“Carrying around a peculiar sword, huh?”
While I was perusing my past records, someone spoke from behind me.
“Looks like a weapon I haven’t seen before. A newbie, maybe?”
I recognized the voice.
When I turned around, I was met by a remarkably pale-looking man.
He was roughly my height, but his frame was scrawny.
“Well, I don’t see why I should tell you anything.”
Despite my cheeky reply, he merely chuckled.
“Not like it’s that important in this place. Wait, I’ve seen that face somewhere…”
“Hmm. I guess much of my childhood self is still lingering.”
“…You were that failure of a kid. What gall do you have returning?”
His demeanor turned threatening as if he were about to kick me out.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he pulled a weapon right then.
I drew the Omangseong from my waist to show him.
“Looks like someone pointed me out. And sorry, but I took it. Isn’t that the rule?”
Members of the Assassin Guild generally select new recruits through one of two methods.
They either scout out promising talent or rely on recommendations.
And then there’s the unorthodox third method.
Killing a guild member and bringing back their symbol.
Of course, it’s not easy.
Not everyone can pull that off.
One must first defeat a guild member, grab their symbol, and figure out the location and password.
“…Tsk. Perhaps it’s time to change the rules. I don’t like it.”
He always just talks big.
He reveres the old rules above anyone else and adheres to them strictly.
I know who he is.
The current Master of the Assassin Guild.
Zodiac.
He probably noticed the moon’s aura radiating from my weapon and struck up a conversation.
He’s quite the relic enthusiast.
“I hear you’ve become Lady Eliya’s bodyguard.”
“One can bear multiple professions.”
“Doesn’t seem like you’re back to become a blade again. Whatever your business is, I can’t let such a failure tarnish the guild again. Leave while you can still hear kind words.”
“Honestly, I just dropped by because it reminded me of old times.”
I returned the documents I was reading to the shelf.
I had confirmed that I was once a guild member.
No prior info carried over here from before that.
There were still bits I hadn’t read, but they probably wouldn’t be significant.
I saw a name of an assassination target I’d never encountered before. No last name, though.
‘More importantly, I wanted to confirm whether it was Eliya who sent me an assassin or not… I guess it can’t be helped.’
There’s no need to fight Zodiac here.
I don’t even want to.
I shrugged and started to walk away when he spoke in a subtle voice.
“Hmm… By the way, that weapon looks quite nice.”
“Thanks for the compliment.”
“How about a wager?”
“A wager?”
“Yes. Let’s put that weapon on the line.”
…He’s serious?
Not everyone in the Assassin Guild follows the Sun Church, but the Master must be a believer.
Zodiac is no exception.
Though they’ve improved somewhat lately, the Sun Church and the Molsin Church have always been quite exclusive of other religions.
However, the Sun Church has embraced a wide array of beliefs from the start.
Because of that, they’ve disappeared.
And Zodiac is someone who covets various holy relics to resurrect the Sun Church.
But…
“I don’t see what I’d gain from that.”
“If you win, I’ll let you take any weapon you want.”
“Hmm…”
A weapon owned by the Assassin Guild.
Zodiac, a collector of relics.
If I win, I might be able to procure another holy relic.
‘More importantly, what I need right now… Yeah, having that would be even better.’
I accepted without hesitation.
I was overflowing with confidence to win.
“Let’s do it.”
*
The wager’s rules were simple.
Only one strike is permitted from each party.
Victory or defeat is determined by that attack.
There’s no responsibility if someone dies.
He and I stood facing each other in the center of the reservoir.
About ten paces apart.
A few guild members had come to watch.
“What are they doing?”
“I heard Zodiac liked that weapon.”
“Hmm… It is quite an eye-catching weapon. But who is that? I’ve never seen that face before.”
“Maybe it’s a newbie?”
“No, look closely. That’s the one who failed back then… Oh, you came in after that, so you wouldn’t know.”
I faced Zodiac without drawing my sword.
Neither of us was holding a weapon.
The difference was that Zodiac’s weapon was hidden from view.
There was no designated signal to start.
Whenever someone moved, that would signal the beginning.
As the crowd grew quiet, an oppressive silence settled in.
Zodiac made his move.
He charged straight at me.
I placed my hand on the sword.
Aiming for a surprise draw.
In an instant, he was right in front of me, his figure vanished from sight.
No need to confirm it.
‘Behind.’
I gripped my sword and struck backward.
Thud! The dull tip of the sword made contact with something.
“Ugh-!”
I swiftly drew my sword and turned around to face him.
Zodiac lay sprawled on the ground, unable to dodge, staring down at the blade pointed at his throat.
Zodiac.
Master of the Assassin Guild.
I have done a lot before reincarnating.
Naturally, I had risen to the position of guild master and had defeated Zodiac several times at that time.
‘The technique of utilizing near-divine agility and spring to charge straight ahead, then catching the opponent from behind just before impact. The first pattern is always like this.’
Victory was practically predetermined from the outset.
If I hadn’t recognized the speed, I may not have reacted in time either.
Defeated, Zodiac muttered in resignation.
“…You’ve become sharper than before. I concede.”
*
The Assassin Guild’s storeroom.
To be precise, the storage of the guild master.
It contains many items with notable effects beyond simple attributes.
They are sometimes used for special contracts or lent out to guild members.
I already had my eye on something.
An item not present in this storeroom.
But I still surveyed the area, hoping something might catch my interest.
As expected, I found nothing suitable.
‘Just as I thought, everything here is for assassinations.’
There’s really no need for me to assassinate anyone, so none of the items here have great appeal.
‘Still better than having nothing.’
As I perused the various weapons hanging on their racks, I turned around.
Zodiac, arms crossed in annoyance, was watching me.
“There’s nothing you want here.”
“…So you’re saying you won’t take anything?”
“Of course not. I’m not about to skip the transaction. What I want…”
Zodiac’s eyes widened as he heard my words, then he frowned.
“You…! What are you planning to do with that item!”
“I swear I will never bring disgrace upon the guild. In fact, it’ll probably be better than now.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“I don’t know why you wouldn’t trust me. What’s the benefit for me in defaming the guild? Frankly, I don’t care what happens. If you truly don’t trust me, just kill me here.”
“…Damn.”
Zodiac scratched his hair like a mess, reluctantly acquiescing.
“Do as you wish.”
I finally managed to obtain the item I wanted.
With ‘this’, my plan would become much more flawless.
As I prepared to leave, Zodiac asked.
“Will you come back?”
“I don’t think I’ll return unless something big happens.”
“Then don’t. Just seeing that sword makes me want to take it.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. Well then, I’ll use this trophy of victory wisely.”
“…Get lost.”
*
Judas.
The master of this body was once part of the Assassin Guild.
It seems I was recommended by Angra.
‘If I want to dig a bit deeper into the past, should I look into the Molsin Church’s records?’
But I’m quite reluctant given how chaotic things have been lately.
Empire, Molsin Church.
And Balak and Eliya.
Several factions are watching each other closely, ready to explode any moment.
‘Maybe I could look into it after the war is over.’
But I really don’t have any pressing reasons to do so.
It’s not really a significant issue anymore.
Anyway, I’m going to vanish from this world.
“Lord Judas.”
When I returned to Bethany, Hermis was waiting for me.
She emerged from where she had been hiding nearby.
“I’m all set.”
She had come to report that she had completed the request I left before I departed.
I handed over the lunar pupil and the item I took from the Assassin Guild as I spoke.
“…I appreciate it.”
Though I didn’t explain, Hermis seemed to understand how to use the item at a glance and nodded.
*
Balak had to make a decision.
He had reached a point where he could delay no longer.
All forces opposed to Eliya were prepared.
His declaration of justification had become nothing more than discarded paper.
The Empire had already decided to attack Eliya.
Now was the optimal moment.
The anti-imperialist faction was hesitating.
The very focus of it, Eliya, for some reason, had barricaded herself in her room.
Cain, Levi, and Jezebel also supported that opinion.
They chastised the indecisive Balak and leaned towards siding with the Empire.
Only a declaration of war was left to be made.
‘…It can’t be helped.’
Balak had to choose.
As he has always done since Eliya was born, this time would be no different.
Eliya alone.
Or his other children.
Choosing one between the two.
He had always been tested at this crossroads.
He constantly chose the latter.
Comforting himself that it was inevitable.
But this time, he couldn’t do that.
No matter how late it might be.
Even if this regret is meaningless.
Even if what awaits at the end is death…
‘…I will strike first against the Empire.’
*
Aghan and Sara welcomed guests.
A wizard who had promised to help them bring back their mother.
Introduced by Naddab, the pope of the Molsin Church.
“You’re really going to help us, right?”
Sara asked with an anxious expression.
The wizard merely bowed politely with a smile.
“That person feels oddly intimidating…”
At Sara’s whisper, Aghan nodded in agreement.
Their skills were assured.
They had seen it with their own eyes.
However, there was a sense of something strange.
The aura emanating from that wizard made one strangely uncomfortable.
They couldn’t quite tell if it was alright to trust him.
Even so, the only person they could trust right now was the wizard.
They would soon make their move against Eliya.
Narcissi was still trapped under the mansion, a bastard child.
War was about to break out.
If they weren’t careful, their mother might die.
Alternatively, Eliya might capture Narcissi to blackmail or persuade the Bevel family.
Either scenario was unacceptable.
They needed to get their mother out before the war broke out.
To accomplish that, they ultimately required the wizard’s help.
He was a wizard capable of long-distance teleportation, so his abilities were assured.
After all, he wouldn’t be doing anything grand.
He would just sneak into the mansion to grab Narcissi and teleport away.
“You don’t need to rush. Soon, I’ll find the right moment and take the two of you to meet Duchess Narcissi. Once you both confirm her identity and safety, I’ll move you to a safe place right away.”
Those were kind and reassuring words.
Gaist, the head of the Imperial Wizard Order, held back a wicked grin within.
‘Weak and foolish beings. They’ll make excellent stepping stones for killing Bevel.’
Everything was done in service of Emperor Johan.
*
“…What?”
Levi dropped the quill he was holding, completely caught off guard.
Such was the absurdity of the news.
“An assassin has been killed? What do you mean by that?”
“I obtained concealed information from Ramek. The assassin who attacked Judas was found dead…”
“…….”
Levi was at a loss for words.
He thought he was no ordinary person.
But to have not only survived but also been capable of counterattack against an assassin from Ramek?
‘What on earth…’
He grasped that Eliya was the weak point and immediately commissioned Ramek.
To kill Judas.
How much gold he had poured into that request, only for the assassin to meet an untimely end instead.
That wasn’t the only oddity.
Though he had thought of Eliya as someone precious, Judas was said to be in Bethany.
‘What in the world is happening…? I can’t have misread this.’
Levi reflected on Eliya’s gaze towards Judas. Her expression.
It was genuine concern when she had come seeking to protect him.
That couldn’t have been a mask.
No matter how skilled Eliya was at disguises, that was impossible.
“But, it seems the assassination didn’t fail.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“That Judas….”
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