Chapter 83: The Assassin’s Dilemma: Bonds or Betrayal

“El… El…!”

Jolt.

“Huh? What!?”

“Why are you spacing out when someone’s calling you repeatedly? Is something wrong?”

Anne’s sudden outburst snapped my eyes wide open.

Even then, I still hadn’t fully grasped the situation and glanced around to get my bearings.

“If you’re tired, should we postpone today’s plans and just head back?”

“Yeah, you don’t look so good. Resting might be the better idea.”

Anne and Yuri’s concern reminded me of the plans we had for the day.

Earlier, while blocking Anne’s greatsword, my usual sword couldn’t handle the impact and broke clean in half. We had decided to head out together to order a replacement.

“No, with the tournament so close, I need to get used to the new sword as soon as possible. Let’s go.”

As I spoke, I pulled out the broken remnants of my sword from where it hung at my waist.

Given the tight financial situation of the assassin guild, even ordering this sword had cost a significant amount of money.

If it hadn’t been for the necessity of weapons, I wouldn’t have spent such a large sum in the first place.

Of course, expensive by the guild’s standards didn’t mean the sword was particularly high-quality. In fact, it was a miracle it had lasted as long as it did.

“By the way, Celie, are you really not entering the tournament?”

“I’d love to participate, but… it just can’t be helped this time. Instead, I’ll be cheering for both of you from the stands.”

“I’ll be cheering too, so neither of you better miss out on winning!”

“…Whether winning is possible aside, only one person can win the tournament. How are both of us supposed to win?”

“It’s just my way of saying, ‘Do your best!’ Right, Anne?”

“Yup! I’ll definitely win!”

Anne’s confident voice rang out.

Of course, I was also aiming for victory. But the rumors about other participants weren’t exactly reassuring.

Since the tournament was open to all grades and departments, I couldn’t confidently predict my chances of winning with my current skills.

There was even a rumor that the tournament champion would receive a blessing from the Saint herself…

“Speaking of which, didn’t Celie meet the Saint a few days ago? Is she really as beautiful as the rumors say?”

“…Honestly, El, sometimes you sound more like a boy than a girl.”

Oops. My thoughts slipped out unintentionally.

However, Celian, who would never suspect my true identity over such a minor slip-up, continued speaking.

“Well, with the Celestial Festival approaching and my role as the hero, it was only natural for me to meet her.”

It was said that meeting the Saint was incredibly rare unless you already had a prior connection.

But Celian, as the hero—the Goddess’s sword and shield—was naturally entitled to meet the Saint, the Goddess’s chosen representative.

Celian had been looking forward to meeting the Saint, whose beauty was legendary.

Yet, for some reason, her expression as she recalled the encounter was more complicated than joyful.

“Hmm, how should I put it… She is beautiful, but the shock of being pressured to buy holy water kind of overshadowed everything.”

“Huh?”

Holy water? Pressured into buying it? Did I hear that right?

“She said it was an unbelievably low price, gave me a special discount because I’m the hero, and by the time I came to my senses, I was holding a few bottles of holy water.”

…Are we really talking about the Saint here?

The image of the Saint in my mind couldn’t have been further from the merchant-like figure Celian was describing.

Thud!

Lost in thought about the Saint, I accidentally bumped shoulders with someone walking toward us.

“Sorry—”

Before I could finish my apology and bow, a small note was pressed into my hand, out of sight of the others.

While I hesitated at the suddenness of the situation, the man I’d bumped into had already disappeared into the distance.

“That person is so rude. You were about to apologize, but they just walked away without a word…”

“Don’t worry about it too much. People can be in a rush sometimes.”

Celian frowned in irritation on my behalf, but I brushed it off with an awkward smile.

“Well, since we’re already at the weapon shop, why don’t you go in first? I just remembered I have something to take care of.”

“Then we’ll go with you—”

“No! It’s a personal matter, and it won’t take long. Just go in first; I’ll be right behind you.”

It took some convincing to stop them from following me, but I eventually managed to send them ahead. The moment they went inside, I turned and headed toward the alleyway mentioned in the note.

The alley wasn’t far, dark and shaded from view. The man I had bumped into earlier was already there, shooing away some loitering thugs.

“What’s this about?”

I walked deeper into the alley, making sure to stay out of sight, and directed my question at the man.

“Seems like turning into a woman has made you act like one, too,” he sneered.

“Cut the useless talk and get to the point. I can’t afford to draw suspicion.”

“Suspicion, huh? I wonder if that’s because of the mission or your newfound life. Seeing you laughing and chatting earlier, I couldn’t tell if it was all just an act.”

“Even with this broken sword, I can still stab you, so shut up and talk before I make you regret it.”

I drew the broken blade at my waist and pointed it at him threateningly. The man, known as Number Two in our guild, raised his hands dramatically in mock surrender.

“Whoa there, someone’s touchy. Fine, fine, straight to the point. I bring a message from the Master.”

I figured as much.

“You won’t be held accountable for failing to complete the mission within the time limit. However, you are to eliminate the hero immediately. This is your final chance.”

The original mission had been to assassinate Celian before she became the hero.

But not long ago, the Goddess chose Celian as her champion, and I failed my mission.

By all rights, I should have returned to the guild for punishment, but instead, I ignored that and remained at the academy.

Now, Number Two had been sent to deliver the inevitable follow-up.

“Failing the mission and not being punished? Truly, the Master’s favorite,” Number Two mocked.

After relaying the Master’s words, he reverted to his usual taunting tone.

“But don’t get too comfortable. This is the last chance. Fail again, and the Master will personally come for your life.”

Bound by the servitude seal to the guild’s Master, I had no way to resist if he decided to take my life.

“Oh, but who knows? Now that you’re a woman, the Master might find other uses for you and spare your life.”

“Shut up and get lost before I really do kill you.”

“Yes, yes, I’ll leave. No need to get so scary.”

With that, Number Two turned and disappeared from the alley, leaving me standing alone in the dimly lit corner.

For a while, I stayed there silently, the weight of the conversation pressing down on me.

“Why are you so late! Look, we picked out a sword for you while you were gone!”

“Ahaha… sorry, it took longer than I thought. Did you wait long?”

After calming my chaotic thoughts, I hurried back to the weapon shop where my friends were waiting.

They seemed to have grown impatient and had already selected a sword for me.

Anne handed me the sword. As I held it, I noticed its size and appearance closely resembled the blade I had been using.

“How is it? I tried to pick one as close as possible to your old sword so it wouldn’t feel awkward.”

Not just in appearance, but even the balance and weight felt similar. It was so well-suited that I could likely use it in real combat without any adjustments.

In fact, the blade seemed even sharper than my previous one.

Only friends who knew me as well as Anne, Celian, and Yuri could have chosen something so perfect.

“It’s a bit expensive, but don’t worry about that. This is a gift from the three of us to you.”

Just like on “Elysia’s” last birthday, they had gone out of their way to make sure I wouldn’t feel burdened by framing the sword as a gift.

Their thoughtfulness made me recall the Master’s message once again.

The final chance.

Kill Celian, the hero, and cling to a miserable life in the guild—or abandon my mission and throw away my own life for the fleeting bonds I had formed in less than half a year.

Perhaps, as Number Two said, a fate worse than death awaited me.

The choice between another’s life and my own wasn’t even a real question.

Even a stray dog knows to value its life.

So, my decision was made quickly.

“No. I’ll take a different sword.”

I set down the sword they had picked for me and grabbed a random blade from nearby.

The sword’s appearance, balance, and size were all different from my usual preference, making it feel foreign in my hand.

It would take considerable time to become accustomed to this new weapon.

No rational person would make such a decision.

But it didn’t matter.

Because I’m not rational.