Chapter 207: I Can Never Be the Person You Wanted Me to Be

From a young age, Rinji knew he wasn't like other children.

A monstrous physique, intelligence and execution skills far beyond his peers—he was born with them.

And also something else—aggression, far beyond what most people possess.

Unrelated to upbringing, Rinji's development was more like the ultimate refinement of nature's most competitive traits. And in nature, aggression often determined who survived.

So Rinji didn't just grow. He evolved.

That aggression became instinctive. He learned to kill and plunder naturally.

But the drawback was clear—someone like Rinji couldn't adapt to peaceful society easily. When faced with problems, his first instinct was to choose the most violent solution.

…

"Mmm, that felt good~"

Rinji walked out of a corporate building and stretched, smiling as he pulled a remote control from his jacket pocket and pressed the button.

BOOOOOOM—

A deafening explosion rocked the building as one of its floors blew apart.

Flames and shattered glass filled the air, visible even from kilometers away.

This was the third subsidiary of the Shinomiya Group to be bombed.

"The ones in plain sight are all taken care of. Now then…"

Rinji glanced at a slip of paper in his hand—it listed an address in Kyoto.

That crazed grin crept back onto his face.

"Time to pay the real deal a visit. I can't wait~"

---

Night fell.

In the outdoor garden of the Shinomiya family estate, Kaguya sat expressionless, her eyes fixed on the iron gate.

She had once again been summoned to the main house. Hayasaka Ai had also been called.

A powerful faction had launched a sudden assault on Shinomiya assets, using terrifyingly direct methods. The main house was in a panic.

They tried everything to trace the attackers, but even through their vast network, they couldn't uncover the identity of the group.

Kaguya felt no sympathy.

To her, the Shinomiya main house had always treated her like excess baggage. She had no emotional connection to them at all.

'Should I be happy if they get what they deserve…?'

"Hey, miss over there. Can you hear me?"

"Hm?"

Kaguya looked up slightly and saw a blond boy standing just beyond the gate.

Even under the night sky, his crimson eyes glowed faintly, stunning Kaguya for a moment.

"You are…"

She suddenly recalled that a few months ago, she'd seen this boy at the park—he had been happily chatting with Hayasaka.

Rinji waved at her with a smile. Curious, Kaguya walked closer.

"You're that kid who hangs around with Hayasaka?"

"Didn't expect you to remember me," Rinji chuckled. "And I didn't expect Hayasaka's friend to be the Shinomiya heiress."

"You…"

Before she could ask why he was here, Rinji suddenly smiled and said, "Since you're Hayasaka's friend, I won't kill you."

"Eh?"

The sudden words left Shinomiya Kaguya stunned.

"Miss! Step back!!"

"You're too close to that person!!"

A few men in black suits patrolling nearby rushed over when they saw the scene, pushing Kaguya behind them while the others approached Rinji.

"Who are you? This is Shinomiya family property, outsiders aren't allowed—"

Before they could finish, the guards froze.

Neither Kaguya nor the one guarding her saw what had happened.

The two guards who had reached the gate suddenly staggered and collapsed, each with a bloody hole in their chest.

Rinji's fingers were stained with blood. He smiled and licked it off.

The scene shook Kaguya, who had always been composed. It was her first time witnessing someone die right in front of her.

"You…"

Bang!

The guard shielding Kaguya, realizing this man meant harm, tried to react—but his shoulder was pierced by a bullet.

The shot came from a distant building near the Shinomiya estate. A sniper was aiming from afar.

Rinji pried open the iron gate and walked inside, stopping in front of Kaguya, who was now frozen with fear.

"The Shinomiya family has existed for over a hundred years. You've always seen yourselves as great, noble beings—but have you ever considered this? The Holy Roman Empire was far greater than you and it still vanished in the end."

"…"

"No matter how glorious the family, how brilliant its history, once the flames of war arrive, it all turns to dust. You people, who think you're above everyone else… are nothing."

"…"

"Tell me."

Rinji stared into her with crimson-glowing eyes.

"Where is your father, Shinomiya Gan'an?"

"There's an intruder!!"

The household finally noticed something was wrong. More guards rushed over to protect the estate.

But as they charged with weapons drawn, Rinji simply smiled.

BOOM————

An explosion ripped through the crowd, blasting those clustered guards into pieces.

Rinji had not only brought mercenaries this time, but also military drones equipped with missiles.

He hadn't come to talk.

He'd come to kill—ruthlessly and efficiently.

Leaving the terrified Kaguya collapsed on the ground, Rinji grinned viciously and marched deeper into the estate.

More and more people tried to stop him, and more and more bodies fell.

The path was littered with corpses—guards, servants—and Rinji's pace never wavered.

He didn't know how many people he had already killed. After snapping a guard's neck, he kicked open a room.

"Head of the Shinomiya family~ I'm a big fan. Come out and meet me~"

"…Rinji?"

"…?"

The voice made Rinji freeze.

There were two people in the room—a woman and Hayasaka Ai.

The woman resembled Hayasaka slightly. Her gaze toward Rinji held both caution and curiosity.

Hayasaka Ai stared blankly at Rinji, who was drenched in blood, unable to piece together her thoughts.

"Hayasaka…"

"Rinji, you…"

"Sorry, Hayasaka."

Rinji looked at her dazed expression and smiled with a touch of relief.

"I was never able to become the person you hoped I'd be. Your decision back then was the right one."

He turned around without looking at her again and walked out of the room.

"Wait!! Rinji!!"

When Hayasaka chased him out the door, he was already gone.