Chapter 42 : You’ve Been Getting on My Nerves

The right-hand path was narrow, with tufts of grass sprouting here and there, as though it wasn’t often traveled.

After a while, the forest thinned, and a wide, open lake revealed itself.

“Oh.”

A cool breeze, carrying the scent of water, swept past me.

It felt like a refreshing blue wave washing through my chest.

The lake, fed by streams trickling down from the high mountains in the distance, was clear and still.

Like my heart in that moment.

[…?]

It was like a massive mirror, flipping the jagged mountain range upside down and pressing it beneath the surface.

I stared at the reflection of the inverted peaks, savoring the serene peace that welled up inside me like the lake itself.

[Truly fitting for you. To look at the world upside down and find peace in it.]

“Master, why must you always nitpick?”

I was enjoying the scenery and chatting idly with the Heavenly Demon when a voice called from behind.

“Ashuban.”

Turning, I saw Sushruta beckoning to me.

“Admire the view later.”

“Ah, right.”

I walked back to her.

On the shore stood a shabby little hut.

Clearly abandoned long ago—there was no sign of life.

Sushruta and I stopped at the door.

“He’s in there?”

“Yes.”

She knocked three times and stepped inside.

The interior was just as expected—frail enough to collapse with a single clash of blades.

And there, standing so naturally he seemed part of the hut itself, was a man.

Had he been leaning against a post or wall, I might not have noticed him at all. That alone told me the extent of his assassin’s skills.

He was dressed head to toe in black, with no distinguishing features save for his small eyes.

Upon seeing us, the man bowed.

“You’ve arrived.”

Sushruta gave a curt nod. “Report.”

“Yes.”

The man wasted no time, as though each second were precious.

“First, regarding the matter you sent by carrier pigeon: the children hidden beneath Beryl Village have been rescued. They’ve been returned to their parents.”

Sushruta nodded again. “Good work.”

“It was nothing.” Then he added, “As instructed, we used the name of the Blind Saint.”

“…Huh?”

What the hell was this?

Catching my baffled look, Sushruta explained, “The villagers would naturally be wary of strangers. I told them to invoke the Blind Saint’s name. After all, it was you who freed the children.”

“…Was it?”

“Yes.” I blinked, then asked the small-eyed man, “And the villagers bought that?”

“Yes. Immediately.”

“What exactly did you tell them?”

“That the Blind Saint had destroyed the evil and, after receiving a divine oracle, departed urgently to purify another evil, entrusting the aftermath to us—devotees of Ketel.”

“….”

Somehow, the Thieves’ Guild had turned into servants of Ketel, goddess of the night, under my name.

Thieves turned night worshippers. Ridiculous.

Sushruta chuckled.

“There’s nothing strange about it. Ketel is also the patron of thieves.”

“…Ah. Guess that works out.”

Anyway, according to the man, the village had been awash with tears of joy when the children were returned.

The grateful villagers praised the Blind Saint’s name, even preparing an altar to offer prayers.

Just like that, I’d become a hero—the one who defeated the great evil of the flute mage and saved the children.

I imagined my epitaph.

“Here lies Ashuban, Hero.”

My chest swelled with pride.

Then I imagined another headstone beside it.

“Here lies Ashuban, Devil.”

My chest swelled even more.

I burst out laughing.

A hero? The thought alone was hilarious.

If anything, I was far better suited to the title of devil.

Sushruta and the small-eyed man exchanged odd looks at my laughter.

“Ashuban. Don’t suddenly laugh at yourself like that. You look mad.”

Not exactly untrue, so I let it slide.

Instead, I asked the man, “So, are all the kids safe?”

The man glanced at me, then shifted his gaze to Sushruta, as if asking permission with his eyes.

Sushruta glared.

“What are you doing? My companion Ashuban asked you a question.”

“…Yes.”

Startled, the man turned back to me.

“Most of them are.”

The smile that had been tugging at my lips faded.

“…Most?”

He nodded.

“Yes. Most of them only suffered minor dehydration and hunger, nothing serious.”

“And the rest?”

“They were already dead.”

“….”

My jaw tightened as I ground my teeth.

“Explain.”

“Yes.”

His voice was flat, detached, as he listed the facts.

They had quickly found the children underground upon arrival.

“We heard crying from beneath the earth.”

The flute mage had said the children were sleeping. When he died, the spell broke, and the children awoke.

Frightened in the darkness, they cried and screamed.

“The underground chamber was structured to allow air circulation, with regulated humidity and temperature. But deeper inside, we found a pit. In it lay the bodies of the others—desiccated, like mummies.”

My eyes widened.

“…Mummies?”

“Yes. Completely drained of moisture, nothing but skin and bone.”

Drained of moisture?

“…Wait.”

My mind flashed back to the black potion the flute mage had gulped down greedily.

[…The potion.]

The Heavenly Demon muttered low.

A chill crawled up my spine.

“No… way?”

I looked at Sushruta. She gave a heavy nod.

“It’s only speculation, but yes, the likelihood is high.”

I was speechless.

I wasn’t exactly a saint, and I knew the world crawled with monsters in human skin… but this? This was beyond any line.

“Mages often consider children’s mana the purest. Likely, he had devised a way to extract it. That potion must have sustained him all this time.”

The small-eyed man nodded.

“That makes sense. We also found arcane equipment in the burrow, presumably his. We’re investigating it now. If we’re fortunate, we may uncover his potion-making method. Since mages are so secretive, this would be an unexpected gain.”

“…What?”

Unexpected gain?

What the hell did this bastard just say?

I felt my rage boil.

I fixed my cold eyes on him.

“Say that again. What did you just call it?”

The man flinched under my stare, his face draining of color.

“You said ‘unexpected gain,’ didn’t you? Did I hear wrong?”

The killing intent in my gaze, tinged with the Heavenly Demon’s malice, bore into him.

Terror filled those tiny eyes.

“Ah… ahhh…”

He stumbled back until his legs gave out, collapsing to the floor.

I strode toward him, crouched before his trembling form, and said,

“Hey.”

“….”

“No answer?”

“Y-yes!”

“That magic equipment. Destroy it.”

“…What?”

“Smash it to dust. Erase everything about that potion. There was no unexpected gain. Got it?”

The potion consumed children’s lives.

If knowledge of it leaked, I could already picture what would follow.

The world had no shortage of lunatics.

“B-but…”

I grabbed his collar, dragging him close until our noses nearly touched.

“If you want to live, erase it.”

Then I grinned.

“Or… should I erase it myself?”

“…!”

His beady eyes quivered violently.

Thunk.

At that moment, a hand came down on my shoulder.

“Ashuban.”

It was Sushruta.

She spoke in a firm tone.

“I’ll make sure of it myself, so don’t worry.”

I glared at the trembling, small-eyed man a moment longer before letting go of his collar, tossing him aside.

“Ugh!”

He fell backward with a thud. I kicked the door open and stormed out of the shabby hut.

Bang!

The rotten wood gave way, and the door fell clean off its hinges.

Behind me, Sushruta called out.

“Ashuban! Where are you going?”

“Just need some air.”

I walked to the lakeshore, gazing at the still water and the mountains mirrored beneath its surface. I let out a long breath.

“Huuuh…”

Peace like a lake. A calmness like a lake.

I tried to steady my breathing, to quell the fire in my chest.

Soon, the killing intent radiating in every direction smoothed over like the tranquil lake before me.

“….”

I listened to the gentle lapping of the water, then released the last of my anger with a sigh.

The Heavenly Demon asked, [Have you calmed down?]

“Yes, Master.”

[You can’t scatter killing intent every time you’re upset. You must learn to hide it, restrain it, control it. Only release it like lightning when it’s truly needed.]

“…I’ll keep that in mind.”

We fell silent, staring at the mountains turned upside down in the lake.

Then, suddenly, the Heavenly Demon chuckled.

“Master, what’s funny?”

[This place… is more rotten than I thought.]

“…Rotten indeed.”

I crouched down by the shore and dipped my hands into the water.

The cold, clear lake seemed to wash something away.

Hoping it might rinse out the tangle of my thoughts too, I splashed my face.

The icy shock on my skin sharpened my mind.

Droplets streamed down my cheeks as I stared at the mirrored surface.

My reflection gazed back faintly.

“There are too many who need killing.”

For a while, I stared into those blood-red eyes rippling back at me from the water.

“Have you discovered which royal knight was dispatched?”

“…Not yet.”

“Still?”

“Yes. The scouts we sent to gather information haven’t returned.”

“Hmm.”

“I fear they may have been eliminated.”

Sushruta clicked her tongue.

“I warned them to be cautious.”

“My apologies.”

“Then he must be formidable. Could it be Van Dyke, the Iron Spear?”

I leaned against the hut’s outer wall, arms crossed, listening to their exchange inside.

They spoke first about the identity and movements of the royal knight, then shifted to other pursuers.

“There are others on the move.”

“What kind?”

“A band of twenty to thirty hardened criminals has been spotted traveling together, but their route seems unusual.”

“…Criminals?”

“Yes. All of them notorious, each with large bounties on their heads.”

“…I see. What else?”

“We’ve received word that Mad Linda was seen near the mountain range. You’ll need to be cautious.”

“Mm. And?”

“Also… the Nightwalker Assassins have reportedly dispatched a unit of their elites.”

Listening to the reports, I realized the situation was becoming perilous.

All because I had become the wielder of the dagger, every lowlife in the land was converging on me.

Leaning back, I muttered under my breath, “Good. Come, all of you. Blind moths rushing to the flame… I’ll burn every last one of you.”

The reports went on at length, listing every other pursuer in detail. Finally, the informant concluded,

“Given how dangerous things are becoming, the guild has decided to send reinforcements.”

Reinforcements? As if I needed them.

Still, I stayed quiet and listened.

“What reinforcements?”

“Two young masters have declared they will aid you.”

“…Is that true?”

Sushruta’s voice brightened.

“Yes. They’re already on their way with their retainers. They should arrive before the day is out. Until then, it would be wise to remain here and rest.”

“Understood. We’ll wait here,” Sushruta replied, pleased.

“Yes. Then, if you’ll excuse me.”

Footsteps approached the door. The informant’s voice sounded puzzled.

“Do you know what happened to the door that was here?”

“Ashuban kicked it in earlier.”

“…Ah.”

After bowing again to Sushruta, he stepped outside.

“Then, I’ll take my leave.”

I stopped him as he was about to head off.

“Wait.”

He jumped, startled, and turned to me at once.

“Y-yes? What is it?”

“These two young masters. Who are they?”

“…That’s confidential. I can’t say.”

Sushruta emerged from the hut.

“They’re fellow disciples. We trained under the same master.”

“Fellow disciples?”

“You could put it that way. Not blood brothers, but close enough.”

I tilted my head.

“So… senior and junior brothers?”

She nodded.

“Yes. Our master always said, since we all learned under him, we were like siblings.”

“I see.”

Still, she was a strange one—daring to call her great master an “old man.”

Even I, a wretch with no manners, always used the respectful title “Master.”

[What an honor, you bastard.]

‘Wait, Master, why are you suddenly cursing at me?’

[Shut it.]

‘….’

Having just been cursed out by the Heavenly Demon, I turned my glare back to the small-eyed man.

“Hey, you bastard.”

“…Yes?”

“So you’re telling me Sushruta’s dear senior brothers just happened to hear about the dagger and suddenly rolled up their sleeves, eager to help?”

“Uh… well…”

“Answer properly. Yes or no.”

“Y-yes. That’s right.”

I turned to Sushruta.

“You. Are you normally close with your senior brothers?”

“…I suppose?”

“Answer straight. Do you exchange concerned letters and keep in touch regularly?”

“…No, not really. I haven’t seen them in over five years.”

Exactly. No contact for years.

“And yet… now they’ve suddenly decided to help, and are rushing here at full speed?”

At last, even Sushruta seemed to sense something wrong. She turned to the informant.

“….”

A cold silence settled.

Our gazes sharpened like drawn blades.

The man flicked his eyes between us once… then bolted.

Thwack!

He chose to run.

“I’ll catch him.”

I kicked off the ground in pursuit.

“That bastard’s been getting on my nerves from the start.”

(End of Chapter)

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