WCDGS 02

“Blood really doesn’t lie.”

The woman exhaled a thick puff of cigarette smoke and, for the first time, presented me with a choice.

“This is a memory-erasing drug. If you give this to your younger brother, he’ll forget everything that happened here. If you want, you can even erase all his memories. But in exchange, you’ll be bound to me for life. So? What will you choose?”

My blue eyes trembled violently.

‘For life.’

To a nine-year-old, a lifetime felt impossibly long and unbearably heavy.

But I made my decision.

“…Thank you.”

It was better for only one of us to be sacrificed than for us both to be dragged into the abyss.

And I was glad that I, not Seniel, was the one to bear that sacrifice.

Still, I allowed myself a small selfish wish.

I could’ve erased all memories related to me and let Seniel start anew. But I chose to erase only the memories of the training center, leaving the memories of our family intact.

After that, I entrusted Seniel to an orphanage far away.

“Noona… I don’t want to be alone. Take me with you!”
“You’ll find a good adoptive family soon, Seniel.”
“But I don’t want to be apart from you.”
“Even if we’re apart, we’re still family. Don’t ever forget that. I’ll come visit every year.”
“Noona……”

Seniel, with his striking appearance, was adopted much faster than expected.

Barely six months after entering the orphanage.

His adoptive parents were kind-hearted provincial nobles from a reputable family with a good reputation.

Seniel grew up as a noble’s cherished child, and I walked a completely different path as the promising heir of the Shadow Guild.

Ten years passed like that.

Ten Years Later

Wearing a mask and cloaked head-to-toe, I scanned the surroundings with sharp eyes.

There was a suffocating tension in the usually empty abandoned house.

Judging by their outfits, there were at least four different groups gathered here.

The rumor was that the map of Daedo, a land rich in magic stones, was hidden in this location.

Though the map had long been the stuff of rumor, no one had ever seen it. It was said to possess power enough to spark a war.

“Prince! This way!”

Waiting in silence for the signal, I immediately drew my sword when I heard Rayleigh’s voice.

While I was waiting for the right moment, Rayleigh’s men sprang out from the opposite side and began running.

It was a decoy to distract the other groups who had followed the same rumor as us.

As expected, the guild members showed themselves and a flurry of swords clashed.

‘Now.’

Once I confirmed that the area was cleared, I concealed my presence and headed toward the mansion’s backyard.

There was a protruding stone in the wall where all the flowers had withered.

Just as reported. When I pressed it, a round door handle popped out.

Carefully turning the handle, a space just big enough for one person opened.

In the middle of the room was a sheet of paper that clearly resembled a map. Judging by the seal, it was indeed the Daedo map.

Without hesitation, I dove in and grabbed it.

The moment the map touched my hand, shuriken flew at me from all directions.

“…It’s a trap.”

An ordinary thief would’ve died instantly, but I had no trouble dodging them.

I had jumped in so confidently because I knew I could handle it.

After evading the shuriken, I stored the map inside an expansion artifact.

Just as I was about to leave, a long sword suddenly shot out from behind the wall.

If I had been even half a step slower, it would’ve pierced my throat.

Gritting my teeth, I raised my senses to the limit. I could feel the presence of my hidden attacker.

“How did you dodge that?”

He didn’t let up—his sword strikes came one after another without giving me room to breathe.

He was so skilled that even I, someone unmatched within the guild, was being pushed slightly.

To secure a retreat path, I clashed swords with full strength and tried to push him back.

“So you’re the Prince of Raven Guild. Nimble, with a weightless sword—just as the rumors said. Now I see it’s true.”

I didn’t respond and only increased the speed of my attacks.

He parried smoothly, still trying to engage in conversation.

“Hand over the map. That’s not something one person should possess.”

What nonsense was this self-appointed guardian saying?

I shot him a cold glare, only to meet a pair of eyes as red as blood.

Like me, he wore a mask, so I couldn’t see his face, but his eyes belonged to someone born to rule others.

His gaze naturally bore down on me with oppressive pressure.

“Which side does your Raven Guild support? The Teroid Empire? The fallen Sewundel? Or a third nation?”

While Raven was mostly composed of Teroid nationals, we never sided with any country during the wars.

We followed only money and purpose.

Apparently, this man was trying to figure out where our guild stood.

Taking advantage of the brief pause while he was questioning me, I parried and switched direction.

‘Got it.’

I bolted out through the open door.

I could’ve kept fighting, but staying too long against someone of equal skill risked defeat—especially when I had something to protect.

“Wait! I’ve been wanting to meet you, Prince with the blue eyes! I know who you are. Even a short conversation—!”

He shouted and chased me, but I looked back briefly and sprinted with all my might, losing him quickly.

Fortunately, I ran into Rayleigh nearby, who had been searching for me.

Rayleigh, spotting me, let out a whistle, and our guild members sprang from ambush to block the man’s path.

“Did you get the map?”
“Got it. It’s in the artifact.”
“As expected. I knew the Prince would succeed.”
“That guy’s strong. Signal everyone to retreat after distracting him.”
“Oh? Hearing you say that makes me curious. He’s not someone we’ve seen before?”
“No. I don’t know his affiliation.”
“Should I go have a go at him?”
“You’ll lose.”

At my firm response, Rayleigh winced but nodded.

“…I want to fight him out of pride, but now’s not the time. We need to head straight to HQ.”
“Why?”
“The Queen sent a call.”

A call from the old woman during a critical mission?

That had never happened before. I grew anxious—something serious must’ve happened.

Without rest, I galloped back to headquarters.

There, I found the old woman lying on her bed, gasping for breath.

“When did it start, old woman?”

I knew immediately just by looking.

She was dying.

No medicine would save her now. The light in her eyes had already almost faded.

“About two years ago. Cough.”
“…I got the map. The one you wanted so badly.”
“I knew you’d do it. Heh… cough… Everyone, leave. Except the Prince…”

She dismissed everyone and reached to pull off my mask.

The cloth that had covered all but my eyes came down, revealing my face.

Her rough hands touched my cheeks.

“You’ve grown so much.”
“What do you mean dying like this? You said I’d be bound to you for life.”

I let out a hollow laugh. Of course, people die. But not this suddenly. What about the life I entrusted to her?

“Right? Who’d have thought the ‘lifetime’ I promised would only be ten years? Heh… That’s life for you… ha, hah…”

She coughed up more blood before my eyes, looking more like someone at death’s door.

“Remember what I said? The weak don’t get to choose. Now… you can choose everything.”

I held her weakening hand tighter.

“I know. There’s no one stronger than me here now.”

“Then I give you one last choice… cough…”
“Stop talking. You’re bleeding.”

I clenched my jaw and wiped the blood with a handkerchief. She let out another laugh.

“You’re such a kind child.”
“Me? I’ve killed countless people. Even a stray dog would laugh at that.”
“You can’t hide your nature. I know you took care of the families of your targets and offered help in secret.”

“……”

“Either become the next Guild Master… or leave this world entirely.”
“Leave? Now, of all times?”
“Yes. You… don’t belong in this world. When I die, you’ll be free… because now, you’re stronger than I am…”

She couldn’t finish the sentence. Her head slumped to the side.

“Old lady? Old lady!! Open your eyes. You can’t die like this. Just like that?”

I desperately clung to her lifeless hand but eventually let go.

Her warmth was fading. Her cold hand reminded me of my parents who died ten years ago.

“She’s… dead.”

While I stood there blankly, staring into space for a long time, the door slowly opened.