Ch.72Cold Heart

1.

Four days after the Black Wolf resumed its activities following a brief hiatus.

Nahan successfully verified the Emperor’s list through the members he had deployed.

Cutting to the conclusion without unnecessary details,

“They’re all garbage.”

Lactea, having finished her report, asked with a faint smile.

“Shall we begin the cleanup?”

Between her narrowly curved golden eyes, an unfathomable killing intent rippled.

‘Even though I’ve become strong enough to call myself the most powerful in this world, why is that gaze still so terrifying?’

Barely regaining his composure, Nahan shook his head as he lowered the documents Lactea had handed him.

“I trust you all, but just to be sure, I’ll review it one more time.”

Though they may have to kill people when necessary, there shouldn’t be any innocent victims.

“Yes, Captain. Yuria will review the documents with me, and Pedro will verify the sites with Ruby and Dalan. But first, let’s have a brief meeting together.”

“Yes, Vice-Captain.”

Lactea took the documents with a smile, gave instructions to the members, and then returned to the room where she had been reviewing the papers.

Only then did Nahan’s shoulders relax.

After moistening his dry throat, he gazed out the specially treated window.

“…ang! Run faster….”

“Already… am…”

In the distance, like tiny dots, a large man and a bright-faced woman were running toward them.

The report that they had successfully located Member No. 2 came in yesterday at dawn, and it seemed they were finally making contact and bringing him back.

‘Bright-faced, indeed.’

It was probably thanks to those two fools that he was maintaining his sanity.

Nahan chuckled as he watched the two approaching while bickering.

Only after regaining his peace of mind did he notice the blue-green plants around him.

This was the “Blue-Green Forest” hideout.

A bit away from Dalan’s cabin, it was a new site that Lactea had found, a newly constructed hideout that had just been completed.

On paper, it was an observation post for studying the forest ecosystem, but that was merely its official purpose.

Currently, it was being operated as the Black Wolf’s primary hideout.

‘As expected of Ruby, truly capable.’

If Hanryang and Luna were in charge of brightness, Ruby was in charge of such practical matters.

From what he’d heard, Lactea was even more exceptional, but due to her special circumstances as the missing princess, she focused solely on internal affairs.

‘Come to think of it, that bastard Black Wolf really gathered quite a diverse group of members.’

Each with their own unique talents, without any overlap.

That’s why Nahan was curious.

‘Member No. 2.’

Thinking about it, he rarely appeared in the “original work,” but whenever he did show up, he was like a problem-solver, a key character.

Proving his competence, the only mission Black Wolf had given him was:

-Monitor the Light.

-Yes, Captain.

His task was to monitor the hero’s party—the Light—that had been dispatched to eliminate the demon race, without being detected.

In the original work, he completed his mission, and thereafter, he took on the most difficult missions alone, always returning successful.

Since neither the original work nor the system window lied, the one joining them now must surely be,

“I returned ahead because Numbers 3 and 4 were lagging behind, Captain.”

A formidable monster.

“Black Wolf’s Member No. 2, Casler. Reporting back after completing my special mission.”

Nahan naturally turned his head toward the clean, deep voice that suddenly came from beside him.

At the same time, he was impressed.

Neat blonde hair,

Clear, deep blue eyes,

A visibly sturdy physique and handsome features.

With a noble and strong appearance more suited to the Light than the Black Wolf, Nahan frowned as if dazzled.

But only for a moment.

‘He was described as incredibly capable, so he might be even sharper than Lactea.’

To avoid revealing his possession, Nahan immersed himself in Black Wolf’s character and patted Casler’s shoulder.

“Good work.”

“?”

Immediately, Casler’s eyes narrowed.

Oops.

‘He doesn’t know about Black Wolf’s change, does he?’

It was clear he was suspicious because the previously cold Black Wolf was now encouraging him.

“You’ve worked hard.”

“…?”

“Sit down first.”

As the flustered Nahan tried to turn away nonchalantly, Luna and Hanryang, who had approached, tumbled into the hideout.

“See!! My hand got in first!?”

“That’s cheating, isn’t it?”

“What cheating!! Forget it! I’ll ask the Captain, so just wait!!”

Luna, who stood up angrily, approached without hesitation and grabbed Nahan’s hand.

“I won, right, Captain!!”

Her demeanor was full of confidence.

“…Yes.”

Nahan sighed softly and nodded, patting her head gruffly.

“Try arguing more, Hanryang!! I dare you to argue more!!”

Seeing Luna laughing “puhehe,” Hanryang smiled and asked Nahan.

“[Are you taking her side because she’s a child?]”

“[If you know she’s a child, why not just let it go?]”

“[You’re not wrong, but if you keep indulging her, she’ll develop bad habits.]”

Hanryang lifted his large frame with a grunt, gave Luna a piggyback ride as she stuck out her tongue, and whispered softly to the bewildered Casler.

“He’s changed, a bit. We can’t, be unhappy, forever.”

“……”

Pat.

Hanryang patted Casler’s shoulder reassuringly before heading toward Lactea with Luna.

“Hey!! What were you talking about with the Captain!!”

“Don’t know.”

“Eek…!! Should I learn Eastern language!?”

“With that, head of yours?”

“Aaaaargh!!!!”

Bickering.

Click.

Luna and Hanryang quieted down only after meeting Lactea, with Hanryang reporting quietly.

Seeing the members who seemed to have brightened somewhat, Nahan felt relieved without needing to explain.

‘With this, Casler must have noticed too.’

That the current Black Wolf was different from before, more benign, and that the members had accepted it.

Casler too would need time, but would gradually adapt to the brighter atmosphere.

“I will not smile.”

…Suddenly?

‘What’s the reason?’

Does he think the brightened atmosphere undermines the discipline of the Black Wolf?

As Nahan looked at Casler without answering, he spoke with a serious expression.

“I am Casler of the Cold Heart. The ultimate assassin does not smile. No!!!”

“…?”

“Cannot smile… would be the correct expression. I am an as.sas.sin who abandoned emotions the moment I began walking the path of darkness.”

…What’s with this guy?

Faced with the sudden appearance of an assassin wannabe, a dumbfounded Nahan could only stare.

Clank!

The closed door opened again, and the members, led by Lactea, poured out.

“……Tsk.”

“……Why did you come… no, you’re back.”

Lactea and Ruby, who came out first, frowned and avoided Casler, while Dalan just patted his shoulder before passing by.

Behind them were Pedro and Yuria.

“Ah, Yuri, who newly joined.”

“Don’t talk to strange things, sister.”

Pedro immediately blocked her, and Yuria asked with confusion.

“What? Isn’t he also a member?”

“He is, but… anyway, don’t talk to him. Let’s focus only on God.”

After those two passed by, Hanryang and Luna appeared again, and Luna grabbed Hanryang, who was trying to avoid her, and asked Casler.

“Casler! Do that thing, that thing!!”

“I’m, letting go.”

“No, let’s listen together! It’s fun!!”

“[…Damn it.]”

Finally receiving attention, Casler looked at Luna with an expressionless face.

“Quickly! Do that thing, that thing!!”

Her emerald eyes sparkled with expectation.

Standing nobly, Casler covered his face with his left hand, slightly opening his fingers to reveal his blue eyes, and muttered.

“Darkness deeper than darkness, you dare speak to me again with my cold heart… Luna. Are you truly not afraid of death?”

“Ooh…!! Cool, Casler!! Just a little, just a little more!!”

“…Smile? Do you not know that when you gaze into the abyss, the abyss also gazes back at you? I, Casler of the Cold Heart, command you, Luna. Turn your eyes away from the abyss now, and I shall spare your life.”

The moment Casler, who had struck all sorts of pretentious poses, finished his warning in a serious voice.

“Puhak!! Puhehek!!!”

Luna burst into laughter.

“Cold heart, kheuk, he says cold heart!! Puhahak!! I really can’t take it!!”

“…What’s so funny? I am the assassin who made the Empire tremble in fear, Cold Hea-“

“Puhak!! Huhehe!!! Stop!!! Please stop!!!”

“……”

Casler, who seemed genuinely hurt, and the rest of the members who were cringing.

And,

‘I really want to quit.’

Nahan was starting to have a reality check.

2.

Shortly after Casler, the second member of the Black Wolf, joined following a brief commotion.

Rustle.

Lactea, who had already prepared the briefing, spread out several lists and maps, and began the meeting with all members present.

“The list given by the Captain consists of a few from the Imperial faction and many from the Noble Alliance. If we eliminate all of them, the current Emperor, Reina Babylonia, will have an easier time.”

Her expression subtly hardened as if she had noticed something just from that, but Nahan pretended not to notice and urged her to continue with his gaze.

Eventually, Lactea regained her expressionless face and went through the list one by one.

“One who sells imperial information to foreign countries, one who captures children and extracts their hearts, the leader of an organization that dismembers the remaining parts and sells them to lower organizations……”

As the report continued and her finger moved down the list, the crimes became more heinous, and the members’ expressions hardened in real-time.

“By the Captain’s order, we investigated repeatedly dozens of times. All twenty-four individuals below have been verified as targets for ‘cleanup’.”

After finishing her report, Lactea held up the list to Nahan and added.

“Captain, your orders.”

The atmosphere, which had been tense, sank in an instant at her voice, filled with what seemed like anger.

Nahan, who received the list, pointed to the first person Lactea had mentioned and asked.

“One who sells imperial information to foreign countries. Is this crime included in the cleanup?”

This time, Pedro spoke.

“By God. Upon further review of that person, we discovered he consumes human flesh.”

“Human flesh?”

“Yes. Moreover, he created an underground farm on his territory where he directly raises women, and eats them while they’re still alive. He’s a demon.”

Just hearing about it made Nahan’s stomach turn.

Nahan rechecked the reports Lactea had briefed from top to bottom, sending members to verify again, continuing the review until sunset.

As a result.

“Hallorand. Except for him, all were garbage involved with the Eclipse.”

“Confirmed.”

Having become certain that everyone except Hallorand was trash, Nahan, grinding his molars, briefly ordered.

“Kill them all.”

Yes, Captain.

Finally, the Black Wolf was deploying.

.

.

.

“Captain.”

“What is it, Casler?”

“I sense your uncharacteristic anger. As it might impair your judgment, accompany me, the one with the cold heart.”

Ah, that’s a bit…