Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16816927863045760906/episodes/16816927863048880671
“…… I knew it, onii chan, or seti. Are you an assassin too?”
Io san, who was waiting for me, asked.
“That way of talking, did you notice me from the beginning?”
“Yes, only slightly, because I could smell your blood…….And you saved Hina from them, didn’t you?”
“Yes,…… Io san, aren’t you afraid of me?”
“…… Well, I don’t remember being targeted by assassins on this continent. Besides, there’s something different …… about you, something humane.”
Humanity.
I was living like a killing doll not so long ago …….
It was only because of all the ‘girls’ that pulled me back. I wonder what they are doing now.
No, more importantly
“Io san, when you say ‘you too’, does that mean …… you too?”
Io san nodded in response to my question.
“Yes,…… I was a Japanese assassin once. The people you killed were assassins who came after me.”
“Assassins? Why?”
“Because I betrayed the organization. That’s why they’re after me,……, even chasing me all the way to the Grand Line continent.”
Apparently, it’s a famous organization on the Euros continent called ‘Dark Nine Dragons”
It seems that Io-san was a well-known assassin within the organization.
He then told me that Hina was not his real daughter, but the daughter of the royal family that ruled the country of Wa, which he had once assassinated.
“The orders I received from the organization were to eradicate the royalty of the time. Every child ……, including Hina, who was a baby. But I couldn’t do it. ……I developed care for her right before that. So I took Hina and left the organization.”
Abandonment of duty, no wonder he was targeted.
“Did Hina know about that?”
“Of course she doesn’t know. She thinks that I, who killed her parents, is her real father… I’m thinking of telling her when she gets older, but she’s only 9 years old. It’s too early to know the reality. Too much.”
“Yes,……, and what about that left arm?”
“When I left the organization, I offered it as a punishment. But they didn’t accept it, and it seems that ‘death’ is the golden rule for traitors. I knew that, though.”
It’s not just that. There must be some sense of atonement for killing Hina’s parents.
I can’t help but think so.
On the contrary, he was able to escape to this area for a long time while raising her.
“The “Dark Nine Dragons” only recently found out that I was hiding out on the Grand Line. I thought that since ‘Hades’ was in charge of this continent, the organization would not bypass it, but it seems that they had sniffed it out somewhere …… and snuck in.”
“I am sure ‘Hades’ knew about it. However, they doesn’t get involved in conflicts between their relatives. If you had gone home quietly, they would have ignored it and pretended not to have seen it.”
“Well it seems so…… so, Seti, why did you betray “Hades”? “
“Eh? well, that’s–“
I explained everything to Io san.
For a moment.
“…… That’s an inexcusable habit for a heroic man, that one. Well, fortunately or unfortunately, he gave Seti the chance to redeem himself?”
“Yes, but the people I’m most grateful to are the girls who are engaged to him.”
“I see. So, what are you going to do now?”
“…… I will run away, even if it is to the ends of the earth. I’m going to fight, if necessary. I’ve been an assassin for so long that I don’t know what I’m capable of doing in another line of work.”
“–Seti, then, would you like to be my apprentice? As a cook.”
“A cook? Me?”
“Yes. As you can see, I’ll be traveling around the world, so I won’t be stuck in one place, and I won’t be easily traced. You can do business anywhere.”
“Yes! I’m looking forward to working with you!”
Thus, my place of employment was decided.
Then, under Io san’s guidance, I began my training as a cook.
I learned not only how to cook, but also how to handle cooking utensils, sanitation, and management.
Hina accepted me and called me “onii chan”. She and I have the same dark hair and eyes, so the customers thought we were like a real brother and sister.
“–Seti, you have a good streak. Especially your knife work is very good. You also learn things quickly.”
“Yes, master. I’m not too proud of it, though. ……”
The skill of an assassin is useful in a strange place.
By the way, I call Io ‘master’ as a cook. I think it was the first time I met someone I could truly respect.
After that, I went around to various countries, capitals, towns, and villages, and my happy and fulfilling days passed.
But then…
“Hey, you. You’re the traitorous ‘Seti the Grim Reaper,’ aren’t you?”
While taking out the trash alone, I was approached by a strange man.
He was wearing a ten-gallon hat and a rather flashy outfit. A belt-type holster is attached to his waist, and a “pistol” is stored there.
A handgun? It is a weapon found on the western continent of Zephyrus, as I recall.
I doubt you’ll see them very often on the Grand Line continent.
“Who are you?”
“Me, Johnny. I’m a first-class musketeer, and I belong to an organization…”
“Well, then I guess you can die.”
Before Johnny could finish, I jumped into his pocket and pulled a dagger from my waist.
Immediately, Johnny pulls out his pistol from his holster in an attempt to fire back, but the moment he lifts his arm, I cuts off his wrist.
With a thud, the wrist clutching the pistol fell to the ground.
“Gaaaah! M-my hand! This guy’s too fast…ugh!”
I pushed the shivering Johnny down and made him crawl on the ground.
I held the blade of the dagger to his throat.
“You’re too slow. What’s more, you shows off to your prey…Isn’t that good enough to be an assassin? aren’t you third rate anyway? ”
“H-Help!”
“Before I kill you, let me ask you this. Is the boss still alive?”
“I-I don’t know! He’s not the kind of person who would go to see! It’s all on the orders of the spy raven!”
“I see, it’s true. …… So, why are you, a third-rate person, after me? Suicidal?”
“T-there’s a bounty on you from the organization, 2 billion G’s. ……”
Two billion? Are they really trying to get rid of me?
If that’s the case, I’m sure there will be more of these money grubbing, reckless fools in the future.
Well, I was prepared for it, and I don’t care now.
“I understand now. I’ll take the pistol. It’s a rare weapon on the Grand Line continent.”
“I-I’ll give it to you, but you have to help me, Master Seti!”
“No. I have no mercy for bad guys and my peers. In your next life, be reborn as a real human being.”
“Eh? H-Hey, wait, ……Geeeh!”
I took care of Johnny and joined Io san and the others as if nothing had happened.
When Hina, who is helping me, sees me, she gives me a big smile like a sunflower.
She was so cute, like a little sister.
“Oni chan, you’re back~”
“I’m home, Hina chan.”
I’m home, huh?
It’s nice to have someone to say that to.
“Seti, are you really …… so much for just throwing trash? Ah, I see. Hurry up and wash your hands and get ready.”
“Y-yes”
It seems that Io san has noticed me.
I’m thankful that he didn’t mention it though.
He is in the same situation as I am. …… But he is still looking forward to life every day.
For Io san, running away is a battle.
For me, he is not only a chef, but also a role model and someone I can look up to in his attitude toward life.
Seeing his way of life, I think it’s okay to run away.
It is more important to live each day to the fullest in your own way, rather than endlessly and absurdly taking someone else’s life.
Meeting them made me realize this once again.
Three months had passed since then.
The incident happened again.
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