Chapter 26

The mistress had not yet returned. Only Hersel had arrived.

It was a night with little time left until the festival.

The dilapidated warehouse had long become desolate. Left alone after the two assassins had disappeared, Peren repeatedly opened and closed the box.

It wasn’t easy to take action. If she acted hastily, she would likely vanish without a trace like the two men before her.

However, only three days remained. If she didn’t achieve results, she would be erased from the world, or spend her life as a servant. The thought sent chills down Peren’s spine.

“Ugh, this damned fate.”

The urgency finally pushed her to gather the staff and tools from the box and move towards her target—Hersel’s annex.

Entering wasn’t too difficult.

Though the night guards and servants of the annex saw her, they only whispered in surprise that someone was still attempting assassination.

“Huh? Isn’t she the maid who used to do the laundry at the dormitory? What’s she doing at the annex?”

“Maybe she’s making a last-ditch attempt? There’s not much time left.”

“Tsk tsk, she must have never faced real danger before.”

“Ha, she’s just another one of those small fries who’s never even killed anyone properly.”

Peren scoffed at the servants’ whispers as she walked by.

However, the servants seemed curious and started following her from a distance. The crowd grew, with even some yawning servants in pajamas joining in, having just woken up.

“Yawn, what’s all the fuss about?”

“What’s going on that so many people are gathering?”

“Look over there. That lady’s going to make an attempt. This might be the last one.”

Peren was astounded by the stares from the crowd.

…It’s like something out of a novel, with a hero going to slay an evil dragon.

In a way, it was enjoyable. How often does an assassin get treated like this?

Feeling confident, Peren took out the magical key hidden in the pocket under her skirt. The crowd gasped in awe, like primitive people seeing fire for the first time.

“Whoa, that blue-tinged key looks quite peculiar.”

“Indeed. Normally, you’d struggle to pick a lock with a wire…”

“It seems she’s prepared thoroughly. She must be determined.”

Click!

The door opened. As soon as Peren stepped into the dragon’s lair, she pulled out her staff and cast a Silence spell, then closed the door with all her might. Not even the sound of an ant’s breath could be heard.

‘My skills are still sharp. Alright, let’s finish this quickly.’

Hersel was sleeping soundly, unaware of anything. Peren carefully placed a vial from the strap on her thigh on the floor and used her staff to cast telekinesis. The cap popped off, and the green liquid began to move like a living snake.

The contents were a corrosive poison extracted from the Viper Silus.

Just pour this down his throat, and even an imperial knight will die instantly.

As she prepared, Peren noticed something odd. The bed was empty. At that moment, she realized that the shadow on the floor was larger than her own.

Gasp!

Peren quickly tried to turn and swing her staff, but before she could, Hersel grabbed her wrist and twisted it.

Thunk!

The staff fell, breaking the Silence spell. A hand pressed on the back of her head, forcing her face into the floor.

“Ow!”

Dull pain shot through her wrist and cheekbone. Realizing the plan had gone awry, she looked up at Hersel. He said nothing, only increasing the pressure on her wrist. Despite the pain, Peren’s attention was elsewhere.

A burning smell filled the air. The corrosive poison floating in midair had soaked into her sleeve.

“Ahh!”

The fabric soaked up the poison like cotton. It would soon reach her skin. Peren’s eyes widened with panic, sweat breaking out as she pleaded.

“Wait, please! Don’t let it touch my skin!”

Hersel answered by tearing off her poisoned sleeve.

Relieved, Peren sighed, thinking this was her chance. She smiled slyly, as Hersel was defenseless while throwing away the poisoned fabric. She already had a dagger from her pocket in hand.

“Die!”

Peren twisted her body, aiming the dagger at Hersel’s neck. But the sensation in her wrist was heavy, like striking a solid rock with a steel rod.

Crack!

“Huh?”

The sharp pain of a fracture accompanied by the cracking sound of the dagger. Peren dropped the broken dagger, clutching her wrist and screaming.

“Ow! It hurts! It hurts!”

She rolled on the floor in pain but had to endure it. Hersel was looking down at her with cold eyes.

***

[Physical attack detected.]

[Skill activated.]

[1-second invincibility cooldown: 57 seconds]

I opened my eyes to the system notification.

A familiar-looking maid was rolling on the floor, clutching her wrist and crying.

“What’s your deal?”

When the maid only moved her lips silently, Donatan answered in her place.

[She tried to kill you.]

‘Ah.’

That was enough to understand the situation.

Donatan had once mentioned he was known as the sleeping sword among his former master’s demon swords.

His previous master, surrounded by enemies, entrusted Donatan with his protection while he slept. Donatan learned techniques to ensure his master’s restful sleep. This was the greatest merit that led me to contract with him.

So, while I was asleep, Donatan protected me from the assassin.

‘The sleeping sword did its job well.’

[… That’s an insult to this body. You miserable fool.]

What should I do with her then?

Judging by her appearance, she was different from the servants I had spared. The floor was littered with a magic staff and vials emitting a strange smell. She was clearly an assassin.

“Well then, what punishment should I give you? I’ve killed every assassin so far, so execution seems fair.”

The assassin shivered at my narrowed eyes.

Donatan, sounding excited, spoke up.

[This is a good opportunity, Hersel. There are many people outside. If you show your might by holding her head high, it would be a good example.]

‘Hmm, that makes sense, but…’

Looking at her tear-streaked face and smudged makeup, my intention wavered.

She seemed rather foolish.

She looked weak and might be useful later.

Moreover, instilling too much fear could be problematic. If I became too infamous, righteous playable characters might come after me.

With the festival ending soon, I needed to moderate my actions. It was time to shed the monstrous image and return to my true self.

The diligent and well-regarded person I used to be.

After weighing the pros and cons, I relaxed my expression.

“You don’t have to tremble. I won’t kill you.”

“…Is that true?”

I helped the assassin to her feet. Her eyes, previously filled with fear, softened slightly. But that wasn’t enough.

“Of course. But you need to fulfill one condition.”

In this world, if you try to take a life, you must pay a price. I grinned as I spoke.

“Hand over everything you have.”

What would she give me?

The last assassin had only a staff. And Donatan had sliced it along with his neck, making it useless. So, my expectations were high.

The assassin looked uneasy at my demand.

“Excuse me? Everything I have… I don’t have anything you would want.”

“Why not? You have something under your skirt, don’t you?”

Pointing to the pocket on her thigh, I made my demand. The assassin blushed and pulled her skirt down, thinking something else.

Look at her.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Does she think I’m a pervert?

Annoyed by the misunderstanding, I grabbed my head.

“You idiot, take out what’s strapped to your thigh.”

Realizing her mistake, the assassin sighed in relief and handed over the pocket and vials.

“If I give you this, will you really spare my life?”

Just this?

Scoffing, I shook my head.

“Are you naive? You tried to kill me, so you must give everything you have.”

I pointed to the staff lying on the floor. Even a low-grade magic staff was valuable. The assassin paled and stammered.

“T-That’s my only valuable tool. If you take it, I’ll be left with nothing…”

“That’s a good thing.”

It’s an opportunity to get a more honest job.

I wasn’t so heartless as to ignore someone’s chance for rehabilitation. This wasn’t extortion; it was doing the right thing.

“Tough luck.”

Snatch!

“Huh…”

I roughly took the staff, making the assassin cry. Ignoring her, I gathered all the seemingly useless tools.

Oh, there’s a timer seal with the Viper Silus poison?

I might need this.

The assassin, thinking it was over, wiped her tears and bowed.

“…Excuse me. I’ll be going now.”

Where do you think you’re going?

I stopped her, as I wasn’t finished.

“Wait. Shake yourself right there.”

“Shake? How?”

“Up and down.”

I gestured with my hand.

“Keep repeating it.”

Understanding my order, the assassin reluctantly jumped up and down like she was skipping rope. It was pathetic, like someone about to lose their last coin.

Clink—

Coins mean little to a wealthy noble like me. But I had to take them all to prevent her from buying weapons during the remaining festival time. It was a profound reason, not just extortion.

“I knew it. I heard coins. Take them out.”

“…Excuse me, but these are silver coins. They mean nothing to you. So, please, let me keep them. They’re my living expenses…”

The assassin begged, smiling foolishly. Softened, I looked at the coins and took them.

She gaped like a fish out of water.

“I told you to hand over everything. If you don’t want to die, keep shaking.”

The assassin, looking like she’d rather die, continued jumping. I sat with one leg crossed, listening carefully.

“Haa… Huff. How much longer? I’m already…”

“Shut up. You’re distracting me.”

I made her continue until the sound of coins completely disappeared. Whenever she tried to hide something by jumping lightly, I scolded her, eventually taking everything she had.

I felt satisfied, having guided someone’s life onto the right path.

If there were another person like me, the world would be peaceful.

***

Peren cried bitterly as soon as she left the room.

All her valuable tools, saved for this day, were taken. Even the last coin was gone. When she checked her pockets, she found only lint.

Having never been robbed before, she felt humiliated and empty.

“Sniff…”

Her shoulders trembled as she sobbed, and people sympathetically draped blankets over her.

In a daze from the shock, Peren didn’t hear the murmuring around her.

“Oh my, her clothes…”

“Quiet, show some respect.”

Someone handed her a handkerchief. Wiping her tears, her smudged makeup made her look even more pitiful.

“Oh dear, she must be in shock.”

“I heard he told her to jump up and down. Disgraceful.”

“He took her money too!”

“What a villain!”

As Peren moved away, the murmuring grew louder. The noise in the corridor caused a door to open.

The servants froze, staring in fear at Hersel.

“There are a lot of people here today.”

His low voice spread in the silence.

“Good. I was thinking of having a chat with you all.”

The servants, faces pale, whispered among themselves. Then they quickly covered their faces and fled, some even running to avoid being targeted.

Unaware of their escape, Hersel closed his eyes and spoke in a soulless voice.

“I will not hold you accountable when I become the lord. Sparing the woman was a show of mercy. I…”

Noticing the unnatural silence, Hersel opened his eyes. The corridor was empty.

“Damn it.”

***

Morning came.

Peren, who hadn’t slept a wink, couldn’t close her eyes. An unexpected visitor had arrived at the shabby warehouse.

“Is this really the document that will erase all my sins?”

At her question, Deisel, who had just arrived, nodded.

“It’s signed and sealed. It’s yours now.”

He placed a sheet of paper on the desk. The pardon she had longed for was within reach, and her eyes trembled. But she couldn’t touch it.

No noble would guarantee freedom without completing a mission.

As expected, the situation she often encountered during her active years followed.

“But I can’t give it to you without a favor.”

Thunk!

He placed a small box on the desk. Peren checked its contents with a puzzled look. The geometrical patterns etched on the blade glowed softly; it was a complex, top-tier key.

“This isn’t for ordinary use. What do you want me to do with it?”

Deisel spoke with a heavy expression.

“Release the monster sleeping underground. That’s all I ask.”

“M-Monster?”

Sweat trickled down Peren’s forehead at the unimaginable request.

There were many monsters sealed underground. But only one required such a key.

The Black Swan of Resentment, the grand beast that wiped Melbra village off the map.

This man was asking her to release a horrific disaster in the middle of a crowded mansion.

Even if it was to kill Hersel, could she do it? He was truly mad.

Yet Peren grabbed the pardon with a determined face.

“I will do it. Today.”

Raised in a harsh environment, she knew that feeding off others was the most satisfying way to fill her own hunger.

“Then I’ll leave it to you.”

“Yes, farewell.”

The deal done, Deisel left the warehouse.

Under the sunlight, the servants moved busily. A passing maid bowed her head in greeting.

Deisel, masking his intentions, nodded back with a calm expression.

As she left, his face turned grim.

‘To achieve what I want, I must pay the price. Even if it’s the blood of the innocent.’

But that was momentary.

Seeing Mircel heading to Hersel’s annex in the morning, his eyes gleamed with a sharp killing intent.