Chapter 36: The King’s Burden

Y stood there, his sword still resting at Yamamoto’s neck, while blood flowed from his injured palm and dripped slowly onto the floor.

He extended his hand toward his opponent.

Yamamoto hesitated for a moment… then took it.

The two rose to their feet, standing face to face.

Y turned toward the corridor leading to the prison.

Behind him, the bleeding left a clear crimson trail across the ground.

At that moment, Yamamoto clenched his short blade, whispering to himself:

Defeat… and failing to repay a debt… are no different from death.

He lunged, trying to drive the blade into his own heart.

But a firm hand stopped the sword before it could touch his body.

Y spoke calmly, his voice cold—yet not without warmth:

“Yamamoto… don’t deny me the chance to face you again.

I know you still want to do many things… the right things.”

He released his grip and walked away without looking back.

Yamamoto remained staring at his retreating back, whispering inwardly:

Allowing an enemy who sought your death to live…

only to face him again?

Eyes that do not fear death, a kind heart, and a will as immovable as mountains…

What kind of warrior are you?

At that moment, one of the bandits shouted:

“He’s wounded! We can kill him now!”

They rushed forward, trying to pursue Y.

But Yamamoto stepped ahead of them and drew a sharp line across the ground with his sword.

He spoke in a decisive voice:

“Anyone who crosses it… will die.”

They froze in place the instant they heard his tone.

Yamamoto smiled faintly, then sheathed his sword and thought to himself:

I want to see your kind with my own eyes.

On the other side, the battle between the two brothers grew even more savage.

Valdrin spoke with restrained anger:

“I didn’t expect you to have an ally this strong!”

Regon replied with steady coldness:

“Allies benefit from one another…”

Then he added in a deeper tone:

“But that man is a friend to an entire kingdom—not merely an ally.”

Valdrin sneered.

“You speak as if he were someone important… I’ve never even heard of him.”

Regon looked at him with unwavering confidence—no provocation, only certainty.

“That’s why I pity you, my brother.”

He paused for a moment, then spoke with deadly calm:

“But don’t worry…

a day will come when the world will see him

the same way I see him standing before you now.”

Y walked through the cold corridors of the prison—

then suddenly stopped.

There was no sign of long-term prisoners.

The walls were bare… no restraints, no scratches, no traces of life left behind.

He murmured coldly,

“Strange… there’s nothing here to suggest prisoners were ever held.

I was wondering how someone once beloved could become the leader of bandits…

but it seems there’s something else entirely at play.”

Suddenly, the prison shook violently.

Y formed a faint smile and said,

“Looks like there’s an interesting fight going on outside.”

Outside, Valdrin and Regon stepped

forward at the exact same moment—

then exploded into motion.

Pure magic… with no retreat.

The collision was so violent that both of their swords were hurled high into the air.

Without hesitation, each clenched his fist

and struck the other’s face with full force.

They staggered back together,

their breathing ragged.

Valdrin spoke through heavy breaths:

“Did you kill our father… or not?”

Regon answered, his voice exhausted—yet unwavering:

“Yes… I killed him.”

He fell silent for a moment,

then his voice began to sink, as if drifting back to a distant past.

“Two years ago… I was on an adventure,

and I heard rumors that the Kingdom of Mond was involved in the slave trade.”

He stopped breathing for a brief instant.

“I abandoned everything and went to Mond…

and the rumors were true.”

He continued, his voice growing heavier:

“At that time, the people were in dire straits.

Fear filled their faces… anxiety was everywhere.”

“I met our father. I spoke with him.”

Then he slowly raised his eyes.

“But his answer was clear.”

“He said Mond was lagging behind the other kingdoms…

and that it couldn’t survive on its own.”

“He said the solution was to help the other kingdoms…

with whatever they asked for.”

He fell silent.

Then he spoke with deadly calm:

“At that point, I saw no way out…

except to end his reign with my own hands.”

Y continued down the corridor until he reached a wooden door at the very end.

He didn’t hesitate—he struck it once.

The door shattered, its echo scattering through the space.

Beyond it, an unexpected scene was revealed.

At the far end of the hall sat a woman on a high-backed chair of simple design—

not a throne fit for a palace,

yet it carried the authority of the one seated upon it, not of its craftsmanship.

Her back was straight, one leg slightly forward,

and in her hand she held a folded Japanese fan.

Beside her stood a young girl,

and behind them a man in a defensive stance.

All three faced him directly.

In a single instant, the man drew his sword with a heavy motion that spoke of strength.

The girl raised her bow with instinctive speed, like someone long accustomed to both hunting and battle.

But the woman slowly opened her fan.

The soft sound of it unfolding cut through the tension.

She raised her other hand with decisive calm and spoke in a quiet voice that allowed no argument:

“Lower your weapons…

this man is Y.”

The girl hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward, looking at him with open curiosity.

“So… this is the man my sister Rosari told us about?”

As for the man, he lowered his sword slightly and gave a small bow.

His voice was rough, but steady.

“Our apologies… we did not recognize you at first.”

Y stepped forward once, his gaze sharp and focused.

“Before we leave this place… I have a few questions.”

The man tightened his grip on his sword hilt in tension.

But the woman half-closed her fan and looked at him without raising her voice.

“Stop, Roderick… there’s no need for that.”

Y spoke with direct coldness:

“I noticed a few strange things.

First: what were you doing outside Mond all this time?

Second: you don’t look like prisoners… rather, like partners—or at the very least, not people being forced.”

The woman smiled faintly.

Her fan moved in a slow, steady rhythm, as if setting the pace of the hall itself.

“As Rosari said… you really are sharp-eyed.”

She paused, then continued:

“My name is Eleanor, wife of Regon,King of Mond.

This is my daughter, Yoomia,

and this man is Roderick… her guardian and constant companion.”

Her tone shifted slightly, and the fan stopped for a brief moment.

“As for our absence… I was in my family’s province.

We visited it when Regon suddenly became king two years ago—you likely know the story.

Our plan was to keep my presence out of sight until the situation stabilized…

but Valdrin discovered it.”

Yoomia frowned and interjected impatiently:

“And the second reason… is because of me.

I went out on a hunting trip two weeks ago and fell into an ambush.

And from that moment on… things started to grow complicated.”

Roderick spoke quickly, directing his words at Yoomia:

“Don’t say that, Princess… your captivity was my failure.”

Yoomia shook her head firmly.

“You were only trying to protect me.”

Then she added calmly:

“That’s why I surrendered.”

Eleanor continued in a steady voice:

“Valdrin arrived at the province and spoke to me directly.

He said he would detain my daughter and her guardian…”

She paused for a moment, then went on:

“I didn’t have many options.

But I wanted to understand his true objective.”

Yoomia spoke quickly, her eyes shining with clear confidence:

“In the end… my uncle is not an evil man.”

Y observed them in silence for a brief moment,

then spoke with calm coldness:

“Everything is clear now.”

He turned slightly and added:

“Follow me… the exit is close.”

Y walked ahead of them with steady steps.

Behind him, Yoomia whispered:

“Roderick… what do you think of him?”

The guard replied in a low voice:

“Strong, without a doubt…

He must have fought a deadly battle with Yamamoto.”

Yoomia’s eyes widened in astonishment:

“Then… is he on the level of the samurai legends?”

Y suddenly stopped and said calmly:

“We’ve arrived.”

They entered the courtyard,

and the battle between the two brothers was still raging.

Both stared at one another,

their bodies battered with wounds and bruises,

their breathing heavy—yet their stubborn resolve had not faded.

Yoomia cried out:

“Father!”

She tried to rush toward him,

but Y stopped her firmly without even looking back.

“Not now.”

He lifted his gaze toward the battle and said with clear coldness:

“This is the burden of a king.”

Valdrin and Regon slowly advanced toward one another,

dragging their exhausted bodies,

then exchanged another brutal blow,

both collapsing onto their backs.

Valdrin spoke between labored breaths:

“Wasn’t your dream to become a hunter?

Go and fulfill it… and leave the kingdom to me.”

Regon replied, his voice weak but unwavering:

“And you… wasn’t your goal a peaceful life?

You can’t turn back now.”

The brothers stood once more,

trying to strike again.

But Eleanor suddenly stepped forward and spoke firmly:

“Forgive me…

but someone has to put an end to this.”

At that very moment,

Y appeared between them.

A single strike—

fast, precise—

knocked them both down and brought the conflict to a halt.

Valdrin stared at him in shock:

“You… dare to strike the King of Mond?”

Regon smiled faintly as he gasped for breath:

“To Y… it makes no difference—

whether you’re a king… or an ordinary person.”

Eleanor said calmly:

“You were quicker than me…

I was about to do it myself.”

Y replied without hesitation:

“Then I’ll leave it to you.”

The queen inclined her head slightly.

“Thank you.”

Y turned and added:

“I’m returning to Mond now.”

Then he departed.

Watching his retreating figure, Eleanor spoke in a tone mixed with mild irritation and relief:

“He left so quickly…

I at least wanted to treat his wounds.”

Elsewhere on the continent,

a journey undertaken by three men came to its end.

Garb — the Hero of the Dwarves.

Kyojiro — the White Phantom.

Albedo — the genius of the Old World.

Albedo spoke as he gazed at the horizon shrouded in mist:

“We’ve arrived at our destination.”

Garb stepped forward, staring into the emptiness ahead.

“So… this is the place?”

Kyojiro let out a quiet chuckle, his voice barely audible in the stillness.

“Without you, Albedo, it would’ve taken us a full year… or more.”

Albedo replied calmly, his eyes never leaving the fog.

“All because of this mist.

They say that beyond it… lie the secrets of the Old World.”

Garb clenched his fist, caution clear in his voice.

“This fog is incredibly dense…

I can barely see you now.”

Albedo moved forward.

He slowly opened his palm.

A faint yet steady light emerged from it,

cutting through the fog as if tracing an invisible path.

Without turning back, he said:

“Follow me.”

The scene shifted to the depths of the Mond Dungeon,

specifically the fifteenth floor.

Stone walls worn down by age and moisture surrounded them,

and the air grew heavier with every step deeper inside.

Five figures entered:

Mia, Lauma, Liz, Diona, and Leona.

Mia was an elf who worked at Margaret’s restaurant—

and a former hunter.

Inside the dungeon, she wore hunter-like gear

and concealed her identity behind a black scarf.

Diona looked at her with curiosity and asked:

“Why are you hiding your face, Mia?”

Leona answered calmly but firmly:

“There’s no need for questions like that, Diona.”

Diona lowered her head slightly.

“Sorry.”

Leona continued, clearly trying to shift the mood:

“By the way, Lauma… where did you disappear to today?”

Lauma replied without hesitation:

“I went to the University of Mages.

Y asked me to deliver a message to Auren.”

Leona nodded.

“I see.”

Mia spoke while observing the quiet corridor around them:

“What’s with this calm?

I expected at least some tension.”

Leona smiled faintly.

“Each of us trained under powerful individuals.

And we’ve fought real battles.”

Diona added honestly:

“I don’t get nervous… except when I face Y.

But someday, we’ll fight him together.”

They reached a wide arena.

Mia raised her hand, pointing toward the open hall ahead.

“As you can see… this is the fifteenth floor.

You’ll train here against the floor boss.”

From the depths of the darkness,

a massive monster emerged.

A gigantic humanoid body,

the head of a bull,

and a colossal sword nearly as tall as one of them.

Mia spoke calmly, though her tone was taut:

“A Minotaur.

You’ll need to work together if you want to defeat it.”

Leona immediately raised her sword.

“Liz and I will take the front.

Diona will provide support.”

Mia asked them:

“Have you fought together before?”

Leona shook her head.

“No… this is our first time.”

Liz stepped forward with a challenging smile.

“The faster we defeat it,

the longer our rest will be.”

Diona raised her bow, her eyes steady.

“Let’s begin.”

Liz burst forward with blinding speed.

The monster swung its massive sword in a wide horizontal arc, trying to cut her down—

but she evaded it with a graceful acrobatic move.

It then swept its left arm toward her, attempting to crush her outright.

Liz slid beneath the attack with fluid precision,

slipping between its legs and driving her dagger deep into its thigh.

The Minotaur roared and dropped to one knee.

Liz seized the moment,

leaping upward, aiming for its head from behind.

But the beast snapped its head violently,

and its sword rose in a sudden ambush—

a strike that would have split her in two.

At the very last instant,

Leona appeared.

She struck the blade with her smaller sword,

deflecting its path just in time.

The monster released the sword,

caught it with its other hand,

and charged forward to attack again.

But three consecutive arrows—

loosed by Diona—

pierced its hand and head,

forcing the Minotaur to stagger back a step.

The Minotaur roared,

blood pouring from its open wounds.

It slammed its hoof into the ground with brutal force,

cracking the stone beneath them,then charged forward, lowering its horns in an attempt to gore Leona directly.

Leona evaded the attack with a calculated sidestep.

At the very same moment,

Liz activated her shadow feint.

She vanished—

then reappeared behind the beast,

launching a swift strike toward its neck.

At the last instant,

the monster raised its injured arm,

blocked the blade,

and tried to seize her violently.

But Leona threw a smoke bomb into the air.

Diona was ready.

She released a single arrow, striking the bomb with perfect accuracy.

It exploded,

spreading thick black smoke throughout the hall.

The Minotaur began swinging its sword wildly inside the fog,

slashing at the air without direction.

Meanwhile, Liz moved through the shadows,

delivering multiple rapid strikes

to its arms and chest—

fast, brutal, without hesitation.

Enraged,

the beast slammed its horns into the ground once more.

A massive shockwave burst outward,

ripping through the smoke

and revealing the arena again.

From a distance, Mia watched the fight with intense focus, then said calmly:

“Why aren’t you joining the fight, Lauma?”

Lauma answered without taking her eyes off the battle:

“It’s not my turn yet.”

The three girls regrouped in front of the Minotaur.

Diona placed a hand on both Liz’s and Leona’s backs.

A faint aura spread over their bodies—

calm… yet unwavering.

Leona spoke, her eyes shining with sharp resolve:

“Follow my rhythm…

don’t give it a single opening.”

Leona charged from the right,

meeting its attacks head-on.

At the very same time,

Liz slipped in from the left,

aiming for its flank.

The Minotaur raised its sword

and unleashed a massive vertical strike,

one that nearly split the ground apart.

Leona met it with her smaller sword,

deflecting the blow through strength and precise angling.

In the opening that followed,

Liz drove her dagger deep into its leg.

The beast roared

and tried to gore Liz with its left horn.

But her body suddenly vanished,

leaving behind nothing but an arrow lodged in midair.

Liz reappeared directly behind its head.

The Minotaur tried to turn and strike Liz—

“I won’t allow it!” Diona shouted.

In an instant,

Liz and Leona switched positions using a teleportation technique.

Leona diverted another incoming attack,

while Liz struck its legs without hesitation.

The Minotaur’s massive body shook violently,

its balance breaking—

and it nearly collapsed.

The Minotaur refused to fall.

It gathered what little strength remained,

raised its sword high,

and darkness poured toward it as if answering a summons.

It unleashed a colossal dark strike—

a slash that split the hall in two,

a lethal wave that swept forward without mercy.

Just before the attack reached the three girls—

a spell manifested before them.

A strange barrier,

one that absorbed the entire attack

without a single sound of impact.

Leona shouted, her voice steady,

echoing through the hall:

“Y once said—

the strongest attack

is to be struck by your own.”

The barrier trembled.

And from within it…

the Minotaur’s own attack detonated—

returned, compressed, and far more brutal.

In a horrifying instant,

the Minotaur faced its own power.

It raised its weapon, trying to block.

But the blow cleaved straight through its body,

from shoulder… to chest.

It let out one final, thunderous roar,

then its form shattered into black dust,

slowly fading into the air.

Silence fell.

Mia applauded as she stepped toward them,

a clear smile of pride on her face.

She spoke with confident approval:

“I admit it… I underestimated you.

If girls this young can reach this level—”

She paused, then added with genuine interest:

“—then what must Y himself be like?”

She looked at them one by one.

“Liz’s combat experience,

Diona’s abilities,

Leona’s intelligence,

and Lauma’s magic—

each of you proved your worth in this battle.”

She turned to Liz first:

“So far, you’re operating at a very high level in terms of combat experience.

Your attack timing is excellent, and your movements are decisive.”

Then she looked at Diona:

“Your support was flawless.

And the teleportation ability you used allowed the team to move quickly—

without putting anyone in danger.”

Her gaze shifted to Lauma:

“Your understanding of your own ability,

and the way you used your magic…

were both very well executed.”

Finally, she stopped in front of Leona:

“You were the true conductor of the rhythm.

You redirected the monster’s attacks,

devised the plan,

and exploited everyone’s abilities with precision.

Liz served as the distraction,

and that mark you placed together—

it ensured that the monster’s end

came by facing its own attack.”

The air trembled.

Another Minotaur emerged from the depths of the hall.

Liz drew her weapon instantly, ready to attack,

but Mia raised her hand, stopping her calmly.

“Stop.

It’s my turn.”

Mia stepped forward a few paces.

She raised her hand, and the air around her began to gather—

calm… yet dense.

She stood before the Minotaur with absolute confidence.

The beast lifted its weapon, attempting to strike her down,

but she evaded the blow effortlessly.

A single step was all it took.

Leona watched the scene in silent amazement.

Mia’s focus was impressive—

she dodged the attacks,

while at the same time… condensing magic in her hand.

Enraged,

the Minotaur slammed the ground, releasing a wide-area magical attack.

But Mia appeared directly in front of it.

In her hand

was compressed wind magic… condensed to its absolute limit.

She released it.

The attack pierced straight through the Minotaur’s body

and continued on, punching through the wall behind it as well.

Leona clapped her hands in admiration.

“Mia… that was at least A-rank—or higher.”

The monster collapsed.

And with its fall…

a hidden passage opened.

Diona blinked in surprise.

“A hidden passage?”

Mia frowned slightly.

“I’ve never heard of something like this before.”

Liz narrowed her eyes.

“It leads to the lower levels of the dungeon.”

Mia spoke seriously:

“Someone needs to report this.

This could be dangerous.”

Leona replied with confidence:

“Don’t worry.

My aunt works in the Hunters’ Organization.

I’ll tell her… while keeping your identity secret.”

Mia nodded.

“Then our work here is done.”

She smiled and added:

“You’ve earned a reward.

Let’s go eat—my treat.”

She paused, then asked with curiosity:

“By the way…

was it Y who taught you to fight like this?”

The girls exchanged glances.

Leona answered calmly:

“No.

Y only guides us…

and gives us ideas that suit each of our individual fighting styles.”

Diona added:

“When we train with him,

he uses our weaknesses against us without mercy.”

Liz smiled faintly.

“And that’s why…

we refine those weaknesses,

then go back to test ourselves against him again.”

In a modest palace beyond the borders of Mond,

the two brothers sat side by side on the floor,

their bodies exhausted,

while Eleanor quietly cleaned their wounds with meticulous care.

Valdrin groaned:

“That Y… he really didn’t hold back.

He hit us with everything he had.”

Regon replied calmly, as if admitting an unavoidable truth:

“We deserved it.”

He then lifted his gaze toward Eleanor and Yoomia.

“How was your conversation with him?”

Eleanor answered without hesitation:

“A kind person… but with a sharp, dangerous mind.”

Yoomia quickly added:

“Rosari advised us not to lie or stall when speaking with him.”

Regon nodded.

“A wise decision.

No one knows what he might do if angered.”

Valdrin turned to the man sitting near the wall.

“What about you, Yamamoto?”

Yamamoto spoke in a calm voice:

“He’s strong… I tried to defeat him with strategy,

but it seems he was one step ahead of me.”

Roderick raised an eyebrow.

“What about his magic?”

Regon interjected plainly:

“He has no magic.”

Yamamoto confirmed with confidence:

“That much was clear from my fight with him.

He truly has no magic.”

Valdrin frowned.

“Then who exactly is this Y?

I’ve never heard of a hunter like him.”

Regon answered:

“Because he isn’t a hunter.

He appeared in this world only six months ago.

He tried to become a hunter…

but was rejected due to his weak magic.”

Valdrin’s eyes narrowed.

“And yet he defeated Yamamoto?”

Yamamoto replied:

“He used a dwarven technique against me.”

Regon added:

“He went to the Dwarven Kingdom

and fought someone there.”

Valdrin asked:

“Who was it?”

Yamamoto said:

“He told me he fought Garb, the Hero of the Dwarves.

I don’t know the details.”

Regon continued in a heavier tone:

“And not just Garb.

Within four months, he met the Fairy Queen,

clashed with Dansleif,

and drew against the Crimson Dragon, Valzenor.

Many dangerous figures orbit around him.”

Valdrin exhaled deeply.

“So… he’s a monster still evolving.”

Yamamoto nodded.

“Yes.

His fighting style hasn’t reached perfection yet.”

Regon added quietly:

“Mond has changed greatly because of him in just four months.

And I’m certain he hasn’t even noticed.

He’s not someone who seeks glory or fame.

That’s why… we agreed to grant him authority equal to my own in Mond.”

Valdrin smiled faintly.

“I would have objected…

but things are different now.

For men like him,

positions don’t add anything—

they only bind his freedom.”

Y was on his way back to Mond—

but suddenly, he stopped.

A strange sensation…

a weight he couldn’t ignore.

He followed the feeling until he reached ancient ruins.

A voice came from above:

“I didn’t expect to see you here.”

Y lifted his head calmly.

“Neither did I.

How are you two, Ash… and L?”

Ash replied:

“We’re fine.

What about your injury? It looks like you ran into someone experienced.”

Y answered:

“Yes.

A ronin named Yamamoto.”

Then he asked:

“Are you here looking for Rin’s sister?”

L replied:

“We were heading somewhere else…

but we felt something strange.”

Y nodded.

“The same thing happened to me.

Let’s investigate together.”

L smiled faintly.

“It’s been a while since the three of us were on a mission together.”

Y replied:

“That’s true.”

After searching through the ruins,

they discovered an ancient gate.

Y said:

“What do you think, L?”

She examined it carefully.

“It looks like a gate to the Demon Kingdom.”

Y replied coldly:

“I don’t have time for that now.

Let’s leave.”

Suddenly—

a faint voice echoed from inside the gate:

“Please… save us.”

Y froze.

“Do you hear that?”

Ash and L answered together:

“No.”

Y said quietly:

“There’s a voice asking for help.”

Ash asked him:

“What are you going to do?”

Y answered without hesitation:

“I’m going to check it out.”

L said cautiously:

“It could be a trap.”

Y replied:

“We’ll deal with it.

Can you two conceal yourselves?”

Ash answered confidently:

“Of course.”

L smiled.

“We learned that from you.”

Y smiled faintly.

“For the record… I have very little magic.”

L replied:

“And that’s exactly why you’re the king of stealth.”

Y said:

“Then let’s go.”

Ash added:

“I’ll guard the exit.”

Y nodded.

“Alright.”

L said lightly:

“Just… try not to destroy an entire kingdom.”

Demon Kingdom

A sky dark as blood,

riddled with fiery cracks like wounds torn open across the heavens.

Black stone towers rose like blades,

and distant sounds echoed—an endless, mournful wail.

Even the air itself was heavy…

pressing against the chest as if trying to suffocate anyone who dared to breathe it.

Y and L followed the source of the voice

until they reached a shadowed prison.

Its walls dripped with black moisture,

and rusted iron glimmered beneath a faint, sickly light.

There—

A demon woman lay on the ground,

her body covered in bruises and burns.

Beside her,

a young demon girl hung from chains fixed to the wall,

her body worn down by torture and hunger.

The girl looked at Y and whispered:

“Save… my mother.”

Before Y could move,

a massive demon appeared behind him,

its axe glowing with black sparks.

Y didn’t turn around.

The demon suddenly collapsed to the ground—

like a lifeless puppet.

Y stepped forward

and struck the shackles with his weapon, severing them in a single blow.

The chains fell away.

The girl collapsed—

but Y caught her firmly with one arm.

The woman whispered in a voice barely audible:

“Please… save my daughter.”

Y extended his free hand toward her.

The girl looked into his eyes—

eyes that had not lost hope.

Her trembling hand reached out…

and grasped his.

L said quietly:

“Let’s get out of here.”

She lifted the girl into her arms.

Suddenly—

black smoke began to seep from the fallen demon’s body.

Y said sharply:

“Stop.

Something’s wrong.”

L asked:

“A trap?”

Y replied:

“No…

something else.

Can you examine their bodies?”

L nodded.

“Alright.”

Y noticed a strange mark on the demon’s body.

L said:

“There’s a mark on the woman as well…

similar to the one that was on the wolf group before we met Ash.

But it isn’t active.”

Y said coldly:

“Why only the woman?”

L thought for a moment.

“Normally, curses break when conditions are fulfilled or the person dies.

A temporary suspension means the contract still exists,

but its activation conditions haven’t been met.”

Y narrowed his eyes.

“That’s strange.”

L asked:

“Can you break the contract?”

Y answered:

“Maybe with my weapon…

but I’d need to maintain contact with the person for some time.”

Y’s eyes suddenly widened.

L noticed immediately.

“You figured something out?”

Y replied:

“Just a hypothesis…

What if they’re not allowed to kill this woman at all?”

L was startled.

“You mean one of the contract’s conditions… is that she must not be killed?

But wouldn’t it be easier to simply make the condition not to harm her?”

Then her eyes widened in realization.

“I get it…

If a contract’s conditions are: death or completion of a mission,

and also no harm to anyone…

what happens if one of the parties disappears?”

Y answered:

“The contract is temporarily suspended.”

L continued:

“And because of that suspension…

the remaining party can harm whomever they want.”

Y concluded:

“That’s why they were able to harm the woman…

but not kill her.”

L nodded slowly.

“A hypothesis… but a very solid one.”

Y spoke decisively:

“Let’s leave. Now.”

Y stepped out, carrying the woman in his arms,

while L held the young girl.

Suddenly—

a deep, resounding voice thundered from atop the black towers:

“I was wondering…

who dared to kill one of my soldiers?”

Y lifted his head coldly,

his eyes glinting in the darkness.

He whispered, as if delivering a verdict:

“You…

are their king.”