Assassination (2)
Meetings are followed by partings, and strategic goodbyes are part of the game.
In the forest where the demonic race’s foul stench and eerie aura spread, we had no choice but to say goodbye to each other. The hero looked at me with a face full of regret and helplessness, alternating between Lena and me, and said:
“Are you two all right?”
“Don’t worry, mister. I’m super fast. If it looks dangerous, I’ll ditch the luggage and run away with just you.”
Lena said that and patted my shoulder. Ashuria spoke in a cool tone.
“Hero-nim. In this operation, the hero’s role is also important. Leave the two of you and go with us in another direction.”
The hero nodded but her steps slowed as if regretful. Lena smiled brightly like a mother sending her child off on a picnic and waved her hand. After the hero’s figure disappeared beyond the vines, she let out a big sigh and said to me.
“Shall we go too?”
“Yes. Understood.”
The hero’s party vanished in that direction. A little higher up, a cliff jutting out like a hawk’s beak was visible. We stared at the cliff and turned our bodies toward the operation location. When our party split left and right, the operation had essentially begun.
“As expected, it’s better to have people as enemies.”
Lena laughed as the distance opened up and spun her dagger like a toy. Each time the dagger moved, a sharp wind sound rang out, so I carefully widened the distance. Seeing me pull my body back, Lena laughed softly and put the dagger back in its sheath.
“Did you not like traveling together?”
Lena shook her head. Since she was smiling, it was hard to tell what she was thinking. Sometimes it seemed like the spider tattoo on her neck had more varied expressions than her.
“No. I like it. It’s an extremely fun party.”
“Is that so?”
“More than that, did you bring all the equipment? You brought the bag as is, right?”
The things Lena had prepared in advance for this operation were inside the bag. I opened the bag and took out the end of the rope and showed it.
“Yes. The bag with the rope. Right?”
Lena looked at the rope I took out, tilted her head, and pulled it more to check the condition. She touched the surface and seemed to estimate something, then frowned and said to me.
“This is a bit strange, isn’t it? Did I buy this? It seems low quality.”
“As you said, I brought it. The bag with the rope.”
Lena tilted her head left and right, frowning, then shrugged.
“Well… it should be fine? Ashuria wouldn’t be carrying a rope, right.”
“Isn’t it something someone who can carry it would carry?”
“No way. What would I do with that? It’s someone who likes to beat with fists better.”
“That’s also true.”
Lena put the rope away and closed the bag. It was because there wasn’t enough time to open the bag again to check the contents more carefully. Lena took out a small thing like a needle from her pocket and pointed it at the smoke hanging over the horizon.
“Should we go that way?”
“Yes. We’re almost there. How do you plan to infiltrate?”
Even in the forest, soldiers standing on watchtowers and boundary soldiers patrolling near the front lines were visible. They were chatting while weaving through the path we were going, nothing different from the old imperial soldiers.
“What will you do when your salary comes out?”
“Party. Gather the kids and drink.”
“That sounds good.”
It was a horrifying sight that twisted the stomach even when just looking. They shared the same way of thinking as us and felt joy and sorrow like us. It didn’t make sense. The demons appeared and the empire collapsed, and they were moving ruthlessly to swallow the world.
They should have remained dirty and cruel killing machines, not living beings with blood and flesh.
Lena bent her head and surveyed the surroundings. There were a total of 3 boundary soldiers. The soldier on the watchtower couldn’t see us, and the soldiers were waving their spears in a defenseless state. No following soldiers or noise, and the forest and front lines were far.
“Kill them.”
Before I nodded, the grass crumbled and a few strands scattered. A sound like wind blew, and Lena’s body climbed onto the demon’s shoulder. Wrapping around the thigh with purple skin, she raised the dagger, and before the soldiers could react, one’s neck shot up into the air.
“W-what?!”
“D-don’t…!”
Before the blood droplets spurted from the severed neck, another neck was cut off. Just as the remaining one was about to blow the horn, my swinging stone palm strike hit the demon’s nose precisely, shattering the horn. Almost simultaneously, Lena who had gone behind the demon raised a sharp thing like a large needle and stabbed the demon’s back in different directions one after another.
“Huaaaaa…! A…!”
The demon breathed in and out as if screaming, but blood bubbles rose from its mouth, and blood spurted out in all directions like a punctured water balloon. Because its lungs were pierced, it couldn’t scream. Lena turned her body sideways so the blood wouldn’t stain her clothes, pushed the corpse into the tree shade, and said to me.
“Mister. Nice play.”
“I wouldn’t say I interfered.”
“No. Since you know how to fight to some extent, I’m trusting you. I tested your physical ability when picking the porter anyway. I know you took first place overwhelmingly there.”
“It was a private test, so how did you know?”
Lena wiped the blood off her face and smiled. I couldn’t tell what thoughts were behind her bright smile.
“I infiltrated to see your face in advance. You were flying around? Same as last time in the village.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Actually, I knew what she was saying. But I pretended not to know what she was talking about. Lena tilted her head and looked at me, then lifted the corner of her mouth in a smile. Then she put the dagger in her pocket and said.
“Well, secrets are there for everyone. Even among the same colleagues. I trust you, mister. After all, you’re a good person.”
And she pointed to the fence.
“Let’s go, mister. Leave the backpack here under the tree and come in with just my luggage.”
The large backpack was hidden out of sight in the thicket. And I took out only a small bag the size of a human head. Lena stuck close to the fence wall, stroked the wood grain, closed her eyes, took out the dagger, and swung her wrist lightly. One of the trees forming the fence was cut neatly, creating a wide gap. The large barracks and the gap covered by bushes gave the feeling of a hole that was originally made.
“Let’s go.”
Lena gestured to me, and I followed her carefully, moving through the thicket. ***** Halifa. She was restless now. Even though she had used the last resort, poison, she hadn’t been able to seize victory perfectly. To stand out in the great war that decided the fate of the continent, she needed to build more brilliant achievements than now. Killing a few people with poison or having the surrounding civilians call her name in terror with fear didn’t help at all in promotion. War was ultimately a game of who ate more land. The only shortcut to success was to stab deep into the enemy camp, proudly plant the flag, and announce the achievements. For the sake of her beloved commander, for the sergeant who had entrusted her, she had to do better. But if a solution came to mind just because she was desperate, the world would have no word for problem. She held the pen and just stared at the blank paper, unable to solve anything. By forcing out excuses, her head only hurt more. Halifa scratched her red hair, stood up from her seat, and turned to find water.
“Hello.”
And there stood a handsome man smiling brightly. He was wearing quite sturdy equipment, and a sword was tucked at his waist, showing he was no ordinary skilled person. Halifa quickly confirmed the opponent and took out a weapon from her pocket, trying to shout.
“Ugh…!”
“Shh-.”
But faster than her shouting, a hand shot out from behind and covered her mouth, and a sharp thorn like a needle pierced a hole along her back.
“Ugh…! Kkueup…! Ugh…!”
In pain from piercing the flesh and accurately hitting the vital point and withdrawing, tears welled up in Halifa’s eyes, and her mouth was wide open, unable to breathe properly. Her legs and arms lost all strength, and her fallen body was like a doll. Lena spun the needle that had severed Halifa’s nerves.
“It’s surprising that these guys have the same body structure as us, isn’t it? The places that get paralyzed when stabbed are the same, right?”
“Y-you guys…! W-what…?”
Even trying to scream, only a powerless voice came out. In powerlessness and fear, she glared at Lena and the porter. Lena said.
“Do you know? It’s a robber. A robber. A robber who wants to rob you like you demons and get a solid share. That blood-covered Veles said there was treasure here.”
“That mouthy Veles…! Kkueuk…!”
Halifa’s face burned with hatred. It was the most enjoyable moment for Lena and the porter. The two didn’t even think about hiding their smiles and poked Halifa’s face with the needle.
“So, where is the treasure? Hand over something that can become money.”
Halifa writhed in betrayal and anger, but when she heard the question, she sneered.
“Hmph. Wrong address… you fools. This isn’t that kind of… place. We’re just soldiers… so. Things like treasure… are managed separately… We’ve already sent the spoils we’ve looted… there… long ago.”
“Where is that?”
Halifa was sweating coldly but didn’t stop mocking.
“Would I tell you? You foolish… human guys. If I’m paralyzed for a moment… but if you want to live now….”
“No choice. Let’s see how heavy your mouth is.”
Lena gestured. The porter nodded and took out the rope. When the porter took the rope from the bag, handcuffs jingled and came out. Lena looked at the rope the porter took out and frowned.
“What? I never bought handcuffs like that.”
“It’s a gift.”
“No, I didn’t put anything in the bag. Let’s take out something else.”
The porter took out more things from the bag as Lena said. Whip and fragrant candles. Blindfold and ball gag in the mouth. Both Halifa, Lena, and the porter exchanged glances with bewildered faces. The porter looked at Lena with a questioning look, and Lena protested with an aggrieved expression. After exchanging glances for a while, silence continued. Lena’s face strangely distorted as if she hadn’t expected this situation, and Halifa lying on the floor trembled with humiliation and spat out curses.
“Y-you dirty bastards…! T-to humiliate a woman…!”