Decades ago, Hong Guhyeon, still a young man then, became a servant of the Luoyang Jin family.

With keen insight and skilled work ethic, he quickly caught the eye of the previous head of the family—my grandfather. Thanks to that, he rose to his current position, overseeing the other servants and maids, and managing most of the family’s miscellaneous affairs.

But the truth was entirely different.

Hong Guhyeon, a member of the 10th Unit of the Shadow Assassins.

An organization that had hunted and killed my family for over ten years—a group I’ve fought against, killing and nearly being killed in return.

I still remember the events vividly.

He had moved with us right before the ambush, only to draw his sword at the decisive moment and stab my mother in the heart. He slashed my father’s chest and used a signal flare to reveal our location to the enemy.

Thanks to him, only Chu-hyung and I managed to escape.

That’s why I’ve longed for his death every single day.

So when I opened my eyes and saw his face, instinctively lashing out with my fist wasn’t mere coincidence.

“Hahaha… I’ve been caught by the young master. But, how did you know?”

“You wouldn’t understand even if I explained. A mere grunt like you wouldn’t know.”

“…!”

At my words, Hong Guhyeon’s eyebrows twitched—clearly irritated that I spoke as if I knew his true identity.

He composed himself with a deep breath and then gave a faint smile.

“Haha, you speak as if you actually know something.”

“I know more than you. Come to think of it, have you seen the new captain of your 10th Unit? He seemed quite young. Must be annoying to take orders from someone younger at your age.”

“…!”

His pupils trembled like an earthquake.

He could tell from my words that I knew far more than I should.

His once kind-looking eyes turned sharp—the same piercing gaze he had when he stabbed my mother.

“I suppose… I can’t just kill you simply.”

“Yeah, that’s the look I wanted to see. Now this is getting fun.”

I let out a faint smile and drew my sword.

Shiiing—

As the blade gleamed under the moonlight, Hong Guhyeon narrowed his eyes further. With a sigh, he pulled out a short sword from his robes.

He unsheathed it without hesitation.

“You know, young master? I used poison out of a twisted sense of mercy. I considered you like a son. I had hoped to at least leave the body intact.”

He sighed heavily, as if regretting that decision, and looked up at the sky before turning his gaze back to me.

“But it seems that won’t be possible now. Don’t expect to die easily. I’ll make you spill everything—who told you, what you know, all of it.”

“Anyone can talk big. The real question is whether they can back it up.”

“Hahaha—We’ll see about that.”

Paang—!

Hong Guhyeon charged forward.

His speed was astonishing for someone who hadn’t used martial arts in a long time.

His short sword came slashing, relentlessly.

Clang! Clang-clang-clang!

The attack was overwhelming, wild like someone trying to make up for lost time.

But there was a clear difference.

“Urgh?!”

He noticed I was reading all of his moves. Despite his speed and ferocity, he couldn’t even touch my collar.

I dodged, blocked, and deflected with ease.

Simple in theory—nearly impossible in practice unless you could read your opponent perfectly.

But I wasn’t just reading him—I had lived this before.

I’d faced the techniques of the Shadow Assassins hundreds of times.

Their sword, blade, spear styles… and even this very short sword technique—I’d seen them all.

So familiar that my body moved instinctively to counter.

What made it worse for him was that, while my memories of combat felt like just days ago, for him it had been decades.

Slaash!

“Gah!”

A cut across the waist made him stumble back.

I followed with a light thrust.

“Ugh!”

He bent backward to dodge the stab to his neck, but I didn’t miss the opening—I kicked his knee.

Thud!

He lost balance and crashed to the ground.

As he groaned, I slammed a foot into his face.

Thwack!

“Ughhh!”

He rolled back, blood pouring from his nose and mouth, shaking violently—clearly not expecting this.

“H-How can this be…?!”

“Get up.”

“Ugh!”

Spurred by my command, he staggered up, wiping the blood from his face, gripping his sword tightly again.

“This luck ends now.”

“Sure, if you think it was luck.”

“Urgh!”

He grit his teeth again. No matter how long he had avoided martial arts, this humiliation was unacceptable. He was a seasoned swordsman who had trained since childhood, even before his time as a servant.

Pride mattered to him.

He couldn’t tolerate being defeated like this by someone he believed untrained.

As expected, he raised his energy.

Wind swirled violently around him—his internal energy far surpassed mine.

I let out a chuckle without thinking.

Seeing this, he launched himself again.

Paang—!

Faster than before.

But I didn’t even track him with my eyes—I already knew what he was going for.

As his body blurred and disappeared, I thrust my sword under my arm.

Thunk!

“Gaaah!”

Pierced through the chest, he staggered, coughing blood. He tried to stop the bleeding by pressing pressure points.

I calmly stepped forward and slashed again.

Slash! Slash-slash!

Each slash made him back away, pale-faced.

Though my sword was slower than his, he couldn’t block properly.

Because I targeted his weak spots perfectly.

Even when he blocked—

Clang!

“Gahhh!”

He still took damage.

A childhood injury sustained while protecting me had left lingering damage. He’d often complain it hurt on rainy days.

Repeated impacts led to—

Clang—Clatter—

He dropped his sword.

Panting and trembling, he looked up at me with wide, scared eyes.

A face I’d wanted to see for so long.

I wanted to savor this moment, but… I couldn’t.

My body was nearing its limit.

The cold sweat on my back told me I didn’t have much time left.

Did he realize that?

His eyes glinted.

“So that’s it. You haven’t fully purged the poison.”

“What if I haven’t?”

“Ha! Then I’ve still got a chance!”

Suddenly energized, he kicked the ground.

Dust flew up into my face—a cheap trick. I frowned and dodged.

He dove for his dropped sword.

Closing the distance, he attacked again.

Clang-clang-clang-clang!

“Hahaha! Will your poisoned body give out first, or will I? Let’s bet on it!”

Thinking the tide had turned, he grinned, slashing faster, pouring more power into each strike.

I dodged and parried, but my sweat poured and breath came heavy.

His blade now grazed my skin.

Slash-slash—

Small cuts, seeping blood, pain.

He was ecstatic.

“Hahaha! A hound’s joy is in the hunt!”

He relished every second—the feel of the blade, my struggle, my pain.

Clang!

I blocked and stared him down.

Then I smiled faintly.

“Had your fun?”

“Heh. You still don’t realize—”

Confident in his victory, he didn’t notice me move my blade.

Swoosh—!

In an instant, his arm flew off—blood spurting as the sword-wielding limb was severed.

Eyes wide, stunned, he froze.

But I didn’t stop.

Slash! Slash!

More sword flashes—his left arm gone, his chest slashed open.

He blinked, not even realizing what had happened.

But his body told the truth.

Thud—!

He collapsed, blood gushing.

“Cough!”

This time it was him coughing blood.

Still unsure if it was shock or numbness, he stared at his missing arm and bleeding chest.

Sssh—

I flicked the blood from my sword.

“The enemy always strikes when you’re off guard. Did you forget that?”

“Guh… Ugh…”

“Now I see why you never returned to active duty in the 10th Unit.”

“Urgh…”

He tried to say something.

But it was too late. His pupils turned red, and his life faded.

I watched him for a moment, then turned away.

Walking toward the hideout he emerged from.

As I felt his last twitch of life—

Thunk!

—I drove my sword through his forehead.

I didn’t bother looking at his face.

I didn’t even retrieve the blade.

Just as the dagger that pierced my mother’s heart had been left in her chest, I too had no regrets.

I headed toward the hideout.

“Let’s see what’s inside.”