Chapter 210
**
“Master.”
At the call, Sapa’s Head Su-ryeon turned his head.
“Yes?”
Il-ho lowered his head.
“…An assassin from the Black Forest Room has destroyed one of the branches. As a result, the branch manager Gu Ho is seriously injured.”
A serious injury to a dear one. However, looking at the bigger picture, it wasn’t too surprising.
A world of kill or be killed.
That was the world of assassins.
A dry, monotonous life. It just returned to what it was. It was a job for survival, and having known nothing else, it was the path I chose.
It felt familiar. A world I knew well. But why?
Was it because of the momentary glimpse of light that was too bright? I kept forgetting that this was my livelihood. I realized I was doing something foolish enough for me to think so.
Emotions are controllable.
I thought I could always maintain my composure…
But lately, I’ve been suddenly realizing that wasn’t the case.
Warmth was poison.
If it wasn’t meant to last…
A poison that could steal away every facet of life.
“…Is Gu Ho okay?”
“He is seriously injured, but his life is safe. He has wounds that require focus on recovery…”
“That’s a relief.”
Whether others knew it or not, from Il-ho to the Tenth, they were all like my real family.
We grew up together, trained together, and shared experiences.
Sapa’s Head Su-ryeon snapped back to reality. He quietly watched the flickering candlelight.
“Clean up the ambushed branch.”
“What about the Black Forest Room?”
The Black Forest Room.
I think of them. The information organization reputed to have the fastest feet in Sado Clan…
And among the hidden swords of Sado Clan, the sharpest.
In terms of scale, it’s no contest. The number of assassins they’ve been sending has increased. The reason is simple.
Obstruction of what Sapa has been doing. It must be it. They started to trip us up, consistently interfering with Sado Clan’s entire operation by assassinating key positions.
There was no grand ambition.
Just personal vengeance. Nothing more.
They mainly dealt with those notorious for their evil deeds, and that led to leaving traces. It did no good for Sapa or for themselves.
…Yet still, I did it.
Wanting to do something for him, who wouldn’t return.
“…Thank you for following me on this foolish venture, Il-ho.”
“Your will is our will.”
“…….”
I stared intently at Il-ho, who had been killing Sado Clan’s top officials. I quietly whispered to the most beautiful one among us.
“Didn’t you say there was something new recently?”
“The former General of Sado Clan, Song Nam-cheon, has requested a meeting.”
“Sado Clan’s still being hunted?”
“I received information that he has vanished within the Cheonra Net. However, the tight encirclement is not loose enough for the wounded to escape, so he must be hiding somewhere within that net.”
Is he asking for help to rescue them?
Or does he intend to use them as a messenger to rally forces?
“When is the meeting?”
“In five days.”
“…Alright, Il-ho. Would you be willing to go personally?”
“What about you, Master?”
“If we just stand there, we wouldn’t be Sapa.”
Sapa’s Head Su-ryeon stood up.
“Please protect Sapa instead of me. If this one branch is broken, it only makes sense that two should be broken over there.”
…
“The Black Forest Room is a shady bunch.”
Gu Ok-gyeong stated flatly.
“Among those I’ve dealt with, they are particularly shady. The depth of their darkness is… indescribably severe.”
Even Song Nam-cheon, who seemed like he would moderate the remark, nodded.
“They are indeed shady.”
The First Sword of Sapa, Heuk Dae-wun, spoke quietly as well.
“Absolutely true.”
“…….?”
But weren’t they once my subordinates?
I asked hesitantly. Then Sado Clan’s Master Gu Ok-gyeong scoffed.
“I’ve never actually employed them. Those shady folks… The previous Lianju reportedly used them often, but I kept them at a distance. It’s not just because I can’t understand what they’re thinking; it’s literally because their actions are inherently twisted, from their preferences onward.”
“…What exactly do you mean…?”
“They’re the type that enjoys tormenting people. They take pleasure in torture. And what was it again…”
“They’re considered both an information agency and assassins. As the hidden blade of Sado Clan, they’re notably skilled, yet they’re also notoriously twisted. Since the previous Lianju treasured them, I placed them within the Black Forest Room, no matter how flawed they might be.”
“A bunch of trash, overflowing with deviants. But since they had done a lot for the previous Lianju, I merely distanced myself from them instead of dismantling them.”
“Madmen who love children… those who feel lust for corpses, those who mutter that they might go crazy if they can’t commit murder at least once a day, and those who find delight in hitting others, among many others… Well, there’s plenty.”
The more I hear, the more terrible it becomes.
I hesitantly asked Gu Ok-gyeong.
“And still… you haven’t gotten rid of them?”
“What? Why are you looking at me like that? Do you think groups operate according to my whims? There’s an elder council in Sado Clan, and I have to consider their tastes, watching out for the eyes of other branches and the leaders as well. Whenever I try to do something, they pounce on me like vultures!”
“……”
“Oh, no. Seriously, no. Hey, are you not listening to me?”
“I’ll believe you.”
The Black Forest Room.
Dealing with them can wait until after contacting Sapa. I quietly awaited the meeting. And alongside that, Heuk Dae-wun and Gu Ok-gyeong’s treatment was completely finished.
Gu Ok-gyeong dusted off her flowing garments. She turned to me and whispered.
“Have you gotten lewd lately with your touches? Hm?”
“That’s mistaken.”
“If you want to touch, just say so. I’ll give you my fingertips at least.”
“Just show me your hand.”
“Yikes.”
Poison.
It has definitely all been removed.
I erased all remnants of Cheongeop that remained within her. With that, she returned perfectly to her state.
The leftover poison was entirely consumed by Cheongeop. It was amusing to see her smacking her lips, like she found it quite tasty.
Now, it seems like she can digest just about anything.
“Dae-wun. How’s your body?”
“I’m fine.”
Heuk Dae-wun lightly stretched. Initially, the symptoms of poisoning were milder in him compared to her, and perhaps because he had a fair understanding of medicine.
Given some time, he could likely have alleviated the symptoms himself. I confirmed that both were fully prepared.
Now all that remained was the downfall of Sado Clan.
With the day of the meeting approaching, I waited with half-excited anticipation.
The members of Sapa I hadn’t seen in a long time.
I wonder if Su-ryeon will come out. I hope she’s doing well.
I quietly waited among the group.
Hoping to see a familiar face.
…
Il-ho waited silently.
Sapa’s Head left with some of Sapa’s members. He said he would show the Black Forest Room some proper discipline.
It felt utterly different from the previous dry atmosphere.
Having trained under the Sapa Head to become the next Sapa Head, she was like a doll. But back then was different. It felt as if she had shed the doll-like demeanor in search of warmth.
Yet now…
It was the face of someone who had completely lost any warmth they once held.
“…….”
Assassins are tools.
That’s how they were raised.
But Il-ho often recalled the warmth of the shared meals back then. He frequently thought of the warrior who treated him as an individual.
That’s an emotion he shouldn’t feel as an assassin. But still, he couldn’t forget.
And likely…
It was an emotion he would never feel again.
Such individuals are rare. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say they don’t exist at all. So, he decided not to entertain other thoughts. Il-ho awaited the individual who requested the meeting beneath the flickering candlelight.
The door opened. The newly raised subordinate brought in the company.
Il-ho raised his head. He lowered his voice in a monotonous manner.
“Please state your name and the matter at hand.”
“Il-ho.”
“…….?”
Unintentionally flinching, Il-ho lifted his head.
What was the reason behind assassinating the senior members of Sado Clan and interfering with their affairs?
Revenge.
It was for personal vengeance. The reason he stepped forward, despite Sapa’s Head not ordering him, was precisely because of that voice.
But it was heard. So easily it almost seemed absurd. Hence, Il-ho involuntarily stood up.
The figure beneath the wide-brimmed hat. That face he thought he would never see again smiled gently.
Just as before.
Warmly.
“It’s been a while.”
“…Jeok Dae-hyup?”
“Yes. It’s me.”
Il-ho didn’t rush to embrace or cry loudly.
He merely assessed the possibility of him being a fake.
But logically, he thought that it should be so, yet he found himself running forward. His hand stretched out, pulling him in for a forceful hug.
“Jeok Dae-hyup… is that really you?”
While speaking, he realized.
It’s his scent. His body’s scent.
It’s real.
A slightly astonished expression arose. Then a hand gently landed on his head.
“Yes, that’s me.”
Tears welled in Il-ho’s eyes.
Relieved that there were still tears left within him.
…
Il-ho.
Among the Sapa members, aside from Su-ryeon, the only one he had exchanged many words with.
It took a long while for her to calm down. Gu Ok-gyeong clicked her tongue from the side.
“Should I lay down a blanket for you?”
“Ok-gyeong.”
“Oh come on. What? Are you two ex-lovers or something?”
“He’s a close acquaintance. Don’t say that.”
“So that means he’s not a lover, right?”
Il-ho wiped his tears and stepped back. His slightly choked voice asked me.
“How…?”
“Luck was on my side. Where’s Su-ryeon…?”
“She went to the Black Forest Room.”
The Black Forest Room?
Song Nam-cheon interjected into the conversation.
“She went to the Black Forest Room? Why would she do that?”
“They attacked the headquarters. They destroyed one of the branches. So she went out for revenge.”
“…What? No, are you telling me she went to strike the enemy’s weakest branch?”
“That’s correct… but…?”
Song Nam-cheon sighed. Gu Ok-gyeong clicked her tongue.
“She walked right into it.”
“She did get caught.”
“What’s that…?”
“You have the information from your end, right? The weakest point of the Black Forest Room.”
Il-ho nodded. Gu Ok-gyeong crossed her arms.
“That’s a bait.”
“…What?”
“Even if it looks like it’s hidden under a thorough security, in reality, it’s a trap set to ambush those tailing behind.”
Il-ho’s eyes turned cold.
“That’s information we painstakingly filtered out.”
“That would be so. Since it’s not easy information to obtain. But listen. The folks from the Black Forest Room are incredibly crafty. They likely have plenty of traps set.”
Gu Ok-gyeong stated firmly.
“If left alone, everyone who went out for revenge will end up dead.”
