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An alarm rang in Jake’s mind.

He had a bad feeling about this.

‘How does he know about the Five Great Assassin Guilds?’

The Five Great Assassin Guilds had not been active for over ten years.

No, it would be more accurate to say they ‘couldn’t’ be active.

In the past, the Empire had decided to eradicate the assassins completely.

Of course, at first, everyone associated with the Five Great Assassin Guilds scoffed at this.

They were assassins, after all.

They were the experts in escaping, hiding, disguising, and erasing traces.

Most importantly, they were a ‘clandestine organization’ where even they didn’t know each other’s identities.

No matter how powerful the Empire was, how could outsiders possibly track down and capture all of them?

It didn’t take long for them to realize they were mistaken.

Just five years.

That’s how long it took for the Five Great Assassin Guilds to be completely annihilated.

The four who led the mission were truly extraordinary beings.

The survivors were only released after they were humiliated, forced to take an oath of loyalty, and had a prohibition placed on them by the Emperor.

As a result, the name of the Five Great Assassin Guilds was now fading from people’s memories……

‘……Even if it’s just a suspicion, it doesn’t matter.’

This brat, he had a bad feeling about him.

His actions so far had been particularly annoying.

‘I’ll kill him here.’

There wasn’t much time left.

He would not return to that hellish life again.

‘If any word gets out from this brat’s mouth about any connection between me and the Empire, I’ll be the one who gets assassinated.’

This was why Jake was desperate.

“Murderous intent is just pouring out of your eyes.”

As I was speaking.

Shrrrrrrrrk!

At the same time, a curtain of countless weapons emerged from Jake’s chest.

***

Flash!

My body reacted first to the killing intent.

Bang! Crash!

I immediately threw myself out of the window I had entered through.

The source of the killing intent quickly revealed itself.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Silver blades slashed through the narrow space in an instant.

‘Definitely not an ordinary guy.’

Handling multiple daggers, not swords, to this level.

Indeed, with such skill, only the Five Great Assassins come to mind.

That’s why it was even more puzzling.

Once again, towards the end of the Unification War, the Emperor had directly ordered all commanders, including myself to eradicate the assassins.

In fact, I personally decapitated the heads of two of the Five Great Assassins.

Of course, I don’t know what happened afterward, but if the Emperor spared a few assassins, I could guess the reason.

‘It’s probably the same reason why the Empire left the Mask of Night alone.’

Because they’re useful.

‘Indeed, there’s no doubt the Empire is behind him.’

The judgment was made.

If so,

Shiiing.

I quietly drew the sword I had brought.

Hummm!

Reacting to the mana, the sword immediately emitted a resonant sound.

Narakas, the leader of the Mask of the Night, had clearly warned me.

That under no circumstances should I reveal anything to the Empire.

Especially my relationship to the great hero, Ancelot.

If the Empire found out, they wouldn’t stay quiet.

But,

‘If the opponent is an assassin of the Five Great Assassins, it’s a different story.’

Now, conversely, it was time to reveal in some way that I was related to the Empire.

‘If he really is one of the Five Great Assassins, he will recognize this.’

And with that thought—

Whoosh!

My mana reacted to my will, instantly transforming into a specific attribute.

The energy of nature was turning into ‘flame.’

And soon, that intense heat spread in all directions.

“……Of all things……”

The assassin, who had immediately followed me outside, groaned.

Just as mages have primary attributes, swordsmen also have different innate mana properties.

Water, fire, wind, earth, lightning, etc.

A mage cannot use magic outside of their innate attribute.

Likewise, a swordsman cannot arbitrarily change the nature of their innate mana.

In that sense, assassins feared swordsmen with fire mana the most.

Flames dispel darkness.

For assassins, who lurk in shadows waiting for an ambush opportunity, it’s a significant burden.

The moment they fail in their initial attack, they can’t utilize their skills to their fullest.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The flames that had scattered in all directions soon compressed and compressed again into one place.

Flames within flames.

Size isn’t everything.

Sizzle!

The heat, now reduced to just enough to envelop the blade, began to melt the surrounding ground.

“H-H-H-H-How?!”

A belated exclamation of shock came from the assassin.

If this assassin really was from the Five Great Assassin Guilds, there was no way he wouldn’t recognize the special flames that annihilated them.

‘This is none other than the ultimate form of heat, a symbol of Theorg.’

I unleashed the secret technique of the one praised as the haven of the continent at the time.

Mana is like nature.

It isn’t fixed.

Flowing clouds can turn into thunderstorms.

A pleasant breeze can become a storm that sweeps the area.

A boiling volcano can suddenly pour out all its contents.

Mana is the same.

Just as water can turn into mist or ice.

Overlapping and compressed flames constantly change their nature.

How am I able to use one of its final forms?

Well……

‘Because I was the one who led Theorog, who handled ordinary fire mana, to the path of Blazes.’

In the dancing flames, I saw the past.

“Commander, how can I become as strong as you?”

“You need talent.”

“Don’t joke around. Aren’t we comrades with the same dream? For the first empire!”

“From the beginning, I’m neither a swordsman nor was I born with fire mana, so why are you asking me how to get stronger?”

“Come on, why are you pretending to be weak? You’re the one and only ‘Martial God’ of the continent. Is there anything you can’t do?”

“Well, that’s true.”

Even since the past, the mana I possessed was a bit unique.

“Martial God, please teach this subordinate of yours a trick. At least give me a hint about the ‘state of mana awakening’ so I can become a Master.”

In my memory, the young Theorg kept bowing his head to me.

“Well, flames are easier to handle compared to other attributes.”

“What on earth does that mean?”

“Flames have a characteristic that reacts greatly to the user’s ‘disposition.’”

Evil demons by nature create black flames.

Those born and raised in the snowy mountains produce blue flames, called cold flames.

“Try to imbue your emotions into the mana. The greater your will, or the stronger your anger, the attributes of the flame will change in response to your emotions and existence.”

“……Wait a minute. I think I might be getting something. Let me concentrate for a moment.”

“Go ahead.”

Young Theorg was indeed a genius.

Then, just three days later, he came to me again.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

“Commander! I did it! There’s a flame within the flame! Hahaha! This can be considered a state of awakening, right?”

“A flame within the flame…… You rascal, you had another plan in mind, didn’t you?”

“……!”

Theorg stiffened for a moment in his thoughts.

“Well, that’s none of my business. Anyway, that’s the beginning of the blaze. Once you can fully control the flame within the flame, even a brat like you will be called a ‘Master’ one day.”

“What? This isn’t the end……? Ow! Wh-Why won’t this go out?”

“See? I told you, it’s just the beginning.”

I forced myself to erase my thoughts.

‘Even hotter.’

Whoosh!

In an instant, the compressed mana scattered in all directions.

Boom! Crash!

“……!”

The enemies watching gasped in surprise.

The flying daggers couldn’t penetrate the wall of flames I had created and bounced off in all directions.

‘Hotter.’

Was it because I thought of my enemy?

The flames devoured my inner anger even more.

Whoosh!

Soon, the flames even covered the sky.

The mana shot from the tip of my sword rose in a sphere shape.

Like the sun.

Soon, it was ready to rain fire……

No, to rain fragments of rage upon the ground.

‘Although it’s risky at this level.’

The small sun that lit up the surroundings made the enemies swallow hard.

Especially Jake, who was trembling all over.

This technique was one of the mass-killing moves he used most often in his prime.

“Te, Theo, Theo……!”

-Shh.

I brought my finger to my lips quietly, remembering the original purpose.

As expected, the spy recognized it immediately.

This makes the conversation much easier.

-I’m like you.

-E-Even a mana message?

-The Empire.

-……!

At the word, Jake’s eyes widened.

-Right? I’m from there too. We’re on the same side. There’s no need for us to fight like this.

Tremble.

If he hadn’t recognized Theorg’s technique, it might have been different.

But in this situation, he had no choice but to believe it.

-Th-Then all your actions so far……?

-Yes, for the civil war in the Hart Kingdom. That’s the big picture ‘our’ Empire wants, right?

Jake carefully glanced at the other two, who were still staring blankly at the small sun.

-From the looks of it, the other two don’t know anything, do they? Are you the only spy sent here?

-……

Still a confused expression.

But soon, Jake nodded quietly.

How many people in the world could show such divine power?

-……Yes.

His tone became infinitely polite.

I smiled inwardly.

-Are you a disciple of Sir Theorg? If you had given me a hint in advance, I wouldn’t have been so rude……

-Enough. Just pretend to be dead for now.

-……Pardon?

-You said the other two don’t know. If your identity is revealed, it’ll be troublesome for both sides, right?

Finally regaining his original composure, Jake nodded quietly.

-I’ll comply.

-I’ll pretend to cut you with my sword. Just act like you’re dead. You can do that, right? It’s a specialty of you assassins.

Originally, I planned to behead this guy, who killed the Lady, and display his head in the capital.

So that even if I happened to kill Marquis Foltaine in an ‘unfortunate accident,’ it would be justifiable.

But now that it’s confirmed the Empire is behind them, the plan changes.

“……Here I go.”

The eyes of the other two, who relied solely on Jake, widened in shock.

Whoosh! Fwoosh!

The small sun in the sky began to rain fragments of flames.

“Ugh, aaagh!”

The two hurriedly covered their heads with their arms.

While blocking their view with mana.

Slice!

“……Ugh!”

I deliberately made the sound of cutting flesh.

And when the rain of flames completely stopped.

“Wh-When did……?”

The two, puzzled by their unharmed state, gaped in surprise.

As planned, Jake was lying on the ground, bleeding heavily.

-Act dead for real. If they find out, it’s over.

I-I’ll do my best to pretend I’m dead.

Jake went completely limp like a corpse, as if leaving the rest to me.

Should I say it was as expected of an assassin?

He didn’t even make a sound of breathing, let alone move.

‘He endures pain well.’

Although I avoided his vital points, I made a deep cut for dramatic effect.

“Is he…… dead?”

The voice of one of the survivors reached my ears.

The act was quite convincing.

‘Oh right, before that……’

I looked at the one pretending to be a corpse.

-Just to warn you, don’t be surprised by anything I say and act well.

-……

-I’ve warned you. If they find out, it’s over.

I took his silence as affirmation.

A sly smile crept onto my lips.

“Hey, you dogs of the Foltaine Marquisate.”

“Wh-What……?”

I murmured nonchalantly towards the two staring blankly at me.

My eyes remained fixed on the fake corpse.

“This guy— he’s a spy from the Empire.”