The Ruined Ending made by a Baby

 

 

Shekina had deliberately taken Han to the underground prison.

 

Regardless of Han’s personality or lifestyle, he was the vice guild master of an assassination guild.

 

It meant he had killed many people and overcome countless hardships.

 

Thus, he couldn’t be trusted.

 

That’s why it was necessary to break his spirit.

 

Sending out Martin, bringing Han to the prison, and showing him the gruesome sight — all of this had been part of Shekina’s plan.

 

‘I didn’t expect him to faint, though.’

 

How could someone with such a fragile mindset be of any use?

 

Arthur had tortured many people to the point of leaving them in horrific states. Sure, even Shekina had felt queasy when she saw the leader locked in the box.

 

But for Shekina, it wasn’t something worth fainting over.

 

Was it because she had seen worse? That’s not.

 

Shekina had been in that kind of state herself, which made her feel unfazed.

 

Is there anything more disgusting than looking more grotesque than a monster? Shekina didn’t think so.

 

That’s why it was a little amusing when Han made comments about having a strong stomach.

 

Anyway, enough with the thoughts.

 

Shekina refocused on Han.

 

“The assassination guild where you used to belong.”

 

Shekina met Han’s eyes.

 

“Hayrem, right?”

 

Han’s lips parted halfway.

 

“Y-you… how did you…?”

 

“And also.”

 

Shekina opened her mouth again, indicating that this wasn’t the end.

 

“Did you kill the Crown Prince?”

 

***

 

It’s a story from some time ago.

 

The assassination guild called Hayrem maintained a long tradition. It occupied over half of the southern region. Han became the vice guildmaster of Hayrem at the young age of 15.

 

The guild master cherished Han like her own child, but it was mainly because of Han’s exceptional skills.

 

It wasn’t about extraordinary magical or swordsmanship skills. He was a genius at concealing his presence.

 

For an assassination-focused guild, Han’s skills were simply unparalleled.

 

From the moment he could walk, Han held a dagger. That’s how he became the vice guildmaster.

 

Then, one day, a request came in.

 

It was to assassinate the emperor at an upcoming royal ball.

 

The guild master naturally refused.

 

No matter how much one buys and sells lives with money, no matter how much the imperial authority crumbles and falls, the emperor remained the emperor. The emperor was the idol of all and the pinnacle of the continent. The guild master judged that one could not dare to aim a sword at such a person.

 

And then, the guild master’s husband disappeared.

 

The next day, another request came in.

 

<If you want to find your husband, kill the emperor.>

 

The guild master deeply pondered but refused the request. It was for the same reason as before. One couldn’t dare to aim a sword at the emperor.

 

And then, the guild master disappeared.

 

The next day, a request came to Han.

 

<If you want to find the guild master, kill the emperor.>

 

Most of the guild members said they should refuse the request following the guild master’s will.

 

However, Han, who considered the guild master as his mother, the only person who showed him kindness, couldn’t do that.

 

He wasn’t brave.

 

Because he wasn’t brave, he feared losing his loved one and didn’t understand what justice was. I had to live, and you had to live.

 

So he killed the emperor.

 

And then, the guild master was found dead.

 

***

 

“Well, that’s how it turned out.”

 

Shekina briefly lowered her eyes as she listened to Han’s verbose story.

 

“That…”

 

Shekina reflects on his words one by one.

 

“So you’re saying you did it?”

 

“……”

 

Han’s face crumpled.

 

“Don’t you have any feelings at all? Isn’t this the time to shed tears?”

 

“Ah. I can’t cry.”

 

“Even when someone like your mother died?”

 

“I don’t have a mother.”

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

Han bowed deeply at Shekina’s casual words. Then he continued.

 

“After that, we were caught red-handed. The imperial pursuit unit chased after the guild, and we all scattered. I almost died too. That’s when Yuri saved me. If it weren’t for Yuri, I would have died.”

 

“I’m not really interested in TMI… you know.”

 

He don’t know what TMI is, but he feel a bit annoyed. Han gritted his teeth.

 

“But did you kill the emperor? I heard it was the crown prince who died.”

 

“No.”

 

Han answered firmly.

 

“I killed the emperor.”

 

Shekina narrowed his eyes.

 

“I definitely killed the emperor that day, but the next day, there was another emperor. And it was announced that the crown prince had died. But that’s not true. I really killed the emperor. So I thought about it. Why did that happen?”

 

The corners of Han’s mouth lifted.

 

“The crown prince could have pretended to be the emperor and then died.”

 

“…. Maybe the emperor died and then the crown prince pretended to be the emperor.”

 

“Exactly!”

 

Han exclaimed, raising his thumb.

 

“But it’s strange. I never mistake people’s faces. No matter how well disguised they are, they can’t deceive my eyes. How did they do it?”

 

Upon hearing his words, Shekina thought of one unsettling possibility.

 

‘Dark magic.’

 

There’s a type of dark magic that can change one’s appearance completely, not just hair or eye color but the entire person.

 

‘They must have used dark magic.’

 

The speculation about the possibility became a conviction.

 

But that raised a puzzling question.

 

‘How?’

 

In her previous life, dark magic emerged into the world through Shekina’s research, known only to her among humans.

 

But how could it be possible now? It’s much earlier than that time in the previous life, and humans wouldn’t even know the existence of dark magic, so how?

 

Shekina chewed on her lips thoughtfully.

 

‘This… I should discuss it with someone.’

 

It’s something to think about later. Right now, there are more pressing matters.

 

“Then who was the client?”

 

“Ah! No one believes me when I say this. Yuri didn’t believe me either.”

 

Han said with a serious expression after extending his index finger.

 

“The Central Temple.”

 

“…….”

 

“I’m sure. Really.”

 

Watching him confidently assert his belief, Shekina felt a shiver run down her spine along with an involuntary gulp of dry saliva.

 

“How… how can you be so sure?”

 

“It’s obvious.”

 

Obvious?

 

“It’s my gut feeling. It just told me. It’s them.”

 

“You’re crazy…”

 

Ah, I got worked up for no reason.

 

Shekina scratched the back of her head.

 

“Now it’s your turn.”

 

Han chuckled, resting his chin on his palm as he stared at Shekina.

 

“What did that leader guy say?”

 

“Ah, he didn’t say anything.”

 

Shekina replied casually.

 

“Before he could speak, Arthur said he cut out his tongue.”

 

“Yikes! Seriously?”

 

“Instead, he wrote it down. He cast a truth-revealing spell.”

 

“Ugh, what a madhouse…”

 

Han grumbled, rolling his eyes. But Shekina paid no mind and continued.

 

“But that leader guy said the same thing as you.”

 

“What?”

 

“The priest ordered him to.”

 

Han’s eyes widened as if they were about to pop out.

 

“Wow! Was I right or what? See! My instincts never fail!”

 

Whether to admire that or call it ignorant conviction, Shekina clicked her tongue.

 

Han looked at Shekina like that and chuckled.

 

Having come this far in the conversation, he couldn’t retreat any further. No, he didn’t want to retreat. Retreating was enough for the past.

 

“So? What do I do?”

 

As soon as she heard his words, a glint appeared in Shekina’s eyes.

 

“You’re small in stature, but your brain works well.”

 

“Is that a compliment? I’ll call it a compliment. So thanks. Yeah.”

 

Shekina smirked and raised her index finger just like Han did.

 

“First, shall we go to the capital?”

 

Let’s find out what those guys are up to.

 

A smirk appeared on Shekina’s lips.