The silence stretched long.
Just as Shushruta, still coughing, was about to blurt out some awkward excuse—
The brothers themselves finally spoke.
“…Forget what you heard.”
“Why?”
“It’s an old name, long buried.”
“Ah. A past you’d rather not speak of, then.”
“Something like that.”
I gave a slow nod.
“Understood. I won’t press further.”
“That would be appreciated.”
“Pardon my rudeness. Curiosity got the better of me.”
“…Erase it from memory.”
And with that, conversation ceased. Only the quiet clatter of utensils filled the air until the meal ended.
Afterward, when I offered to help clear the dishes, they refused firmly.
While one cleaned, the other spoke to us.
Still, I couldn’t yet tell whether it was Heven or Regarde.
“Best get your rest upstairs. You said you’re bound for Mount Parbat?”
“That’s right.”
He nodded, “Then you’ll need an early start. Sleep well.”
A dismissal, plain and simple.
So we went upstairs.
The moment we shut the door behind us, Shushruta scolded me.
“Why did you have to ask that? Are you trying to stir trouble? One night, that’s all we needed—just keep quiet and leave. Couldn’t you feel they didn’t want it mentioned? You did it on purpose, didn’t you? Well?!”
I picked at my ear and flopped onto the floor.
“Eh, quit nagging.”
Folding my hands behind my head as a pillow, I closed my eyes.
She muttered and huffed for a while, then let out a long sigh.
“Ahh… What’s the point. Talking to you is useless.”
There was a rustle, then silence.
“….”
I cracked my blindfold up a little and glanced her way.
She sat hugging her knees against a big storage chest, pouting at the floor.
“Hey, Shushruta.”
“…What?”
She glanced at me briefly, then looked away.
“You said you run the Thieves’ Guild, right?”
“Yes.”
“So you know all kinds of information.”
“…Yes.”
“Then—Reaper Brothers. Ever heard of them?”
“….”
Her gaze stayed low for a while before she answered.
“…I can’t be certain. But something does come to mind.”
“What?”
“It was long ago, so I don’t know details. Only fragments.”
“Fragments are fine. Speak.”
She shot me a sharp look, then sighed and began.
“About ten years back, there were brothers who shook the Blake Kingdom. They were called the Reaper Brothers of Menes.”
Now that was a hook worth hearing.
I reached lazily for something to chew on, found nothing, and lay back down again.
“At the time, they roamed the kingdom challenging renowned fighters. Not unusual then—many sought to prove their strength that way.”
“Mhm.”
“The Reaper Brothers gained fame by cutting them down one by one. They used sickles instead of swords, slicing wrists and ankles with uncanny precision. That’s how they earned their name. Their teamwork, they said, was frightening.”
“Ohh.”
“But just as their renown grew, they suddenly vanished.”
I blinked, “Why?”
“No one knows. Only rumors.”
“What kind?”
“Some say they realized their limits and returned quietly to their homeland. Others say they gained enlightenment and disappeared into the mountains. And others claim the two quarreled and destroyed each other.”
I thought for a moment, “Clearly not true. Since they’re right here.”
Shushruta nodded, “The most believed rumor is this: they were defeated by the Knight of Frost.”
“Knight of Frost?”
“They say, after a crushing loss to him, the Reaper Brothers swore to live out their lives in obscurity. That’s why they vanished.”
“That… actually makes sense.”
“Perhaps. Or perhaps not. It’s not certain.”
I stared at the ceiling, “So this Knight of Frost is really that strong?”
She nodded, “Yes. He’s a Royal Knight.”
“Ah.”
At last I remembered where I’d heard the name.
Right before we entered Scarab, Shushruta had mentioned him in passing during her talk with Acorn Man.
“If the royals dispatched knights, then this Knight of Frost might come too, no?”
She shook her head, “The Knight of Frost moves only by the king’s command. Unless the king suddenly goes mad, he would never waste him on such a matter—especially with the royal family in turmoil over succession.”
“True enough.”
And that was that.
I didn’t care much either way.
I barely understood the politics of my own Maia Kingdom—why bother with another?
Besides, I had no plans to linger long here.
Then Shushruta looked at me sharply.
“Ashuban.”
“Hm?”
“Don’t do anything foolish. If those really are the Reaper Brothers, then we must tread carefully. They are not to be taken lightly.”
“Mhm.”
“Do you understand?”
“Mhm.”
My reply was halfhearted. I kept my eyes on the cracked ceiling.
Night had fully settled, pale moonlight spilling in through the window.
“Go to sleep, Shushruta. We’ve an early start.”
“You too—don’t even think of anything stupid.”
“Roger.”
We traded those warm words before drifting into silence.
A grin tugged at my lips.
Master, I can’t wait for tomorrow. My heart’s pounding like it’s a festival day. Like I’m off on a picnic.
[…Pathetic fool.]
But even as he said it, the Heavenly Demon’s lips curled in a thin, eerie smile, like a sliver of moon behind dark clouds.
Morning came.
Footsteps rose up the stairs, followed by a knock.
—“Come down for breakfast.”
“We’ll be right there.”
I answered from where I sat, then nudged Shushruta awake.
“Hey. Get up.”
“Mmnh…”
Her continued drowsy squirming told me enough.
The Reaper Brothers bore us no ill will.
And that was… frustrating.
How could I fight men who didn’t want to fight?
How could I drag them into battle?
I almost wanted to ask them how they used to do it—how they had gone around provoking the strong.
Until now, it had been easy.
Anyone who came for the Dagger of Ophosis, I killed.
They sought my life; I ended theirs.
But these brothers had offered shelter, food, and kindness.
There was no hostility in them, no aura of wickedness. They didn’t look like men who deserved to die.
So what was I to do?
The Heavenly Demon clicked his tongue.
[Did you think they cared about others back in their prime? Just kill them. Even worms writhe when you step on them. Strike, and they’ll fight back.]
…but the thought of striking down men who had shown me nothing but kindness—it left a sour taste.
Wouldn’t that make me no different from the baron I despised?
[…Then what will you do?]
After turning it over in my head, I found an answer.
If they drew their blades against me first, then I could fight without guilt.
It would mean I had no choice but to defend myself.
No choice.
[….]
And with that thought, a plan formed.
A test.
If even after this they did not turn their weapons on me, then they were not devils in human skin. And I could not kill them.
But if they were only pretending at goodness, hiding their true nature as beasts—then I would be right to cut them down.
“Heh. Perfect.”
Resolving myself, I yanked Shushruta out of her half-sleep by the scruff of her neck, then thumped my scabbard like a blind man’s cane as I descended the stairs.
Breakfast waited on the table—bread, milk, cheese, eggs, dried fruit.
“Well, don’t mind if I do.”
“Eat your fill. You’ve a long road ahead.”
Shushruta sat drowsy-eyed, half-asleep as she ate.
Then one of the brothers spoke—Heven, perhaps. Or Regarde. I still couldn’t tell.
“The road ahead is rough. We’ll see you partway.”
“Oh, you needn’t trouble yourselves.”
“We’re foraging herbs anyway. Think nothing of it. We’ll walk with you a while.”
“…Much obliged.”
Just as the meal was ending warmly, I rose from my chair—and stumbled.
“Whoops—”
My torso pitched forward.
Clang!
A dagger slipped from my chest and landed on the table.
“Oh dear, how clumsy of me.”
I hastily scooped it back into my robes. Then I looked up.
“…!”
Both brothers’ eyes were wide, staring not at me, but at the place where the dagger had vanished.
Even Shushruta’s sleep fled, her gaze snapping sharp as steel upon me.
Well then. What will you do?
The dagger was old, famous. Even if they hadn’t heard of its new owner, they’d know its identity.
Now—how would they react?
Would they turn a blind eye, proving themselves truly good men?
Or would their greed boil over, betraying them as devils who only wore human faces?
What could be easier prey than a blind man and his frail little sister?
My heart thumped with excitement.
Well? What will it be?
A long, awkward silence.
Then the brothers quietly began clearing the table.
“Wait here,” said one—Heven or Regarde, I couldn’t tell. “We’ll tidy this up and see you off.”
The thrill drained from me like water from a cracked jar.
So they really were decent men.
I sighed deeply and nodded.
At the same moment, Shushruta let out a sigh of her own—a sigh of relief.
Then she shot me a withering look, and I quickly looked away.
The Reaper Brothers readied their sickles and foraging baskets, then led us out.
The streets were still empty in the early hour.
“This way.”
We followed them through the quiet village and into the woods.
Beyond the village edge, one brother walked ahead while the other followed behind.
Or perhaps the other way round. I still couldn’t tell them apart.
“Sometimes beasts show up on this path. Best be cautious,” one said.
“Understood.”
True enough, the road was rough—a narrow trail hemmed in by dense trees.
With Shushruta’s arm supporting me, we walked on slowly.
After a time, when the village had long faded from sight, the man in front suddenly halted.
“Hmm? Why stop?”
He turned slowly, drawing a sickle from his back.
“Brother!” Shushruta whispered, pressing close to me.
I glanced behind. The other had stopped as well, and he too drew a sickle.
We were hemmed in, front and back.
Then came the words:
“Hand over the dagger.”
“…Ah.”
So that was it.
“Pfft—puhuhu—puhahahahahaha!”
I couldn’t hold it back. I burst out laughing, loud and full.
The two brothers stared at me strangely.
I waved a hand, grinning.
“Forgive me. It’s an illness of mine. I can’t help but laugh.”
(End of Chapter)