Chapter 56
Translator: penny
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Assassin Family Raven (14)
Clearing the quest was important, but letting Princess Rosette get some rest felt like the top priority.
Princess Rosette looked a bit tired after trudging down that poorly maintained path.
We'd taken it slow, but the distance was considerable, so it was only natural she'd wear out.
"Rosette, let's grab an inn and rest first."
"Sian, before we do that, could we look around the village? It's my first time in a place like this."
"Are you feeling okay?"
"Yes. I've got plenty of stamina left."
"In that case, let's stroll through the village and check for House Crow's safe house."
The two families that had compiled intel from agents scattered across the empire were now in ruins, but their networks of informants remained intact.
They'd soon learn that both houses had been crushed by Terrance Raven, the head of House Raven—but they knew full well that sticking to their duties quietly was the way to avoid losses later on.
Monster intel was more accurate through the Adventurer's Guild anyway, right? Spot on. That's why House Crow's agents pulled their info from there.
From what I knew, a basic daily routine for an informant was patrolling the village to gather rumors and fetching guild reports.
"Sian, even this little village is brimming with life."
It wasn't quite evening yet, so kids were romping around outside while women nearby gossiped in clusters.
House Raven was on the quieter side, so scenes like this really made the place feel vibrant.
"I think so too."
As I agreed with Princess Rosette and wandered the village with her, I spotted House Crow's safe house.
There was only one spot in town that could pass for a tavern, so it wasn't hard to find.
She must have figured out it was our last stop, because Princess Rosette turned to me.
"Sian, can I try?"
"It's nothing special."
Princess Rosette cautiously knocked on the safe house door.
We waited a bit, but there was no response from inside.
"Huh? Did they not hear?"
She knocked again, a little harder, but still nothing.
"Looks like it's empty right now."
Princess Rosette stepped back, and I grabbed the doorknob.
I used Shadow Craft to fashion a key and unlocked it.
"Isn't this breaking and entering?"
"I know. I've done it plenty."
The first time I'd done anything assassin-like after possessing Yoo Sian was with Low Travis—he'd left a window open—but usually, they were sealed tight.
Inside the safe house, it was a lived-in space clearly belonging to a woman.
Undergarments were strewn across the floor, and unwashed dishes were piled up from before she'd headed out.
"Whoa... whoa."
Princess Rosette let out a strange gasp and immediately started gathering up the undergarments as she stepped inside.
"Your Highness doesn't need to handle the mess. We can just tell the owner when she gets back."
"Sian's seeing it."
Was she treating me like some inexperienced kid?
"Undergarments on the floor are just scraps of cloth."
"Sian, close your eyes."
I'd only been watching out of curiosity as she bustled about cleaning.
Instead of closing my eyes, I checked the documents the informant had organized.
Dated yesterday, so she'd probably stepped out for intel collection, and we'd just happened to arrive while she was gone. The safe house wasn't abandoned.
Flipping through for Adventurer's Guild reports didn't take long.
'Goblin pack sighted. No adventurers in town, so I'll confirm the size myself. Approved by House Crow.'
It noted the approximate location of the goblin pack and the guild's estimated size.
About 30 regular goblins, but "not precise," apparently.
With 3 hobgoblins in the quest, they'd completely misjudged the enemy's strength.
They'd be way tougher. Stronger than the mid-tier dungeon I'd cleared as Yoo Sian at the end, no doubt.
"Sian? What are you looking at?"
Maybe because I'd burned that future sight paper earlier, she eyed the document warily as I held it.
"I figured out where the informant went."
I handed her the paper, and Princess Rosette scanned it in a flash.
"She headed out yesterday to check the goblin pack and hasn't returned..."
I'd already confirmed a woman was staying here from the undergarments.
"She's either dead, alive but in bad shape, or on her way back safe."
Stealthy infiltration and extraction takes time.
House Crow informants had basic stealth skills, but nothing like the insane evasion of House Raven's combat agents with Shadow Mastery.
"Sian, can you head there directly and check if she's alive?"
She didn't ask me to rescue her if captured—smart.
If the goblin pack exceeded the report, their numbers could be overwhelming. Over 50, maybe?
I'm not Yoo Sian right now—I'm Sian Raven. Goblins and hobgoblins, even in numbers, are doable if it's after dark.
"We'll eat dinner, then head out before the sun fully sets."
"Yes. House Crow's informant matters, but your safety coming back does too."
*
I rummaged for food in the safe house, but nothing edible turned up.
Judging by the state of the place, the resident was definitely short on housekeeping skills.
It made me think of Terry Crow, who'd lived alone in a safe house as a woman and kept hers spotless.
I bought some decent bread from outside and shared it with Princess Rosette back at the safe house.
"A bit stale, but it's fine."
Princess Rosette, who'd never once had a subpar meal, said that after biting into the bread.
This kind of experience must be new for her.
"Next meal will be at a proper restaurant."
"Looking forward to it."
After eating, I pulled House Raven's black coat from the bottom of my bag and slipped it on, then used Shadow Armor and Shadow Veil to dye my eye-catching orange hair black.
Two skills just to hide hair color—such inefficiency.
"Sian, don't push yourself."
"I won't, Princess Rosette."
I left the safe house and dashed southwest, where the goblin pack was reportedly lurking.
The village's low fence for demarcation was easy to vault, and I quickly passed the surrounding fields.
Once far enough from town, I moved with senses attuned to my surroundings.
The only sound was my feet brushing the grass, and by the time the world was fully cloaked in darkness, I'd reached near the target spot.
The informant had described a broad clearing at the base of the southwest mountains—and sure enough, a faint light indicated intelligent life nearby.
I stopped running and fully activated Shadow Veil to erase my presence as I approached.
Drawing nearer to the glow, I spotted a goblin settlement: logs piled into a low fence.
No sentries in sight, but plenty of goblins milling about the camp.
How many were there? I crept slowly, gauging the scale.
Four large huts, with the fence linking to a cave in the mountainside.
I'd figured three hobgoblins and maybe 60 goblins—double the goblin count.
At this size, better to assassinate just the three hobgoblins for the quest clear and bail, rather than wipe them all?
'Assassinating monsters, huh.'
I checked the outer huts first—all filled with green-skinned regular goblins.
Some bickering, some sleeping, but not all out, so I backed off.
Hobgoblins in the cave, then?
As an assassin, walking into a single-exit space gave me pause, but for the quest, no choice.
I exhaled the air from my lungs slowly and drew in fresh.
A whiff of goblin stench hit me, but I didn't flinch as I headed for the cave.
Two goblins stood at the entrance with crudely made torches; one was dozing off, head nodding.
The other smacked the sleepy one on the back of the head.
"Keruk?!"
The smacked goblin jolted awake, looked around, spotted its attacker, and flew into a rage.
"Kkururuk!"
"Kyaaak!"
The goblins started bickering. Thanks to my recent goblin-slaying spree and the Status Window's language blessing, I understood them.
What's up? You were dozing, so I hit you. Why'd you hit me?
As the farce played out, I used Shadow Craft to form two daggers.
I hurled the one in my left hand, piercing the head of the goblin facing my way.
"Keruk?!"
I closed in on the stunned survivor mid-conversation and slit its throat.
Green blood, unlike human red, gushed out—but Shadow Armor blocked every drop, leaving me pristine as I entered the cave.
Women's moans echoing inside made me grimace.
More than one or two women in there?
Worse was what they were saying.
"Feels good. So good."
"I'll give birth. More goblins... I'll bear more..."
Sounded like they were willingly mating with goblins.
Did hobgoblins in this layer have hypnosis or brainwashing?
What I'd thought was an easy three-hobgoblin hit had turned weird thanks to the layer difference.
*
Defeat Hobgoblins (0/3)
🎁 Completion Reward: Shadow Mastery (E+) Enhancement