Chapter 84: Festival: Encounter (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 84: Festival: Encounter (2)
"How did you notice?"
Al'tair asked, letting out a hearty chuckle. I hid my reaction and muttered to myself.
'I can't exactly tell him I saw it in my past life.'
To be precise, I didn't remember this old man's face, but rather that cane. At a glance, it looked like an ordinary walking stick, but it was actually one of the top S-rank armaments: the Cain Sword Syndicate.
Hidden inside that wooden cane was a razor-sharp blade. It was a weapon truly fitting for an assassin, and its striking appearance had made it highly popular among players. Thanks to that, I was able to identify who this old man was.
I slowly scanned him from head to toe. In Miracle Blessing M, he always wore a hood pulled low, exuding overwhelming charisma.
But now, he had half-closed, sleepy eyes and wore a Hawaiian shirt with "Love & Peace" printed across the chest. His appearance strongly reminded me of Master Roshi from Dragon Ball. The only difference was that he wasn't wearing sunglasses.
'To think the man called the strongest assassin was a perverted old man like this...'
As I swallowed a groan, Al'tair nodded to himself as if he understood.
"You used my presence detection against me, young man."
"……?"
I just blinked. Al'tair's lips curled up even further.
"I completely erased my presence with the Raven's Blessing. Having lived my entire life as an assassin, bloodlust naturally clings to me. But because you couldn't sense even a trace of a presence from me, you must have realized. On top of that, the timing was perfect, since I tried to summon you through Nox."
What is he talking about? I literally just recognized him because of the cane the old man was holding.
In the first place, I had been completely relaxed, so my blessing's sensitivity wasn't even active. If he had actually intended to launch a surprise attack, my reaction would have been delayed.
I just stared blankly. Al'tair shook his head with an understanding look and murmured.
"To possess such terrifying insight at such a young age."
I was about to object, but decided against it. There was no need to add explanations when he was already asking and answering his own questions. Once again, I realized how important it was to leave silence in a conversation.
'So this is what they mean when they say keeping your mouth shut gets you halfway there.'
With that thought, I remained silent. Al'tair grinned.
"I assume you also have a rough idea of why I sought you out, young man?"
"Yeah, well."
Honestly, I had no idea.
"Then this will be quick. They say there is no tomorrow for the elderly, after all. Thank you for saving me some useless time."
He tucked away his handkerchief and rested both hands on top of his cane. The air grew noticeably heavier. The shadows of the green foliage swayed with the flow of the wind.
"I didn't come because the Council of Elders commissioned your assassination not too long ago."
"Pardon?"
When I showed a hint of confusion, he shook his head.
"A family's business is for the family to handle. Why bring up a matter that has already been settled? If it were just for something like that, I wouldn't have traveled all the way from Sicily to Korea. I sought you out for a much more important matter."
"……."
The Auditore family had rejected the Council of Elders' hasty request. There was no way they would meekly accept a contract to bury a mere academy cadet without any concrete evidence.
Still, the Auditore family must have kept an eye on me because of that request. Moreover, just the other day, I had manifested a Mindscape Domain and defeated Mao Rang. Their suspicions must have deepened, which is why I thought they summoned me.
'There's something more important than that?'
Al'tair narrowed his eyes. A strange, brilliant light flickered within his blood-red pupils. He stared straight at me through his half-closed eyes.
"Young man..."
His voice sank low. Reflexively, I felt for the sashimi knife in my pocket.
So that I could draw it at a moment's notice. Al'tair also gripped the handle of his cane tightly.
He might look like an old man in tacky clothes, but my opponent was the strongest assassin. A split second of carelessness would lead directly to death.
Whoosh.
The wind swept away the heat. Tension seeped through my entire body. Al'tair lightly tapped the top of his cane with his index finger and spoke.
"What is your relationship with my granddaughter?"
"……."
My fingers, which had been groping inside my pocket, froze. He cleared his throat and delivered his final question.
"Are you two dating?"
* * *
For about ten minutes, I clearly explained my relationship with Chloe. Al'tair stroked his beard, listening intently with perked ears. With his ears flushed red, he looked like a total perverted old man.
"We're just friends. Absolutely nothing more."
"Mhm, I see."
Al'tair nodded repeatedly. As if his doubts were finally cleared, he grinned, showing his teeth. Seeing that, I felt a bit disappointed inside.
'...To think the head of an assassin family was this kind of person.'
In the game, he was a cool character whose dialogue was always ".......", but in reality, he was just an ordinary old man you could find anywhere. I scratched the back of my neck, hiding my true thoughts.
'Still, the pressure he exerted when he got serious earlier was incredible, so he's definitely no ordinary person.'
Al'tair pulled out his handkerchief again, wiped his face, and stood up.
"Anyway, now that my curiosity has been satisfied, I shall take my leave. Please take good care of my granddaughter as a 'friend.' As you know, she has a soft personality. If she spends time with you, perhaps Chloe will change too."
A smile played on Al'tair's lips. I stared at him intently before finally speaking.
"...Do you really think Chloe must become an assassin, Patriarch?"
I didn't want to pry into someone else's family matters.
'However.'
Over the past two days, Chloe's face had kept coming to mind. The way she prepped ingredients with a face full of pride and joy. Her nature was originally one that found satisfaction in such small, simple things.
At my question, Al'tair stood still for a moment before letting out a chuckle. Then, he casually threw a question back at me.
"You've seen Chloe's other side, haven't you?"
Chloe in her yandere mode. I swallowed hard and slowly nodded. Al'tair smiled faintly.
"That is my granddaughter's true nature. A wildness that is infinitely close to a beast. If you were in my shoes, would you let someone like that roam free in the light?"
"Isn't that just a product of the Auditore family's training?"
When I spoke with a sharp edge to my voice, Al'tair shook his head.
"We aren't as dysfunctional of a family as the world thinks. Of course, since assassination is our main trade, I admit our training methods are unique, but before all that, we are family."
He let out a long sigh and continued.
"And with Chloe, it is actually the opposite. The family has made tireless efforts to suppress that inner side of hers. Thanks to years of hard work, we managed to instill reason in her, but she still bared her fangs when her emotions ran high."
"……."
"I know well that you worry for Chloe as a friend. However, though it pains me to say this about my own granddaughter, if you wish to keep your life, do not get too close to her. You never know when your head might roll."
At a glance, his words seemed reasonable and filled with grandfatherly concern.
'But.'
I listened quietly before speaking in a low voice.
"Cut the act."
"An act? What do you mean?"
Al'tair wore a look of utter confusion. I uncrossed my arms and snapped.
"It's fine to pretend to care. But if you're going to mix lies into your words, you should have hidden them better."
The moment the words left my mouth, I drew Murasame from my pocket.
Shring!
Rustle, rustle, rustle.
Rustle, rustle, rustle.
Immediately, multiple figures emerged from the gaps between the trembling leaves. Figures with hoods pulled low drew their sharp hidden weapons.
'The Auditore assassins.'
Beneath their hoods, their eyes gleamed red. Their posture suggested they were ready to pounce at any second. Al'tair completely wiped the expression from his face and spoke in a mechanical voice.
"...Since when did you notice?"
The surrounding formation began to close in on me.
A vicious bloodlust dwelt in their eyes. I calmly looked around and said,
"Didn't you tell me earlier that I have good instincts? It's a similar concept."
"……."
Al'tair stared at me without moving for a moment, then raised a hand. With a single gesture, his subordinates vanished as if sucked into the shadows.
All signs of presence completely disappeared, and a chilling silence settled. Then, Al'tair let out a chuckle and murmured,
"You are beyond my expectations, young man."
I slid Murasame back into my pocket and replied,
"You were below mine."
* * *
Step, step.
Al'tair walked leisurely down the tree-lined path.
His emotions as an assassin had dried up long ago, but for some reason, an expression close to amusement lingered on his face.
Having lived as the Patriarch of the Auditore family and the strongest assassin of all time for nearly sixty years, Al'tair suddenly touched his chest with his wrinkled hand.
It should have been worn away long ago by countless killings. Yet, emotions welled up and a heartbeat pulsed within his dry mindscape.
'Kang Geomma...'
An attitude that was not cowed in the slightest even in his presence.
The talent to manipulate a Mindscape Domain at an age that was beyond young—practically a child. Even the insight that completely offset his shallow experience.
Was he not someone who could not be described by a common word like "genius"? Al'tair muttered the boy's name as if savoring it.
Halt.
After walking for a while, Al'tair came to a sudden halt. He slightly shifted his gaze. From the shadow of a roadside tree, a figure shimmered into view like a haze.
"Nox."
"Yes, Patriarch."
Nox kept his eyes fixed on the ground. However, he flinched slightly as he caught a faint trace of the Patriarch's emotions. For the Patriarch, the iron-blooded assassin, was smiling with genuine sincerity.
"It was worth traveling all this way."
"...I am glad you are satisfied."
Al'tair nodded slightly and continued.
"It was a first."
"Pardon? In what way...?"
Nox trailed off, sounding flustered. Al'tair let out a low chuckle.
"Feeling fear toward someone, that is."
Nox was struck speechless. He could only tremble slightly, trying to suppress the wave of confusion washing over him.
"I would like to see that young man again soon."
"……."
Al'tair began walking again. Unlike before, instead of leaning on his cane to walk, he was gripping it tightly. The handle was drenched in sweat.
* * *
A few minutes later.
"Oh, Geomma! Did you wait long?"
Chloe waved as she approached. Her hair was slightly damp, as if she had rushed out.
"No. I just got here too."
"Hehe~"
Chloe's eyes sparkled. A pleasant, happy expression was written all over her face. Looking at her, I fell into thought.
'It's probably best not to mention that I met her Patriarch, right?'
She was just starting to show signs of improving her relationship with Nox. I guessed that Nox and Chloe hadn't naturally disliked each other, but had grown distant due to their family's customs.
That suspicion turned into certainty after my meeting with Al'tair. He had mixed plenty of lies into his words to confuse me.
He expressed more emotions than expected and wore casual clothes, so I almost fell for it for a moment. But the moment I reactivated my blessing's sensory range right after encountering him, sharp bloodlust began pricking my skin.
They were using the Raven's Blessing, a presence-concealment blessing. Honestly, if I hadn't brought Murasame with me, I wouldn't have noticed at all. But even faint bloodlust, when layered over and over, became clearly detectable.
'What a detestable old man.'
I finished my thoughts and made up my mind. I wouldn't tell her.
I didn't intend to hide it forever, but she looked so happy right now, and I didn't want to ruin her mood by bringing it up.
"What should we do?"
Chloe asked with a bright smile. I scratched my cheek and replied,
"Well, looking at the schedule earlier, there's a parade around evening. And once the sun goes down completely, they're doing fireworks. How about we watch them in order?"
"Yes, I'd love to!"
Chloe nodded vigorously in agreement. I smiled faintly at the sight.
"President! Chloe!"
A familiar voice called out to us from afar. It was Speed Weapon, clutching a pile of souvenirs to his chest. Beside him, I saw Ryozo with her usual expressionless face, quietly accompanied by Senior Hana.
Chloe looked flustered by the sudden assembly of the club members. Soon, she puffed out her cheeks and turned her head away petulantly. She seemed displeased, but it wasn't as if she could just push them away.
"But didn't you guys say you were going to walk around separately? Why are you all together?"
When I asked, Weapon tilted his head in confusion and asked back.
"Huh? You sent a text, President. Telling us to meet here by 4:00."
Weapon said, showing me his phone. On the screen, there was indeed a text message sent from my number. Of course, I had never sent such a thing.
'...The only one who would do something like this is...'
I narrowed my eyes and glanced at Ryozo. She playfully stuck her tongue out.