Ch.130130. Nice to Meet You (2)

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Getting into Elphante was surprisingly simple.

Just join a group of transfer students who enter mid-semester.

Unlike typical educational institutions, the Imperial Academy constantly accepts students due to its enormous size. That’s what I’m exploiting.

Of course, they follow strict security procedures, but for someone who could forge credentials to infiltrate parts of the Imperial Palace if needed, this is child’s play.

‘…This is ridiculously easy.’

Inside the train compartment heading into Elphante, Serath sighed deeply at this thought.

At this point, I didn’t even need a fake student identity. I could just complete the mission in a day and return to the Holy Empire.

-Archlord, you’ll still need forged credentials. I’ll have them ready within a day.

If Bizla hadn’t insisted so strongly, I would have done exactly that long ago.

Yesterday’s conversation flashed through Serath’s mind.

-A student identity? Are you doubting my abilities?

-Not at all. I know your skills better than anyone.

-Then why go through this trouble for something I can finish in a day?

Bizla had fallen silent for a while before giving a bitter smile.

-…It’s just a precaution. Please consider it my way of being thorough.

Despite saying that…

She seemed certain it would be necessary.

As if she believed Serath couldn’t eliminate that man in one attempt.

As if she was convinced Serath would need to stay at the academy longer.

‘…I’m going to torment you when I return, Bizla.’

She should at least pay for not trusting her. Now that she’d made it this far, the mission was as good as complete.

These Imperial fools clearly couldn’t do anything right.

Especially when the “Imperial Palace” was involved.

She gave a cold smile while glaring at the imperial insignia on the flags lining the entrance to Elphante.

Trash.

That was the only assessment she could give them.

Before meeting the Pope and starting her new life, how deeply had she suffered because of them?

That night when the world was dyed completely “red.”

What the Imperial family did to her that day remained vividly etched in her mind.

‘…Not much longer, Serath.’

She calmed her hatred-filled heart, repeating to herself:

‘Soon. Very soon.’

Because the arrival of the savior who would eradicate those vermin and bring peace to the entire continent was imminent.

A truly sincere belief.

Only the Pope could bring equality and happiness to this rotten world.

‘Paradise will come to earth.’

The Pope’s “plan” would soon enter its final phase.

For now, following the Pope’s orders, removing obstacles took priority.

And for that, as always, she needed to “prepare for work” first.

“Haah-“

Closing her eyes with a deep sigh, she slowly circulated magical power from her core. Her consciousness settled.

Fundamentally, an assassin’s combat method prioritizes a single fatal strike that doesn’t even consider retreat or follow-up attacks.

And the foundation of such a method begins with erasing “emotions” to remain unmoved by anything.

Meditation to build mental barriers against feeling any compassion or mercy toward the “target.”

After this process, her already lethal attacks gain machine-like precision and terrifying focus.

How much time passed in this state?

[We are stopping. We are stopping. All students please remain seated.]

With that announcement, the train slowly entered the station.

As the train gradually came to a halt, Serath confirmed the position of the hidden weapon in her possession.

[Welcome to Elphante.]

She blended into the crowd pouring onto the platform with that broadcast.

The number of people was absurd, befitting the continent’s largest educational facility.

“…”

But even among them.

Thanks to her sharply honed senses, she immediately spotted her target.

A man exiting the train with a dazed expression.

Darwood Campbell.

He matched the description she’d been given perfectly.

“…”

Taking a deep breath, Serath began moving through the dense crowd where there was barely room to step.

Shadow Treading.

Even through this massive crowd, she moved smoothly with precise steps, cutting through like water.

This was a basic technique for assassins to blend with crowds and move unnoticed, but the level she displayed was almost supernatural.

Despite moving in a different direction from everyone else in this crowd, nobody properly “recognized” her presence.

Like a ghost. As if she alone floated in this space.

She chose a location that no assassin would normally select because she was that confident.

Whether the sun was high in the sky or the target stood in the middle of a plaza, she could kill without being detected by anyone. That’s what makes a Grand Assassin.

So.

It was surprising that the man was looking around with a puzzled expression.

As if he sensed someone was targeting him.

“…!”

Then.

Darwood Campbell looked around with a tense expression, as if he’d sensed something. An impressive ability to detect danger.

But. It was already too late. He was within range.

Serath reached into her garment.

She readied the blade. She only needed a fraction of a second.

And, just as she was about to strike.

The target’s face came into her view.

“…”

And at that moment.

The blade stopped.

It happened before she could properly process it.

‘…?’

Serath stared blankly at her hand.

‘…Why?’

She couldn’t understand.

There was no reason to stop.

It was as if.

Before her mind could recognize it, her “body” instinctively refused.

As if telling her that she absolutely must not harm this man.

That she would surely regret it.

And following that.

“…!”

Serath’s eyes widened.

She felt a sensation surging fiercely from beneath her consciousness.

Having erased all other emotions, she felt it even more acutely.

Like a drop of ink falling into the still water of her consciousness, an “emotion” was spreading.

Despite pouring immense magical power to leave nothing but “reason”…

The Grand Assassin.

The consciousness of someone who could proudly claim to be second to none on the continent in maintaining a sharp mental state.

In an instant, it turned pure white.

Just from seeing the face of the man before her.

She felt an unstoppable “pounding” in her heart.

“…Huh?”

The word escaped her lips.

It was an involuntary utterance born of unavoidable confusion.

“…”

And perhaps because of it.

Darwood Campbell quickly turned his head toward her.

“…uh, uh…”

And the moment their eyes met.

Serath, her face turning bright red, unconsciously stepped backward.

Her whole body trembled. Heat rushed to her face. Her heart pounded wildly.

All from just meeting his eyes.

She wanted to flee this place immediately. She simply couldn’t continue facing him.

The pounding in her heart was now becoming unbearably loud.

“…!”

And then, Serath, failing to notice a protruding stone, stepped on it and fell.

Even dropping the dagger she was holding.

Not even an amateur would make such a mistake.

An error so elementary it was hard to believe it was committed by someone who had reached a level only two people in the world had attained.

Then, as the dagger hit the ground with a metallic sound, everyone around turned to look at her.

“…A weapon?”

“What? Isn’t bringing personal weapons prohibited?”

“Looks like she was holding it and dropped it?”

“…Why was she holding that? Was she trying to stab someone? That person over there?”

“Wait, really? She was trying to kill someone?”

Murmurs spread. And it didn’t end there—the attention of everyone who noticed something happening converged at once.

For an assassin, being noticed in such a place was almost a death sentence.

“…”

This was a crisis.

In such situations, the textbook move would be to escape quickly, but doing so might leave evidence of an assassination attempt against Darwood Campbell.

And leaving such “clues for pursuit” was also something she absolutely couldn’t allow.

A dilemma. Serath bit her lip until it bled.

But.

Help came from an unexpected place.

“Are you alright?”

It was Darwood Campbell, approaching her and extending his hand.

“…”

As she stared with wide eyes, Darwood bent down completely, grabbed her hand, and helped her up.

Due to their height difference, she was almost pulled into his embrace.

“…Ee-heek-!”

Serath let out a high-pitched scream in a voice she had never used in her life as her cheek touched his chest.

It was firm and solid. She felt an urge to bury her nose against it and feel that sensation for a long time.

In her profession, she had “felt” countless trained bodies as she cut them to pieces.

But with this man, just a slight collision made her whole body tremble.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

Darwood asked in a casual voice as he dusted off her clothes while she fidgeted.

“N-no, I’m fiiine…”

It was a voice like someone trying to crawl into a mousehole.

Even Serath herself was shocked by how uncontrolled her voice was.

“I’m sorry for bumping into you. Your belongings fell too.”

Saying that, Darwood picked up the fallen dagger and held it out to her.

“However, personal weapons are prohibited, so you’ll need to surrender it when entering the academy.”

“…”

“I know some from martial arts families always carry weapons, but rules are rules.”

Serath suddenly understood this man’s intention.

He was glossing over the situation as if she had simply bumped into him and dropped a “personal item.”

Indeed, as he spoke, the crowd that had gathered around noticeably lost interest.

The atmosphere shifted as everyone dispersed, feeling they had paid attention to something trivial.

“Well, I’ll be going now. See you inside the academy.”

Then, Darwood turned away with a slight smile.

“It was nice meeting you. See you again.”

It was a smile with enough destructive power to make Serath’s entire body freeze.

“…”

She stood there, trembling and rigid.

That smile had nearly caused her heart to go into overdrive. Her entire body was radiating heat like a furnace. She couldn’t control her trembling.

But even in this state, there was something she couldn’t understand.

‘…He protected me.’

Why? Why on earth?

That man knew someone was targeting him.

In fact, as soon as Serath lost her concentration and revealed her presence, he immediately looked at her with a sharp gaze.

If he wasn’t a fool, it would be natural for him to realize she had intended to harm him.

“…”

Serath watched the man walking away from her with a complicated expression.

One thing was certain.

She had done well to listen to Bizla.

“…”

Even with her completely flushed face, she fingered the student ID in her possession.

Truly.

She had a feeling her stay at this academy might be extended.

For various reasons.

‘…He said it was nice meeting me.’

Serath murmured inwardly.

That’s what he had said.

That it was nice meeting her. That he’d see her again.

“…”

Undoubtedly.

Those words struck her heart in an unusually powerful way.

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“…Shit.”

As soon as Serath disappeared from view, he cursed and gasped for breath.

Wait, why did she suddenly appear here?

At this point, she should be firmly attached to the Pope, quietly doing whatever he orders. She’s far too high-level to be deployed just to catch someone like me!

‘…If I hadn’t covered for her, what might have happened…!’

He thought with cold sweat.

As mentioned before.

According to the scenario, she’s definitely a vessel containing a fragment of the “Violet Demon.”

Who knows what would happen if she were cornered.

“…”

Please.

I’m someone who prays every night before sleep that variables won’t interfere with my plans.

Surely that deserves to be heard at least once.

I’m human too. I prefer things to be easy.

< System Message >

[ ‘Skill: Fatal Charm’ activates! ]

[ Target ‘Serath’s’ affection level skyrockets to ‘Curiosity Level 5’! ]

[ A claimable reward is available! ]

[ The dormant fragment of the ‘Violet Demon’ within the target begins to awaken due to your influence! ]

[ An event related to target ‘Serath’ will be generated soon! ]

So.

Please stop this.

Just let me live…!

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