A Quick Breather in the Back Alley

"Hmm..."

Shadow lapsed into a profound silence after that single, cryptic utterance. Gamma watched him intently, her blue eyes shimmering with a trace of anxiety. Is he displeased? Have I failed him?

Suddenly, a single tear traced a path down Gamma’s cheek. Seeing that nostalgic Bluish-purple Magic Power again had sent her mind spiraling back into the past.

Gamma’s life had truly begun with that bluish-purple glow.

Without him, she would have died a miserable death, nothing more than a festering mound of possessed flesh. Abandoned by her family, exiled from her country, and stripped of everything she owned, she had been standing on the precipice of agony, terror, and total despair. The one who saved her was a young boy emitting a brilliant, bluish-purple light. Gamma would never forget that radiance as long as she lived. To her, it was the light of life itself.

The bluish-purple light contains life, Alpha had once said.

Gamma didn't need logic to agree; she felt the truth of it in her very soul. That light didn’t just stitch up superficial wounds; it reached down and healed a person’s very essence.

Whenever she touched that Bluish-purple Magic Power, Gamma felt as though the invisible shackles binding her were falling away. It was as if something precious, something long suppressed, was finally being liberated, allowing her to reclaim her true self.

On that day, Gamma had been reborn.

The moment she was granted the name "Gamma," she had vowed to dedicate her new life entirely to him.

Yet, despite the depth of her devotion, she had initially occupied the lowest rung of the Seven Shadows. She was constantly overtaken by newer recruits, suffered defeat after defeat, and spent her days crawling through the dirt in humiliation. Eventually, she was forced to face a bitter realization: no matter how hard she worked, she would never be a warrior.

Gamma had agonized over it. What is the point of my existence? If I'm just going to be a pathetic burden, I might as well vanish.

On the very day she resolved to disappear, he had—for some inexplicable reason—summoned her. It was then that he shared his "Shadow Wisdom."

He showed her a path where one fought not with martial prowess, but with intellect.

Gamma had lunged at Shadow Wisdom with the desperation of a drowning woman. She threw herself into reproducing his knowledge, literally risking her life because she knew it was her only way to survive by his side.

Looking back, he must have seen through her entirely. Her internal agony, the specific path she needed to take—he had understood it all and offered her Shadow Wisdom as her salvation.

In that moment, a profound sense of heartache washed over Gamma. He existed in a realm so far beyond her reach that it was almost painful.

Does he even need someone like me?

The thought alone brought fresh tears to her eyes.

But that was why she had to wipe them away and keep pushing forward. When she finally grew Shadow Garden into an organization worthy of him—something grander and more powerful than anything the world had ever seen—then, surely... these feelings of hers would finally be fulfilled.

"I see. So that’s how it is."

His voice snapped Gamma back to the present.

"I have an idea. I'll go look into it."

Gamma’s chest tightened at the sound of his voice. He sounded as if he had already seen through the entire mystery. I’ve failed to be useful again. He always managed to find the answer using the tiniest fragments of information. Clues that Gamma couldn't find even by mobilizing every resource at her disposal, he uncovered with effortless ease.

Still, Gamma refused to give up. She had decided long ago that she wouldn't stop trying until the day he truly acknowledged her.

"Nu, come here."

Gamma summoned the Dark-brown Haired Woman who had escorted Shadow to the VIP lounge.

"This is Nu. She is the 13th Number."

"Hoh."

Shadow narrowed his eyes as he looked Nu over. With those piercing eyes of his, he was likely measuring the exact depth of her potential in an instant.

"She’s a recent recruit, but even Alpha-sama has acknowledged her skills. Please feel free to use her for errands or as a messenger."

"I am Nu. It is an honor to be at your service."

Nu’s voice wavered slightly, thick with nervous tension.

"I’ll call for you if I have a need," Shadow said.

"Understood!"

Nu bowed deeply and withdrew.

"Well then, it's about time I head home."

Shadow stood up, preparing to depart.

"Oh, right. I wanted to buy some Chocolate. Just the cheapest stuff you've got. It’d be great if I could get a friendship discount on top of that."

"Prepare our most premium Chocolate for him immediately," Gamma commanded her subordinates.

"Um... how much is that going to run me?"

"With the friendship discount, it is a hundred percent off."

"A hundred percent?! That’s free! Score! Oh, in that case, I’ll take enough for three people."

"As you wish."

Gamma watched him with a fond smile. He was so dedicated to staying in character as the "average joe," Cid Kagenou.

---

"This is bad! We're never gonna make curfew!"

"It's because you were so slow, Cid!"

"My bad, my bad! Look, I gave you guys Chocolate, didn't I?"

The three of us were hauling ass through the Royal Capital long after sundown.

Sure, I was part of the reason we were late, but it was mostly because Hyoro and Jaga wouldn't stop badgering me for details about that hot girl. Nu, was it? Anyway, I gave them a bunch of vague, non-committal answers to shut them up.

But man, talk about a plot twist.

I never would've guessed Alexia would actually turn into an indiscriminate serial killer. I mean, if it’s not Delta doing the hacking and slashing, it has to be Alexia. That girl finally snapped, I thought to myself when I heard the report.

Despite being a blessed Princess, I wonder what drove her over the edge? The female psyche truly is an enigma.

Then again, I don't necessarily think becoming an indiscriminate serial killer is a bad career move. Everyone needs a hobby, right? To each their own.

However, if she’s going to go around dragging Shadow Garden’s name through the mud, that’s where I draw the line. Sorry, Princess, but I can't let that slide.

Suddenly, Hyoro chimed in. "Hey, did you guys hear something?"

"I didn't hear a thing," Jaga replied.

The two of them were running ahead of me, but I had caught the sound perfectly. It was the distinct ring of steel clashing against steel. Somewhere in the distance, a fight was breaking out.

I came to a dead stop.

"Hey, what gives?"

"We're gonna miss curfew!"

Hyoro and Jaga stopped a few paces ahead and looked back. I pointed toward a dark back alley.

"I’ve gotta go take a dump."

They both gave me a look that clearly said, Is this guy for real?

"If I don't go right this second, I'm going to be leaving a trail of brown behind me while I run."

"That... is a valid concern," Hyoro admitted.

"It’s a question of curfew or dignity," Jaga added, his face turning grim.

The two of them became incredibly serious.

"Just go on without me. I don't want anyone to see me like this..."

"Ngh! We get it! Don't worry, man, I won't tell a soul that you were late because you were pooping in the wild!"

"Cid-kun, your choice was the right one, no matter what the world says! I believe in you!"

"I can't hold it! Hurry... just go!"

"Cid... I'll never forget your sacrifice!"

"Cid-kun... even if you're a public shitter, we'll be friends forever!"

"Go! Just goooooooo!!"

The two of them turned on their heels and sprinted away.

I watched their retreating figures until they vanished, then slipped into the back alley. A few moments later, I began heading toward the sound of battle.