Reborn as a Shopkeeper

Scene 1: Sky Breaks, Blades Rise

SFX: "(A long, powerful lightning strike roars through the sky.)"

One of the guards is instantly incinerated — nothing remains but a blackened silhouette and rising smoke.

Naoki (trembling): N-n-no way... That can't be Sensei! He... He was never like this!

Reina (coldly): That man is not our Sensei. He's filth.

Haruto (furious): Don't hold back. These people are monsters. If you have to — kill them.

That Man scowled.

That Man: Clean this mess up. Now.

Just then..

Five stones sliced through the air at breakneck speed, Renzaki's slingshot fired them like bullets. The man raised his hand — SFX: ZZZZAP! — three stones were shattered mid-air by a spark of lightning. But two slammed into his chest and shoulder.

The man staggered.

Haruto and Reina leapt onto the rooftop from bushes.

The guards opened fire (with pistol) as soon as they spotted them.

Haruto and Reina ducked behind stone railings.

Haruto: Smoke bomb, now!

SFX: BOOMF! — (The rooftop filled with dense gray smoke.)

Reina dashed into the haze like a ghost.

The sound of fists and bones echoed as she took out one guard with a roundhouse kick, twisted another's wrist mid-punch, and slammed him to the ground with a knee to the chest. Every movement was fast, efficient, and precise.

She emerged from the smoke with two guards unconscious behind her.

Haruto charged forward toward That Man.

Meanwhile, Naoki waited above, peeking from the ledge.

Naoki (to himself): Come on… come on… not yet… wait for the perfect moment.

Renzaki dropped down from his position and was immediately targeted.

Gunfire rang out — sharp and close.

But he reached into his pockets, metal balls flew from his hands.

Bullets were deflected mid-air by rapid metal strikes, ricocheting straight back into the guards.

One by one, the guards collapsed.

Renzaki didn't stop.

He loaded and launched another round, this time directly at That Man. The balls hit him in the arm, ribs, and thigh.

The boss grunted, his speed slowing, body twitching.

That Man (growling): You little—!

He raised his palm.

That Man: Water Arrow!

A high-pressure stream of water formed into a sharp arrow — slicing through the air toward Renzaki.

Almost piercing his eye…

Haruto appeared in a flash and struck That Man's arm with his dummy katana.

The man's wrist snapped back, the arrow lost form and splashed to the ground.

That Man (gritting teeth): Tch…

Suddenly…

His eyes glowed.

A surge of light burst from Haruto's chest, pulled out like mist.

Haruto: What the—?! He's absorbing my (Light) Magic Energy!?

A bright silhouette formed beside That Man, a magical clone made from Haruto's own magic energy.

The clone sprinted toward Reina and Renzaki.

Haruto: This is bad… we're fighting HIM and ME now?!

Naoki (eyes wide, excited): Yes! Finally… my turn's coming!

Haruto yelled:

Haruto (shouting): Renzaki!! If you get a chance.. kill him! He's beyond saving!

The boss grabbed Haruto by the collar and lifted him like a rag doll.

Haruto struggled, trying to slash with the dummy katana, but the man ripped it from his hands and tossed it aside.

That Man: Enough. Game over.

The sky rumbled.

Thunder growled, wind howled, and sudden rainfall drenched the rooftop.

Naoki: This is spiraling fast… should I jump in? No… yes…

Suddenly…

Renzaki rushed past the clone, dropped to a slide near the dummy katana, picked it up, and stood tall.

His eyes locked with the enemy.

The sound of his heartbeat filled his ears.

He pushed Haruto back and faced That Man.

The wind swirled around them as Renzaki, using the Kazekami fighting style, slashed at the man continuously with lightning-fast speed with the dummy blade.

Scratches bloomed across the boss's body — thin red lines, then deeper cuts.

Blood splattered.

That Man (grunting, staggering): Nghh! Enough!! These brats—!

He activated his magical eye again.

Another surge — this time (dark) magic energy — was pulled from Renzaki.

That Man (smirking): Yes… Dark Magic… now we're talking.

He vanished into thin air.

A gust of wind swept through — he was gone.

Renzaki looked around — eyes scanning, breathing sharp.

Too late.

That Man (behind him): Lightning Ball!

A glowing orb crackled and slammed into Renzaki's lower back.

Electricity jolted through him — his body jerked violently from the voltage.

Haruto (shouting, crying): NOOOOO!!

From the shadows..

Naoki finally moved.

Naoki (serious, whispering): Let's end this!

To be continued...