City of Gods and Monsters

When Darien first accepts the highly lucrative bounty brought to him by the rabbit-masked messenger, he accepts without hesitation, assuming that anyone whose bounty is worth millions of gold mynet must be extremely corrupt. When he meets Loren, however, he decides against abducting her and turning her over, no matter the profit potential, and elects to protect her instead—no matter the inconvenience and personal danger that he assumes to do so. Though Darien ultimately develops feelings for Loren, he does so after he chooses to protect her, showing that his choice is out of moral conviction, not out of personal affection. This early reversal reframes Darien’s role from hired killer to reluctant moral agent, introducing The Morality of Hunting the Guilty as a recurring ethical test that defines his development.

Protecting Loren requires Darien to continue to commit violence; however, learning the truth behind the abductions requires him to face off against various figures in the criminal underworld of Angelthene. Darien doesn’t feel real regret about battling these figures, with the minor exception of the emotional response he has after sending his abusive father, Randal, to his death at the hands of the murderous demon in the basement of an abandoned house.