Chapter 22
Chapter 22
Killing Weapon
At that moment, my spine didn’t just go cold—it felt like it froze solid.
If it wasn’t Shu who startled Ohen, then who the hell was it?
“Who are you talking to?”
Right then, Yuri stepped out from the bushes, adjusting her coat. She looked puzzled about who I had been speaking to, but that wasn’t the issue right now.
“I think we need to go back to the others. Now.”
“There’s still time left.”
“I’ll explain on the way. Let’s just go.”
I grabbed the hilt of my sword and called out. But instead of an answer, what came back was a chilling sound tearing through the air.
Thud!
“Ugh…!”
A short gasp escaped from behind me. I spun around in panic—there, embedded deep into the pale nape of Yuri’s neck, was a thin poisoned needle.
Yuri, who had half-drawn her sword, staggered helplessly before collapsing into my arms.
“…Ambush.”
With that faint, dying whisper, she closed her eyes as if falling asleep.
Crunch.
Heavy footsteps echoed, and from the darkness of the forest, two men clad in black emerged.
Each held a gleaming dagger, and their cloaks bore the emblem of a howling wolf.
Despair gripped me.
The strongest among us was Yuri Ayende. She was on par with an imperial knight in combat power. And now—she was completely incapacitated.
‘Black Moon.’
The largest assassination organization in the world.
Once they set their sights on prey, they never let it go.
Henry was one of their executives.
“Hand over the girl quietly.”
“…And if I don’t?”
“We have no intention of killing you. But you will lose consciousness… in a rather painful way.”
“How considerate of you.”
Since they weren’t planning to kill me, they clearly knew whose child I was.
That didn’t mean I could expect any kindness.
I raised my sword.
Their objective was obvious.
‘They’re here for Yuri.’
A test subject—that was Yuri’s identity. A killing weapon created by the Black Moon, combining every assassination technique they possessed.
A Sword Saint had once attacked a Black Moon branch and taken Yuri away.
Even so, they hadn’t given up. They had been watching for an opportunity ever since.
‘…This is bad.’
I hadn’t expected this at all.
Of course not.
‘This wasn’t supposed to happen.’
An attack like this was supposed to occur much later in the story.
The only difference from the original was that I had replaced my sister in this group…
Ah.
‘Because I replaced her.’
Originally, Yuri had been paired with my sister. And my sister’s magic was on par with a professor’s.
With someone like her at Yuri’s side, the Black Moon wouldn’t have dared attack.
But now, with some weak nobody like me here…
‘What do I do…’
I glanced sideways.
Shu was watching with bright, curious eyes.
I whispered to her quietly.
“Help me.”
“I want to, but I can’t.”
“Why?”
“I forgot how to fight.”
You’ve got to be kidding me.
“Wait. I’ll try to remember.”
The moment she finished speaking, Shu shut her eyes tightly—right in the middle of this crisis.
Unbelievable.
That meant I was on my own.
Crunch, crunch.
The assassins advanced.
Their blades glinted in the shadows.
‘Think.’
Find a way out.
How—
‘Ah.’
An idea flashed through my mind.
I couldn’t let Yuri be taken.
She had an important role to play in the future.
The ones targeting her were the Black Moon.
Judging by their presence, these were just underlings—not high-ranking members.
In that case…
“Ahem.”
I cleared my throat, steadying my trembling voice.
Then I narrowed my eyes slightly, putting on an air of authority.
“Was this action of yours approved by the Wingless Eagle?”
“…!”
The assassins’ shoulders stiffened instantly.
Wingless Eagle—that was Henry’s codename.
Within the Black Moon, members used codenames instead of real names.
The moment I mentioned his alias, their momentum faltered.
“…How do you know that name?”
“I’m one of you. A man of the shadows.”
“W-What…?”
Their faces were clearly shaken.
Of course they would be.
A noble’s son claiming to be part of an assassination organization—it was absurd.
“Think about it. Why hasn’t the Wingless Eagle retrieved Yuri until now? Because the timing wasn’t right.”
“But our orders were to retrieve No. 3 whenever an opportunity arises.”
“Who is your superior?”
The Black Moon operated in cells.
There was no strict chain of command—each executive handled their own operations to maintain secrecy.
“We serve under the Bone-Eating Shark.”
“And you? Who do you follow?”
They questioned me in return.
“I follow the Wingless Eagle. I’m currently expanding influence within the Academy under his orders.”
“That’s your business. We have ours. Our mission is to retrieve No. 3. Don’t interfere.”
“If you’re truly one of us, you should have proof. Show it.”
Proof.
The mark burned into the arm with a branding iron.
“…You show yours first.”
There was no way I had something like that.
When I answered flatly, the assassins exchanged glances.
Silence fell.
Shing.
They raised their blades.
“Enough games.”
“Show us proof that you belong to us.”
“We asked first. If you don’t, we’ll kill you.”
Damn it.
I underestimated them.
At that moment, Shu opened her eyes.
“I remembered. I can strengthen your body.”
“I’ll take it.”
“There will be side effects.”
“Do it.”
I didn’t have time to be picky.
Shu exhaled softly.
Glittering particles like stardust drifted into me.
In that instant, power surged through my body.
My vision widened.
My body became lighter—yet stronger.
[You have received the blessing of a Great Spirit]
[All stats temporarily increased to their limit]
[Strength +15 (5 minutes)]
[Agility +15 (5 minutes)]
[Stamina +15 (5 minutes)]
[Mana +15 (5 minutes)]
I didn’t read further.
My eyes were already locked on the enemies ahead.
“So you’re not one of us.”
“We’ll find out how you know so much… after this.”
And when the distance closed—
Dash!
The two assassins lunged simultaneously.
A coordinated attack from both sides.
They didn’t aim for my neck—instead, their blades targeted my shoulder and ankle.
I stepped back instead of countering.
Their blades cut through empty air.
But they didn’t stop.
A chaotic barrage of strikes followed, the sound of metal slicing the air ringing in my ears.
I didn’t need theory.
I drove my sword straight into the point where their blades intersected—putting all of Shu’s enhanced strength behind it.
Clang!
“Ghk!”
“What kind of strength is that?!”
It was a simple strike.
But the result was overwhelming.
Their daggers were knocked away.
Their stances collapsed under the impact.
Now.
I kicked off the ground and swung my sword wide.
Whoosh!
But I cut nothing but air.
They dodged like serpents.
The blessing boosted my body—but not my swordsmanship.
My technique was still garbage.
Even if my physical ability surpassed theirs, my skill didn’t.
Clang! Clang! Scratch!
Sword and daggers clashed relentlessly.
I fought with everything I had.
But the longer the fight dragged on, the clearer the truth became.
‘…I can’t win.’
Despair crept up my spine.
I could feel it.
My sword was weak.
I had strength—but no mastery.
Opportunities to kill them came and went.
Each one slipped through my fingers.
Their eyes began to relax.
They circled me like hyenas, watching a dying prey.
At first, they had been shocked.
‘How is he so strong?’
‘Is he a mage?’
But now—
‘Just brute strength. Nothing else.’
‘We overestimated him.’
My technique was pathetic.
My swings were clumsy.
Meanwhile, Shu watched anxiously.
Matthias was being pushed back.
He fought desperately—but at this rate, he would lose.
‘If only I remembered magic.’
Fifteen hundred years.
She had done nothing.
After losing her friend, she had fallen into a long sleep.
Long enough to forget everything.
She had barely managed to grant a blessing.
But that was only temporary.
‘There has to be a way…’
Then she saw Yuri lying unconscious nearby.
Thud!
A dagger pierced Matthias’s arm.
Pain exploded.
His arm went limp.
“It’s a paralytic poison. The more you struggle, the faster it spreads.”
“Haah… haah…”
“Don’t worry. We won’t kill you. Just your life.”
He swung his sword with his remaining hand.
Too slow.
They dodged easily.
A kick slammed into his abdomen.
Thud!
“Ghk!”
He collapsed.
His sword flew from his grasp.
He reached for it—but a boot kicked it away.
Then one of them grabbed his hair and yanked him up.
“Let’s talk. Adopted son of the Moretti family.”
“….”
“How do you know about our plans?”
“….”
“Not talking?”
The assassin smiled coldly.
“Then we’ll have to punish you.”
His gaze dropped.
Despite the dirt and blood, Matthias’s face was… beautiful.
Soft, delicate features.
Refined lines.
A fragile yet unyielding gaze.
“Such a waste to kill.”
The assassin pressed his fingers into Matthias’s cheek.
“Been holding back for weeks. Let’s have some fun.”
“Are you really doing this? We don’t have time.”
“I’ll finish quickly.”
“…I’ll join.”
Sick laughter followed.
Matthias glared at them.
That only excited them more.
Then—
Crunch.
Footsteps.
Yuri.
She staggered forward.
Her violet eyes gleamed unnaturally.
Not human.
Her sword hung loosely in her hand.
“What—”
Slash!
A silver arc flashed.
The blade pierced straight through an assassin’s mouth—shattering his spine.
He convulsed.
Then died.
“What the hell—?!”
The other one lunged.
Yuri ducked and slipped past him.
In one fluid motion, she drew her blade from the corpse and spun.
Slice.
His abdomen split open.
Organs spilled out.
“…Ah…?”
Before he could react—
Thud.
His head rolled to the ground.
Yuri stared down at the bodies.
Her eyes were empty.
She cleaned her blade mechanically.
“Yuri.”
I forced myself up and grabbed her shoulder.
Her blade stopped just inches from my neck.
“…It’s me.”
“…Ah.”
She blinked.
Then returned to herself.
“You… okay?”
“I’m fine. You?”
“…I’m…”
At that moment—
[The spirit’s blessing has ended]
[Side effects are occurring]
Blood spilled from my mouth.
And I collapsed.