No Day Will Come When the Blood on My Sword Dries
Deep underground, in a secret chamber.
Tuiln and the masked man were conversing.
"Make sure you thoroughly destroy that bastard's legs. So he can never walk again!"
"Both legs, correct?"
"That's right."
The masked man added in a flat, toneless voice.
"If it's a Crusif, he might receive treatment from the Saintess. Also, as far as I know, the Elprime Academy tour group meets the Saintess once during the vacation period."
"Say what you want to say."
"To render him completely incapacitated, I'll need to use black magic as well, so there will be an additional fee."
"That's fine."
"Yes. Let us draft the oath."
The masked man drew a bundle of papers from his robes.
On the reverse side were complex patterns and ancient runes. It was a contract for the black magic known as the Blood Oath—a pact that would claim the signer's life if its terms were ever broken.
Tuiln and the masked man began filling out the oath.
Scratch, scratch—
Many clauses and conditions went into the document. Under "Target," the name Leon Crusif was written with precise clarity. Under "Completion Condition," the words "complete and permanent paralysis of the target's lower body" were inscribed without ambiguity.
At last.
"This should be sufficient."
"Then we shall affix our seals."
The seal meant blood—each man's own blood, to activate the black magic.
Just as a small dagger emerged from the masked man's robes—
"!!!"
Something registered. The masked man's heart plummeted.
"Th-this…"
A suppressed groan slipped past his lips. The pupils visible above the mask shook violently.
"…What's wrong? Is there a problem?"
Tuiln frowned at the sudden trembling and agitation.
"You bastard…!"
The masked man glared at Tuiln with murderous eyes.
"Wh-what did you just—"
"What the hell did you bring in with you!"
Gooooooo!
In an instant, an overwhelming presence surged up from behind Tuiln. It exploded outward in every direction, seizing control of the chamber in a single breath.
"Wh-what!"
Under that crushing aura, Tuiln crumpled from his seat as if his legs had given out.
"…"
It was as still as a lake on a windless day.
As vast and deep as a great lake holding the sky upon its surface.
As cold as an ice lake in a snow-scoured wasteland.
A man in full-body armor of silver sheen stood there, motionless.
The moment Tuiln met those deep eyes, he cried out in shock.
"Limon… Crusif!"
Clang!
A clean blade appeared in Limon's hand.
He spoke quietly.
"Viscount Tuiln Anverse. You have crossed the line."
As the tip of the sword leveled at him, Tuiln recoiled in terror.
"Wh-what is the meaning of this!"
"You contacted the illicit organization Sahyang in order to harm my younger brother and direct blood of the Crusif Ducal House, Leon Crusif. You then sealed a direct contract with them using the black magic known as the Blood Oath."
"…!"
"Therefore, in accordance with just cause and rightful justice, I shall mete out punishment upon you."
Thud!
The pressure Limon radiated grew heavier still. The density of the air itself thickened, pouring a crushing force through every vessel as if they would burst.
Tuiln's face drained of color. He screamed at the masked man beside him.
"Y-you! Do something!"
"…"
The masked man's bloodshot eyes went wide—then his form vanished as if sinking into the floor.
Bang!
Jade-green mist burst open right in front of Limon's face. It was an extreme poison that would melt skin and blind eyes on contact.
Whizz-whizz-whizz—!
Dozens of hair-thin threads embroidered the air like a spider's web, wrapping around Limon. Each strand carried an edge sharp enough to slice flesh and sever bone.
Flash!
A black magic circle unfolded from a torn scroll in midair—black magic designed to paralyze the entire body and invert the five senses.
Fwaaat—!
Having unleashed all of it in a single breath, the masked man charged toward the rear of the chamber, where the emergency escape route lay.
Escape! I absolutely must escape!
He poured a lifetime's concentration into his movement technique.
A brilliant flash of light erupted the very next instant.
—Thud!
A blue blade buried itself in the masked man's back.
"…!"
He convulsed, frozen mid-stride like a fish transfixed by a harpoon.
"…H-how… already…!"
He spat the words out resentfully, staring at the man who had driven the sword into him.
Shiiiii—
Above one side of Limon's breastplate, magic circles and runes rose and flickered. In the place where he had just been standing, the poison mist, the threads, and the black mana the masked man had scattered still cut through empty air.
Magic armament. One of the functions stored in Limon's armor—blink magic—had activated.
"Be on your way."
Crunch!
Without prolonging the suffering, Limon split the masked man's heart and ended him.
"…"
Now only Limon and Tuiln remained in the chamber.
Limon turned slowly to face him.
Drip. Drip.
Fresh crimson droplets ran down the length of his blade.
"Y-Young Master! Are you really going to do this!"
"…"
Tuiln wrenched the words out with everything he had.
"Even a Young Master cannot kill a titled noble so recklessly! If an investigation is launched, it will be known as your doing within a day or two!"
"Did you just say 'recklessly'?"
Limon raised a hand and touched near his shoulder guard.
Fwaat—!
Blue mana surged forth, and an image floated into the air.
The recording began with Tuiln entering a tavern alone. It accelerated rapidly—him passing through meticulous security into the underground chamber, meeting the masked man, conversing, drafting the oath that contained the Blood Oath. Every letter written on that document was captured without a single moment omitted.
"I will personally announce this evidence tomorrow morning."
"N-no."
"—Along with the news of your death."
"…!"
Thud.
Tuiln's retreating back struck the wall.
Limon advanced toward him, sword in hand.
To Tuiln, the figure looked like a reaper walking. Only then did the full weight of the situation crash over him. He was about to be cut down by that blade right here, right now. The terror of death rolled over him like a tidal wave.
He begged desperately.
"Y-Young Master! No—Young Master! I'm sorry! I made a mistake!"
"…"
"I-I'll confess my sins myself tomorrow! Please! I'll give you everything you want! Money, land, women, elixirs…"
Limon's eyes and expression did not so much as flicker. They remained calmly settled, unmoved.
"If you wish, I'll even renounce my title! Please—just spare my life!"
"Viscount Tuiln Anverse."
Limon's sword rose slowly.
Tuiln understood then that no words would deceive him. Making a snap decision, he dropped to his knees and crawled toward Limon.
"Just spare me! I don't want to die! If you spare me, I'll do anything…"
Crawling across the floor, he reached Limon's feet.
That was when red light erupted from Tuiln's left hand.
"Die!"
Mana exploded from the ring he thrust forward.
Kwaaaaaaa—!
A roar, flames, and searing heat swept the space ahead in a wide arc. Every piece of furniture inside the chamber turned to ash. Walls and ceiling melted.
It was a top-grade artifact Tuiln always carried for last-resort situations.
"Ha… hahaha!"
The scorching heat turned Tuiln's skin red. The tips of his hair singed. Looking at the chamber filled with crimson fire, he laughed hollowly.
Whatever else, he had survived. It was the raw joy of crawling up out of death's pit.
Whoosh—.
The flames and mana gradually subsided. Billowing smoke and ash dispersed.
And then—
"Have you finished thrashing about?"
A calm voice rose from within the haze.
"Leave your last words."
Limon's posture had not changed by a single inch. He still held his sword raised.
Wooooong—
A blue, luminous barrier firmly enveloped his entire body. Densely packed runes and magic circles shone across the silver armor.
"…No. Th-this…"
Shock. Terror. Despair. Tuiln's mind went blank.
Limon spoke again.
"Leave your last words. This is my final mercy. I will leave this as a record as well and deliver it."
At that, Tuiln's eyes spun wild.
"Sh-shut up! You damned bastard! You vicious bastard! You bastard not even worth chewing up! Even after I die, I'll become a vengeful spirit and curse you!"
"…"
Limon let out a small sigh.
"If you insist."
Slash!
The lightly moving blade drew a clean arc. A thin line appeared across Tuiln's neck—and then head and body separated.
Thud. Plop—
Melted debris fell from the blackened ceiling and walls. Gray ash and jade-green poison dust mixed and drifted through the air.
Through it, Tuiln's head—eyes still bloodshot—rolled and tumbled across the floor.
Limon picked up the head, closed the eyes, and wrapped it in cloth.
"…Sahyang. Black Sand. Gonghyeol Group. The Republic…"
He murmured quietly as he wiped the blood from his blade.
"There will be no day when the blood on my sword dries."