Episode 150
Episode 50. Two Long Nights, One Short Night (2)
Pop.
Pop, pop, pop…
The problem was that the flames of the Annihilation Dark Sky Flame Jade Magic 1st Form… were ridiculously underwhelming compared to its grandiose name.
At first, a single streak of fire slipped through the protective barrier, almost fierce—but even that vanished into thin air in an instant. All that remained were tiny, bubbly sparks fizzing and popping like little bubbles.
“Huh?”
“Wha—?”
It wasn’t Jin or Dante speaking.
It was the voices of the assassins—cold, emotionless, and until now, never betraying even the slightest feeling. Not even when Jin overwhelmed the leader with his six-star power, nor when Dante unleashed his secret techniques.
If even these seasoned, emotion-trained elite assassins were dumbfounded, you could imagine how baffling the situation was.
They had been bracing themselves, expecting some terrifying magic to be unleashed as the two boys fought tooth and nail to protect the mage.
Pop, pop, pop… sizzle…
But instead, this cute little flame? It was like a candle flame that couldn’t even melt wax, constantly dissolving into the air like snowflakes melting in water.
‘This is insane.’
A brief silence fell. If you measured it, maybe two seconds—but it was long enough for Jin, Dante, and Veradin to curse the undeniable reality.
Veradin’s usual poker face was nowhere to be found; his ears and face flushed bright red.
‘I knew the power wouldn’t come out properly, but this is ridiculous.’
The Annihilation Dark Sky Flame Jade Magic 1st Form.
This grand spell couldn’t be perfectly executed without a very special power—even a ten-star, or rather a legendary star mage, couldn’t pull it off flawlessly.
Still, Jin had hoped that since Veradin was the legitimate heir of Ziphl, at least ten percent of its power might manifest.
“Are you done already?”
Suppressing his disbelief, the leader finally spoke. The assassins sneered quietly and exchanged glances.
They were human, after all, and wanted to return the humiliation they’d just suffered. Especially after Jin’s remark that fighting wasn’t their specialty—it stung deeply.
It was also a disgrace that ten elite assassins couldn’t kill these underdeveloped monsters. If word got out, it could damage the entire reputation of the Nameless.
But the leader wasn’t the kind to repeat mistakes.
‘The black-haired one must have a secret move left. It could change the close-quarters battle. Let’s finish this with ranged attacks before they get there!’
At the leader’s signal, the assassins scattered and launched their attacks again, even those wounded by Dante.
If their injuries were severe enough to stop the mission, they wouldn’t have been appointed elite assassins.
Jin quickly checked on Dante and Veradin.
‘Dante’s almost out of stamina.’
His ragged breaths said it all.
‘Veradin… damn it. Early signs of backlash!?’
Veradin, who had been trembling with embarrassment until then, was now bleeding profusely from his nose. The Annihilation Dark Sky Flame Jade Magic 1st Form had gone awry, causing some of the magic to backfire.
The only consolation was that a unicorn horn had poked out from the heavy bag he’d been carrying on his back.
But even if he chewed on the unicorn horn, it would take at least an hour for the backlash to subside.
In other words, both of them were practically out of commission.
“Oh, I think I got the formula mixed up since it’s been a while… it’s so complicated… cough, cough!”
Veradin croaked out an excuse, and Dante stood by him, saying it was fine. Jin, watching them, wanted to scream in frustration.
‘What can I do? It’s my fault for not stopping them when they wanted to fight.’
It wasn’t a hopeless situation yet.
“Dante, carry Veradin and run. I’ll shake off the assassins and follow.”
“Are you sure you can handle it alone?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. But you two might die if you don’t run with the desperate will to survive.”
“Ah.”
“Ah.”
Veradin and Dante sighed, understanding Jin’s meaning.
In this open terrain, Jin was practically untouchable by the assassins. Unless all ten charged at once, he could dominate in close combat, and he could simply deflect their secret techniques.
More importantly, the chase would continue, so they wouldn’t be surrounded by all ten at once. Jin and Dante were faster runners, which was how they’d gotten this far.
“Let’s hope I can deflect all their secret techniques… Run!”
Jin shouted, slashing his sword energy toward the assassins. The crescent-shaped blue blade scattered their formation momentarily.
At the same time, Dante hoisted Veradin and sprinted like mad.
If even one secret technique got past Jin and stabbed their backs, Ziphl and Hailan would lose their heirs.
That would be a boon for Jin’s future—but Jin decided to prioritize his feelings over future benefits. He just wanted them to survive.
‘If I can hold the center at all costs, we’ll all make it out alive!’
The Nameless King’s order to “escape to the city center at all costs” had to have a reason. Jin’s hope rested on that.
“Graaah!”
As Dante roared and ran, a hail of secret techniques followed.
Clang! Kick! Clang!
Jin ran behind them, constantly turning to deflect the attacks—a feat he wouldn’t have understood himself just a month ago.
Recently, Jin had clearly sensed he was approaching a new level of mastery.
‘My sixth sense is almost open.’
He suddenly recalled training with the Tona brothers and the Qingash Stone.
In the secret intermediate training hall, the Tona brothers had been vomiting every day, accidentally sending Qingash Stones flying everywhere.
That was the first time he’d felt that strange sensation—no matter where the iron marbles flew or were about to fly, their direction and trajectory seemed to be drawn in his mind…
‘Coming to this city and enduring all this hardship wasn’t for nothing. Thanks to Sister Yona.’
He hadn’t yet obtained the Full Poison Wine, and had faced death multiple times, so he hadn’t felt grateful until now.
‘I have to survive until the day after tomorrow, get the Full Poison Wine from Sister, and make the Nameless King keep his promise.’
Of course, he planned to save Dante and Veradin too, so he could boast about it for years to come.
Two long nights passed.
On the second day, the chase between the three and the assassins played out much the same. The elite assassins assigned to Jin’s party had increased to twenty, but it was even easier than the first day.
Thanks to following the Nameless King’s guidance, when they reached the main road leading to the city center, they avoided a full frontal battle.
“If only crossing that road makes the assassins stop attacking like magic… what a strange and charming tradition.”
“If it weren’t for the Nameless assassins’ tradition, the two of us would have died the day before yesterday, and all three of us yesterday, Veradin.”
The heart of Samil.
It was where the families of the Nameless assassins and their special benefactors lived.
And the Nameless assassins had a tradition: unless there was an enemy invasion or an emergency, no one drew swords or used foul magic there.
In other words, it was the only no-kill zone in Samil.
A secret tradition even Quikantel didn’t know about, established after her active era.
“Veradin? Forget that. From now on, I’m calling you the Prince of Annihilation Dark Sky Flame Pop Jade Magic 1st Form.”
“Stop teasing me…! People make mistakes.”
“And people tease.”
Jin chuckled softly, and Dante stifled a laugh with a rough cough.
“Hmph! Anyway, I wonder when that bet you made with the Nameless high-ups will end. You can’t keep running to the city center every time they come knocking.”
“I don’t think it’s a bet you can win just by running to the center every time. And I’m curious who the Nameless high-up is.”
Their eyes sparkled, secretly hoping Jin would spill the details of the bet.
Actually, it was more of an order, but Jin ignored it and changed the subject.
‘According to my promise with the Nameless King, I have to get these two out of Samil before evening today.’
“When morning comes the day after tomorrow, urge the two heirs to leave the city. By any means necessary. If they don’t listen, use force to get them out.”
Thanks to the map Owl had provided, Jin had been faithfully following the promise so far.
It was no small feat. Even if they’d used the trick of running to the city center, surviving two days against dozens of Nameless elite assassins in Samil was something few would believe.
But even the three couldn’t hold out today.
‘Tonight, the top assassin will definitely come. And the Nameless King must be shivering, seeing Dante and Veradin still by my side.’
Jin had no intention of sending the two outside the city.
“Today’s the last day of the bet. Both of you get a good rest until evening.”
“Oh, so just one more hard day, huh?”
“If you win and get something, you have to share it with us, right? Like at the arena.”
“Yeah.”
I’ll give you souvenirs.
Jin swallowed the rest of his words and smiled.
“Owl, please answer my question honestly from now on.”
“Hmm… Yona, what is it you want to say?”
“You helped us, didn’t you?”
Owl tried to hide his unease, tilting his head in confusion.
“What are you talking about?”
“It doesn’t make sense. How could the youngest and those weird guys have gone to the Golden Territory two days in a row? This has to be the Nameless King’s doing…”
“Haha, absolutely not.”
“You’re lying, I can tell, hehe.”
Yona laughed, and a chill ran down Owl’s spine.
“Ahem. Anyway, have you finished writing your reflection on the city destruction incident…?”
“Hehe, since Owl broke his promise first, I’m the one taking charge today.”
“Don’t you trust me?”
“Nope. And from now until evening, you’re sticking close to me. They might go looking for those guys again and need help.”
“Heh heh.”
Owl smiled wryly, but deep down, he had hoped things would turn out this way.
‘Those two will be released by that clever one anyway. If that’s the case, it’s better for Yona to go after Jin one-on-one than any other top assassin. Yona seemed to care about Jin… maybe she’ll show some mercy.’
He couldn’t be sure. Yona’s nature was steeped in chaos—she could just as easily kill the sibling she loved.
“Evening’s almost here. That means it’s time for those kids to die. Are you coming?”
“Alright.”
“Hehe!”
Silently, the two headed toward the inn where Jin’s party was staying.
Perched on the rooftop of the building across the street, Owl felt a sudden prickling at the back of his head and a tightness in his chest.
‘W-why are all three of them together?!’
Through the window without curtains, he could see them clearly—three people together.
Only Jin was awake; Veradin and Dante were still sprawled out asleep on the bed.
“Y-Yona.”
“They’re sitting so nicely together, all cozy and cute…”
“Wait a momen—”
“Ah!?”
“Hah!”
Suddenly, their pupils dilated.
They saw what Jin was holding in his hand—the very item Quikantel had given him.
And, astonishingly, Jin was holding it out directly toward where Yona and Owl were.
Yona whipped her head around and glared at Owl.
“Even though he’s the Nameless King, he actually gave them that!? To save those guys!”
“N-no, that’s not it, Yona! This really isn’t what it looks like!”
For the first time in a long while, Owl broke out in a cold sweat.