I donned a black cloak and melted into the darkness of night. Instead of the sword used for sparring with the caterpillars, I took the white sword given by Medeia.

Perhaps, just in case, I might encounter the opponent I need to fight tonight.

Though my swordsmanship and mind are that of a 25-year-old, my body is that of a young woman who has just become an adult, nearly 20 years old. If I were to face the northern knights or official assassins, could I demonstrate my true skills with this delicate body?

I have no choice but to find out.

I came to a place where I could see the blue annex castle and looked up towards the direction of Arcadia’s guest room. Just then, the moon emerged from behind the clouds.

I saw it. A black mass climbing up the castle walls in the deep darkness created by the night.

The mass stopped moving when the moonlight shone, then started moving again when clouds covered the moon.

It’s too dark and small for anyone without exceptionally sharp eyes to easily distinguish. But I know what it is.

The Black Bug.

So you’ve come out personally.

The black mass, curled up like a cocoon, had already reached about the third floor of the castle.

From there, just two more floors up is Arcadia’s guest room.

There’s no time to leisurely infiltrate through secret passages.

I silently lowered my body and surveyed the area near the blue annex castle. There were two knights in front of the first-floor entrance. I swiftly knocked them both unconscious in succession.

The inside of the castle had tighter security than the outside.

I silently leaped onto the chandelier and jumped straight up to the second floor. Then I began moving like a shadow in the darkness.

The northern knights were guarding the necessary points for surveillance without missing any. To reach Arcadia’s room without encountering them, I had to move like air.

As I slightly opened the widest window in the second-floor corridor, the harsh winter wind entered the castle. That wind shook the thick curtains placed at each window.

Hiding behind those curtains to the third floor, hanging from the ceiling and crawling on the floor to the fourth floor. Then, jumping onto the windowsill of an empty room to reach an empty guest room on the fifth floor.

Opening the guest room door and stepping into the corridor, a familiar scent tickled my nose.

‘Sleeping gas.’

The colorless and odorless gas filled the corridor. A scent that disappears instantly without leaving a trace. But assassins know its unique lingering aroma.

I couldn’t even think about waking the sleeping knights. Arcadia’s life was hanging by a thread.

The Black Bug is strong.

The Arcadia of this time wouldn’t be able to defeat the Black Bug.

In my previous life, when I crossed swords with Arcadia – even though he had been poisoned – I thought that in a year or two, this person could become the empire’s greatest swordsman. If he didn’t die.

A year or two hasn’t passed yet.

At that moment, the sound of clashing swords came from inside Arcadia’s guest room. I covered my face and body once more with the cloak. Then I leaped into his room, holding my breath.

In the room filled with sleeping gas, Arcadia was on the defensive.

He’s still only twenty-three years old.

The Black Bug, who had lived his entire life for killing – as a mercenary in his youth and later as an assassin – was overwhelming Arcadia with an imposing momentum.

‘He’s inhaled the sleeping gas.’

As soon as I entered the room, I could tell from Arcadia’s defensive posture. Very subtly, his counterattacks were slower.

The Black Bug noticed me before Arcadia did. But when I stopped moving, the bug resumed attacking Arcadia.

Whoever I am, the Black Bug doesn’t care. Because he trusts his own skills. Because his target is Arcadia, not me.

The bug’s large, long sword aims for Arcadia’s vital points.

Arcadia’s sword was thinner and more slender than the bug’s. If the former’s sword relied on power, Arcadia’s sword relied on speed and technique.

I see, he’s not trying to stab him to death, but to push him to death. Because he needs to push him off the balcony to make him fall.

The broad side of the bug’s sword struck down towards Arcadia’s flank.

Arcadia barely dodged it and jumped onto the bug’s blade. Then he leaped off the sword, using it as a springboard. Arcadia’s sword, propelled by the rebound, slashed towards the bug’s neck.

But the bug bent backwards, lying down in that position. Then, from that position, he aimed for Arcadia’s legs as he landed.

Arcadia avoided the first attack, but he staggered towards the balcony when hit by the follow-up rotating attack.

All these attacks and defenses took place in the span of two breaths.

‘Arcadia, you truly are an outstanding knight. But please forgive me for intervening this time.’

I ran towards the Black Bug. Startled by my sudden approach, he looked at me with a jolt.

The white sword I was wielding for the first time in front of others. A sword said to be made from the bones of some marine mammal living in a distant continent. The sword moved smoothly as if tailored to me.

A ringing sound came from his sword as it blocked mine.

I delivered a strike to him without pause. Grinding down his large sword with mine, I pressed my body close to his. While doing so, I brought my sword to his neck area.

It’s impossible for the bug to slash at me with his large sword when I’m right next to his shoulder. My sword touched his Adam’s apple.

But.

As soon as I felt the sensation of the sword touching skin, I changed its course. I didn’t want to kill anyone. Even if it was the Black Bug.

I couldn’t kill him.

Not missing that split second, the Black Bug elbowed my abdomen. Dodging his attack by turning my body, I thrust my scabbard into his lower abdomen. The bug let out a gasp as his solar plexus was heavily pressed, doubling over.

Staggering back a few steps, the Black Bug stopped when he hit the balcony fence.

At that moment, Arcadia stabbed the bug’s leg. Blood flowed from the bug’s leg that couldn’t dodge properly.

Then, Arcadia swung his sword towards the bug’s neck again. To avoid that upward slash, one would have to lean back. But behind the bug was nothing but dark empty space.

‘I need to catch him!’

I wanted to catch him as the assassin at the scene.

I rushed towards the bug. For a moment, our eyes met. His pupils dilated.

Did he recognize me?

But I couldn’t hear the answer.

He fell off the balcony. Arcadia seemed to have the same thought as me and tried to catch him. But the fall was faster than our hands.

Thud-

The dull sound of the Black Bug hitting the ground was heard.

At the same time, I also threw myself out of Arcadia’s guest room.

“Knights!!!”

Arcadia shouted.

I went to the empty guest room I had come up through and jumped into the secret passage inside the fireplace. I heard people entering the room belatedly, but I was already falling down, gripping the handles far below.

After barely managing to squeeze myself into the passage, I finally set foot on flat ground. Then, crawling slowly, I finally emerged from the well in Rachel Forest.

Arcadia survived.

And unexpectedly, the Black Bug fell. Just like Arcadia in my previous life.

***

The next day.

As soon as day broke, the Northern Knights came to the front of the main castle, carrying the Black Bug’s corpse. The body was on a stretcher, with Arcadia beside it, and the Northern Duke on horseback in front of Arcadia.

Having crawled out from underground, I watched the Duke’s procession from afar.

‘So the Black Bug died.’

And.

The Duke was safe.

‘God, thank you.’

I was more glad that the Duke was alive than the fact that the assassination was prevented.

Covering half of my face with a white cloth, I mixed in with the crowd and approached them.

“I demand an explanation from the Southern Duke regarding this second assassination attempt.”

The voice of the Northern Duke, Sion Belfast, rang out. He still looked a bit strained, but there was strength in his voice.

‘Maybe it really was a staged act.’

I thought while looking at the Duke.

If it was really Medeia’s doing, there’s no way he could appear this fine after just two days. None of the poisons she uses are that sloppy.

Shortly after, having seemingly received a report, Duke Lahert rushed out of the main castle. The Duke’s face turned pale upon seeing the Black Bug’s corpse. To a degree that anyone present could notice.

However, Lahert was cunning. His startled expression was quickly replaced by a frown, as if it had never been there.

“It’s a relief to see you’ve recovered. But what’s this commotion so early in the morning, Belfast? What is this corpse?”

“That’s what I came to ask. Last night, this person infiltrated my adjutant Sir Arcadia Nugent’s guest room and tried to kill him. Who is this person?”

Upon hearing those words, Lahert’s face began to turn red.

At that moment, Medeia walked out of the castle with a leisurely demeanor. Then she was startled at the sight of the corpse.

“Ah, Father! A corpse so early in the morning? What’s going on? Why are those people from the North here?”

Lahert, her father, stood in front of the surprised Medeia.

“I don’t know either. Duke Belfast! Explain clearly right now what this corpse is and why you’ve come to see me!”

I couldn’t help but laugh inwardly.

How can they be so brazen? Those people.

Then, one corner of Duke Sion Belfast’s mouth twisted elegantly.

“I’ll say it again. This person attempted to assassinate my adjutant and deputy commander of the Northern Knights, Sir Arcadia Nugent, last night. But he failed and fell from the balcony to his death. Both the attempted poisoning against me and the assassination attempt on my adjutant took place inside the Southern Duke’s main castle. Would you care to explain this?”

A moment of silence fell.

I saw Medeia biting her lip.

At that moment, Lahert approached the Northern Duke with a deep sigh.

“There seems to be some misunderstanding, Duke. But even if you ask for an explanation, I can’t give one. I don’t know this… terribly dead person at all.”

“Is that so.”

The Duke dismounted and walked towards Lahert.

Standing face to face, Lahert’s head came up to just below the tall Duke’s chest. Belfast looked down at Lahert and spoke.

“That’s unfortunate. Clearly, my adjutant nearly died yesterday. As did I. All within Your Grace the Southern Duke’s main castle. It seems what I should have received was not a victory ceremony, but assassination threats.”

“You go too far, Duke! To utter such words without any evidence! Can’t you see my delicate daughter trembling in fear!”

At that, the Northern Duke’s blue eyes turned to Medeia. He spoke calmly.

“I am asking the Duke, not the Duchess. It seems a bit rough for the young lady to see. Why don’t you send your daughter inside? Or…”

The Duke smiled at Medeia.

“Perhaps you know the deceased? Did you come out to offer an explanation to me?”