I Became the Assassin Family's Foster Daughter (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 7
“You’re asking why the young master hates humans?”
The knight of House Rodwick fell into deep thought at the new knight’s question, then answered.
“Because of the smell…?”
“Huh?”
“I’m not entirely sure myself, but apparently, human breath carries a terrible stench.”
“From their breath?”
“Members of the Rodwick family can control other beings’ breathing, so they’re especially sensitive to it. It’s something to boast about—our young master’s latent ability surpasses that of any previous Rodwick.”
“Oh, I’ve also heard rumors outside. They say the late lady grew so weak after giving birth to him because his power was just too strong—”
“Quiet. The head of the house is here.”
He fell silent after receiving a sharp reprimand from the captain of the knights.
The gathering place of House Rodwick’s knights was at the entrance to the monster-infested forest.
About thirty minutes ago, they had been scouring the estate for hours like hunters searching for lice, trying to find two missing children.
One of the knights assigned to patrol the forest’s perimeter had just returned to the estate.
“We found the young master’s pony at the forest entrance.”
Upon hearing this report, Blake immediately led the knights toward the forest.
‘I’ve told them over and over not to enter the forest.’
He was furious at his son’s reckless behavior.
His worry only deepened with the assumption that Deon must have taken Riche into the woods.
Deon, being a talent-bearer, could probably protect himself, but Riche was just a seven-year-old girl with no abilities whatsoever.
Blake looked down at the pocket watch in his hand.
Jed spoke in a worried tone.
“It’ll be six soon. The forest will close.”
“I know.”
Duke Rodwick’s estate, situated on the southern frontier of the Roxha Empire, had guarded a monster-infested forest since the family’s founding.
The forest, as vast as an entire city, had begun moving as if alive ever since a meteorite imbued with immense magical power crashed into it long ago.
When the sun set and darkness fell, the forest would shift its appearance repeatedly.
Its entrance would seal shut, and terrain features like trees would change positions.
Dead ends would appear where paths once forked, and the road you’d just walked would suddenly lie before you again.
Though the forest returned to normal at sunrise, the real problem was the monsters.
At night, the forest became their hunting ground.
“There’s no other way. We’ll have to wait here and enter the moment it’s light… W-wait, my lord! What are you doing?”
Jed looked at Blake in shock.
Blake, having dismounted, seemed ready to enter the forest immediately.
“You’re going in?!”
“I have to. My child’s in danger.”
Have to?
‘He already used his ability this morning because of the young lady’s hiccups!’
Jed disliked it whenever Blake used his power.
Blake was thirty-two this year.
The previous head of the house had died at thirty-six due to accumulated energy from the ability’s side effects.
Moreover, Blake had used his ability extensively during the war he’d fought in his youth.
If Blake wanted to live even a little longer, he should avoid using his ability as much as possible from now on.
‘If he goes into the forest, he’ll surely have to use his ability again…!’
Riche was cute, but Blake mattered more.
“B-but Deon young master is with her too, so…”
“She’s the child I brought in. The responsibility is mine.”
That stubborn fool. Jed pinched the bridge of his nose.
After instructing the captain to wait until morning, he hurried after Blake into the forest.
“I’d be fine going alone.”
“It’s not like I’m following you because of you, my lord?”
Jed replied playfully to Blake’s remark.
“I’m worried about the young lady and the young master too.”
[This is the timeline separator]At the same time.
Riche was riding on Deon’s back as he walked down the forest path.
“Brother, how much longer until we stop walking?”
“Don’t call me that.”
Deon answered irritably, but Riche found his reaction rather endearing.
Though he tried to act mature in speech and manner, being only nine years old, he still fell easily for provocation.
Right now, for instance—he’d carried her on his back precisely because she kept calling him “brother,” claiming it was unbearable to hear.
‘He still won’t tell me where we’re going.’
Though surprisingly easy to handle, Deon’s mouth was heavier than she’d expected.
“Brother, the forest is dangerous. His Grace will worry.”
“…”
Deon stayed silent.
Apparently, he’d made a plan not to react to being called “brother.”
Riche stared at the back of Deon’s stubborn head before speaking again.
“Yesterday, you said you hated humans.”
“…”
“I actually hate something too.”
Since Deon refused to respond, her words sounded more like a monologue.
But she didn’t mind.
“I hate being in pain.”
Honestly, the fact that Deon was still a child eased her heart a little.
In the past, everyone who’d hurt her had been an adult.
When was the last time she’d been with a child? Probably back in the slave trader’s pen—it had been the final time, and even then, she couldn’t speak freely.
The slave trader disliked noise, and talkative children always disappeared after a short while.
“I tried running away because I hated the pain, but I couldn’t escape. I knew I’d be hurt even worse if caught, yet running away was all I could do.”
Even after returning to the past, she’d spent days in constant tension.
Running away from her uncle, then being taken in by Duke Rodwick.
“That was my only hope.”
Perhaps it was because Deon remained silent now.
Amid the quiet sounds of footsteps and rustling leaves, Riche gradually began revealing her innermost thoughts.
“Once, I nearly died—but I survived.”
“…How did you survive?”
For the first time, Deon asked her a question.
Surprised but unwilling to miss the chance, Riche continued the conversation as if nothing had happened.
“I don’t know. Maybe I prayed to the gods?”
“The gods?”
“Yeah. I asked them to stop the pain.”
Had the gods answered her prayer and sent her back to the past?
Riche recalled her final day.
Now that she thought about it, someone among the dukes had reached out a hand to her then.
‘Could that person have been Deon?’
The aura had been even larger and more terrifying than Blake’s.
Could it be connected to the war Duke Gerwer mentioned on his last visit to the cellar?
“…They never granted my wish, though.”
Maybe it was just her imagination, but Deon’s voice sounded a little gloomy.
“The gods?”
“Yeah.”
“What did you ask for?”
“…”
He fell silent again. Why was he so full of secrets?
“Should I ask for you instead? They granted my wish before, so maybe they’ll grant yours too.”
Feeling sorry for the back of his head, Riche unconsciously reached out and gently patted Deon’s hair.
Her small fingers ran through his smooth, black strands.
‘Oops.’
She quickly tried to pull her hand away, but strangely, Deon didn’t snap at her.
Had he opened his heart to her, even a little? This might be her chance to get an answer.
“Brother, why did you come into the forest?”
“…”
“Won’t you tell me?”
Pressed persistently by Riche, Deon finally spoke after a long pause.
“To give you to the monsters that come out of the forest.”
“What?”
Gasp. Monsters? Startled, Riche’s hands tightened reflexively.
“Ow!” Deon yelped as his hair was yanked.
“What are you doing?”
“S-sorry.”
Riche let go of his hair.
Then a surge of indignation welled up inside her.
Wait—why should she apologize? Deon had just said he intended to feed her to monsters!
“Were you trying to kill me?”
“…”
“Why? Because you hate humans? Because I took the Rodwick name?”
She tried to sound angry, but her voice trembled.
What had she done so wrong?
She’d run away from her uncle to survive. She’d agreed to follow the duke to survive.
She’d accepted the name, hoping for a new life.
“I never even thought I’d become a Rodwick.”
Yet here she was—bound to the very talent-bearers and family she’d desperately wanted to avoid.
She couldn’t guess Blake’s thoughts, but Deon made it painfully clear he disliked her.
The calm she’d felt earlier vanished, replaced by bitter sorrow.
Riche burst into tears she’d held back since that morning.
“Was it really so unbearable that I joined the ducal household? Enough to threaten me with your sword? Enough to throw me to monsters as food?”
“W-wait a moment.”
“I had nowhere else to go but the ducal house! Even if you hadn’t chased me out, I planned to leave on my own in a few years—!”
Overwhelmed by grief, Riche sobbed uncontrollably as she confronted Deon.
Startled, Deon stopped walking and tried to comfort her, but there was no calming her now.
“I was just trying to scare you! To show you how terrifying monsters are so you’d leave our house… I was trying to save you! Hey, puppy! Are you even listening?”
“Don’t call me puppy—!”
She wasn’t covered in dog fur anymore!
As they argued, a strong gust of wind blew. Leaves from the surrounding trees rustled loudly.
Shhhhhhh.
At the eerie sound, Riche’s crying subsided.
Sniffling, she looked around with silver eyes brimming with tears.
Deon, as if he’d never been flustered, hardened his expression.
“…The trees are moving.”
Riche murmured.
The forest was changing. Their path was blocked, and new trails appeared.
The sunset sky, faintly visible before, was now completely obscured by leaves.
In an instant, darkness enveloped them like nightfall.
Kuuuuung.
Far off, the ground trembled from the footsteps of something enormous.
Beasts’ howls echoed from every direction.
In the tense atmosphere, Deon spoke to Riche.
“Hold onto my shoulders. Don’t fall off.”
“Okay.”
As Riche gripped his shoulders tightly, Deon began running with all his might.
Monsters emerging from between the trees chased after them.
[This is the timeline separator]Huff… hah…
Leaning against a tree, Deon panted heavily.
Dozens of fallen monsters lay scattered around him.
All had ceased breathing.
“…Are you okay?”
Riche, still on Deon’s back, asked worriedly.
The energy radiating from Deon, who’d just used his ability, flickered unstably.
Even someone unfamiliar with Ltiom could see Deon’s condition was serious.
His already pale face had turned ghostly white, like a patient’s.
“Get down.”
Deon loosened his grip on Riche’s legs.
As she wriggled down and touched the ground, Deon collapsed right where he stood.
“Hey…!”
Forgetting to call him “brother,” Riche grabbed Deon’s arm with both small hands.
Deon’s half-lidded red eyes turned toward her.
“I think I’m going to sleep.”
“O-okay!”
At his words, Riche grunted as she rolled him halfway over to lay him flat.
Then she took off her outer coat, rolled it up, and tucked it under Deon’s head.
Who’d asked her to prepare his bed?
Deon frowned slightly but didn’t scold her.
“If more monsters come, just run away. Don’t worry about me.”
“Why? No!”
The answer spilled instantly from Riche’s lips.
Deon was dumbfounded.
“Did you forget I was going to give you to monsters? Leave me. If you run until morning, you’ll be able to get out of the forest.”
Though his tone remained as arrogant as ever, sweat drenched his hair.
More monsters had gathered than expected, forcing him to use more power than he could safely handle.
‘I thought my ability would last until morning. So this is why Father told me not to enter the forest.’
His vision blurred as fever rose in his eyes.
He wanted to apologize to that fearless little mutt, but if he did, she’d surely refuse to leave him.
Feeling like he might lose consciousness any second, Deon deliberately warned Riche with a threatening tone.
“Hey, if I wake up and you’re still beside me, I’ll use my ability.”
“…”
Thwack.
Riche’s palm slapped Deon’s forehead.
My Arch-enemy Sealed My Memory and Said That He is My Husband
This is an incredibly captivating story that you absolutely shouldn’t miss! I’ll give a brief introduction here, and below you’ll find a detailed synopsis of the plot.
The female lead is a fierce and powerful demon king. The male lead is a once-in-a-millennium celestial lord, admired by the entire cultivation world.
They are equally matched, legendary rivals who have battled for centuries.
In the final duel, the female lead is gravely injured. The male lead saves her, seals her memories, and hides her true identity. He tells her that he is her fiancé. His entire life has been flawless—except for the one thing he never expected, never controlled, and never wanted to control: falling for his greatest enemy. She is his inner demon, his obsession.
When the female lead regains her memories, she is furious at his deception.
She makes his life a living hell.
And somehow, the male lead—possibly a total masochist—doesn’t mind at all. In fact, he’s happy she’s paying attention to him.
Yep, we’re back to my favorite trope: male lead suffering. If you love this kind of story, jump into the pit with me now!!!
Intro
Dong Xia lost her memory.
Her handsome and extremely powerful fiancé Li Qing comforted her: “It’s okay if you can’t remember. I’ll always be with you.”
Everyone thought Dong Xia’s ancestors must have burned incense to get such a perfect fiancé. He was the number one person in the immortal realm, yet he remained chaste and only loved her.
…
The day before marrying her fiancé, Dong Xia finally remembered everything.
She wasn’t suffering from memory loss at all.
Her arch-enemy had made her fake her death, destroyed her cultivation, replaced her memories, and pretended to be her deeply in love fiancé.
No wonder he said, “It’s okay if you can’t remember”!
Dong Xia laughed coldly as she pulled out her long knife: Li Qing, prepare to die 🙂
*
Li Qing, as the supreme being of the immortal realm, was the people’s shining beacon.
The only unknown stain in his life was his affection for Dong Xia, the ruler of the demon realm.
In the final battle of the war between immortals and demons, the sky collapsed and the earth shattered. The ruler of the demon realm was finally slain under the sword of the supreme being of the immortal realm, and everyone in the immortal realm applauded.
The cultivation world lost a ruler of the demon realm.
And in the back mountain of Li Qing’s cave dwelling, he secretly hid away a fiancée.
Notes:
1. The female lead is white on the outside, black on the inside, and the queen of flattery; the male lead repeatedly tests the edge of darkness, a VIP guest at the crematorium.
2. Fantasy cultivation world setting.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
At least that will make her discovered sooner by her new family.
Oh no! An enemy. How did she get discovered so fast?