Even Eil had to admit it herself—she wasn't a particularly merciful person.
If she had been, she would have quit working as an assassin long ago.
Still... it's pretty cowardly for a whole group to gang up on one person. Besides, if they keep making this much noise, they're going to attract demonic beasts.
If that happened, this entire area would become a battlefield between pursuers, fugitives, and monsters.
And when beast and human corpses start rotting, the smell will be unbearable.
Then she would have a harder time traveling through these woods in peace.
Right. I'm only doing this for my own convenience. Not because of that pretty, pitiful young master.
Decision made, Eil pulled the hood of her black robe lower over her face and leaped from the tree without hesitation.
A light landing echoed over the thick undergrowth, breaking the silence of the forest.
"Hey, sickly young master. Move aside. I'll save you."
"...Who are you?"
The boy narrowed his violet eyes as he watched the stranger approach without the slightest fear.
Recognizing the caution in his gaze, Eil spread her arms slightly and flapped them like wings.
Flap. Flap.
"Can't you tell? I'm an angel."
Seeing him up close, she almost frowned.
The boy was a complete mess. He was drenched in blood, looking as though he could collapse and die at any second.
"I don't need your help."
Yet this frail-looking noble rejected the angel's salvation without a hint of gratitude.
Eil snorted.
"What are you talking about? You're covered head to toe in blood."
Ignoring his refusal entirely, she pulled him behind her and stepped forward.
"...It's not my blood."
Unfortunately, his quiet mutter never reached her ears.
"You ought to be ashamed of yourselves!"
Eil pointed dramatically at the assassins before her.
"A whole bunch of grown men bullying one little kid? You pieces of trash!"
The assassins stared at her in utter disbelief.
"What kind of nonsense are you talking about?! Does it seriously look like we're the ones bullying him?!"
"Who's bullying who here?!"
"M-Mom... I want to go home..."
...
Well, now that she looked closely...
Their clothes were torn in several places, and they seemed to be bleeding quite a lot.
Did they all roll down a cliff together? They should've been more careful.
"Either way, you were trying to rob this little guy. Aren't you ashamed of picking on someone so much younger than yourselves?"
The forest suddenly fell silent.
You're a kid yourself, so who exactly are you calling little...?
"W-Well... that's true, but as you can see, the situation's actually rever—"
"Wait! That black rose emblem... Isn't that Black Rose?!"
"What?! No way! Why would Black Rose be here?!"
"R-Run!"
Only then did the assassins notice the embroidered black rose on Eil's robe.
Panic spread instantly.
One after another, they began edging backward.
"You're not going anywhere!"
Eil shot forward like an arrow.
"Urgh!"
"Gah!"
Before any of them could even react, her fists slammed into the backs of their heads.
The assassins collapsed one after another, foaming at the mouth as they hit the dirt.
"Why did you help me? Aren't you an assassin like them?"
The boy, who had silently observed her graceful yet deadly movements, finally spoke.
Apparently, he had already figured out what she was.
Eil turned toward him, looking mildly offended.
"You really are a pampered young master with no eye for talent."
She folded her arms.
"I've been doing this since the day I was born. Don't compare me to those idiots."
Clearly, being lumped together with the unconscious assassins had struck a nerve.
The boy's violet eyes gleamed ever so slightly.
"You've experienced it yourself, so you should know this place is dangerous."
Eil pointed toward a narrow path.
"See that trail? Go straight, turn left, run diagonally, then turn right. You'll find a village."
It was perhaps the least helpful set of directions imaginable.
When the boy simply stared at her without responding, Eil assumed he was too frightened to move.
She sighed.
"What's the point of being rich if you're this weak? Don't walk around alone anymore. Use all that money to hire some bodyguards."
"...Will we meet again?"
"...What?"
His unexpected question caught her completely off guard.
She blinked blankly.
She had expected something ordinary.
Thank you for saving me.
Not...
Will we meet again?
He knows perfectly well I'm an assassin... and he's asking that? This kid's just as crazy as I am.
Someone had once told her:
Never get involved with crazy people.
"Who knows..."
She shrugged.
"If we ever meet again... I probably won't be an angel anymore."
"So let's make sure we never do."
With that, she gave one of the unconscious assassins another kick for good measure.
Then she sprang effortlessly back into the trees.
Within seconds, she had vanished.
"...Black Rose."
Left alone in the dark forest, the boy whispered the name under his breath.
Perhaps...
Someday...
He might meet that violent angel again.
"I told you to report back the moment your mission was over..."
Death's cold voice echoed through the room.
"...And yet it's already night."
Eil rolled her eyes.
She glanced toward the window.
Outside, the night had grown so dark that even moonlight failed to reach the ground.
"You little brat!"
Streeetch—
"Aah! Boss! That hurts! It really hurts!"
Death mercilessly pinched both of her soft cheeks and stretched them until tears welled in her eyes.
She rubbed her aching face pitifully.
"I wanted it to hurt! I told you there was an urgent mission waiting! Come back immediately after finishing your job!"
"I was going to! But I had to save a poor, unfortunate soul..."
"What are you, an angel now?!"
As Eil grumbled while rubbing her reddened cheeks, Death let out a long, exhausted sigh.
If he went outside right now and told people that Eil was one of Black Rose's elite assassins, not a single person would believe him.
And honestly, who could blame them?
With her shimmering silver hair cascading in soft waves and brilliant blue eyes sparkling like sunlight dancing across the sea, Eil looked every bit like the treasured daughter of an aristocratic family.
Which was exactly why she was the perfect person for this assignment.
"Here, Eil."
Death handed her a slim file.
"This is your next mission. Read the details yourself."
"Hm?"
She looked down.
"A black rose seal? I thought you were exaggerating. So it really was urgent."
Her round eyes widened slightly as she recognized the emblem stamped across the cover.
Watching her reaction, Death slapped a hand against his forehead.
This adorable child... she really doesn't listen to a single word I say.
Within Black Rose, a file marked with the black rose seal meant only one thing.
The client belonged to the highest ranks of society—
A noble.
Or someone of equivalent status.
Eil opened the thin folder and skimmed the information on the target.
"Target: Lise Cassio. Age fifteen..."
She froze.
"...Cassio?"
Surely... not that Cassio?
The terrifying ducal house infamous throughout the Empire as the House of Monsters?
No way...
She slowly looked up.
Death silently nodded.
"Your mission is to kill Lise Cassio."
His expression remained calm.
"And while you're at it, uncover the secret behind the power possessed by the House of Cassio."
Eil stared at him.
"...Boss."
She paused.
"Have you finally gone insane?"
The House of Cassio was renowned throughout the Empire as an impregnable fortress.
Its reputation wasn't exaggerated.
Countless assassins had infiltrated the estate...
Only to die meaningless deaths before accomplishing anything.
That was common knowledge to virtually everyone living in the Livde Empire.
"I'm not telling you to charge in like the others."
Death shook his head.
"You're going in undercover."
"As a maid."
"...You're telling me to work as a maid?"
Eil's jaw dropped.
"What happens when they figure me out?"
"They won't."
Death answered confidently.
"A maid is the lowest-ranking servant in the household. No one will pay much attention to you."
"The risk is relatively low."
He patted her reassuringly on the shoulder.
Unfortunately...
Eil felt anything but reassured.
Sure, I've been slacking off a little lately...
But assigning me something this suicidal...?
She glared at Death with eyes full of betrayal.
"No way. I absolutely refu—"
Just as she was about to shake her head decisively...
Death quietly held something out in front of her.
