Leaving behind only a final farewell, I slowly gripped the sword hilt with which I was still exceedingly unfamiliar. This sword, bought with the resolution to change from my old self and as a precaution for any unforeseen events, was supposed to symbolize only the former intention. Yet, it inevitably came to embody the latter as well. Now, I must head toward Selian with this sword in hand.
If only I could have conveyed my message with words. But I, a cowardly and fearful liar, could not articulate the confession that hovered in my throat whenever I attempted to speak sincerely.
Then, let me swing this sword at her and make her realize the truth—that I am an assassin. This way, she will understand that there is an assassin targeting her, even without me explicitly stating it.
Though… whether she will take my life with her sword or merely imprison me out of mercy remains unknown. Regardless, what happens afterward is no longer my concern. The only important thing is that she survives.
Of course, I must perform convincingly when wielding my sword. A lackluster attack could easily expose my act to her, yet if I give it my all and end up injuring her, it would be an inversion of priorities. Still, with my current inability to adapt to the new sword and my so-called “brilliant” acting abilities, it shouldn’t be too much of a worry.
Though it was a bit early within the time frame Selian had given me, I headed out of my room toward the clearing. As I passed by her door, I heard faint rustling from inside. It made sense—she’d have to change from the robes she wore for the closing ceremony, and everything seemed busy enough. Her face from the event briefly crossed my mind, stopping me in my tracks, but I gritted my teeth and forced myself to continue.
“Where are you going? Roll call will begin soon, you know.”
Before I could leave the dormitory, the dormitory supervisor flagged me down.
Caught off guard by the unexpected situation, I was momentarily startled, but decided this might not be so bad after all. There was no telling how Selian would react, and what would happen during the encounter, but I would likely not return in time for the roll call.
If she comes looking for me, worried about my absence from roll call, she might come to the clearing, which could minimize any damage the guild might inflict on her.
One might think, “It’s just the dormitory supervisor,” but given that this is Griffin Academy, she’s likely a formidable opponent comparable to any professor—far beyond my current capability to handle.
“Hmm… Alicia, an exemplary student who has never caused any trouble, deserves some trust, doesn’t she? Just make sure to return soon.”
Because I’ve lived a strictly normal life to conceal my assassin identity, she thankfully allowed me to leave without raising any suspicions. To her, I apologize—I am breaking the rules for the first, and last, time. Farewell, model student Alicia.
With a slight bow, I stepped outside. By then, the night air had turned cool, marking the distinct arrival of autumn. Breathing in the cold air filled my lungs, bringing me back to the present after being lost in melancholy thoughts. Of course, this isn’t the time to run away. I simply needed to steel myself again, that’s all.
Reaching the middle of the clearing, I glanced around. Perhaps it was because of the timing and location, but the secluded clearing, as I had intended, was empty except for a few fireflies fluttering about. The thought of this place potentially becoming my final resting place made the atmosphere strangely unsettling.
Thud.
The sudden cold sensation landed on my cheek. Wiping the moisture off my face and looking skyward, I saw the first few droplets of rain beginning to fall. I briefly considered going back to fetch an umbrella but decided against it when I remembered what was to come. The rain didn’t seem heavy, and it almost felt like the heavens were crying on my behalf, offering some small comfort.
Squelch.
The sound of footsteps entered the quiet clearing. Expecting Selian to have arrived, I looked up eagerly—only to find someone else entering the clearing. Unfortunately, it wasn’t her.
“…What is it?”
The person who appeared was none other than the excruciatingly familiar Number 2. Without any attempt to hide, he calmly stepped into the clearing and approached me.
Worried that he might have caught on to my plan, I reminded myself it was unlikely. No one knew my plan, so there was no real cause for concern. Still, from Number 2’s and the assassin guild’s perspective, my actions likely raised suspicion. Given that the guild master had granted me one final chance and set tonight as the deadline, I should still have some time left.
“This is disappointing. Throwing away even your last chance? Remarkable.”
With a distorted personality, Number 2 continued to mock me, even though I still had time left.
“Well, at least you’ve cleverly lured her to this secluded clearing. Kudos for that.”
Watching him, busy talking and mocking like always, something seemed increasingly off, though I couldn’t pinpoint exactly what.
“Still, thanks to you, handling the matter should be rather easy.”
“…There’s still time left. Are you interfering with my mission?”
It appeared he intended to meddle anyway, despite the deadline not yet being reached. If so, this might be a good opportunity to give Number 2 a taste of my blade for the final time.
“Ah, you foolish Number 3. Thinking back, you’ve always tended to screw things up.”
But Number 2 was far off from my expectations.
“I did say ‘by the closing ceremony,’ correct?”
His tone was starkly different from his usual mocking style—frigid and icy. I recognized this tone of voice, this presence.
“…Master?”
Slowly raising his hand to his face, Number 2 reached up and peeled off the skin layer, revealing a disguise used to impersonate others.
So this was why Number 2 had been so freely roaming the academy despite his poor skills—it wasn’t Number 2 at all but the guild master in disguise. It wasn’t that Number 2 had improved; it was that the guild master had concealed his true identity. This revelation cleared up some questions.
But now was not the time for admiration. The situation had only worsened.
Before I could say or reach for my sword, the guild master pulled out a single paper scroll from his coat.
A magical scroll I had seen countless times during my decade in the assassin guild, one I detested profoundly—my Master-Slave Mark scroll was in his possession.
“Stand still for a moment longer while you serve as bait to catch some stray attention.”
No sooner had he spoken than my hand froze mid-reach for my sword, and my mouth remained sealed. The only thing I could do was stay stiffly upright, listening silently to his words.
“Tsk. This sword, which I had meticulously sharpened over time, should have worked better from the start. After we’re done here, I’ll need to adjust it once again.”
With that, the guild master melted back into the darkness. The only traces of his presence were my stiff, frozen form and the one-way footprints he left behind.
Damn it!
To make such a mistake. This was my final chance to save Selian, and now I’ve ruined it with my incompetence. Now, my actions, meant to protect her, will instead lead her to her death.
Clutching my jaw, trying to force my body to move despite my will, not even a single finger of mine obeyed. The rainwater falling on my face blurred my vision as tears would have, yet my eyes refused to close under my control.
While I was wrestling with my thoughts, a new presence entered the clearing. Approaching under a familiar umbrella, her slow steps made their way toward me.
Each step Selian took toward me made my heart race faster. The moment she realized something was amiss and her attention was divided would be the instant the guild master would strike, targeting her neck or heart. I needed to stop her, but my mouth remained silent, my body lifeless, a mere puppet.
Finally, she approached directly before me.
Slowly extending the hand holding her umbrella, she included me under its protective coverage.
“You didn’t bring an umbrella and are just standing here. Why don’t you come inside when it rains…”
Unaware of the abnormality in my demeanor, as usual, she greeted me with her cheerful voice and kind demeanor.
Though I wanted to cry for what lay ahead, my body, disconnected from my will, wouldn’t permit even a single tear.
“El?”
At my lack of response, Selian tilted her head, calling me by name with a hint of confusion.
It was then I noticed a subtle movement—so faint only another assassin could detect it—of the guild master drawing near from the dark.
He crept closer, slowly and silently, until he was finally behind Selian. She remained blissfully unaware, still standing in her calm posture.
I could see his dagger aiming straight for her heart, every motion clearly visible as if time had stopped. Each raindrop falling felt distinct, and the dagger poised at her back came sharply into focus.
Move, move, move, move, move, move, move, move…
Move!!!
Jerk.
The frozen world shifted slightly as one finger of my hand trembled. Despite this small movement, excruciating pain surged through my body from the lower abdomen. But pain meant little compared to the life of the woman before me. Even if my body were truly ablaze in fire, her single drop of blood would outweigh it all.
The moving finger became a hand, then an arm gripping her shoulder and pushing her aside.
The hand grew into two, and one reached out to hold the guild master, preventing his escape.
The two arms transformed into legs, stepping into the spot where Selian had just stood.
Thud!
I distinctly felt the guild master’s dagger pierce through my chest, aiming for my heart.
Though the scorching pain swept through my entire body, the cold metallic sensation cut even deeper, yet knowing I had saved her provided a profound sense of warmth and peace.
Now, my heart will stop in place of hers, and her heart will beat in place of mine.
However, it wasn’t time to rest easy yet. Extending the opposite hand that had pushed Selian aside, I grabbed the wrist of the guild master who had pierced my heart. Realizing his assassination had failed, he attempted a hasty retreat but was held in place by my grasp.
A look of panic crossed his face, an expression I’d never seen during all my encounters with the guild master, and it was immensely satisfying.
“El…?”
Still unclear of the situation, in the midst of the chaos, Selian weakly called my name. Using the little strength I had left, I called out her name with finality.
“Seli!”
Thankfully, at the sound of her name, she quickly reacted, drawing her holy sword from her waist and charging toward the guild master.
“Kk!”
The guild master’s reaction was impressively swift. Recognizing her sword heading toward his neck, he lifted another dagger with his left hand and swiftly cut off his own wrist where my right hand held him.
Even in the critical moment, his decision to cut his own wrist before my slower grip locked in was clearly a calculated move befitting the guild master.
Whoosh!
Just as he escaped, Selian’s sword tore through the air with a sharp, bone-chilling sound.
Attempting to retreat back into the shadows, he underestimated Selian. She was far from an easy opponent.
Clang, Clang!
The sounds of fierce combat reached my ears, but there was no need to worry. With her current skill, while defeating the guild master might be difficult, she was certainly capable of preventing his escape. Soon, the dormitory supervisor would notice our absence and come. Holding out until then would ensure Selian’s, and our, victory.
Though my vision blurred with doubt about whether I could last that long, my thoughts became sluggish.
The burning pain that once seemed unbearable was now barely noticeable, replaced by the comfort of a warm drowsiness. Is this what dying feels like?
“…El! El! El!”
A familiar voice pierced through my slowly closing ears.
Having lost consciousness for a brief moment, Selian was now by my side, leaving the battle to stand over me.
Her delicate touch, as she gently brushed the dagger in my chest, the eyelids I wanted to close, and the rainwater streaming down my face, all trembled and were vividly felt in every gesture.
“Not like this… no, you can’t die. There’s still time to reach the infirmary!”
“…Seli…”
Selian, speaking urgently in a choked voice, tried to lift me up, but I gently refused and slowly called her name.
This could be the last thing I say to her.
Feeling oddly melancholic as if it were the end, I had much I wanted to say—but more importantly, there was something specific I wanted to hear from her.
“Seli… can you… call my name?”
Just my name, only one word.
Though it didn’t belong to me, it was the last name I shared with her.
I wanted to hear it from her lips.
“Elicia…”
Hearing her say my name, I was finally able to smile despite my weakening face.
“Seli… how can I smile when you’re crying…”
Despite the rain pouring over her, it was unmistakable that she was crying—her tears running down her cheeks, mingling with the water on my own.
Selian tried valiantly to smile at my words, but the expression only turned out awkward. The sight caused my smile to deepen, though it made the moment all the more precious.
As her form gradually became blurrier, I wished I could store this image in my memory, to tease her about it later…
Now, even her voice calling my name faded away.
I could feel my eyes slowly closing, consciousness slipping away.
In the fading light of my consciousness, I silently kept to myself the words I couldn’t manage to tell her.
Seli, as you can see, I’m a liar—someone who lies to the goddess himself.
In fact…
‘I wish they would never suffer because of me.’
No, I wish they would suffer just a little because of me.
‘I wouldn’t mind if they cursed me.’
No, I wish they would speak kindly to me.
‘I don’t need to be remembered at all.’
But… I wish to be remembered by them.
Although I’m nothing more than a master liar, there is one thing that is true.
May they find happiness, at least.
