Alice had revealed that she was an Ability User while we were bathing in the river—but that confession was only the beginning.
If anything, what came after was the real bombshell. The part that truly mattered.
Of course, we didn't continue that conversation stark naked. Once we were done washing up and had gotten dressed, I finally asked her to explain everything from the beginning.
"So… that gang fight the night before last…?"
"Alice was involved?"
"Well, not exactly 'behind it'…" Alice scratched her cheek. "But I guess you could say I was one of the people involved. I was taking jobs from one gang, investigating their rivals from the inside, and passing the information back. Basically… I was a spy."
As it turned out, Alice had originally belonged to the rival gang.
Not as a full-fledged member—more like disposable labor. A pawn, used and thrown away like so many others in the slums.
Still, she was sharp. Reliable. She had ties to the other orphans and knew how to mobilize them for small jobs. That made her useful in ways most people weren't.
For months, the gang had exploited those strengths, sending her to infiltrate their rivals under the guise of odd jobs. Little by little, she gathered intelligence. Based on what she brought back, the gang drew up a plan.
That plan had culminated in the shootout two nights ago.
Alice's espionage and reconnaissance were decisive. Without her, the ambush wouldn't have succeeded, and the turf war might have dragged on—or even ended differently.
And once the job was done, once she was no longer useful, the gang decided to erase her.
That was why she'd nearly been killed that morning. And why she'd said earlier that she was sure they meant to kill her—and shocked they'd sold her instead.
As a spy, she'd learned things the gang never intended her to know. Letting her live was a risk. She'd never imagined they'd trade her away for money.
The only reason she'd survived was likely because the men sent after her didn't know the real reason behind the order. All they'd been told was, "Kill this brat."
From there, it wasn't hard to imagine how things went wrong. Some underlings decided exile would serve just as well—and make them money besides.
That was Alice's conclusion, piecing together the chain of events.
"There were other orphans working as spies too," she said quietly. "But from what I overheard… I'm the only one left."
"My goodness…" Suzu murmured. "Even for secrecy, that's merciless."
"That's awful," Leona said, fists clenched. "She did everything right. She made the operation succeed. What more did they want?"
"…Silencing loose ends," I said. "In places like this, eliminating future trouble is often part of the plan from the start."
Alice nodded. "I can't say I'm blameless. The rival gang probably hated me too. If they'd wanted to, they could've used 'punish the suspicious' as an excuse to slaughter every orphan I worked with."
I exhaled slowly.
It was horrifying—but not unrealistic.
Even if it changed nothing, even if it didn't bring back their dead or undo their defeat, people could still lash out. Rage had a way of turning blades toward anyone within reach.
"Well… to prevent that," Alice said, "I got the other kids to run or hide yesterday."
"Huh?"
"I was afraid this would happen. So I convinced everyone I could to escape. The kids who came to the food distribution yesterday—that was them."
The three of us tried to recall their faces, but there had been far too many. Friendly kids, unfamiliar kids, kids Alice knew well and kids she barely knew—we hadn't paid close enough attention to tell.
When I admitted as much and asked who she meant, Alice shook her head.
"No, I mean everyone. Every single kid who was there. And their friends too. It ended up being… probably twice that number."
"Ehh?!" all three of us blurted out.
"So all of them were your friends?" Suzu asked.
"Not really. Some were. Some weren't. Some were kids I usually fought with—practically enemies."
"…And you helped them anyway?"
"Yeah. I didn't care about sides. Yesterday was exhausting."
I blinked. Honestly, it surprised me.
Alice had always struck me as detached—not heartless, but practical. Someone who could separate work from emotion to survive in a place like this.
And yet…
"Normally, I wouldn't have gone that far," she admitted. "But yesterday… I couldn't abandon them."
"Huh?"
"You remember the grilled fish? When we ate together?" Her voice softened. "The Big Sisters probably didn't notice—or wouldn't have cared—but among those kids were groups that hated each other more than cats and dogs."
"Really? I didn't see that."
"Exactly. Yesterday, there was none of that tension. Not even a little." She stared into the distance. "For people who know the history, it was shocking."
Her voice drifted, as if replaying the scene.
"Kids I usually fought with. Kids I was neutral with. Kids I didn't even know. Yesterday, everyone was just saying how good it tasted. How happy they were. Crying while they ate. For a moment, all that darkness we carry around… it was gone. I knew it wouldn't last, but for that one moment, everyone felt the same thing. And it was… blissful."
She swallowed.
"That's why I couldn't abandon them. If I did, it'd feel like smearing dirt over that moment. So I spent the entire day persuading every group to run or hide."
"…I see." I smiled faintly. "I'm glad you liked the food. But I didn't expect it to affect you that deeply."
"It wasn't an exaggeration," Alice said. "Some of those kids live day to day just to survive. Some betrayed family to stay alive. And still… they laughed together. For once, no enemies. Just full bellies. I didn't want that memory ruined."
"…Were you able to save everyone?"
She hesitated.
"No. I tried. But some didn't believe me. Some refused to move. And… I heard some of them were attacked and killed."
Her voice wavered, just slightly.
Even so, she kept herself composed. Only a trace of emotion leaked through.
"Before yesterday, I never imagined feeling this way. But after that meal… I didn't want anyone there to die. It was like everyone I ate with became comrades. Friends. Even family. It's strange… but not unpleasant. Is that what a real family feels like?"
"…Your family," Leona said gently. "They're really gone, huh?"
"I don't remember much. I'm not from this country. I think I was kidnapped from another island by slave traders. Their ship sank, and I drifted here. My home was probably a Non-Affiliated Nation too, so… not much different."
Kidnapped. Another brutal past.
Like mine.
Alice had been an orphan even back then. She couldn't remember the island's name. If she'd ever had a family, they were gone long before memory could form.
"…I think there was a younger boy with me," she added. "Like a little brother. I don't remember his name. I'll probably never see him again."
Silence settled.
"But even so," she said softly, "for one moment yesterday… everyone felt like family. That's why…"
"That's enough," I said, resting a hand on her head. "That's more than enough reason."
Leona and Suzu nodded.
You didn't do anything wrong.
"…Ah."
I hadn't realized I'd started patting her head.
Alice looked embarrassed—but she smiled, small and genuine.
Alright, then.
"Okay," I said. "I've heard enough. Alice—about what comes next."
"Huh? Um… okay."
"We're leaving this country today. We're taking you with us. After that, once we reach a suitable place, you're free to start over. Somewhere better than this. But if—"
"If… what?"
"…If…"
I stopped myself.
Instead of finishing the sentence, I drew my Japanese umbrella and extended it beside Alice.
She flinched in confusion—
GIIINNG!
A metallic clang rang out as a bullet struck the umbrella.
If I'd been a moment slower, Alice would've died.
"…We're surrounded," I said quietly.
"Tch. Sorry, Mama," Suzu muttered. "They're downwind."
They weren't amateurs. Their concealment was precise. Even with Observation Haki, I'd noticed them late.
Professionals.
Assassins sent to silence Alice—and us along with her.
Figures emerged from the shadows. Not all of them. Some were still hidden, waiting.
Alice went pale.
I pulled her close, pressing her against my chest.
Suzu and Leona stepped in front of her, ready.
But they wouldn't have to fight.
I raised my voice. "This girl belongs to me now. If you think of trying anything—"
The leader didn't bother responding. With a hand signal, gunfire erupted from every direction.
Every bullet was stopped by the Wall Paper I deployed instantly.
Not a single one came close.
"…So that's how you want it."
I scattered the Wall Paper into countless Paper Flakes, swirling into the air.
The assassins froze, staring upward.
Leona sighed. Suzu muttered, "Mother's snapped."
"Paper Razor Blizzard…"
I smiled.
"Thousand Cherry Blossoms."
Five seconds later, the bodies lay motionless, blood pooling beneath them.
I didn't leave survivors.
Professionals held grudges.
"…Alright," I said softly, pulling Alice closer. "Let's go."
I still have something important to finish telling you.
…But before that—
To be continued...