Chapter 10
Number 13.
That was the girl’s name.
“Oho. This child has the makings of an Assassin.”
A past where even memories were faint.
On her way home from the elementary school she had just entered, she was kidnapped in a van with iron bars and subjected to the Brainwashing Curse by someone called a 'Sorcerer'. From then on, she was no longer human.
Trapped in the Underground Training Ground where not even light could reach, the girl learned killing techniques every single day alongside her peers.
Several years passed like that. On the final day of training,
They were locked in a large space with their peers, and the order was given to kill each other until only one remained.
“Die…! Please, die…!”
To survive, the girl had to thrust her dagger into the necks of the children her own age with whom she had shared her joys and sorrows.
“Haa, haa…”
“Hahahaha! I knew I was right! Number 13! Very well done!”
In the end.
The girl was the last one to survive.
Thus, she was chosen as a member of the Dark Guild’s most elite Assassination Squad, the “Black Calf”.
Her life after that was a continuous Hell.
She killed people she didn’t want to kill.
She severed the lifelines of those who begged to be spared.
The Brainwashing Curse engraved in her brain suppressed her will.
When an order was given, her body moved like a machine.
At some point, the girl thought.
If life were this painful, she didn’t want to live anymore.
She just prayed every night.
Please, let this hellish life end quickly.
However, the target of this mission was an extraordinarily strong person, beyond anyone she had ever met.
A red-eyed woman with a ponytail.
When she opened her hand, the bones of her four Assassination Squad comrades were crushed as they plummeted to the floor.
The girl was also bound by red restraints and could do nothing.
'She’s strong…'
An overwhelming difference in weight class rendered the countless techniques and strategies she had learned completely meaningless.
It was despair that didn’t even allow the will to resist to form.
But.
The real terror lay elsewhere.
“I have committed a crime worthy of death, Master.”
It was the being that the monster-like woman served as 'Master'.
It was the existence she revered while trembling in fear.
It was a small, beautiful girl with silver hair and red eyes, sitting in a chair that was somewhat large for her body.
A cute appearance that made her look much younger than she was.
But that outward appearance was merely a mask.
Ordinary people might not be able to feel it, but an expert like the girl could tell the moment she faced her directly.
“An incredibly strong person…”
Her true nature was a monster.
An indescribably supreme status could be felt from her.
A moment later.
“They are trash, not even worth keeping alive. Clean them up.”
The silver-haired girl looked at the other four Assassination Squad members with a cold gaze as if they were a nuisance, and then mercilessly killed them.
The girl also watched the gruesome sight while bound by the blood rope.
'Ah. I’m going to die too.'
The fear of losing her life.
What she felt before that was a sense of relief.
The resignation meant that she could finally escape this terrible shackle.
Due to the Brainwashing Curse, her body kept sending signals to attack the opponent in front of her, but in truth, the girl’s inner thoughts were different.
'I don’t want to do this…!'
Clear tears dripped from the girl’s eyes.
Continuously, from the beginning until now.
It had always been like that.
“Please, just kill me. Let me stop doing these terrible things.”
It was when she was desperately screaming inside.
An incredibly arrogant voice rang out.
“Kill you? Hmph. Are you still under the delusion that your life is yours?”
“…!”
The girl’s pupils shook violently.
A statement that seemed to pierce right through her thoughts of wanting to die.
How did she know?
“Your pathetic life belongs to this True Ancestor from now on.”
The beautiful girl who had been sitting so haughtily and arrogantly stood up from her seat.
She lowered her posture and personally crouched on the floor beside the bound girl.
Sarak-
Her silver hair brushed past her ear.
She felt a sensation of something lightly piercing into the nape of her neck.
The girl flinched instinctively, but it didn’t hurt.
There was a slight stinging sensation.
For her, who was used to pain, it was more of a slight tickle than pain.
'Fangs?'
For some reason, the silver-haired girl had sunk her fangs into her and was sucking her blood.
“Perhaps a Vampire?”
She had once heard in passing during a conversation between former executives that such a demonic beast existed.
Vampire.
They said it was a high-grade being that lived mixed among humans, possessing intelligence and strength beyond that of humans.
Was this beautiful girl sitting in the chair exactly that kind of being?
As her neck was being bitten, she continued to covet her blood.
Her head went blank and her vision grew dizzy.
The girl vividly felt the life Force inside her body rapidly draining away.
'I’m dying. Finally…'
In her gradually fading consciousness.
The girl finally realized her true feelings.
Actually, I…
Someone wanted to live.
Not as someone’s tool.
Just to live freely.
At the moment when that final regret washed over her
Drip.
Between her parted lips, a drop of hot liquid fell.
the moment it traveled down her esophagus
“…!!”
An incredibly thrilling sensation pierced through her entire body.
CRACK-!
A sound of something shattering was heard in her head.
And the girl completely lost consciousness.
She opened her eyes again.
The first thing she felt was that the constant headache had disappeared.
The Brainwashing, like a thick fog that had dominated her consciousness, had evaporated without a trace.
“Huh…?”
The blood restraints that had been constricting her limbs unraveled smoothly.
The girl muttered without realizing it and wiggled her fingers.
She tried moving her body this way and that, and even felt her own body.
“My head… my head doesn’t hurt…? I can move my body however I want…?”
She was able to move her own body entirely according to her own will.
That obvious fact was like a miracle to her.
The girl slowly raised her head and looked forward.
“Fufu, how does it feel to be reborn as this body’s Retainer?”
The silver-haired girl who had given her blood was sitting quietly with a relaxed smile.
The moment she met her eyes, an indescribable gratitude and absolute awe washed over her in an instant.
“You are the one who gave me life and freedom for the first time.”
The Savior who had pulled her out of Hell.
The girl dragged her trembling body and crawled on the floor.
And she prostrated herself before her small bare feet and reverently kissed them.
Raised as an Assassin from a young age, she had been brainwashed most obsessively with the word 'Master'.
She was forced to call the organization’s boss that.
But she had never once put any sincerity into that title.
It was merely a sound spoken mechanically.
But now it was different.
The most absolute expression of gratitude and devotion she could offer.
“I will serve you as my Master for the rest of my life…”
That was it.
The complete sincerity of the girl who has gained a new life today.
* * *
Smooch.
The Assassin girl kissed my bare foot.
'Ugh…?!'
I was so startled by the sudden sensation of soft lips touching the top of my foot that I almost pulled my foot back.
No, what’s with the surprise foot kiss!
I was pretending to be as relaxed as possible, but I totally panicked!
I said she would become a Retainer, but I didn’t know an Assassin who had been rushing at me to kill me just a moment ago would become this loyal.
'Is the Embrace Skill’s effect that good…?'
Could it be that I didn’t break the Brainwashing, but Cast another Brainwashing on her instead?
I looked at the girl with proud yet slightly worried eyes.
Smooch, smooch. Smooooch.
Well. But how many times is she going to do it…?
“How dare you! Are you thrusting those dirty lips carelessly onto Master’s precious body! Get away this instant!”
Katarina, who was watching the scene, flared up and shouted.
A fierce killing intent that seemed ready to kill the girl right then and there filled the room.
Seu-euk.
However, when I lightly raised my hand, Katarina flinched in surprise and immediately shut her mouth.
“Enough. This one is also My Servant now.”
At those words, the girl finally took her lips off my foot and looked at me, saying.
“Master, I will pledge my loyalty.”
But then, it happened.
Grumble-.
A very clear and cheerful sound rang out, breaking the heavy silence in the room.
“”…””
The white cheeks of the girl, who had been solemnly swearing loyalty just a moment ago, instantly flushed bright red.
The sound had definitely come from her stomach.
'Ah.'
Only then did I recall a certain cliché.
When you watch Vampire movies and such, don’t they suffer from an immense thirst or hunger for blood when they first awaken as a Vampire after being human?
Katarina was a Retainer I created with my blood, so she didn’t have that, but this girl was originally human.
'Is her face red because she’s hungry? That’s kind of cute.'
I chuckled and handed her the snack tray I had been eating from while gaming, just as it was.
It was a tray filled with raw 1++ Hanwoo beef and jiggling Blood Pudding.
“Eat. You must be very hungry right now.”
“Ah… Th-thank you.”
She hesitated and carefully picked up a piece of dark red Blood Pudding to examine it.
She was hesitating, probably because it was an unfamiliar food.
But after sneaking a glance at me, she put the Blood Pudding into her mouth.
And the moment she chewed just once.
Her eyes widened.
“…!!”
Munch munch.
Where did her chic Assassin vibe from earlier go? She started frantically stuffing the Blood Pudding and meat into her mouth until her cheeks were about to burst.
I watched the scene with a pleased smile.
The way she chewed was very delightful to watch.
Well. Is it because I’m Korean too?
Seeing her eat so well makes me feel good for no reason.
“Master. Pardon My Presumption, but may I ask you one thing?”
While the girl was eating frantically, Katarina asked carefully.
“What is it?”
“Why did you take in that human who dared to harm Master.”
I answered Katarina’s question nonchalantly.
“That one was merely being forcibly controlled through Brainwashing, while crying out inside that she wanted to live. Besides, she’s a useful talent.”
At my explanation, Katarina’s eyes widened.
“B-but how on Earth did you know that fact in such a short time…?!”
“Well. I saw it with the Appraisal Eye Skill.”
I thought to myself and answered evasively.
“Ahem. Didn’t I tell you? There is nothing in this World that can deceive the eyes of this True Ancestor.”
However, upon hearing those words, Katarina clasped her hands together, overwhelmed with emotion once again.
“Ah! As expected of Master…!”
“Here we go again.”
While I was sighing inwardly, the girl had already licked the tray clean.
Her pure white cheeks were puffed up like a squirrel’s.
I looked at her warmly and asked.
“What is your name?”
“Keok…!”
Startled by the question, she hurriedly tried to swallow the meat left in her mouth and choked.
She coughed, tears welling up in her eyes.
I lightly waved my hand.
“Answer slowly.”
“Ah… Yes…”
The girl answered with a little red blood smeared around her mouth.
So she originally had such a cute and clumsy side.
Thinking that to myself, I waited for her answer.
After catching her breath, she lowered her gaze and answered.
“…I don’t have one. I’ve forgotten all my previous names and memories, and I know nothing other than the identification number I was given.”
'Well. She didn’t even have a name.'
Judging by her short black hair and appearance, she was definitely Korean.
'Since she’s Korean and has short black hair… how about Si-Yeon? She probably doesn’t have a last name, so I’ll just give her mine.'
I thought to myself very lightly and opened my mouth.
“From today on, your name is Yu Si-Yeon. I grant you the surname of this True Ancestor.”
Because of the [Exalted Dignity] Skill, the declaration became very grand and arrogant.
The impact of those words was much greater than I thought.
“Ah…”
Clear tears dripped from Si-Yeon’s eyes once again.
“Master’s surname… to me. I tried to harm Master…”
Was it because it was the first name she had ever received in her life?
She had an expression of someone completely moved.
“I will dedicate this life to Master forever.”
Si-Yeon bowed her head to the floor once again and swore.
It was a heartwarming sight.
But
Tremble, tremble.
For some reason, the shoulders of Katarina, who was standing next to me, were trembling.
She looked incredibly wronged and furious.
She was glaring at Si-Yeon with burning eyes.
'Katarina… What’s wrong?'
If you look at her that scarily, the newbie will get super startled and run away, hey.
However,
“…”
Surprisingly, Si-Yeon, who had raised her head, met Katarina’s gaze head-on.
But for some reason, she had a relaxed face that seemed strangely mixed with a sense of superiority!
Her expression itself was definitely expressionless, but it felt like she was smiling somehow?
'Huh?'
Gooooo-!
Katarina released her killing intent.
To the point where my skin tingled and the fine hairs on my body stood up.
“No, why are they acting like this!”
It’s not like I put a dog and a cat together. Why are they having a battle of nerves like this from the start…?!