peper

If you know someone's stalling, you shouldn't hang around and let things drag out—

What? You...

Are you done yet?

Having a nice chat with your new girlfriend, are you?

Shit! Y-You...

—Do it!

Dammit! You... crooked sons of bitches!

(No, if both of them attack at once... I can't dodge!)

Ugh!

Eyes open! Look at your opponent. Raise your weapon and block!

Ungh!

Ugh, here comes the nasty bastard.

Don't worry about anyone else. Focus on your target.

Don't worry about getting hurt. In battle, never let go of your weapon!

Yes, sir!

Don't you underestimate me!

Now! Attack!

Haah!

Gah!

Hah... Haah! Don't underestimate you?

Right back at you—You jerks. Don't—Don't underestimate me!

Hah, where're you aiming at, punk?!

What are you doing?!

Have you forgotten everything I've taught you?! Aim for his vitals!

I-I know...!

Haaaaagh—!

*pant*... *pant*...

*pant*...

Got them.

Grimm!

You see that? I took them both down myself!

Grimm...?

What's wrong? A-Are you mad?

What did I teach you before?

Don't underestimate the enemy, don't hold back, and aim for the enemy's vitals in one go.

And what were you doing?

I... I didn't miss on purpose. I... uh...

I mean, you're here. It's not a problem.

What if... in the future, I'm not around?

But why would you ever not be around?

No one sticks around forever. Don't be stupid.

Ugh...

They're still alive?

Uh... yeah. I-I knocked them out...

Why didn't you kill them outright?

Well...

That's not really necessary, right...?

Hey, how about I tie them up?

That way, they can't call for help...

Sometimes I wonder.

What exactly can I teach a kid like her?

Should I teach her how to become a 'real Sarkaz merc?' Should I teach her those so-called rules I've put together from my experiences?

Would she really accept anything I teach her and eventually grow up to become the kind of Sarkaz I've met aplenty. The kind of Sarkaz like me?

That's definitely not a future I'd look forward to.

But if I teach her nothing...

A naive Sarkaz like her will have no future.

Paprika.

Hm?

Watch carefully.

The old mercenary unsheathes the sharp blade he is carrying at his waist and drives it into the defeated man's throats as the young girl watches.

His red blood spatters onto Paprika's knees and her shoes; the scalding heat seeps through the fabric and reaches her skin.

But... Why...?

They're from the black market, and they came for us.

If I hadn't noticed their movement just now, it could've been you who was lying on the ground here.

I know!

I know they were up to no good! And that if it wasn't for you, I would've been in danger...

There's one more. He's my quarry. I'll end him.

(I need to kill him... Right, I have to.)

(Just stab him. Relax, Paprika. This isn't hard...)

...Phew...

What are you hesitating for?

I'm not...!

(I'm not hesitating... I'm a merc. This is just killing... just killing my enemy!)

(What is there to hesitate about? I... I...)

I'll waste him right now... right now!

That's enough.

What? But Grimm, I still haven't—

You can't bring yourself to do it.

No! Trust me... I can!

You still don't understand a thing.

If you can't even kill a man like him, I can say for sure there is no future for you as a merc.

You will die soon. Dying on a battlefield somewhere is still a half-decent outcome, but you could die somewhere that doesn't even matter, and I'd have to go collect your body.

But I am a merc!

All of us mercs will die one day. Didn't you say that yourself?

All of <i>us?</i>

Hah, you're not one of us.

What?

Grimm, sometimes, I'm scared...

Of what?

Just like you said, it could've been me who got killed here today. If it wasn't for you, I would've been killed for sure.

It could take you guys a long time to find me, and then it'd take an even longer time for Nana back home to find out.

That's what happened when Fred died. I still remember.

Death and parting are a normal part of life.

Yeah... I know. You always say that.

I'm not scared of dying. I really am not.

But I'm scared of keeping Nana waiting for me to go home, even if I won't ever make it back.

I'll let you off this time.

Grimm...! No, wait, I really can—

I've seen enough of this charade. We're done here.

But, kid, remember this. If you follow us, sooner or later you will run into a situation where you gotta kill.