The Player Hides His Past

The red mark (√) contained memories.

Anyone who completed the entry ceremony into the Shadow Mercenary Corp could read the memories contained in the mark. This meant that they could witness how the process of how the request became successful.

“…”

Kitch scratched her head.

…When was it?

The last time she read the memory of the mark.

Only one person could access the hidden request ledger.

There could not be two leaders in the Shadow Mercenary Corp.

First of all, as long as 『Ranking Match』 existed.

Just like the ranks of the members.

The position of leader of the mercenary group was also determined solely by skill.

If you wanted to be in the leader’s position.

You had to cut off the head of the previous leader.

Kitch was the same way.

“It feels like shit.”

Regardless of the reason.

The request of the previous leader she had cut down was also recorded in the request ledger.

…Somehow.

She felt like she was looking through the diary of the person she killed.

No, it wasn’t just that.

As expected, peeking into those memories was not a pleasant thing.

However.

“Sigh.”

It was all the burden that she had to endure as the leader.

The reason for engraving memories in the request ledger was also related to that.

By leaving a memory, they were able to pass on their experience and knowledge to the next leader. That was the reason why the Shadow Mercenary Corp was able to continue its existence even under the cruel system called 『Ranking Match』.

Kitch moved her fingers.

──────

Claudie assassination √

──────

The demon king who appeared in the world of adventurers had cried out that name.

Claudie.

She placed her finger on the mark to read the memory of the request.

Wobble–

The red mark melted away.

It became a blood-red liquid and seeped into her skin.

At the same time, an illusion appeared in front of Kitch’s eyes.

.

.

.

– “A demon’s request. You’ve stooped so low. Us, too.”

A sarcastic tone.

Kitch remembered that voice.

Around the time she had just joined the Shadow Mercenaries.

It was the voice of Bellamy, who occupied the third seat.

Considering that he looked youthful instead of old.

It seemed that the time when the request was successful was quite a long time ago.

– “It’s not an ordinary demon.”

– “Hn? Aren’t all demons the same? They live off weak humans. No matter how much notoriety they have gained, they still tremble when Akshan appears, right?”

– “I agree with Bellamy. Whether it’s a great evil or a demon king, Akshan is the only one who cares about that. It’s obvious why you’re talking nonsense that not even the old people believe in. In the end, it’s about making a living!”

The sunbaenims’ intuition was not very good.

‘If they’re looking at the Arcana Continent from hell…’

They were probably shuddering out of shame.

Well, they were dead because they were so tactless.

However, the leader was different.

– “Demon, great evil, demon king. What does it matter?”

– “…Leader?”

– “If you’re paid to do it, do it.”

The memory flowed to the leader’s point of view, the person who engraved the mark.

Thanks to this, she could clearly see Bellamy’s change of expression.

How strict was the discipline during this time?

The leader just said that one line.

But Bellamy’s face turned white.

– “Me and you. It’s the only reason scum like us can survive on the continent. Their purpose? Don’t you dare try to find out. The reason we’re alive is because we’re trash only driven by money.”

Why was the Shadow Mercenary Corp able to survive for so long?

Some people said it was because of their skill.

But they were wrong.

The Arcana Continent was wide, and there were many talented people.

Being able to carry out any requests that came their way.

Even though they had accumulated a lot of grudges.

They could survive as the Shadow Mercenary Corp.

Now, as the now-deceased leader said.

It was because they were scums controlled by reward.

The same thing was true for Claudie’s assassination.

– “Keep that in mind, this is not a common opportunity.”

The leader lowered his voice.

Thanks to this, Kitch also focused a little more on the flowing scene.

Eventually, they were able to encounter the requested target.

At that moment, Kitch was shocked.

What came into her sight.

Something brilliantly shining.

It was silver hair.

To put it another way…

‘…It’s the same.’

Yes, it was the same hair as the Commander-in-Chief of the Holy War Allied Force.

At the same time.

He was their employer, Hoyeol.

At that moment, she recalled a rumor floating around in the world of adventurers.

Perhaps Hoyeol might know something about Claudie, too?

There were people pouring out various speculations.

Kitch shook her head.

‘…I didn’t know anything.’

The Commander was related to Claudie.

Deeply related enough to have the same hair color as the target, Claudie.

Maybe he was Claudie’s bloodline…

The moment Kitch continued to speculate.

Halt–

– “!”

The silver-haired woman noticed the approach of the Shadow Mercenary Corps. Judging from the fact that she was dressed in flashy aristocratic attire and didn’t even have a weapon, she did not appear to have any knowledge of martial arts.

– “Has she discovered our hiding spot?”

– “As expected, it’s nice to have a great lineage.”

– “Chase her.”

She simply sensed the hiding of the shadow mercenaries with her natural senses.

Kitch would say it once again…

Reading the marked person’s memories was a shitty experience.

Kitch bit her lower lip.

‘This is why I killed him.’

After Kitch took over as the new leader.

The activities of the Shadow Mercenary Corps decreased compared to before.

As long as there was the ranking system and the ledger.

As time passed by.

Shadow Mercenary Corp had no choice but to raise its level of power.

The reason for their lack of activity was simple.

It was because their leader, Kitch, didn’t want it.

‘If it were me, I wouldn’t accept such a request…’

She wouldn’t even have looked at it.

But Kitch didn’t look away.

As long as she was in the Shadow Mercenary Corps.

She would carry this burden as the leader.

Kitch didn’t turn away from the end of the target.

– “Tempest!”

The target shouted a name.

Then from somewhere, a hound appeared.

Judging from its noble appearance and its name that was too grandiose for a dog.

It was clear that the hound had been treated with love.

Perhaps the hound knew that.

– “You damn punk…”

As if to return Claudie’s favor.

The hound rushed at the shadow mercenaries to protect its owner even though its body was torn apart. It fatally wounded the lowest seat and left a scar on Bellamy’s forearm.

‘That’s when that wound happened.’

A wound so big that Kitch recognized it in the future.

But.

That was it.

– “Lady of the great family. Don’t expect help or miracles.”

A request from the great evil.

It was a request that had been handed down to the Shadow Mercenary Corps for a long time.

The reason why it was done in Bellamy’s generation was simple.

It was the right time.

– “We are not the only ones targeting you.”

Kitch had guessed so.

It was not even a slaughter, just one assassination.

Of a simple noble young lady.

The reason why the goal, which was as easy as breathing for the Shadow Mercenary Corp, hadn’t been completed for a long time.

It must have been because the value of the name Claudie family made even the most fearless shadow mercenaries understand their position.

‘…Wait.’

Kitch was confident that she knew the continent’s underworld better than anyone else.

But she couldn’t even guess.

If one noble lady was entrusted to the Shadow Mercenary Corp.

Then.

‘The head of the family or the heir…’

What kind of forces targeted those two?

Naturally.

Kitch couldn’t find an answer to that.

Ssss–

The illusion faded.

Thanks to ruthlessly eliminating the target.

The Shadow Mercenary Corp’s request ended like that.

.

.

.

“…”

The ledger was back in her sight.

Red success mark (√).

A hideout shrouded in pitch-black darkness.

Kitch, who had been silent for a while, opened her mouth.

“Really.”

Suddenly, she remembered Harkon’s voice.

-“Do you regret the past?”

“Really.”

At the same time, she thought of Hoyeol.

‘…I didn’t know that we would be this entangled.’

She had forgotten about it, but she felt it again.

The fact that she was trash.

Because she had been living like trash.

In the end, she would have to pay the price.

But, but still…

“…It’s okay if I carry it, right?”

Kitch intended to carry the mistake entirely by herself.

Daily life in Yusra passed through her mind.

A life of drinking in a bar all day and mixing with other people. Even though they didn’t show it, they were all enjoying themselves.

“All by myself.”

The original sin of the Shadow Mercenary Corp.

It was the leader’s role to carry.

Of course, she didn’t know how Hoyeol would take it.

Kitch also had something to say to him.

A bitter laugh came out.

“…Just like you’ve always been.”

She had no intention of expressing it as ‘pride’ in a grandiose way.

For someone who was no different from trash.

Such a noble word didn’t suit her.

So, what suited her more…

Thinking about it, Kitch opened her mouth.

“…Voluntary action for the employer?”

At the same time, it was an atonement for Claudie.

After sorting out her thoughts, Kitch closed the ledger and left the hideout.

What she had to do from now on was simple.

“It’s my specialty.”

Claudie.

The great family.

Her purpose was to find the reason why they disappeared from history.

Specifically, she had to find out the forces who were involved in Claudie’s destruction on the day the request was launched.

And she had to tell Hoyeol everything she found out.

“…I can already see his cold face.”

Thinking of facing that cold face.

Kitch already felt like her tongue was twisted.

So…

“I don’t think I can keep my promise to meet at Antonium.”

*

The promise and common sense of RPG games.

The later a skill was acquired, the better its performance.

From that perspective, [Akshan’s Guardian Spirit] didn’t betray me.

Howl!

I’d been on the back of a dragon, Eunaxus.

Akshan’s wolf was as fast as Eunaxus.

No, the standard for fast speed was a little different in the first place.

If I were to compare it, it was like running through space.

Well, the wolf’s arrival wasn’t just through a simple summon.

Really, he heard my call.

After responding by howling.

He ran all the way to Sisley.

‘He’s certainly extraordinary.’

Akshan’s mascot.

It would be reasonable to praise that ability.

But I said shamelessly.

“There is still a lot you need to learn.”

Claudie’s standard was very strict.

The fast mobility should be more than enough.

Somehow, there was no such thing as satisfaction in this guy’s personality.

For the wolf who was listening, it might have been disappointing.

“Howl–”

…You like it, don’t you?

It was not like a cat that swished its tail obnoxiously like the Tower Master.

Its hips were shaking as if it couldn’t control its joy.

I felt a little bad as I looked at it.

‘Did you miss people that much?’

After Akshan was annihilated.

This was probably the first time it encountered someone.

It would have welcomed anyone.

Of course, my emotional thoughts didn’t last long.

I soon realized.

Akshan’s guardian spirit.

It was just like Akshan’s demon hunters.

They were people who were crazy about hard work quests and training…!

It was thanks to Argentress that I learned the truth.

Elf was a being that could communicate with nature.

Thanks to that, he understood what the wolf was saying and told me.

“He’s looking forward to it very much.”

For a moment, the faces of Akshan sunbaenims overlapped with the wolf.

Yes, I understand that your body and mind are itching.

But how about putting off training for later?

Well, we have an important quest goal called ‘Track down the primordial evil‘, right?

From Sisley back to the Arcana Continent.

[You’ve entered the Arcana Continent, where legends overflow.]

This message was grandiose no matter how you looked at it.

Anyway, thanks to the overflowing legend of the Dark Dragon, the presence of demons was still weak. But the [Natural Enemy Relationship] was activated. Plus at this moment, I wasn’t alone.

When it came to hatred towards the demon.

Second to none.

Akshan’s wolf was with me.

“Hooowl–!”

Its cry echoed across the continent.

At the same time.

A message appeared.

[The guardian spirit, Akshan’s wolf, activates ‘Natural Enemy Relationship’.]

You are truly an Akshan to the core!

The effect of [Natural Enemy Relationship].

When fighting with demons, combat power increases significantly.

As if to prove its effectiveness.

I could feel Akshan wolf’s strength soaring fiercely.

Argrentress even swallowed his saliva and spoke to me.

“Can I ask you one thing?”

It was a polite question.

I had no reason not to answer.

And above all, I was very satisfied right now.

Well, wasn’t that obvious?

Not only [Legend, Dark Dragon].

Now I had also acquired [Guardian Spirit, Akshan’s wolf].

There was nothing else more reassuring.

But I underestimated him.

“Your name.”

I had to get a grip,

I even forgot to introduce myself.

And.

“The name of the wolf you ride.”

The fact that I didn’t give Akshan’s wolf a ‘name’.

…Oh, no.

Before I could stop him, Grandfel opened his mouth first.

He uttered the wolf’s name.

“Tempest over the Horizon.”

No, really.

Seriously.

Don’t name our kids without consulting them!