Surviving as the Emperor's Assassin

Chapter 11. I Was Stupid.

“Instinct……”

This was hard to judge.

Coincidence?

No, there were too many things I didn't know about this world to simply dismiss it as coincidence.

In a world where monsters roam and things like black magic and magic exist, could there really be no such thing as psychic powers?

“Brother always told me not to act on instinct like that……”

The boy momentarily deflated.

The drop was significant given how energetic he was just moments ago, and I briefly wondered if I should console him.

“But I was able to meet you, Brother, so it turned out well, right!”

He recovered instantly.

The time he was downcast didn't even last two seconds.

‘Hmm.’

I roughly grasped how to handle this kid.

This boundless positive energy.

He wouldn't doubt much over ordinary things, and with a little prodding, he seemed likely to spill information readily.

A goose that lays golden eggs.

It's also the same in that when it's time to deal with it, just cutting open the belly will suffice.

“Yeah, welcome. But……”

Though we only exchanged a few words, there were already several things bothering me.

This kid spoke as if he knew Luke Ivers was planning to kill the Emperor.

Furthermore, the expression ‘didn't return’.

It was clear this kid had been with Luke Ivers until just before he killed the Emperor.

They didn't seem related by blood…….

‘He had companions.’

Indeed, how could he commit the enormous act of killing the Emperor alone?

There must have been companions who shared his goal.

And Luke, who abandoned this body, likely joined them.

“What about the others?”

I needed to figure out how to connect with them.

Using this kid might lead me to Luke.

“You know too, Brother?! Those guys don't tell me the details.”

The boy grumbled.

Looking closely, even the most crucial plan of abandoning the body wasn't properly conveyed to this kid either.

He was clearly treated as an outcast among the companions.

Having seen him only briefly, that decision was understandable.

Even if all information was given to such a scatterbrain, he wouldn't understand it properly, and would instead just become a source of leaks.

Now, conversely, I was curious why he was kept as a companion despite that.

“You really don't know anything?”

“Something about business in the western part of the Empire……. Since they pulled off a big job, they're definitely relocating the base, but I wasn't told where they're moving.”

When pressed further, the boy answered timidly.

“Then how were you planning to get back?”

“I thought if I was with you, Brother, it would somehow work out.”

Ah, this kid really has no plan whatsoever.

It seemed all he had were fragmented pieces of information overheard from others' conversations.

So it doesn't resolve easily, huh.

Contacting Luke's companion was certainly lucky, but not enough to completely change the current situation.

‘The harvest isn't entirely empty.’

Seeing how they moved immediately after the Emperor's death, I could guess they had already planned the next steps after killing the Emperor.

Killing the Emperor itself wasn't the goal, but a process.

This alone was enough.

It meant I had a chance to screw Luke over.

He'd surely love it if I threw ashes on the final stage of his plan.

Just imagining that expression felt incredibly satisfying.

* * *

‘Truthfully, even if I had information now, I couldn't use it.’

What could I, lacking ability and money, do even if I found Luke's base?

Confronting Luke, who had taken over a new body, wouldn't even scare him; he'd probably just scoff.

Moreover, Luke even had companions, making it like hitting a rock with an egg.

I needed to take more time, gather strength, and acquire information.

Having companions would be nice, of course, but finding people willing to cooperate seemed unlikely.

The Empire, having lost its Emperor, might align with the goal of getting back at Luke…… but approaching them, they might not even give me a chance to speak before sending me to the execution block.

“Life is lonely.”

A sigh escaped involuntarily.

“Why is your life lonely, Brother! You have me!”

The boy snapped back at my lament.

His proud, chest-puffed declaration wasn't reassuring at all.

Based on his statements so far, he knew nothing and was prone to impulsive actions based on hunches at critical moments.

“……Being alone seems better.”

This kid seemed utterly unhelpful.

“That's harsh! You were always like that!”

Luke must have said harsh things to his face too.

Unintentionally, this became a reason for the kid to firmly believe I was Luke.

“Tsk……”

Probing further might yield more information, but mishandling things I was supposed to know could lead to unnecessary suspicion or accidents.

‘Maybe I should deal with him quickly?’

I heard what I needed to hear, and if he's no longer helpful, he's just a risk factor.

Eliminating him to prevent potential problems might be safer.

The justification was sufficient.

He tried to climb the wall without permission.

No one would care about this kid's death.

“Brother! I'm not the same person I used to be! I trained hard in the swordsmanship you taught me, and now people don't say I'm useless anymore!”

The boy spoke urgently, sensing the deliberation in my gaze.

I looked into the boy's eyes.

Moist pupils, like a rain-soaked puppy's.

Eyes that knew they could be abandoned anytime, seeking acknowledgment of their usefulness.

“Swordsmanship?”

The topic the boy brought up sparked quite a bit of interest.

“Yes! You told me swordsmanship was my only talent, Brother, so I had to strive constantly!”

Swordsmanship, swordsmanship, huh.

Did Luke Ivers teach his own swordsmanship?

Luke's swordsmanship was learned from the Sword Saint.

Meaning, the sword style this boy learned was also the Sword Saint's.

I happened to need a swordsmanship teacher.

“Alright, then let's see how much your skills have improved.”

Just seeing it wouldn't allow immediate mastery, but it would be much better than learning the sword without any reference material.

Besides, if it was the swordsmanship Luke used, the body would be familiar with it, making this the best opportunity.

“Yes! I'll show you right away!”

As soon as the words left my mouth, the boy drew his sword.

He looked ready to demonstrate his swordsmanship immediately.

“Not now. After the request is finished.”

There's an order to things.

This kid had already caused considerable delay.

Spending more time checking swordsmanship and whatnot would surely raise suspicion.

“Request……?”

The boy tilted his head as if surprised.

“I'm working as a mercenary now. I'll be staying here for a while.”

I had to stay here at least until the mercenary tag was issued.

“Ah! A cover identity! Then I need to make an alias too!”

The boy's eyes widened, and he nodded repeatedly. Seeing that, I felt a headache coming on.

“Are you a wanted criminal? Is someone chasing you?”

“No?”

“Are you famous?”

“No?”

He answers questions really well.

“Then why create a new identity?”

As far as I could tell, this idiot wasn't smart enough to deceive others.

Even if he used an alias now, it would surely be exposed quickly.

Doing so would only needlessly increase others' suspicion.

Hiding one's identity is practically proof of having something dishonest to conceal.

“Huck!”

Finally realizing he didn't need to disguise his identity, the boy stared at me with his mouth agape.

“I cannot possibly follow your wisdom, Brother! From now on, I will trust and follow your words!”

Are you sure I'm the only one whose wisdom you can't follow?

There were many things I wanted to say, but I just silently looked at this pitiful creature.

“By the way, do you have money?”

Information was a bust, swordsmanship was still unknown whether it was a win or loss.

Then what remained was the material aspect.

If he had a lot of money, perhaps this cheerful fellow would willingly offer it to me.

“Enough to get by for a few days!”

The boy took out a pouch of coins from his clothes.

Peeking inside, it really only contained enough for about a week's worth of food and lodging.

“Should have brought more, shouldn't you?”

I returned the pouch directly to the boy.

If there had been a lot, maybe, but taking this felt like mugging a middle schooler on the street, so I couldn't bring myself to accept it.

“I forgot because I left in a hurry.”

The boy grinned sheepishly.

How can you grin?

What would he have done if his hunch was wrong and he didn't meet me? I couldn't fathom.

“You need to earn money too. Let's be mercenaries together.”

I grabbed the boy's shoulder.

Feed and house this kid with my own money until I steal his swordsmanship?

Can't have that.

Boy, become a mercenary.

* * *

“Hm?! Uh……. Did the talk go well?”

As the boy and I approached, Pinis, who had been waiting at a distance, jolted.

I thought her eyes were open, but she must have been dozing off.

With eyes the size of peas, it's really hard to tell.

“Yes. It happened because this kid misunderstood a minor detail.”

I wrapped an arm around the boy's shoulder as if showing off our closeness.

The boy looked at me as if deeply moved.

This brat, act natural.

“How do you misunderstand things enough to climb a wall……?”

Pinis raised a valid question.

Indeed, hearing just this, it sounded like nonsense on the level of accidentally boiling ramen after waking up from sleep.

“I couldn't find the gate!”

The boy answered confidently.

“This kid, is he missing something upstairs?”

Pinis asked, tapping the boy's head lightly.

I was dumbfounded when I heard that story too.

He somehow reached Dejong by chance, somehow couldn't find the gate, foolishly tried to climb the wall, and I happened to be right there.

Whether that was really just a coincidence, I didn't know…….

“He's a bit like that.”

Even empty words couldn't describe him as smart.

He didn't seem to be hiding his intentions with lies.

“He says he'll use the gate from now on if we let him off this time. No need to overthink it. If we drop him outside, he'll come through the gate.”

“Please!”

The boy bowed deeply.

Anyone could see his sincerity.

“Yeah, well……. Then it's not a problem. And he's Ben's acquaintance.”

Pinis clearly didn't want to get involved.

The fact that I knew him also played a part.

“Thank you. This kid says he wants to become a mercenary too, so we'll probably see each other often.”

As the person with the most problematic identity myself, I felt a slight pang, but all's well that ends well.

“I'm Pol!”

The boy introduced himself energetically.

Thanks to that, I learned the boy's name too.

Pol. Pol, huh.

An easy name to remember.

“Uh, yeah……. We need to finish our request, so go on ahead.”

Whether still half-asleep or just annoyed, Pinis waved Pol away.

“Brother! Then I'll wait at the Mercenary Guild!”

Pol jumped down inside the wall in one go and shouted cheerfully.

“Yeah. See you later.”

I gave a light wave towards his retreating figure.

Once Pol was far away, it felt like the world had become quiet.

‘There’s no way to shut that kid's mouth, is there…….’

A sudden wave of fatigue washed over me.