Chapter 121
Chapter 121
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Black List
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Drey wondered why Rishir was so surprised.
Rishir wanted to ask the same.
"Well, of course it's surprising. Seeing and replicating a 7th rank unique swordsmanship on the spot. Aren't you surprised, Sir Drey?"
With that, Rishir nodded in admiration.
As expected, when you reached the level of a grand noble, the world you lived in and the perspective you had were different.
Just look at how he treated such an incredible ability so casually.
Suddenly, he felt proud of himself.
Who am I?
Friend of Sir Drey of Mastien.
Kya.
Tuah next to him had a similar reaction to Rishir.
"Drey. In the time we haven't seen each other, you've become a massive big shot. To you, a mere face stealer is nothing?"
"No..."
Drey rubbed his dry face in frustration.
Tuah stared at him silently.
Then, after glancing at Rishir once, he spoke to Drey in his usual curt, spitting tone.
"In any case, judging by this man's reaction, it seems your decision to have him help expel the face stealer is your personal whim without prior agreement. Drey. As I've told you many times, restrain yourself from pushing those in lower positions than you. You might intend to give them a chance to shine, but to the other party, it could be a burdensome and unreasonable demand they can't easily refuse."
Drey, finishing his face rub, gave an aggrieved smile.
"Ah, I know. I get it. Very reasonable advice. But this time, it's really not like that? That friend looks naive on the surface, but in reality, it's beyond words?"
It was like boasting about a treasure hidden within a shabby exterior.
"..."
At the talent collector's bold claim, Tuah's gaze turned to Rishir.
Observing him more closely with that cold, piercing stare.
Rishir recalled Tuah's words from moments ago.
I feel like this is a bit burdensome and unreasonable right now.
The interest and expectations from two grand nobles.
How could it weigh this heavily?
Being fully trusted by someone of Drey's caliber was more than joyful—it was an honor.
But he couldn't shake the bewilderment.
"Sir Drey, just to confirm— is that face stealer a black mage by any chance?"
"No. Nothing like that, so don't worry."
"Oh dear..."
"?"
"?"
Tuah and Drey's eyes briefly flicked diagonally upward.
Did I say (hear) something wrong?
Why the disappointment if it's not a black mage?
"Sir Drey, I'm truly grateful for your complete trust and expectations— but I'm not sure if I can be of much help in this matter. An ex-assassin guild master who killed a hero candidate and replicated a 7th rank swordsman's unique technique on sight."
"Yeah. I get it. Rationally, that's what I'm thinking too."
"Rationally you think so? Then why—"
"It's you."
"...What about me makes you say that? Wait, hold on. Me, ex-assassin guild master?"
"What, do you know assassination arts too? So you understand assassin habits?"
"Really, what do you take me for? No, that's not it."
Drey. Enough.
Tuah, unable to bear it any longer, was about to snap at him.
"Not that, but I got something from an assassin a while back. It should be around here... Ah, found it."
Rishir rummaged in his bosom and pulled out a sheet of dark red parchment like it was junk.
Tuah focused intently, straining his eyes on the parchment.
No way, not what I'm thinking...?
"Oh, is that the Black List?"
Then Drey chimed in casually from the side.
Tuah almost sighed despite himself.
The content of Drey's flatly spoken words was absurd.
Black List.
It was a kind of authority and power granted by the assassin guild to only a select few.
The moment they inscribed a specific group or name on what was called the Black List.
The target became the top priority for every assassin in the guild.
In other words, an item that could mobilize the entire assassin guild.
In the public eye, assassins were symbols of dishonor, willing to do anything for money.
However, that was the perception from criminal pretenders.
Traditional assassin groups operated strictly separated from the secular world, upholding their values.
It wasn't easy for worldly beings to contact them.
Not even power holders with wealth and authority, nor grand nobles at the continent's pinnacle.
That's why Tuah was shocked by Rishir's earlier remark.
A worldly mage from the Gray Tower, mingling with nobles, having personal ties to an assassin.
Now he somewhat understood why this picky talent collector was so eager to introduce him.
But Drey's following reaction made that understanding fade.
What's with this guy today?
Asking Rishir if he could use assassination arts out of nowhere,
And if he had a Black List.
Drey's behavior, excluding all rationality from his thinking, went beyond annoyance to raising doubts.
"Black List? What's that?"
As expected.
Rishir tilted his head at Drey's question.
Tuah closed his eyes tightly, soothing his waning patience.
Ignoring that, Drey excitedly explained to Rishir.
"Simply put, like a hit list? Something like an assassin clan's sacred treasure that lets you kill one person for sure."
"Drey, enough—"
"Ah, yeah, I think it was something like that."
"?"
Tuah, wearily trying to stop Drey, looked at Rishir.
"What are you saying? The Black List isn't something a mere assassin can have."
"The assassin Rishir knows might not be a mere assassin. Like a master or elder—"
"Are you saying a mere Gray Tower mage has personal ties to the assassin guild's master right now?"
"Ah, come to think of it— I think he introduced himself as the master."
"See! I knew it! Rishir, what did you do? What did you do to get the Black List from the assassin guild's master?"
"Nothing special. I cured his illness."
What kind of insane conversation is this?
Tuah's cold expression crumbled into confusion.
She spoke with wide eyes.
For some reason, very cautiously.
"Th-that's not something you get just for curing an illness—"
It was common sense.
If you got a Black List for healing assassins, every clinic and cathedral would have one.
"Well, what if it was an incurable disease no one else could heal?"
Drey said something absurd as if it were nothing.
"Yes, it sort of ended up that way."
And Rishir nonchalantly agreed with the absurdity.
"Enough..."
Tuah felt her brain melting.
In the back alleys of Bondale.
"Huff...! Huff...!"
Mangnus, the 7th rank swordsman and vice-captain of the Dvilan Knights' Special Forces, faced off against one man.
Light yet lustrous blonde hair and wall-like blue eyes.
A neat-looking young man.
He smiled brightly and said,
"Come to think of it, we haven't introduced ourselves yet. Nice to meet you. I'm Rishir."