Chapter 44 : Assassin Quotas

I glanced at Sushruta, then smacked the head of the informant pinned beneath me.

Crack!

He let out a faint groan.

“Enough with the act.”

I’d known his breathing had changed for a while now.

I’d only let it slide because I was listening to Sushruta’s story.

When I caught him earlier, I’d already stripped him of every hidden weapon and even removed the poison pill in his mouth.

But there was no way to stop him from biting his tongue and ending it all, so I spoke evenly.

“If you want to bite your tongue and die, go ahead. Saves me the trouble of dirtying my hands.”

“……”

He glared at me.

The killing intent shining in those narrow eyes was sharp enough that I smacked him again.

Crack!

“What are you staring at?”

I kept hitting him until that sharp glare softened.

The Heavenly Demon chimed in.

[Well struck.]

Finally, with docile eyes, the man asked,

“…If I talk, will you spare me?”

“Depends.”

He rushed to spill his words.

“The First and Second Young Masters are coming.”

“With how many men?”

“They’ve chosen the best of the best. Ten elites will accompany them.”

“You’re certain?”

“Yes.”

I looked at Sushruta.

“It’s true.”

She gave a small nod.

“I’ve confirmed it.”

Even if it had been a lie, it wouldn’t have mattered.

I’d just kill them all anyway.

“Anything else we need to ask?”

Sushruta shook her head.

“No.”

“In that case.”

My hand went to my sword hilt.

The man’s eyes went wide.

“Wait—”

Slice.

His severed head hit the ground, eyes frozen wide open.

Night fell quickly in the forest.

The red glow of dusk bled over the lake, then the sun sank beneath the horizon, replaced by the rising moon.

Crackle, crackle.

I roasted jerky over the fire and asked, “When do you think they’ll come?”

The messenger hadn’t returned, so they must have figured things out by now.

They’d strike soon.

The difference was, before they’d planned to smile as they stabbed us in the back. Now they’d come openly, blades flashing.

Sushruta, skewering dried fruit over the flames, answered, “Ashuban. Do you know when a person is at their weakest?”

“I don’t know. Midnight?”

“Four in the morning. That’s when body temperature is at its lowest.”

“…Hm.”

Sounded about right.

“They learned the same as I did. They’ll strike just after four.”

I studied her face.

At a glance, she looked as calm as ever. But if you looked closely, her jaw was clenched too tightly, making her expression stiff, her whole face tense.

I tossed a few snapped twigs into the fire.

Crackle, crackle.

I knew all too well what it felt like to be betrayed.

It was foul—like being shoved face-first into filth.

The sting of the first blow to the back of the head… I’d never forgotten it.

Betrayal, after all, is best understood by those who’ve tasted it.

As a senior in betrayal, I wondered what advice to give a junior… but decided to say nothing.

Back then, no matter what anyone told me, I wouldn’t have listened either.

It was the sort of wound you had to endure alone.

So I only watched her quietly before asking, “Good?”

Sushruta chewed the roasted fruit and answered nonchalantly,

“Delicious. Roasting brings out the sweetness.”

Then she held one out to me.

“Try it.”

I stared at the charred fruit skewered on the stick… then bit it off and chewed. It was tough.

“…Sweet, though.”

“Yes. Sweeter roasted.”

“Want some jerky? It’s just right.”

“Give me some.”

We ate quietly for a while, filling our stomachs.

After rinsing my mouth with water, I handed her the flask.

“Here.”

“…Thanks.”

She accepted it, staring into it for a moment before speaking.

“Ashuban.”

“What.”

“There aren't a few of them.”

“I know.”

“Ten elite assassins, and the two above them are even stronger.”

“…Mm.”

She turned her gaze to me.

“Can your body move?”

I unwound the bandages wrapped around my arm.

The wound had nearly closed, leaving only faint scars to prove blood had once spilled there.

The pain was long gone, movement unhindered.

Truthfully, most of the ache I’d felt had been from summoning that crimson world—the mage’s wound itself hadn’t been too serious.

Between pulling out the chill he left, reapplying bandages, and smearing ointment, it had healed unnaturally fast.

When I’d fallen from that cliff, Hans had said the same thing—my recovery was monstrous.

Of course, this was no gift of mine. It was the Heavenly Demon’s talent, borrowed through me.

If I’d had it all along, my body wouldn’t be so covered in scars.

I stripped off the rest of my bandages and answered, “No problem.”

Sushruta checked my wounds and murmured in awe, “You… are you some kind of lizard? How do you heal this fast?”

“…A lizard, really?”

“In any case, good. Ashuban.”

“What.”

“I have a request.”

She held the flask in both hands, hesitating, then looked at me with rare seriousness.

“Will you fight alongside me?”

“….”

I stared at her.

So that’s what this is about.

Such a simple request, yet she looked at me with anxious eyes.

I looked back for a long moment… then turned away with a shrug.

“Sure.”

“…Truly?”

“Yeah.”

A faint smile touched her lips.

“Thank you, Ashuban.”

“….”

“Then we should plan how to face them.”

“What, we need a strategy meeting too?”

Her face hardened, her tone heavy with warning.

“Do not underestimate them. They are skilled assassins.”

“…Alright.”

“I fight from the shadows, so coordinated attacks are difficult. You seem accustomed to fighting alone too. So… what if we each pick our own targets?”

I thought it over and said,

“So basically… an assassin quota system?”

She nodded.

“A strange way to put it, but yes.”

“Not bad. How do we split them?”

“I’ve already considered it. You take the ten elites. I’ll handle the other two.”

“The First and Second Young Masters, right?”

“Yes.”

So all this time, staring into the lake, that’s what she’d been planning.

I asked curiously.

“Those two—are they really that strong?”

Sushruta nodded without hesitation.

“They are.”

“How strong?”

“Stronger than the ten elite assassins put together.”

“…Huh.”

In that case… I can’t let them slip by.

When I fought the Reaper Brothers, I learned the Deadly Song Sword. When I fought the mad mage, I awakened the Crimson World.

The stronger my opponents, the stronger I become.

Beating down monsters like them tastes better than the finest wine.

And assassins who surpass ten elites combined?

No way I’m letting that chance go.

A drink for the children, a snack for their father.

I licked my lips and made up my mind.

Those two assassins are mine.

But Sushruta’s eyes told me otherwise. She looked like she’d already resolved herself.

How should I swap the assignments?

I thought for a moment, then said, “Sushruta.”

“What is it?”

“Switch.”

“…Switch what?”

“The targets. I’ll take your two senior brothers, you take the ten elites.”

Her face hardened.

“That I cannot do. This, I will not yield.”

I met her unwavering gaze and asked, “Can you kill them?”

Her eyes trembled.

“Can you slash the throats of your own brothers? Even if they beg for mercy—can you cut off their limbs and drive a blade into their hearts without hesitation?”

“……”

Her lips quivered, but in the end she bit them instead of answering.

“See? That single moment of hesitation will get you killed.”

She clenched her mouth shut, unable to respond.

This wasn’t about skill.

I didn’t know how good she was as an assassin, but one thing I knew: the essence of an assassin is a cold heart.

Strike without emotion. Eliminate without hesitation.

I’d heard enough from retired assassins in the Sherwood Mercenary Company to know that much.

And from what I’d seen of her, she didn’t fit that mold. Especially when it came to people she had bonds with.

“Listen to me. I’ll take your brothers. You take the rest. Otherwise you’ll die.”

“……”

“But…” she murmured.

“But what.”

“Why… did they betray me…?”

Her words faltered, uncertain, but I cut her coldly.

“The reason’s obvious. They wanted Ophosis’s legacy more than you. Wanted badly enough to kill you for that dagger.”

“…Ah.”

“To them, that legacy’s worth more than you are. Don’t expect some noble reason or excuse.”

Her head drooped, shoulders sagging.

I watched her for a moment, then clicked my tongue.

“Or better yet, just sit this one out. I’ll handle the assassins—snacks and all.”

She shook her head.

“That… I cannot.”

I scowled.

As she was now, she’d lose no matter who she fought—her brothers or the others.

She’d already lost in spirit.

And in battle, spirit decides everything.

So I bared my teeth and spat harsh words.

“Drop out, you idiot. Look at yourself. You call that a fighting face? You’re already a beaten dog. Go in like that, and you’re dead. I’m telling you nicely—step back, unless you want to die.”

Sushruta lifted her head.

I half-expected an indignant “How dare you!” expression, but instead she just looked puzzled.

“That was… telling me nicely?”

“It was.”

“You cursed at me.”

“That doesn’t even count as cursing. Want me to say something truly nasty?”

“I’ll pass.”

But I didn’t let her.

I unleashed a barrage of creative insults, pouring them down like a waterfall.

Sushruta listened, mouth agape. Even the Heavenly Demon seemed momentarily speechless.

At last, dazed as if she’d glimpsed a whole new world, she muttered,

“…My mind is spinning.”

“Feeling stronger?”

“A little.”

“Good to hear.”

Her eyes shone as she looked up at me.

“Ashuban. You truly excel at vile words. A veritable master of curses, an authority in the art of insult.”

“It’s nothing.”

I scratched my neck, a bit embarrassed.

“So. Can you fight now?”

“Of course. Your biting tongue has snapped me back to my senses. Thank you.”

“No need. Just remember—I’m taking your brothers. Got it?”

She sighed.

“In truth… I had another reason for insisting on them.”

“What reason?”

“Assassins are different from ordinary foes. They are creatures of the night, steeped in shadow, with instincts to strike unseen and drink blood in silence.”

I nodded.

“So basically… mosquitoes.”

The Heavenly Demon agreed.

[Hmph. Not a bad comparison. Vexing pests indeed.]

Sushruta, however, shook her head.

“…No.”

“No?”

“What I mean is, this will be harder than any fight you’ve faced before. An assassin’s battle is unlike a normal one. They understand the darkness better than anyone—and they use it.”

I answered casually.

“I like the dark too. Isn’t Ketel the goddess of night? I’m close with her. Are you questioning my devotion as the Blind Saint?”

“……”

She sighed again.

I narrowed my eyes.

“And what was that sigh supposed to mean?”

“Nothing. Just that worrying about you makes me feel like a fool.”

“You are a fool.”

“Shut up. Still, it seems you won’t die after all.”

I smirked and picked at her.

“And what about you? Can you really handle ten elites? If you start flagging, I’ll cut down the young masters in a flash and come help.”

She scoffed.

“Hmph. Those wretches? Ten minutes is more than enough.”

“Really? Then I’ll finish in eight and come lend a hand.”

“Ten was being generous. Six minutes will do.”

“Then I’ll be done in five.”

“Braggart.”

“I’m serious.”

And so we concluded that we’d each finish our fights in three minutes, then plant apple trees with the time left over.

Don’t ask me how it came to that. I have no idea either.

(End of Chapter)

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