Lavella: “There is a great deal of meaning.”

Lavella, who turned to the sky, wriggled her body lying on her side, smiled. It was the first time she smiled joyfully since she was annoyed because she was tied up the whole time.

Lavella’s reaction also raised Iska’s expectations. After all, was there a bigger picture that made the guild, an assassination guild as well? Iska held his breath, waiting for Lavella’s red lips to open.

Lavella: “My hobby is collecting strong things. Weapons and people.”

…What? Iska’s hand on his chin slipped off.

Lavella: “If you put them together under the guise of training, they’ll live like they’re going to kill each other…It’s thrilling to see.”

Iska had to spend a moment absorbing the words that Lavella had uttered.

Lavella: “Creating the guild…was the best choice.”

Lavella’s eyes sparkled in the moonlight. She was unemployed overnight when peace came to the world where she lived.

A world that didn’t need a killer…That was fine.

After all, it was a job, and she didn’t enjoy killing. But all weapons had become prohibited.

Collecting all kinds of weapons was a terrible thing for Lavella, it was the only stigma¹ . But there was no law against dying. Who would have known a strange wizard would have summoned himself when she was in despair?

Lavella: ‘I’m grateful to you, so I’ll have to be nice to you.’

Lavella, who was satisfied with the thought of Chamer, could not see Iska’s dismayed face. At his faded expectations, Iska spat out a laugh in vain.

Iska: “Lavella, you…you’re an interesting person.”

Lavella: “What?”

Lavella, recognizing Iska belatedly, rolled her eyes and looked at him indifferently. The complexity in his purple eyes… Yes, he looked as if he were a pervert. She didn’t mean to be understood by others anyway. Who dared to understand themselves? In an instant, Lavella, equipped with a cool look, glared at Iska.

Lavella: “Did you ask all your questions?”

Iska: “I think so.”

Lavella: “Then can you fix this?”

Iska stood up, shrugging his shoulders at Lavella’s eyes, where life began to stir.

Iska: “…You’re not going to attack me, are you?”

Iska narrowed his eyes instead of cutting the cloth.

Lavella: “I will.”

Lavella gave a beautiful smile and folded her eyes.

Iska: “…….”

Despite the lack of trust, Iska cut the knot of the cloth he had tied. Boom!

Iska: “Ahh!”

As soon as she was released, Lavella smashed Iska on the back of the head with all her might then shook her wrist with a disgusted look on her face.

Lavella: “If you do a trick like this one more time, I’ll kill you. How dare you tie this body up?”

Iska: “Sheesh.”

Iska, who was hit in the back of the head while being careless, mumbled. While Iska rubbed the back of his tingling head, Lavella passed him and sat down on a fallen tree.

Lavella: “Give it to me.”

Lavella held out a small hand.

Lavella: “Come on, the payment should be exact.”

At her urging, Iska burst into laughter.

Iska: “Here.”

The money bag that Iska threw, swept through the wind and landed on Lavella’s hand.

Lavella: “I like the weight, so I won’t specifically check the amount. Our relationship is no ordinary relationship. Don’t you think?”

Iska: “So, am I supposed to thank you now?”

Lavella: “Isn’t that obvious?”

Iska: “…….”

Lavella: “…….”

A thin breeze from the forest blew through the silence between the two of them. The sound of the leaves rustling against each other grew louder and louder. Lavella was in trouble.

Lavella: ‘I think it would be better in many ways to have him next to me.’

There cannot be two suns under the sky. If he was stronger than herself, it would be a mountain she had to climb someday. Besides, she was also bothered that he seemed to know something about her secret.

Lavella: I’d rather have him next to me.

Lavella, who made up her mind, uncrossed her legs.

Lavella: “Yes, you.”

Iska: “Lavella.”

Both of their lips opened at the same time. Their eyes met in the air.

Iska: “I’ll go first this time.”

Iska, who shed a smirk, took a step closer to Lavella and leaned down.

Iska: “Me, put me in your guild.”

Lavella’s eyebrows twitched. What? If this happens…

Lavella: “…Well, what shall we do?”

A wicked smile hung on the tip of Lavella’s lips.

* * *

Ritelni: “You’re going to join Kirah?”

Iska: “Yes.”

Ritelni: “…….”

A dizzy Ritelni grabbed the back of his neck.

Even today, after going out for a drink at night, the master came back in the morning and gave notice like a clear blue sky.

Ritelni was waiting for him, holding on to his burning insides. His master had made a fuss when he tried to attach an escort to him saying that he would go alone even if he died.

He was going to join the mercenary guild when that was a hot issue.

Ritelni: “Is this why you asked me to find out about Kirah?”

Ritelni cast a resentful glance at the serene Iska.

Ritelni: “It’s not anyone else, Master Iska, it’s Kirah…”

Although it was disguised as a mercenary guild, it was actually the assassination guild, Kirah. It was definitely not a place for his master to enter.

Iska: “Anyway, I decided to join. So stop nagging.”

It was as if he had already made up his mind.

Ritelni: “Your Highness!”

Iska: “…I thought you said the title was prohibited, Ritelni.”

The eyes that were checking the tip of the sword moved slowly and coolly.

Ritelni: “…I made a mistake.”

Ritelni’s tail tucked down due to the cold atmosphere that erupted in an instant. But it wasn’t Ritelni who would give in to this extent. If he did, Iska wouldn’t have kept him by his side.

Ritelni: “Iska… Lord! Please reconsider.”

Iska: “…….”

Ritelni: “Why do you want to join the guild all of a sudden? Right now is not the moment to waste your time in such a place, is it? I haven’t found out anything about ‘that man’ yet. Have you forgotten why we are suffering?”

Iska: “I’m doing this because I think it has something to do with him.”

Iska, who frowned, signaled to shut up now.

Ritelni: “… Is that true?”

Iska: “Yes, I’m on my way back from meeting the Captain of Kirah.”

Ritelni: “Is ‘he’ the leader of Kirah?”

Iska: “At the moment, they meet the most conditions.”

Ritelni: “Is that really true?”

The attitude of Ritelni, who had been courageous just a moment ago, had changed 180 degrees.

Iska: “Platinum hair, clear gold eyes. There is no more convincing evidence than that.”

Ritelni: “…….”

Ritelni closed his mouth.

Ritelni: “Then take Setz with you.”

Iska: “No, I’m going alone.”

Ritelni: “Still…”

Iska: “No. I have a lot of doubts. It’s not even normal.”

Iska sat on the bed with his arm propped on his knee and clenched his jaw, he looked quite serious.

Ritelni: “What the hell kind of person are they…”

Ritelni, who had grown serious at the same time, blurted out the end of his words as if anxious.

Iska: “He’s a very scary man.”

Ritelni: “Is that so?”

Iska: “His skills are not average. Maybe he will surpass me.”

Ritelni: “Come on, don’t be ridiculous.”

Ritelni scoffed as if it were nonsense.

Iska: “It’s true.”

However, at the sound of his master’s voice, which had subsided heavily, Ritelni’s face soon muddied.

Ritelni: “Then you shouldn’t be alone. Take Setz with you.”

Iska: “That’s a no-go. Phew, I’ve got chills on my spine just thinking about it.”

Iska shuddered.

Ritelni: “How can you meet such a dangerous man alone?!”

Iska: “Yes, he’s a real danger.”

Ritelni: “I know!”

Iska: “She’s an incredible beauty. And very sexy.”

Ritelni: “…What?”

Ritelni fiddled with his ears as if he had heard something wrong.

Ritelni: “What did you just say?”

Beauty… Sexy?

Ritelni: “You’re talking about Captain of Kirah…… right?”

Iska: “That’s right, isn’t it?”

Iska replied bluntly as if he was annoyed.

Ritelni: “Was the Captain a woman?”

Sincerely surprised, Ritelni soon revealed his curiosity.

Ritelni: “I don’t think it has anything to do with ‘him,’ tell me you’re not saying that you’re going to join Kirah just because she’s a beauty, right?”

Ritelni looked at Iska with suspicion.

Iska: “…….”

Ritelni: “Oh, you’re out of your mind. Get a grip on yourself.”

Ritelni, who misunderstood Iska’s silence, clicked his tongue.

Iska: “…Ritelni.”

Ritelni: “…….”

Iska: “Am I one to chase after a woman?”

Ritelni: “…You’re not.”

He was more like a person made of stone. Ritelni shook his head quickly.

Iska: “She is so beautiful that she cannot be compared with any other woman, and she is also strong.

Ritelni: “…….”

Iska: “How can I recover my senses when such a woman might be the same person who holds the strings of my life. Don’t you think so? It’s even more strange not to go crazy.”

Looking at Iska’s darkly glowing eyes, Ritelni barely swallowed the curse that was about to pop out. For a moment, he wasn’t sure if he could trust his master.

* * *

Knock knock. At the sound of the knock the corners of Lavella’s lips dropped.

Lavella: “Come in.”

Lavella welcomed Iska as he opened the office door.

Iska: “It was harder to penetrate than I thought.”

Iska strode his long legs, swept his hair, and showed signs of exhaustion.

Lavella: <“If you show up within the time you promised me, I’ll accept it. The place is my office in our guild.”>

When she asked him to join the guild, Lavella offered him a condition. It wasn’t that difficult to break through Kirah’s surveillance network, but it was quite a tedious task.

Iska: “You didn’t mean to accept me from the beginning, did you?”

Iska purposely whined more.

Lavella: “No way.”

Lavella grinned as the bell rang in the distance.

Lavella: “You’re right on the mark. As promised, come in.”

Iska: “What is this?”

Iska, who looked around the office slowly, picked up the paper Lavella had handed out.

Lavella: “Read the contract. There are rules that you must follow while working in the guild and the pay you will receive. In short, it is like a promise between you and our guild.”

Iska: “!”

A contract with a mercenary guild. It was an unheard-of story. Iska, who swallowed a laugh, sat on the table and quickly scanned the written document with his eyes.

Iska: “…Wait a minute.”

Iska, who was about to lower the paper, paused and read the contents again.

Iska: “Ten percent of the fee of repairs paid to Lavella?”

Lavella was smiling leisurely with her chin on her desk. Iska looked at Lavella as if asking to explain what this meant.

Lavella: “Do you know what a fee is? In a nutshell, ten percent of the money you receive from carrying out the quest is to be passed on to me.”

Iska: “…….”

Lavella: “I heard you’re full of money?”

With her arms crossed, Lavella smiled charmingly.

Yeah well… Fine. Iska, who had decided to move on, frowned as he read the contract again.

Iska: “What is this? When Lavella asks for a match, you will respond?”

Eventually, Iska who lowered the paper and raised himself, stepped forward to Lavella. Iska’s long fingers, which held the contract in front of Lavella’s eyes, pointed at the paper.

Iska: “Does this apply to all guild members?”

Lavella: “No, it’s especially for you.”

Iska: “…….”

Lavella: “No? If you don’t like it, never mind. Don’t forget, you’re the one who said you’d join the guild.”

Iska: “…Okay, I’ll take it.”

Lavella swallowed a laugh as she saw Iska grabbing the bait she threw. Her main specialty wasn’t just assassination. Before moving to Imperia, she was also known as a lobbyist, so she was confident in negotiation. Of course, this was more of an exploitation than a negotiation.

Lavella: “Read carefully. There is something like this. The quests from Kirah are done without hesitation. There is also a clause that says that if you can’t stand it and escape, you will pay it back with your life.”

Iska: “…Isn’t that a pretty unfair contract?

Lavella: “I have no blood or tears…I’m an assassin, remember?”

Iska: “…Okay. I’ll give you a condition instead.”

Lavella: “Yes, just one thing.”

Iska: “If you earn a million gold because of me…”

Lavella: “?”

Iska: “Go out with me.”

 

Lavella: “…….”

One million gold was enough money to buy a fortress. Besides, this was a life-threatening business. However the only thing he asked for was love, so it would never be a loss.

Lavella: “Alright.”

Lavella readily agreed. Iska, who added the content with a swipe, handed the contract to Lavella.

Lavella: “Welcome to Kirah.”

Lavella, who had what she wanted in her hand, stood up with a satisfied smile. She looked so proud as if she had used a lot of kindness.

Iska, who was looking at Lavella’s hand, smiled and wrapped her hand in his own.

Something flashed through Lavella’s mind when she saw a smile on Iska’s red lips. Come to think of it…Didn’t he kiss me on the cheek and run away?

Lavella’s eyes grew cold at the belated reminder.

Iska: “!”

The sound of breaking through the air was terrifying.

Iska: “So suddenly?”

Iska asked, bewildered, avoiding the fists flying towards his face.

Iska: “I haven’t signed the contract yet.”

Sitting on the window frame, Iska clicked his tongue because he missed her small hand while avoiding the other.

Lavella: “Oh, I’m sorry, I just remembered the debt I had forgotten.”

Iska: “Do I have to be beaten?”

Lavella: “No, that’s fine.”

It was when Iska, relieved, was about to step off the window frame.

??: “Who joined the guild?”

Boom! Behind the crackling open door came a thunderstorm.

What is it this time? Iska frowned in annoyance.

* * *

NOTE

1. Lavella’s original world obtained peace which meant she could no longer keep her favorite collection of weapons as they were prohibited and it was considered a stigma to have anything against peace