Chapter 38
Chapter 38
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Assassination Operation (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Even after the drinking party had wrapped up, the three brothers of Kreisan, gathered in the conference room, continued their conversation.
The youngest, Portin, asked,
"Are those guys trustworthy?"
Portin wasn't thrilled about these new faces showing up right before a major operation.
Cracker set down his empty glass and said,
"They're independence fighters from the 'Northern White Lion' who took down Vitero. Their identities are solid, so no need to worry."
"Still, something feels off. They're total strangers offering to help so readily, and they're bragging way too much about their skills."
"If it's about skill, you saw it yourself during the day."
At Cracker's words, Portin was momentarily at a loss for words.
He had seen it too.
The sight of the man stomping the ground to shake it and cleaving a distant carriage in half with a single sword strike.
"Just how strong is that guy?"
Portin asked with suspicious eyes.
Barson, who had been quietly sipping his drink until then, showed interest and questioned Cracker as well.
"Is he stronger than you, brother?"
Barson hadn't trained in the sword, so he couldn't gauge Genesis's strength firsthand.
Cracker paused for a moment, fiddling unnecessarily with his glass before saying,
"...He's probably stronger than me."
"What?!"
Barson widened his eyes and shouted. The idea of a young man in his twenties being stronger than Cracker was shocking—especially since Barson hadn't witnessed his skills with his own eyes.
"Ahem. Not by much, just a tiny bit?"
Cracker held his thumb and index finger close together, almost touching. His conscience pricked him, but as the leader of the Golden Meadow and the eldest brother, he had his pride to maintain.
"Then isn't that even more dangerous? What if they get any funny ideas—"
As Portin pressed on, Barson cut him off.
"I get your concerns, but these are people our brother brought. Doubting them excessively is like not trusting him."
"I know that, but this is such a critical matter. What if information leaks..."
As Portin's voice trailed off, Cracker stepped in.
"I understand how you feel. But that won't happen. I asked them for help first, they didn't just step up on their own. So no need for unfounded worries. Take good care of them so they're comfortable."
Cracker patted Portin's shoulder encouragingly. He knew exactly what was bothering him.
The Itzriel assassination plan was already complete.
It could succeed without inserting Genesis at all.
That's why Portin worried that this sudden variable might turn into poison.
But even so, Cracker had sought Genesis's help to secure a certain and safe victory.
He believed that the man who killed Vitero would make assassinating Itzriel much easier.
"By the way, why did you hit the Polchelo Merchant Group convoy?"
Cracker suddenly recalled and looked at Barson. Barson shook his head and pointed at Portin.
"This guy was itching for action and insisted on going himself."
Portin scratched his head sheepishly.
"It's a procession for a banquet, so there had to be plenty of booze and meat. Plus, it was about time for you to return after heading out alone. We should prepare a proper welcome in advance."
At his words, Cracker let out a hollow chuckle and gave him an affectionate look.
"Thanks to you, we feasted well, but we need to be cautious for now. Besides, you're not fully recovered yet."
"I'm all better now. I was itching all over because I couldn't crush those empire soldiers."
Portin rolled his shoulders to show off his robust build, and Cracker smiled warmly.
Just a short while ago, he'd thought this brother was dead. Now that he was back alive, he was even more precious than before.
"After we kill Itzriel, we'll have to hole up in the mountains for a while. Starting that early?"
"If we can kill Itzriel, living like a rat for a few years is nothing."
"Puhaha. Right, you're spot on."
Cracker laughed heartily in agreement, then quickly downed his drink and hardened his expression.
"Soon, this rotten grudge with that bastard will finally end."
The faces of his fallen comrades flashed before his eyes like a lantern show.
The past eight years.
He and Itzriel had built a vicious enmity.
They had taken and lost so much from each other, both desperate to kill the other, and now their final showdown was rushing toward its conclusion.
Cracker shook off the thoughts and refilled his glass.
"Come on, enough with the heavy talk."
It had been ages since the three brothers gathered like this.
He wanted to cast aside grim thoughts, even if just for a moment, and enjoy themselves.
"It's been so long since we've been together like this—let's properly catch up!"
As Cracker raised his glass, his brothers quickly shook off their worries and clinked glasses with him.
* * *
Feather-like clouds drifted across the blue sky.
Liriel, rolling around on the bed, openly showed her boredom.
"It feels like it's been forever since I did absolutely nothing like this."
"Yeah. First time since leaving headquarters."
Allen said.
He was sprawled out on the adjacent bed as well.
I shot Liriel a glance and said,
"Why are you even here?"
Her room was next door, and the bed she was rolling on was mine. I was sitting in a rocking chair by the window, basking in the sunlight.
"It's boring alone."
Liriel replied indifferently.
Well, fair enough. Since the drinking party ended yesterday, we'd been killing time idly.
Liriel asked,
"If we leave this afternoon, we'll arrive tomorrow morning?"
"Probably."
I nodded in response.
Since only I would go on the Itzriel assassination, the two didn't know the details.
Bringing them along would just be baggage.
"Where are we going?"
"His villa is half a day's ride away."
Itzriel would come to the villa tonight with a small contingent for tomorrow's hunt.
That's when we'd strike with a surprise attack.
I wasn't sure if the intel on Itzriel coming to the villa was solid, but if Cracker was staking his life on it, I'd trust it.
All I had to do was follow them and sever Itzriel's head.
"Aah—."
As Liriel nodded and fell silent, Allen suddenly sat up and asked,
"But was that guy really that strong?"
His interest was fixed on the man we'd met in the valley yesterday.
"He'd rank among Francia's top fighters."
"...Hmm, who is he?"
Allen fiddled with his lower lip, pondering.
"Someone that strong in Francia should be famous. Rising stars in the independence army are like the western sword 'Dragon Hunter' or the southern spear 'Black Meteor.' They wouldn't be doing mercenary work here, but if it had to be one, it'd probably be the 'Dragon Hunter.' The south is too far. But his behavior doesn't match either. The guy's too frivolous. He's known to be ruthless."
Muttering to himself and thinking it over, Allen reached his own conclusion.
"Probably someone from another country. Or a new figure like you, Mr. Genesis. Even a Sword Master like you appeared out of nowhere—what's so impossible about that?"
It made sense, but he wasn't new. I was an exceptional case.
So he could be from another country.
Choosing Francia over Crebon didn't make him necessarily Francian.
"Who he is or where he's from—why does it matter?"
I replied indifferently, leaning back into the chair. Whatever he was, it meant nothing to me.
If he's an enemy, just cut him down.
"Don't talk to me anymore."
I laid down the law and gently closed my eyes.
Leaning into the rocking chair, warmed by the sun—it was pure bliss for body and mind.
This was the life I'd longed for.
Lazily lounging, eating and drinking without a care.
Damn it.
Enough of those thoughts.
The more I dwelled, the angrier I got.
I pushed away the rising musings and focused on the leisure I could enjoy now.
Getting upset would only hurt me.
How much time passed like that?
I sensed footsteps approaching from beyond the door. It was time to head out.
Opening my eyes, I saw dusk creeping in through the window. I stood up.
"You're leaving?"
Allen, roused by my movement, rubbed his eyes sleepily. He'd napped deeply; drool stains lingered at his mouth.
"I'll be back. Don't just play around—get ready to leave properly."
"Yes, yes."
"Hurry back."
Liriel saw me off from almost the same position she'd been lounging in during the day.
I stared at the two carefree ones.
Should I just take them along?
Seeing them so comfortable while I couldn't irked me.
But I shook my head soon after.
They'd only be baggage, and it'd make things harder for me.
It had been ages since they'd lounged like this all day, so let them rest.
I could work them twice as hard later.
Opening the door, I came face-to-face with someone about to knock, who widened their eyes and gasped.
"Let's go."
I brushed past them and exited the annex.
In the courtyard, eight mountain bandits including Cracker stood waiting.
The elite of the stronghold selected for the Itzriel assassination.
Sharpened surprisingly well for bandits.
Few in number, but half the total force of the Golden Meadow.
"Any inconveniences while resting?"
At Cracker's question, I nodded. He grinned and continued,
"Mind ready?"
"What preparation do I need for catching that scrub?"
Cracker laughed heartily at my words and took the lead.
"Then let's move out."
I silently followed behind him.
Moments later, we swiftly left the stronghold and raced through the mountains dyed in sunset hues.
* * *
A night with a full moon shining brightly.
Had she napped too long during the day?
Sleep evaded Liriel, so she stepped outside and climbed onto the roof.
She liked the quiet night sky viewed from up there.
Whoosh.
As she sat, a cool breeze tousled her hair.
A cluster of stars shining brightly overhead, as if about to pour down.
Gazing at them, she inexplicably recalled the day she'd climbed up for air and seen Genesis.
How startled she'd been.
'...Still, looking back, he seems like a decent guy sometimes.'
As she thought of that conversation, her mind naturally drifted to her farewell with Veron.
She even chuckled at the memory of Genesis suddenly smacking him on the head.
Rough, but it was the comfort Veron needed.
Liriel, lost in thoughts of Genesis, suddenly startled and shook her head.
'Was I just thinking about that jerk?'
It was beyond absurd—it bruised her pride.
As soon as she snapped to, images of Genesis's obnoxious traits flooded her mind.
That condescending gaze, his dismissive tone.
And how he worked her to the bone.
Liriel grew angry at herself for even briefly thinking he was okay.
He was human trash, Sword Master title aside.
That's when a faint groan reached her ears.
"...Ugh."
She thought she'd misheard at first, but tuning in, it was clearly human. Liriel descended the roof and perked her ears like a rabbit, scanning the surroundings warily.
'Sounds like that direction?'
Uncertain, but it seemed from the inner quarters. She tiptoed cautiously toward the sound.
"Urgh...."
This time, it was clear. Definitely a human groan.
'What is it?'
Liriel furrowed her brows anxiously. A bad premonition that something had happened gripped her.
Approaching the inner quarters, she spotted a room on the first floor with an open window. Peeking just her head in,
The dark room had no lights.
No more groans came.
'It was definitely here...'
After a moment's hesitation, she scanned around and nimbly vaulted the window like a stray cat.
The room appeared to be someone's study.
She crouched low, drawing a small dagger from her bosom.
Tension beaded sweat on her forehead.
Her instincts screamed danger, but couldn't quell her curiosity.
Then, another groan sounded.
Right in front of her.
She traced it immediately and found a man collapsed behind the desk.
Rushing over, Liriel laid him flat and checked his condition.
"Hey! You okay?"
His clothes were soaked with his own blood.
He clutched his stomach with one hand—stabbed by a blade, it seemed.
Liriel hastily tore cloth to bind the wound.
After staunching the bleeding, she finally saw his face clearly.
"Barson!"
It was Barson, Cracker's blood-sworn second brother.
Shocked, Liriel shook his shoulders, but he was unconscious.
'...What the hell happened?'
This was the deepest part of the stronghold, with no signs of struggle around.
An outsider couldn't have done this so quietly.
In her haste, she opened the door—empty corridor.
She glanced at Barson lying in the corner. He needed proper treatment.
"...Damn it. Just hang on a sec."
Liriel urgently told the fallen Barson before dashing to Allen's room.
"Brother!"
Bursting through the door yelling, Allen—deep in sleep—jolted up like he'd been electrocuted.
"...?"
Allen, awkwardly awake, stared blankly at the intruder.
Half-asleep, he couldn't tell dream from reality.
He just blinked at Liriel.
Liriel approached and mercilessly smacked his back.