Episode 259. Shark Shadow (1)
A rugged mountainous area where no one has ever set foot.
Whoosh, there was a man walking through the pouring rain. Even though he was wearing a waterproof robe, the rain was so heavy. It was inevitable that his hair and face would get wet.
There were large trees tangled all over the mountain, so there was no place to hide from the rain. Nevertheless, he continued on without stopping.
Is there something urgent?
That didn’t seem to be the case. The man’s expression was calm, and he even smiled softly from time to time.
Mumble, mumble.
Moreover, the man kept his mouth shut the whole time he was walking through the mountains. It seemed like he was reciting a magic spell or a mantra, but that wasn’t it. He was just engrossed in conversation.
“If you go south from here, you’ll come across the training grounds of the gods. The road is rough and there are many traps. Just getting there is like training. At first, I even fainted several times on the way there.”
“Oh my.”
Another voice came from within the man’s arms. A moment later, there was a rumbling movement within the robe, and a small squirrel appeared on the man’s forehead.
A squirrel with sparkling mint-colored eyes. It lifts the man’s hood with its front paws and looks ahead. As a result, the man gets his face beaten by the raging wind and rain.
“Ugh!”
“But every story you tell is full of dark history?”
“Was it like that? It was all just an old story?”
“As soon as Kun learned to speak, you cursed at him in different ways every day? The maids ignored him too, so they made bets on when he would die. And you say that’s all just a memory?”
“It’s all just memories, you know. Time has passed, Tina. It’s already been four years since I left the Croquis.”
“Don’t you have any ill feelings?”
“Maybe it’s because the things that have happened over the past four years have been so incredible.”
The man, soaking wet from head to toe, smiled brightly. Memories of the past four years flashed through his mind.
That memory started from the moment I was chosen as a Roynenser by Rubin.
The incident where we set out together and stopped by the Tolois Auction House. The incident where we rode the Blue Cat, a strange travel ship of the bloodthirsty siblings, and the incident where we almost died on the Black Tower of Philimond.
The Imperial Noble Witherspoon family reunited in the magical city of Capotini in Samhwi. The appearance of Miss Chloe, who was extremely popular and highly anticipated in the magical community.
The days of protecting Per and his father, a magic student who was hiding in a magic school. And the process of eliminating Rosenthaler, an executive of the Imperial Order.
“Ahem, ahem!”
Kuze tried to cough for no reason. While recalling his memories from Capotini, the face of ‘Celestine’ suddenly came to mind.
Celesne, Chloe’s maid and a 5-star wizard. On her last day in Capotini, she was saved from an assassin by Rubin.
‘I hope you’re doing well. Now is not the time for me to be worrying about that picky maid.’
Soon, the scenes in Kuze’s head shifted to what happened after he left Capotini.
Eight black spirits were summoned to the main house under the pretext of a funeral for Mafis, but with the real reason of being the Emperor’s punishment.
A punishment so fatal that it could cut off the future of the Assassin’s Blade was about to be handed down, but it was none other than Rubin who stepped forward.
Rubin was buying time from the Emperor and even obtained an excuse to raise children from other collateral branches.
The Emperor’s Tasks. The first task was completed just two years ago.
The mission was to find Brion Auror’s clues in the Toothless Plains, but in reality, Rubin had completely fooled the royal family.
Then, he resolved the crisis that befell the Tohun tribe and made them his allies who would not betray them. He also had Rayubia and Haneke, who became flesh. And there was even Imakarum, the ‘Flame of Tohun’.
In the process, Blane Krieger, who was chosen as the first companion among the children of the collateral branch, was also able to achieve tremendous growth.
“It’s already been two years… … .”
“What are you talking to yourself about?”
“I was just thinking about the things that happened after I met Master Rubin.”
“It’s already been two years since I left the Grasslands?”
“Yes, it has already become like that.”
“Still, it was peaceful for a while. Is that all over now?”
In fact, it was unexpected. Siren and Rubin both expected the Emperor’s second task to follow immediately. But for the past two years, the Emperor’s voice has not come down.
For the past two years, Rubin has spent his time training at his home. Kuze has been able to continue his various dark studies with the full support of Siren, and Tina has been enjoying a comfortable daily life that she could not enjoy before.
“That’s exactly the problem.”
“yes?”
“The Emperor’s task. It’s been kept for two years. Isn’t it obvious that it will be more difficult?”
“You are the one who rules the continent, but maybe you forgot because you had so many things to worry about? That is why it is only now, after two years… … .”
“what?”
Even though Kuze didn’t mean it, Tina glared at him and grabbed his hair with her small forepaws, pulling it. Kuze let out a final scream.
“Ahh!”
“Does it make sense that the Lily Empire has forgotten the Assassin Sword?”
“Of course not. I was just saying that.”
That was the end of the chat with Tina. The two remained silent, and Tina hid inside her robe again.
After passing a certain section of the mountain path, we finally entered the Croquison family’s territory.
The rain was still pouring down, but the airflow had clearly changed.
Kuze stopped walking and waited. For the vassals of the Croquis to appear, sensing his darkness.
The Croquison family has been in charge of the Black Shadow for generations. Although there are no fog walls like in Roinen’s territory, there are elaborate and clever traps set up all over the mountains. The vassals’ faces also stand out from the other collateral families.
at that time.
“It’s been a while, Kuze.”
The voice he had been waiting for came from behind him. Without even looking back, Kuze knew that the voice belonged to his old superior.
“The honorifics are fine. After all, I have returned as the nobleman’s servant.”
“I didn’t mean to, Ralph.”
Ralph, a direct vassal of the Croquison family, stood before Kuze. His eyes were a mixture of interest and annoyance, because he was not the Kuze he remembered.
“It’s changed a lot. It hasn’t been that long.”
“It’s because of the experiences that have no choice but to change.”
“That’s right. If you think about it, it’s all thanks to me. I actively recommended you as a candidate for Roynenser.”
“Didn’t you feel like throwing out trash back then?”
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Ralph chuckled.
In his memories, Kuze was a guy who couldn’t hide his rebellious nature. Even now, he still had the rebellious nature of a dreamer, but somehow he didn’t seem weak anymore.
“Ralph. Now that you’ve confirmed, please guide the master. I need to tell him where Master Kun is going.”
At those words, Ralph nodded, looking to one side. At that moment, the thick air dispersed. The guarded darkness that had gathered around Kuze dispersed.
* * *
“Sit down, Kuze.”
Caban Crokison gave the order. The master of the Crokison family faced Kuze while sitting on a large chair covered in animal skin.
Before he ascended the Croquison family, Caban performed missions under the false identity of a taxidermist. As a taxidermist, he would become friendly with the target of assassination and give them a stuffed animal as a gift. After a certain period of time, he would then perform the mission.
After successfully eliminating the target of assassination, it was a kind of ritual and custom for Kaban to retrieve the stuffed animal he had handed over.
The stuffed animals that were recovered in this way filled the space of the house. This meant that they had completed numerous missions without a single failure.
The table in front of which Kuze was guided was where the glaring eyes of the stuffed animals were directed. Kuze sat down on the chair, enduring the overflowing gaze without a care.
“Why did Lord Rubin’s Roynenser come here?”
“… … .”
“It doesn’t feel like a vassal visiting his old family.”
Kaban recalled the last time he saw Kuze, two years ago. That time when the dark spirits had gathered together. It remained as an unpleasant memory.
For a long time, he had thought of Kuze as nothing more than a dreamer. But Kuze defied expectations and gained Siren’s approval.
It wasn’t a lucky thing.
A weightless space created by a hemispherical dark cloud. Kaban also witnessed it firsthand, and received words of gratitude and recompense from Siren for giving him such an excellent vassal.
He had no choice but to admit that he had not recognized that ability. That was why he could understand the inexplicable confidence that flowed from Kuze.
“Is it because of the task His Majesty has given to Lord Rubin?”
“As expected, you knew.”
“I think it was about a month ago that the Imperial Order notified us. They said that Lord Rubin’s second task would begin soon.”
Rubin’s task, which determines the future of the Assassin’s Blade, is known to only a few people within the Assassin’s Blade.
The eight Black Shadows, several retainers of the main family, and Blane, who was chosen as the first companion.
“But Kuze.”
“yes.”
“The first mission from two years ago. How about telling me what kind of mission it was and which family’s children you worked with? I’m curious because even Heukyoung didn’t give me that information.”
Kuze shook his head.
“I can’t tell you anything other than the fact that your highness has successfully completed his first task.”
“If you hide it so well… I wonder if His Majesty’s test wasn’t as simple as I thought.”
“It is impossible for me to gauge Your Majesty’s mind.”
“Or, you could interpret it as the Roinen family being overly wary of the Black Shadow… no, our Croquison family.”
“I can’t answer that either, Lord Crokison. For me, assessing Lord Roinen’s psychology is not much different from His Majesty the Emperor’s.”
To Kuze, Siren was a word that implied that she was as absolute as the emperor, or even more so than the emperor.
Kaban smirked. The realization that he couldn’t think of Kuze the way he used to was more bitter than he had expected. He was a completely different person. He was confident and never wavered.
I guess that means I spent time around someone too big to be scared of. As the Siren’s face naturally came to mind, Kaban frowned.
“Okay, if that’s the case, then I can’t help it. But since you came to see me, I guess my position is a little different this time.”
“Yes.”
“This time, it seems like Kun was chosen. To be the master’s second companion.”
Kuze nodded.
It seemed that the Crokison family had expected that Kun would be chosen as a comrade someday. It was a confidence befitting a family that had produced Black Shadows for generations.
Caban was always aware of how far his son had come in his development.
And now. I knew that Kun had surpassed his childhood days and was growing at a rate comparable to that of Siren, who was the same age.
“Well, if the main family is aware of the other children, it wouldn’t be strange for Kun to be chosen.”
“Master Rubin also said that we would be good companions, despite our differences in personality.”
“Personality differences are nothing when it comes to life and death. I hope Kun has a chance to save Master Rubin’s life.”
“… … .”
Caban ran a hand over the leather covering the chair.
“Well, anyway… Since our positions have changed, I guess I won’t have to worry about that this time. Tell me, Kuze. What is the second task the Emperor has given you?”
But the answer he got back shattered his expectations.
“I can’t tell you that.”
“what?”
Caban’s eyebrows twitched slightly. Of course, he expected to receive relevant information.
“I can’t tell you for two reasons.”
“Two?”
“One is in accordance with the imperial edict issued to the Roinen family. His Majesty has set a condition that the two children will not receive support from the Assassin Sword Family.”
“You can’t get support? To what extent are you talking about?”
“First of all, you must not bring along Roynenser and Roinecrow during the mission.”
Caban let out a small sigh. Even though he didn’t know what the mission was, he was sure that it would increase the difficulty.
Now, we have to acknowledge that Kuze is a capable Roinenser, but the one who is more regrettable is Kun.
Roynenser Vikander, who guards Kun, has been known as an excellent vassal since his time at the main house. If he hadn’t become Kun’s Roynenser, he could have risen to the position of direct vassal of the main house in the future.
‘If I don’t get any help from the Roynens’
He is no different from an adult who has become an independent assassin.
No, it should be said that it is worse. Even Roynecro, who helps with movement and infiltration, has been excluded.
“Then what is the second reason?”
“That’s because even the original Roinen family doesn’t know.”
“Are you saying that it wasn’t written in the imperial edict?”
“Yes, the imperial edict we received only contained the name of the city and the starting point of the task. It meant to move there and wait for the next step.”
The Emperor’s intention was clear. He wanted to completely separate the parties and the Assassin’s Sword. He wanted to block not only direct support, but also indirect support.
“Even if you feel frustrated, you must not intervene in any way.”
“Is this what Lord Roinen said?”
“Yes, he said that he has confirmed the clear will of His Majesty the Emperor and that we must not go against it. From now on, he said that you two, Master Rubin and Master Kun, must do it yourself.”
It wasn’t an order limited to the Crokison family. It was an order given to all the assassination families across the continent.
Caban opened his mouth, clenching his fists.
“… Keep in mind. Then Master Rubin… should be in Krulti by now.”
The port city of Krulti. Because Kun is there. Kun is currently disguised as a boy soldier in the navy in the most prosperous port city on the continent.
At this, Kuze nodded.
“Yes. You may have met Master Kun by now. I hope there won’t be any friction.”
