The elite ninja, Jin, who was among the best of the island, was tasked to follow a particular, mysterious girl. He had only heard from his boss and colleague how dangerous the crew from that specific crew was. He couldn’t tell exactly how strong they were when he was far away, but he did feel they were dangerous and not to be underestimated.

He started following the white-haired girl the next day after his mission was given. And he had to admit, that girl was incredibly beautiful, he had not seen a beauty of that kind before. There was a sense of purity in her appearance, something wholesome, that urged the kindest of people to protect her. Still, her movements and mannerism somewhat betrayed that expectation of purity. She had that strictness in her eyes, and added to it her enigmatic nature. Jin had yet to understand her, that was why he must observe.

He was following her in the shadows, on the rooftops, amongst the crowds. With his quick movement, as fast as the wind, he was able to blend and move into everywhere he needed. And with his top-notch stealthy abilities, that not even the most skilled warriors could sense his presence, he was among the very best in this kind of mission. He should be able to carry out this task flawlessly.

However, there was a moment after the girl and her allies left a weapons shop. It almost looked like the girl sensed someone was following her, and Jin had to be careful and withdrew a little. He was in disbelief and refused the idea that she sensed him. There was just no way, but it only took a moment for the girl to return to her normal behavior. Jin sighed in relief. At any rate, he had to be more careful just to be sure.

The girl and the others entered the Bureau for whatever reason. Considering the place, Jin couldn’t follow inside and learn what they were doing — but he could only have a glimpse by peeking through windows. But, keep peeking through the window would attract attention, hers, or from the other warriors. Thus, he had to keep his distance a short moment later.

The significant thing that happened was a man sent flying from the inside to the outside. Which was particularly not too strange. Fighting and people being thrown out in the air was not special. Happens all the time.

At any rate, Jin ought to figure out what she did there. At the strike of night, it was the end of shift for day time staff. While a staff girl was walking down, Jin suddenly stepped in front of her, startling the woman.

“Hello,” he greeted her with a friendly smile.

“Uh, hi…? Who are you?” the woman warily asked.

“I’m one of the garrison commander’s soldiers.”

“... Oh. And how can I help you?”

“You spoke with the girl. You know, the one with the cloak, and with two bodyguards.”

“Oh her. Yes, I did speak with her.”

“What did she walk into the Bureau for?”

The girl was hesitant to answer. “Why do you want to know?”

“Official business. If you’d please answer my question, it will be a great help.”

The woman silently groaned. “... She just asked about a bounty.”

“Hm? What bounty?”

“About the bandit leader Yachi Miyagawa.”

“Oh. She took the bounty?”

The woman shook her head. “She didn’t officially declare taking it.”

“Huh. So she just asked? Did she do something else?”

“Aside from kicking someone out, nothing else.”

“Oh, that was her.” He recalled the guy sent flying away. “I understand. Thank you for the help. And please promise me to keep this moment confidential. It’s official government business, after all.”

“O-Okay.”

With a nod, Jin left.

He found it interesting and puzzling as to why that girl would be interested in a bounty. Perhaps they needed money? Although, he didn’t think it would be a good enough reason. They did spend a lot of money on their weapons. Still, perhaps they really needed money. But a bounty, indeed, it was a good way to make quick money for warriors. Still, that bandit was a high level target. Perhaps hearing more about it discouraged the girl from taking it.

At any rate, he couldn’t understand her motive in inquiring about it. And it would be pointless making more guesses that could be completely inaccurate.

The day after that, the girl went out with a lone guard. They were going outside the city, definitely for the bounty. Considering where they were going, Jin deliberated whether to follow along, as it was outside the city. More difficult and more dangerous in tailing. However, it was not like he had any choice but to do this job.

And thus he followed them. Eventually, bandits came along. Jin had already figured that she was trying to bait the bandits to track down the bounty target. And then, the most bizarre occurrence happened. He didn’t think something like it was even possible. The girl, from where Jin could see, spoke to the bandits, bravely displaying her beauty to them. She gave them the most bewitching expressions and hypnotic gaze, but in a more innocent way.

And a moment later, the bandits started fighting each other. It was insane. He acknowledged she was incredibly beautiful, but to drive a group to fight amongst themselves was just plain insanity. If she had that effect on people, then he would rather never face her directly. It was frightening to see it all happen, for her to have that hypnotic effect…

And not only that, she quickly disposed of most of the bandits with ease. And there was the screaming of one bandit in the forest. Jin watched as she tortured the man. He couldn’t tell what or how she was doing it, but judging from the agonized scream, it must be horrid.

They faced a monster, and a type of magic was cast. He had never seen such magic before, and what it produced was baffling and new. And he found it shocking that she could cast such powerful magic that obstructed all views, wide at that. She was athletic, with direct combat skills, and now spellcasting? Normally, a person would focus all or most of their efforts in one field, like being a warrior. Adding another would be difficult and could result in slow growth in one discipline. That was why here in Shinoroa, most were warriors, others archers, and a few were ninjas. Spellcasters, on the other hand, were rare to none. Such specialization would be difficult in helping one survive in the lands filled with monsters, as it relied solely on mana. Relying entirely on magic which can be depleted would greatly affect your fighting potential. And not many had the mana capacity to effectively fight powerful beasts present here. Using enhanced weapons with magical techniques was way more effective.

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At any rate, it was a good thing he was learning more about her, bit by bit. There was also the part about the two heavily clothed men. They were anything but normal humans. Jin could only see once the fight was over and the white storm had vanished, so he didn’t have many ideas about those two men.

By following the girl, he discovered the bandit base as well. He didn’t know much about it since it was never his mission to carry out that involved the bandits, but he was a bit in disbelief that she found it so easily in a day.

And sometime after that, when they returned to the road, they heartlessly killed the bandit they captured. Not like the man deserved compassion. But to kill him in that fashion was something else. Once they had returned to the city, later that night, Jin reported his findings to his commander. The latter decided to keep watch and not do anything about the bandits just yet.

Then came the night that the girl attacked the bandit base, alone. Jin never thought that she would do that. It was too dangerous. But when he witnessed the way the girl killed everyone, he couldn’t be more dumbfounded. To wipe out the entire base was too much work, and yet she carried it out as if it was nothing.

Jin could probably do the same, but he would be stressing all the while. Still, he wouldn’t say he would succeed. To think of even wiping the entire bandit base was just absurd in the first place. That kind of thing should be done with a group, not completely alone.

Still, that was not the main issue here. Jin couldn’t tell what happened inside the warehouse, but there was no noise, no struggle, no violence, no fighting. That was definitely where that bandit leader was. But for it all to be this silent was not normal. And the next thing that happened was her coming out of the warehouse with the bandit leader’s head.

You’re telling me she killed him silently?! Impossible! He’s supposed to be incredibly strong!

No one should be able to sneak around him. And yet, she had done it. She was more competent and dangerous than he had ever imagined. Her fragile appearance betrayed who she really was. He underestimated her.

They returned to the city with several women slaves. The girl’s guard returned to their ship, and the girl went to the Bureau. Jin followed her, of course. She must have turned in the head. After a while, she got out of the building. She walked around, and as Jin followed, when he moved, a small obstacle got in his view. It should only be for less than a second. However, as he looked down from the top of the building, she was nowhere to be found.

He was absolutely confused. There was just no way he lost sight of her with only just that. He looked around frantically. Still, he couldn’t find her.

He switched to another building. And at that moment, a dagger was suddenly pointed right beside his face from behind. He froze in place, holding his breath.

Who…?

How could someone just sneak up on him without him even ever realizing it? He was supposed to be the best in stealth. As one who specialized in that discipline, and among the best, no one should be able to sneak up on him. In his curiosity, he slowly turned his head. But the blade got nearer, followed by a grim warning.

“Move and I’ll cut through your face.”

Jin froze with a wry smile. “... H-How can I help you?”

“You think I would never notice you?”

“...” He had realized who it was. “Notice what…?”

“I’m aware you’ve been following me. I’ve known ever since the beginning.”

“Whatever could you be talking about?”

The blade suddenly began to glow with magic. “Don’t irritate me further.”

Jin’s cheek twitched.

She continued, “You’re good. But not as good as me. Your presence has never eluded me, from the city, to the forests. I only let you be.”

Shit. So she knows I’ve been following her from the very beginning? That’s absurd.

It hurt his pride as an elite ninja. If she had truly known, that meant that she let him watch everything from afar. Nothing was more insulting.

“I assumed you’re sent by the garrison commander. That’s why I decided not to confront you.”

Jin was shocked to hear her make that assumption, and it was true. It would seem there was no point in lying.

“But I’ve grown tired of people watching me from the shadows. And I heavily suggest that you stop.”

“I-I’ll stop if you want to… Hehe…”

“Don’t take me for a joke,” she said in a low and irritated voice. “I have no intention of becoming your enemy. I don’t intend to bring any harm to your city or your people.”

“...”

“Relay those words to your master, ninja.” There was a hint of scorn as she uttered that last word. “If you attempt to tail me again, I’ll kill you. Don’t think you people can threaten me with your power.”

“... I got it.”

Those words of hers were frightening. It was almost implying that she could take them all on. Which would just be ridiculous and impossible. However, he had the feeling that he should take that warning seriously. She had already surprised him. She may have many more under her sleeves.

“I wonder… You must be among their very best, are you?”

“Well… I am considered one of the best.”

“Hm. Good.”

“Good?” He couldn’t understand why she would say that.

“That means I’m better than your best.”

That was just mockery. But Jin took it.

“And oh. Your commander is really taking his time with my request for my ship’s escort. Tell him not to take long. The quicker we are done with each other, the better. The longer you stretch this matter, the more troubling it would be for the both of us.”

“Got it. I understand.”

“Good.”

The blade from his face was retracted. The presence behind him disappeared, and he quickly turned around. And indeed, there was nothing there but the air.

“The hell. She moved too fast.”

She was right, maybe she was way better than him. It was a frustrating realization. After all the hellish training, only to be surpassed by some girl from another land. Jin let out a sigh and abruptly sat down on the roof. He felt more self-conscious.

“... Yeah, guess I won’t be following her anymore.”

***

I let out a sigh as I walked down the street. It would seem he wasn’t following me anymore. He’d definitely go straight to his boss. To be honest, I might have lost my cool there. A lot of frustrations lately. I almost killed him just for the hell of it. Good thing I didn’t fall to my emotions just yet. Doing so would be my undoing. If that happens, that means I might have already lost it. Lost a good amount of rationality.

Humans were emotional beings. No matter how much they insist on being driven by logic and reason, eventually they succumb to emotions. I wasn’t too different now. It was a frightening thing. It felt like I was on a descent, still finding a way to slow my fall. But my wings were chipped away.

As I wallowed in my grim and depressing spiral of thoughts, I noticed someone walking on the street. I stopped in my tracks and observed the wobbling, familiar man. It was the harbormaster we met when we first arrived here. The person that tried to scam us. He was walking with unstable steps, a bottle in his hand. That fatso was drunk, apparently.

The streets were still empty, people were either asleep still, or dead drunk. At any rate, there was no one else here but him before me. Meaning there were no witnesses now. I remembered how annoyed I was when this man just sauntered into my ship, demanding an absurd amount of payment. Even now, remembering it frustrated and annoyed me to the bone. He tried to wrong me.

Look at the bastard, so clueless of his surroundings. A fool. So vulnerable. At the moment, I was not in a particularly good mood. And seeing him right now didn’t do good for my heart. I looked around, it was clear. Well, not like I had to get close. In fact, there was no need to get close. Him being this stupid drunk didn’t help him at all.