Chapter 25
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Black Lion's Pursuit
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Black Lion Knights Commander Rodolph clutched his throbbing head and let out a long sigh.
"Haa, there's no end to this."
Sobles 3rd's incompetence was only deepening with time.
In truth, it was something that had long been foreseen.
How could it be otherwise for someone who had ascended to the throne as emperor at such a young age without even proper education?
Rodolph resented Sobles 2nd—who had departed first—even more for his feeble heart.
'What was there to fear about some prophecy.'
For the emperor of a unified empire to waste away, tormented by the voice of a mere specter—was that even plausible?
'No. It was wrong from the start. Everything went to hell the moment the founding emperor lost his mind.'
If not for that damned prophecy, the empire never would have crumbled like this.
Just look at the state of things now!
The foolish Sobles 3rd was rampaging like a colt with the reins cut loose, and every problem that arose from it fell squarely on the Black Lion Knights' plate.
Already five assassination missions handled just this week.
"What's next?"
At Rodolph's gruff question, the vice-commander hurriedly thrust a coded document forward.
"Suspicious movements in the southern region. The local lord is covertly recruiting private soldiers."
"What nonsense. What does the Prime Minister want done?"
"He orders the assassination of that territory's knight commander to shatter their unity."
"Hoo, as if taking out a single territory's knight commander is so simple..."
Rodolph's sigh grew even deeper.
It was always the same.
The imperial court merely tossed missions their way without a care for how arduous or perilous they truly were.
"What should we do?"
"What do you mean, what? Right n—"
Rodolph started to bark an irritated order at the vice-commander.
But in that instant, the barracks door creaked open quietly, and a Black Lion slipped inside.
"Commander, a report."
"What now!"
"We've lost contact with Gawain, who was on assignment in the north."
Rodolph's expression turned deadly serious the moment he heard the report.
Black Lions never missed a report deadline.
No report meant one thing?
Dead. If he wasn't, he would have found some way to reach out.
"Where? What mission was Gawain on?"
"Hatchling Village. He was tracking a boy named Ruyan."
At those words, Rodolph shot up from his seat. This wasn't something to mull over while sitting.
"He's finally shown himself!"
The crumbling empire. The root of all its woes had finally burst out into the open.
"Summon every knight on standby in the vicinity."
The Black Lion bared its fangs.
Ruyan raced along the winding mountain paths, avoiding the main roads.
It was to cut straight to the next village and save time.
After about two days of travel, a wide-open highway came into view once more.
'Made it right on track.'
At the highway's end loomed walls of immense scale, waiting for him.
The ancient walls gave an overall worn impression, but they had clearly been well-maintained and stood sturdy still.
-Trvente Village.
The most prosperous city across the entire northern region.
Before the empire's unification, it had been the capital of a kingdom.
Thanks to that, every scrap of human and material resources from the surrounding areas poured into Trvente Village, leaving it bustling without respite the whole year round.
'As expected, it's quite the scale.'
To Ruyan, who had been holed up in the deep mountains for a full five years, the sight of a great city felt utterly foreign.
'Hah. And here I thought I'd tempered my heart so well—getting excited over a single city.'
Were humans just doomed to be this way, no matter their age?
Ruyan did his best to quell his rising excitement and walked calmly along the highway.
'With crowds like this, no need to worry about pursuers.'
Unlike the mountains, cities had people erasing each other's traces.
Ruyan melted naturally into the throng entering Trvente Village.
'A city like this should let me lie low for a good while.'
Ruyan followed the merchants passing through the gate, stepping casually.
But then, an unexpected snag arose.
"Hey, you! Hold up."
A soldier guarding the gate suddenly leveled his spear, blocking Ruyan's path.
'Calling me?'
Ruyan glanced around just in case, but no one else stood out.
The others were all passing through the gate without issue.
'Tch. This is going to be a hassle.'
Ruyan had no choice but to stop and quietly swallow a sigh.
"What's this about?"
"Show your identification."
The soldier didn't seem tense or hostile. It was just a routine check.
But even a routine check was a real headache for Ruyan.
'Identification... Did I need something like that?'
Ruyan had been born in the mountains and spent the next fifteen years bedridden. He had no such thing.
In fact, this was the first time Ruyan had even heard of "identification."
Back in Hatchling Village, where everyone lived like family, there had been no need for it.
As Ruyan hesitated without answering promptly, the soldier's face gradually hardened.
"Refusing to comply with inspection?"
Wariness crept into his voice. If this dragged on, the other soldiers would swarm over.
'What a bind.'
He couldn't very well brawl with some mana-less grunt of a soldier.
Besides, he had business in the village and didn't want to stir trouble right from the start.
'Better pull back for now.'
Too many eyes around; best to scale the walls under cover of night.
But just as Ruyan turned to go, a woman popped out from the passing crowd.
"Been looking everywhere for you. What're you doing here?"
The woman approached acting all familiar, then casually draped a hand over Ruyan's shoulder.
'This woman...'
For a split second, Ruyan's eyes gleamed sharply—but so fleetingly no one would notice.
'A familiar aura.'
She was a woman from Ruyan's memory. The assassin who had dispatched the shadow in Hatchling Village's wild hills.
'Hard to spot as a woman just by looks.'
Back in the hills, she had worn clothes akin to military garb.
A sleek black leather jacket and traditional combat attire that downplayed her gender.
But the woman he faced now looked entirely different.
'Not a pro assassin after all—maybe this is her real self?'
Her dark hair was neatly tied back, and her vibrant face bore the faintest touch of makeup.
Even in a rough, unadorned dress that lacked any flair, it couldn't hide her striking beauty.
'Looks like our paths weren't meant for a mere brush-by.'
Was it fate?
Ruyan masked a wry chuckle and quietly observed the woman.
Perfectly natural, she linked arms with Ruyan, shot him a quick wink, then turned to the soldier.
"Let him through. He's with me."
The soldier let out a deep sigh at the woman's brazen, matter-of-fact attitude.
"Hoo, Alize! You again?"
"Yep, me again."
Alize—the woman so named—flashed an innocent smile, but that only made the soldier's sigh deepen.
"Really your companion this time? Not the first time—keep pulling this dodge and it's a problem!"
"Oh come on! Dodge who? He's really with me, I said. If you're so suspicious, come verify yourself."
"Urgh, verify what! You'd just bar the gate anyway. Why's it always gotta be like this!"
The soldier yanked at his own hair, shouting, but Alize just shrugged nonchalantly.
"So, we're good then? We're heading in."
Without even waiting for a reply, Alize nudged Ruyan's back and led him into the village.
"Alize! Keep this up and I'm reporting you to the lord for real!"
The soldier's furious shout echoed behind them, but Alize paid it no mind.
Ruyan, who had stumbled through the gate by sheer fluke, blinked in utter bafflement at the absurdity.
'Amusing bunch.'
The actual parties hadn't said a word, yet they were quarreling red in the face among themselves.
'Still, I'm safely inside. Fortunate in the end?'
Thanks to her, no waiting till night—he'd saved some time.
The two kept walking in silence even after passing the gate, exchanging no words.
The awkward companionship only ended once the soldier's gaze was well out of sight.
"We're far enough now. Safe."
Alize halted abruptly, puffing out her shoulders in smug triumph.
Her expression was just like a puppy awaiting praise.
But Ruyan regarded her without a flicker of emotion before turning on his heel.
"Hey! Where do you think you're going?"
"Got somewhere to be."
Alize flustered at Ruyan's blunt reply, her mouth flapping soundlessly before she planted herself in his path with fire in her eyes.
"Oh-ho, getting mouthy now?"
"You started it."
Alize was left speechless once more, scoffing in disbelief.
"Fine, whatever. You can't show ID, right?"
Even Ruyan's impassive demeanor offered no retort this time.
It was the truth.
Setting aside the lack of ID, Ruyan was currently a fugitive. He couldn't boldly declare his name in a major village like this.
Of course, he wasn't the only one hiding his identity.
As Ruyan clamped his mouth shut, Alize clapped her hands and made a huge fuss.
"Oh my! Can't reveal your identity? Way too suspicious, no? But who was it that got you inside the village?"
"Thanks for that. I'll repay the favor when I get the chance."
"Exactly! You better. Now you're talking sense."
Alize quirked her lips oddly before sticking out her hand.
"10 silver. Half price special since you look young."
"You want money?"
"Duh. Nothing's free in this world."
"I never asked for help."
Ruyan shot down her demand outright. His offer to repay had been mere courtesy.
From his perspective, she'd merely saved him a bit of time—not enough to warrant a real debt.
"Already inside, so we're square? Fine. Play it that way, and I've got my own tricks."
Alize's smile grew even thicker, her expression sending chills down the spine.
"Pay attention and watch."
She rolled up her sleeves and waved her arms grandly, shouting to the soldiers beyond the wall.
"Over here! He's not with me after all! Must've been a look-alike. Totally got duped!"
She'd built it up like some grand payback, only to pull off something utterly childish.
'Hah. To think this woman pulled off such brazen feats.'
Was she really the same assassin from the hills?
Judging by this display alone, the image of her cleaving a peak martial artist in half with a massive greatsword felt like a bald-faced lie.
'This is going to be a hassle.'
Ruyan let out a silent sigh and lightly pressed his forehead.