All the thugs had been brutally murdered by a single man. No one in the room had even processed what had happened, it was as if time itself had skipped those five seconds.
The mysterious figure stood in the middle of the chaos, still holding his torn book.
He glanced down at the damaged pages, then spoke in a quiet, emotionless tone:
"I think this story will end soon… The contract was rejected."
A sweet, strange scent drifted through the air of the hotel bar, subtle yet enchanting. One by one, the people inside began to nod off, their eyes growing heavy as they unknowingly inhaled it. Within moments, the entire room had fallen silent—everyone was asleep.
Everyone… except for two.
Outside, the night was thick with darkness. From the shadows, a figure approached at them, his footsteps slow and deliberate, like those of a seasoned killer. A dagger emblem gleamed on his shoulder, marking him as someone dangerous.
As he stepped into the warm light of the hotel, his presence grew heavier, pressing into the air like a silent threat.
Then, he finally spoke...
"The elixir I used was crafted from extremely rare materials… preserved for over a hundred years. Even a dragon would fall asleep from that scent.
And yet… you're still awake."
The mysterious figure dropped the book from his hands. It's pages fluttering as it hit the floor.
"It's a useless story now," he muttered. "What were you saying agai-"
Hush.
The man in the shadows was already in front of him.
In one swift, he pierced the mysterious figure's chest, gripped his heart and crushed it into pieces. Ashes scattered into the air as the figure's body dissolved, vanishing without a trace.
He had talked too much.
Without a word, the killer turned his head toward the last remaining person. The masked girl.
The masked girl stared at him confused.
Why would he come personally?
"…Brother Kyle? Why are you here? Aren't you forbidden from taking action? If the Elder finds out, you'll be in trouble."
Kyle looked at his sister with a casual shrug.
"My bad. I didn't like that guy, so I killed him. Sorry you had to witness violence again."
He stepped over the ashes, then added,
"Oh right. I almost forgot. The Elder wants you to complete the mission."
He leaned in slightly, voice turning more serious.
"We've discovered something. Many ancient and holy artifacts, once hidden from the original world… are slowly reappearing."
A dark smile crept onto his face.
"So it's best if you kill that brat, the so-called Myth and take the artifact before things get messy. Hehehe…"
She looked at her brother with a curious yet disappointed expression.
"But seriously… why would you do that? You can't just kill someone just because you don't like them."
Her voice softened slightly, laced with a hint of guilt.
"He… saved me from those goons. If he hadn't interfered, I would've been forced to eliminate all the innocent people too."
She looked down at the ashes on the floor.
"…And now we can't even bring him back. You didn't just kill him , you enchanted a spell that destroyed his orignal source."
Kyle, unfazed and unapologetic, shrugged.
"He was just a fodder. Don't worry, I'll take care of the consequences myself," he said with a twisted grin. "I already apologized, didn't I? Sorry for killing that guy lol."
He glanced at his sister, his smile fading slightly as a curious gleam appeared in his eyes.
The way she looked at the ashes… the way her voice trembled. it wasn't anger or duty. It was empathy.
How strange.
How utterly strange.
It unsettled him more than the kill itself.
Why did she care so much? For a man she barely knew?
Even the laws of this twisted world would pause for a moment, puzzled by what she was feeling.
She reached into her coat pocket and drew her dagger. its surface faintly glowing under the dying moonlight.
"The sun won't rise for a while," she muttered. "Maybe I should just take that train… it's the fastest route. I can end this quickly."
Kyle chuckled darkly. "That's more like it. You're finally thinking straight. Efficient and ruthless just as you were trained to be."
He turned slightly, his hand brushing against his coat as if preparing to contact someone.
"I'll inform the heads about the train. Shouldn't be an issue."
Then, his eyes drifted toward the dagger in her hand, narrowing with intrigue.
"...Are you really that eager to kill him?" he asked, half-teasing and half-suspicious.
She nodded calmly, eyes fixed on the dagger.
"Think what you want. Whether I kill him or torture him doesn't matter. But one thing is certain that if he truly is the myth they claim… I'll be the one to end him."
Kyle's grin widened, fascinated by her resolve.
"Amazing," he whispered. "Forget orders, I'm coming too. I want a piece of him."
He stepped closer, voice growing darker with each word.
"First, I'll slice his skin. Not deep just enough to make him scream. Then I'll drug him to keep him conscious... peel his nails one by one, pour salt into the wounds."
Kyle chuckled, the thrill of cruelty dancing in his eyes.
"Just the thought excites me. I'll make him beg for death for days and once I'm done, then you can kill that Yeos."
just as Kyle finished his sentence,
A cold hand gripped the back of his head.
SNAP.
His neck twisted with a sickening crack, his head now completely upside down. Pain exploded through his spine.
"Agh.! Who the hell, who are you…?!"
Kyle stumbled forward, eyes wide in rage. "Don't stab me from behind like a coward!"
With a sick grunt, he grabbed his twisted neck and forcefully snapped it back into place, bone crunching as it realigned.
He exhaled, smirking despite the pain.
"Nice try. Even if you kill me… I'm unkillable."
From the behind, the mysterious figure reappeared quiet and smooth, like death itself walking on glass.
He tilted his head, a crooked smile spreading across his face as he spoke in a voice dripping with madness.
"Sorry to hurt your ego…" he whispered.
"…but you can't kill him."