AZI Volume 3 Chapter 18

(…Less than ideal, as usual. Were we…- Was I like them when that happened to Li?)

Occasionally glancing at the students—who are walking him by, Yu Ji sighs on the inside.

Most of these young Sinners have a dull look on their faces.

"…"

Stopping in front of a vending machine, Yu Ji looks at his own reflection through the glass.

His reflection, which is shown by the glass, can only be described as charming.

(Everything checks out then. Err… Yu Ji, you're… Male?)

Recalling how Li Xue had asked this question of him day one, Yu Ji had answered "correct" by instinct, but the truth is—

(I was born a girl, but…)

Yu Ji's parents had wanted a male heir; hence, the moment they found out that their second child—Li, was also a girl, they decided to teach Yu Ji male etiquette.

As she gradually became aware of her own situation while growing up, Yu Ji did find it odd with how she wasn't allowed to wear dresses, or have her hair be over a certain length.

However, she never complained about the situation to her parents.

Having matured at a quicker rate than her peers, Yu Ji was keenly aware—that money was able to make her life a lot more convenient; hence, she played the role of a male heir for her parents, and when they were out, she would play the role of an elder sister for Li.

Born into a wealthy household with her little sister, they should have been able to live out a leisure-filled life.

However, all that changed when Yu Ji and Li hit the age of ten—where they both received their Sinner's brandings.

Usually, these brandings would only appear around the ages of six and seven; hence, the situation of Yu Ji and Li receiving theirs at the age of ten could only be described as unusual.

The look in their parents' eyes, then, was as if they were looking at filth. Filth—that should have been tossed out like any other filth many years ago.

And so, similarly, to the other children—who had been marked with this branding, their parents had sold them off to the government.

Despite feeling a bit lost in the beginning, Yu Ji still considered herself lucky compared to the other children—who had fallen into this situation, because Li was by her side.

And no longer did she have to play the role of a male heir; she was free to grow her hair out, and dress in whatever she liked.

However, such feelings were quick to become the exact opposite—when Li was made to enter into the cryostasis unit.

For reasons that the doctors weren't able to figure out, Li suddenly became unable to move her body. The paralysis that Li had was so bad that she wasn't able to eat, and had she been left as is, she would have no doubt died from starvation.

And so, the only option left was to have Li enter a cryostasis unit.

Relief towards the solution was only temporary, maintenance and keeping the cryostasis unit running cost money, a lot of money; and because of that, Yu Ji had to take on work from Dainsfield—under the occupation of an assassin.

Fortunately, her Relic is a long-ranged weapon, a rarity among Sinners—making her very effective at killing her targets from a distance.

And it was also because of this being her area of expertise—that she was paid highly for her services, allowing her to make ends meet between keeping her little sister alive, and sustaining her own living necessities to a certain degree.

"Ai, what am I doing—thinking of all this now…?"

Raising a sigh, Yu Ji decides to continue moving.

Although Yu Ji is now able to wear whatever she likes, combat equipment tends to have a more masculine design.

As for growing her hair out, it wasn't very practical, for she is taught that since Immortals have human level intelligence, having shorter hair that cannot be grabbed during battle is better.

"You seem troubled. If you want, I can listen over some drinks."

"Hm?"

Halting her footsteps, Yu Ji turns towards the source of this voice, and a young man with brown hair—who should be about the same age as her, is standing next to the vending machine with a wallet in hand. Judging by his uniform, he should be a student.

Towards the young man's offer, Yu Ji replies—

"I want a melon-flavored soda."

"No holding back at all, huh? Going for the most expensive beverage, oh well."

Keeping to his words, the young man purchases a can of coffee, and a melon-flavored soda.

"Here."

"Thanks."

Catching the soda that is tossed over, Yu Ji cracks it open, while thinking—

(Is he a distributor?)

...…

About 20 or so minutes after Yu Ji had met the young man—

"The one over there—in the sunglasses, wait up."

"Hm?"

Turning around, Long Hua sees a blonde-haired woman dressed in a black leather jacket over a white V-neck shirt. Completing her attire is a pair of black mini-pants and dark stockings, along with tall dark boots. Covering her right ear is a wireless headpiece.

Overall, one would say that her blacked-out attire gives her a sense of presence—that makes her stand out greatly.

Putting on a subtle smile, Long Hua asks—

"Did you need something?"