Zavinies was cooking when Julian suddenly came running into the kitchen.
"Do you need help?" Julian asked eagerly.
Zavinies smiled.
"No, I don't need help. You can sit at the table and wait for me."
Julian shook his head quickly.
"No, no! I want to help. Please give me a chance. Please."
Zavinies couldn't say no to Julian's innocent smile. After a short pause, he sighed softly.
"…Okay."
Julian's face lit up.
"Yeah! What can I do?"
"Give me the spoon," Zavinies said.
"Okay!"
They cooked together—clumsy hands, small laughs, quiet happiness. That night, they ate together with smiles and laughter, then slept peacefully.
A full week passed.
During that week, the bond between Zavinies and Julian grew incredibly strong.
After a week, Zavinies returned to the assassin club. He went straight to the bar and spotted Kyle.
Zavinies frowned.
"Kyle… why is your hand broken?"
Kyle turned his face away.
"Nothing."
"If you don't want to tell me, that's fine," Zavinies said calmly.
"But give me the medicine."
Kyle's expression broke.
"I'm sorry, Zavinies… I couldn't get it."
Zavinies stiffened.
"What?"
"They broke my hand and my leg when I asked for the medicine," Kyle said quietly.
"…Tell me everything."
One Week Earlier — The Past
Kyle stood inside a Luxurer mansion.
"Sir Alberto Richel," Kyle said politely, "I want to ask you for something."
Alberto smiled.
"What do you want?"
"A medicine called Selerref."
Alberto frowned slightly.
"Why do you need it?"
"My relative is infected with the Karodola virus," Kyle replied.
"I want to save him."
Alberto nodded.
"I understand."
Suddenly, another Luxurer stepped forward—James Richel.
"What?" James said sharply.
"Selerref? No. You can't give him that."
Alberto looked surprised.
"Mr James, he wants to save someone."
James smiled coldly.
"No, no. I don't believe him. He's a merchant. He'll sell it or study it."
Alberto hesitated.
"…You might be right."
Kyle quickly said,
"I swear I won't sell it. I just want to save my friend's child."
James shook his head.
"No. I don't believe you. We should test whether you're lying."
Alberto sighed.
"Okay, James. But don't go too far."
James smiled.
"I'm doing this for the good of the Luxurers."
A girl entered the room—Rose Temileton.
Kyle recognized her immediately. She was a top Luxurer and an Abyssal-class adventurer from The Merciless Monster. Everyone believed she was kind.
Kyle knew better.
Behind her walked Chris Wack , her loyal servant—her dog, in Kyle's eyes.
Chris said calmly,
"I can determine truth and lies."
He activated his magic.
Kyle felt it—Donald knew the truth.
But then Chris altered the result.
A false voice echoed:
"I want the medicine so my boss can research it and make us rich. Hahaha."
Kyle screamed,
"That's a lie!"
Chris smiled.
"I only speak truth."
Rose's lips curved into a cruel smile.
"How shameful," she said.
"You were a trusted merchant… and you betrayed us."
Alberto turned away in disappointment.
"I never imagined you'd do something like this."
He left.
Rose stepped closer to Kyle, smiling.
"Now… prepare for your punishment."
She turned to Duskwell-ranked adventurers.
"Break one hand and one leg. Then stop."
She looked back at Kyle.
"I'll forgive you—because you were once useful."
The order was given.
Kyle screamed in agony.
Rose watched, smiling.
Back to the Present
Kyle lowered his head, his voice trembling.
"That's what happened."
Zavinies stood in silence.
His hands slowly clenched.
Then Zavinies decided to find the medicine and steal it.
Without wasting any more time, Zavinies left the Assassin Club.
While walking, Zavinies thought,
"How can I steal the medicine?"
Zavinies knew that it would be extremely difficult.
But even then, he still wanted to steal it.
He returned home.
Julian welcomed him warmly.
Zavinies pretended that everything was fine and that nothing had happened, but Julian could tell that something was wrong.
Julian asked,
"Big brother, what happened?"
Zavinies replied,
"Nothing… nothing.
I was just thinking about your medicine."
Julian shook his head and said,
"You don't need to worry about my medicine.
I am happy with my life. If I die, I will still be satisfied because I spent time with you, big brother."
Then Julian continued,
"In my last month, I just want to spend time with you.
Promise me that for one month you won't leave me alone and will stay with me."
Zavinies suddenly started crying. He hugged Julian tightly.
"Don't say that you will die," Zavinies said.
"I will get the medicine for you. I promise."
Then Zavinies went to his room and prepared himself to steal the medicine.
The Night of the Theft
The next night, Zavinies went to the Richel Mansion.
He saw a guard.
Zavinies silently knocked the guard unconscious using a silent arrow.
Then he entered the mansion.
Inside, there were many guards.
Zavinies thought he should erase his presence.
He used a special powder on his body.
The powder's name was White Shadow.
(Remember this name. It will become important in Volume 5.)
With his presence hidden, Zavinies moved through the mansion and entered a room filled with medicines.
He searched carefully and finally found Selerref.
Just as he grabbed the medicine, he suddenly felt a strange and powerful aura.
It was Rose's aura.
Rose appeared and said,
"I knew someone would come to steal the medicine.
I thought it would be some kind adventurer… but you?
I never expected a rude assassin."
Suddenly threads wrapped around Zavinies.
They were diamond threads, incredibly strong.
Zavinies couldn't escape.
Rose smiled.
"So you really need this medicine to save someone?"
Zavinies replied,
"Yes."
Rose laughed softly.
"How kind… but I won't give it to you."
Zavinies replied calmly,
"Then I will steal it."
Rose smirked.
"You're already trapped."
She used a strange doll and stabbed it with a needle.
Suddenly Zavinies felt terrible pain.
The threads had already collected his blood, allowing Rose to connect him to the doll.
Rose laughed.
"You're such a fool. Do you know who I am?"
Zavinies answered,
"You're a cruel person.
Ah… now I understand. You are an Angel of Blood."
Rose smiled.
"No. I'm not an angel."
"I'm a fairy."
Fairy Explanation (Lore)
There are two types of fairies:
Devilion – evil fairies who enjoy chaos, sadness, and human suffering.
Human sorrow gives them power. They even eat human hearts.
Savilion – kind fairies who reward good people.
They gain power from happiness and joy.
Back to the Fight
Rose stabbed the doll again.
She smiled confidently.
But suddenly her smile disappeared.
Zavinies had grabbed the medicine and teleported away.
However, Rose smiled again.
Because the doll was already stabbed.
Zavinies had received a fatal wound.
Zavinies' Final Moments
Back at home, Julian saw Zavinies collapsing.
"Big brother! What happened?!"
Julian started crying.
Zavinies was bleeding heavily.
Julian said,
"I'll go call someone!"
But Zavinies grabbed his hand.
"No… Julian."
"I'm going to die."
"The wound is too deep."
"My blood… is already gone."
Zavinies handed him the medicine.
"Take this.
One spoon every day.
You will recover in one week."
Julian cried loudly.
"Don't say that! You promised to stay with me!"
Zavinies hugged him tightly.
"I'm sorry… I couldn't spend more time with you."
"Please promise me one thing."
Julian nodded through tears.
"Never hate me."
Julian cried and said,
"Why would I hate you?
You are my big brother."
Zavinies smiled weakly.
"I'm glad… my little brother."
"Stay happy."
Then Zavinies closed his eyes.
And died.
Aftermath
Julian cried endlessly.
He stayed beside Zavinies' body for one entire day.
Finally, Julian decided to live.
Because Zavinies gave his life so Julian could live.
Julian buried him and made a grave.
On the grave he wrote:
A Good Person
An Ultrahero
A Perfect Brother
Julian took the medicine every day.
After one week…
Julian recovered.
His life was saved.