and our palms are now sweaty and sticky. Moreover, her grip is stronger than mine, so I can't pull away.
"So, what am I to you?"
"A comrade."
"Not that, what's my position?"
Position? Like a status?
Maybe a private soldier I personally hire, someone for covert operations. Given that she'll be gathering information and reporting to me, she needs to be someone whose presence near me isn't unusual.
"... Maybe a maid taking care of my personal needs?"
"Eh? So I'm becoming your sex slave?"
"No! What are you saying?!"
"But young maids are often taken advantage of by their masters. I'm 14, ripe for the picking."
"I don't know about that! Normal maids don't do that kind of work! And let go of my hand already!"
In any case, I've made a new acquaintance who possesses the saintly sword of the divine blade.
From the criticisms of Holly and Instructor Cattleya in the background, she's not popular with the women. Shion and Iris, who aren't present now, would probably criticize her too, but I don't care anymore.
With her invisibility and sound-nullifying abilities, having Saffron, who wields the Vacuum Sword Curtana, on my side is quite significant.