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**

A large estate surrounded by several buildings and a spacious garden. All of this combined is called the ‘estate’.

I passed through several doors and quickly surveyed the interior.

It’s tidy. It’s as if the cleaning was just finished; not a single piece of trash in sight.

The discipline must be quite strict. A worker who looked busy brushed by me. His steps were extremely fast.

More than diligent, I’d say he seems hurried. He held water in his hands, likely fetched from far away.

“Late!”

“Hurry up and move it!”

“Yes!”

I glanced up at one of the buildings. Smoke was continuously rising. A delicious smell brushed against my nose.

They’re cooking. The important thing is that the aroma fills the surroundings.

Typically, a smell wouldn’t spread this far. They must have been cooking for a long time.

The expressions of the passing workers were glistening with sweat. Some even muttered curses.

“Piglet… Has a ghost possessed him…”

“Just how much is he eating…?”

We caught one worker. When we mentioned we were bringing meat, he gestured for us to follow.

He helped us hang some hefty cuts of meat in the storage. The worker let out a sigh and plopped down where he stood.

“You have quite a bit of strength. To carry this so lightly. I need to catch my breath. My legs feel like they’re going to fall off…”

“Is there a feast inside?”

“A feast? No way. It’s all for the Lord’s first son, ‘Maeng-so-un’. Every last bit.”

“It seems like quite a lot you’re preparing…”

“He eats like a pig. For some reason, his appetite has grown tremendously lately. As if possessed by a glutton. They say there’s no nothing worth eating under the tiger; they couldn’t be more wrong. If only he resembled half of our lord’s character. He’s been a troublemaker since he was young, and now he’s caught some bizarre illness… tsk.”

A sudden increase in appetite.

The worker gestured for us to leave. We nodded lightly in acknowledgment and exited the storage.

Twenty-Nine frowned.

“Thorough. There’s no way out. We can only go over the wall.”

“But they can’t be guarding this whole vast area.”

“Let’s come in a few more times and measure the guard shifts of the warriors. Entering at slightly different times each time will help us figure out the general patrols and when the guards change.”

We slipped in and out of the mansion a few more times. By now, our faces had become somewhat familiar, and the gatekeeper let us pass without much fuss as long as we showed meat.

We had also become somewhat acquainted with the servant who guided us each time. We managed to gather some valuable information too.

“So, Maeng-so-un’s appetite has increased in recent times? Let’s see… about two months ago. From what I see, the Black Heaven Sect will not die in battle, but rather starve to death. With how much he eats, is there any money left?”

“The lord? Ah, well… that’s true, the first son is rather stingy. But you see, Maeng-so-un was always a wild child. Sixteen workers have lost limbs because of him. Nothing like our lord in personality. He’s ruthless and overly greedy…”

“Maeng-so-un is a worthless punk. That hasn’t changed. With that fiendish temper and now a terrible appetite… I’d rather he just died already. Greedy little… Our lord is such a kind person…”

The servant spat on the ground.

The lord.

It seems that the leader of the Black Heaven Sect, Maeng-cheon, is held in quite high regard. No one within the estate dared to speak ill of him.

Unlike other factions, it seems he takes good care of his subordinates.

With only six days left until the designated date, we returned to our quarters and sat facing each other.

“…….”

Twenty-Nine was deep in thought. I was as well. I absentmindedly toyed with my sword.

A command was given. If commanded to cut, then cut it shall be.

That is, after all, how to survive in this world.

Though personal feelings began to seep out, I suppressed them. Right now, I am the Heavenly Demon’s dog. As long as I have chosen to be a dog, I shouldn’t harbor any emotions.

Cut.

Prioritize the command.

“Thirty.”

“Yes.”

“I’ve identified the general patrol timings and the gaps in the guarding forces. The crucial thing is, there shouldn’t be any noise.”

“……”

“But with your Ghostly Spirit Step, it’s impossible. You know that, right?”

“I understand.”

“I’ll handle this alone. You wait outside.”

I could do nothing but nod in gratitude for her consideration.

With my current abilities, I was merely a burden. Unless I build up some more strength, it would be impossible to quietly scale the walls without making a sound.

“…But.”

Even so, my pride wouldn’t allow me to refrain from making one request.

“I might be able to gather a bit more information necessary for the assassination. Twenty-Nine, I will conduct the reconnaissance inside until the designated day. In the meantime, how about you rest or prepare for the assassination?”

“…Hmm.”

Twenty-Nine chuckled softly.

“How astute.”

“Yes?”

“I liked that. Do as you wish. I will prepare at our lodgings.”

“Understood.”

Leaving Twenty-Nine at the lodgings, I set out for the butcher’s. Acting the part of a clumsy hunter, I hadn’t been hunting every day.

I was merely mimicking someone who had entered the butcher’s in hopes of earning a few coins. The owner of the butcher shop who spotted me laughed heartily.

“Looks like you’re doing well today too.”

“How embarrassing.”

“No worries. It’s not often you get lucky like on the first day! But you seem to need some money, huh? I have a fair amount of meat to move today, can you lend a hand?”

“Thank you. I’ll work hard.”

“I like diligent folks like you. Now, get moving.”

Just like any other day, I transported the meat. After greeting the excited servant with a nod, I hung the processed meat on the hooks in the storage.

“Quite the strength you have. Are you… perhaps a martial artist?”

“How could I be…”

“Who knows.”

My body tensed involuntarily. When I turned around, a man flanked by warriors was staring at me.

He had a neat hairstyle. The intensity in his gaze was palpable. With an axe strapped to his waist, his stiff yet relaxed demeanor allowed me to guess who he might be.

“It seems you’ve at least had some training.”

“M-Mr. Lord!”

The servant knelt. I quickly followed suit and knelt as well.

What a predicament. Who would have thought he’d enter such a storage?

Am I exposed? Or have I not been found out? I swallowed hard under his scrutinizing gaze.

The leader of the Black Heaven Sect, Maeng-cheon, stood before me.

“Have you learned any martial arts?”

Lying would get me nowhere.

“…I have learned martial arts.”

“From whom?”

“I learned from a wandering warrior.”

“What did you learn?”

I could never say the Nine Heavens Blood Demon Technique. Fortunately, I had one other sword style I knew.

“The Three Calamities Sword Technique.”

“…Three Calamities Sword Technique? Are you not a martial noble’s child?”

“I’m the child of a hunter. Once dreamed of becoming a warrior, but could not.”

A sword suddenly dropped in front of me.

“Show me.”

Though I hadn’t practiced the Three Calamities Sword Technique in quite a while, I remembered the movements. I did my best to demonstrate it. Maeng-cheon stroked his chin while watching the blade.

“Clumsy. It may appear flawless at a glance, but martial arts are martial arts; these movements are what anyone could see. Your inner energy is terrible… was I mistaken?”

“…….”

“That said, it doesn’t mean your sword has been neglected. I can see that you’ve put in the time. How long have you practiced the Three Calamities Sword Technique?”

“…Over ten years.”

“I was wrong.”

Maeng-cheon reached out his hand. I respectfully returned the sword I had received.

“I mistook you for strong, given your physique and muscular build. But what’s the reason for practicing the Three Calamities Sword Technique for over ten years?”

“…I wanted to succeed as a warrior. But I could not. I set aside the sword in the meantime.”

“Surely being a hunter is still better than becoming a martial artist?”

“A woman I loved appeared. I thought it better to eat the flesh of beasts than to live off the sword.”

“Lord… that’s right… I often come here with my wife… She’s quite the charming one…”

Maeng-cheon sheathed the sword back into its scabbard.

“I apologize for doubting you. I’ve been rather sensitive lately, and I overstepped.”

“I’m just grateful you understand.”

Did I pass?

I sighed in relief internally. However, Maeng-cheon’s words weren’t over yet.

“I did something wrong, so I’d like to offer a separate token of appreciation.”

“…Yes?”

“Tomorrow, at the same time, come here. I will prepare a banquet for you. You will be treated to exquisite food. Please don’t refuse.”

“…….”

Did he notice something? Or didn’t he?

All I could do was bow my head.

“Thank you for your consideration, Lord.”

I must not expose any suspicious behavior.

If I do…

The carefully gauged vigilance would intensify.

…

“What? A banquet with Maeng-cheon? Are you crazy?”

“I had no choice.”

Twenty-Nine scratched her head nervously. After getting closer to her, I realized she was very straightforward with her emotions than I expected.

“You didn’t think that he’d figure out you’re the Blood Demon Grandmaster, did you?”

“That would be impossible. What I showed was the Three Calamities Sword Technique.”

“Show me in front of me.”

I displayed the Three Calamities Sword Technique before her. Twenty-Nine, who was watching, asked casually.

“How long have you trained in this?”

“I recall that it’s been just over ten years…”

“You’re not lying.”

“…….”

Those words stung a bit.

“No, don’t take offense. It was a genuine observation. The time you’ve spent with the sword is evident, and the traces of your effort show. The technique itself is smooth. But does that imply depth? Not really. I can see the time reflected in it, but that doesn’t connect to strength with one glance.”

“Isn’t that a roundabout way of knocking me down?”

“It’s just the truth, what can I say? It’s terrible.”

Three Calamities Sword Technique.

Three Calamities Sword Technique.

Don’t listen. You’re not at fault…

I hugged the sword tightly. Twenty-Nine burst into laughter.

“Oh. I shouldn’t be laughing. You’re quite the comedian. That expression you made just now was pretty funny.”

“…Let’s talk about work.”

“Don’t sulk. Anyhow, this is good. If someone sees that sword, they’re bound to think you’re a fallen warrior. Then, why would he invite you to a banquet? He didn’t have to feel compelled to do that; he could have easily forgiven a suspicious act. For someone like the leader of the Black Heaven Sect, he shouldn’t need to sweat over those trivial matters.”

I too wondered about that. Why would the lord invite me to a banquet?

“…I suppose should go. You know that bailing out now isn’t an option, right?”

“I know. If I bail, I might raise the lord’s suspicions.”

“Go on. Thirty, I’ll keep my appearance hidden. If anything happens, send a signal.”

“…What are you planning?”

“I’ll take care of the rest. You just enjoy the banquet. As long as you’re not caught or revealed, it’s still an assassination.”

With Twenty-Nine’s words, I went with a heavy resolve to find Maeng-cheon.

True to his word, he beckoned me over to the prepared banquet.

“Come here. What’s your name?”

A name.

A suitable name.

I presented the fabricated name to him.

“Wang So-hong, my lord.”

“Make yourself comfortable. You know I didn’t call you just for an apology, right?”

“……”

Did he figure it out?

“Then why…?”

“First.”

Maeng-cheon raised his drinking cup.

“Let’s have a drink.”

 

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