Chapter 97: The Assassin of Chenaerus (4)

"Was it you?"

Since it had become a topic of conversation, it was natural that he knew. Even Lüderen, whom I met in the morning, started with that story.

The captain of the guard said that the assassin was not an easy target and would likely be a formidable opponent beyond imagination.

I am an assassin, so he wasn't wrong. Except for warning me to be careful, everything he said was true.

I didn't expect Erendil to suspect me. After all, I didn't show any unusual behavior.

Was it the insight of someone who can see the truth?

I thought for a moment. There was no way to lie to Erendil. I decided to tell the truth.

"Yes. I did it."

Erendil's eyes widened slightly, but he didn't seem greatly surprised. It seemed he had expected it.

"How did you know?"

"I had a feeling. A person with outstanding physical strength and high-level magic. It was possible with the mystic arts, so I wondered. Besides, wasn't it your day off?"

That's true. Perhaps because it was Erendil, he immediately thought of me.

He knows that I am a spy and possess mystic arts.

Ordinary people would find it hard to guess about me. While my physical strength is understandable, it's the magic that makes it difficult.

I have learned basic magic, but I have never used it.

"What was the reason? As far as I know, they were not on the side of your brothers."

"It was for the Princess, the Empire, and this continent."

I looked Erendil straight in the eye. He would see the truth in my words.

A hint of doubt appeared on his small, gentle face.

"However, you must not tell anyone, not even the Empress."

"Even my mother?"

"This is something even Haisen doesn't know."

Erendil tilted his head, seemingly unsure.

"Did you act alone?"

"Yes."

I think I have gained quite a bit of trust under Erendil through Haisen.

I felt it was time to tell Erendil some of the truth. Given that the Empress has sided with the demon worshippers, a warning was necessary.

"The place I belong to is not Haisen, and my heart is not with them. My hope is for the Princess to ascend to the throne of the Emperor."

Erendil's mouth opened wide. He seemed more surprised by this than when he learned I was an assassin.

"I don't understand."

"..."

"Indeed. You have been like this since the first day. You said that becoming Emperor would save more people. Is that not correct?"

"Yes."

Erendil, who had regained his composure, looked me in the eye. It felt as if he could read my thoughts, perhaps because he can see the truth.

"You will say that the people you killed were for that reason."

"That's right."

"By any chance, do you know the future?"

The question was sharp, though not intentional. If he had asked if I could see the future, I could have said no.

"I cannot say."

In fact, I was worried that this statement might make Erendil think I knew the future.

However, I had already made up my mind. I couldn't lie to Erendil, who can see the truth, though I couldn't provide all the details.

"There is one thing that bothers me. I wonder if the calamity Feorn spoke of in Tenorius is the same as what you are worried about."

"Perhaps."

"Perhaps?"

"I cannot be certain, as the words of the shaman were heard by the Founding Emperor."

Erendil sighed lightly, perhaps feeling frustrated.

"There seems to be something. What exactly do you know? Have you met the shaman?"

Hmm. I hadn't thought of this, but Erendil's words seemed to provide a good excuse.

I was already considering how to release the information, so this was a stroke of luck.

"Yes. I met her a year ago."

"Did you hear the prophecy?"

"Your Highness, there are demon worshippers in this continent."

I affirmed Erendil's statement with an introduction. He seemed surprised and asked for clarification.

"Demon worshippers?"

"Those who worship the demon that the Founding Emperor defeated."

"I know that, but are there really people who believe in such nonsense?"

"Not only do they exist, but their influence is significant. Before meeting Your Highness, I have encountered them several times in the north and west."

I briefly explained my experiences in the north and west and mentioned that the people I killed were demon worshippers.

Erendil seemed skeptical. It was a shocking revelation.

Even if he could see the truth in my words, it was a difficult situation to accept.

"But if that's the case, shouldn't the Empire know?"

"I suspect that the people the Empire's intelligence agency cultivated have become uncontrollable."

"Hmm..."

"Through this incident, I confirmed that the people who set off the bomb the other day were also demon worshippers."

Erendil frowned.

"Is that true?"

"I heard it clearly."

"Very well. I believe you. You don't seem to be lying to me."

Erendil looked up at the sky, lost in thought for a moment. I waited.

"Was what you heard from the shaman related to them?"

"Similar."

"Interesting. I only knew that there were strange people called shamans. It's quite a coincidence that you and the Founding Emperor heard similar things."

While I intentionally led him to this conclusion, it was a reasonable thought.

"And both prophecies assume that I will become Emperor."

"Is the burden heavy?"

"To be honest, a little. I only wanted to become Emperor because I thought I was better than my brothers."

"I will help you."

"That is somewhat reassuring."

Erendil smiled.

"Although I have dealt with it, they were targeting you. Whether it's recruitment or an attack, be cautious if anyone says something suspicious."

"Understood."

Erendil nodded, looking at me with a slightly unfamiliar expression.

"Why do you look at me like that?"

"I am surprised. I knew you were capable, but to kill so many people in one night. I realized there are many aspects of you I don't know."

"Are you disappointed?"

"No. You did it for me, didn't you?"

The trust I had built and the truth in my words made Erendil accept it more easily than expected.

It was fortunate. Erendil picked up his sword.

"Let's resume the training. If the break is too long, it will look strange. I also feel like I'm about to break through recently."

"I will do my best in the training."

* * *

"The situation is a mess."

In the capital of the Empire, a man muttered in a house in Chenaerus. He was Hepate, the special mission leader of the Empire's intelligence agency.

Despite standing still, he felt surrounded.

For a spy, information is the most important thing. But it can also be dangerous.

He had just heard information that he would have been better off not knowing.

"Crazy bastard."

Belion, the intelligence chief in charge of the north, had caused a major incident.

He had cultivated demon worshippers.

The root cause could be traced back to the Empire's intelligence director.

However, the director had only given the order to create an external organization to cause chaos in other kingdoms.

The goal was to ensure that the Empire's name did not come up if the external organization was caught.

A group that could act on the Empire's behalf without knowing who their leaders were. In other words, disposable pawns.

This was a method the Empire's intelligence agency had used historically. But Belion had gone too far and created demon worshippers.

In a short time, they had become a significant force.

'He's gone too far. Demon worshippers? A lunatic.'

Worse, when reporting to the Empire, he didn't mention demon worshippers. He only said it was a new organization.

If it had stopped there, it wouldn't have been a big problem. As long as they could kill people effectively, it didn't matter if they used swords or axes.

The problem was that Belion himself had become a demon worshipper. His current location was unknown.

Even the number of people in the Empire's intelligence agency who had defected to his side was uncertain.

Belion was a capable person within the agency and had many followers.

The intelligence director, Duke Schweik, had called Hepate today to discuss the issue. He was ordered to find a solution.

Hepate knew about the demon worshippers but only just learned that they were created by the group he belonged to.

'That old man must be senile.'

Despite the mess, Duke Schweik refused to reveal the truth.

If the Emperor found out, his head would be on the line.

Three years ago, he claimed to have seen a long-awaited grandson. The Duke was very attached to his life.

For Hepate, it was a frustrating situation.

He wanted to go to the Emperor and report, but he couldn't.

Duke Schweik would have placed someone to watch him. Going to the palace would mean certain death.

'More seriously, this old man, who pretends to be wise and sharp, doesn't even know that his secretary is close to Belion.'

On paper, the secretary had no connection to Belion, but Hepate knew they were quite close.

Belion had saved the secretary's life when he was in the special mission team.

Is the secretary still loyal to the Empire? That was too optimistic.

Given that the secretary knew he had obtained information, it was likely that Belion also knew.

'He could be killed at any time.'

Hepate, who had been rising through the ranks in the intelligence agency, was now in a precarious position.

Escape is a matter of intelligence.

Belion and Hepate knew each other. Hepate would guess that he wouldn't stay under Duke Schweik.

He needed to act quickly.

But escaping alone was a bad move. Both the Empire's intelligence agency and the demon worshippers would target him.

He needed to find a protector.

Hepate immediately thought of Duke Brucek, the intelligence director of Haisen. It was his only way out.

'I'm glad I delayed it.'

After helping Duke Brucek last time, he hadn't received any reward yet.

Hepate was confident that Duke Brucek would accept him. He was not without talent.

Hepate immediately picked up a pen.

This communication was not risky. He had a direct line to Duke Brucek.

The problem was...

Whether Duke Brucek would respond to his request before the demon worshippers.

* * *

A week passed. Kallin took one of his three rest days off and used the other two to kill Viscount Shibban and a few others.

His wounds had not fully healed, but it was enough. He decided to lay low for a while.

There were still people he needed to kill, but if someone died every time he had a rest day, he would become a prime suspect.

There was an additional benefit. As he finished the assassination, the system message announced a level up.

'Plot lv10 with the [Blade in the Dark] trait. One more and I get an additional value trait?'

For a week, all the newspapers in the Empire covered the assassin. The impact was enormous.

Most of the victims were well-known figures like nobles, knights, and merchants.

The prominent figures in the capital were trembling in fear of the assassin.

There was no connection between the victims.

If there had been a common thread, such as a specific event, organization, or faction, it would have been different.

Without a common thread, they feared the assassin could strike at any time.

They hired knights and mercenaries and suddenly started doing charitable acts.

Of course, Kallin paid no attention.

'Withholding information is no longer useful.'

Instead, he made a decision.

Given that the demon worshippers were moving quickly and persistently, he decided to respond in kind.

On the day he made this decision, Kallin suddenly mentioned something to Phiri during a report.

- I heard that none of the three princes are the Emperor's children. An investigation is needed.