That night, Tiger was walking alone when suddenly a monster appeared and attacked him. Swiftly, Tiger defeated it with ease.
After defeating the monster — it fled and leapt up into a tree. Tiger's eyes turned red — a terrifying, deep crimson that shone intensely, casting a reflective glow wherever he looked. The dark red light seemed to illuminate everything around him.
The air around him seemed to burn.
He didn't even need to exert himself fully. Yet the monster fell before him — weak, irrelevant.
Each step Tiger took left faint traces of red light like embers floating in the wind.
From a distance, an assassin watched him. She whispered to herself:
"Has he… created this shield?
Has he brought the sun close, or the Earth near? Or has he brought the sun to the Earth? Yet the sunlight is not reaching the Earth…
Could it be his shield? No… Maybe this is not Tiger's shield.
Maybe it is the monster's shield, the one he just defeated.
The assassin observed carefully, realizing that Monster shield was active, preventing sunlight from reaching the ground — a display of power she had never seen before.The assassin looks again—and suddenly freezes.
Beside Tiger, there is a real tiger.
Fire is coming out of that tiger's body.
The real tiger places its paw on Tiger's shoulder.
The real tiger moves lightly along the tree branches.
Its fiery body mirrored his own Spiritual-power. It wasn't a beast. It was a reflection of Tiger himself.
The assassin is shocked.
How can there be a Tiger with Tiger?
Assassin's mind raced. She needed to assess him, but this Tiger was unlike anyone she had ever seen.
When Tiger jumps down from the tree, the real tiger disappears.
After that, the assassin can no longer see TIGER.
Tiger's shirt is torn from the fight with the monster.
The assassin comes closer and says,
"Listen… I am an assassin. My name is Rigarta.
Tiger's calmness unnerved her. Most would hesitate, but he simply nodded, as if understanding her intent without words.
Do you want to become an assassin?"
Tiger looks at her and says,
"What? You're an assassin?"
Rigarta nods.
"Yes."
Tiger replies calmly,
"Okay. Yes, I'll become one."
Rigarta is shocked.
"R-really?"
Tiger answers,
"Really."
Rigarta thinks to herself:
He trusts people so easily…
If he had refused, I would have had to force him.
But he agreed instantly.
Rigarta says,
"Okay… can we talk in a café?"
Tiger asks,
"Why?"
Rigarta replies,
"I want to ask you a few more things."
Tiger nods.
"Alright."
Rigarta then asks,
"Did Icchi tell you to work with me?"
Tiger thinks for a moment and says,
"No… she didn't say that exactly.
But she did say,
'Would you like to work with my friend?'
When I asked why, she said,
'You'll know soon.'"
Rigarta says,
"I'm Icchi's friend."
But inside her mind, Rigarta thinks:
I am actually Icchi…
He must not find out.
Tiger looks at her carefully and says,
"You're Icchi's friend…
but you look exactly like Icchi."
Rigarta (Who is Icchi) becomes nervous.
She thinks to herself:
What excuse should I make now…?
Rigarta quickly replies,
"Actually, I'm her friend. When two people are close friends, they sometimes start looking alike. That's all."
Tiger looks at her for a moment, then shrugs.
"Alright… whatever."
Rigarta then gets serious.
"Now let's talk about business. Here is your Assassin Card."
She hands Tiger a sleek black card with a red symbol glowing faintly on it.
Tiger looks at it carefully.
The card felt heavier than it should. A symbol of power, control, and responsibility — all in one small object.
"You already made my card? And that too without even meeting me properly?"
Rigarta smiles slightly.
"Icchi told me about you. I already had your photo."
Tiger nods slowly.
"Alright… what now?"
Rigarta replies,
"Now we go to the Assassin Quarter. You must be officially confirmed if you truly want to become an assassin. We have to go right now."
Tiger answers calmly,
"Fine."
Her imagination drifted — what if he discovers the truth too soon? Could he handle it?
Assassin Quarter
They arrive at a hidden building in the city.
Inside, they enter the main control room, where everything is monitored.
A female assistant looks up and says,
"Oh, you're back Icc—"
Rigarta quickly signals from behind Tiger to stay quiet.
The assistant corrects herself immediately,
"Rigarta… you brought the new assassin?"
Tiger thinks,
She was about to call her something else…
A large chair slowly turns around.
Rigarta's boss speaks in a calm but powerful voice,
"So… you are Tiger. The one who defeated Tigor… and Icchi?"
Tiger answers confidently,
"Yes. That's me."
The boss stands up and slowly walks around Tiger, observing him carefully.
"Before you become an assassin, you must understand the rules."
A hologram appears in the air.
Tiger reads:
Rule 1:
You may only use your real powers when there is serious danger.
Rule 2:
You must never reveal your true powers to normal humans.
If you fight in public, you must fight like a normal human.
Rule 3:
You may use your real powers during missions with assassins.
But if any normal person suspects you are not human, you will be suspended from the assassin organization.
Tiger finishes reading and says,
"These rules weren't necessary. My school already told us not to show our powers outside, except during school events."
The boss looks at him calmly.
"Even so… rules are rules."
Then she says,
"Rigarta, give him the uniform."
Tiger thinks,
Uniform?
Rigarta hands him a black assassin outfit with red lining.
Outside – Night
Tiger walks back toward his rented home, holding the uniform.
Tiger's fingers brushed the fabric. It was light, but it carried the weight of expectation.
Rigarta walks beside him.
She says,
"From next week, you must come here at 5 PM for missions."
Tiger replies,
"Alright."
Rigarta's Thoughts (Icchi's Secret)
Inside her mind, Icchi thinks:
Rigarta is my assassin code name.
No one told me I needed one… but I chose it myself.
If Tiger finds out I'm Icchi, it could create problems.
I have personal reasons… and privacy matters too.
She suddenly imagines something—
All the students surrounding her.
"Why didn't you tell us you're an assassin!?"
Everyone shouting together.
Then another imagination—
People following her everywhere.
Stalking her.
Standing outside her house, crowding the gate.
"You're so powerful, Icchi!"
She imagines herself trapped, unable to even leave her home.
She whispers in her mind,
"Yes… this is exactly what would happen if he finds out."
Tiger looks at her slightly confused.
Why is she talking to herself?
They stop walking.
Tiger says,
"I live here."
Rigarta is still lost in her imagination.
Tiger gently says,
"Rigarta."
She doesn't respond.
He lightly shakes her shoulder.
"Rigarta."
She snaps out of her thoughts.
"Oh— you live here?"
Tiger nods.
"Yes. This is my place."
Rigarta forces a small smile.
"Bye."
"Bye."
They both walk away in opposite directions under the quiet night sky.
Another day ended, another layer added to his life. But something told him this was only the beginning.