Chapter 49
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Assassin Family Raven (7)
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The system, born from the collaboration between the mad Raven family head and the mad emperor, let the imperial family judge the validity of assassinations.
Princess Rosette had been staying with the Raven family for nearly two years because of it.
She had heard that her father, the current emperor, had diligently sorted through requests at first before giving up.
People were surprisingly eager to kill others over trivial reasons, willing to stake their own lives in the process.
Especially those of lower status, or those lacking it altogether. Witnessing their behavior, he had hesitated not a moment before igniting wars, propelling the empire to supremacy across the continent.
By redirecting their rage outward, he turned worthless lives into ones of value.
That conqueror's zeal had mellowed slightly with age, and aside from the Holy Kingdom that worshipped gods, no other nation stood as an equal.
Even that Holy Kingdom had merely expressed regret over the recent high priest assassination.
The empire, strongest on the continent with no external rivals, began to fester from within.
From petty corruption to the powerful flaunting their strength without warning.
The common folk swept up in that flaunting increasingly staked their lives to kill those powerhouses, and as a member of the imperial family, Princess Rosette approved or denied those requests.
The Raven family offloaded responsibility to the imperial house, while the imperial house collaborated to excise the empire's rot.
Right after emerging from the family head's chamber, he went back in with Princess Rosette.
The family head greeted her in a slightly lighter atmosphere than when he and Kairendal Raven had entered.
"Princess Rosette."
Since she was the one granting assassination permissions, the family head welcomed her with a faintly—ever so faintly—brighter expression.
"Terrance Raven, family head."
Though ostensibly equals, the princess—whose life flickered like a candle snuffed by a mere breath—bowed her head slightly in response.
"This assassination target is rooted in Valtir..."
Shrrrk.
As Princess Rosette began to explain in detail, the family head conjured shadows that bound her.
Once the shadows had crept from her toes to envelop her entire body, sparing only her eyes and nose, the family head spoke.
"How many need killing, and who must go."
Anything beyond that held no interest; listening to explanations was a hassle.
Even the current emperor had come to regard life lightly due to the family head's ways, yet after two years, Princess Rosette endured this near-death shadow embrace each time without surrender.
The shadows receded just enough to free her mouth, and she replied curtly.
"One. Sian Raven."
Only then did the family head glance at him upon hearing his name.
From the moment they entered the chamber, it seemed the family head's eyes saw only the princess bearing the assassination target.
"A mission right upon return—fortuitous. Do I need to move?"
"Not yet."
The family head dissolved the shadows binding her body, then waved his hand outward.
That was it. Once the imperial family selected the target and the family head approved, the assassin moved.
A structure leaving them no ground to protest even if called the empire's dogs.
Right after leaving the family head's chamber, Princess Rosette grabbed his sleeve.
"You'll hear me out, right, Sian?"
"I need to know the target to assassinate them."
As synchronization rose slightly, Sian Raven's thoughts on Princess Rosette surfaced.
She was seen as the de facto head of the Crow family, the intelligence network—so he treated her accordingly, and no more.
Compared to the family head he met each time or the other Raven assassins, it was night and day.
For a princess accustomed to deference, in this mad family, she was merely the one doling out jobs.
Listening in pretense to her waning self-esteem, Sian Raven evoked slightly favorable feelings in her, it seemed.
'Though Sian Raven likely agreed to hear more jobs.'
Unlike other assassins who merged with shadows, he suffered losses retreating, so seeking target details from her aided cleaner kills and escapes. It apparently meant much to her.
Following Princess Rosette, he arrived at her office.
The sole bright room in the family's pervasive gloom, filled with light colors.
"Sorry to burden you right after returning—you must be tired. Got enough stamina for the mission?"
"One more day's rest should suffice."
"Good. Make yourself comfortable."
Settling into the plush sofa, he watched as she rang a bell in the room.
A maid entered, served refreshments and tea, then silently withdrew.
True to an assassin family's servant, her movements were impeccably clean and soundless.
Sipping the warm tea, the lingering poison in his body seemed to vanish completely.
Detoxifying tea?
Best if never needed again like last time, but he'd restock poisons before the mission.
"The client this time is Lowe Travis, youngest son of the Travis Merchant Guild entrenched in Valtir. They've amassed considerable wealth, and aside from Lowe, their children's reputations are solid."
"The guild master might not welcome this commission."
"Who cheers a son's death staining the guild's name?"
Yet Princess Rosette had accepted it.
Staring silently with that implication, she sighed.
"Haa. I know. I accepted, so he'll die by your hand."
"Keep talking."
"Shunned as the black sheep amid brilliant siblings, he squandered his wealth whoring through taverns and brothels, beating women and paying their treatments—until he killed one. The client requesting Lowe Travis's death is that slain male employee's younger sister."
Now Sian Raven would take that sister's life as fee and kill Lowe Travis.
The Crow family's investigations were flawless; Princess Rosette had compiled and decided accordingly.
Yet with Yoo Sian's addition, Sian Raven craved a different choice.
"I want to see that sister."
"Claiming the life fee now?"
"No, just hear her story."
"P...? You can, since the Crow family has her."
He finished his tea and stood.
Princess Rosette, eyeing him oddly, rose hurriedly.
"Really going to hear the client out? It undermines the Crow family's credibility."
"Do I need to care about that?"
Exiting her office, the waiting maid bowed.
He headed straight to his room.
True to Sian Raven's low possessiveness, personal belongings were scarce.
Glancing around briefly, he opened the dark brown wardrobe to reveal his usual black attire lined up.
Over clothes decently bought in the village with Terry Crow's money, he donned the standard Raven assassin's black coat.
Seemingly just a stylish black coat, it brimmed with magic: thermoregulation, physical resistance, and more.
His previous one had torn to rags escaping the Holy Kingdom, abandoned mid-flight.
Slipping it on alone eased body and mind.
'Not just a feeling—actually easing?'
Shadow Armor let him coat his body in shadows for constant defense, and this coat seemed to aid the skill.
Family head or elders could wield Shadow Craft, thus Shadow Armor too—likely enchanted for it.
Even Yoo Sian pondered acquiring such a coat for future armor.
'Not pointless.'
Sian Raven differed vastly from Yoo Sian.
Lee Sian acted freely like himself, but Sian Raven felt profoundly calm madness.
Synchronization miscalculated?
With light steps, he headed to the Crow family estate.
Bowing slightly to servants who bowed to him, he reached the client's quarters.
The guard out front asked.
"Sian. Here for the life fee?"
"To see her face."
"Understood."
The servant opened the door; he entered.
Brighter than the black-dominated Raven estate, but still dim.
The client woman Princess Rosette mentioned sat blankly on the bed, springing up at his entry.
"Is my commission accepted? Will you avenge my brother?"
Clasping trembling hands to her chest, approaching slowly—her condition screamed abnormality.
He could guess why her brother clashed with Lowe Travis.
Purple bruises from fists mottled her face; even brief steps revealed a limping leg.
No need to see beneath her wrapping clothes to imagine.
A fierce urge surged: kill her, then Lowe Travis.
Concrete proof stood here; claim the fee swiftly and assassinate.
"One question before accepting. No desire to live?"
"No. Brother raised us after our parents abandoned us. If you kill his killer, my life means nothing."
Her voice rang with steely resolve; trembling hands stilled.
"I'll claim the fee when word comes he's dead."
Turning to leave, a dazed voice trailed from behind.
"...Huh? Yes."
As he emerged, the locking servant murmured quietly.
"Sian, it violates family rules. Claim the fee before starting the commission."
"I'll handle it."
Thus, he left the Crow estate for his room.
'Going mad. Why does Composure keep triggering after hearing the target?'
Quests suggested acting like Sian Raven would grow Shadow Mastery smoothly.
Yet post-family head with Princess Rosette? No—from hearing the target from her, senses felt off.
Sensing something, he checked the client—still no clue.
Something's up with this mission target.