Chapter 52

"Is my 'Black Mist' not working...? But the uses of 'Black Mist' aren't just limited to this!"

Rin took a deep breath.

Then he blew it out, directing it at a single point of the 'Sky Canopy' that surrounded him.

A sizzling sound, like something burning, could be heard as the air barrier began to melt.

He must be concentrating the poison to dissolve it.

Hmm, even though my barrier's defensive capabilities are low, to be able to break through it...

It's probably because the poison is magic-based, so it works against magic as well.

"Ha!"

Kicking through the thinned air barrier, Rin leaped out of the barrier.

Even more black mist, enough to obscure his form, spewed out from his body.

"Alright then."

The sound of Rin's feet hitting the ground echoed through the mist.

When the mist cleared, Rin was nowhere to be seen.

"Wow, impressive disappearing act."

It seems the poison he emits from his body can be controlled to some extent.

There are various ways to use it.

Moreover, with those movements, it's no wonder Silfa is having a hard time.

But if I search for the blank presence, I can tell where Rin is hiding.

...He seems to be running underground.

"Let's chase him! Lord Lloyd!"

"Oh, Grimor, you're awake?"

"Of course, with all that commotion, how could I not wake up?! Hurry up, or he'll get away!"

Despite Grimor's urgent voice, I placed my hand on my chin and nodded.

"...There's no need to rush. Let's leave him be for a while."

"But..."

"It's more efficient to hear it all at once rather than from one person."

"?"

Grimor looked at me with a question mark.

Rin's presence, which had been moving, was now stopping.

Probably around 100 meters underground in the center of the town.

That must be the location of the assassin guild.

I let him escape on purpose, thinking he would definitely return to his hideout.

Since there are similar assassins, I can get more information from them rather than just Rin.

Everything is going according to plan.

"Ah, I see... all at once, huh."

"He can use such an amazing technique alone. His companions must have interesting techniques too!"

Hehehe, I'm getting excited.

Suppressing my excitement, I flew towards the night city.

In the middle of the city, with no lights, I came directly above the blank presence and opened my palm wide.

"■■■, ■■■"

Using a double incantation of spell bundles, I activated the combined magic of the earth system spells 'Rock Boring' and 'Mudification'.

The ground beneath my feet softened, and my body slowly sank into it.

By combining the spell that shatters rock to create a path underground and the spell that softens the ground like mud, I can sink into the ground by my own weight.

This way, the damage to the city is minimal, and I won't be detected by those underground.

Incidentally, a barrier is deployed around me, so my clothes won't get dirty, and I can breathe.

As I sank deeper, the blank presence drew closer.

"You failed!?"

A loud shattering sound of glass echoed.

Whoa, I was startled.

I thought I had been detected, but it seems different.

I stopped falling using 'Levitation' and peeked out from the ceiling.

Below, in a large room with stone tiles, there were five people, three men and two women.

One was a woman filing her nails on a sofa, a mysterious beauty with white hair and a white robe, with numerous scars visible on her skin through the gaps in the robe.

Another was a young man with narrow eyes, skillfully stacking small wooden figurines to form a tower, with a creepy smile on his face.

Another was a man wearing a mask with a prominent beak like a crow. I wonder if that beak is in the way.

The bald, muscular man with a spider tattoo on his back was shouting angrily, his face fierce.

Across from him, with the shattered glass cup between them, was Rin, looking up coldly at the man.

"Be quiet, it's annoying. My eardrums are about to burst."

"Can you keep quiet about this?! Rin, not only did you get seen, but you failed to kill him too! I told you to stop sneaking into the castle!"

Those must be the other assassins.

I see, I can feel the same unique magic as Rin.

"But it was worth it. The mass production of magic swords, gathering of beasts... I think it's preparation for war. It's our turn to act."

"That's what I've been telling you! We don't need to do that anymore!"

The man pressed his temples, trying to suppress his frustration.

"We don't need to crush them anymore! How long do you plan to follow his orders obediently?! Get a grip, Jade is gone!"

At the man's words, Rin's previously calm expression changed.

"Jade isn't gone!"

The intensity of his words made the man take a step back.

Rin glared at the man, continuing in a strained voice.

"Jade showed us a new path as assassins to make the world right. This assassin guild exists for that! Our job now is to protect the place where Jade can return!"

"He's not coming back!"

"He will! He promised!"

The argument between the two intensified.

Still, Jade... I've heard that name somewhere.

"He's the leader who brought the assassins together."

"Oh, right."

More importantly, I want to see their techniques.

From the looks of it, if I leave them alone, they might start a battle.

The others might try to stop them, leading to a chaotic fight among the five.

This is a good opportunity to observe them.

I'll watch for a while longer.

"Hey, both of you, calm down."

The woman in white robes spoke up.

She looked up, and our eyes met.

"You're being watched."

At her words, everyone looked up at me.

"...Oh, you noticed?"

I wanted to see them all fight, but oh well.

I sighed and released 'Levitation', landing on the ground.