chapter 29 (Assassin 4)

"The long-awaited request has come."

The assassin entered the abandoned building and opened his mouth. Then darkness surrounded him, spread out and encapsulated the space around him.

[It's him.]

"That's right, he's a fool. He didn't even need any kind of stimulation or coercion to make the decision. He came on me on his own."

[Thanks to him, I think the purpose of coming here will be solved much quicker.]

"That request."

The man frowned slightly. He looked around and shook his finger.

"Are you sure I had to come out this far? There's only one kid. Isn't one or two of my kids enough?"

[It's the student of a Swordmaster. I think there's enough reason to move forward with the plan.]

"But it's just a little boy. It's a child with no talent and he's only learned one swordsmanship which is only imperial swordsmanship."

In the assassin's view, he felt the guild's reaction was overactive. He didn't think there was a good reason for him to even come here in the first place.

[But the kid is dangerous nonetheless. You cannot forget the past. When our organization first appeared in the world, the one who brought us to the brink of extinction was also a master of imperial swordsmanship. We must remain vigilant with this order. If this boy turns out to be much more skilled and grows, we cannot let the past repeat itself.]

"The man wasn't that skilled back then though. And he wasn't alone, if he was, he would have never been able to do what he did back then. "

The assassin spoke as if he were protesting against the order, finding it troublesome. He was young. That's why he didn't know exactly what had happened in the past. Above all, he was confident he could assassinate some meager kid who had no talent, and didn't even have the swordmaster to protect him on the estate!

"Imperial swordsmanship is for the weak."

The assassin spoke with confidence.

"He's going to fall by my hand. I am the successor to the great martyr. I'm not so weak as to be defeated by Imperial Swordsmanship from a child."

***

"I always feel this way."

Reika murmured with a disappointed face and rough scars across her arms.

"Why can't I beat you?"

She had always felt confident with herself. She had talent and she was starting to finally recognize it herself. She was learning the swordsmanship of one of the great heroes in the past and was making good use of it. However, against Asher, she had not won a single victory.

"I can't even give you a proper would!"

"It may not be a proper strike, but you've still been able to scratch me and reach me with your sword. It's more surprising to me that you've come this far in such a short amount of time."

Asher couldn't believe Reika had hurt him after only half a year of learning properly. He had seen monstrous talents in the past, but even with talent alone they could not harm him since they relied purely on their talent. Reika was adapting with talent much higher than those he had seen in the past, and was even applying proper tactics for battle! She was not someone that could be placed in comparison to even swordmasters of the past in terms of her learning curve.

"It's still too soon for you to try and beat me."

Swordsmanship is absolute and higher-level styles of swordsmanship were bound to overcome another, but no matter how talented one was, it took time to get to the threshold and defeat others of higher mastery. In the first place, a person with transcendent talent would have to devote their life to achieve such a feat over Asher. No matter how talented they were, it would take such time to defeat Asher, who might have not been talented with the sword, but had extreme experience in several life and death battles.

Above all, Asher had not just defeated talented individuals, he had killed and slain many monsters and demons in his past life across the several battlefields he had endured. He had even sparred against swordmasters. He was not someone that would go down to such a child. At least not yet.

It was also the same case for any child, but it seemed Reika was threatening that belief with her growth.

"Also, you're so difficult to deal with since you can change your weapon whenever you want to!"

"Really?"

Asher tapped on the wrist brace. At the same time, the spear in his hand disappeared. It was very satisfying. He was still getting used to it, but he was already proficient with almost all of his new movements and attack patterns he could pull off with it. It was incredible for Asher, as he felt that this was the start to a whole new set of limitations that couldn't be measured for himself.

"It's about time to finish up anyways."

"Oh, It's already time?"

The sun was sinking beyond the horizon. Reika waved her hand and nodded that it was getting late.

"I'll see you tomorrow."

"Don't be too impatient, you have plenty of time to get stronger."

"Sounds good."

When Reika left, Asher was the only one left at the training area. Asher, who was standing for a while, picked up a sword and began to swing.

"Is it nighttime already?"

It had been three hours. It became dark before he knew it. Asher wiped off his copious amounts of sweat and headed to the bathhouse.

As Asher headed to the bathhouse, he ran into Luke on his way there.

"Good morning, Young Master.", Asher spoke respectfully.

"...."

Luke stared at him silently. Luke opened his mouth as Asher tried to pass him into the dressing room in the bathouse.

"Tomorrow."

Asher turned around at the odd word choice of Luke and looked at Luke's stiff expression.

"Tomorrow, Go to the address written here at midnight."

"What?"

"It's an order. Do you, as the employee refused to obey my order?"

"...."

Asher accepted the letter from Luke's outstretched hands. Asher smiled lightly as he read over the contents of the letter. It was a secluded alleyway which seemed to be in the slums. It was rather obvious what this meant.

"Okay, I shall do so, Young Master."

"Make sure you go. If you don't, I will surely have you kicked out."

Luke spouted roughly and strode past Asher, bumping his shoulder. Asher looked briefly behind him once Luke left, and then went into the bathroom.

***

"Hey Asher, how are you doing? Are you ready to start training?"

"Luke gave me an order today I can't."

"Huh. Why?"

"He asked it as a favor."

"…Luke, asked you for a favor?"

Reika gave Asher a strange look. That's how ridiculous it sounded to have Luke ask for Asher for a favor.

"What exactly did he ask you to do?"

"He just wanted me to stop by somewhere. It's no big deal."

"Really? It doesn't look weird to you at all?"

"Eh, no way."

Asher waved his hands to show that it wasn't that concerning to him, at Reika's worried expression.