Chapter 39 — Shadow Hunt

1

[The DLC story has begun.]

[Forge your destiny.]

[S1 — Shadow Hunter]

[Reward: The rank of skills you learn permanently will be enhanced.]

[Keywords: Imperial Family / Traveler / Eresis / Veronica / Alano]

[Good luck.]

It was a deep night.

In the distance, the cheers of the dead could be heard.

21 years.

It was also the time when all Arcana awaken.

Hundreds, thousands of lives perish daily on the Rox Continent.

It didn’t matter whether they were monsters, humans, or other races.

Death, the final destination, was a fate that even the mighty Dragon race couldn’t escape.

And now.

Manus too stood at that crossroads.

‘There’s no one here. As expected, Veronica is thorough.’

It was both an opportunity and a crisis.

When encountering the Shadow Assassin as a boss, the recommended clear level was 80 or higher.

And that was calculating the average level of party members.

In this world where the final boss was level 99, level 80 was considered quite formidable.

Looking around, only high, sturdy castle walls and lush grass could be seen.

The gentle sound of flowing water carried over the walls.

Magic lamps hanging like will-o’-the-wisps on tall watchtowers cast long shadows of Manus.

“Come out now.”

“…”

There was no response.

Manus sighed softly and spoke.

“Is my shadow that comfortable, Assassin?”

“…”

A black figure sprang out silently.

Though it was clearly a rustling grass field, the landing was utterly quiet.

The assassin stood gracefully like a cat.

Golden eyes stared directly at Manus.

He knew those eyes.

They were eyes he had seen many, many times before.

The realism was on a completely different level from merely seeing text and illustrations.

— The trembling and sadness stimulated all five senses so intensely.

Almost unbearably so.

“How long will you live as a dog’s shadow-“

Manus took out the cursed nails from his chest and infused them with mana.

Thud thud-.

The grass parted, and his superhuman fingertip sensation allowed him to drive the nails into the desired positions.

[Cursed Nails]

[Creates a barrier that no one except the user and designated target can penetrate.]

[Duration is 5 turns (5 minutes).]

Crackle-.

A transparent membrane enveloped a sufficient space.

With this, a stage for just the two of them was created.

No one can interfere.

Even if it’s the final boss, item effects can’t be blocked.

Originally, the nails were used to bind enemies who use wide-area attacks or spam mental magic.

If thrown in with a tank or healer, their effects wouldn’t reach until other monsters were defeated.

“…!”

Sensing the change, the assassin’s eyes darted around.

It was too late.

The activation was shorter than even a moment.

Following that, he uncorked a bottle and poured it over his head.

Hissss-!

The pungent smell lingered only briefly before completely absorbing into Manus’s body.

[Oil of Arrogance]

[Designates one target and copy their stats for 2 turns (2 minutes).]

[Afterwards, stats are halved for 1 turn.]

Guuuuuuu-.

An overwhelming mana that Manus had never felt before dominated the space.

Senses expanded, and power emerged to make the impossible possible.

His head spun.

— Time slowed, and information flooded in.

So this is what true masters, true great mages feel.

Sensing danger, the assassin took an offensive stance.

‘I can see it.’

[Caesar’s Mindset].

Stealth and mental abilities are useless.

Pop-.

The last one.

A bottle of Holy Water of Eternity that he had asked Black and White to make sliced through the air.

“-Gasp!”

The assassin who had just sprung out of the shadows was drenched with the holy water.

Sizzle-.

An ominous sound was heard.

Manus was still staring expressionlessly.

[Holy Water of Eternity]

[When used, removes the target’s defense/resistance for 1 turn.]

Her specialty, shadow piercing.

Mana skewers swarmed from the shadow stretched out with light at its back.

Thunk thunk thunk-!

Seven blue petals suddenly circled around Manus.

[Aegis]

5th-Class.

The great god’s shield firmly protected the mage.

Crack-.

It must be acknowledged.

Right now, the man before her is no mere student.

‘What trick did you use?’

There was clearly a strong smell of oil.

Could simply pouring oil result in this?

No, that can’t be it.

‘To think there’s a reagent I don’t know about, and such a powerful one at that-‘

This is dangerous.

The Shadow Assassin gritted her teeth and charged in.

Crackle-.

Lightning struck down on the rotating shield.

[Fulget]

Boom-!

The ground was torn up, and an impenetrable barrier formed in front.

But she is a Shadow Assassin.

[Umbra — Retineo]

Where there is light, there is always shadow, and where there is shadow, death lurks.

Avoiding the lightning curtain, she slipped inside the great god’s shield and grabbed Manus from behind.

Now she just needs to swing her blade.

He won’t be able to react-.

“Veronica.”

“-Huff!”

“Didn’t I tell you?”

Crunch-!

Her body was caught in mid-air.

The magic he had laid in advance firmly bound her.

A spell he had used when employing Guardians.

[Necto]

[Altus]

With the boost, Manus’s skills temporarily became on par with Veronica’s.

Shackles created by mana concentrated in one place, enough to easily display 5th-Class abilities.

Manus hadn’t put his all into Aegis or Fulget.

What he had really prepared was the binding magic.

The buff will wear off soon.

He had plenty of oil and nails prepared, but he had given away all the holy water to others.

“The list sent by the Imperial Family. Was I on it too?”

“…”

Veronica’s golden eyes trembled, but she didn’t open her mouth.

Manus reached out and stroked her hair.

Rustle-.

Light returned to her hair that had been dyed black.

— Head Maid Veronica.

She was looking down at Manus with quivering eyes.

She was confused.

Why on earth-.

“-Why.”

“Didn’t I tell you?”

Thud-.

The promised two minutes passed, and the magic protecting Manus disappeared.

The binding magic was no exception.

She slumped to the ground powerlessly.

Not only had Manus lost all his mana, but all his stats were also halved.

If she had a mind to, she could take his life without any resistance.

Before that, he needed to calm Veronica’s heart.

“Even the Emperor cannot peek into this place right now.”

“Did you know from the start?”

“Yes.”

What should she do?

The mana she sensed was very faint.

The man before her was so weak that she didn’t even need to draw a weapon.

But his eyes gazed steadily at Veronica.

There wasn’t a hint of fear.

In that moment, Veronica lost her will to live.

“I see-.”

Her trembling voice was like a flower petal precariously hanging off a cliff.

She gripped her weapon and moved slowly.

Squeezing her eyes shut as she moved, blood splattered.

-When she finally opened her eyes, she blankly stared at where the blood was flowing.

“-Why.”

“I’m not finished speaking yet, Veronica.”

Drip, drip, the blood fell.

The blood was flowing from Manus’s arm.

Even though the blade had dug into his skin, he didn’t even flinch.

“I knew from the beginning.”

“Why like this-.”

“From the day you handed me that letter — I knew. That you were the Shadow Assassin.”

“I should die. An assassin who fails their mission-.”

Manus shook his head.

Though she was a master, she was more fragile than anyone.

She hated killing and despised getting blood on her hands.

Yet the only reason she forced herself to assassinate was for one thing:

To live a life without bloodshed.

-No one can escape the Empire’s grasp.

This was the truth she had felt with her own eyes and body throughout her life.

“Yes, the assassin should die. But Head Maid Veronica doesn’t need to.”

“How can that be-?”

The Emperor.

And the Empire was a frightening place.

No matter how great the Caesars were, they had to yield before the Emperor’s power.

To say he’d extract her from such a place?

Speak sense!

Manus needed to realize.

That outside the Academy, countless monsters were lurking.

“Young Master, you don’t understand. I can’t escape the Imperial Family’s hands. I was raised that way-.”

“I prepared for that.”

Manus took out things he had bought from the tool shop.

Decoy dummies.

Clothes.

Various magical tools.

The common thread among them was-.

“…Do you think such deception will work?”

“Who knows.”

“Hah-.”

It was an absurd idea.

Manus smiled and pulled out a mask from his chest.

Hair dye came as a bonus.

“Become a new head maid. And come under my command.”

“What if we’re caught?”

“Then I, and Caesar, will protect you.”

The illustration of her crying desperately overlapped in his mind.

Her hatred for the Imperial Family, the misery of having to live in the shadows.

When all of that burst out, she became a being close to a god while still human-.

He had to prevent that catastrophe at all costs.

She stared blankly up at Manus.

The nails were driven into the ground again.

They needed more time to talk.

“Am I becoming someone’s dog again?”

“No, you’re becoming family.”

Though it was just words from Manus who had nothing, Veronica strangely felt those words resounding within her.

He spoke again.

“Didn’t I tell you?”

“-Ah.”

“That I was sorry for everything. So I said I’d help you with anything, just once.”

Yes, that’s right.

Those words too, must have been for her sake.

Even going to the tool shop today, all of it must have been for her.

He was truly a mysterious person.

No matter how long she looked, he gazed back at her with unwavering eyes.

-Now she had made up her mind.

She nodded quietly and raised her blade, swinging it lightly.

Swish-.

Pink hair fell to the floor.

From long hair that reached her waist, it was now a bob that covered her neck.

“I’ll trust you.”

“You can’t abandon a life stained with blood. Because the world is changing that way.”

“…”

Veronica slowly stood up and listened to his words.

Manus’s gaze was directed towards the tower.

[Aaaaaaaah-!]

The voices of the dead could be heard.

Now the true enemy reveals itself.

Not the Imperial Family, not demons, not daemons.

But those more disgusting and terrifying than any of them.

“But I swear.”

“-Yes.”

“From now on, you will no longer have to stain your hands with blood for others’ will. I swear to the Gods in the name of Caesar and in my name, Manus.”

Veronica knelt down.

Because his eyes held not a shred of deceit, not a hint of hesitation.

That sincerity was deeply engraved in her mind and heart.

“You don’t have to suffer anymore. Your power should be used as you wish.”

Veronica reached out and grasped Manus’s trembling hand.

He had gone to such lengths for her sake.

Tears welled up, but she held them back.

Her throat tightened, but she forced out her voice.

“I, Aden, will become a shadow solely for you.”

A shadow that moves only for you, lives only for you.

She swore to become a shadow that moves for Caesar Manus’s safety.

Her lips touched the back of Manus’s hand.

In the world of assassins, taking in one who has been abandoned also meant pledging to face enemies with one’s life.

Right now, Manus had declared his will to boldly stand against the Imperial Family.

“Welcome.”

Manus’s voice resonated gently.

At the same time, countless spears materialized before Manus.

It was time to receive the reward.

–TL Notes–
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