Chapter 2
Eile knew she wasn’t exactly a kindhearted person.
If she were, she would’ve quit being an assassin long ago.
“But really… ganging up on one person is pretty low, isn’t it? And if they keep making noise like that, monsters will show up.”
If that happened, the whole area would turn into chaos with hunters and prey running everywhere.
“And then the corpses—monsters or humans—will rot and stink.”
Which meant it would be a pain for her to pass through this place later.
“Yeah, this isn’t for that poor pretty boy. It’s for me.”
With that excuse, Eile pulled her black hood low over her face and jumped down without hesitation.
The quiet forest shook with the sound of her light landing.
“Hey, sickly little lord, move aside. I’ll save you.”
“…Who are you?”
The boy’s sharp eyes narrowed as Eile strode forward. Noticing his suspicion, she spread her arms wide and flapped them like wings.
Flap flap.
“Can’t you tell? I’m an angel.”
Up close, the boy looked terrible—covered in blood, like he could drop dead any moment.
“No need.”
But instead of being grateful, the fragile young master rejected her “angelic” help.
Eile snorted.
“What nonsense? You’re drenched in blood.”
She shoved him behind her and stepped forward.
“…It’s not my blood.”
But Eile didn’t hear his mutter.
“Shameless, really!”
She pointed at the group of rough-looking assassins.
“Picking on one kid, you trash!”
The assassins gawked at her, confused.
“What the hell? You think we’re bullying him?”
“Look at us—we’re the ones getting beat up here!”
“I wanna go home to Mom…”
Admittedly, their clothes were torn and they were bleeding a lot. Had they all rolled down a cliff or something?
“Tsk, careless idiots. Still, trying to rob this kid? Aren’t you ashamed?”
Silence fell. Everyone thought the same thing: You’re a kid too. Who are you calling a kid?
“W-Well, maybe… but the situation has turned around—”
“Wait. That black rose crest…! Black Rose!”
“What?! No way—why would Black Rose show up here?!”
“Run!”
The moment they recognized the crest embroidered on her cloak, the assassins panicked and tried to flee.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
In a flash, Eile chased them down, knocking them out one by one.
“Ugh!”
“Argh—!”
Before they could fight back, they collapsed foaming at the mouth, sprawled across the dirt.
“…Why help me? You’re an assassin too.”
The boy, who had silently watched her elegant yet deadly moves, finally spoke.
Eile turned, annoyed.
“Rich boy, you must not know the difference. I was born to do this. Don’t lump me in with those idiots.”
Her pride bristled at the comparison.
The boy’s violet eyes glimmered faintly.
“This place is dangerous. See that path? Go straight, turn left, run diagonally, then right—you’ll find a village.”
It was the laziest set of directions ever.
When the boy didn’t move, Eile assumed it was fear. She sighed.
“What good’s all that money if you’re weak like this? Next time, hire some guards.”
“…Will we meet again?”
“…What?”
Eile blinked, stunned. She had expected a boring “thank you,” not that.
He knows I’m an assassin, yet he’s asking to meet again? What a lunatic.
Someone once said: Never deal with crazies.
“Well… if we meet again, I won’t be an angel. So let’s not.”
She kicked the fallen assassins for good measure, then leapt back into the trees and vanished.
“…Black Rose.”
Alone in the dark forest, the boy whispered.
Maybe—just maybe—he would meet that wild “angel” again.
“Didn’t I tell you to come straight back after your job? And now it’s already night.”
At Des’s sharp words, Eile rolled her eyes.
Outside, the night was so deep even the moonlight couldn’t break through.
“You brat!”
Stretch!
“Ow! Ow, boss, that hurts!”
Des tugged hard at her cheeks, and Eile clutched her face, whining.
“It’s supposed to hurt! I said come straight back, but you wasted time ‘saving souls’!”
“I was! A poor soul needed help!”
“You’re no angel, girl!”
Des sighed. If he told anyone that this pouty silver-haired, blue-eyed beauty was a Black Rose assassin, no one would believe him.
That noble-like face was exactly why she was perfect for their next mission.
“Here, Eile. A new job. See for yourself.”
“Huh? Black rose seal? So it really is urgent.”
She blinked at the black rose mark stamped on the file Des handed over.
Des slapped his forehead.
The seal meant only one thing: a request directly from someone of high nobility.
Eile opened the file and scanned the target’s profile.
“Target: Lys Cassio. Age fifteen… Huh? Cassio?”
Could it be that Cassio—the infamous monster duke’s family?
“…No way.”
But when she looked up, Des nodded gravely.
“Killing Lys Cassio is your mission. And uncovering the secret of his power.”
“…Boss, you’ve gone insane.”
Everyone knew: the Cassio estate was a fortress.
Countless assassins had entered, and none returned alive.
“I’m not saying sneak in like the others. You’ll infiltrate as a maid.”
“…You want me to be a maid? What if I get caught?”
“No one notices maids. It’s the safest way.”
Des patted her shoulder encouragingly.
But Eile looked anything but reassured.
“Sure, I’ve been a little lax lately, but giving me this suicidal mission?!”
Her eyes burned with betrayal.
“I’m not doing it—”
Before she could finish, Des shoved something right in front of her face.
