Chapter 1: A Blade in the Shadows

I have no name. To me, a name is just a tool used briefly to perform a task.

When it’s not a mission, people around me simply call me ‘Number 3.’

I feel like I might have had a real name at some point, but… after more than 10 years, I don’t particularly remember that time.

Now, I am merely one of the best (or not), elite (just a manpower shortage), secret group (with no recognition) assassins on the Beltlin continent.

My blade, honed over more than ten years, boasts a current mission failure rate of 0% (Number of missions deployed: 0).
One day, I received a call from the guild master.

“Number 3. I’ve heard there are no obstacles in using aura now.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

At the master’s words, I drew the sword from my waist and covered it with aura. A dark aura, as if it could devour light, flickered over the sharp blade.

“Hahaha! Those who flaunt themselves as swordmasters probably couldn’t handle aura as skillfully as you at your age. The moment you become a swordmaster, our organization will be the first assassin guild on the continent with a swordmaster among us. Everyone will fear our organization.”

I want to give the master a blow for his ridiculous laughter, but with the master-servant mark engraved, there’s nothing I can do. I just grimace.

“Anyway, the reason I called you here is to finally assign you your first mission.”

“If I’m being deployed, it must be quite a challenging task.”

“Hmm… You’re the only one in our organization who can undertake this mission.”

“So, who am I supposed to assassinate?”

Although I have no practical experience, I am an assassin that the guild has cherished and honed. If I’m being deployed, it surely means it’s not an ordinary task.

Is it a high-ranking noble with many political enemies? A rival trade guild leader? Or a local lord who plunders the commoners?
No matter who it is, they won’t be able to evade my blade.

“You need to assassinate Lady Celian, the daughter of Marquis Deretia.”

?

Not the marquis himself, but his daughter?

“The Deretia family is the lineage of the first hero. And now, with the emergence of a new demon lord, that daughter is one of the most powerful candidates for the hero. However, the client does not want the Deretia family’s power to grow any further.”

“So, despite the threat of the demon lord’s army, it’s more important for them to ensure their own safety.”

“Thanks to that, people like us can make a living.”

“Anyway, if she’s a candidate for the hero, it certainly won’t be an easy mission. So, that’s why it’s a task only I can undertake.”

“Well, that’s right. To put it simply, the target, she’s about to enroll in the Imperial Academy. As you know, the academy is not an easy place to access. Among them, she, being a candidate for the hero and the daughter of a marquis, is particularly difficult to approach.”

“Then we need to find a way to infiltrate the academy first.”

“Oh, don’t worry about that. We already have secured ways to approach the assassination target. You only need to handle the target.”
“Truly, Master. So what should I do?”

“You will also infiltrate as an academy student. However, even though she’ll see you as a fellow student, the assassination target will be wary of you. If there’s enough time, it won’t be a problem, but the quicker, the better. We have finally found a solution.”

The guild master gestured to his subordinate, Number 7, who was sitting behind.

At his gesture, Number 7 went outside and soon brought back an old man from a shabby room.

“This is the mage we have painstakingly invited. We happened to learn this, but he is a mage who studies a unique magic on the continent.”

“I am Sem Mogura. It seems we will be working together in the same organization from now on.”

I nodded in response to the old mage’s greeting, acknowledging him.

“Number 3, as the master mentioned, you will be infiltrating the academy. Here’s the temporary identity for that; please familiarize yourself with it.”

I took out the document I received and looked over the personal information.

Elysia Frentz, 18 years old.

The daughter of Count Frentz, whose family was destroyed by the rampage of demons during the revival ceremony of the demon lord.

Originally, Elysia was believed to have died in that incident, but she disguised herself as having survived alongside a maid who worked for the Frentz family at that time, using rumors and funding.

After the maid’s death, Elysia, left alone, decided to enroll in the academy to build a reputation and revive her family.

There are many details, but to summarize, it’s roughly the content above.

Doesn’t this seem strange?

“Countess Frentz?”

As I tilted my head in confusion, the old mage spoke up.

“You will be ‘Countess’ Frentz during the mission, Number 3. Thanks to my magic.”

What the hell does that mean?

“Um… does that mean I’ll just pretend to be a woman using some kind of illusion magic…?”

“Don’t compare my magic to such lowly spells!”

The old mage’s voice grew fierce, unlike during our first introduction, as he expressed his anger.

“The magic I developed is not mere illusion magic; it’s a spell that actually transforms you into a woman! Many have attempted, but none have succeeded! It is truly unique in the continent!”

So this is what they meant by being unique?

“But… if I’m a woman, won’t I need to wear makeup or something? I don’t know how to do that at all.”

“Are you underestimating TS magic? Generally speaking, TS means becoming a flawless beauty without needing any makeup!”

The mage’s eerily cold voice appealed to his sincerity.

They say many mages are eccentric; it seems to be true…

○… I understand. Indeed, it’s impressive magic.”

Whether I truly thought so or not, I appeased the old mage to calm him down.

Regardless, this was my first mission. I couldn’t afford to be careless.

For about a month, I memorized the temporary identity and familiarized myself with basic etiquette and mannerisms as a noble lady.

And finally, on the eve of enrollment.

I stood before the old mage to receive the TS magic.

“As I mentioned, my magic will turn you into a woman, Number 3. Since it’s not an illusion spell, there’s no time limit, but if you receive the spell again later, you can return to your original appearance.”

Having heard this before, I nodded lightly.

“However, since the magic is still under improvement, there may be unverified side effects… But I’ve confirmed that there are no significant issues, so you don’t have to worry too much. Now, please step onto the magic circle.”

Following the mage’s guidance, I stepped onto the magic circle, and Sem Mogura began to mutter incantations while holding his staff.

After a long series of complex chants, light started to emanate from the staff and the magic circle.

The light began to envelop my body, and simultaneously, my whole body felt as if it were burning with heat.

After the burning pain subsided, I could finally see my reflection as the blinding light faded away.

My arms had thinned. Two mounds rose above my chest. My waist had narrowed while my hips widened. My legs were smooth.

It seemed my body had also shrunk, as I could feel that my original clothes were now loose.

When I moved my limbs, there was a slight awkwardness, but there was nothing unusual about the movements.

I picked up the mirror that was set aside and checked my face. A beautiful girl with narrowed eyes met my gaze.

My once dull black hair had transformed into soft, shiny silver locks, and it seemed to have grown longer, falling to my shoulders.

After changing into the women’s clothes I had prepared, my previous appearance vanished completely, leaving behind only a delicate woman.

“Perfect. The master didn’t bring you here for nothing.”

“Now you understand the greatness of TS magic. I’m tired, so I’ll take my leave first. This magic requires a lot of mana, contrary to how it looks.”

Now, all that remains is the time for the final showdown.

My sword glimmers, and its tip brings judgment.

***

Griffin Academy
As the empire’s foremost national academy, it is highly regarded by nobles within the empire and even attracts students from other countries.

Unlike other prestigious private academies, Griffin Academy does not impose restrictions based on status for enrollment, allowing commoners with talent to gain admission.

However, it’s still quite difficult for commoners to enroll, so those who actually do are typically talented individuals with some form of ‘support.’

Griffin Academy seeks to nurture gifted commoners as an investment, knowing that if they can withstand the four years and graduate, they will be sought after by various organizations.

The academy teaches four main fields:

Swordsmanship, Magic, Administration, and Theology, each subdivided into various branches.

I belong to the first class of Swordsmanship, the same class as my assassination target identified during the preliminary investigation.

So, it’s not unusual that my assassination target is standing right in front of me during the enrollment ceremony.

The beautiful blonde hair, which couldn’t be captured in a photograph, is tied back in a ponytail.

Her white nape is visible beyond the fluttering hair tied at the back.

She seems to be slightly shorter than my new height as a woman, as I can barely see the top of her head.

Noticing my gaze, Celian turned her head to look at me.

As our eyes met, she smiled sweetly before turning her head back to the front.

It’s somewhat regrettable that I have to kill this innocent girl, but I’m a professional assassin. There’s no mercy or hesitation in my blade.

“This concludes the enrollment ceremony for Griffin Academy. Welcome, new students.”

With the principal’s closing words, the two-hour enrollment ceremony finally came to an end.

Following the homeroom teacher’s lead, as soon as we entered the classroom, the students began to gather in groups with those they knew.

Of course, since I didn’t know anyone, I sat down in an empty seat at the back, trying not to draw attention, while observing my assassination target.

As a famous person, many students, both male and female, gathered around her.

While chatting happily with them, Celian began to look around the classroom, probably searching for someone else she knew.

As fate would have it, our eyes met when she glanced in my direction.

I thought her gaze would quickly move away, but she approached me slowly, keeping her eyes locked on mine.

Wondering if someone was behind me, I looked back but saw no one passing by.

Before I knew it, she had come right in front of me and pulled out the chair next to me to sit down.

“It’s nice to meet you. You were the one standing behind me earlier, right?”

I didn’t expect to make contact like this, but it was actually a good opportunity, so I greeted her with a smile.

“I’m Elysia.”

“What a pretty name! I’m Celian Deretia. My close friends call me Sel.”

As I bowed my head in greeting, she reciprocated the gesture.

Even though the academy rules state that there’s no distinction between commoners and nobles, her natural inclination to bow is something rarely seen among nobles.

“Oh, Deretia… Is that the family of the legendary hero?”

I had thoroughly researched her, but I opened my mouth as if I was hearing it for the first time.

“Yes, that’s right. You know quite a bit!”

With a slight tilt of her head and a subtle smile, she was the very embodiment of a pure-hearted girl.

“Well, it’s a famous story. I doubt there’s anyone who doesn’t know about it.”

Although it was a story from hundreds of years ago, there wouldn’t be anyone who didn’t know about the hero who defeated the Demon King. Especially now, with the Demon King resurrected, the story would be even more well-known.

“But what about the others…”

The students who had followed her were standing around us, unsure of what to do in response to her sudden actions, glancing at her.
It was a situation where they couldn’t help but be cautious.

“Oh my… I’m trying to sit here. What about you all?”

In the end, Celian sat next to me, while her followers positioned themselves in front and beside us.

To drop their guard so easily and approach me like this; the TS magic truly works wonders.

“Looks like it’s settled. I believe an opportunity will come soon.”

After returning to the dormitory, I immediately reported everything that had happened today through the communication magic tool.

The dormitory had a mix of single, double, and quadruple rooms, but I had opted for a single room for the sake of the mission’s efficiency.

Even though single rooms were typically reserved for nobles and were expensive, considering the reward I’d receive for completing the assignment, it was a reasonable investment. I didn’t plan to attend the academy for four years in the first place.

Of course, all authority and responsibility for the mission lay with me, so I only needed to report when necessary.

But since this was my first mission, I wanted to ensure I did it thoroughly.

-That’s good news. Are there any suspicious individuals nearby?

“There are no suspicious individuals. However, it seems it will take some time to have a private meeting with the target since there are too many people around.”

-Understood. The future of our guild depends on your mission. Don’t make any mistakes… Huh? What’s going on… What the hell! Who are you! How did you get in here?!

A loud commotion echoed from the other side of the communication magic tool.

Sensing something was wrong, I immediately shattered the tool.

If the guild’s communication tool was compromised, our location could be traced.

I quickly changed into my dark assassin outfit and stealthily slipped out of the window.

Though the guild was far away, it wasn’t an impossible distance to cover overnight. Right now, what mattered was the situation at the guild, not the mission.

Swallowing the unknown anxiety, I threw myself into the darkness.

“The Demon King’s forces are already keeping us busy, and now we have these fools causing more trouble.”

“You’re not the one with the headache. If it were the lord or lady, that’d be a different story.”

Two men stood guard at the hidden entrance of the guild.

Judging by their equipment, they were not just random thugs; they were clearly armed soldiers.

The insignia of the Deretia family was emblazoned on their uniforms.

It was hard to believe this attack was mere coincidence. For some reason, information about the assassination request must have leaked.

As soon as I assessed the situation, I maintained my concealment in the darkness and infiltrated the guild through a secret passage.

I didn’t worry about getting caught.

After all, I was aiming to be the youngest Sword Master.

Having trained as an assassin for over a decade, even though my strength had diminished with my new female body and moving my aura had become uncomfortable, my senses had sharpened.

As long as the Sword Master wasn’t inside, I was confident I wouldn’t be caught.

Maintaining my stealth, I surveyed the guild’s interior.

The few guild members were sprawled across the floor, their bodies cold and lifeless.

Honestly, while the guild members were adept at ambushes, none were skilled swordsmen like me. Once their positions were revealed, death was a foregone conclusion.

The bodies I couldn’t confirm were the non-magic user I had recruited for this mission and the guild master.

Since it was an assassination guild, I didn’t have any strong ties to the other members, so their deaths didn’t concern me. But those two were different.

I slowly made my way to the guild master’s office.

Guards stood outside, but they didn’t seem to notice me. I snuck in, and the guild master’s body still lay there, untouched.

The guild master and all the guild members were dead.

The continent’s best (or maybe not), an elite few (simply due to a lack of numbers), and a secretive organization (unknown to many)—the assassination guild was finished today.

As the only survivor, the option of inheriting the will of the assassination guild was out of the question. Why would I? I was grateful to have just gained my freedom.

However, there was something I needed to take care of for complete freedom.

I reached into the guild master’s clothing to search for an item.

Yet, the object that usually resided there was nowhere to be found.

The scroll engraved with the loyalty marks of each guild member.

As long as I possessed this scroll, I couldn’t be free.

When faced with someone holding the scroll, I would have no choice but to obey their commands.

It was unlikely that the guild master would have randomly stored the item somewhere else today for his safety against revenge or rebellion.

One of the attackers must have taken it. I had no idea who, but I could only pray that I wouldn’t run into them.

I turned my steps towards the room where the non-magic user lived. Sem Mogura, the continent’s only TS magician, lay dead on his bed, seemingly unaware of the ambush.

-As I mentioned, my magic will turn you into a woman.

It’s not an illusion spell, so there’s no duration, but you can return to your original form if you receive the magic again later.

The words of the non-magic user I had heard while undergoing the TS magic flashed through my mind.
‘You can return to your original form if you receive the magic again later.’

“Shit… Damn it…”

This was bad. I was genuinely in trouble.

I checked for a pulse, but he was definitely dead.

Then what about my body? How do I go back?

Without a way to return to my original form, I had no choice but to continue attending the academy.

After all, the daughter of a marquis had nearly been assassinated, and the people around her vanished? That was a blatant admission that I was an assassin.

If I could return to my male body, it wouldn’t have been a problem even if my current form was wanted, but that was impossible. Freedom? What was that?

Suddenly, I turned my head and saw a mirror.

What was reflected in the mirror was not the “boy” I had seen for 16 years, but a strange girl with long silver hair and a smile.

The assassin ‘No. 3’ of the top (not really) elite (just lacking manpower) secret organization (unknown) of the Beltlin continent no longer exists.

Waaah, I’m baby Elysia.

Elysia is a baby. I must protect her.