3. The First Request...
Upon arriving at the village, we immediately secured lodging. It was a small place without a proper inn, but fortunately, we managed to rent a house.
"Thank you so much for renting us the house."
"Oh, no, it's the least we can do since you insisted... Please make yourselves at home."
"Make yourselves at hooome~!"
The mother and daughter left with broad smiles plastered on their faces. No wonder—they were thrilled. We'd paid three silver coins just to rent this modest house for a single night.
Three silver coins could buy so much, making this a ridiculous expense for a place like this. But there was no helping it. We didn't want to camp right in front of the village again, and pushing on further would leave us short on time. With no other empty houses available, overpaying was our only option.
Still, it wasn't all bad. They gave us permission to use the proper kitchen and even some of the house's ingredients and utensils, which was a nice bonus.
"Alright, dinner first, then."
I'm the only one in this party who can cook. Aria's a princess, Sierra's a noble-born knight—what would they know about kitchen work? As for Cheong-ah... well.
She was born blind, so she'd never even set foot in a kitchen, let alone learned to cook.
"I'm sorry, my lord. I should be the one doing this..."
"It's fine. Just chopping the ingredients is help enough. Besides, cooking's my job anyway."
"But..."
"I said it's fine. Just enjoy the meal—that's more than enough for me. Go rest."
At least she was handy with a sword, slicing the ingredients exactly as I wanted in seconds. Anyone who's cooked knows the real pains are washing up and prepping ingredients. I'd still handle the dishes, but with her help, it wasn't so bad.
After whipping up dinner, eating quickly, washing up roughly, we turned in for the night.
As Ian and his companions finished dinner and drifted off to sleep, the villagers outside bustled about feverishly. Men, women, young and old—all preparing.
The strange part? Despite their swift movements, not a single footprint marred the ground, nor did any footsteps echo. The only proof they were living beings was their shadows under the moonlight. Without that, no one would mistake them for ordinary humans.
What could these villagers be, so busy in the dead of night? Whatever the reason, even a three-year-old could tell their intentions weren't benevolent.
They gathered in front of one house, all clad in black robes over dark attire—just as their outfits and actions suggested, they were assassins. Their target: Princess Aria. Hired to ensure she never reached the royal capital, they aimed to claim her life first.
Leading them were the mother and daughter who'd cheerfully rented the house to Ian's group. It was the young girl who looked like the daughter.
Her innocent face hardened as she surveyed the assembled assassins. "…Is the assassination target confirmed?"
Her childish features clashed with the gravelly voice of a middle-aged man. No one would believe it was the same girl who'd sweetly greeted Ian earlier.
The others showed no surprise, merely kneeling reverently around the little girl. One replied flatly to her question.
"Yes, Master. We couldn't see their faces clearly, but the magic tool confirmed it: First Princess Aria and her attendant Sierra."
"And the other two? Identified?"
"Yes. Ian and Ju Cheong-ah. Both Iron Badge adventurers registered with the Adventurer's Guild."
"Hah, Iron Badge adventurers? Hmm... We expected mercenaries from the guild, but hiring from the adventurers shows some brains. Still, Iron Badges as escorts? Utterly baffling."
"Perhaps... they thought Iron Badges would draw less suspicion? It might not even be an official escort—maybe framed as companions or something."
"Hmm, could be. The princess and her maid aren't fools; they've got some cunning."
Murmuring agreement, the one called Master recalled their targets. First Princess Aria: uninterested in the throne since childhood, obsessed with knights' games. She'd even studied abroad in the Empire. Her skills were decent, but without proper arms and so careless... it wouldn't be hard. Her attendant Sierra dressed like a knight but was just a desk-bound paper-pusher who'd never wielded a sword.
"…Anyway, ignore the two Iron Badges. Bottom of the Adventurer's Guild heap. No need to worry. We'll take them out with the princess. Whether they know she's royalty or not... who cares."
"We've never spared anyone for pity's sake."
No mercy needed—they never had.
The assassin leader slowly raised a hand. "Move in."
At the signal, the group surged toward the house.
And waiting inside... not the sleeping Princess Aria or her attendant Sierra.
It was the black-haired woman lounging in a chair at the living room's center, one leg crossed over the other, her cane propped diagonally against her body.
The very woman they'd dismissed as harmless Iron Badge trash.
"My, my... what brings these night visitors?"
Beside the sleeping Ian, Ju Cheong-ah sensed the disturbance as she prepared for bed. It wasn't noisy—silent, stealthy, soundless.
But her senses, honed as a blind warrior, were razor-sharp.
Footsteps that made no sound, left no prints. Yet faint vibrations reached her.
At first, she thought it was Sierra sneaking around for their nightly peeping. But soon, she realized multiple presences converged from outside.
'Assassins, maybe.'
Didn't matter. Stealthy night approaches weren't friendly.
Careful not to wake Ian, she rose softly and murmured, "This'll be a bit annoying tonight..."
Grabbing her cane from against the wall, she headed out. Winter-sealed windows meant entry via front or back doors—both through the living room. They could break windows, but she doubted it; presences gathered at the doors. Night raiders hated noise.
As expected, Cheong-ah placed a chair in the living room's center and sat, waiting.
Until they were ready to strike.
Bearing the boredom... sharpening the dulled edge of her sword deep in her heart, honed by time with Ian.
"Yawwwn..."
A yawn escaped just as the doors opened. Front and back bursting inward with black-clad figures.
Cheong-ah tilted her head, smiling at them. "My, my... what brings these night visitors?"
The assassins flinched at her greeting. The leader at the front growled, "You... why are you awake?"
Cheong-ah paused, startled by his voice—raspy male from that face? But she'd greeted him sweetly as a girl earlier... No matter. Simple disguise arts could alter age slightly; masters could change appearances easily.
"Why? Falling asleep in a strange place without a watch? Perish the thought."
"I see. More cautious than expected."
"Mmm... So, what's the occasion? My husband and friends are sleeping... Business? I can pass a message—why not head back for tonight?"
"...Gutsy bitch. You know why we're here."
"True enough."
Cheong-ah rose leisurely, shrugging as if unconcerned. "Why talk and tire the mouth when fine blades await?"
"Strike...!"
At the order, assassins lunged like arrows. Daggers aimed at head, body, legs, arms—ensuring a hit even if she dodged.
Cheong-ah chuckled softly. Drew her sword gently.
In that instant... time around her froze. Or slowed to a crawl.
This was Ju Cheong-ah's world clock—the boundary of time felt by one at the pinnacle of the sword.
Daggers crept toward her in slow motion. She spun gracefully, sword flashing.
With her soft murmur, space around the swung blade shattered like fractured glass. A ferocious whirlwind, like her whisper, filled the room.
The attackers' heads, bodies, arms, legs twisted and tore—one by one, one by one.
Splaaatter...!
Blood rained. Eyes wide in shock, they died unaware, collapsing into scattered meat and gore.
Amid the pouring blood, Cheong-ah closed her eyes calmly, still smiling faintly.
"Next."