Volume 3 Chapter 63: …Master?【Assassination Organization Arc】

That day when Artemis first clashed with Lubucera.

Even though she achieved the significant feat of gouging out one of his eyes, she could only barely escape with her life.

And that was precisely because of this electricity.

It wasn’t quite like the lightning found in natural phenomena.

No matter how powerful one’s magic might be, it is impossible to exert an influence that surpasses nature itself.

If it were possible, only a historical giant—a person whose name would be etched in history—could do so.

Of course, Lubucera does not possess such prowess or ability.

However, electricity is a weakness for most creatures.

It delivers an intense pain and shock.

And it instills terror.

Even if it does not inflict significant physical damage, the fear it instills can be so overwhelming that one becomes immobilized.

Artemis was defeated by that electricity.

“Ora!”

“Tch…!”

Lubucera, charging his body with electricity, swung his fist.

Simply by electrifying himself and ramming into his opponent, he could inflict considerable pain.

Lubucera is the head of an assassination organization, but he does not wield the exceptional technique that Artemis possesses.

That wasn’t even necessary, for the ability to electrify was overwhelmingly potent.

Even the mere act of coming close sent a sharp “bachiri” of pain.

Artemis’s tail flared out with a “buwatto” as she absorbed the damage.

Even without a direct attack, just being near her caused agony.

Lubucera advanced while Artemis retreated.

This cycle repeated.

It was Artemis who sustained the damage.

Slowly, her stamina—and the gradually building “jiwajiwa” of pain—sent her body into distress.

“You’re weak, weak! The you I remember was stronger, Artemis! Truly, such a half-hearted display doesn’t suit you at all!”

Lubucera, unleashing his fierce onslaught, had no concern about any counterattack.

He attacked relentlessly, leaving not even a moment’s opening.

While his opponent couldn’t even make contact, he won simply by swinging at her.

He stood in an overwhelmingly dominant position.

“I should’ve killed Balor, Artemis!”

If only she had obediently killed Balor back then, if she had never left the organization and had remained a member until now, she would not have died here.

Confident in his victory, Lubucera wore a manic smile.

“No, not at all.”

Though her body was stained by Lubucera’s assaults, Artemis’s expression remained cold.

Lubucera claimed that her weakness—and that if she had killed Balor at that time, none of this would have happened—was the cause.

Yet, those words were spoken on the assumption of his victory.

“You’re the weaker one, Lubucera.”

“Gah…!?”

In an instant, bright blood spurted from Lubucera’s body.

Artemis, who had been expected to be in front of him, now stood behind him with her knife drawn.

Startled by an attack she had not seen coming, Lubucera’s eyes widened as he sank to his knees.

The pain was there, but the shock was even greater.

W–why…!?

“Master, you’re so incorruptible. Assassins are sent in all the time, you know. They’re probably dispatched by those noble feudal lords whose rule is measured by their subjects. That means their battle experience far exceeds what you gained in your organization—and of course, it’s only natural they’re stronger than you, who are just all puffed up.”

Balor has many enemies.

He is adored almost to the point of worship by the subjects of the Apophis territory, yet in other lands… especially by the noble feudal lords, he is despised to a surprising degree.

His own subjects complain when compared with other lords.

It’s no wonder they harbor resentment toward that very comparison.

In reality, he is even more despicable than they are, but that remains known only to the gods.

Because of that, assassins are frequently dispatched after him.

Not only does his reputation among his subjects worsen, but if the central government were to launch an investigation and bring him down, it would be disastrous.

It really shows the character of these nobles that instead of reforming themselves, they opt to kill Balor, who is seen as the root of the problem…

It was Artemis, acting on Ashvin’s orders, who had preemptively taken care of them. In other words, she was always in the thick of battle.

Having constantly exchanged life and death, it was only natural that her abilities had improved since before.

On the other hand, Lubucera is the head of the organization.

He doesn’t simply head into dangerous frontlines, and his strength hasn’t evolved since he once fought Artemis.

Rather, he has merely maintained his level—proof of his continued training.

But that was not enough to surpass the current Artemis.

“Kuh, kukukuku…! I’d love to deny it, but judging by this situation, maybe you’re right…”

Harboring anger yet unwilling to refute it, Lubucera glared at Artemis while laughing.

“Ah, but Artemis, you know that fighting isn’t just about exchanging blows directly, right?”

“Did you come up with some underhanded trick again? You’re always so quick-witted in the worst way.”

“Something behind the scenes… What did you expect from someone in an assassin organization?”

He let out a soft laugh.

Fighting honorably is something reserved for knights in the open society.

In the underworld, there’s never any reason for assassins to engage in such behavior.

To counter Artemis, he had prepared a trump card.

In order to set that up, his own pawns were not present.

He was about to shout it out when…

“I see. Then, die.”

“……!?”

In an instant, blood spurted from Lubucera’s throat.

Once again, it was Artemis.

Her movement went unseen. A chillingly cold voice reached his ears.

“Before they cause any more trouble, I’d just kill them, nya. Hmmm, Myah is really showing off!”

Her tone suddenly shifted to a pop, upbeat sound.

But Lubucera didn’t get to hear it—he had already lost his life.

With that, the grudge was finally settled.

Artemis, brimming with triumph, was about to return to Balor when…

“B-Boss!?”

“Huh? Seems I took too long. Hmmm, what should I do, nya…”

The one who dashed out was an assassin belonging to the organization, utterly astonished at the sight of Lubucera submerged in a sea of blood.

Seeing him like that, Artemis fell into thought.

She had accomplished her primary objective of killing Lubucera.

Therefore, there was no need to linger here—it would be best to make a quick escape.

However, if she left any grudge among their subordinates, they might later turn their fangs on her.

After pondering for a moment—and recalling that she wasn’t very good at deep thought—Artemis abandoned any further deliberation.

“Alright, kill, nya.”

“For now, just kill.”

“If in doubt, kill.”

Death resolves everything.

Having reached an utterly ruthless conclusion, Artemis brandished her knife, intending to kill Lubucera’s subordinates as well…

“Eek!? D-don’t come any closer! Do you not care what happens to this guy!?”

A man emerged from the shadow of a building, dragging something out.

It was a person.

A person covered in blood and in tatters.

Ah, with an assassin organization, it wasn’t uncommon for the victims to end up like this.

Artemis had seen it many times.

And that was…

“…Master?”

It could only be the Balor she knew so well.