—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Vine
—————————————————————–
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The Academy, home to the Empire’s most precious bloodlines, was heavily guarded. Royalty occasionally enrolled; security was paramount. Infiltrating the isolated island was no easy feat. Yet, unnoticed, a new presence had arrived. The ferry service had stopped for the day, but he had found a way in. The Black Raven, an assassin gaining notoriety in the capital’s underbelly, had accepted a contract. He possessed an uncanny ability to arrive swiftly, reaching the Academy before noon.
Usually… I wouldn’t even consider such a risky contract…
He knew the difficulty of an assassination within the Academy. He had initially refused. The contact method was dubious, the request even more so. A Phrygia heiress, a student at the Academy, wanted another student eliminated, without a trace, by nightfall. A recipe for disaster.
A same-day request, a tight deadline, and the Academy as the location? Even for a Five Pillar, it was reckless. The political ramifications were dangerous. He could become a scapegoat. But he couldn’t refuse.
You’re capable of this. Double your usual rate.
It’s not about the money. It’s my neck…
Double that.
Even with that much…!
Double it again.
You think money can buy everything?!
Double it.
Hmm… I’ll consider it.
Double it again if you complete it today.
…I’ll prepare immediately.
It was a chance to enhance his reputation. A newcomer on the scene, he needed a high-profile success to challenge the established names. Assassinating a student at the Academy, a feat most assassins avoided, would be sufficient.
Eliminating an unknown bastard shouldn’t be a problem.
His target was an unremarkable, unknown bastard. No risk of repercussions. It wasn’t about the money, of course. It was about fame.
Transformed into a raven, he surveyed the Academy from above. Infiltrating the island was risky. The bridge was heavily guarded, layered with defensive magic personally installed by Headmaster Gordon. The Academy buildings and dormitories were also protected. He was a first-class assassin. He could bypass these defenses, but eliminating his target without a trace required careful observation.
He waited for the opportune moment. His target entered a restricted forest, presumably to gather herbs, judging by his equipment. An ideal location. The forest provided cover, and the disposal would be easy.
The target, deep within the forest, began collecting herbs, his skill surprising. He moved swiftly, locating valuable specimens with ease.
This will be easier than I thought.
The target ventured deeper, into territory known for both rare herbs and dangerous monsters. He was lucky so far, but his luck wouldn’t last. He’d dispose of the body and leave it for the monsters. The target, spotting another herb, moved behind a tree, momentarily disappearing from view. It had happened before. He shifted his position, maintaining visual contact. Though disguised as a raven, he wasn’t a real bird. He flew to another tree, but his target was gone.
Where did he go?
He was puzzled. He checked the ground for any signs of a hidden pit, but found nothing. He listened for any signs of monsters, but there were none. His target had vanished.
Impossible… where did he…?
“Wondering where I went?”
-Rip!
His right wing was torn from his body.
“?!”
“I’ll give you points for not screaming. You’ve got some composure.”
He fell from the tree, his transformation dissolving.
Where…?
The voice, which he’d heard from above, continued to echo in his ears, yet he couldn’t locate its source. He felt the distinct sensation of his wing being ripped off, but there was no presence behind him. He was certain the voice was behind him, yet he couldn’t see anyone.
“Phrygia sent you, right? How much did she pay you? Enough to buy a small island?”
The voice knew about the contract. Was it a trap? Had he been lured here? He stopped the bleeding from his severed wing, using an assassin’s secret technique, but he still couldn’t see his attacker. Whoever it was, they were far superior to him. The contract was a failure. He had to escape.
“You thought this was an easy payday, huh?”
-Slice!
His left leg buckled, and he fell, his severed leg unable to support him. He scrambled to his feet, balancing on his remaining leg.
“That’s why you’re second-rate.”
A figure stood before him. The familiar voice, the small stature he’d been observing all day… he finally saw his attacker.
“This contract… was a bad idea…”
Those were his last words.
Shaara Phrygia woke up to cold air and an unfamiliar sensation.
“Where…?”
She was in a forest, the dense canopy blocking out the sky. Damp leaves, moss, thick roots… She couldn’t tell if it was day or night.
“A dream…?”
It was the only explanation. Her last memory was falling asleep in her dormitory, surrounded by soothing incense, a soft bed, a warm room. This damp, cold, earthy smell… it felt like a nightmare.
“Ouch!”
A sharp pain shot through her foot. She had stepped on something sharp, a small cut on her delicate sole oozing blood.
“It’s… not a dream?”
“Awake?”
A voice from above. She looked up. A figure perched on a branch. The dim light obscured their features, but she recognized the voice. Atlas Nemea, the arrogant little person who had infuriated her.
“Did you… kidnap me?”
“Yes.”
He jumped down, landing before her. She was confused. Not about the kidnapping itself, but about how he was still alive. She had hired an assassin to kill him.
He promised he’d finish it before nightfall…!
He should be dead. But her question was answered quickly.
“Recognize this?”
He tossed something at her feet. A black shoe.
“An… ankle?”
It was heavier than a shoe. It was a foot, still wearing a shoe.
“The monsters nibbled on him a bit. I should have salvaged a better piece, but this was all I could find.”
She understood. These were the remains of her assassin. How did this happen? She couldn’t comprehend, but she knew she had to stay calm.
“Who is he?”
“Don’t play dumb. Ah, right, you wouldn’t recognize his face. You didn’t hire him directly… But you know who I’m talking about, right? Don’t bother denying it.”
He knew. She had hired a first-class assassin. They would rather die than reveal their client’s identity. How did he know?
He’s just guessing. I’m the only one with a motive.
But what was the point of denying it? She decided to be bold. She had been careful. There was no evidence. He was just guessing.
“So what if I did? Are you going to hide behind Russell’s big behind again?”
-Crack.
She ignored the strange sound. She had to appear confident, turn the tables on him. She stood up straight, her chest out, her voice firm. His eyes widened.
“I don’t know where you heard that, but if you think that will harm me, you’re mistaken.”
This wouldn’t affect her. Nobody would believe she had hired an assassin to kill an unknown student. Russell might believe him, but that wouldn’t be enough. There was no proof. They could only express their disapproval.
“Why so angry? Want me to hit you like Lemnos?”
She trusted her family’s influence, the power of the Golden Phrygia, second only to the Emperor. The intangible power of their name, the influence that controlled people with a single word. The Golden Lord might be an ordinary human, but his gestures moved armies of superhumans. What were Russell and Lemnos compared to that? It was the masses, not individuals, that shaped the world. And it was power, not force, that controlled the masses.
Atlas approached. See? Lemnos, Atlas, they all talk tough, but they wouldn’t dare…
-Slap!
A flash of light exploded before her eyes.
“Uh… uh…”
Her vision went white, her mind blank. She found herself sitting on the damp leaves, her cheek burning.
“Blood…?”
She touched her face. Blood trickled from her split lip. She was confused, disoriented. She couldn’t think straight. The burning pain intensified. Atlas approached.
“Get up.”
“Wh-what did you…?”
Had he really… hit her? Phrygia? How could he…? She couldn’t understand. What did he have to gain? An unknown, illegitimate child, defying Phrygia? She was bewildered, but he didn’t stop.
“You told me to hit you, bitch.”
-Tug!
“?!”
Her scalp burned. He had grabbed her hair, her prized golden locks, pulling her up. Tears welled up in her eyes.
“Clench your teeth, and they’ll break.”
“What?”
-Slap!
Another white flash.
“You… hit me again…! Twice…!”
“Shut up.”
-Slap!
-Slap!
-Slap!
-Slap!
Countless slaps rained down on her face. Pain consumed her. She couldn’t think. Each blow sent her head spinning, white sparks flashing in her vision. Her face and neck throbbed. Her face was a mess, swollen and red, blood dripping from her mouth. Miraculously, her teeth remained intact, but her head spun, her body limp in his grasp.
“You… you know who I am…?”
The words escaped involuntarily.
“I do.”
Their eyes met.
“You spoiled brat.”
His usually bright, ocean-blue eyes were dark, like a deep abyss.
“Do you know where we are? The deepest part of the forest. Even the professors don’t come here.”
“Here…?”
He pushed her against a tree trunk, placing his right fist gently against the wood. He adjusted her hair, forcing her gaze downwards, towards his fist. He tapped the trunk lightly, like knocking on a door. What was he doing?
“You really sent assassins after me? The moment you turned around?”
-Thud!
His arm sank into the tree trunk, creating a deep hole. It was a bizarre sight. He had pushed his arm through the solid wood as if it were soft bread.
“Do you think anyone would find your body if I killed you here and left you for the monsters?”
His fist tapped her stomach lightly, mimicking the rhythm of his earlier knocks on the tree trunk. He wanted her to remember the sensation, the rhythm.
“Say something arrogant. Give me a reason to spare you.”
Her face paled. The taps weren’t painful, but the image of his arm sinking into the tree trunk was terrifying. His deliberate slowness, the pregnant pauses, amplified the fear.
Tap. Tap.
She felt the cold, hard pressure of his fist against her thin nightgown.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
lol I would’ve pissed myself rn 😭