I arrived back that night. I sat in the place where I first received my mission, in the chair at the far end, facing everyone. The cold breeze from the broken window was blowing freely from behind me.
Yuna sat at the head of the table, Siri at her side. Yuna had a black coat on with, um, a chicken's head by her side. She looked at me with narrow eyes. In fact, it is disgust, pure disgust. What did I do?
Siri had a calm look on his face, but I could tell, in fact, I know. He is very mad.
I basically went the whole day without attempting to finish my quest. And I did try to help the person I was supposed to bring back escape. And I did fight with the king's knights. Well, I did a lot of things wrong, who would've thought?
It is what it is, I guess. I can't change it now. It was fun, and I have no regrets, although that doesn't make it right. These people brought me here to give me a life after all.
Yuna shook her head lightly and finally decided to look at me like a human being, "First thing. Your first mission was an absolute failure."
Straight to the point. Yuna went through my day in extreme detail and noted what I did wrong. I am aware of those points, but something doesn't add up.
"As far as first impressions go, this is enough to get you axed out of the faction. And killed off afterwards," Yuna said with a deadpan expression.
"Huh?? Killed!"
"Of course, Nero, you're still under evaluation. Do you not understand? We gave you a chance, I took a chance with you, and this is what you do."
She shook her head in displeasure, "Well, I shouldn't have expected much from you in the first place. Even for a task as mundane as this one."
"Isn't that a bit harsh…I had my reasons. I know I am wrong, but you gotta understand, they were gonna take Maya. I had to," I pleaded. I have no right in this situation to speak, as I'm completely at fault, but to save her life. I have to try.
"And?" Yuna replied.
"Huh?"
She tilted her head and shifted her bangs with an air of nonchalance, "and what if they were taking her? That has nothing to do with us, Nero."
"We help her….right?"
"Haha, I suppose you have forgotten already, or you took my words with a grain of salt."
I…I remember, sadly. It came back to me like a dream playing in real time.
I gulped, folding my fists tightly.
I was willing to do whatever, as long as I got my chance. That's what it meant to join them. They came to save Maya, so I didn't think something like this would happen.
"....." My mouth opened, but no words came out. Speechless.
She was right.
"Prepare to kill. Prepare to break hearts. Prepare to be a villain–Be prepared to do whatever it takes to accomplish your mission. Anything else is not accepted," Yuna said with no hesitation. "Get to know the targets at your own peril."
I really wasn't aware of the scale of what I have put myself in. I really do not mind doing these; I have taken lives to survive, stolen valuables, but for the first time, I had to choose someone other than myself.
"Embarrassing." Siri, who hadn't said anything, spoke those words with a glance. A glance that felt worse than the words that left his mouth.
Like a dagger to the heart, I grimaced.
I have never had to endure this….or have I? Am I just supposed to sit and endure this? Don't they care about Maya?
Pushing my chair back, I was ready to storm out of the room. The sound hung in the air, leaving the room in pure silence.
No, Nero, you need this. Just endure.
"That being said, I think you deserve some merit," Yuna said with a small smile as her eyes closed, then opened with a warmth I hadn't seen before. "You have heart, Nero."
"I do"
"Everything you did for Maya is worthy of praise. Entertaining her antics is thoughtful, although it can get you killed." After receiving all that backlash, these words are a nice relief.
"Fighting the king's knights, how stupid," Siri said. Again with the sharp insult.
Siri, was this guy always like this? He is just insulting me.
"For all the wrong you did today, I can confirm one noteworthy thing." Yuna paused, then continued, "I don't regret picking you. So clean your eyes, Nero."
I wiped my eyes, "...oh."
I hadn't noticed. Tears had begun to fall. Their words got to me that much, huh? I guess I'm soft.
Yuna sighed as her deadpan expression changed back to one of disgust, "but keep those perverted antics away from here. If I were Maya, I'd have asked for your head."
"Gave me the creeps," Siri said as he glared at me.
Huh! No way.
Popping out of my seat, I asked: "Wait, wait…what are you talking about?"
"Don't play dumb," Siri said with a tinge of anger.
Yuna then tapped the bird's head next to her. "Does this look familiar?"
AAAHHHHH!
Isn't that? No way!
They were the weird bird people I saw! So they were watching us the whole time. No wonder Siri arrived right on time to save me.
So they saw everything…fuck.
"Bleurgh," covering her mouth, Yuna's eyes narrowed at me, "please don't get too close…I dislike your type."
"He is the same as remen. Shameless," Siri said with a scuff.