Chapter 27

A small plaque hung in the corner of the shabby shack.

It bore no image—only a single red dot on a black background.


“…Where did that come from?” I asked, pointing at it.


Kai, who had been sorting through his siblings’ belongings, tilted his head. “Grandfather gave it to us. If you want it, I can give it to you.”


“…What?” I was more concerned about what he’d just said than the offer itself. “May I take a closer look?”


“Sure, I’ll bring it.” Kai fetched the plaque and handed it to me.


…Just as I thought.


I let out a hollow laugh as I studied it.


A red dot on a black field. It looked like a crimson star in the night sky.


A Death Veil plaque? Why is this here?


This was the emblem of Death Veil—the most feared and powerful assassination syndicate on the continent.


Did the connection start from this point in time?


Before my regression, the main reason Kai rose to infamy as the continent’s most notorious assassin was precisely because of Death Veil.


It made sense. His other title had been Veilmaster.


“You said your grandfather gave this to you?”


“Yes. Before he died, he made me promise to keep it. Said one day a noble guest would visit and I should show it to them.

But noble guest, my ass. No one ever came. Just the damn loan sharks.”


Kai shrugged as he kept packing his siblings’ things. He clearly couldn’t wait to leave this place behind.


“Well, I guess he wasn’t entirely wrong since you came, Young Master.”


Though Kai spoke offhandedly, I couldn’t take his words lightly.


I was fairly certain I knew who his grandfather was.


“…Max,” I muttered.


Kai’s eyes widened. “You know my grandfather’s name?”


“…He was famous.”


Famous, indeed.


A supreme assassin rumored to have killed the Emperor. A monster who reached the realm of Aura Master as an assassin.


Thief Master Max.


How could I not know him?


I mean… he didn’t just attempt that assassination. He succeeded.


A hundred years ago, he killed the Emperor and vanished—apparently, to here. And he was only twenty when he did it.


If anyone deserved to be called a prodigy, it was him.

For an assassin—not even a proper swordsman—to become a Master… it’s monstrous in itself too.


An assassin who became an Aura Master?


It meant he had broken through near-impassable barriers, just like the Divine Archer did.


Of course, it wasn’t much of a comparison. The Divine Archer was a Grand Master; Max was only a Master. Moreover, every era produced at least one Thief Master or Bow Master.


His talent wasn’t entirely unimaginable.


But Max was still a little different.


The Master closest to reaching Grand Master stage—that was how the world remembered him.


“My grandfather was famous? That can’t be right.”


Kai looked doubtful. Judging by his expression, he genuinely seemed to believe that Max was no more than a shameful grandfather.


...Hang on. Then how did this kid become the Veilmaster?


Death Veil wasn’t some mediocre group that would accept a new master just because he owned a plaque. In other words, Kai had to have earned their recognition on his own.


Yet judging by his expression, it seemed his grandfather hadn’t trained him in anything special.


…Turns out he’s another prodigy beyond understanding.


I shook my head, cursing the enviable talent of his bloodline, and muttered, “He was only known among nobles. So, where is Max now?”


“He died three years ago. Dementia, you see. He kept muttering about… something about leaving everything in the Merit Mountains?”


Kai tilted his head, trying to remember. “I don’t even remember exactly, but it was something like that. Well, it was probably just senile rambling.”


“I see.”


So he was truly dead.


Makes sense—after all, the Emperor’s assassination had happened a century ago.


The Merit Mountains, huh…


Death Veil was likely hiding there.


In my previous life, Kai must’ve found them with that clue.


“…Meeting you might be the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”


“Me?”


“Yes, you.” I nodded and ruffled his hair.


Just then, I heard noise outside.


“Are you back, Brother?”


“You’re early today!”


“Hey! Don’t run in here! It’s hard to clean up your footprints!”


A group of children burst in through the same shabby corridor I’d used earlier.


“Eh?”


They blinked at the sight of me, taken aback by my neat coat and unfamiliar presence.


I removed my gloves and held out a hand. “New faces all around. Nice to meet you all.”


“…Who are you?”


Who was I?


I thought it over for a moment, then let out a short laugh.


“Ever heard of Daddy Long Legs?”


* * *


We left the shack together—Kai, the children, and me.


I considered heading straight to the Grand Duke’s residence but decided against it. Too many eyes, too much gossip.


For now, it was better to stay in the lively part of town and find a place to stay.


“We’re not being sold, are we?”


“Lin! Don’t say that!”


One of Kai’s sharp little siblings had boldly blurted it out, earning a scolding from their big brother.


But honestly, they were charming no matter what they said.


As I chuckled, I noticed some slum dwellers up ahead watching us with vacant eyes.


Injection marks dotted their arms. Drug addicts.


Must be taking the cheap kind. And weak stuff at that.


I could recognize the signs as a former addict in my past life.


This was one of Lexa’s poisons.


Hah! She scattered it like rat bait.


I’d stopped her from spreading it elsewhere, but the damage here was already done.


I stepped forward and subtly released Crushing Presence.


Rumble!


The air thickened with pressure.


“Get lost.” My voice carried a sharp edge.


They flinched and ran, not daring to look back.


I clicked my tongue and withdrew my power.


I suppose I’ll have to do something about the drugs already out there.


If this kept up, the North would rot from the inside.


But then I noticed a few others still hiding nearby, watching us.


They thought they were unseen—grinning, licking their lips, daggers in hand, and eyes gleaming with greed.


What should I do with them?


As I weighed my options, Kai leaned in and asked, “Should I kill them?”


“Not yet. I want to ask them something. Besides, I’m not heartless enough to order a murder in front of your siblings.”


“The second reason doesn’t matter. Stuff like this happens here all the time.”


I glanced at him.


The indifferent look in Kai’s eyes showed he wasn’t joking.


“Then just leave one alive,” I said.


“Yes, sir.” Kai moved immediately at my word.


His technique was too rough to be called assassination—no Aura, no finesse. Yet the point of his blade was fearsome.


He carried out a slaughter with nothing but a dagger and raw strength.


I let out a dry laugh at the sheer brutality.


So this is the monster who’ll become the next Thief Master.


As I stood watching, shaking my head, Lancelot spoke furtively from beside me. “Should I help too?”


“…Were you really planning to let such a small child handle that alone? You’re crueler than I thought, sir knight.”


“…What?!”


“Go on already. Don’t you feel bad for Kai?”


“Bloody hell!”


Lancelot grabbed his spear and dashed forward.


Apparently, he hadn’t even realized they were being watched until Kai acted.


…Good thing I brought Kai.


If I’d only relied on Lancelot and neglected to take measures against assassinations, I would’ve surely ended up dead one day.


I sighed faintly, shaking my head again.


Some time later…


“It’s done,” Kai said.


“Will this one do?” Lancelot asked.


The two dragged over a man with a ponytail, bloodied head to toe and visibly shaken—especially by Lancelot. He kept sneaking terrified glances at the knight.


“You are so cruel to beat the man up so badly,” I remarked.


“But you told us to bring him!”


“I said bring him. Not thrash him to a pulp.”


“…Eh?” Lancelot gaped in confusion.


Kai shook his head, wondering aloud, “Is this guy an idiot?”


“He has his moments.”


“I see.”


“I can hear you bastards!”


I smirked and shook my head.


In any case...


“What shall we do with this one, eh?” I muttered.


I had to find out why these thugs came here, and whether they were after me or Kai and his siblings.


Crouching before the man, I asked, “Name?”


“W-well…”


SLAP!


His head snapped to the side, eyes shaking.


“I’ll ask again. What’s your name?”


“I-I’ll tell you! Roin! It’s Roin!”


“Alright, Roin. Why were you targeting me?”


“Y-you see…”


SLAP! SLAP!


“Speak up.”


“The truth is…”


“It seems you don’t appreciate my kindness.”


THUNK!


I pulled out an arrow and drove it into his thigh.


“AAAAARGH!”


“You will start answering without holding back now.”


“Nnngh!”


“Oh dear. Still refusing to talk.”


THUNK!


“AAAAARGH!”


Another arrow. Another scream.


“I’ll ask again. Why did you target me?”


“Urgh—! I’ll talk! It was an order from above!”


“An order? Who do you work for to be taking orders?”


Despite the pain, the man forced himself to speak.


“The Carin Assassins’ Guild! They promised thirty silvers if we captured you, Young Lord!”


“Hm… So I really was the target. I see. Then on to the next question—what’s your rank?”


“The lowest! All of us were!”


“Hmm... They sent mere underlings for me?”


“T-that’s—!”


THUNK!


“AAAAARGH!”


“Such a slow learner. You need only answer fast, without any thinking. Understand?”


“Y-yes milord!” Tears streamed down his face as he nodded frantically.


“So, why send underlings?”


“The one who was assigned the mission subcontracted us!”


“Subcontracted… and who was the original assignee?”


“Sir Matthew!”


“Mm, never heard of him. His rank?”


“He is a high-tier assassin. And as far as I know, he took the job with five mid-tier assassins!”


Mhm, now that’s more like it.


I nodded and fired off a few more questions. The man quickly answered everything.


“Alright. That satisfies my curiosity.”


The man flashed a bright, hopeful smile, thinking it was over.


Smirking at the sight, I said, “Now, repeat everything you just told me—backward.”


“…Sorry what?”


I met his confused gaze as if it were the most natural thing in the world.


“Answer everything correctly, and you’ll live. A single mistake, and you’ll wish you were dead. Now, buckle up.”