<Seras Ashrain POV>

The man leading the troops stopped and turned his head back.

[Muaji-sama? Whats the matter?]

He asked towards the man behind him.

So, thats Muaji huh

Hes wearing a robe over his body.

I could tell in just a glance that the robe his wearing is better than the others.

A group wearing purple robes with their crest embroidered in it.

Theres no mistaking it. Theyre the Ashinto.

Muaji then spoke.

[Could you put out the light?]

[Eh? Ah, yes! Oi, put out the lights!]

Their lights went out.

There were only the faint moonlight leaking through the clouds.

Muaji enquires.

[Did you notice it before putting out the lights?]

[W- What could you possibly be talking about?]

[Look over there.]

[No I- I didnt notice anything in there.]

[There are some broken branches only in that area. If you simply think about it, you would have thought that someone may have rushed past through here.]

[T- That means!?]

[Those fugitives should still be lurking around here. It seems that the first team have been caught in their decoy.]

[Alright! You guys, go into the woods and look for the were-leopard and that young girl!]

[Theres no need. Thats probably a trap.]

[A trap!?]

[These branches were intentionally broken.]

[Intentionally?]

[Yes. I dont think anyone who would separate us from the leading army by using a decoy would make such a mistake. There is no way they would just leave obvious traces just like this.]

[I- I see.]

[It seems were facing against a smart opponent. He knows that we wouldnt miss these broken branches He was able to anticipate that far huh If you were to step into the forest, youll be exactly where he wants That is to say, youll be caught right into their trap.]

[As expected of Muaji-sama However, Ive never expected that were-leopard to have such intellect]

[Perhaps, its not the were-leopard who set up these traps.]

[Eh?]

[I personally feel that Eve Speed isnt someone who could elaborately plan something like this. Well, thats based on the stories Ive heard about her.]

[That means She had some other comrades with her?]

[Yes. Hence, its better if you think that the were-leopard and that young girl werent just the enemies that we would be facing.]

[Kuh, that was close What would have happened if Muaji-sama isnt with us]

[Now then, weve already seen through your plans, you know?]

Muaji raises his hand.

[How about you give up and come out now?]

The members of Ashinto began drawing their bows.

[I know youre hiding there. We dont just have bows and arrows within out arsenal. There are multiple ways to bring you down within this distance. We could even burn you along with this forest. Even if, youre hiding behind a tree.]

The moon began coming out of the clouds.

At the same time, the figure of Seras Ashrain appeared.

Im wearing a fly mask over my face.

The corners of Muajis mouth loosens a bit.

[A fly swordswoman huh I think that should be one of the Kings followers in that legend of the King of Flies. Well, Im pretty sure they never said that shes a swordswoman.]

My sword had already been unsheathed.

Seeing that Ive kept my silence, Muaji opens his mouth.

[I dont know who in the world you are. However, if you obediently hand over the were-leopard and the young girl, I promise that I wouldnt take your life.]

Muaji spreads out both of his arms.

[No, well even welcome you as a member of Ashinto. I could understand it based on your bearing. Youre like a really skilled warrior. Youre probably a famous swordsman.]

Seras grips her sword.

[What if I say no?]

[I will have you suffer from my curse. The pain would be so cruel that youd end up regretting that youre alive.]

[.]

[Our curse is powerful, you know? Even those Five Dragon Warriors couldnt stand against our curses.]

[Are they even the real Five Dragon Warriors?]

[Yes. Before our curses, even the Humanitys Strongest could only be helpless against it Now then, what do you think? Rather than suffering here and dying in the end, I think it would be smarter of you if you were to join us.]

I loosen my grip on my sword.

Glancing presumptively at him, I look towards Muaji.

After a while, I open up my mouth.

[I understand.]

Muajis slit eyes loosened a bit.

[Thats a smart choice.]

[I dont think I could win against these amount of people, and it would only be a matter of time before we would be found and caught.]

[I have the power to look ahead into reality. Its because I have a great talent within me.]

[However, I have one condition.]

[Let me hear it.]

[You have to promise about the safety of Eve and the young girl.]

[We currently have a strong influence with the Duke, the man who is pursuing your group. I promise, Ill make sure that your request is fulfilled.]

[Good. Well then, Ill show you where the were-leopard and the young girl is.]

I turn around.

[Everyone, please follow me.]

I started walking into the forest.

The leading Ashinto was about to follow her.

Thereupon though

[I see, so thats how it is.]

Muaji

[Everyone halt.]

stopped all of his subordinates.

[Muaji-sama?]

I also stop waking.

[Is something amiss?]

[You dont intend to obediently hand over the were-panther and the young girl. Isnt that so?]

I didnt answer his question.

My answer is just simply turning towards them.

I immediately prepared my stance with my sword in hand.

[How did you notice it?]

[I felt something out of place with how you spoke. You said everyone just now. However,is it really necessary for you to bring everyone with you? It should be enough if you just bring some people with you. However, you tried to bring everyone into the forest.]

I bit the edge of my lip.

Muaji continues speaking.

[No, its possible that its not really necessary for you to bring everyone into the forest. For example, yes]

Muaji opens one of his eyes.

[As long as you were to draw us within a certain amount of range, that would have been enough?]

[..Kuh.]

[However, if you were to put it in another way, that trap is meaningless at this distance Everyone, take a good distance and prepare to attack.]

Muaji raises his hand and instructed his subordinates.

[Everyone, hold onto your bows and prepare to attack. Make sure that your arrows are ready to fire.]

All of the arrows were pointed at me.

As if a little challenging for her, Seras smiled.

[I thought you would kill me with your most prided curse?]

Muaji returns back a small smile.

[Within Ashinto, theres a special unit called Curse Men that is directly within my control.]

[Curse Men?]

[I guess Ill specially tell you about it. That group is comprised of the heirs of the Assassin Guild.]

I knew of that name.

[Assassin Guild]

[Oh? It seems you know about that name, right? Thats quite unusual.]

[I had a hobby of reading through old documents. However, the Assassin Guild should no longer exist already. Why then would]

[Yes, the Assassin Guild was once almost exterminated by the Heroes of Another World. After defeating the Root of All Evil, those heroes who lost their main purpose targeted the Assassin Guild and made them the next Evil.]

With the minute smile on his face never disappearing, Muaji continues.

[The Heroes smashed apart this continents Assassin Guilds one after another. Thereafter, the members of the Assassin Guild were pursued, imprisoned, and slain by the Heroes and their descendants. And as time passed, the existence of the Assassin Guild was forgotten]

I also knew about these information.

[Are you people going to revive the Assassin Guild?]

[No no, we will just be taking over the job that the Assassin Guild used to have. As a group of sorcerers, that is. However]

[Youre going with the same method the Assassin Guild used]

[Thats how it is.]

I remembered about the father of that man who had a dispute with Ashinto at the tavern in the royal capital Monroy.

He collapsed and lost consciousness while frothing bubbles out of his mouth.

That is not a curse

[You people were using poison as your weapon huh]

[Its just as how you discerned.]

The first thing that comes to mind when I think about Assassin Guild is their poison.

[However, we also have advanced poison that you could hardly see if its poison at all. We also have a lot of different types, you know? From those who would just cause numbness to your body, to those who could immediately kill people. However, these advanced poisons could only be made through a special method of compounding that the few descendants of the Assassin Guild who managed to survive.]

While brushing the soles of his shoes on the ground, Muaji continues.

[Most of all, dealing with the traces we left behind is the specialty of the Assassin Guild.]

Assassinating people with advanced poison and leaving no traces behind.

That was the true identity of Ashinto sorcery.

However, there are numerous countries that prohibit the possession of poison.

Their circulation in the market is also prohibited.

Two countries were especially rigid when it comes to prohibiting the possession of poison.

The Jonato Principality and Alion Kingdom.

These two countries view the usage of poison as Evil.

The possession and usage of poison were severely punished by their law.

[After poisoning them, we would erase any traces. We would then be promote the result of our assassination as the result of our sorcery]

They were using a special poison that could hardly be identified as poison.

Of course, they must be aware of a method that would inject poison into their targets body without them noticing.

Especially when they were in the hands of an assassin who had techniques that could erase his own traces.

All of these combined completes their curse.

The possession and usage of poison is forbidden in multiple countries.

Therefore, they just change its name to curse and used it as is.

The concept of curses in itself is troublesome.

Its an uncertain concept in which its existence cant be proven.

However, if you were to put it in another way, you also cant prove that it doesnt exist.

[And that was also the case with the former Black Dragon Knights. Especially the deaths of the Five Dragon Warriors]

Anticipating what Muaji might say, I spoke.

[Seeing that it transcends what human knowledge, it couldnt be explained.]

[You really have a magnificent comprehension. Thats right. Therefore, we dared to call ourselves the Black Dragonslayers. Its so that we could make the people believe in the existence of curses.]

There is no explanation on how they killed the Five Dragon Warriors though.

Who killed them?

No one would think that it would probably be Seras Ashrain that has beaten them.

On the contrary, everyone had already thought that shes already dead.

Currently, no one had been able to think who could possibly kill them.

There is no specific person that everyone would think might really be the one who is able to do so.

No one would know anything at that time, except for those people who were present at the scene.

If that is so

It wouldnt be strange if you were to think this might be the power of a curse.

[However, havent you thought that the person who killed the Five Dragon Warriors may come to know about your lie and come in contact with you?]

Just like a snake, Muaji raised an eyebrow.

[You really dont understand, do you? That person is only able to win against the Five Dragon Warriors is only thanks to our curse, you know?]

[.]

No matter how you put it, this would just end up as an endless argument.

He won thanks to the curse.

On the contrary, there is also no way to prove that he also didnt win through the power of a curse.

It could be said that even the person who killed the Five Dragon Warriors himself cant proved it.

In a sense, their logic is invincible.

[No one could prove the absence of the curse. Then, its possible that this might be through the power of the curse. As long as this uncertainty exists, it would end up with our victory. Unless theres evidence that proves otherwise, the one who insists this concept into the world wins.]

[Havent you thought that you might be targeted by the real person who killed the Five Dragon Warriors?]

[Fufu. For arguments sake, even if such a person appears, I will just assassinate him when I find a chance. In fact, I think we could win even against the Five Dragon Warriors. Certainly, its possible that Civit Gartland possesses the strongest combat ability in all humans. However, its actually the assassins that were the strongest in this world. It was never necessary to fight fair and square with anyone. As long as someone could excel in planning and making use of poison, you could actually become the strongest existence there is.]

[What is your purpose?]

[Assassination is all about the money. And in the world of aristocracy, they have numerous targets that could be considered as hindrances. With Duke Zuan as our foothold, we will eventually dig deep and become a central pillar of this country.]

[And along with them were those people who were a hindrance to your assassination?]

[Yes. In the end, this country will be in our hands.]

[To manipulate Urza from the shadows huh]

[Thats the plan.]

(They want to capture Eve so that they could curry favour with the Duke and make some achievements huh Even this, Touka-dono had been able to anticipate it this far)

[By the way]

Muaji enquired.

[Wheres your other companion?]

[With the exception of Eve and the young girl, it would be just me.]

I replied.

However, Muaji didnt believe my words.

[Its hard to imagine that youre the only one whos going against us.]

I promptly turn around.

[..]

I place my hand on the mask on my face.

At that moment, the Ashinto was about to attack her.

However, Muaji stopped all of them.

Taking off the fly mask off my face

[Let me explain to you why I think I could take you all on my own.]

And releasing the alteration in my appearance.

[Because Im the one who survived against the Five Dragon Warriors.]