?: “You're the absolute WORST! You don't even deserve to live anymore! Hurry up and die already!!”

Father: “That's harsh little Ali...and after all I did for you...don't you agree, Boman?”

Boman: “Yes, boss.”

Alianne: “Ugh! I'm being serious here!! You PROMISED that he could live a normal LIFE! You TOLD me I could complete my first killing in his place!”

Father: “Did I ever say that, Boman?”

Boman: “Yes, boss.”

Father: “...”

Alianne: “....Ahaha! A witness!”

Father: “Well, then...I take it back. In fact, you should be grateful. After all, I made your brother realize the depths of killing for the same exact reason that I put you through it. To teach you both a universal truth. Life, no matter how sugar-coated society deems it, will forever be a game ruled by 'survival of the fittest'. Society, darling, does whatever it needs to survive.”

Alianne: “You psychotic WEIRDO!! WHO teaches their kids to kill as a LIFE LESSON?! You could've just TOLD us that or even showed us a DOCUMENTARY!! WHY force us to....TO COMMIT MURDER?”

Father: “Hmph, documentaries are for chumps. I'm a good father, one who makes sure his kids wield enough capability to survive in this chaotic Era. I did you a favor.”

Alianne: “Haha! Oh really? Joke's on you then, I didn't actually kill him. By now he should be safely resting in a jail cell.”

Father: “WHAT?! HOW DARE YOU DISOBEY ME! AS PUNISHMENT....Just kidding. Heheheh. I made your precious older brother finish him off after playing along with your charade. Care to guess which one? Hehehe.”

Alianne: “!! YOU...Haah, no, forget it. I did all I could, but other people don't matter to me in the end. That's not what this is about anyways so STOP diverting the subject. The promise you made to mom, why did you break it?!”

Father: “Oh? A promise to your mother? Which one?”

Alianne: “MY ONLY MOTHER YOU DISGUSTING PIG!! I don't consider those other--”

*PA!*

{I could hear a loud smack, echo off of flesh to the walls surrounding.

After, in a dark and raspy voice, Father spoke.}

Father: “Don't finish that sentence.”

Alianne: “...Ha...hahahaha. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I'll clarify it as many times as it TAKES for you. I DON'T CONSIDER YOUR OTHER BITCHES AS MY MOTHERS. ONLY MOM NOE-”

*BOOM*

{This...is this what an apocalypse feels like? Fire and debris flying everywhere, even forcing me backwards continuously...of course I make my way close again to eavesdrop. I wanted to check on Alianne after that loud explosion, but I was both too scared of daddy, and the path towards them already resembles a landfill.}

Father: “Alright enough of this farce. It's just the three of us, so there's no need to continue hiding it. Say what it is you really wanted to say to me. I don't remember sending you inside a dungeon today. Why lure me here?”

Alianne: “? What the hell are you talking about? Don't dodge the question! I've been to the outside world-”

Father: “I know. I gave you protection, plus my permission to go. Remember?”

Alianne: “.........I've BEEN to the outside world, I--”

Father: “Can you stop with that? Making it sound like we live in a completely separated world or something. My parenting skills are only 'slightly' different from the norm. The Rowe's Assassins family raise their children similar to myself, you know. Same thing for those damnable Ericsons.”

Alianne: “STOP INTERRUPTING!! YOU'RE TRASH THAT ONLY EXCELS AT DODGING-”

Father: ”A trait you picked up from me, it seems, my dear Ali. Let's jump right into the crux of our discussion here, shall we? I heard you've been 'talking' to your brother. Care to enlighten me about this?”

Alianne: “...Heehee~

.......heehahaha…!

Ahahahahaha! So you found out after all! Okay, Okay! I concede~ Originally, I tried roping more of the young ones, but unfortunately, father's brainwashing works really well. They didn't take the bait at all. Only Noel did.”

Father: “Don't use that name. Little Noel is little Tyler now.”

{...Hm? Me? What about me?? Why was my name suddenly dragged in?! And Who’s Noel??}

Alianne: “Heehee, father's brainwashing didn't work on me, remember? 4th Mother Noelle named her precious baby boy after herself, since she couldn't conceive for the looongest~ time. Then you suddenly accused her of betrayal and coldly killed her, before hiding the actual situation from the rest of us. Bet you didn't expect mother Noelle to have already known of your false accusation and secretly tell me ‘that’ truth, now did you? Even for Father-”

Father: “Wait, brainwashing? You keep mentioning that, but that's what you've done, no? I've taught you all to kill so you aren't 'killed' by reality, but those uninterested or who lack talent are free to go. Haven't I let you wander freely in the past for a very long time? Yet you repay me how? By foolishly making enemies and slandering your own Father's name. I should've erased your memories for all you've done. Be glad I didn't.”

Alianne: “FREE TO GO?! You're not seeking pity now, huh Father?

YOU'VE NEVER LET A SINGLE TALENT get away from your filthy grasp. Always, Always, Always, Always, Always, Always, ALWAYS FUCKING KILLING. I'M TIRED OF IT!

So I may have input some 'suggestions' into him from the time he could talk. And? It was to ruin your plans at creating more killers. I couldn't wait to see the look on your face when he failed his test because he wasn't capable of bringing himself to pull the trigger.

Look at the result though!! Haha! Although he passed, it wasn't due to his own efforts. Had that been a true 'hit' no aid would've been there for him and the hero would've locked him away safely, bringing our family, no, you, all of that shame that baby Noel caused! Hahaha! Although my research subject was a failure, he can still be called a cripple to the family itself. In the end, I'm quite satisfied~”

Father: “...Are you done? If so, it's time for your punishment. How fitting to choose a dungeon for your confession. Putting your own family in danger like chess pieces for some, petty rebellious phase-induced plot, no less, is a serious offense to the Malierano Family. Even though you're my daughter, no matter the motive, this act was unforgivable. You won't be leaving this floor for a very long time.”

Alianne: “Chess pieces?? All of you have done NOTHING BUT this! Use all of us as pawns!!!”

Father: “When you have your own children, you may play with them as you please. Until then, don't get any ideas about playing with mine.”

Alianne: “Stop playing the role of a victim! It's SICKENING! So I fed him some, stupid flowery words to trick him into not killing. What about it? You've been actively designing our entire--”

Father: “That's enough. Time for talking, is over.”

*BOOM!*

{...The world around me shook, as if the entire underground dungeon would collapse. I'll...take that as my cue to leave.

Still...What did I..just hear? Didn't Father say she died on a mission protecting the family? She's my birth mother? I was always told it didn't matter who my birth mother is, since everyone's DNA in inside of our bodies thanks to Advanced Malierano secret knowledge.

But, if she was a traitor...does that change things?

My-My head hurts...I think I should go back and rest a bit...

For now, I make my way back out of the dungeon. This trip probably takes me half an hour, even after I've been running at full speed. That's because this was a 'dungeon' meaning it leads from the 9th floor deep below the first floor.

On top of that, there's only a little over an hour before I gotta pick up my equipment.

But what was the 'brainwashing' stuff about? Was sister...I mean, Alianne, just...using me? Is it wrong to kill? If she was lying, then...then is it actually okay to kill? Killing for survival... is father right? Hesitation is useless, huh? Emotions during a mission are ‘sinful’ then?

No, but the little girl crying...her tears-

Aaahh! I can't stand this! What do I...}

?: “Tyler?”

{Hmm?...Oh, no! Not him!}

Tyler/Noel?: “U-Umm...hello big brother Seiran. I was just...just leaving...”

{Seiran Is one of the quintuplets in my family. They're all strong of course, but equally stuck-up. Also they don't seem to like me, or anyone, for that matter.}

Seiran: “Hm...well. You aren't the first to explore the different floors, but considering how much of an embarrassment you acted back at your birthday mission: Don't you suppose you could use your time a little more wisely? If you can't pull the trigger, just go disappear somewhere with the rejected trash that already failed.”

{I didn't say anything as he walked off. I couldn't say anything. My hesitation really did embarrass father and almost almost cause me a mission failure. All that training I went through...for nothing. So what if I can assassinate adults, or if my intelligence surpasses others my age? If I can't pull the trigger when it counts then I'm...I'm...

...I’m nothing but a failure.

But-But even so! Even knowing Alianne probably lied to me about the outside world hating killers, or about killing being wrong, I can't stop thinking about that little girl's face. Is...

Is killing really evil?

...Or, is killing necessary?}

…

Father: “Boman, care to explain why Noel was listening in at the stairs?”

Boman: “Yes, boss.”

Father “Tell me on the way out. Oh, and prepare the ‘Final mission’ for his graduation attempt. I want info on that crazed whackjob's secret room. Tell Noel that he only has one chance to redeem his pathetic performance. Making me appear a laughingstock in front of Gracia and Dura...Explain to that little fool that if he fails, I'll make sure to denounce him as a Malierano.”

Boman: “Yes, boss.”

Father: “Okay little Noel, you found out about her MUCH sooner than even Noelle herself expected – somewhat impressive.

Despite that, I won't coddle you. I never raise weaklings, and your siblings were all treated the same.

It does leave me wondering though, just how will you respond to killing, this time?”

---

In the shadows...

Kifah: “...Should we..”

Beatrice: “I-I don't know anything, I don't know anything! I didn't send him to father to EAVESDROP!! How could I have known...*sniff*....that they were still talking for so long?!”

Kifah: “Still...should we...”

Beatrice: “...I don't know I said, don't ask me! Who would've thought Little Ty, or Little Noel?...little Noel..Little Ty...hmm, I like Little Ty better 'cause I'm used to it. Anyways, who would've thought little Ty could actually even follow Boman to father successfully without getting caught? If I'd have known, I might've stopped him for sure! Maybe.”

Kifah: “No you wouldn't. Father probably knows, it's hard for him not to know what any of us are up to thanks to the curse placed on our souls. The fact that he didn't move is clear evidence that Noel's actions earned his approval.

Probably.

He could have even convinced Alianne into ‘playing along’ to help Noel make a decision. That kid has the talent, but lacks the will, after all. We don’t know how much of little Ali’s actions are dad’s schemes or her own, either.

Also, I'm quite fond of ‘Noel’ now. It's cute, so I’ll switch to that.”

Beatrice: “So...it's okay?”

Kifah: “Probably. Continue with the mission as is.”

Beatrice: “Oh yeah! Remind me to punch that snot-nosed brat Sei later on after the mission is over for his annoying glare.”

Kifah: “I too, found his contemptuous, and ridicule-filled stare quite unappealing. Therefore I will also beat him up. It was as if he saw us as 'failures' for not stopping Noel. He's becoming very rude, after succeeding his recent rank up.”

---