Raon pressed his lips tightly as he recalled Denning Rose's words.
"Did you just say assassin?"
"Yes."
Denning Rose nodded with a calm gaze.
"The agent dispatched there after your information request has a background as an assassin. They were quite skilled in that world, too."
If she said they were skilled, they must have been a renowned assassin before retiring.
"That agent said they sensed the smell of assassins from the man who seems to be Jubel and several others."
"The smell of assassins..."
Who would be the best at identifying assassins?
Many might say bodyguards, but that's not actually true.
Assassins have characteristic behaviors, so those who best recognize and notice them are their fellow professionals.
"Hah..."
Raon let out a short breath and leaned forward.
"So that agent with an assassin background said Jubel is an assassin?"
"That's right. They said he seems like an assassin, even though he's doing gathering work there. Of course, it's just a guess, so it's not certain."
Denning Rose didn't blink once while saying it was a guess. It meant she was certain.
"Did they say the people around Jubel are assassins too?"
"Yes. Not all of them, but I heard a significant number are assassins."
She nodded, indicating it wasn't just one or two.
"Then that means there's someone they need to kill there."
Raon sighed as he fiddled with the steaming teacup.
"That's right. It can't be anything else."
Denning Rose nodded, agreeing with the same thought.
"Jubel is staying in Raven Village near the Siran Tribe. It's a medium-sized village, not too big but not small either. He's been there for over a year now, so they treat him like a local. He seems to have become close with the Siran Tribe and gets invited to their events."
"Hmm..."
Raon tilted his head as he watched the gently swirling tea.
"If he's an assassin, he would have changed his appearance, yet he was discovered quite easily."
Assassins rarely reveal their true appearance. It was surprising that Jubel had revealed his identity with his appearance unchanged except for his name.
"You don't know much about the Siran Tribe, do you?"
"I only know it as a place with many shamans of the Beast Union."
"That's right. Shamans live there. However, some of them have a unique ability."
"A unique ability?"
"Yes. It's called the Mind's Eye."
Denning Rose moistened her lips with tea before continuing.
"Mind's Eye?"
"It means 'eye of the heart', and they say it can perceive others' true intentions."
"Surely you don't mean they can read minds?"
-Huh?
Wrath raised his head with wide eyes.
'Why are you so surprised? Don't you have something like that in Devildom?'
-W-What are you saying? This king might have actually had such an ability too!
Not that he has the ability, but that he might have had it.
Whether it was because he wasn't good at lying or because he was a cowardly demon king, his bluff came out quite strangely.
"They say there were shamans who could really read minds hundreds of years ago, but now they can only see if one's outward appearance is genuine. In other words, you can't hide your true form."
Denning Rose shook her head, saying that mind reading was just a legend.
-Ahem! As expected.
Wrath nodded while rolling his eyes.
-There's no way humans could have such an ability! Even Devildom doesn't have such powers, how could mere humans read minds...
Raon ignored Wrath's muttering and looked at Denning Rose.
"Then Jubel revealing his true appearance..."
"That's right. He probably went in his true form to gain the trust of the shamans who use the Mind's Eye. That's how he was discovered by our eyes."
"I see."
Raon nodded briefly. Now he understood the whole situation.
'It's become even more certain.'
What Jubel was doing, staying in that village and gaining people's trust, is called 'laying the groundwork' in assassin terminology.
He was clearly trying to kill someone from the Siran Tribe after gaining favor through this groundwork.
'Of all things, an assassin...'
Judiel's life resembles my past life.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it's the same, being leashed by a garbage master and forced to do unwanted tasks.
However, having family left was better than me, but not being able to escape because of that family was worse than my situation.
Even though Judiel said I helped her a lot, the reason I think of her specially is because I see my past self in her, but hearing that her brother is living as an assassin reminds me of Derus Robert, making my insides boil with anger.
'This could become a dangerous situation.'
If I intervene at a bad moment, I could be mistaken for an assassin or get caught in the middle of an assassination.
"Sigh."
Raon slowly closed his eyes. Even after more than 20 years, Derus's evil deeds still came to mind as if they happened yesterday.
Probably even if I took revenge, I would never forget the things he did to me.
That's why I didn't want Judiel, who resembles me, and her brother to go through the same things.
'I will never live like that bastard.'
I must protect my subordinates.
Raon raised his gaze, determined to live differently from Derus who thought of his subordinates as less than worn-out shoes.
"Judiel hasn't been found anywhere yet. She might not have arrived at Raven Village, or she could be disguised or hiding outside."
"That's likely."
Raon nodded. Judiel had received spy training, so while she might be weak in combat, she was skilled at concealing her presence and had a cautious nature. She wouldn't be easily discovered.
"But who are the assassins targeting?"
"We don't know that either."
Denning Rose shook her head with a sigh. It was extremely rare for her to say she didn't know something.
"I'd like to simply say it's the Siran Tribe Chief, but we lack too much information. We don't even know which organization these assassins belong to. I'm sorry."
"No need to apologize. That's enough information."
He shook his head. He was already greatly indebted for gathering this much information in such a short time.
"Are you going?"
"Of course I have to go."
Raon stood up after emptying his teacup. An unwavering flame flickered in his eyes.
"It's a matter concerning my subordinate."
* * *
After finishing all preparations to leave for Raven Village, Raon left his room.
"Huh?"
As he was heading to the entrance, he encountered Ensia and Siyana passing through the corridor.
"Where are you going, Handsome Raon?"
Ensia came forward and bowed her head.
"H-Handsome Raon!"
Siyana also approached, calling out "Handsome" like Judiel.
-Are those two long-lost sisters or something?
Wrath shook his head, looking at Siyana and Judiel who seemed closer than actual sisters.
'That might be true.'
Raon swallowed a sigh internally and approached the two.
"I'm planning to do some training outside the family."
"Training as expected."
Ensia smiled as if she had expected that.
"But Raon."
She moistened her lips and took another step closer.
"Can we continue writing your biography?"
"My biography..."
Raon frowned as he looked at the unfinished book the two were holding.
"We're planning to release two more volumes, separating the Dragon Slayer part and the Savior of Sepia part."
Ensia smiled, saying they would even make new covers, as if she had already planned everything out.
"You're going to do it even if I don't give permission, aren't you?"
Both Ensia and Siyana had Merlin-level initiative in these matters, so they'd probably do it regardless of whether he tried to stop them or not.
"Not at all. We won't do it without your consent."
Ensia shook her head, saying that of course the subject's opinion was most important.
"Really?"
"Of course."
"Then don't do it."
"Ah..."
"Um..."
As soon as he said not to do it, Ensia and Siyana's faces turned pale and stiff. They looked at him as if their world had crumbled.
"Sigh..."
Raon shook his head, unable to meet their eyes.
"Do as you please."
"Yes!"
"Thank you! Handsome!"
The two rushed off to the library, excited about making the book, even though the actual subject was right there.
-You'll regret this.
Contrary to his words of regret, Wrath glared with envious eyes.
'Maybe I will.'
As he left the annex with a smirk, Sylvia was standing in front of the entrance stairs.
"Where are you going?"
Sylvia approached with a bright smile.
"I'm going to do some training. It will take a few days."
"Alright. Take care."
She waved her hand as if to say 'do your best'.
"Give my regards to Judiel."
"Hmm..."
He immediately turned around upon hearing Judiel's name.
"What do you mean..."
"You've been acting strange ever since Judiel said she was taking a vacation. Did you think your mother wouldn't notice?"
Sylvia smiled, telling him not to think he could fool his mother.
"That child was intriguing from the first time I saw her. She was calm, but seemed like she was being chased by something. Her face brightened when she became your exclusive subordinate, but now she's showing urgency again. Is she in a dangerous situation?"
"...I'll have to go see to know that."
Seeing that Sylvia seemed to understand the situation to some extent, he didn't try to hide it.
"Make sure to bring her back. I'll prepare something delicious."
Sylvia smiled, asking him to just bring Judiel back safely.
-Something delicious?
Wrath, who had been yawning as if bored, perked up his head.
-What delicious thing!
"I'll be going then."
Raon bowed to Sylvia before turning around.
-Wait, just a moment!
Wrath shouted as he rushed towards Sylvia.
-What's the delicious thing! Please, just tell me the menu!
* * *
In the center of a forest where trees as tall as poles and bushes as sharp as spears seemed to reach the sky, there stood a wall made of monster bones.
A brown-haired young man, his forehead beaded with sweat as if exhausted, stood before the bone wall and bowed his head. Despite his shabby clothes, his blue eyes shone brightly.
"It's me, Philip! Please open the gate!"
At the young man's shout, identifying himself as Philip, a face popped out from atop the bone wall.
A middle-aged man with neatly groomed features despite his darkly tanned skin clicked his tongue.
"Why are you here so early?"
"I must keep my appointment with the tribe chief precisely."
Philip scratched his head with a kind smile.
"I can't bring myself to dislike you."
The middle-aged man, called the Tribe Chief, waved his finger, and the wall split open to reveal a gate large enough for two people to pass through.
"Thank you."
Philip bowed his head again and entered through the gate.
Small mushroom-shaped huts were scattered haphazardly, and in the center of the village stood a bone tower that seemed to reach the sky.
The tower, stained black, gave an impression of grandeur rather than grotesqueness.
"What's so fascinating that you stare at it every day? Come this way."
At the Tribe Chief's gesture, Philip let out a gasp and approached him.
"That tower seems to draw me in every time I look at it. It's hard to take my eyes off it."
"You have a good eye. The ancestors would be pleased."
"That's the tower built after defeating the monsters that invaded the village, right?"
"Yes. They say over a thousand monsters attacked. If it weren't for our ancestor, who was called one of the Four Kings at the time, our tribe would have been wiped out."
The Tribe Chief looked up at the tower once and gave a faint smile.
"That's incredible."
"That's enough flattery. Show me what you've brought."
"It's not flattery..."
Philip twisted his lips and opened the bag at his waist.
Inside were various medicinal herbs, poisonous plants, and flowers, all looking fresh as if just picked.
"Annoyingly good."
The Tribe Chief chuckled as he examined the herbs and poisonous plants Philip had brought.
"How is it that you bring better ingredients than our own people? Where on earth do you get these from?"
"Trade secret."
Philip smiled, covering his lips with his finger.
"Anyway."
The Tribe Chief patted Philip's head as if proud of him.
"Very well. I'll consider them all top-grade."
He nodded and held out a pouch to Philip. The sound of gold coins clinking could be heard from inside.
"Th-Thank you!"
Philip bowed his head to the ground as he received the pouch.
"Why don't you stay here tonight? We've got some good meat, you won't regret it."
"Um, I'm sorry, but today is the day I send money home."
"Ah, I see. It's already that time."
The Tribe Chief nodded and patted Philip's shoulder.
"How is your mother doing?"
"..."
Philip just smiled without answering.
"Alright. Go on then. Next time you come, I'll prepare a meal you can't refuse."
"Thank you. I'll see you next time!"
Philip bowed and left the village.
"Huh..."
A young man from the Siran Tribe with round eyes approached the Tribe Chief, letting out a sigh.
"To think he'd refuse the Tribe Chief's invitation, he's quite an interesting fellow."
"He has his reasons."
"I guess his mind is all on his mother. To think he wears such rags despite earning so much money."
"With his mother suffering from an incurable disease, his mind is bound to be there even if his body is here."
The Tribe Chief clicked his tongue briefly, as if in sympathy.
"You too, treat him well when he comes."
"Of course. We even fed him at our house before sending him off last time."
The young man shook his head, saying they were getting along well.
"Sigh."
The Tribe Chief sighed as he watched Philip's retreating back.
* * *
After leaving the Siran Tribe, Philip returned to Raven Village where he had been staying for over a year.
"Are you already done with work?"
"You're quite diligent."
"I wish my son was like you."
The villagers praised Philip with smiles. He seemed to have blended into the village itself.
"No, not at all. I still have a long way to go."
Philip showed a friendly smile and headed towards his house located on the outskirts of the village.
The moment he opened the door and entered, his expression hardened to an icy coldness.
"I thought I told you not to come during the day."
He frowned at the white-haired middle-aged man sitting in the chair to the right.
"You've got quite a mouth on you for talking to your superior, Number 196."
The middle-aged man called Philip "Number 196" as his eyes narrowed.
"What brings you here?"
"How are things with the Siran Tribe?"
"I've reached the point where I'm invited to events or to their homes."
"Well, after a year, you should have built that level of rapport. Though the other guys haven't managed it."
He muttered "good job" and nodded.
"What about location identification?"
"It's all complete."
Philip said this as he held out a paper from his chest.
On that paper was drawn the location of the Siran Tribe he had just visited, with all the trap and magic locations marked.
"Then shall we start the operation now?"
"Already?"
Philip widened his eyes as if he hadn't expected this.
"Why? Are you uncomfortable?"
A cold light swirled in the middle-aged man's eyes.
"You're an assassin. Things like affection or relationships mean nothing. The Philip here is fake."
"..."
Philip didn't answer, just biting his lip tightly.
"Don't you want to meet your sister? Jubel."
"Ugh..."
When his real name Jubel and the word "sister" came out, his brow furrowed deeply.
"This is your 10th mission. If you complete this properly, you can meet your sister."
"You said the same thing on the fifth mission, but you didn't even show her face!"
"Ah, but this time it's real."
"But!"
"Then would you like to see her as a corpse? Or we could send your corpse to your sister. Choose."
"Ugh..."
Jubel couldn't answer and his jaw trembled.
"Is my sister doing well?"
"Of course. She's eating well and sleeping well in a rich household, so there's no need to worry."
The middle-aged man shook his head, as if to say not to ask such obvious questions.
"There have been some suspicious gazes lately, so it's best to finish this quickly. You remember the target, right?"
"...Yes."
Philip bit his lip and lowered his head. Unlike when he entered the village, his eyes were now dark and lifeless.
"Good. The operation begins tomorrow night when there's no moon."
The middle-aged man waved his hand and left Philip's room.
Philip stood there for a long time, as if he had turned to stone.
* * *
On a hill overlooking Raven Village.
Judiel bit her lip as she watched Jubel greeting villagers through Ensia's telescope.
'It's definitely him...'
It's Jubel.
His skin had roughened considerably in the time they'd been apart, and he'd matured, but she was certain the moment she saw him. That boy was undoubtedly her one and only brother, Jubel.
Above all else, the scar on his forehead was exactly the same.
'That scar was because of me.'
That was the scar he got when he tripped on a rock while we were running away together. I could never forget it because it was caused by my mistake.
'You've been doing well.'
Though she couldn't hear the exact circumstances or words from this distance, he seemed to be getting along well with the villagers.
'But...'
Judiel bit her lip as she looked down at Jubel.
'Why is he here?'
Several possibilities came to mind.
Karoon might have sold Jubel, or Jubel might have escaped, or perhaps Jubel being here was Karoon's intention.
Whatever the case, she was happy just to see her brother alive.
Seeing the boy she thought was dead showing such a lively smile filled her chest with warmth.
But after watching him for three days, a small worry began to grow.
'What if, like me, his life is being held hostage...?'
Just as I entered the annex as a spy because of my brother, Jubel might be doing something bad there because of my life.
If that was the case, I absolutely couldn't stand for it.
Judiel took out a small piece of paper from her chest, wrote her name and Jubel's name on it, along with the last words they said to each other before parting, and then descended the mountain when night fell.
She carefully entered the village. She wore a robe and suppressed her presence, but perhaps because it was a village where outsiders frequently came and went, no one seemed to find her particularly strange.
As she was about to slip the paper she had brought into the window of Jubel's house, maintaining the stealth techniques she had learned during her spy training...
The window carefully opened, and from inside, a man wearing a night suit and a black mask jumped out.
The moment she met those blue eyes, she instantly knew who this man was.
"Ju..."
Just as she was about to call out her brother's name, a dagger sprang from the masked man's hand, plummeting towards Judiel's forehead.
Swish!