38. After Exile (3)
“He carries a peculiar sword.”
While looking at my past records, someone started talking to me from behind.
“Looks like a weapon I haven’t seen before. Are you new?”
It’s a familiar voice.
When I turned around, I saw a very pale man.
He’s about the same height as me, but his body is skinny.
“Okay. I don’t know what to say.”
In spite of my cheeky answer, the other person just laughed.
“Those aren’t the most important places, though. Wait. Where did you see the face….”
“Hmm. It’s a shape that left a lot of images from when I was younger.”
“… He was the loser kid. What kind of guts did you come back with?”
The momentum has become tough as if they will be kicked out right away.
I think I’ll pull out my weapon if I have to.
I lifted the pentagram from my waist and showed it.
“Looks like someone nominated me. And I’m sorry, I took it away. Isn’t that the rule?”
Assassins Guild members are generally selected through two methods.
Looking for talented people that they can use, or getting recommendations.
And a third, less common way.
To come back with the symbol after killing a guild member.
Of course, it is not easy.
It’s not something anyone can do.
After defeating the guild members, you must take this symbol and find out the location and password.
“… Tsk. Should I change the rules or something? I don’t like it.”
Every time, it’s just words.
More than anyone else, we hold the existing rules sacred and keep them strictly.
I know who the opponent is.
The current master of this Assassin’s Guild.
Zodiac.
I must have felt the energy of the moon in my weapon, so I started talking to you.
A guy with a lot of interest in holy relics.
“I heard you became Lady Elijah’s escort driver.”
“You can have multiple jobs.”
“I don’t think I came here to become a blade again. I don’t know what the purpose is, but I can’t bring back a failure who ruined the guild. Get out when you say nice things.”
“I just heard it because I thought about the old days.”
I put the material I was reading back into the bookshelf.
I found out that he was once a member of the Assassins Guild.
The previous information does not continue here.
I left some parts that I couldn’t read, but I don’t think it’s particularly meaningful.
I see the name of the assassination target for the first time in my life. I didn’t see the castle.
‘Rather than that, I wanted to confirm whether it was Elijah who sent the assassin to me or not…. I can’t help it.’
You don’t have to fight the Zodiac here.
I don’t even want to do that.
I was about to leave after shrugging my shoulders, but he said in a coy voice.
“Hmm…. Anyway, that weapon looks pretty good.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
“Would you like to make a bet?”
“A bet?”
“Yes. Put on that weapon.”
… Is he serious?
Not everyone in the Assassin’s Guild follows Seongcheongyo, but the Master is always a follower of Seongcheongyo.
So is this zodiac.
Recently, things have gotten better, but the Sun and Moon Gods were very exclusive to other religions.
However, Seongcheongyo embraced various religions from the beginning.
It disappeared because of that.
And Zodiac is a guy who covets various holy relics of various religions for the revival of the Seongcheongyo.
But….
“There is no benefit to me.”
“If you win, I’ll let you take any weapon you want.”
“Hmm….”
A weapon owned by the Assassin’s Guild.
Zodiac, a collector of holy relics.
If I win, I may take another relic.
‘Rather than that, what I need right now is…. Yeah, I wish I had one.’
I readily accepted.
I was full of confidence to win.
“Let’s try.”
*
The content of the bet is simple.
Allow only one blow to each other.
The attack decides victory or defeat.
I do not ask for responsibility even if I die.
He and I stood face to face in the center of the cistern.
About ten steps away.
A few guild members came to watch.
“What are they doing?”
“Zodiac said he liked that weapon.”
“Umm…. It’s a pretty eye-catching weapon. But who is that? It’s the first face I’ve ever seen.”
“Are you new?”
“No. Take a closer look. Failed before…. Oh, you came in after that, so I don’t know.”
I faced the Zodiac without drawing my sword.
The same goes for the Zodiac who didn’t hold a weapon in his hand.
The difference is, I can’t see what Zodiac’s weapon is.
I hid it in my arms.
There is no fixed starting signal.
If someone moves, that’s a start.
A silence came as the audience’s murmur subsided.
A calm and subdued atmosphere.
Zodiac kicked his seat.
Comes straight ahead.
I put my hand on the sword.
The posture of aiming for a surprise swordsmanship.
In an instant, the figure of Zodiac, who had come right in front of him, disappeared before his eyes.
You don’t have to check.
‘Back.’
Grab the sword and stab it in the back.
Puck! And the blunt end of the scabbard stabbed something.
“Ugh-!”
Immediately after that, he quickly drew his sword and turned around to aim.
Zodiac, who fell to the ground, couldn’t avoid it and looked down at the sword he held under his neck.
Zodiac.
Master of the Assassins Guild.
I tried a lot of things before being possessed.
Of course, I also went up to this guild master position, and then defeated the Zodiac several times.
‘A technique that uses quickness and elasticity that is close to divine, going straight from the front and then grabbing the rear right before it touches. The first pattern is always like this.’
From the beginning, victory was almost certain.
If it wasn’t for knowing in advance because it was so fast, I might not have reacted either.
The Zodiac said resignedly.
“… You’re sharper than before. Lost.”
*
The warehouse of the Assassins Guild.
To be precise, it is the guild master’s warehouse.
It is a place where there are many items with quite unique additional effects beyond simple properties.
Occasionally, items used for special requests or loaned to guild members.
I have already decided what I want.
This item is not in the warehouse.
Still, I looked around to see if there was anything I was attracted to, but it was as expected.
‘As expected, it’s ambiguous for me to write.’
All items are useful for assassination.
For me, who doesn’t have a particular reason to assassinate anyone, it’s not that attractive.
‘Still, it’s better than nothing.’
Looking at all kinds of weapons on each stand, I turned around.
Zodiac looked at me with his arms crossed in displeasure.
“I don’t want anything here.”
“… So you’re saying you won’t have it?”
“No way. The count must be paid for sure. What I want….”
Upon hearing my story, Zodiac opened his eyes wide, then frowned.
“You… ! What are you going to do with that thing!”
“I swear I will never harm the reputation of the guild. Rather, it will be better than now.”
“Do you want me to believe that?”
“I don’t see any reason not to believe it. What do I get from insulting the guild? To be honest, I don’t care what happens or not. If you don’t believe me, just kill me here.”
“… Damn.”
Zodiac scratched his hair as if it were messy, then reluctantly agreed.
“Do whatever you want.”
Got it, I got what I wanted.
With ‘this’, my plan will be more perfect.
The Zodiac asked me to leave.
“Are you coming back?”
“I don’t want to come unless something special happens.”
“Don’t come here because you don’t want to look at me. Just looking at that sword makes you want to take it away.”
“I have to engrave it. Then, let’s put the spoils of victory to good use.”
“… Go away.”
*
Judah.
The owner of this body belonged to the Assassins Guild in the past.
Looks like Angra recommended it.
‘If I want to know more about the past than that, I should look for the materials of the Wolsin Church.’
But these days, the atmosphere is so turbulent that I’m reluctant.
Empire, Moonsin Church.
And Balak and Elijah.
Since the various forces are glaring at each other as if they are about to explode.
‘I could visit after the war, but.’
There is no reason not to.
It’s not that important anymore.
I will disappear from the world anyway.
“Mr. Judas.”
When I returned to Bethany, Hermis was waiting for me.
The girl who had been hiding near her appeared.
“The preparations are complete.”
A request left before leaving.
Hermis came after fully prepared.
From noble mtl dot com
I said as I handed over the items I brought from the Pupil of the Moon and the Assassins Guild.
“… I will leave it up to you.”
There was no explanation, but Hermis nodded her head as if he knew at once how to use the item when he saw it.
***
Balack had to make a decision.
Now it has reached a point where it cannot be postponed.
All forces opposing Elijah are ready.
His explanatory statement has become paper trash that no one reads.
The Empire has already decided to attack Elijah.
Now was the best time.
The anti-imperialist faction is holding back.
None other than the center, Elijah, for some reason, was confined to his room.
Cain, Levi, and Jezebel also agreed with that opinion.
On the contrary, he rebuked Balak for his indecisiveness and tried to side with the Empire.
The only thing left now is to declare war.
‘… Can not help it.’
Balack had to choose.
As it has always been since Elijah was born, so it is the same this time.
One Elijah.
Or, other children.
Choosing between the two.
I was tested at each crossroads.
He has always chosen the latter.
Comforting yourself that it was unavoidable.
But I couldn’t do that this time.
No matter how late.
Even if this regret is meaningless.
What awaits at the end, even if it is death….
‘… I will strike the Empire first.’
*
Achan and Sarah welcomed guests.
They were wizards who decided to help her bring her mother back.
It was introduced by Nadab, the pope of Moonsinism.
“You are really helping me, right?”
Sarah asked anxiously.
The wizard just smiled and bowed politely.
“For some reason I am afraid of that person….”
Agan shook her head as if agreeing with Sara’s whisper.
As far as skills are concerned, it is certain.
I saw it with my own eyes.
However, there is such a thing as intuition.
The aura I felt from that mage strangely offended people.
I’m confused about whether it’s okay to believe.
Even so, the only person the two could trust was the wizard.
Soon they will attack Elijah.
Narcissi is still trapped in the basement of the bastard’s mansion.
Soon there will be a war.
Her mother might die if she was swept away.
Or, Elijah might take Narcissus hostage to intimidate or coax the Bebel family.
I don’t want either.
Her mother had to be robbed before the war broke out.
For him, after all, he needed the help of that wizard.
As a mage capable of long-distance teleportation, his ability was certain.
I’m not going to do anything great anyway.
I’m going to break into the mansion and teleport out with only Narcissus.
“There is no need to rush. Sooner or later, I will take you two to the Duchess of Narsisi. Once the two of you confirm whether they are alive or not, we will move you to a safe place right away.”
It was kind and trustworthy.
Geist, the leader of the Imperial Magicians, swallowed an evil laugh inwardly.
‘Weak and foolish things. It must be the perfect cornerstone for killing Bevel.’
Everything for Emperor John.
*
“… What?”
Levi unwittingly dropped the quill in his hand.
It was such an absurd news.
“An assassin is dead, what do you mean?”
“I have obtained what was hidden in Ramek. An assassin who attacked Judas was found dead….”
“… ….”
Lewi was speechless.
I thought he was not an ordinary person.
By the way, avoiding Ramek’s assassination wasn’t enough, so it was possible to counterattack?
‘What the hell….’
Identified that he was Elijah’s weakness, and immediately put in a request to Ramek.
Kill Judas.
How much money did you spend for him?
That’s not the only strange thing.
He thought he was Elijah’s precious person, but Judas is said to be in Bethany.
‘What happened to this… ? I couldn’t have guessed wrong.’
The gaze of Elijah looking at Judas. Expression.
The reaction he showed when he came looking for him to protect him.
That cannot be a mask.
No matter how good Elijah is at wearing a mask, that is impossible.
“However, it is said that the assassination did not fail.”
“What does that mean again?”
“That Judas….”
