Chapter 4 – Humanity is Always Full of Surprises
Morning came, though the skies remained shrouded in heavy clouds. There was no thunder, only the steady patter of rain against the window.
A pair of eyes opened silently. Narusei Renjiro stared at the droplets racing down the glass, then murmured the word in his mind—System.
Like a virtual stealth interface from a game, thin blue lines of data appeared at the edges of his vision, converging in the center to form the glowing letter D.
The letter dissolved into motes of light, leaving behind rows of faint azure text suspended neatly before his eyes:
[Contractor No.19999999: Narusei Renjiro]
[System Authority: D-rank (This rank covers a wide range. Every 10 tiers count as one level. Authority determines what a contractor can access. The higher the rank, the more unique functions and privileges become available. Advancement requires completing enough tasks.)]
[Health: 100% (Represents remaining vitality. Reaching zero means death, though pain and injury are still experienced normally.)]
[Mana: 100% (Relates to stamina, spellcasting consumption, and the expenditure of soul energy for techniques.)]
[Strength: 7 (Physical attack power. Average human baseline: 5)]
[Agility: 7 (Movement speed. Average human baseline: 5)]
[Intelligence: 8 (Mental acuity, casting speed, magical offense. Average human baseline: 5)]
[Charm: 7 (Appearance, charisma, affinity. Average human baseline: 5)]
[Equipment: None]
[Skill: Water Clone (Summons a humanoid duplicate made of water. Duration and effectiveness depend on casting time and control.)]
[Bloodline: None]
[Blood Pact: None]
[Note: These stats reflect only the present state. They cannot fully define a contractor's strength. Numbers fluctuate with emotions, skills, equipment, and situational factors. Use with caution.]
Renjiro's calm eyes scanned line by line. At the bottom, a row of black icons flickered. His mind stirred—he willed them open.
[Access denied. Contractor authority insufficient. Please raise System Authority.]
The entire screen turned crimson before vanishing. Renjiro exhaled lightly and closed the interface, sinking into thought.
He understood his original mission had been simple difficulty. But he had recklessly spent all his novice points, forcing the system to assign him a hard difficulty task instead.
Yes, the rewards would be richer. But so too would the dangers.
The "Health" stat spelled it out clearly—once it hit zero, death was absolute. No second chances. Only one life.
And the beginner-level missions were designed to be solo-cleared with a high survival rate. A hard-difficulty mission, on the other hand, could never be that forgiving. It would demand help—or sacrifice.
Fortunately, his years of brutal training had forged a body far above average. He knew countless ways to kill. Perhaps, if he struck fast enough, he could end this mission swiftly.
It was ironic. The very training he once resented—training forced upon him, training he had hated—was now the only reason he was alive.
For the first time, a ripple stirred in his otherwise steady gaze.
Sometimes, the things you despise most may become the very capital you rely on to survive.
"Eh? Big brother, why are you here? How did you get into Hanako's room?"
The soft, milky voice of a child broke his thoughts.
Rubbing her half-open eyes with tiny hands, Hanako Sakuragi blinked up at him. The moment her gaze met Renjiro's tranquil eyes, she froze.
"Ah! Y-You… what are you doing here?!"
Her flawless cheeks flared crimson. Flustered, she clutched her face with both hands and bolted out of the room like a startled rabbit.
Renjiro's expression didn't change. He simply watched the direction she fled, his thoughts unreadable.
Rising, he washed his face, exchanged a polite greeting with Madam Sakuragi, and sat down at the table for breakfast.
Hanako couldn't help recalling that she had fallen asleep beside Renjiro last night. Now, just seeing his face made her cheeks burn crimson—she didn't dare meet his eyes.
"Madam," Renjiro asked politely, "forgive me for prying, but that room you keep empty… may I ask what it's used for? If it's inconvenient, you needn't answer."
The woman's expression faltered as memories stirred. Still, she offered a gentle smile.
"That room… holds the belongings of my late husband, Ayao."
"That's right," Hanako added, puffing up her small chest. "Those are my daddy's things. One day, I'll become a ninja and avenge him!"
Her declaration made her mother's face tighten with anger. She scolded Hanako for even thinking such thoughts. But deep down, she felt a bittersweet pride. Losing her husband had already been unbearable—she could not bear to lose her daughter too. What she wanted for Hanako was not vengeance, but a peaceful, ordinary life.
Renjiro paid little attention to their mother-daughter exchange. His gaze lingered instead on the door to that empty room.
"Big brother, you promised you'd teach me to get stronger. You can't lie to me!"
After breakfast, Madam Sakuragi left for work, entrusting Hanako to Renjiro's care.
The moment she was gone, Hanako's wide, shimmering eyes locked onto him, her little pout ready to turn into tears if he refused.
"Very well," Renjiro said at last. "Two hundred push-ups. You may rest once in between."
Her pitiful cries echoed through the house as she began training under his stern instruction.
Meanwhile, Renjiro's figure slipped out the door. He already knew where Ameyashiki Toshi lived, and now he moved swiftly toward the man's residence to gather information.
Behind a standard two-story house, Renjiro broke into a sprint, vaulted upward, and seized the top of the wall with both hands. Muscles taut, he hauled himself over and clung to the ledge before dropping silently inside.
"Haruhime, kids—I'm heading out for work," a man's voice rang out just as Renjiro landed.
Pressing himself against the wall, Renjiro crept to the corner and peeked with one eye.
"Be safe, come home early," a woman's gentle voice answered.
"Daddy, don't forget to buy candy!" a child chimed.
Through his narrow view, Renjiro saw them: a picture-perfect family, eyes filled only with warmth and love. His training had long since taught him how to discern genuine emotion from falsehood—and what he saw now was real.
How ironic. Ameyashiki Toshi, a man who gambled recklessly, who had ruined friends' lives… was also, here at home, a devoted father.
The world was full of such contradictions. Even the most despicable men have sides worth pitying.
But Renjiro's gaze remained as calm and cold as still water. He felt no ripple of hesitation.
Toshi smiled broadly, waving to his wife and children before setting off. The moment he left, Renjiro vaulted back over the wall and followed.
Soon, Toshi entered a gambling hall, greeting acquaintances as though it were his second home.
Two women slipped in after him. One of them, her figure striking enough to turn heads, caught Renjiro's attention briefly. Their presence, far from disrupting his plan, only made it easier for him to succeed.
His steady eyes recorded the location and the exact time of Toshi's arrival. Then, his body dissolved into liquid, melting away into a puddle of water—gone without a trace.
Back at the Sakuragi home, Hanako collapsed flat on the floor, her small body trembling, face flushed and drenched in sweat.
"So tired… I can't go on," she groaned.
"Rest for now," Renjiro said simply.
As her laughter and cheer rang out in the background, Renjiro's eyes once again drifted toward that empty room.
The stage is set. The actors are in position.