145.
Since the day Yu Jin bandaged Gee’s wounds, Greyardin’s attitude became peculiar. Greyardin would help Yu Jin with things he hadn’t asked for and look at him as if waiting for something. It was troubling when he sometimes looked like a child expecting praise. Although Greyardin was clearly his enemy, Yu Jin’s sense of danger began to diminish.
‘No. Even if he looks like that, he’s actually a terrifyingly old man inside.’
Yu Jin could see how easily people are swayed by appearances. If Yu Jin hadn’t known about the horrible things Greyardin had done, he might have been fooled. That’s how skilled Greyardin was at disguising himself.
“Yu Jin,” Greyardin approached Yu Jin with a smile.
“Did you sleep here again today?”
Since bringing Gee up from the basement, Yu Jin had always stayed by his side. This was because there was no one trustworthy here. Greyardin had offered to give Gee a separate room, but Yu Jin refused. When Yu Jin remained silent, Greyardin sat down beside him. They spent time together without saying anything.
Greyardin watched Yu Jin stubbornly fighting sleep. Yu Jin occasionally pinched his thigh to avoid falling into a deep sleep. However, there’s a limit to how long a person can resist drowsiness, and he often nodded off.
At first, Greyardin had only thought about brainwashing and using Yu Jin, but recently his thoughts had changed. He started to like the actions of his descendant and wanted to keep him by his side in his intact state. After all, brainwashing would eliminate voluntary goodwill. But would Yu Jin willingly stay by his side?
‘Probably not.’
Because Yu Jin had several things he cared about in Lucid. The servants he had been with since childhood, and even a lover.
‘Then what would happen if those things disappeared?’
At first, he would shed tears and despair. But how long would that last? Time flows and sorrow erodes. Moreover, if the target of resentment was someone other than himself, Yu Jin might change his mind someday. There was also a useful person to use, so maybe he should try. Greyardin pulled the now-leaning Yu Jin to rest against him. After covering him with a blanket, Yu Jin began to snore softly.
The sunlight seeping through the window was warm, and it was a peaceful time.
Ahmed was anxiously pacing around the room. Expelled from Lucid and arriving at his mother’s family home, he realized how his status had changed. People who wouldn’t have dared to raise their heads in his presence before now mocked and ridiculed him. Even when he got angry and lashed out, nothing changed. He tried talking to his mother, but she only advised him to stay quiet.
In this situation, he heard information about Lucid. The current head of the family was missing, and the knights had gone out searching. For now, the elder Leion was controlling the rumors, but if the situation prolonged, related news would spread outside. If that happened, Lucid would have to find a new family head.
‘Is there anyone suitable to be the head of Lucid right now?’
The firstborn was missing, and the rest were scattered. If he had to pick one among them, Ahmed was the most likely candidate. This fact gave confidence to the cowering Ahmed. But it also instilled anxiety. If Yu Jin returned safely, even the little opportunity he had would disappear. Ahmed didn’t want that. So he wanted to move immediately, but there was no one useful to employ.
That was why Ahmed was now anxiously pacing the room. He wished someone, anyone, would help him. He felt he could gladly smile and shake hands even if a demon appeared. And as if reading his wish, a figure appeared through the open window.
“Hello.”
A woman with dark skin smiled and waved her hand.
“Don’t you need help right now?”
Ahmed, startled, asked, “Who are you?”
“My name is Diana. I’m here to help you.”
The helping hand he had been wishing for had appeared. Although it might not be a gentle helping hand, Ahmed couldn’t resist the temptation.
“How will you help me?”
“Anything you want.”
Diana said this with a smile.
Since being saved by Greyardin in her childhood, Diana had been blindly working for him. She didn’t mind doing dirty work because she could do anything for him. And this was another such task. Using a fool full of greed, that is. She thought he would refuse at least once, but seeing him cling to the offer, the outcome was obvious.
‘I was going to brainwash him originally.’
She had even received a potion from Aksen in case brainwashing was necessary, but it seemed there was no need. Ahmed nodded to everything Diana said.
“Just kill Yu Jin, that guy.”
His attitude suggested he didn’t care what happened in between as long as that was achieved.
“When I become the head, I’ll pay you back.”
She almost sneered at him offering something he didn’t even possess yet as payment. A reward only has value if there’s some possibility of attaining it. Diana left the mansion, leaving Ahmed behind. Now her task was to kill Yu Jin’s close associates under Ahmed’s name.
‘Who should I kill first?’
The easiest target would be Jinhyeon. Although his combat ability was the highest among the three, he was currently not with the knights. No one is easier to kill than someone wandering alone. Diana set Jinhyeon as her first target. But the world never turns out as one expects.
Setting out to find Jinhyeon, Diana discovered an unexpected person by his side.
‘Why is she there!’
Freena, Lucid’s best knight, was with Jinhyeon. Moreover, from the looks of it, she seemed to be teaching Jinhyeon something. Known for her picky personality that didn’t allow people close, Diana wondered what wind had blown to cause this.
This drastically increased the difficulty of killing Jinhyeon. Diana had encountered Freena before, and their compatibility wasn’t good. Diana, who had honed her sword as an assassin, was weak against Freena. In fact, how many people weren’t weak against Freena?
‘What should I do?’
Greyardin wanted Jinhyeon killed as the top priority, but retreating now would mean failing that. However, following them was too dangerous. As she pondered for a while, suddenly Freena left Jinhyeon’s side. Diana waited, wondering where she was going, but Freena didn’t return even after a long time.
Did she really leave? After several confirmations just in case, Diana moved again targeting Jinhyeon. Of course, she didn’t appear openly in front of Jinhyeon. Why would an assassin be an assassin? Diana concealed herself and followed Jinhyeon, who started moving in a different direction from Freena. And finally, she caught an opportunity.
Jinhyeon sat down on a roadside rock with an exhausted expression. It was easy to read despair in his exposed expression. Diana, hidden in the shadows, quietly moved in to stab Jinhyeon. As always, anticipating success.
Freena walked along the quiet forest path, reminiscing about recent events. She had rushed back to Lucid after hearing about Ruhan’s mishap, but another piece of bad news was waiting. The child of Ruhan, who had newly become the head of the family, had been kidnapped.
“How on earth did you handle the security for the head of Lucid to be kidnapped!”
The knights all bowed their heads at Freena’s words.
“Everyone, be prepared. After we find the head, I’ll personally instruct you.”
In the past, Freena had instructed knights at the Lucid mansion. The older knights who had experienced that hell all turned pale.
“Move now!”
Still, she didn’t forget her duties. After sending off the knights, Freena then met with Iven, Salamander, and Jinhyeon who was with them. She wondered what kind of person he was to be with them, but it turned out he was the current head’s lover.
“A man won’t be able to bear children.”
Freena, who prioritized producing heirs, disapproved of Jinhyeon. But Iven and Salamander seemed to think a bit differently.
“Even if he can’t bear children, he’s a capable swordsman.”
“That’s right. He could become an imperial knight even now.”
While Iven spoke his honest impression, Salamander seemed to covet Jinhyeon. Having retired but still being called back by the imperial palace, he seemed to need someone to replace him. Even considering that, it was a generous evaluation, so Freena also examined Jinhyeon. And she acknowledged him.
Jinhyeon was what you’d call a genius. Moreover, his feelings for Yu Jin were very deep, making him seem useful. From then on, Freena started dragging Jinhyeon around and training him. He grew with each push, making it quite enjoyable to raise him. Of course, she didn’t neglect the task of finding the head of the family during this time.
Freena began by tracking Aksen, the easiest target. As a magician and alchemist, he was skilled at erasing traces, but Freena could read even the erased traces. No matter how much a weakling struggles, they can’t defeat the strong.
“How is it, can you read it?” She pressured Jinhyeon to teach him how to read traces as well.
“Yes.”
Jinhyeon tried not to show his exhaustion even though he was tired. It was clear he was pushing himself, but Freena didn’t stop him. As someone serving the head of the family, this much was expected.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
