The Secret Technique of Taron

Caladia was walking down the night street. The city was dark and silent. As the night deepened, few houses remained lit. Only the sound of a dog barking echoed from somewhere. Walking the night path was her instinct. The desire to swim in the thick darkness, the feeling of exhilaration—these had been her only pleasures lately. But then, someone came to mind. She ground her teeth. 'Disappear. This is my time right now.'

Her heart had been restless lately. Every single day, all day long, that guy had been living inside her head. He was a truly annoying bastard. Ever since the day she was defeated by the Hero, he had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠been there, constantly. She, who had intended to hold the entire world in her palm, was pouring all her attention into a mere man; it made no sense. It felt as if the scale of her ambition had shrunk significantly. Nightstream, that guy… he was truly, utterly bothersome. And the biggest problem of all was… she had become docile. Choosing a human body was the worst mistake she had ever made. Furthermore, this bloodline carried the spirit, temperament, and destiny of a hero. That tendency suppressed her, as if she were bound by shackles.

"Whoa, look who it is. Isn't that a Lurker wench?"

"Ho-ho, she's fucking gorgeous."

That was when it happened. As she entered an alley, she encountered a group by chance. A bunch of men who looked like thugs. They were reeking of alcohol.

"Come here. Let's play with us."

"Where were you headed? Looking for ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a man, perhaps?"

"Is she a whore?"

"I'll give you money, just give it to us once!"

"Me first!"

There were five of them. They had menacing expressions and sturdy builds. A man who looked about 190cm tall approached, reeking of booze, and grabbed Caladia’s chin. He tilted her face up, turned it left and right to confirm her beauty, and smacked his lips.

"She looks fucking delicious, goddamn. Hey guys, grab her from both sides. I have something to check."

"Hey, don't be so rough. You're scaring our pretty lady. If you're a man, act like a gentleman." Another man approached and stared blankly at Caladia. He licked his upper lip and grinned. "Miss, do you have time? Want to have a drink with us?"

Caladia shook off the hand that was gripping her chin and smiled leisurely.

"No."

"Busy?"

"Yes."

"Doing what?"

"Eating you guys."

"Huh?"

Kuaaaaaaack!

Caladia's shadow reflected on the wall grew massive in an instant.

"W-what is this!?"

"It's a monster!"

"Uaaaaaack!"

"S-save me!"

The shadow of a giant snake was cast on the wall. Blood splattered against the brick. The snake's maw opened wide, swallowing two or three men at a time. The sound of crunching, even chewing through bone, echoed for a while. Pools of blood spread across the ground.

"Ptooey."

Caladia, who had returned to her human form before anyone noticed, spat a gold ring out of her mouth. Then, with her long tongue, she elegantly licked the blood off her lips. The lips that had been torn to the corners of her ears gradually shrank, soon becoming small, plump, and modest, like those of a human woman. The surroundings were silent. Only the clothes the men had been wearing were left scattered on the floor. She was full and satisfied.

Suddenly, the guy's voice reached her. Her expression twisted involuntarily. But since he was calling, she answered immediately.

"…What is it?"

Throughout the communication with him, the ferocity latent within Caladia was slowly rising. Having tasted blood, the desire to crush him was intensifying. "Fine, I'm coming."

A ferocious smile played on her lips as she ended the connection. Her instincts wanted more slaughter. Stepping over the blood-soaked ground, she moved toward where he was.

Before making the Taron family's secret technique my own, I needed a safety device first. Duke Ilias had become a vegetable while trying to master the technique. There was no guarantee that wouldn't happen to me. The reason I was determined to do this was simple: I'm a thief. I like stealing other people's things. And thieves instinctively love thrilling gambles. They find it fun to leave things to luck. If you're cautious, that's a hero. A thief lives by trusting only in the stubborn and fickle Goddess of Fortune. Therefore, I had a greedy desire to get my hands on this secret technique before anyone else did. And this occupational disease is our biggest weakness. There are so many thieves who die young doing stupid things like this. It's an instinct to covet everything, so it can't be helped.

"W-who is this person?" The knights standing guard were flustered to see the Kara I had brought with me. They seemed afraid that things were getting even bigger in the middle of the night.

"Don't worry. She's a competent mage who will analyze the cause of my previous failure."

"Isn't it too late? If Her Ladyship finds out…"

"I'll just take a quick look and leave." As I replied firmly and stepped inside, the knights couldn't say anything more. They were crushed by the dignity of a Duke. No one inside here could defy my words.

"You really came fast, didn't you?" I led Kara, who had been following me quietly, into the training hall and locked the door.

"You weren't sleeping and were walking around outside?"

"Hah." She just snorted without answering and glared at me with displeasure. She still looked very dissatisfied. Seeing that she had no killing intent, she didn't seem to have any intention of killing me. 'Is she sulking because I killed the Demon King she used to serve… I don't think there's any other reason for her to hold a grudge.' Anyway, that was that, and I got straight to the point. The night was short. I had to hurry. I picked up the book and shook it at her.

"From now on, I'm going to master this secret technique. If I'm not careful, I could suffer from Qi deviation and die. That's the reason I called you. If it looks like I'm going to die, quickly freeze me with magic, or open a subspace where time has stopped and lock me inside—use every method you know to protect me before the harmful energy spreads through my body. You're a great mage, aren't you?"

"……"

She, who had been staring alternately at the book and me, opened her mouth with a smirk. "Why should I protect you? What do you think I'm tagging along for? ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Do you even know what kind of person I was before? Do you know anything about me? I could kill you, you know."

Kara smiled mischievously. At that, I didn't think to beg her to help me, nor did I think to get angry and tell her to listen when I ordered her. I just had to act as if I had fallen in love with her.

"Since I don't know about you, and I don't know anything about you, I'm trying to make memories for just the two of us starting today. To build a bond between you and me, I'm just going to keep trusting you. Because I fell for you at first sight."

Of course, it was a lie, and I was just lamenting that Kara was the only magic user in our party who could help me. I was in a rush, so I had no choice but to call her. Seeing her skills, she seemed immense and well-versed in various types of magic, so I thought if I coaxed her well, I could get her cooperation.

"You'll help me, right? I'd really like it if you helped."

"……"

After thinking for a moment, she crossed her arms and wore a cynical smile. "Nothing else to say? It sounded good. Keep flattering me."

She looked much softer. I let go of everything. I'll do whatever it takes! "You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. I always want to look up to you."

"Liar."

"It's true."

"I won't be fooled."

"I want to bring you flowers every day. You're a woman who has the right to be treated well by men. Besides, you look similar to me, so I feel even more drawn to you. I feel a sense of kinship."

"Get cursed."

I need to gain power. If I master the secret technique, I might be able to crush her with force. Then you'll have to flatter me and wag your tail! You wicked woman! Only after I poured out remarks that made even me blush and cringe did her lips finally twitch.

"I'll just cut your neck off."

"What? What are you talking about?"

"You. If it looks like you're in pain, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I'll cut your neck off right there and attach it to the body of a dog or a pig to keep you alive."

I was dumbfounded. "Don't you have any other magic? Like flash-freezing me to make me a frozen human?"

"No. Even if I did, I wouldn't do it for you."

"Damn it."

Her smile was annoying, but at least she said she would help. If she could attach a head to a dog or a pig, she could probably detach it and attach it back to a human body. Too lazy to flatter her any further, I went to the pedestal where the book was placed.

"I'm starting. Keep a close watch."

"Maybe I'll take a nap~"

Kara pretended to look away. Ignoring her, I opened the book. Shrugging my shoulders, I focused all my attention on the book. And soon, my vision grew distant, and my spirit was sucked into the book.

-Someone unqualified is peeking at Taron's great legacy!

A strange place, pitch black all around. A voice echoed loudly from all directions. It was probably the remnant of the Black Dragon that had been sleeping inside the book. I have to defeat this guy to gain power.

-Go back while I'm saying it nicely. If someone who hasn't inherited the bloodline of Taron covets the secret technique, their body will perish and their soul will be shattered into pieces.

He was a fairly merciful guy. But if I were the type to run away easily, I wouldn't have started this in the first place. I drew a sword from a scabbard I had never seen before, which was hanging at my waist. That was my answer.

"Shut up and just pass on the technique."