Chapter Three: The Assassin Queen

What does it feel like to become a Stand user? Roland couldn’t quite find the words. He was still a normal human being, perhaps a bit more vigorous in body and spirit than most, likely because he had drawn, out of nowhere, a mass he’d never possessed before. And yet, something fundamental within him had altered—impossible to explain in words. It was more of a subtle, profound sensation, like the innate ease of moving a finger or blinking an eye. At any moment, he could summon Killer Queen before him.

As a classic close-range power Stand, Killer Queen’s excellent attributes—Power A, Speed B—were more than enough for Roland to deal with most ordinary dangers that life might throw his way. Though its hand-to-hand prowess was less than stellar in the original work, leading many to underestimate it, that was a misjudgment. Killer Queen’s opponents had been the likes of Crazy Diamond and Star Platinum, top-tier close-combat Stands. When facing Echoes in its third phase with power and speed both at B, Killer Queen had fended off every attack with ease, demonstrating formidable strength—certainly more impressive, at least in terms of performance, than a certain unnamed double-A Stand.

If Roland wished, Killer Queen could easily sever a human body or punch through a chest. In an ordinary city, without even resorting to Stand abilities, people were as fragile as puppets before him, easily destroyed.

But the most perfect aspect was Killer Queen’s ability—simple, pure, and devastatingly effective.

Roland flicked a coin to Killer Queen’s fingertips. After a brief touch, should Roland desire, he could unleash an explosion that would consume the entire room. In the end, he simply let the coin crumble into powder so fine it was almost impossible to collect, sifting away from his fingers.

Turning everything it touches into a bomb—this was the ultimate expression of violent beauty. And as a Stand, Killer Queen itself could not be captured or detected by cameras—what a convenient power!

In this era where surveillance was far from widespread, with Killer Queen at his side, Roland felt confident he could live freely in this city, at his own pace, in whatever manner he wished.

Only after experiencing Killer Queen’s power firsthand did Roland realize a truth many overlooked.

“Killer Queen’s power is still far from its limit.”

Roland closed his eyes, feeling the inseparable connection with his Stand, probing for the potential buried deep within. Even after much development and repeated advancement in abilities, Killer Queen’s potential remained untapped—this applied even to its frequently used First and Second Bombs.

Perhaps because of the comparatively modest scope of the original villain’s ambitions and his own passive personality, Yoshikage Kira had never fully explored the limits of his Stand’s abilities.

Yet, in a way, it might have been that very disposition that gave birth to a Stand as perfect as Killer Queen.

Still, compared to all these future possibilities, the greatest immediate benefit of gaining Killer Queen was the profound sense of security that came with this supernatural power.

Originally, with Roland’s level of ability, even the weakest of the Masters—let alone any Heroic Spirit—could have easily killed him. Now, with the advantage of surprise and his Stand, Roland at last had the means to contend with the Masters. If he played his cards right, leveraging his foreknowledge, it wouldn’t be hard to become an even deadlier “Eighth” than the famed Magus Killer.

“Well, I mustn’t get carried away. Those who lose sight of their own limits rarely come to a good end.”

For now, Roland’s only goal was to live a peaceful life in Fuyuki City. In a month, this power would be his permanently.

When he first arrived, he’d considered fleeing Fuyuki, but now—whether due to the Stand’s influence or the comfort of the last few days—he’d started to fall in love with this city. On one side lay the newly built metropolis, still under construction and full of potential; on the other, the old, serene town of Miyama, filled with the warmth of everyday life, aged but tranquil. There weren’t many tourists, nor were there startling changes. Even after ten years, Fuyuki’s landscape would doubtless remain just as it was now.

It truly was beautiful.

The only thing that concerned him was the Fourth Holy Grail War, which may or may not have begun. But as a resident living in Fuyuki, Roland had come to sense the gap between rumor and reality.

It was common knowledge that the Holy Grail War was conducted in secret. While that claim was debatable, given the disasters that followed the destruction of the Greater Grail, the basic principle of keeping the supernatural hidden meant that, unless one had the habit of wandering deserted docks, abandoned buildings, or remote areas late at night, ordinary citizens were unlikely to be affected.

All things considered, Roland had little reason to participate in the Holy Grail War—he wasn’t even a magus.

Suddenly, a realization struck Roland, and his eyes sharpened with intensity.

Unless those escaped Contracts were with some of the participants in this Holy Grail War.

The core ability of the Key of All Spirits was to help its user create, absorb, and control Contracts.

Retrieving the scattered Contracts was, in itself, a process intended to help the user ascend and grow stronger—not an absolute requirement.

World-hopping was merely a supplementary ability, designed to support the core function. So long as Roland had visited a world once, he could return at will, and with higher authority, unlock the Key’s power to travel to new worlds.

Thus, his golden finger was in no way compulsory. As long as he retrieved one Contract, he could activate the Key to a new world, and then—Fuyuki City could be left behind.

Escaping to a new world was far safer than simply leaving Fuyuki. From both a rational and emotional standpoint, it was well worth a try.

After all, as long as a Contract was within a certain range, Roland would receive a prompt; at a distance, only the number would be known, but as he drew closer, the information would increase.

If he ever discovered exactly in whose body a Contract resided, it wouldn’t be impossible to seize the opportunity, depending on the circumstances.

“Sigh… I’m only reclaiming what’s rightfully mine. Why do I have to sneak around like this…”

Roland sighed, glanced at the clock on the wall, then stood up. Outside the break room, the manager’s voice sounded right on cue.

“Roland, your break’s over. Time to switch shifts.”

“On my way, boss.”

For now, he might as well enjoy the ease of getting off work on time every day and the light workload. Later, he could consider renting a place in the old city or finding new work, just in case the Greater Grail suddenly exploded and set the new city ablaze.

But not in the next couple of days—for one especially important reason.

Payday was just around the corner.