As monsters surged from all directions, old memories resurfaced.
I recalled the countless cunning traps and ambushes we’d faced during the last great war—the massive enemy forces that surrounded us, the endless crises we barely survived.
How many times had we prepared for the end, hemmed in so tightly by enemies that even a single step was impossible, with the last barrier half-collapsed, bracing ourselves for our final stand?
Now, wolves bared their fangs all around me, eager to break through the encirclement and seize their first prey, while Puppet Crows ceaselessly unleashed Curses through their magic and spells.
Most monsters couldn’t even get past the poisoned stings of Shtis Dazlang amidst the spreading Curses. A few staggered inward, but they ultimately fell as offerings to the Ashid Trapper or Kwoolli.
The growing pile of monster corpses either turned to ash under Eril’s flames or became barricades, blocking the enemy depending on where they fell.
Right now, we were holding them off with ease. Most enemies couldn’t even breach the First Line of Defense, and the Curses released by the Puppet Crows were steadily settling onto the earth.
Yet, there had been many fortresses called Impregnable Fortress—like the Fortress of Withered Trees and the Secret Dueling Arena of Jeka. In those places, not just I, but even my comrades had sensed death looming over us more than once. But in the end, even those fortresses fell.
That’s why I could never let my guard down. Perfect defense doesn’t exist—safety lies only in constant readiness and preparation. That was my way.
The enemy’s numbers were growing, and the monsters were getting larger than before. It had been about an hour since the first scout appeared. Up till now, they’d just thrown troops at us in their impatience, but soon, as their numbers swelled, they’d regroup and attempt a proper breakthrough.
At this rate, sooner or later, their sheer numbers would overwhelm our defenses—there was no doubt about it.
Even so, Granviphra had been completely silent for a while now. Normally, unless absolutely necessary, one shouldn’t converse during battle, but the silence was unsettling.
“Is it because the Hatching draws near that you have no strength left to speak?”
—That’s not it. It’s just…
“Just?”
—Something feels odd. If it were Toquas, I’d understand, but Hirde should have arrived by now.
“The later they are, the better for us, isn’t it?”
As the sun set, true darkness fell, even deeper because of the trees. Instead of spheres of light, I summoned fire spirits and stationed them at the spots I’d marked earlier.
The fire spirits not only lit up the area but could also block and attack intruders. More importantly, their gentle, mobile light was better suited than the spheres of light for what I needed.
In darkness, a light can guide the lost to safety, but a faint, imperfect light can be even more dangerous than no light at all, depending on how it’s used.
People let their guard down, thinking they can “see,” and forget what they’re not seeing, turning their eyes away from what truly matters.
Whether the enemy moved toward the light or deliberately avoided it didn’t matter. Either way, those firelights would lead them exactly where I wanted—and that would not end well for them.
“Is it possible that Toquas and Hirde have other plans?”
Time was on our side, and they surely knew it. If they hadn’t made any real moves by now, perhaps they had something else in mind.
—Toquas isn’t one for such tricks. As for Hirde, who knows? But even if so, they have no other way to stop my Hatching.
He was right. There was no other option but to attack as quickly as possible. When choosing this place, I’d already considered nearly everything.
The terrain wasn’t prone to landslides, and Eril could block any air assault. With the dense trees, tunneling or collapsing the ground was virtually impossible. An attack by land was the only real option—hence this location.
“Could it be they have no intention of interfering with the Hatching?”
A massive, horned creature like a giant weasel and some huge, human-shaped bees rushed from the left, only to be wiped out by Puppet Crows’ Curses and Shtis Dazlang’s poison. But unlike before, they were probing for openings, not just charging blindly.
—They know well that my Hatching means their death.
“Could they be hoping for forgiveness?”
—That’s impossible.
His resolute tone left no doubt. If so, there was only one answer.
“…So, they ran.”
Honestly, it was the simplest and wisest choice. Maybe they’d already fled long ago without us noticing.
—They’ve lived in this Forest for ages. They wouldn’t give up their territory so easily.
“I doubt they value it above their own lives.”
They’d chosen to survive, even knowing destruction was inevitable. In this situation, fleeing was the smart thing to do.
“They probably ran far away, hoping you, the Guardian of the Forest of Evil, wouldn’t bother pursuing them.”
That’s what I would have done. It’s foolish to fight forever against a Primordial Being who never dies and is far stronger than oneself. But then—
—If that’s the case, they’re far more foolish than I thought.
A cold, mocking laugh—one I’d never heard from him before—made me flinch.
“Why do you say that?”
—To think that would be enough.
His intent was so chilling and sharp that it was almost terrifying.
Clearly, just because he was polite and rational didn’t mean he was safe. It was the first time I’d seen him show hostility, and even though it was only for a moment, it was so intense it overturned everything I’d thought about him.
“…Please don’t forget what you promised.”
—Don’t worry. They will all serve you as their master. Of course, once our Contract is over, they’ll pay the rest of the price they owe.
What I meant was the promise that he would never harm me, even after the Hatching, but it seemed he had no intention of breaking it.
—More importantly, isn’t it time you brought out your next move?
The presences I sensed all around were growing stronger. Smaller, nimbler monsters were trying to infiltrate from different directions using different methods—it seemed they were about to launch a real assault.
“Not yet. If I act before more gather, it’ll only make things harder.”
—
The Black Mist of Baglos melted into the shadows, slipping silently over the mansion’s walls. The patrolling guards and the alarm spells installed everywhere didn’t even notice his presence, let alone stop him.
Baglos, having arrived in Feltecheryu, wasted no time. Without needing to meet with other Assassins or informants, he sought out the base of the opposing leadership—the ones at odds with his target.
Within minutes, he had secured their full cooperation.
Though they belonged to the same Order of High Assassins Guild, they knew nothing about the plot to assassinate Anak. In fact, despite the various factions and their tendency not to interfere with each other, they were appalled to learn that one of their own leadership factions had targeted a Hero’s companion—and, worse, the companion of Baglos, the strongest Assassin.
They immediately sent out urgent communications, and the entire network of High Assassins Guild branches was thrown into chaos as they tried to grasp the situation. But that was a separate matter.
In the end, Baglos learned the locations of the temporary bases used by the rival faction, and that Raje, carrying the leadership’s orders, would be visiting one of them tonight. So he came here.
Of course, Baglos didn’t fully trust the information. Whether it was true or false didn’t matter much to him. If it turned out to be false, he’d simply continue his search for the next breadcrumb—nothing more, nothing less.
For most, this would be an expression of supreme confidence, but for Baglos, it wasn’t even that. He simply knew exactly what he could do, and did what needed to be done.
There was no confidence, pride, superiority, or sense of accomplishment in his actions.
This mansion, on the surface, was just one of a noble family’s villas, still staffed with many guards and Servants. But the noble house had long since fallen during the last great war. The mansion was now secretly used by a faction of the Order of High Assassins Guild, still under the noble name.
He scoured every shadow and corner of the mansion. Though many people were inside, none sensed his presence. But he didn’t find Raje anywhere.
After searching the entire mansion, Baglos finally headed for the Servants’ storage room. It was a small, shabby place, cluttered with cleaning tools and odds and ends—nothing of note.
Without hesitation, Baglos stepped inside.
His hand sliced swiftly through the air, and following his fingertips, the wooden floorboards shattered, revealing a hidden staircase in one corner.
Hearing the boards break, someone stirred outside, but Baglos simply dove down the stairs. At the bottom, a thick iron door stood between him and the basement, but with a gesture, Baglos reduced it to shreds of paper.
“Bravo!”
As he entered the room, Raje—sitting in the middle of the spacious chamber on a single, needlessly placed chair—spread his arms wide in an exaggerated welcome.
“Well, the door wasn’t even locked to begin with, but you certainly live up to your reputation as the strongest Assassin.”
Baglos ignored both the words and the theatrics. He simply lunged at Raje to finish the job. Raje could only follow the movement with his eyes—he had no hope of dodging or blocking it.
But just as Baglos’ hand was about to seize him, the Black Crystal in Raje’s hand flared with light, sending a strange wave pulsing through the room.
“……!”
With that wave, Baglos froze in place, stopped mid-attack, eyes fixed on the Black Crystal in Raje’s hand.
“So, in the end, even the so-called strongest Assassin is just a Chimera. No matter how much time has passed, no matter what feats you’ve accomplished, you’re powerless before your creator’s command.”
Raje slowly stood, the smile on his face no longer the superficial one I’d seen before but a true smile—a chilling grin that matched the wild, directionless madness in his eyes.
“The old man is the real Assassin. You’re just a tool called Baglos, after all.”
He leaned in close, that terrifying smile never wavering.
“And from now on, you’re my tool.”