Chapter 95 - I'm Telling You, I'm Not The Boss Monster

Sophia wasn’t stupid.

Rather, she had a meticulous and mean side like a snake.

Sophia coming alone to Kid late at night to provoke him wasn't an act of losing reason and acting recklessly.

Kid was the only witness who could solve the Zodiac case and...

The former leader of TKK whom she had been chasing for years to catch.

Only if Kid opened his mouth could all cases be solved.

The fact that she might die because Kid was an excellent gunslinger wasn't important to her.

Sophia had something she believed in.

5 years ago.

When the immature Sophia was digging into TKK's background to prove her abilities.

The leader and deputy leader of TKK, who rarely showed themselves, came out in person to catch Sophia, who was merely a trainee agent.

But they didn't kill Sophia even after revealing themselves.

It was questionable to call it the mercy of the strong...

It was what Kid said in front of Sophia.

— Kid, so we're not killing her?

— ...No, we're not killing her. No matter how useless she is, she's still the protagonist of this game.

Game and protagonist.

Sophia didn't know what game she was the protagonist of, but…

This guy has no intention of killing me.

From what Kid said then, Sophia could realize that he had unavoidable circumstances that prevented him from killing her.

That was why Sophia provoked Kid more.

And after continuing to press him, she was able to get the desired result from him who was very irritated, but...

"That's right, I'm that Kid. So what are you going to do about it?"

"..."

"If you wanted to live long, you should have gritted your teeth and pretended not to know. You stupid bitch."

When he actually revealed his true colors, Sophia couldn't help but shrink like a frog encountering a snake.

...Stay calm, Sophia.

The threat he was making to her now was just a bluff.

Even though much time had passed since their first meeting, it was clear that Kid still couldn't kill Sophia.

If he could kill her, someone as skilled as him would have quietly dealt with Sophia long ago.

The opponent was a gunslinger who was only passed down as a legend even among rough outlaws.

The fact that Sophia was still alive until now was proof itself that Kid couldn't touch her.

But...

"...Hey, I said I'm tired? Say something. Let me finish this quickly and sleep, okay?"

Step.

No matter how much she told herself it was okay... no matter how much she tried to maintain reason...

— Sophia-!!!

— No!! Uncle!!!!! D-don't come here...!!

— Ugh... waaaaaah....

It was hard to control the primal fear.

Whoosh.

Originally, excellent gunslingers' hands move instinctively ahead of their heads.

Sophia was an excellent gunslinger.

Click.

Sophia, who had drawn her gun at some point, aimed it at Kid.

And...

Bang.

"..."

"...What are you doing?"

Kid was an even better gunslinger than Sophia.

The moment Sophia pulled the trigger, Kid reached out first and turned the muzzle towards the sky.

It happened in an instant and...

Crunch.

Kid grabbed Sophia's wrist strongly with a face full of anger beyond irritation.

...Damn it.

She didn't intend to draw her gun, but she acted irrationally out of fear.

Above all, she allowed Kid to close the distance.

"Eek..."

"..."

Tremble.

Sophia tried to pull her arm out of Kid's grasp somehow, but it didn't budge at all.

Sensing that Kid wouldn't let her go easily, Sophia glared at him and shouted, "Let go of this!"

"..."

"I said let go, you monster!"

Whoosh.

Soon Sophia threw a punch at Kid's face with her other hand...

Crunch.

Kid subdued that too and asked, "...What are you trying to do? Do you really want to die?"

As he said that, the expression gradually disappeared from Kid's face.

It was chilling enough to give goosebumps, but Sophia didn't back down and rather stepped forward boldly.

"...You can't kill me, anyway."

"..."

"You said I'm the protagonist, right? That's why you keep letting me live."

"...You."

When Sophia mentioned being the protagonist, Kid looked flustered for the first time.

...Good.

Seeing that as an opportunity, Sophia continued to press Kid.

"Try killing me."

"..."

"Draw your gun right now and try to kill me. You can't kill me, right?"

Despite Sophia's continued taunts, Kid couldn't make any rebuttals.

Only his eyes sharpened as if he was very tired.

At that moment, Sophia thought it was fortunate that Kid wasn't wearing a white mask like in the old days.

If he had been wearing a mask, she wouldn't have been able to see that expression.

It was truly satisfying to see the arrogant man who thought he was special become speechless.

Finally.

She finally got one over on the man who had inflicted an unforgettable humiliation and wound on Sophia's life.

Thinking that, Sophia...

Whoosh.

Click—

"But you know what? You can't kill me, but I can kill you."

She shook off Kid's hand and aimed her gun again, pressing even harder.

"Before I shoot this, go to the sheriff and tell him everything."

"...What?"

"The fact that Joe is Zodiac. And... who you really are too."

"..."

"Reveal everything and pay for your crimes. If not, I'll kill you right now."

Swish—

As if to show that her words about killing him immediately weren't a lie, Sophia put her finger right in front of the trigger.

Whoosh—

A cold wind blew and snow fell from the sky.

Soon the atmosphere flowed as if something was about to happen immediately.

And then...

"...Puhah."

Kid suddenly burst into laughter like he did earlier.

"..."

Worried about getting caught up in his pace again, Sophia didn't react to his laughter.

Then Kid stopped laughing for a moment and opened his mouth, "...That's right, I can't kill you."

"..."

"Because you're the protagonist. I'd go crazy if a 'Game Over' screen popped up as soon as you died."

Kid brought up another story that Sophia couldn't understand.

While Sophia tilted her head for a moment at this, Kid continued speaking, "But you know what? Why do you talk as if you're not?"

"...What?"

"You can't kill me either."

"...!"

That was right.

What Sophia wanted wasn't simply to kill Kid.

If that was the case, she would have aimed a gun at his head and fired as soon as she realized Kid's identity.

What Sophia wanted was to publicly announce the identity of the veiled outlaw TKK leader Kid and reveal his crimes one by one in front of everyone.

Sophia thought that was the maximum revenge she could take and atonement for her dead uncle.

Therefore, Sophia still couldn't kill Kid.

Kid had realized Sophia's true feelings.

"T-that's not..."

She should have refuted immediately, but the flustered Sophia stuttered.

And in that moment...

Bwuuugh—!

Her world turned white.

...Huh?

Sophia couldn't understand for a moment what had happened to her.

All she knew was...

That her vision suddenly flashed white and...

Thud.

Her body lost balance and fell.

I can't breathe...

She couldn't even breathe properly.

"But you stupid bitch, I can't kill you but that doesn't mean I can't hit you."

Only after hearing Kid's words did Sophia understand what had happened to her.

Kid had struck her stomach.

At a speed that was hard for ordinary people to even follow with their eyes.

"Ughhhh... Huuuuu..."

As soon as she realized this, tremendous pain washed over her.

Sophia was a rich young lady.

Not just rich, but the granddaughter of Pinkerton's founder.

Of course, no one dared to lay a hand on Sophia's body.

Just as Sophia's first experience of being shot was when she was hit in the leg by Kid's bullet 5 years ago...

This was Sophia's first experience of being hit in the lower abdomen by someone.

But Kid didn't seem to intend to just give Sophia her first experience...

Bwugh—!

"Why are you starting a pointless battle with someone who's about to collapse from sleepiness... huh?"

"Kuhuck...! Huu... s-stop...!"

He lifted Sophia and delivered a second... third strike.

"Huuuugh...!"

Under Kid's raining fists, the sense of superiority that had momentarily pressed Kid disappeared from Sophia's mind.

Instead, her consciousness faded in the dull pain.

***

How annoying.

I, who could barely endure the fatigue, threw fists full of irritation at Sophia two... three times.

"Ugh... uhuugh...!"

Whether she had no tolerance for pain, Sophia quickly crumbled just from that.

"Haa..."

I sighed looking at Sophia who was writhing on the ground, shedding tears after receiving the third punch.

"...Shit."

I did it.

Not only did I admit that I was Kid in front of Sophia, the protagonist, but I also punched the precious granddaughter of Pinkerton in the stomach and made her faint.

"Ugh..."

Ah... she didn't faint?

Belatedly regaining my reason, I approached Sophia, who was still groaning in pain, and said, "You fucking bitch, why are you making such a fuss trying to catch me? You were living crumpled up in the countryside."

"Uuu..."

"I'm telling you, I'm not the boss monster or anything? You should be beating up the South Brotherhood according to the story, why are you so desperate to catch me?"

At this rate, it was clear that Sophia would follow me until the moment I collected a million dollars and returned home.

So I rubbed my face and whispered in Sophia's ear.

"...This is a spoiler so I didn't say it before. Actually, the leader of the South Brotherhood is San Francisco Mayor Luke Jefferson. So right now go..."

"Bullshit... uuugh... don't talk bullshit."

But of course, there was no way Sophia would believe my words.

"Ha, shit."

I got up feeling frustrated.

I could see the bed in the office far away.

As soon as I saw the bed, I felt the urge to run over and lie down immediately.

But if I really laid down on the bed and slept, a more tiring morning would probably await me tomorrow.

Maybe when I wake up, there might be handcuffs on my hands.

What should I do now?

Since I laid hands on the precious body of a precious young lady, it wouldn't be strange if Pinkerton agents poured into Justice Town tomorrow.

Would it just be Pinkerton agents?

— ...The organization has found out the Boss' location… Cough, Gonzales will soon send a bunch of executioners here.

Before long, TKK executioners would also be dispatched to Justice Town in large numbers.

One way or another, if I stay here, the town would become a sea of blood.

Then rather before that...

"...Should I leave?"

I originally planned to spend my last days here in Justice Town.

I was going to collect a million dollars while taking it easy in this place where outlaws respawn.

But I guess that was just my greed.