Episode 190. The Helpers (1)
“It’s getting late.”
The Dark Lords were unaware of what was happening in Grandbird. An awkward silence filled the dark hall, and eventually some of them returned to the annex.
There are five left in the dark hall.
Lil, Anon, Deathril, Kaban. All the upper-level dark shadows were there. Among the lower-level dark shadows, Benik was the only one who was recognized as a terminal.
“It’s been two hours.”
Anon broke the silence and said.
“There’s no way it could take this long. After all, the head of the Imperial Department isn’t the one making the decisions.”
“He’s not the decision maker, but he might be trying to convince the lord. It’s a matter of that magnitude.”
Deathril responded. He had long, flowing hair and was quietly stroking his weapon placed on a large table.
As his nickname, ‘Hell Chain’ suggests, the weapon he uses is an iron chain with a sickle attached to each end.
It was certainly a cumbersome weapon for an assassin, but considering that it was a black shadow, it couldn’t be said to be unusual.
Deathril felt an irritating gaze.
“Tch, are you all getting old and wanting a new weapon?”
A sharp remark that didn’t seem to target anyone specifically. Benic then laughed.
“All because they’re old? You seem to be talking about old people. Are you talking about me, Desril? No, it’s not just me. There’s another old man here, Killian.”
In the Dark Hall, in addition to the five Dark Lords, there was Killian. He looked like a soldier, standing with his pack on his back.
He was trying to fill Siren’s absence with his presence, but after not drinking for over two hours, he felt like he was going to die.
As a result of the curse of the six stars, the cold inside his body was becoming increasingly fierce.
“How could I say that about Killian? I was just talking to myself. I think you misunderstood.”
“Hehe, it sounds like you were talking about me in the end. Well, I guess Killian is more difficult for the Rildens family than I am. After all, I’m just a lowly member of the Dark Shadows.”
Words that narrowly missed the mark. Killian had to endure the freezing pain all over his body, while also watching to see if an internal conflict would break out between the heads of the household.
There was a clear dynamic between the black shadows. If there was a head of a clan that was in solidarity with them, there was also a head of a clan that was in opposition to them.
In particular, it was clear to Killian what the upper shadow thought of Benic.
‘I just can’t understand it. Rather than endure this humiliation, I’d rather hand over the family line to my own children.’
The fame and status that could be gained by becoming a Black Shadow. Killian knew this, but he still couldn’t fully understand Benic’s obsession with becoming a Black Shadow.
Benic was openly despised even within the Black Shadow. But he did not have any great status outside of it either.
In other words, he was closer to being a good prey. The heads of houses close to the Black Shadow always targeted Benic as their first target.
‘I’ve been watching you for a long time, but the more I look at you, the more I realize that you’re an author I don’t know.’
Killian in his seventies, Benic in his nineties. The only person who saw Benic in his younger days is Killian.
Benic is now old and has no flaws in his face, but when Killian saw him as a child, he was a handsome and sturdy warrior.
As I recalled his past self, which was completely different from his current appearance, I felt a bit bitter.
‘Damn, Oakum is going crazy.’
by the way.
This time, his gaze moved towards Lil, Anon, and Deathril. As can be seen from their unabashed manner of speaking, the three black shadows had been friends for a long time.
‘The three of them… were said to have been active as ‘Black Team’ quite often.’
According to Killian’s information, that was it.
The Black Squad, a concept of an organization that carries out assassination missions. Unlike the Assassination Squad, which tracks down problematic assassins, the Black Squad was not an organization unique to the Assassination Swordsman.
The Black Order came into being after the Assassination Swordsman was incorporated into the Lilic Empire. In other words, it was created through the involvement of the Imperial Order.
“Come to think of it, this plan that Lord Roinen is proposing to His Majesty seems similar to the Black Tide. It’s a bit different though, since it involves two people instead of three.”
At that moment, the story about the Black Dwarf came out of Deathril’s mouth.
Then Anon chuckled. It seemed like old memories suddenly came to mind.
Lil, Anon, and Deathril. These three are the rare success stories of the Black Order. There were no success stories before or after them.
Unlike the assassination squad, which was formed as soon as the head of the main family gave the order, the black murder squad was an organization formed entirely on their own initiative.
As such, it was rare for assassins who preferred to act alone to form a Black Squad. Even if they did form one, it was more difficult to operate it properly.
“We’re completely different from each other, since we formed the Black Order after we were over 20 years old.”
“Well, this time it’s a combination of children who are being educated by Roynens.”
“One thing is for sure. If this proposal is accepted, Master Rubin will be assigned a difficult mission.”
“Like the Black Death.”
“Yeah, just like the Black Death.”
Since the mission was not carried out alone, the Black Knights were given difficult missions. The mission cycle was also short.
“Currently, this is for children who are receiving education at Roynenser… … .”
Suddenly, Deathril’s eyes turned to Caban Crokison.
The three close friends’ children were not currently in the Roinensor training period. However, it was different for Kaban.
“Come to think of it, wasn’t the son of the Crokison family the same age as Lord Rubin? I think his name was Kun.”
“Yes.”
“If Master Rubin chooses Kun, this will be a bit difficult.”
Contrary to his words of concern, he seemed to have a desire for the downfall of the Croquis family. Killian thought so.
Even though they were the top black shadows, not everyone was in the same situation. There was a strange sense of discomfort between Caban and the other three.
“We’ll have to wait and see. Whether His Majesty will approve this… I don’t even know that.”
After shrugging his shoulders, Caban stood up from his seat. As Siren’s return was delayed, he too was going to wait in the annex.
“Well… my son would welcome it with open arms.”
“Oh, really?”
“Kun would not want Master Rubin to die in vain more than anyone else. He still has a lot to repay.”
“I have to pay it back?”
“I don’t know the details, but that attitude doesn’t seem too bad.”
With those words, Caban Crokison bowed his head to the Dark Spirits and left the Twilight Hall without looking back.
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“Shouldn’t you be back by now?”
Puree said, biting her nails. She exhaled deeply and repeatedly stroked her chest. She looked at Kuze with an expression expecting an answer, but he just shrugged.
The two people currently loitering around Rubin’s annex knew how the dark clouds surrounding the Assassination Sword Family were flowing.
The visit and funeral of the head of the Imperial Order, Rulfo. And then Rubin’s proposal. After that, Rubin went to Rulfo’s Grandbird with Siren and did not return for more than two hours.
Since he was Rubin’s man, he knew this flow. The other vassals did not know that the direction of the Alsalgeom family depended on none other than Rubin.
“That won’t work.”
“yes?”
“I have to go to the twilight hall!”
“Hey, you want to go in now? Mr. Puree?”
“Of course…! I can’t go in. I just want to check out the atmosphere from afar.”
Then Puree looked at Kuze with longing eyes.
“Or, would you like to go, Kuze? Since you are the young master of Roinenser, I think you would be qualified to do so.”
“Even if you are a Roynenser, you know you are not qualified to enter that meeting.”
“If that’s the case, I’ll pretend to be crazy!”
Puree left the annex, full of determination.
Kuze, who had been messing up his hair in embarrassment, eventually had no choice but to follow along. Tina and Puree too. Along with the thought that there were really a lot of unreasonable people at the main house.
Roynenser and the nanny.
Although it was only a short time, Pure and Kuze had become quite close while staying in the annex. With Rubin’s permission, the two shared their respective experiences and memories of Rubin.
‘He looks different from the young master I’ve seen before.’
A quiet, obedient child who only stayed in the library. Although it was completely different from what he had seen, Kuze was able to accept it.
The young master must have been cowering intentionally.
On the other hand, Puree seemed to think that half of Kuze’s story was an exaggeration. She did not believe Rubin’s bold and sometimes cruel appearance.
‘So, I guess that’s what you mean when you think of a child who was put into water like that.’
When I heard of Rubin’s decision to become a sacrifice, I thought about Puree’s pensive face.
However, Kuze knew that Rubin would now truly show his desire to improve. For the sake of the family and to become stronger.
‘The Roynengas are different from the Crokisons in many ways.’
Kuze was a vassal of the Croquison family before meeting Rubin.
What is the difference between Roinenga and Crokisonga?
Although the main family was gaining the legitimacy of pure blood, on the other hand, there were too many restrictions.
For example, children cannot receive any education other than theoretical knowledge until they start living in hiding with the Roynens.
However, most of the collateral families have practiced various practices under the sway of their lord, and among them, the Croquis family was particularly severe.
Even just looking at the puree-like nannies, the difference was extreme. The Croquison family’s nannies were extremely harsh.
‘In a place like that, I was an incompetent failure.’
It was the Croquison family that had inherited the Dark Shadow for generations. There, Kuze was nothing more than a vassal who had not yet achieved the qualifications of a Roinenser. The fact that they had so quickly sent him out as a candidate was in fact an attempt to remove a bombshell.
If I hadn’t been chosen by Lord Rubin, I wonder what would have happened to my life and death by now.
“Mr. Kuze.”
“yes?”
Puree, who had been walking ahead, suddenly stopped. It was immediately clear why he had stopped. A black spirit was standing in front of Puree.
“It’s been a while, Kuze.”
It just so happened to be Caban Crokison. He seemed to be heading out of the Twilight Hall and toward the annex provided to the Dark Spirits.
“…My lord.”
I remembered the past days when I was looked down upon. I felt myself instinctively shrinking.
Of course, it was his son Kun, not Kaban, who openly persecuted Kuze. Kaban just didn’t care about it.
As the atmosphere suddenly froze, Puree stepped back politely. Caban smiled lightly.
“Even if it were you, you wouldn’t be simply flirting with the maid of the main house in this situation. Where are you going?”
“… I was on my way to Asleum Hall to learn about the master.”
“You’re a Roynenser, too, aren’t you? It’s a shame, but it was all in vain. The young master hasn’t returned yet. It seems like the conversation with the head of the Imperial Order is going on for a long time.”
“I see. Okay, I understand.”
After exchanging glances with Puree, Kuze turned to return to the annex. Behind him, Kaban continued to speak.
“You still can’t let go of that weird idea?”
I couldn’t help but wonder what this strange idea meant.
“Are you talking about secrets?”
“If you had just given up that dream, you would have been quite useful to our family, Kuze. You may be weak, but you are not stupid.”
Over the past two years, Kuze has never thought of himself as having changed. There have been countless incidents during that time, but he thought that all of those achievements were due to Rubin.
but.
When faced with Caban’s disdain, his pride stirred. A sense of rebellion welled up, and he wanted to show his former master his accomplishments. Shadow fieldmaster, shadow curtain.
‘But… I guess I can’t reveal it without your permission.’
Kuze exhaled. He had to endure this moment. He had no choice but to convince himself that there would be better times later.
“… I see, it seems like you still haven’t gotten rid of that temperament.”
But then it happened.
Both Kaban and Kuze looked up at the sky in surprise. Later, Pure followed their gazes, and only then did she spot Rubin and Siren descending on two Roinekrows.
“You’re back… …!”
Rubin and Siren did not head straight to the Twilight Hall, but instead chose a landing point close to them.
Two Roynecro flap their wings and land on the ground. Tina’s mint-colored eyes sparkle and she cries out at Kuze.
“Are you back?”
Caban bowed to the two men.
“… … .”
Rubin looks at Kuze and Kaban once in a while.
A rough picture of what happened before was drawn. The previous head of the household still did not know Kuze’s true identity.
“Has everything gone well with the head of the imperial command?”
As Rubin approached, Caban asked.
“I guess we’ll have to wait a few more days to hear back from the palace?”
“No, it went faster than I thought.”
“yes?”
“I will gather all the lords in the Dark Hall and speak to them. Before that… … .”
Once more, Rubin looked back and forth between the two of them, then turned to the siren standing behind him.
“Your Majesty, may I ask you a favor?”
“Please? What is it?”
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Croquison family for nurturing a talented person like Kuze Martin.”
“I see what you mean.”
The next moment, Rubin did something that even Caban couldn’t hide his surprise.
In front of him, he directly deployed the ‘Shadow Force Field’. It was the first dark magic that Kuze had created.
“… … ?”
Kaban Crokison soon sensed the fine flow of dark smoke flowing out from Rubin. He could feel the constant radius gradually expanding, forming a hemispherical dark smoke.
and.
“… … !”
A sapling in the garden dropped a leaf in the wind, and just as it did, it entered the shadow field.
‘weightlessness?’
The leaf is floating in the air! Caban looked at the leaf, which was trapped in perfect weightlessness, with astonished eyes.
“This is Kuze’s… …!”
“Lord Croquis.”
“… … ?”
“For me, Kuze is a chance that I would have regretted for the rest of my life if I had missed it. Although it is late, I would like to express my gratitude. Thanks to you, my lord, I have obtained the unprecedented Roinenser. Thank you.”
Kuze’s body, standing next to him, trembled. He couldn’t help it. He couldn’t hold back the shivers flowing through his body and bit his lower lip.
Siren also looked at Kuze with admiration.
“That’s interesting. I’ve only heard it from Damon, but it’s quite a trick. I’ll have to teach it to the vassals of the main house while you’re here.”
“Yes, my lord. That is what I was thinking.”
As Siren continued to speak, Kaban’s mind seemed to become complicated. His pupils were shaking wildly.
“And to the Croquis family, in appreciation of having given us such an excellent vassal, I will give you a weapon that you will not regret.”
“…I will gratefully accept it.”
“What? No matter what I give, it seems like my family will benefit.”
