“Did I just hear something about 5 minutes and a gunshot, huh?” asked a colorful voice from the darkness.

  Najun and the woman looked, startled, into the shadows, where a tall man with long black hair and a katana emerged.

  “Naki?” called Najun, relieved.

  “Yeah, it’s me — your big brother. Your savior. Your role model. Your idol.”

  Najun gave Naki that typical Najun-look, the one Naki knew all too well.

  “I told you already, I don’t like it when you act so cold.”

  “How did you even know where we were?” Najun asked.

  “I told you earlier that I was going to get us some ice cream. Don’t you remember?”

  Najun looked at Naki with an apologetic expression.

  “Ugh, of course. Anyway, I came back down to the basement. To you. But when you weren’t there, I started to worry, so I searched everywhere. Who would’ve thought you were having a date in the second basement?”

  “That’s not a date,” Najun and the woman said at the same time.

  “Okay, I get it.”

  “No, you don’t get anything. She’s an intruder trying to get into our territory.”

  Naki looked up, thinking deeply — then yawned.

  “Yeah, that’s probably true.”

  Najun was surprised by Naki’s lack of professionalism, but he also knew that Naki could afford to act this silly.

  “So anyway, the ice cream is upstairs. Should we—”

  Before Naki could finish, the woman tried to shoot him in the head.

  But being the powerful warrior he was, Naki dodged the headshot effortlessly.

  “Hey, you. Don’t interrupt us when we’re talking. Or I’ll kill you,” Naki threatened her in an aggressive tone — one Najun had never heard from him before.

  “Wow, that sounded pretty badass, right? Kidding — I’m not a murderer. But if you try something like that again, I’ll have to get a bit nasty.”

  “You think you’re funny? I’ll kill you and your brother. Then I’ll infiltrate your clan and destroy your family.”

  Naki looked at her with a hint of confusion.

  “Well, someone has a very detailed plan. And what if I kill you right here and now?” he asked, leaning in with a devilish smile.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  The woman aimed her revolver at Naki and fired six rounds.

  All missed — and in the next moment, she was sent flying across the hall.

  “So? What do you say now?” Naki asked her mid-air, but before she could answer, he smashed her back into the ground.

  The impact made the earth shake.

  Najun watched as his brother effortlessly tossed around an opponent he himself had absolutely no chance against.

  The woman got back up and fired again, even though she had never reloaded.

  Her bullets seemed infinite — but pointless.

  Naki moved far too fast and too gracefully.

  She couldn’t follow him at all and even tripped over her own outfit.

  “This camouflage clothing is annoying. So much better.”

  The woman threw off her cloak and revealed her face.

  “Wait a minute… aren’t you the daughter of the Shojo family’s patriarch?” Naki asked with clenched fists.

  “Am I really that famous? Yes, I’m the daughter.”

  Najun and Naki’s family were the sworn enemies of the woman’s family.

  They had countless conflicts and hated each other deeply.

  Even today the conflicts continued — though both families had formed a pact preventing either side from causing major harm to the other.

  “That changes everything. I thought I could just kill you or at least make you flee, but since your family broke the pact first and you happen to be an important person, I’d better take you prisoner.”

  While speaking, Naki sprinted toward her, trying to grab her.

  “Oh yeah?! Then come on!”

  She ran at him as well, and the two clashed.

  A close-combat fight began.

  The woman seemed faster — but nowhere near fast enough to keep up with Naki.

  He tripped her and put her in a chokehold.

  “Don’t worry, I’m not going to kill you — just knock you out.”

  The woman laughed, broke free, and hit Naki on the nose.

  They ran through the hall, exchanging hits to the face, stomach, legs, and back.

  Najun watched them sharply, trying to follow their movements — failing miserably.

  “Wow, those two are really going all out. What should I do? Should I interfere?”

  He abandoned the idea as the two sped up, moving so fast he couldn’t follow anymore.

  Defeated, he retreated into a dark corner. He closed his eyes and activated his Birth-Protection.

  His Protection allowed him to see far more clearly, letting him track them with precision.

  He could even think fast enough to anticipate their next moves.

  “I haven’t had such a good fight in ages. I should start using my sword.”

  Naki drew his sword and prepared to strike.

  The woman raised her revolver again, trying to keep him away with rapid fire.

  Naki pushed closer and slashed her across the stomach.

  “Ow! You filthy bastard!”

  She fired more shots and even blocked Naki’s sword using her gun.

  “I think our fight is over.”

  Naki swung again, grazing her back.

  His blade was blood-soaked and had left a deadly cut.

  The woman collapsed into a pool of her own blood.

  Naki stood over her, ready to take her prisoner, when Najun stood up.

  “Brother… what am I doing wrong? Tell me. Please!”

  “What? That doesn’t sound like you at all. You’re not doing anything wrong.”

  “Yes, I am! I’m the son of a legendary warrior, and my siblings are all prodigies, yet I’m a nobody. A pathetic nobody who will never become anything. I don’t deserve this family name. Tell me what I’m doing wrong!”

  Najun broke down in tears and punched the ground until his fist almost broke.

  “Najun. Stop it. Right now.”

  Naki ran to him, trying to restrain him and comfort him.

  “Come on, Najun…”

  After those words, both suddenly noticed the woman was gone.

  Naki searched the entire hall and the tunnels — but she had vanished.

  “Shit! What do we do now?”

  Naki paced in circles, thinking hard.

  Najun blamed himself again, sinking into complete despair.

  “Sons!”

  A voice called from above.

  Najun and Naki looked up and saw a dark silhouette — a large man with a long beard.

  He wore a cloak and sipped tea while floating in the air.

  “Come to the great hall. Now.”

  It was their father — the patriarch of the Sakiko family.