Eurus set off on her journey to reach the Lavender Rosemary, but she was unexpectedly interrupted by the sound of someone snoring nearby. Curiosity getting the better of her, she sniffed around to locate the source of the sound. Following the scent, Eurus found herself in a thicket of bushes. In the midst of it all, she discovered a tanned man with lion ears and a lion tail, peacefully sleeping on the grass. His left eye bore a scar, and his hair, a luscious dark brown, cascaded down to his mid-torso. His deep-set eyes were partially covered by long, side-parted bangs. Adding to his unique appearance, two sections of hair on either side of his face were intricately braided and tied with yellow bands.
Clad in a yellow vest over a white shirt and black pants, Eurus observed the man as he slept soundly. Intrigued yet careful not to disturb him, she pondered, "A man with lion ears? Similar to Jack, who has wolf ears. Perhaps they are part of the same species. Since he's sleeping, I shouldn't bother him." Leaving the man with lion ears behind, she continued on her quest to collect the Lavender Rosemary.
~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~
The ringing of the bell signaled lunchtime. Eurus meticulously organized her stationery and books, ensuring they were safely stowed away in her bag. With everything in order, she exited her classroom, only to be greeted by Jade and Floyd, who had come to invite her. "Blue shark!" Floyd exclaimed, his face alight with happiness upon seeing Eurus. Jade, with his characteristic gentlemanly demeanor, greeted her with a polite "Good afternoon." Behind her mask, Eurus reciprocated with a subdued "Good afternoon."
Jade then delivered the news that Azul had arranged a private lunch spot for her outside the school. "Starting today, we'll be here to accompany you every day, considering you're our closest freshman," Floyd cheerfully added. Eurus listened attentively and walked alongside them as they made their way. Upon arriving at the board games club, Eurus found Azul patiently waiting, the room empty of any other members. "Good afternoon, Eurus. You kept me waiting," Azul greeted her warmly. Eurus apologized, maintaining her smiley mask as she spoke. "Please take off your mask, Eurus. Rest assured, there's no one here but me, Jade, and Floyd to see your true face," Azul reassured her.
Eurus listened attentively and removed her mask, asking if it was an improvement in her normal voice. Azul, with a smirk, responded, "Of course, now I have prepared lunch for you to enjoy as your first request from me." Jade and Floyd burst into laughter. Eurus understood the message behind Azul's words and inquired about the person he wanted her to apprehend. Azul explained that it was one of the Heartslabyul students who owed him a debt. Despite promising to repay it, this individual had avoided meeting Azul for months.
Jade chimed in, describing the target as someone with fair skin and messy dark brown hair, a third-year student in B class. Floyd, addressing Eurus as the "blue shark," jokingly requested that she lend the person to him so he could strangle them, offering a treat in return. Eurus responded with a cold expression, stating that she didn't want any treats but simply wanted to fulfill her duty. Floyd was taken aback by her response but then smiled warmly, remarking, "You truly are unique, blue shark."
Azul intervened in their conversation, advising Eurus to eat and gain energy for her task. Eurus nodded in agreement.
During the second break time, many students were chatting and socializing in their classrooms. Some students took the opportunity to explore different areas of the school. As Tokaku, disguised as Eurus, walked along a bustling hallway, she couldn't help but notice the various scents that emanated from the students she passed by. Each scent revealed a glimpse into their current emotional state. Some students who caught sight of Eurus watched her curiously, as it was the first time they had seen someone wearing a fully covered face mask. Despite being subjected to their stares and potential mockery, Eurus remained unfazed and didn't let it affect her.
While continuing her walk, Eurus suddenly caught a whiff of fear from a student who hurriedly passed by her. Intrigued by this scent, she discreetly followed him from behind. The student unknowingly made his way to a secluded area at the back of the school, completely oblivious to the fact that someone was shadowing his every move. Eurus concealed herself behind the walls, ensuring that she remained undetected. The student, satisfied that no one was around, retrieved a paper test from his bag, which revealed that he had achieved an impressive A-plus in History. "Yes! Another A-plus! This means I'll have to pay that octopus guy, huh? Well, I won't give up my wind power to some lowly junior!" he exclaimed, talking to himself.
Eurus listened intently to the student's monologue, which confirmed her suspicions. Not to mention the distinct red and black armband he wore, it was clear that he was Azul's target from Heartslabyul. Without wasting any time, Eurus retrieved a tranquilizer needle provided by Azul. Fixing her gaze upon the student's neck, she swiftly threw the needle, successfully injecting it into his skin. "Ow!" The student suddenly felt dizzy and collapsed onto the ground, unconscious. Upon confirming his state, Eurus emerged from her hiding spot and approached him.
Meanwhile, at the yet-to-be-opened Mostro Lounge, Azul, Jade, and Floyd were busy preparing for its official launch. Jade was in the midst of cleaning some glassware when his phone started buzzing. Curious, he retrieved his phone and saw that it was a call from Eurus.
# Flashback
Azul had given Eurus a phone, instructing her to use it if she ever needed assistance or to report the completion of a job.
Jade answered the call, his voice filled with anticipation. "Hello, Eurus?" he greeted. "Jade, could you please come to the back school? I just finished the job," Eurus requested over the phone. Hearing that she had completed her assignment, Jade's smile grew even wider. "Of course! I'll be right there to help you out," he eagerly replied. After ending the call, Jade placed his phone back on the table. Azul and Floyd, who had been observing the conversation, were curious about the caller. "Who was that, Jade?" Floyd inquired. "It was Eurus. She said she finished her job," Jade informed them. Azul couldn't help but chuckle at the efficiency of Eurus. "My, my. She certainly did her job much quicker than I anticipated," he remarked with amusement.
"Shall I assist her?" Jade asked, seeking permission. "Yes, Jade. You may aid our junior in removing any evidence from the track," replied Azul. With that, Jade made his way to the back of the school and encountered Eurus, who was guarding her unconscious target. Jade observed the scene and was impressed. "Oh my, Eurus. You have done an exceptional job here. As a senior, I am proud to say that I am truly impressed," he complimented.
Eurus responded to the compliment with indifference. "Thank you," she replied, her expression masked. Jade simply smiled, understanding that Eurus did not show her emotions easily. He then picked up the unconscious Heartslabyul student and suggested that Eurus accompany him. Eurus agreed, and together they walked swiftly to ensure that no one spotted them, despite the empty surroundings of the Night Raven College.
Upon reaching the Mostro Lounge, Jade gently placed the Heartslabyul student on the floor. Azul and Floyd stood there, beaming with satisfaction as they finally saw the student who owed them a debt. Azul congratulated Eurus on her excellent work. "Thank you," Eurus responded, her tone devoid of emotion.
Suddenly, the unconscious Heartslabyul student regained consciousness, only to find himself on a hard floor. "Where am I?" he groggily asked. As he looked up, he saw Azul and Floyd standing before him and was overcome with shock, collapsing to the ground. "What!? Azul!?" he exclaimed, his terror evident. Azul smirked, holding his staff confidently. "Good day, my senior. It seems you have come here to settle your debt with me."
The Heartslabyul student trembled with fear. "How...did I end up here?" he asked, looking around the Mostro Lounge in confusion. Azul dismissed his question, stating, "That is not important now. What matters is that you have failed to repay your debt." He called upon Floyd to confront the student. "This is going to be very entertaining," Floyd said, his smile intense as he approached the frightened student. "No! No! Wait! Just give me another chance! I'll give you anything except my power!" the student pleaded desperately.
"Unfortunately, that was the deal. You cannot change the terms of your payment. In the end, you must forfeit something," Azul replied. Meanwhile, Floyd seized the student and bound his arms. "It's time for some strangling," Floyd declared, relishing in the cruel act.
"No!!!!"
Unfortunately, Floyd had strangled the Heartslabyul student until he was gasping for air. The student, now breathless, collapsed to the floor as Floyd released his grip.
Meanwhile, Eurus witnessed Floyd squeezing the kidnapped Heartslabyul student. Rather than feeling sympathy, she remained emotionless, observing him as he struggled for breath on the floor.
"Huh... That was quite a commotion," mumbled Azul, sighing. "Floyd, you did a good job there." He praised Floyd for carrying out his role effectively. Floyd smiled, his right hand tightly clenched by his left. "I owe a debt of gratitude to Blue Shark for providing me with this individual. I appreciate it greatly," he replied, brimming with excitement.
Jade stood by Eurus's side, delighted for his twin brother. "I'm glad she's been able to bring out this level of excitement in you," he said, his smile beaming.
"Eurus, since you have fulfilled your duties so well on your first day, I would like you to continue doing so from now on. Over the next few months, you will be occupied with your work. Don't worry, Jade and Floyd are more than willing to lend a hand if you encounter any difficulties," announced Azul to Eurus.
Behind her emotionless mask, Eurus responded. "I don't care about any other problems or concerns mentioned. Just let me do my job."
Is being an assassin a unique trade or a curse? Who holds the answer? The Azuma clan has always been a distinctive family throughout generations. They teach their children to become heartless killers from birth, training them to forsake humanity and empathy. Their sole purpose is to eliminate their designated targets. This philosophy has been passed down from the first generation to the current and final heir.