The Spy's Fatal Mistake

Don't tell me that's your taste...?

This is truly ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the worst situation.

"Why don't we think of something more satisfying for me instead."

"Kuhahaha!!! You sound just like that guy. Do all you rich bastards think alike?"

What the hell is so funny?

The man clutched his stomach and burst into laughter.

"What the hell are you—"

"That baron last year said the same thing. Started at 30,000 gold, ended up offering his daughter in marriage to me."

"A baron? Find someone prettier and higher-ranked than me."

"No, no. The pleasure I chase isn't that kind."

He licked the blade of his sword, coating it with saliva.

"What gets me off is watching spoiled brats like you fall into despair as you die."

Shit, he's a psychopath.

I thought we were actually talking, but he was just toying with me.

"You psycho bastard."

Since I was probably dead anyway, I spat out the insult without holding back.

"Kukuku, I'd love to play with you more, but the situation's not great. What a shame."

The man glanced toward the ongoing battle, then turned back.

That's when someone completely unexpected entered my view.

Kartun...?

It was none other than Kartun, the branch manager who'd come along on the merchant caravan today. He was approaching, holding something in his hand.

Looks like he's about to do something.

In that case, I had only one job right now.

"I must've been an idiot to even consider paying off trash worse than garbage like you."

I wasn't sure if this was the right move, but from what I'd judged, this guy liked prey that resisted.

"Keeping that noble expression right to the end. What, are you royalty or something? Kukuku."

"If I were royalty, scum like you would be a slave."

A twitch.

I kept spewing insults to stoke his resistance, but the moment "slave" left my mouth, his face froze cold in an instant.

Shit... I hit a nerve. Badly.

I should've known my place instead of pushing too far.

"This is why I hate nobles. I gave you too much time to run your mouth."

"W-Wait a sec."

Without a hint of hesitation, he raised his sword.

The blade aimed straight at my throat.

I wanted to fight back, but ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with his foot pinning my body, I couldn't move.

"Die."

Whoosh!

The wind whistled as the sword sliced toward the space between my eyes...

A blue light pierced the darkness, and the sword's path veered, slamming into the ground a finger's width from my face.

"Gaaah! What the—?!"

The sudden shock made him convulse violently, screaming in agony.

"Young master!"

Kartun's urgent voice calling my name.

I didn't know what he'd done, but one thing was clear: this was a once-in-a-lifetime chance.

"Die!"

No time to waste.

The moment his foot loosened, I snatched my dropped sword and plunged it into his gut.

Squelch!

Viscous crimson blood splashed my face.

The metallic tang twisted my expression involuntarily.

"Gaaah! You fucking dogs, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠how dare you—!"

"Shouldn't have let your guard down."

For the record, I'm not the type to drop my guard.

Stab! Stab! Stab!

A sure kill.

I drove the sword into his body multiple times.

"Hahk...! Hahk...! Hahk...!"

Only after severing his last breath with a precise slash did I wipe the sweat from my brow.

"Are you alright, sir?"

"Kar...Kartun."

Kartun's hands trembled.

He clearly hadn't shaken off the fear yet.

"Thanks. Really, thank you. You saved my life."

There was nothing else to say but sincere gratitude.

Without his brave action, I'd be a goner for sure.

"The enemy's fleeing! Spread out and annihilate them!"

While I'd been dancing on death's edge, they'd overcome the numerical disadvantage and seized the momentum.

"You survived."

If the enemy was retreating, the danger was essentially over.

"Truly fortunate, young master."

"Yeah, when I get back... I'll repay you with the best I can offer."

The capital post wasn't the issue.

He deserved to own a mansion.

"Thank you, sir."

Typical merchant—not rejecting even empty flattery.

"Lieutenant, you unharmed?"

Alpen approached in his blood-soaked armor.

"Miraculously survived a near-death crisis, sir."

His gaze shifted to the corpse at my words.

"Don't know how you did it, but glad you're safe. I'm heading out to pursue—wait here."

"Understood."

I lacked the strength to move anyway; perfect orders.

"See you later."

Alpen rushed off in pursuit, and Kartun and I headed to the wagon.

"Ugh."

Amid the blood-soaked remnants of battle, a corpse I'd thought dead twitched.

Passed out, huh.

His gold hair, dulled and stained with blood.

It was none other than Robin, the man who'd been certain Palan wasn't Intelligence.

Battle ended in defeat, as expected.

Scanning his surroundings with minimal movement, he saw far more Aditz Imperial corpses.

They must've thought it was over and pulled everyone out. Tough to cross the border in this state.

As Robin pondered his options, footsteps approached nearby.

"I really almost died. If there's anything you want, just say it."

"Well... I have a daughter. Any chance of academy enrollment?"

"That much is easy. But she knows a bit of studying, right?"

"Of course. I taught her everything from arithmetic to economics since she was little, to join Oclo Trading Company."

"I'll talk to your father and get a recommendation letter."

"Thank you! Truly, thank you!"

Two voices from ahead.

One was unmistakable, even if he tried to forget.

Palan...

Grind!

The culprit who'd left him like this.

Of course his teeth ground in rage.

No one else around.

A middle-aged man at best—some civilian from the caravan.

20 meters away. Can I do it?

Robin checked his body.

Legs are wrecked. But I can probably move once.

Severed tendons.

A normal person couldn't stay conscious, but rigorous training let his mind detach the pain.

Best escape: horse from the wagon.

A survival plan formed swiftly in Robin's head.

Preparations complete—time to execute.

"Raaagh!"

Robin, who'd been holding his breath silently, let out a guttural roar.

"Who's there?!"

Palan snatched his sword, whirling in alarm.

Robin spoke in a disguised voice.

"Lieutenant Palan? Friendly! Friendly! Come check my knee—blood won't stop!"

The pained voice and dire situation.

An inexperienced Palan falling for it was almost inevitable.

"Let me see. How bad is the wound... Huh...?"

Palan rushed over and flipped Robin's prone body.

His face revealed.

"Why is Lieutenant Ramon here? No way..."

Palan sensed something off and tried to pull back, but Robin's hand was far faster.

Stab!

"Gahk!"

A dagger plunged precisely into his side.

Not the end—the poison on the blade spread rapidly through his body.

"Don't struggle. It's a lethal poison meant for suicide on failed missions. Ugh."

Robin struggled to his feet, limping toward the horse.

As their eyes met mid-stride, Kartun naturally tried to flee—but Robin was faster again.

"Can't leave witnesses."

Whoosh!

He hurled a dagger from his waist—too fast for a civilian to react.

Thud!

It buried perfectly in the back of Kartun's fleeing head.

"Guhk..."

Not even a proper scream before death claimed him.

"Damn Intelligence bastards."

With obstacles cleared, Robin severed the wagon harness, spilling blood, mounted the horse, and rode toward the border.

"Suffer more. Wriggle in agony and die miserably, Lieutenant Palan."

"Ugh!"

Robin glanced down at Palan's paling face, then spurred the horse across the border.

Damn, damn!!!

Every muscle stiffening was painfully clear.

"Ugh."

Think. Think!

Antidote first.

Despairingly, I had none.

Even if I did, the odds it'd counter this poison were slim.

Some way, anything!

"Sh-Shop."

The only way to get items now.

Bearing the grinding jaw pain, I opened the shop.

I'd browsed the shop idly before, so finding what I needed was easy.

50... perfect.

Fortunately, no point shortage.

The kit materialized in my hand.

It looked just like the ones from the Korean military.

This must be the antidote...?

A syringe filled with yellow liquid.

Even if not, no choice.

No time for instructions.

"Argh!"

Moving my arm to inject felt beyond imagination—stiff muscles protesting violently.

I want to die. Just die... Shit, why should I die?

The spy who did this should die.

Stab!

Clenching my teeth on boiling vengeance, I jammed the syringe into my thigh.

Please, please let me live.

Desperate prayer as yellow liquid entered my veins.

Soon, the world flipped upside down in hallucination, and I blacked out.

"Lieutenant, I can't make sense of this situation. Care to explain?"

Major Petri, planning officer of Reconnaissance Command Operations Division 2, questioned the battered Lieutenant Robin.

"The operation... failed. I passed out, and the enemy mistook me for dead, letting me escape by luck."

"Cause of failure."

"......"

Robin hesitated at the dreaded question.

"Didn't I just ask?!"

"Pal... Palan Oclo was Intelligence."

The treatment room froze chillingly.

"Leave us."

The medic slipped out quietly at Petri's word.

"I don't get it. Didn't you confirm it yourself?"

"I... misjudged. I'm sorry."

"And that misjudgment cost us over thirty elite troops and 700,000 gold in magic artifacts?"

Robin couldn't respond properly again, but Petri's patience and fury had long surpassed limits.

Slap!

His hand flew, whipping Robin's face left.

Reddened cheek.

A full-force strike brought intense pain, but Robin barely breathed.

"What about the section chief?"

"Couldn't confirm. If he hasn't returned by now..."

"You, me—it's over. You know that without me saying."

Robin knew, of course.

But hearing it from his superior drained hope from his face.

"Wartime means no trial—the division chief will punish directly. Pray you survive."

"W-Wait! Better a trial than the chief...!"

Robin reached out, but Petri stepped back, swatting air.

"Too late, Lieutenant."

Petri left without hesitation.

The next day, the division chief's personnel order arrived.

It bore horrific contents unfit for eyes.

"Gaaaaahhhhhh!!!!!!!!!"