Was forty seconds ever this long?

I’m starting to feel nauseous.

This rollercoaster had a repeated section, so it was actually much longer than most rides.

And on top of that, standing while riding and slashing away non-stop—my stomach’s churning so bad my guts must be twisted up too.

To make matters worse, Bullet Time was still active. The gap between real time and perceived time felt like a bundle of needles rolling around in my head.

“Ugh, damn it.”

All these pains mixing together was pissing me off.

“Why the hell did I wear a mask in summer? Come to think of it, this world’s got no COVID or anything.”

So as the station approached, Lee Taebaek tossed the mask aside. He needed to breathe properly, or he’d collapse from exhaustion. Thick beads of sweat rolled from the ends of his hair across his nose bridge.

“*Haa* *Haa*”

His opponent, whose breathing was off-beat, was the same. The rise and fall of his chest grew larger.

His right hand gripping the sword twitched pitifully, and blood streamed from every hole on his face. For the record, the reason he was only using one hand even though his strength was faltering was because his left had been severed.

Blood gushed from the stump of his left arm. Cliché as it was, like a waterfall. He should’ve staunched it immediately, but Lee Taebaek’s barrage of sword strikes and spells had expanded his muscles, opening the blood vessels.

“…Grgh…”

Rahankel groaned. Even though only ten seconds had passed, all color had drained from his face. He looked like he belonged in a haunted house.

He really went all out to the end.

Rahankel had held up well.

But just enduring wouldn’t win a fight. The adage that survivors are the strong wouldn’t apply in a life-or-death duel.

“Impressive, Rahankel.”

Lee Taebaek let out a hollow laugh. The outcome was mostly decided, but he respected Rahankel. As a man.

Fuck, I am a man.

Rahankel’s expression turned odd at Lee Taebaek’s words. He hesitated briefly, then bit his lip.

“If that’s empty flattery, fine, Python.”

“One question.”

Lee Taebaek spoke as wind battered his back. A gust whistled past his ear.

You know how clashing blades creates a strange bond with the enemy? Maybe because it’s the last face you’ll see alive.

Unlike before, when survival was all that mattered, I’d grown. Enough to spar with a Ten Wings Saber Master and slaughter a dozen ninjas without breaking a sweat.

I could afford to peek into the enemy’s inner world. At least for those weaker than me.

If you ask why…

Even this guy aiming for my neck was one I created. As his creator, I was curious about Rahankel’s circumstances.

Lee Taebaek knew.

This swordfight was a clash of ideologies. Personal convictions. Distinguishing good and evil was pointless.

That didn’t mean I’d spare Rahankel or leave future troubles. This guy was like a mosquito keeping me up at night.

Even if the two of us are clean, his subordinates might see it differently. Gotta make the ninjas a pain.

Even if mosquitoes were essential to Earth, leaving one alone just tormented me. But if a mosquito could talk, I’d hear it out.

Especially one I’d touched myself. I never created impurities in this world.

“Ninjas, why do you grovel to the City Government so much?”

His voice cut through the wind.

“Honestly, a megacorp I’d get. But you’re not in a position to cower before city gov scum.”

“…”

Rahankel seemed to choose his words with his breaths. The air grew musty. They were entering the tunnel just before the station. Just this short tunnel of about ten seconds, and the rollercoaster would end.

Rahankel gritted his teeth, then his lips moved. His grip on the sword hilt loosened slightly.

“For the autonomous district.”

“…Autonomous district…?”

His vision went dark. Ten steps ahead, a pair of eyes flickered mournfully.

For a moment, time froze. When the Operator listens to someone’s voice, the world stops.

“We ninjas are outcasts even in our homeland. No place in a progressing era. All we can do… is earn our keep with blades…”

“…”

I know.

“…Martial artists handle internal energy. You too, Python. But not us. Maybe our bloodline, but even after elixirs, not a scrap of qi… Can’t abandon our families though.”

“…”

Speak.

“So we left home for Lake City. To carve out a place here. But it’s no cakewalk. More crowded than Tokyo—only Seoul compares, but City makes Seoul look empty. Still… I saw hope here. Unlike our homeland scorning us, prove yourself and it’s a land of opportunity.”

“…”

Vent your rage, child.

“City gov told me. Work under them five years without mishap, and they’ll recognize a ninja autonomous district at the upper-lower border.”

“Your homeland betrayed you too, Rahankel. Yet you swallow the city gov’s bait hook, line, and sinker—even worse scum? You’re too capable. Contradictory, that’s the problem. City gov brass must fear you.”

“Hearing that from you of all people, Python… feels weird…”

Rahankel muttered with a smirk. His bluish lips curved faintly.

“Damn… not a bad feeling.”

“Tell me, Rahankel. Why the blind faith in city gov alone? You, who rose from the bottom to commander with cold judgment. Why bite the bait?”

Rahankel blinked. For some reason, Lee Taebaek’s eyes looking at him seemed sad.

Thud thud—

Thud— thud

The end was near. Lee Taebaek stood haloed by the tunnel exit light, like when fireworks burst moments ago.

Rahankel’s heart clenched. A tyrant, murderer, rebel against the system—yet Python was consoling him.

Indescribable.

“Hope.”

Rahankel forced the words out. His innermost thoughts, hidden from his men as leader.

“Gotta have hope to move forward.”

The instant.

Flash!

The ground heaved, the world lit up.

Boooom…

Dozens of fireworks bloomed in the sky. Stars hid behind cloud blankets tonight. Ten meters to the station.

“Well done.”

Lee Taebaek smiled.

“Give it your all to the end, ninja.”

He assumed position. Siesta Assassination Art, Low Stance. Sword tip tilted in respect.

“…”

Life’s often compared to a train through a tunnel. Rahankel finally understood why.

Forty years of journey.

Twenty years of struggle.

These forty seconds were the end of the journey.

“Life and death are one.”

Rahankel took stance too. High Stance. The closer the blade came to his temple, the more it hummed and trembled.

“Stake all your hopes on this clash, ninja.”

The two men fell silent. Only the wind clashed against their blades, wailing eerily.

A child mirrors its parent.

Creator and creation faced each other silently, positions inverted. Amid the climax fireworks, only they were still. Scraping the bottom of their focus, blood vessels burst in their eyes, their noses dried, and only ringing lingered in their ears.

Crowds laughed, dancers whirled, night sky hotter than day, city lights converged on them.

Then they lunged.

Fireworks ceased.

Sudden quiet stunned the crowd briefly. As parade echoes resumed, the train had arrived.

Drip.

Blood wetted blades. They met at the coaster’s center, bodies forming 人. Up close, the blades sprouting from their backs looked like an X.

“Must’ve been tough.”

Lee Taebaek released the hilt with one hand, stroking my “child’s” head. Rahankel spewed a bowlful of blood.

“What… are you…?”

He tugged his lips. Pallid mouth regained a flush.

“Told you. Operator.”

“Operator…”

He mulled it, then asked.

“Operator… like the megacorp overlords?”

“No.”

Lee Taebaek raised his hand, finger to the sky—perhaps beyond.

“Way higher than those guys.”

Rahankel widened his eyes, then closed them. Impaled like a sheaf, arm gone—yet this embrace was so warm.

“If… *haa* you’re telling the truth, *haa* …promise… one thing…?”

A weight settled on his shoulder. Bodies overlapped as Lee Taebaek nodded.

“At least my clan… *cough* my descendants… *cough* *cough*… a place to live… please…”

“I.”

The longed-for answer slipped out.

“Shall watch over them.”

“Thank… you…”

Rahankel’s body slid. Lee Taebaek caught him, laying him against the seat.

His face looked endlessly serene.

Conversely, the one whose expression was unreadable in the shadow, Lee Taebaek, stared at Rahankel.

Sreuk.

Then he covered his eyes with his hand.

Rahankel was the enemy. A guy who relentlessly chased me. No holds barred, even civilians sometimes. Morally dubious.

Yet all part of my design.

Enemy, foe.

But my creation.

Bound invisibly. Inseparable.

Not just Rahankel. I affirm all elements of this universe. Bugs are impurities.

Thus.

I.

I wanted to call this world, Raken’s, my companion. Meaning one’s other half, sharing life. What word fit better?