Chapter 609

“—vel?”

As her faint voice continued, the dagger directed at her forehead suddenly curved.

The dagger changed its direction and cut the right side of her hood. He could see blood flowing from her cheek through the gap that was made. However, she only stared at Juvel, not even noticing the cut on her cheek.

“It’s Juvel. It really is my brother.’

She could tell just by seeing his eyes. The man in front of her was Juvel, her only brother.

“Who are you?”

Juvel glared at her in a frightening manner, pointing his dagger at her neck.

“How do you know that name…?”

Just as he was about to shove the dagger even closer, Judiel took off the hood covering her head.

Clang.

The moment her face was revealed, Juvel dropped his dagger from his hand.

“J-Judiel…?”

Juvel also noticed that she was his one and only sister the moment he saw her, and his teeth clattered violently.

“Are you really my sister?”

“Juvel.”

Judiel bit her lip tightly and hugged Juvel. She didn’t care what situation they were in, nor what Juvel was trying to do. The emotions that she’d been continuously holding back for such a long time burst out at once, and she couldn’t control herself anymore.

“Juvel, Juvel.”

She clenched her hands, murmuring her brother’s name over and over. She didn’t want to let him go ever again.

“Uhh…”

Juvel stroked her back with his trembling hand and closed his eyes.

‘This is the scent of my sister…’

He could smell the same fragrance as the one he’d felt when he slept in his sister’s embrace during childhood.

It wasn’t as mild as a flower nor as sweet as a fruit nor as pure as grass.

It was a warm fragrance, similar to a blanket dried under the sunlight. Tears flowed from his eyes because he’d thought he would never be able to smell that gentle fragrance again.

‘You’re still alive.’

His division leader had told him that his sister was still alive, but he didn’t trust him. He was still hanging on just in case, and they were unexpectedly reunited.

He wanted to stay like that forever, but he unfortunately didn’t have the time for that.

“Judiel.”

Juvel put his mellow mind together and separated himself from Judiel.

“Juvel, you really were alive…”

Tears continuously flowed down from Judiel’s eyes, her lips trembling. She seemed unable to control her emotions.

“I can’t do this right now.”

Juvel took the piece of paper that Judiel had dropped. He quietly removed the traces and brought her into his house.

“Haa…”

He spread his aura perception to examine the surrounding area and breathed out a sigh of relief after he confirmed that no one was there.

‘I’m glad I prepared in advance before the gathering time.’

It was the day of the assassination, but he still had some time until the gathering. It was a relief that he had some time until then.

“Hmm…”

Judiel finally returned to her senses and wiped her tears from her eyes, her face flushed.

“By the way, what were you trying to do?”

She swallowed nervously while looking at Juvel’s outfit.

“......”

Juvel took off the mask from his face and bit his lip.

‘Should I tell her that I’ve been living as an assassin…?’

He felt like Judiel would be too sad if he told her that he’d been killing people as an assassin. He didn’t want to make her sister cry anymore.

“It’s not time for that right now…”

He tried to change the topic, saying that he had no time for that, but Judiel’s lips twitched once again.

“I’ve been living as a spy.”

“What?”

Juvel widened his eyes upon hearing that she was a spy.

“My job was to live where my superior designated for me, steal their information, and report.”

Judiel smiled faintly while looking at Juvel.

“I don’t know what you were doing, but I didn’t want to extend my life by betraying people who believed in me.”

She covered her mouth with her trembling hand.

“I was trying to kill myself, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it when I thought about you. I received a new mission, thinking that I wanted to see your face one last time, and…”

Judiel’s eyes suddenly cleared.

“That’s how I met the person I’m serving now.”

“Are you serving someone? Is that a different person than the one who made us like this?”

“He’s completely different. He saved me.”

She nodded with a smile. Her smile was small but was coming from the bottom of her heart.

“Who is that?”

“......”

Judiel simply smiled without responding to him. She didn’t mention Raon’s name since it could be harmful to him if she or Juvel ended up dying there.

“What about you? How have you been living?”

“I…”

Juvel swallowed nervously and looked up to the ceiling. He lowered his gaze again and touched the black night outfit again.

“As you can see, I haven’t been leading an ordinary life. You said just now that you wanted to die after seeing me. I was the same.”

“......”

“I thought I should die after seeing if you were still alive.”

Judiel clenched her fist and listened to her brother without saying anything.

“Those bastards said that my sister has been living comfortably in a rich household…”

Juvel furrowed his brow while thinking about the division leader’s sly face.

“…I’ve been living as an assassin. I’ve killed nine people so far, and today is the tenth one. They said they would let me go after the tenth assassination, but it’s never going to happen.”

He sneered, having already guessed his future.

“Today?”

“Yes. It’s the Suran tribe. Killing everyone from there is our mission.”

“But the Suran tribe is famous even among the Beast Union. How could you…?”

“We’ve already finished the preparations. It’s dangerous, but it’s not going to fail.”

Juvel sighed, saying that there was a plan.

“Juvel.”

Judiel stood up and walked up to Juvel. She grabbed his hand and briefly nodded her head.

“Let’s run away. There’s no reason to stay here. We just need to escape and we can both survive.”

“......”

Juvel didn’t refuse Judiel’s hand but didn’t answer her either.

“Juvel?”

“I can’t go.”

He slowly shook his head.

“A large number of assassins are already hiding around Raven Village. If we tried to escape, we are going to end up dying before we even leave the village.”

Juvel sighed deeply and continued, “It’s a miracle that you managed to get all the way here. They must’ve missed you because they were busy preparing for the mission.”

Juvel let Judiel’s hand go and touched the wall next to the bed. The wall quietly opened up, and a small space appeared where a person could hide inside.

“You should hide here for now and return to where you were once you hear that the forest is on fire.”

“What are you talking about?! We need to leave together!”

“I told you, we will be found out if we escape together.”

He grabbed Judiel’s hand again. He suppressed his tears upon feeling her warmth and forced a smile onto his face.

“I’ll look for an opportunity to escape myself, so you should leave before me.”

Juvel pointed at the mountain that Judiel had come from.

“Wait up there. I’ll be there soon.”

“......”

Judiel didn’t insist anymore. She didn’t want to be separated again, but it wasn’t the time to say such a thing.

“Alright, I understand.”

She nodded and sat on the old bed. She patted the spot next to her with her with her hand and curved her lips into a smile, unbefitting of the situation.

“Let’s talk about the past for a moment.”

“Hmm…”

Juvel couldn’t bring himself to refuse that and sat next to Judiel.

“Do you remember how you couldn’t fall asleep back then without resting your head on my lap?”

“Wh-what are you talking about? It never happened!”

“But you asked me to give you my arm if I didn’t want to give you my knees.”

“No, I didn’t!”

The siblings only had a short time, but the smiles on their faces looked deeper than anything else.

* * *

Colin bowed at a small crystal ball. He was Juvel’s superior and the division leader of Phantom Assassins.

“The preparations are done. We’ve deployed all the personnel and concealed the ignition. We can start it exactly at the appointed time.”

The voice from the crystal ball offered a ‘good job’.

“It’s my job. By the way…”

Colin’s eyes flicked around as he licked his lips.

“Are you really going to abandon the entire third team?”

[They are just pawns that have been raised for a situation like this. It’s pointless to keep them alive since their brains have grown too much. Invest them all into the operation.]

The man from the crystal ball clearly refused Colin’s request, to the point where he almost sounded cruel.

“Understood.”

Colin immediately lowered his head since he was aware of the personality of the man on the other side of the crystal ball.

[See you soon, then.]

“Yes.”

Colin lowered his head and covered the ball, which wasn’t shining anymore. He reluctantly furrowed his brow, put on his mask, and left the cave where he’d been hiding.

“Division leader.”

The assassins who’d been waiting outside came in front of him and lowered their heads.

“What about the signal from the inside?”

“It hasn't happened yet.”

The first team leader, Bern, shook his head.

“Hmm…”

Colin furrowed his brow while looking up to the sky.

“I’ll go in to check it out real quick.”

“But we still have some time left.”

“I know. I’m just double-checking for the last time, so don’t mind me and wait.”

Colin hid inside the shadow and entered the village.

The assassins waiting inside and outside the village were waiting at the designated spots, implying that they were already ready.

He went to Juvel’s home located on the outskirts of the village, to finish the inspection. He was also using his concealment art in the designated place just like the others.

“Number 196.”

Colin was about to simply pass by, but he narrowed his eyes and stopped in front of Juvel’s home.

“Did you finish your preparations?”

* * *

“Yes, I did.”

Juvel swallowed nervously because of Colin’s sudden visit.

‘Why did he suddenly decide to come here?’

The mission was going to start soon. Since Colin had to order everyone from the center, Juvel couldn’t understand why he’d come all the way to him. A chill ran down his spine from the anxiety.

“Did you set up the firebombs?”

“I’ve done it perfectly. We just need to ignite it, and it should create an infernal cage that no one can escape from.”

“Good job.”

Colin nodded and looked at the floor in front of the house strangely.

‘What’s wrong with him? What is he thinking?’

He’d removed all the traces after letting his sister enter the house, yet Colin was smiling as if he knew something. His heart started to pound faster and faster.

“Let’s go inside and have a short talk about the third team’s plan.”

“What?”

Juvel narrowed his eyes while looking up at the sky.

“But the operation should start soon…”

“It’s fine. It won’t take that long.”

“…Understood.”

He calmly nodded to avoid suspicion and entered the room.

Colin sat on the chair next to the wall and leaned his back against it just like always. Fortunately, he was on the opposite side of the wall from where Judiel was hiding.

“Are you nervous?”

“Just a little…”

“You are rather cowardly, to be still nervous at the tenth operation.”

He curled his lips into a sneer.

“But you can do it. You haven’t failed so far, after all.”

“......”

Juvel didn’t respond, taking a quiet breath to relieve the tension in his heart.

“I promise you, this will be the last time. Once this matter is concluded, you should be able to meet your sister.”

“How am I supposed to trust you?”

“It’s up to you whether you trust me or not, but…”

Colin’s gaze shifted towards the wall next to Juvel.

“Who are you hiding over there?”

“Wh-what are you talking about…?”

“I noticed that you’ve hurriedly removed the traces in front of your home.”

“What’s the problem with that? Of course I would do that before a mission…”

“No. It would look stranger if you removed your traces from the home where you live.”

Colin sharply raised his chin and twisted his lips.

“And it’s going to burn anyway soon enough. I’m sure you aren’t aware, but I found a trace of a woman heading this way among the countless footsteps on the ground. She must have a similar occupation to us since the traces were rather faint, but there’s no way I would miss it.”

He smiled while looking at the wall next to him as if he already knew everything.

“Come out.”

Colin grabbed the dagger’s blade with his fingers and pulled it behind his shoulder.

“This is your last warning.”

“Haa…”

Juvel touched the wall while biting his pale lip. The wall opened up silently, and Judiel came walking out, wearing her robe again.

“Who is this woman?”

Colin grinned while looking at Judiel.

“I’m really curious who the woman you brought home is because you’ve never even gotten anywhere close to a woman after coming to this village.”

“She is…”

Juvel started to respond and suddenly punched the part right below where he’d touched. He carried Judiel in his arms, and immediately leaped outside the home, breaking through the window.

Whaam!

Red light sparked from the ceiling and the floor, causing a huge explosion.

Juvel and Judiel were sent flying by the explosion’s aftereffects and rolled on the ground.

“I-I’m sorry.”

Judiel looked at him with a trembling chin.

“No, it’s my fault. I should’ve taken into consideration that he is perverted enough to even see those traces. No, let’s not talk about it for now.”

Juvel helped Judiel stand up and shook his head.

‘I’m glad I prepared the fire.’

He had hidden the leftovers after setting them up near the Suran tribe, and it ended up saving his life.

But there was no way it was enough to kill Colin. He was definitely going to recollect himself soon enough and chase after them.

“He wouldn’t have died from that. We need to run away quickly.”

Even though he was suggesting that they run away, he didn’t seem to know where to go, and he could only bite his lip.

“Hey, you said you knew the entire area around the Suran tribe, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then let's go there.”

Judiel narrowed her eyes while looking at the dark forest.

“But there are assassins hiding in the forest path towards the Suran tribe! We are going to get caught before we arrive!”

“There are even more of them outside. That’s the only place we can go.”

She raised her finger and pointed at the bushes, which were pointing at the sky like blades.

“But…”

“You said that you know that forest better than anyone. I believe in you.”

It was a lesson she’d learned from Raon: without taking risks, rewards could not be obtained. It was time to turn the crisis into an opportunity.

“That forest is the only way we can survive.”

* * *

Raon furrowed his brow while emerging from the dimensional gate. His head was hurting from using the gate multiple times in a row.

“Nice to meet you.”

He was rubbing his temple from the headache when a blue-haired middle-aged man lowered his head at him. The calmness in his eyes was impressive.

“I’m a special agent of the Black Market, Liston.”

Raon could tell that he was the agent who used to be the assassin that Denning Rose had mentioned the moment he saw his sharp gaze.

“I’m Raon Zieghart.”

“I’ve heard a lot about your great deeds. I’m honored to meet you.”

Liston smiled in a disciplined manner.

“Can we depart right away since we don’t have much time?”

“What do you mean that there’s not much time…?”

“I saw that the assassins hiding in the village were getting ready to burn the forest. They are most likely going to make their move today or tomorrow. I wanted to get rid of the flames that they’ve set up, but I couldn’t easily make my move because too many people were watching.”

“No, that was a good decision.”

It could become a bigger issue if he recklessly touched it. It was better to let it happen for now and take care of the aftermath.

“Haa…”

Raon furrowed his brow deeply. Liston had said it was today or tomorrow, but they seemed to have finished their preparations, implying that they could act at any moment. They had to move as fast as possible to reach Raven Village.

“We really don’t have the time. Let’s depart.”

“I’m rather confident in my footwork. Are you going to be okay?”

“Please go at full speed.”

Liston nodded and softly pushed at the land. Despite the cheerful movement of his legs, his body rushed at a frightening speed.

He was indeed fast enough to be proud of his footwork.

Thud!

Raon used the Supreme Harmony Steps while watching Liston’s back. Even though he only took a step, his shoulder was already next to Liston’s.

“Huh…?”

Listen parted his lips, surprised at how fast Raon was moving.

“You can accelerate further.”

Raon nodded, showing that he still had room to spare.

“Ugh.”

Liston bit his lip and increased the speed, but Raon easily caught up to him right away.

As he ran with Liston, who was looking more and more dead, he could see that smoke was rising from afar.

The village was being engulfed in a huge flame.

“That’s…”

“I-it’s that village. They’ve already started!”

Liston widened his eyes to the unexpected situation.

“I’ll go ahead.”

“What?”

Raon didn’t wait for his response and violently kicked the ground. Along with the sound of the land tearing apart, his body dashed forward while distorting the space.

“Wh-what?”

Liston dropped his jaw upon seeing that Raon had literally turned into a red ray of light.

“What is that footwork…?”

Raon ignored Liston’s reaction and advanced while crushing the path, reaching Raven Village’s entrance.

“Kyaaah!”

“F-fire takes priority! Extinguish the fire!”

“We’re getting water from the river!”

He thought there might be a scene of slaughter, but it wasn’t the case. The village was on fire all over the place, and the people were trying to extinguish it.

“W-wait! You can’t go that way!”

“It’s fine.”

Raon shook his head at the old man who tried to stand in his way and went into the flames.

Upon examining the outskirts of the village, he could see corpses wearing masks and black outfits for night activities. They were hit on their chests with a dagger throw, but they hadn’t died instantly, implying that the perpetrator had hesitated.

Raon followed the corpses and looked at the forest, where an even bigger fire than the one in the village was raging.

He figured he would need to go there to figure out what was happening.

“Huff, huff…”

Liston arrived afterward and panted while coming up next to him. His eyes were filled with astonishment.

“Is that the direction of the Suran tribe?”

Raon narrowed his eyes, pointing in the direction where the assassins had moved. It was the location where the biggest flame was raging.

“Y-yes. It looks like what’s happening is different from our predictions.”

Liston swallowed nervously while looking at the corpses of the assassins.

As he said, the fact that the corpses of the assassins were there was a serious matter. He could ascertain that Judiel and Juvel had been reunited.

She is going ham!

Wrath grinned, finding it interesting.

‘They are in there, right?’

Indeed. They are moving together, but they seem to be in a lot of danger.

He told him that Judiel was still alive. He must’ve liked her toast a lot.

“I’ll be going in there. Please wait here, Sir Liston.”

Raon caught his breath and walked into the fiery forest.

“W-wait!”

Listen shook his head and stepped forward.

“The Suran tribe is extremely vigilant. Since the forest is on fire and there are assassins, they are definitely going to antagonize you, Sir Raon. Since you might be attacked from both sides if you get involved now, we should first examine the situation…”

“Not going there right now isn’t a choice for me.”

Raon gently pushed Liston back. The flame raging in his eyes was even more intense than the one in the forest.

“Because my subordinate is in there.”

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