Fantasy Assassin in a modern world

Chapter 116 - Protected

"Since you're going to die I will tell you, I am Fade." Hearing the Fade look-alike's answer made Shin frown.

"Huh, I already told you that you can't be the real deal, so why do you keep on lying?" 

"It seems that you have misunderstood something here, there isn't just one Fade." 

"What? Are you saying that Fade is not a name of a person but an organization?"

"No that's not what I meant. Fade is a symbol of those that want to do what is right. To fight for the little people who could not fight for themselves." 

Shin might not be able to see what was under the mask, but he could certainly hear the reverence, obsession, the madness in the Fake Fade's voice. 

"Fade has shown as the way, he is our guiding light." 

"... Is that so... But you said a while ago that you've been hired, that would mean that you've been given payment, right? Doesn't that mean, that you aren't really doing this for the good of others, but for yourself?" 

"I was hired to kill you but no one paid me anything. I simply do this to get the justice that they could not achieve on their own." 

"Then tell me what is the sin that I have committed that requires my death for it to be absolved?" 

"You have harmed others in your pursuit of strength. That in itself is not worthy of death, but not only did you harm them, but you even killed and humiliated your opponents. Using your Clan's power you've been able to continue living a rather carefree life, but that ends today." 

"Huh? What the f*ck are you saying, who the heck killed people?"

"Hmph, there's no use denying it now. I was already informed of all of your misdeeds."

"What misdeeds?! What proof do you have, that I've killed people?!" 

"Of course, there isn't any proof since your family erased all evidence. Enough talk, time for you to die!" 

The Fake Fade threw one of his daggers, and Shin easily dodged it. The Fake Fade then rushed forward while throwing dagger after dagger. Shin was able to easily dodge all of the Fake's daggers. The Fake then tried to stab Shin, but Shin was able to easily grab the Fake's arm. 

"What the f*ck is this, you're so weak?! I thought with all that big talk you made, you would at least be a decent assassin, but you're a weakling. Now that I got a good look at you, you're also rather short..."

Shin grabbed the mask of the struggling Fake, despite the Fake's struggle Shin was able to remove the mask. Shin was surprised to see who was underneath the mask.

"A girl?" It was a young girl who seem to be around fourteen years old. She struggled to break free from Shin's grip even biting Shin's hand but it was useless. 

"Let go of me you monster!" Unlike before when she was speaking through the mask, the young girl's voice was rather cute. 

"You look familiar, where have I seen you before?... Oh, wait... I remember you're the sister of Takahashi Ren, your name was... Fubuki, right?" 

Fubuki did not answer as she continued to struggle and get away from Shin. 

"So did you do all of this to avenge your brother?" 

"Damn it! It's all your fault! It's because of you my perfect, strong, handsome, confident, big brother became a mess! Now he won't even step out of his room, and he keeps on muttering, some weird things like that he's not the protagonist. All because he lost to a b*stard like you, who only knows how to fight!" 

When Shin heard what Fubuki said he sighed. 

"I'm sorry about what happened to your brother, but you do know he was the one who challenged me. So anyway all those things about you idolizing Fade and you having proof of me killing someone were just lies?" 

"Hmph, it wasn't lies, I truly do believe in what Fade represents. Also, I heard that many people have been going around doing vigilante work while wearing Fade's attire. So I kinda wanted to use Fade's fame to scare you... As for you killing someone, who's to say if that's true or not. Since you like fighting so much, who knows if you really killed someone already." 

"You shouldn't do this kind of stuff, I could've badly hurt you!" Shin angrily scolded Fubuki, who then started to tear up a bit. 

"Whoah, wait, don't-" Shin wasn't able to finish what he was going to say as Fubuki started to cry. Shin did not know what to do as he panicked trying his best to calm Fubuki down.

...

While Shin and Fubuki were doing their thing, Fade was on the roof of a house a kilometer away facing off against assassins. These were the assassins following Shin since he and the others left the restaurant. The assassins were about to strike while Fubuki and Shin were fighting. One of the assassins had a rifle and was about to shoot, but Fade was able to knock him out before he pulled the trigger. 

The remaining two assassins did not expect someone to spot them and were surprised which delayed their reaction, using this opportunity Fade was able to knock out another assassin, so now only one was left. The final assassin took out a handgun with a silencer and glared at Fade. 

"So you're the rumored assassin, Fade. Why are you getting in the way of our work?... Do you also have a contract to kill that boy?" 

"No, I do not."

"Then why are you doing this?" 

"It doesn't matter why, just take your comrades and leave." 

"Sorry, but I can't do that. Our employer isn't someone who likes failure."

The assassin started shooting at Fade who was able to evade by jumping upward, when the assassin raised his gun Fade quickly threw a needle into the gun's barrel. Unable to shoot anymore the assassin discarded the gun and took out his knives, as he was about to charge at Fade he was surprised to see that Fade was no longer in front of him. The assassin quickly took out a smoke bomb and was about to toss it when he suddenly felt a powerful strike hit him at the back of the neck and he lost consciousness.

Once Fade was sure that all the assassins following Shin were neutralized he used his wires to tie them up. 

'These guys were around the level of a rank three martial artist same as Shin, they were also using heavy equipment. Even a martial artist above Shin's level could be killed by this rifle. If this is the level of the people trying to assassinate Shin, and with that kid's weak detection ability then how was he able to survive until now?' 

It was at that moment Shin looked in Fade's direction. Fade was rather surprised to see Shin look in this direction as if he could spot him. After a few seconds of staring in his direction, Shin shrugged his shoulders and went back to comforting Fubuki.

'I guess that answers my question, this kid has animal-like instincts. If that's true then how come he didn't sense the presence of these assassins? Does he not care, or does his instincts only work once someone tries to attack him? No then how come he noticed me, I wasn't even trying to harm him?... Did he already know that he was being followed and was just waiting?... I better stop thinking about it, since I won't get any answers.' 

Fade shook his head as he carried the three unconscious assassins, brought them to an empty alleyway, and called the police to pick them up.