Altair despised two types of people: saints and sanctimonious hypocrites.
Saints might seem virtuous, but Altair loathed them for the same reason he detested hypocrites, they imposed their will on others. Take Rentaro Satomi, for instance, a textbook hypocrite. Full of grand ideas about helping people, yet lacking the strength to back them up, he cowered before authority. Unlike protagonists who'd at least argue their case when outmatched, Rentaro was the type to talk big when no one was around but stay silent when faced with real power, reeking of insincerity.
"Are you talking to me?" Altair asked, turning around with Tina still dangling from his right hand. He pointed to his face with his left, feigning curiosity as he addressed Rentaro.
"That's right. Put that child down. She's not yours, is she? How dare you abduct a child in Tokyo! Surrender now!" Rentaro declared.
He didn't know Tina's identity or Altair's true nature, but his sense of "justice" compelled him to intervene.
"Do you even know who she is?" Altair asked.
"No, I don't." Rentaro replied, shaking his head, gun still in hand.
"But I'm certain she doesn't know you either, so you can't take her."
"I see. You don't know her, and you don't know me, yet you're quick to judge our relationship and ready to act against me, is that it?"
Hypocrites like Rentaro had another flaw, they judged by appearances. If they saw a pretty girl being mistreated, they'd rush to her aid without a second thought, regardless of who she was. This often led to cliched scenarios where villainous beauties fell for them, charmed by their willingness to "help someone like me" for the flimsiest reasons.
Honestly, Altair found such tropes utterly ridiculous.
If Rentaro managed to defeat him now and rescue Tina, it was a safe bet that by tomorrow, she'd be a candidate for his harem. After her mission to assassinate Seitenshi, she'd probably join it outright. It was all too predictable.
Altair had no interest in Rentaro's harem, but he was very interested in teaching this so-called protagonist a lesson about the harsh realities of the world.
Glancing down at Enju Aihara, who stood beside Rentaro looking confused, Altair asked with curiosity, "Do you think the same way?"
"No, no, no, of course not! I don't think like Rentaro at all!" Enju replied, shaking her head like a rattle drum.
Her reaction puzzled Rentaro. "Enju?"
"Rentaro, this isn't someone we can handle. Just let it go." Enju urged.
When Altair had released Enju back to Rentaro, he'd warned her not to reveal his identity, threatening to blast the Tendo Civil Security Agency with a single shot if she did. Having seen him take down Scorpio with one attack, Enju knew he could easily obliterate their agency. She was too scared to talk, despite her usual boldness.
"Enju?" Rentaro pressed, growing more confused by her uncharacteristic behavior. He sensed she knew something.
"You want to save her, huh?" Altair said, lifting Tina slightly to show her to Rentaro.
"Well, what if I told you this girl is a Cursed Child, and we're here to take her into custody? Allow me to introduce myself, I'm an agent of the International Initiator Supervision Organization. This Initiator is slated for retrieval and disposal. Are you still going to stop me?"
Altair squinted, smirking at Rentaro, who was visibly stunned.
"This…" Rentaro faltered.
"Do you know how much trouble she's caused out there? Using her Cursed Child abilities, she's assassinated numerous key figures. This time, she's in Tokyo to kill Seitenshi. Still want to stop me?"
"I…" Rentaro hesitated.
"Of course, you could question my identity or whether I'm telling the truth. But think carefully, if you stop me and she escapes, you'll be wanted by the International Initiator Supervision Organization. And that rabbit next to you? She'll be taken and disposed of too. Make your choice carefully before you answer."
Altair set Tina down, keeping one hand on her head as he awaited Rentaro's response.
Rentaro opened his mouth to speak but ultimately said nothing, lowering his gun.
It was just like when the police took away a thieving Cursed Child right in front of him, and he did nothing, watching helplessly as they killed her.
Of course, that Cursed Child was now safely contracted by Altair and sent to Gensokyo.
"Looks like you've made your choice." Altair said, nodding approvingly at Rentaro's defeated expression.
"If a police officer were standing here, ready to take this girl away, you probably wouldn't say a word either."
"Kid, shouting about justice when you lack the power to back it up just makes you look pathetic. Don't meddle in everything you see. If you're set on intervening, don't hesitate over the consequences, or you'll just come off as a hypocrite."
With that, Altair picked Tina up again and turned to leave.
A few simple words had completely cowed Rentaro. This was why Altair couldn't stand powerless hypocrites who pretended to be heroes.
"Rentaro… you okay?" Enju asked, tugging at his sleeve in an attempt to comfort him.
"I'm fine, Enju." Rentaro replied, forcing a smile.
"Good." Enju said, visibly relieved by his response. Seeing her relaxed expression, Rentaro couldn't help but ask, "Enju, do you think I'm cut out to be a Civil Security agent?"
"Um, Rentaro, you're really not suited for it." She answered bluntly.
…
While Rentaro was left reeling from Enju's candid words, Altair had already carried Tina into a narrow alley. Tina, who had been feigning confusion, snapped to full alertness. Though still in Altair's grasp, she was already plotting how to turn the tables on him.
Altair sensed her tensing up and smirked, adopting a stern expression.
"Tina Sprout, did you know you were already spotted by the Holy Residence guards?"
"What a failure. If I hadn't distracted them first, you'd have been caught already. Forget about your assassination, you'd be the one done for. Is this how you carry out your master's orders?"
Altair delivered the words coldly, then tossed Tina to the ground. She landed nimbly, her expression serious as she faced him.
"You're one of my master's people?" She asked.
"That's right. I'm your support for this mission. You can call me Altair-nii."
***
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