part 4: kill the naitkor? -part1-

Same day Epsilon was ordered to eliminate his target.

Epsilon didn't waste a moment.

The mission demanded speed, and if the Organization was emphasizing that, it could only mean one thing: the plan was already in motion. Everything had been prepared. All that was left… was the kill.

And who was the target?

Naitkor.A member of the Criminal Hunters Corps.Possibly one of their strongest.

He had caused significant damage to the Special Organization over time, earning his place on their blacklist. However, until now, he'd never had a direct confrontation with the Deadly Characters Squad—which made this mission all the more unpredictable.

Epsilon... or Naitkor?Who would walk away from this?

What was strange about Naitkor, though, was that no one had ever witnessed him kill an opponent. Someone with that level of power, and yet... he seemed to avoid unnecessary death.That in itself was bizarre.

Time: 1:00 AM

The hour when hotel guests had usually drifted off to sleep—or at least, most of them had. It was the perfect time to strike, and Epsilon planned to use that to his advantage.

A silent kill.

The mark of a true assassin.

Perched atop one of the tallest buildings surrounding the target location, he sat still in the night air… until his eyes suddenly opened.

The moment had arrived.

Or perhaps it was his instinct—the deadly character instinct that had never once been wrong.

He gripped his weapon: Moon Soul—the sleek, flawless gun only he could wield. Without hesitation, he slipped silently across the rooftop of the hotel and entered through the upper floor.

His steps were light. His presence, completely hidden.

FX: Slow Motion

Those cold eyes, carved into a lifeless face… they were focused now.

His mind was clear. His purpose locked in.

"This is... odd."

"Where is everyone? A hotel this size should be bustling—even at night. Why can't I sense any strong presences?"

Though the situation felt off, Epsilon refused to turn back. No matter what was going on—the mission had to be completed.

He moved through the empty corridors with precision, silent as a shadow, until finally... he reached his destination.

Room 4.

The target was supposed to be inside. That's what the mission envelope had said.

Epsilon stood before the door. His expression—blank and tired—suggested one thing: he just wanted to get this over with and return to his darkroom for some well-earned sleep.

He didn't care who was inside.

The mission was the mission.

Without a second thought, he opened the door—

…

…

…

…And froze.

!!!

!!??

HUH?!

"P-PERVERT!! What are you doing in my room, you creep?! SOMEBODY HELP!! THERE'S A PERVERT IN MY ROOM!!"

The scream echoed through the hallway.

And it definitely wasn't a man's voice.

A… girl?

Why was there a girl in the room?

Epsilon stared in disbelief. She was clearly in the middle of changing clothes—or maybe just finishing up.

A formal outfit…

Blue-tinted black hair…

A petite but athletic figure…

And honey-colored eyes!?

No doubt about it.

That girl was—

"Maya…? The restaurant girl?! What the hell is she doing here?!"

Koja's mind blanked. His eyes widened more than they ever had before. Maybe for the first time in his life.

"W-Wait! Just—just calm down! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to—!"

He couldn't even finish his sentence.

"What am I doing?! Speaking to a civilian during a mission? Should I kill her?""She saw my face. That's dangerous.""No—wait. What am I even saying?""This mission was supposed to protect the people of the continent from a threat… a threat like Naitkor.""Did the Organization get it wrong…? This… this doesn't feel right."

He had no choice. He turned and bolted, disappearing from the room as quickly as he'd come.

She'll forget my face soon enough… right?That was all he could hope as he vanished into the shadows.

Until…

"Hey—you there!! Wait a second! That thing you're carrying… is that a mini sword?! Are you… with the Organization?!"

"Did they send you… to kill me?!"

She saw it.

The weapon on his back.

In his rush to flee, Epsilon had let his guard down—and now Maya had seen it.

Any trained soldier would have reacted the same way.

Epsilon stopped.

Turned.

Face serious. Cold.

"Just forget what—"

…

…

…

Then it happened.

Epsilon—The Deadly Character—froze.

For the second time that night.

He looked at her…

And something didn't sit right.

Yes, this was the second time this clueless girl had completely unnerved him.

The first time, when she recognized him…

And now, the second—

She was pointing a gun at him.

"W-What?!"

Wait—what was happening?

Wasn't Maya just a waitress?

That weapon…

It was supposed to be for self-defense… wasn't it?

But something about it made Epsilon pause.

It wasn't just a gun.

It was a red, crystal-shaped pistol.

He knew that shape. That design.

And suddenly, it clicked.

His eyes widened again.

"That gun… No way. Could it be—Moon Blood?""The twin of my gun?""Why… why does she have it?"

Everything changed in that moment.

A grin spread across his face.

His usual dead expression... melted away.

For the first time in a long time, Epsilon looked human.

Excited.

Alive.

"I finally found it," he whispered. "Thank you… because of you, I've reached one of my goals.""Did you hear that, Naitkor?"

Yes.

He said it.

Naitkor.

While staring directly at Maya…Smiling.

And Maya? She just stood there, wearing that same clueless, childish expression.

Wait… wait a second.

Did Epsilon just call Maya... Naitkor?

Is it possible that the restaurant girl… is actually Naitkor?!

Suddenly—

BOOOOOOM!!!

Meanwhile…

While all of that was happening, a woman left the hotel in a hurry.

She wore a full formal outfit, her figure unmistakably feminine.

She picked up her phone and answered an unknown caller.

"Everything is going according to plan. Epsilon should be engaging Naitkor right now. We're heading back to the center."

The darkness masked her face…

But her voice—that voice was unmistakable.

She was the same woman who greeted Maya at the entrance of the hotel just two days ago.

Or rather…

Laila.