People don’t really know just how difficult it is to truly express one’s genuine feelings.
It’s not just that it’s hard to take your true feelings out from inside your heart.
That’s not really a problem at all.
Anyone can talk about what’s inside or speak honestly.
The real problem is the person themselves—and the one who receives it.
Only a few, those whose inside and outside both shine, can perfectly convey their true heart just by speaking or revealing it.
Most people, the ones who aren’t like that, can never fully deliver their true feelings or intentions simply by saying what’s in their heart.
Because of things like facial expressions, tone of voice, word choice, and so on, the moment you try to express your true feelings, they become distorted by your own self.
And most people, who are ordinary or not particularly exceptional, will take those words and add their own standards, circumstances, and feelings, distorting them even further as they receive them.
They might not believe it’s genuine, or they might take your intention in the complete opposite way.
Even if they do realize it’s sincere or understand your intention to some extent, how much of it gets through varies from person to person.
Why is it that, even if the words are the same, someone’s words can move your heart, while someone else’s just lingers in your mind for a moment?
Why do people shed tears at one person’s cries, but simply turn away from another’s?
In the end, it’s all just a difference in degree and direction of distortion.
To truly convey your heart and your intention, you must first adjust the form and method to fit each person, controlling how much your words are refracted.
That’s why, at some point, I began doing it this way.
I began speaking my truth in forms of deception suitable for each person, in a way that would reach them—and it usually worked.
“I really treasure our relationship as it is now. You’re a precious friend to me, and you’re the only reason I come to this otherworld every day.”
Maybe she felt a slight sense of discomfort in my words just now.
Lowell and the others had sometimes tilted their heads at that odd feeling too.
But in the end, just as Lowell and my other companions never figured out what that discomfort was, she wouldn’t realize it either.
As I said, this was my honest feeling, and I was just expressing it in the way that was needed, when it was needed.
“…Of course, saying these things while you’re locked up like this might just be selfish comfort, or one-sided coercion.”
“Anak…!”
I deliberately turned away as I finished speaking.
I clearly heard her call my name, but I pretended not to and activated the spell, leaving the study.
“…Haa.”
Once I confirmed the scenery in front of me had changed, I let out the breath I’d been holding as I turned away a moment ago.
The air of the morning forest felt especially chilly.
I know better than anyone how cowardly and irresponsible my actions are.
At the very last step, at the most important moment, I pushed everything onto her.
No, it was even more cowardly than simply pushing it off.
I had already decided on the one answer, and simply made it look like a choice, handing it to her.
Now, in the stillness where she can’t argue, can’t persuade, can’t beg, she’ll be left alone to pick the answer I’d already chosen.
All I could do was laugh at my own pathetic cowardice and selfish double standards.
I don’t fully trust her feelings, yet I use them to guide things to the result I want.
Even as I feel guilty about her misunderstanding, I use it however I need, whenever I need.
What else could I call this side of myself?
Lowell would never have done this.
Nor would the other companions.
No, they wouldn’t have even thought of it.
Even after being surrounded by such dazzling light for so long, is this really all I amount to?
…Is something troubling you?
Duru Satal’s reluctant question snapped me back to my senses.
Honestly, I’d completely forgotten about his presence.
“I’m fine. Well, to be honest, I doubt you were really curious anyway.”
-…Shall I call for Granviphra?
“Please do.”
I hadn’t found the other two managers, and I didn’t have anything particular to say to him, but it was only proper to say goodbye before leaving.
Just because I’d extended him a favor once—and even given a decent reward—didn’t mean he’d always be friendly toward me.
Duru Satal seemed to have restored his consciousness network somewhat since last night.
Otherwise, his exposed brain wouldn’t have been covered by earth again.
Although the surrounding dirt was a different color and there was still no grass, so his brain was still quite obvious, time would take care of that.
Compared to before, he was a pitiful sight, so it took quite a while for my message to reach Granviphra.
According to Duru Satal, Granviphra was traveling through the main areas and places with his clones, proclaiming his return to the entire forest.
Of course, with the managers gone—or even if they remained—there was no one in this forest who would dare deny that fact, but given the sheer size of the place, it seemed to be taking a long time.
…He’ll be here soon.
While waiting for Granviphra to arrive, I called for Eril.
For a moment, the thought crossed my mind that Baglos might be lurking in the shadows around the inn, waiting for me to arrive.
Yeah, maybe that’s the case.
Maybe he’s already rounded up that Raje fellow and all the others, just waiting for me to show up.
Eril landed in front of me, her beak stained with violet juice.
With most of the monsters hiding in the forest after sensing Granviphra’s resurrection, she hadn’t been able to enjoy much real fun, but it looked like she’d found a fruit she liked.
“Right. I haven’t forgotten my promise. The Maracas Fruit, and the liquor made from it. I remember.”
She reminded me of the promise I made when we caught the Black Wyvern.
“I’ll look for it as soon as we arrive in Feltecheryu.”
Feltecheryu wasn’t exactly close to where Maracas Fruits grew, but if I looked, I could probably find some Maracas Fruit Liquor.
-Did you rest well?
Then Granviphra arrived.
Even though only a day had passed, he’d already grown considerably.
Though the shine of his jewel-like scales had dulled a bit, his body was now about as large as Eril’s, and his aura was much stronger.
“Yes. Have you heard anything about the other two?”
-As you said, it looks like they ran away.
My clones are searching for their traces now, so if you can wait a few days…
“I’d like to, but I have something I need to deal with first.”
-You’re leaving now?
“Yes. Honestly, I’m already quite late, so I can’t afford to delay any longer.”
-Then, will you leave those two to me?
I sensed a strange anticipation rising in his consciousness.
If I left it to him, those two would likely not survive.
Honestly, I wanted to just tell him to keep them alive.
Unlike Duru Satal, who couldn’t move, the other two would probably make excellent summoned beasts, on par with Eril.
But having seen Granviphra hatch, and how quickly he was growing stronger, I was hesitant to insist on just my own position.
“If you find them before I return, you may do as you wish.”
Since we’d already made a promise, he wouldn’t break it now.
But if the time spent holding them captive increased, so would his anger toward the two managers, and that could negatively affect our future relationship.
I might return before he found the other two, and if he dealt with them before I got back, he’d owe me again—either way, I wouldn’t lose out.
-Thank you.
If it comes to that, I’ll be sure to repay you in another way.
“Then, I’ll see you later. For now, do as you have until now, and obey Lord Granviphra.”
Not forgetting to give that order to Duru Satal, I mounted Eril’s back.
With Granviphra and Duru Satal seeing us off, Eril soared high into the sky.
“Hahaha. What a delightful sight.”
Raje, sitting in his chair, looked down with a smug smile at Baglos, who was kneeling before him.
It had already been hours, but Baglos hadn’t moved a muscle, and Raje had spent those hours simply gazing at him.
Of course, this wasn’t like the masked man, who’d tried to sense something strange.
He was simply, genuinely savoring this moment.
“You’ll never know how long I’ve dreamed of this moment.”
A black crystal still glimmered in his hand.
There are two main ways to control a chimera.
One is like the Summoners do, engraving a mark into its core during the manufacturing process.
The other is using various restriction spells or mind control spells.
Most magicians and chimera creators use both methods together for stable control.
And within those spells and engravings, the creator always includes their own unique codes and formulas to prevent other magicians or sorcerers from stealing control or ownership of the chimera.
The black crystal in his hand now contained such a code.
It made the chimera accept the owner’s will as the creator’s will, and activated all the restriction and mind-manipulation spells placed on it.
As the masked man had said, it was a crude thing, to the point that you could only guess its effect from the target’s reaction.
But Raje seemed to have not a shred of doubt.
“I don’t know if you remember, but I met you once in person during a mission.”
That was before the Demon King Thanatos appeared on earth, right when the Order of High Assassins Guild was starting to gain influence in the underworld.
“I hadn’t yet earned the title of Supreme Assassin, since it was before the great war, but a dozen top assassins—and several mid-level assassins, including myself, just in case—were dispatched as well. That’s how important the commission was for the guild.”
It was an assassination mission: the target was to eliminate the second successor of some kingdom while he was traveling.
It was not only a top-grade job, but the reward for success was the highest ever since the guild’s founding.
A dozen Supreme Assassins and a dozen mid-level ones.
The target, as the kingdom’s second successor, had a large escort and skilled knights, but in truth, it was a job that couldn’t fail.
“No one doubted success. The Supreme Assassins were all competing over who would take the target’s head first to get a bigger share, and the rest of us kept our heads down to avoid offending them.”
They were certain of victory.
They used the cover of night to launch a surprise attack on the target’s tent.
There was some rivalry among them, but they were professionals.
There were no amateur mistakes or interference, and the guards standing outside lost their lives without even raising an alarm.
Swords, spells, hidden weapons, poison, whips, fists.
Each had their own style, but all were equally specialized in killing.
“It was like a play on a stage. Even if you work in this business for years, it’s impossible to see so many Supreme Assassins’ techniques at once.”
Of course, assassins don’t usually reveal their skills.
Especially not to their peers in the same industry, who might one day become their rivals or enemies.
Let alone their secret techniques—seeing those with your own eyes is not just rare, it’s almost impossible, except in a life-or-death showdown.
But at that time, in that place, even if not their ultimate moves, all kinds of Supreme Assassins’ techniques were on display at once.
“Though I had no place on that stage, nor even the right to interfere, I didn’t mind just being a spectator that time.”
As he said, the mid-level assassins were nothing more than spectators or errand boys—no more, no less.
In the stillness, the assassins reached the target’s tent, moving cautiously but quickly enough to outpace their rivals, and dove inside.
“It was almost simultaneous, but there was a group that entered first: ‘Handman,’ ‘Lord Poison,’ and ‘Mantis Lady.’ Even if they weren’t as infamous as Baglos, who crawls in the night, all three were legendary Supreme Assassins.”
Many assassins and informants gathered under the name of the Order of High Assassins Guild for stable income and a living, but those three were different.
They were big enough to earn huge rewards on their own, but as the upper echelons and powerful figures of various nations began to dominate the guild, they joined with the calculation that they could stand at the center of power themselves.
If they’d made their move a little sooner, they probably would have ruled the guild in reality.
“We, and even the other Supreme Assassins, thought the job was done. But there was one thing we didn’t know: the target already knew he’d become the Order of High Assassins Guild’s target.”
The three assassins who entered the tent died instantly.
They were all skilled and experienced, but they were helpless before the black shadow that reached out to them.
Their swords, their poisons, their whips—none of it could block the shadow.
“The target found the surest way to stop the Order of High Assassins Guild.”
Waiting for them in the tent was Baglos, hired to protect the target.
Maybe if they’d moved a little faster to get inside, or if they’d guessed what was waiting for them, they might have survived a few dozen seconds longer.
But they didn’t.
They didn’t know who was in front of them.
No, more than that—they didn’t even realize that the weapons they raised couldn’t stop the enemy’s attack.
Even as their vital points were pierced and consciousness faded, they were still thinking about their next move.
“What followed wasn’t like a play—it was a nightmare in the dead of night. You came out of the tent and slaughtered the Supreme Assassins one by one. The ones outside held out a little longer, but it was only a matter of time.”
The second group of assassins, thinking they were a little late, instinctively sensed something was very wrong when they saw the figure bursting from the tent.
They gave it their all.
Not caring that their rivals were watching, they unleashed every secret technique they had.
Endless hidden weapons erupted from the darkness, double-bladed swords, mirrors that cursed their foes, all sorts of artifacts and strange techniques unfolded in the night.