* Featured Character
Haphuco ♂ - The main character
Sanda ♂ - Haphuco's schoolmate
Lucky ♂ - A staff of the Hakyo Assassin Gym
Bodi ♂ - The boss of the Hakyo Bodyguard Agency where Haphuco is working for
Biudo ♂ - The owner of the house where Haphuco is living in an apartment for rent inside
Dorin ♂ - An university student who is a tenant inside Buido's house like Haphuco
Cavin ♂ - A father who is a tenant inside Buido's house like Haphuco
Van ♂ - A man out of no where wants to help Merodi's band
Tando ♂ - Biani's co-worker, likes Biani
Ba ♂ - The Vietnamese style restaurant owner where Haphuco is working for
Mai ♀ - A 12 years old girl, Sanda's sidekick
Barami ♀ - Mayo's daughter who Haphuco is working as a Bodyguard for.
Nara ♀ - A co-worker of Haphuco at the Hakyo Bodyguard Agency
Floret ♀ - A florist who is a tenant inside Buido's house like Haphuco
Momo ♀ - A teacher who is a tenant inside Buido's house like Haphuco
Hana ♀ - Cavin's daughter
Biani ♀ - Haphuco's not-blood-related sister who was raised on the same Orphanage as Haphuco
Merodi ♀ - Haphuco's co-worker at Ba restaurant, has a Rock Band
May ♀ - Biani's co-worker and her best friend
Sasa ♀ - Biani's co-worker, tends to ditch work
Tomo ♀ - Biani's co-worker, her Manager
Haphumi ♀ - Ba's daughter and Barami's classmate
Hakyo - The name of the city where Haphuco is living in
Saoka - ?
As Sanda has called Lucky for his Service, his treatment service after the Duel before the battle happened, it takes no time for Lucky to arrive to the destination behind the shopping mall.
Lucky : What's the hell happened here ?!
In front of Lucky eyes are two mans with injuries leaning on the damaged wall.
One person is shown to have coughed blood and got hit hard into his face with his nose bleeding.
That's Haphuco.
One person is shown to have his entire body filled with sharp cuts with blood bleeding out.
That's Sanda.
Sanda : Ey, here's you are.
Haphuco : Oh, hey, I met you at the Gym last Tuesday, didn't we ?
Haphuco : You are...Uhm...Sorry, what's your name again ?
Lucky : It's Lucky !
Haphuco : Oh right, Lucky.
Sanda : Still tends to forget people names as always, Haphuco.
Lucky : Man, did you guys try to kill each other ?!
As Lucky speaks, he immediately rushes to Haphuco and Sanda to check on their conditions.
"It seems like they both sustained no little damage from the fight." Lucky assesses their injury.
The injury of Sanda looks more serious with multiple cuts on his body...
Which is Wow !
So this is what this guy Haphuco could do, huh ?
Sanda : Didn't I tell you that I will have a Duel with this guy ?
That's the reason why he called Lucky from the first place, to ask for his Service as a Doctor.
Make a contact and the Doctor will be there for you !
Typically, a Doctor needs to be able to give their contact information so that Assassins can contact them when needed.
This is Lucky's advantage as working as a staff in the Assassin Gym as he can easily make acquaintance with any Assassin coming there and conveniently give his contact information for his Service.
Lucky : Yeah, but you sounded so casual so when you called me so...
[ Flashback ]
Sanda : Hey, Lucky. I am planning to beat the hell out of the guy named Haphuco that you met a few days ago.
Sanda : Therefore, please come to treat him when it's over.
[ End of Flashback ]
Lucky : Heh...beat the hell of him, you said.
Lucky : It looks like you gonna need more treatment than him.
Sanda : Whatever, treat Haphuco first, it should take less time to treat his injury than mine.
HaPhUCo 🎵
Haphuco : ...
Haphuco : Wait, no, you need to be treated first, Sanda.
Sanda : No, you first !
Haphuco : No, you first !
Lucky : Enough !
Lucky : What are you guys, three years old ?
Lucky : I will have a look at both of you anyway. It doesn't matter who's first.
Lucky then proceeds to start his treatment.
Lucky : You have a solid body, Haphuco.
Lucky : No bone is broken.
Despite receiving a KO Combo from Sanda ?
That's not trivial.
Lucky : Just need to bandage your nose. It should recover soon.
Lucky ( Squeeze Haphuco's body ) : However...
Haphuco : Auch !!!
Lucky : It hurts right ?
Lucky : Although no bone is broken, your body still suffer from damage so I recommend you to take a break for an entire one day or two.
Lucky : About you, Sanda...
Lucky : You have multiple cuts on your body which is very bad.
Lucky : Thankfully, the cuts are not so deep so you should not suffer from any serious injury.
Lucky : They will eventually leave scars on you though.
Sanda : ...
Sanda : It's no big...
Mai : Sanda !!!
Sanda : Good grief !
Mai and Barami then shows up.
They both looks shocked but for two different reasons.
So what Sanda said is true.
Haphuco immediately tries to stand up.
Haphuco : Miss Barami !
Haphuco : I am so glad that you are...
Haphuco : Auch !
Lucky : Ey, Haphuco, just sit down, man. It might be a bit hard for you to stand up at the moment.
Barami : ...
Haphuco : I am so sorry, Miss Barami !
"Why are you sorry ?" Barami thought.
Haphuco : I should have been paying more attention.
"No, I was the person who deliberately went away without noticing you." Her thought continues.
Haphuco : Please forgive me.
Barami : YOU DON'T NEED TO SORRY !!!
Can not keep the thought inside anymore, Barami screams. Her eyes tear a bit.
Barami : It was entirely my fault to go away without informing you.
Barami : It was my fault that you got injured.
To Assassin, injuries are merely scratches but to a normal human like Barami, a cut to your finger is already impactful enough, not to mention the state Haphuco is in.
"Is that blood ?" Barami got a bit frightened at the scene.
Barami suddenly remembers about the time when she was young, when she got attracted to something that she could no longer remember that she got lost from her father.
She remembers how her father hugged her when he found her, how he constantly saying sorry to her despite it was clearly her fault.
Since that time, she promised herself that she would not let her father down ever again.
This situation now gives her the same feeling as that time.
Doing something that makes you regret later. She hates that feeling.
Barami : So you don't need to sorry.
Haphuco : Miss Barami...
hApuCO 🎵
Haphuco : Ah !
A headache ?
Meanwhile, Mai is talking to Sanda in a sarcastic tone.
Mai : So you said you gonna beat him, huh ?
Mai : But looking at you now...
Mai : Apparently not !
Sanda ( Roll his eyes ) : Sigh...
Lucky : Why is there a little girl here ?
Sanda : She is my sidekick, her name is Mai.
Mai : How do you explain this huh ?!
Mai : You clearly said that you gonna win !
...
Haphuco and Sanda's injury have been treated, it's time to leave.
Sanda : Thanks for your Service, Lucky.
Lucky : It's my job, anyway. Make sure that you pay soon.
Sanda : Right, Mai, could you make a payment to him ?
Mai : Sure, but this would not have happened if you didn't fight from the first place, wasn't it ?
Sanda : Hey...
Notice the conversation, Haphuco thinks it would be not right to let Sanda handle the payment.
Haphuco : Uhm, Sanda, how much do I need to pay ?
Sanda : No need, Haphuco. It was me forcing you to have a Duel anyway.
Sanda : Moreover...
Sanda : I don't think you have any Coin, do you ?
Coin is a currency earned and used by Assassins.
It was used to be physical gold coin but now they have turned to be virtual money due to the development of technology and also the increased luxury of gold.
Sanda : Anyway, since we are leaving soon, how's about we giving our contact number to each other.
Haphuco ( Take out his Lokia phone ) : Oh right...
Sanda : Still using that brick ?
Haphuco : Heh, it's not like I can use a more sophisticated one.
Sanda : ...
Sanda : I thought I could finally beat you.
Sanda : I really thought it !
Sanda : But I got beaten again.
Sanda : So frustrating !
Haphuco : ...
Sanda : But now I realised...
Sanda : It's not only me that got stronger...
Sanda : You got stronger too !
Haphuco : ...
Sanda : But I won't give up.
Sanda : These soon-to-be scars on my body...
Sanda : They are a lesson I learned today.
Sanda : I will keep going my way.
Sanda : And I will beat you one day...
Sanda : Haphuco !
HAphUcO, hAPuCo 🎵
Haphuco ( Grab his head ) : Ah !
Sanda : Huh, what's wrong, Haphuco ?
Haphuco : Urg...No...just a little headache.
Haphuco : Maybe you hit my head a bit too hard, haha.
Sanda : ...
Barami : Haphuco, the car has arrived.
Haphuco : I guess I will see you then, Sanda.
Sanda : Yeah...see you, Haphuco.
And so Haphuco and Barami leaves.
Sanda : ...
Sanda thinks back to the conversation he had with Haphuco while waiting for Lucky.
[ Flashback ]
Sanda : How did you become a Bodyguard ?
Sanda : Why did you quit being an Assassin ?
Haphuco : ...
Haphuco : Because I could not handle the feeling of killing someone...
Haphuco : And also...
Haphuco : As you can see from our battle...
Haphuco : I almost killed you...
Haphuco : In enjoyment.
[ End of Flashback ]
Sanda : What happened to you, Haphuco ?
Mai : The payment is done !
Sanda : Oh, great, thanks you for helping me as always, Mai.
Sanda : Thanks to you, I managed to force Haphuco to have a Duel with me.
Mai : And then you lost !
Mai : Got numerous injuries on your body !
Mai ( Punch Sanda ) : Stupid !
Mai ( Punch Sanda ) : Stupid !
Sanda : ...
Sanda : There is no one left, Mai.
Sanda : You can act normal now.
Mai : ...
Mai ( Punch Sanda ) : Stupid...
How did you let yourself be injured like that ?
What if you are dead...
Then what's fun do I have left ?
...
The headache is getting worse.
DOn't IGNorE Me, HaPHuco 🎵
That voice...
The first time Haphuco heard it was when he took his first-ever Order.
After that, as he decided to give up as an Assassin, he stopped hearing the voice.
But now it's back.
Haphuco : Huh ?
Haphuco : Miss Barami, this does not seem like the way to your mansion.
Barami : Yeah, that's because we are going to your Agency, not my house.
Haphuco : Huh ?!
Barami : Hakyo Bodyguard Agency, right ? I got the location on the Internet.
Haphuco : Wait, why are we going to the Agency, Miss Barami ?
Barami : ...
Barami : You will have to tell anyone there about what happened today.
Barami : So I think I should be there to make things clear...
The car stops at the Agency, Haphuco and Barami then goes upstairs and reach the office where there are Bodi and Nara inside.
Apparently, they are watching a jackpot show on the TV.
Bodi : Urg ! I missed the prize again.
Nara : I told you to stop playing lotto.
Nara : You can't expect yourself to earn anything from playing it.
Nara : Oh, Haphuco...and the major's daughter.
Nara : What...huh...what happened to your nose, Haphuco ?
Bodi : Did something happen ?
Haphuco : Uhm...
Barami : Let me explain...
...
After telling what happened today, Barami left.
It was not the clock-out time for Haphuco yet but Barami insisted that Haphuco should take a rest as told by Lucky.
Despite that, another Bodyguard was still then assigned to accompany her until she reaches home to ensure her safety.
Bodi : So that's the story, huh ?
Nara : You had a rough day today, Haphuco.
Haphuco : I have nothing to say, Mr. Bodi.
Haphuco : It was my fault for letting this happened.
Nara : What are you saying, Haphuco. It's not your fault.
Nara : If it is anyone's fault, then it is that Sanda guy's fault for tricking you.
Haphuco : I don't know...
Nara : But hey, at least everything is fine, right ?
Bodi : Haphuco, because this is an unexpected situation, you don't need to criticise yourself like that.
Bodi : Like Nara said, everything is fine at the end.
Bodi : I think the most important thing for you to do now is to take a good rest.
Bodi : You went through enough for the day.
Nara : Yeah, you look...less lively than normal, Haphuco.
Nara : You should really take a break, Haphuco.
Haphuco looks at Nara and Bodi
SHe Is STRoNg 🎵
He IS StrOng 🎵
FIghT THEM 🎵
KILL THEM 🎵
No !
Haphuco : Got it...
Haphuco : Well then, Mr. Bodi and Nara Senpai...
Haphuco : I will see you guys next Monday.
Nara ( After Haphuco leaves ) : He looks tired.
Bodi : ...
Nara : Oh, I forgot to ask him who won the fight between him and that Sanda guy.
Nara : And we also forgot to tell him about this
As Nara speaks, she shows out a poster...
Hakyo VS Saoka
Bodyguard Annual Friendly Sparring Trip
...
Getting out of the Agency, Haphuco heads to Ba's restaurant.
Haphuco : I should ask for leave today.
He feels exhausting...
[ Ba's Restaurant ]
Ba : What happened to you today, Haphuco ?
Haphumi : Yeah, I was surprised to see your nose bandaged when you came earlier.
I Am SAd, HApuCO 🎵
Don'T IGnore ME 🎵
Haphuco : ...
The voice just doesn't stop echoing.
Ba : Haphuco ?
Haphuco : Oh...Uhm...
Haphuco : It's...a long story but long story short...
Haphuco : I got to do what I have to do as a Bodyguard today.
Haphumi : Really, what really happened, Haphuco Senpai ?
Haphuco : I would love to tell but not now.
Haphuco : Mr.Ba, I am sorry to say this but can I take a leave for today's work ?
Haphuco : I got instructed by the doctor to take a break for at least the rest of today.
From Doctor Lucky.
Ba : Oh, if that's what they said then that's fair enough. I understand, Haphuco.
Haphuco : Thanks you, Mr. Ba, then I shall take my leave.
Haphumi : Wait, are you leaving already ?!
Haphuco : Sorry, Hapumi.
Haphuco : I am feeling a bit tired...
As Haphuco almost exits the restaurant, he meets Merodi with her guitar behind her back who is coming for her work today.
Merodi : Oh hey, Haphuco.
The moment Merodi encounters Haphuco, she immediately remembers about what happened on the last Thursday, about what happened at the end of Chapter 11.
She also remembers what Van said to her afterwards.
[ Flashback ]
Van : So you are saying that a co-worker at the restaurant you are working for is surprisingly good at singing.
Merodi : Yeah, I almost dropped my drink when he started singing.
He is definitely gifted in singing.
Van : Then what are you waiting for ?
Van : We can ask him to join our Band as a Vocalist
Merodi : That's what I think too !
[ End of Flashback ]
Haphuco : Hi, Merodi Sen...
No, he is the same age as her although not really.
Haphuco : I will take a leave today so I will go now.
Haphuco : See you...
Merodi : Oh, see you then, Haphuco.
And here she planned to ask him to join her Band later.
Merodi ( After Haphuco leaves ) : Why did Haphuco take a leave today ?
Haphumi : I don't know, but from what he said...
Haphumi : And the injury on his nose, you saw it right...
Haphumi : He must have gone through a lot today while working as a Bodyguard.
Haphumi : He looks tired.
...
This is not physical tiredness.
This is mental tiredness.
All because of the voice.
It is making his head ache so bad.
So THiS IS youR CurrENT LiFE 🎵
HoW'S BORING 🎵
Shut up !
DoN'T DEny IT 🎵
YOu WaNT IT, Don'T YoU 🎵
Shut up !
LiKE WhEN YoU FigHTED SanDa 🎵
WhEn yOu WenT AlL oUT 🎵
yOu FElT 🎵
HAPPY 🎵
Haphuco : Shut...
He almost screamed out his thought.
Haphuco : ...
Haphuco : Urg !
[ Buido's House ]
When Biani returns from work, she feels something different.
She sees everyone with a worried look.
Biani : Eh, what's wrong, everyone ?
Floret : Oh, you are back, Biani.
Buido : Biani...
Buido : I think you should take a look at Haphuco.
[ Flashback ]
Momo : So what's this cardgame called, Dorin ?
Dorin : It's called...
And that's when the house's door opens and Haphuco enters.
Which is strange considering that he is supposed to only come home late at night today.
Something's off.
His nose is bandaged...
And his state looks...just bad.
Buido : Oh, hey, Haphuco, it's strange that you are back at this time.
Buido : What happened to your nose ?
Buido : Did anything happen ?
Haphuco : Sorry, Mr. Buido...
Haphuco ( Pass through Buido ) : I just want to be alone for now.
Buido ( Grab Haphuco ) : Wait, Haphuco...
Haphuco : I said...
Haphuco : LET ME ALONE !
Shocked, Buido put his hand out and the same for everyone as they sees Haphuco walks downstairs to his apartment.
Hana : What happened to Brother Haphuco, papa ?
Kavin : I think he is just tired, Hana.
Kavin : Very tired...
[ End of Flashback ]
Hearing the story from everyone, it's obvious that Biani could not treat this problem as trivial.
Of all people, it is Haphuco who seems to suffer from something.
What could it be ?!
Biani opens the door leading to her apartment which is also Haphuco's apartment.
She enters the apartment but Haphuco can not be seen around.
The light of the apartment is not turned on, making it feel like no one is here.
Haphuco definitely is inside...
So there is only one place that he can be right now...
The room which is supposed to be Haphuco's bedroom but he did not use it as he prefers to sleep on the sofa.
Why so sudden ?
What happened ?
Filled with questions, Biani calls for Haphuco's name.
Biani : Haphuco ?
No voice answers...
Having no choice, Biani approaches the door leading to the room.
The tension here feels like Biani is inside a hunted house, before attempting to open a door leading to whatever it is.
And she opens it.
But what Biani is seeing...
...
...
Nothing !
Just pitch black !
There must be a light button somewhere near the door.
Found it !
The light is turned...
And she finally saw Haphuco, leaning against the wall with his hands grabbing his head.
Biani : Haphuco ?
Apparently, Haphuco could not hear Biani until now.
Haphuco : Biani ?
Biani : What happened ?
Biani : Everyone is worried about you.
Biani : And what's with you sitting in the dark like this.
Haphuco : ...
Biani : Is your head hurt ?
Biani : You are making me worried.
Biani : Talk to me, Haphuco.
Haphuco : ...
Haphuco : How do you feel...
Biani : What...
Haphuco : How do you feel when you have to kill someone when you take an Order ?
Biani : Well, it is my job as an Assassin so...
Haphuco : Job huh ?
Biani : Haphuco, what's with all this...
Haphuco : The only time when I kill someone is when I took my first-ever Order.
Haphuco : After sucessfully completing the Order, I felt disgusted.
Haphuco : I feel disgusted to take away the life of people who have no idea that their entire life would be cut short just like that.
Haphuco : That's the reason why I decided to give up as an Assassin.
Haphuco : ...
Haphuco : But now I am thinking about myself...
Haphuco : Although brief, I felt happy when I fought the assigned Bodyguard on that night.
Haphuco : Although brief, I smiled the moment when I put the bullet into the Target.
Haphuco : And today, when I fought Sanda, the guy from the same School as mine you met at the Gym.
Haphuco : I almost killed him...
Haphuco : In enjoyment...
Haphuco : It seems like fighting makes me happy.
It SEemS LiKE KILLING MaKES YoU HapPy 🎵
Haphuco : So I am wondering whether I can have a happy life with the life I am having now...
Haphuco : Or should I become an Assassin again...
YES 🎵
Haphuco : To enjoy...
Biani : Enough !
Biani : This isn't you, Haphuco !
Biani : You are making me scared, Haphuco !
Tear drops down from Biani's eyes.
That's the second person that shed tear because of Haphuco today.
Biani : Didn't you say that you are not suited to become an Assassin ?
Haphuco : I just... realized that I am not suited to be an Assassin. [ From Chapter 6 ]
Biani : And didn't I say it's okay because it's simply the person you are ?
Biani : So I think your personality is just not suited to be an Assassin. [ From Chapter 6 ]
Biani : And that's okay, that's fine.
Biani : I like the person you have always been.
Biani : But I don't like to see what you are doing right now, Haphuco !
Don't become a different person from you are now.
Haphuco : Biani...
Then Binai grabs the hands of Haphuco that are holding his head.
Biani : Are you really not feeling happy, Haphuco ?
Biani : When you have everyone around you ?
Biani : For me, I feel great when I can talk with my friends in the company.
May, Tando, Sasa and Tomo Senapi...
Biani : I feel appreciated to be greeted by everyone in the house whenever I go back here.
Mr.Buido, Sister Momo, Sister Floret, Dorin, Brother Kavin and Hana...
Biani : Especially when I return from completing an Order, when I have to kill someone by my own hands.
Biani : And I have you, Haphuco.
Biani : You are always someone that I feel safe and can rely on when you are around.
Biani : So I am feeling really happy with my life.
Biani : What's about you, Haphuco ?
Biani : Are you feeling the same as I am ?
Haphuco : ...
DoN't LisTen To HER 🎵
ThIS is nOT WhERe You BelONG 🎵
HAPHUCO 🎵
...
You almost got me...
But now I remember...
How I can be happy without fighting...
Or killing...
Because everyone is happy.
And the voice ceases, once again.
But it is certainly not the end.
Haphuco ( Hug Biani ) : Thanks you, Biani.
Biani is surprised, even blushed but this romance is definitely not suitable for the current situation.
Biani : It's nothing, Haphuco.
Haphuco and Biani then goes upstairs, everyone is still there.
Their expressions turns more relieved when they see their usual Haphuco again.
Haphuco : Sorry everyone.
Haphuco : I am feeling better now.
Haphuco : Does anyone want to eat out today ?
Haphuco : My treat !
End of Chapter 15 : HAphUcO, hAPuCo
Next Chapter - Chapter 16 : Saoka Trip