Episode 21. The Problematic Assassin (2)
At Grokal’s request, only he and Rubin were left in the tent.
“Master Rubin, do you know the Hwanhyeol tribe?”
“I know, the Hwanhyeol tribe. They’re a minority tribe. They can transform into anything.”
The Hwanhyeol Tribe is one of the minority tribes with unique abilities, similar to the Geohyeol Tribe and the Suhyeol Tribe.
If the Giant Blood Tribe is a race that increases physical strength by making their bodies gigantic, and the Blood Blood Tribe is a race that can empathize and communicate with beasts.
The Hwanhyeol tribe were people who could naturally transform, a feat that even a 7-star archmage would have difficulty successfully accomplishing.
“Wasn’t the Hwanhyeol tribe completely exterminated?”
“You know a lot.”
After the conquest of Emperor Telmach, the Giants and the Blood Clans were incorporated into the Empire, but the Hwan-Blooded Clan could not, because the Emperor did not trust them.
Well, that would be true. Being able to grow larger or control animals were abilities that could be of help to the empire if used well.
However, the shape-shifting Phantoms were not like that. It was not easy for anyone in the empire to distinguish between Phantoms who had transformed into other creatures.
Although they were pacifists by nature, the Emperor was worried that they might deceive him and turn into enemies at any time.
“About 30 years ago, the Hwan-hyeol tribe lost their homeland. The emperor gathered all the Hwan-hyeol tribe members together as if he were holding a banquet and killed them all. It was a bloody purge to leave no Hwan-hyeol tribe members in the world.”
Rubin, who was quietly listening to the conversation, heard the expression ‘blood cleansing’.
“Were there any survivors?”
“Yes, but only a very small number.”
Rubin continued his explanation while watching Grokal’s reaction. He even changed his tone to give the impression that he was reciting passages from a history book.
“The Hwan-Blooded Tribe fled to various parts of the empire to avoid the eyes of the empire, but in the end, they were all caught after only a few years. Most of the Hwan-Blooded Tribe members who were caught lost their lives.”
And one more thing.
“Those who were lucky enough to survive were made playthings for the noble families, with their limbs cut off.”
“…It seems you were very interested in the Hwanhyeol tribe.”
“I’ve read a lot of different books.”
“It turns out that the rumors about the youngest lord being locked in the library were true.”
“and…….”
Grokal’s eyes were waiting for the next words. Rubin focused on those eyes. Taking a moment to pause so that he could make a bigger impact.
“I’ve always wanted to meet one. It can transform into any living thing. It’d be perfect as a toy.”
Rubin didn’t miss the subtle wavering in Grokal’s eyes.
“Are you serious about that?”
“Think about it. If you cut off their limbs, wouldn’t they turn into a dog or cat without limbs? That would be fun in its own way.”
“I never thought about that.”
While Grokal was mulling over the meaning of his words, Rubin rose from his chair.
“Grocal.”
“Yes, Master Rubin.”
“So the target you’re chasing now is the Hwanhyeol tribe?”
“Yes.”
“Then, there was a blood-thirsty assassin within the Assassination Sword Family.”
Grokal nodded instead of answering.
The Emperor’s enemies, the Hwanhyeol clan, were left inside the Assassination Swordsman. I didn’t know about this fact before or after the return. How many secrets there are.
“This is a secret known only to a very few. Only the Siren family, our Lang assassination squad, and those directly under them know about it.”
“But am I allowed to know?”
“We lost the last trace of the target within ten kilometers. If they knew that Lord Rubin and his party were nearby, there’s no way to guarantee what the target would do.”
That was true.
He was an assassin who betrayed none other than the Assassin’s Blade. If such an assassin were to encounter a descendant of the Roinen bloodline, things would not go well.
It was information that could be shared with Rubin, even for protection purposes.
“No matter how great the escorts are, the transformation of the Hwanhyeol clan is a different story. When she transforms, even the darkness she had is gone. In fact, there is no way to know in advance.”
“Her?”
“The Blood Tribe assassin is a woman. Of course, this is meaningless information since she can also transform into a man.”
Rubin walked toward the tent entrance, then lifted the tent and looked outside.
To ensure smooth conversation between the two, both the escorts and the assassins were spread out far apart.
“Grocal, I have something to ask you.”
“Yes, go ahead.”
“What would you do?”
“What do you mean?”
“What if you’re the assassin being chased by the assassination squad? What if you’re an assassin from the Hwan-hyeol clan?”
The pursuer should think like the runner.
Was Rubin giving such advice now? Grokal wondered what Rubin meant by his question.
“Ahem, if I could think like a Hwan-Blooded Clan… I wish I could. If that were possible, I would have already caught my target. I guess it’s because I can’t think like a Hwan-Blooded Clan that I’m in such a tangled state right now.”
Grokal smiled awkwardly. Rubin turned his back on him.
“Well, I guess so.”
However, he sensed Grokal’s movements. Before Grokal could even sense it, Rubin had already spread the remaining darkness that he had been hiding.
Through my heightened senses, I could clearly feel Grokal’s hand moving down to the scabbard that was hanging on my thigh.
Right then.
“Are you trying to kill me? And then transform into me?”
“… … !”
Rubin turned around. The eyes under his mask had lost all peace.
-Rubin!
Then, Haneke, who sensed the danger belatedly, called Rubin urgently.
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Rubin did not let go of the net-like feeling he had cast toward Grokal. No matter what the process was, he was the one who had subdued the assassination master Grokal, so he could not let his guard down.
‘Haneke, things are not simple right now.’
-I know that too.
Haneke had already approached Rubin. In fact, he was about to warn Rubin. He was a step too late.
-Did you notice it too? Is it because of the regression? Since when did you know?
It had nothing to do with regression.
The beginning of my suspicions was the words ‘blood cleansing’. When I uttered those words, I felt a subtle change in Grokal’s attitude. He had sensed the emotions of the Hwanhyeol tribe that he had not been able to hide.
Anger. Sadness. Vengeance.
It was easy for Rubin to notice, as it was a feeling he was familiar with.
After that, Rubin tried to make fun of the tragedy of the Hwan-Hyeol tribe. It was only for a very short moment, but even then, Grokal lost his composure.
And one more thing.
The assassination squad Rubin knows of does not use a subject that refers to itself alone during missions, either consciously or unconsciously.
‘If the author was really a Grokal of the Lang Slaughter Group, he would have said ‘We’ instead of ‘I’. That’s the Slaughter Group’s way.’
finally.
A memory from before the regression that came to me at a really appropriate moment also helped. It was a conversation with Grokal, who was about to retire, about three years before Rubin died.
There, he opened up about his past.
‘I once suffered a setback. I was overpowered by a target of the Hwan-Hyeol tribe. What was even more shameful was that for a while he pretended to be me and commanded the Lang assassination squad.’
As the conversation from that time came to mind, the puzzle began to fall into place.
“Now, tell me. The problematic assassin who transformed into a grocal.”
“… … .”
“I can’t find out your name. My authority doesn’t extend to that level yet. So answer me. What is your name?”
Rubin, who had returned to the opposite side of the Hwanhyeol tribe, sat down on the chair as if he had no hostility.
“If you tell me your name, maybe I can connect it with my memories.”
“You are so flawless that I can’t believe you are the son of a siren. Even insulting the Phantom Tribe was just a test for me.”
“I don’t think we’re in a position to have a friendly chat right now.”
The bloodthirsty assassin meekly withdrew his hand from the scabbard. Then he sat down with his legs crossed, his robe fluttering.
Rubin asked point-blank.
“Were you planning on getting rid of me?”
“Ha, it’s not that reckless. Well, I was thinking of using you, though.”
“As a bargaining chip?”
“I don’t want to spend my whole life being chased by the Assassins. You damned ghost rats… But I ended up having a conversation with this Siren brat. I’m such an idiot.”
The Hwanhyeoljok shook her head with an attitude that did not lose its composure. Even though her identity had been discovered, she looked relaxed.
“Since when have you been following me?”
“From the moment you left the gates of Bolgotten, I felt a thick darkness, so I approached and saw you and your escorts.”
I had never seen Rubin’s face, but the escorts knew him well.
“And I was sure of it when I saw your face. It was a face that reminded me of an icy siren.”
Rubin gripped the armrests of his chair. For a moment, it occurred to him that the easygoing attitude of the Phantom Assassin needed to be restrained.
“It’s embarrassing to hear your mother’s name coming out of your mouth all the time.”
Then, Rubin aimed his sword at the Hwanhyeol tribe with aggression in his dark smoke.
The moment he felt the well-refined dark smoke, sharp and cool like the tip of a sword, the Hwanhyeol tribe became tensed without realizing it.
“… … !”
It was not the tension that comes from facing a powerful opponent, but rather the unconscious tension that comes from facing a strange and incomprehensible object.
Although she was born into the Hwanhyeol tribe, she grew up as a member of the Assassin Sword Family. Although she did not have an innate dark affinity like the Assassin Sword Family’s bloodline, she inherited an acquired dark affinity through a ritual.
It means that you can gauge the level of your opponent just by feeling the darkness he or she is displaying.
Usually, the kid in front of you can handle a 1-star dark smoke. At that time, the dark smoke was not trained, so it was usually rough and crude.
But this darkness I feel now… …
It was the skilled work of someone who had been dealing with darkness for at least several decades.
Rubin continued.
“Surprised?”
“… … .”
“So don’t be too relaxed. Stop thinking nonsense. Even if you transform into me, you won’t have these abilities.”
With these words, Rubin hid his shadow again. It was only revealed for a moment, so the assassination squad outside didn’t even notice it.
The skill with which he skillfully controlled the darkness was also shocking to the Hwanhyeol tribe.
“I guess you’re finally listening to me. Thank you.”
“… The term problematic assassin should be used for you, not me.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Rubin was a bit more relaxed. Even when facing the target of the assassination squad, Rubin even smiled.
“Now, Bloodthirsty Assassin. There’s one thing you haven’t answered yet. Your name.”
At that time, the Hwanhyeol tribe was calculating an escape route in their heads.
Outside, there are two assassins who have not yet realized his identity, and two of his family’s bodyguards are by his side.
The Roinen bloodline sitting across from him is an unpredictable and unidentified entity.
Her common sense was shattered by the skillful use of the dark smoke that she had encountered in an instant.
The plan to kidnap Siren’s son and escape the situation where he is being chased by the assassination squad begins to waver in vain.
‘Should I just run away like this?’
If I try my best, I can escape. I was just curious. What was the identity of this Rubin child in front of me?
There seemed to be no hostility. Let’s continue the conversation for a while.
“Tina Kiruha. That’s my name.”
“…what?”
Tina Kiruha?
The moment the Hwanhyeol tribe revealed their names.
This time, the one who was surprised was Rubin.
