Chapter 11 Beneath The Quiet Night
Vaelith’s POV
The assassins celebrated like vultures after a feast.
Laughter echoed throughout the hidden camp while torches illuminated the dark forest in flickering orange light. Some assassins drank around the fire while others argued loudly over bets placed during my duel with Nysera.
Apparently, several of them had lost money because I survived.
Unfortunate for them.
I sat alone near the edge of the camp beside a fallen tree, staring into the dark forest silently while the cold night wind brushed against my face.
Beside me, Vark munched happily on roasted meat stolen from somewhere inside the camp.
“Humans weird,” the goblin muttered between bites.
“You say that every five minutes.”
“Yes.”
The forest remained strangely peaceful tonight. No Monsters.
No holy knights trying to sacrifice me.
Honestly, that alone made this one of the calmer nights I’d experienced recently.
Vark suddenly looked toward the campfire.
“Pretty knife lady watching Master again.”
I didn’t turn immediately.
Because honestly… I already knew.
Nysera had been watching me ever since the duel ended. Not openly. But enough for me to notice.
The assassins respected her too much to approach casually, leaving an invisible circle around her even during the celebration.
I finally glanced sideways.
Nysera sat alone near the fire, blue eyes reflecting the flames quietly while the other assassins laughed nearby.
Unlike them… she wasn’t celebrating.
Then suddenly, she stood. And walked directly toward us.
Vark immediately gasped dramatically.
“MASTER’S MATE ARRIVING.”
“She is absolutely not my…”
Nysera stopped in front of us.
“…Your goblin is strange.”
“He’s doing his best.”
Vark looked proud.
Nysera stared at me silently for a moment before sitting beside me without permission. Not that I minded.
Mostly because refusing someone carrying seventeen hidden knives felt unwise.
Vark slowly stood afterward.
“I leave romantic tension now.”
“…Vark.”
“Yes, Master?”
“Go away quietly.”
The goblin nodded seriously before waddling off toward the campfire while muttering something about “future goblin children.”
I closed my eyes briefly. One day, I was going to throw him into a river.
Nysera watched the goblin disappear before speaking again.
“He’s loyal.”
“That makes one of us.”
Her crimson eyes shifted toward me.
“…You still thinking about betrayal?”
I laughed quietly.
“Hard not to.”
The night breeze passed between us softly. For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then Nysera suddenly handed me a metal flask.
I frowned slightly.
“What’s this?”
“Drink.”
“That sounds suspicious.”
“You survived fighting me. If I wanted you dead, I’d just use poison.”
“…Comforting.”
Still, I accepted the flask carefully before taking a small sip. Strong.
My throat burned instantly.
“What is this?”
Nysera smirked faintly.
“Assassin medicine.”
“I think it just removed my ability to see colors.”
That earned a soft laugh from her.
She laughed more often than I expected.
The silence between us became less tense afterward.
Nysera leaned back against the fallen tree quietly.
“You surprised everyone today.”
“I do that sometimes.”
“You defeated me.”
“I noticed.”
“You should feel honored.”
“I’ll try celebrating later.”
She rolled her eyes slightly. Then her expression slowly became quieter.
More serious.
“Why didn’t you kill me?”
There it was. The real question.
I stared into the forest darkness for a few seconds before answering.
“…I’m tired of killing.”
Nysera looked unconvinced immediately.
“That’s not the real reason. You said something about Ally.”
“Yes. You’re useful.”
That made her laugh softly again.
“At least you’re honest.”
“You’re skilled. Respected. Intelligent.”
Nysera raised an eyebrow.
“Careful. Compliments become dangerous.”
“I’m trying to recruit you, not flirt.”
“…Disappointing.”
I blinked once. Was she joking?
Honestly, I couldn’t tell with this woman anymore.
Nysera looked toward the fire in the distance while the assassins continued celebrating loudly.
“My people trust me.”
I studied her quietly.
“You care about them.”
“They’re all I have.”
Something in her voice changed slightly.
Pain. Hidden carefully beneath calmness.
I leaned back against the tree.
“…What happened?”
Nysera remained silent briefly.
Then finally spoke.
“I used to belong to the human world too.”
That caught my attention immediately.
Used to?
She laughed softly without humor.
“My family served nobles in the eastern kingdoms. Loyal servants. Obedient dogs.”
Her eyes darkened slightly.
“One day, a noble accused my younger brother of theft.”
I already disliked where this story was going. Nysera’s voice remained calm.
“They killed him publicly.”
Silence filled the air between us.
“And when my parents demanded justice…”
She looked away toward the darkness.
“…they were executed for disrespecting nobility.”
Cold anger settled in my chest instantly.
Nysera smiled faintly.
“That was the day I learned humans only protect people with power.”
The campfire crackled softly nearby.
“I joined Black Thorn shortly after.”
“You were a child.”
“I was angry.”
Fair enough. I understood anger. Probably more than most people.
Nysera glanced toward me again.
“What about you?”
I laughed quietly.
“Mine’s less tragic and more ridiculous.”
“Try me.”
I hesitated briefly. Then sighed.
“I was betrayed inside a dungeon and became a Dungeon Core.”
Nysera stared at me for two seconds.
Then immediately laughed.I rubbed my forehead tiredly.
“You really enjoy calling me insane.”
“You keep saying impossible things.”
“I’m serious.”
“You’re a joker.”
“I literally control monsters.”
“You also talk to goblins.”
Nysera smirked faintly before taking the flask back.
Still… I noticed something important.
She laughed less mockingly now.
Almost uncertainly.
I looked toward the dark sky quietly.
“Do you know Seraphel Vaun?”
Nysera’s expression changed instantly.
The amusement disappeared completely.
“…Why are you asking about him?”
“So you do know him.”
“Everyone knows him.”
Her voice became colder.
“The Holy Dominion’s golden monster.”
I slowly turned toward her.
“He’s my enemy.”
Nysera stared at me carefully.
“That’s a dangerous statement.”
“He betrayed me.”
“And you plan revenge?”
“Yes.”
The answer came naturally. Without hesitation. Nysera studied my face silently afterward. Then finally…
“You’re serious.”
“I told you that already.”
The night breeze grew colder around us.
I exhaled slowly.
“I want to expose Seraphel.”
Nysera’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“You think one man can expose the Holy Dominion?”
“No.”
I looked directly at her.
“That’s why I need allies.”
Silence followed.
Then Nysera laughed quietly again.
“You really are insane.”
“Probably.”
“You’re asking assassins to fight the strongest organization in the world.”
“I’m asking one assassin.”
Her gaze locked onto mine.
For a moment… I thought she was considering it. Then her expression softened slightly.
“Even if your story about being a Dungeon Core was true…”
She looked toward the assassins celebrating near the fire.
“…I still have people to protect.”
The atmosphere shifted immediately.
I understood. Black Thorn was her responsibility. Just like the dungeon had become mine.
Nysera slowly stood afterward. The conversation was ending. I could feel it.
She looked down at me qu
ietly.
“You should leave this camp as soon as possible.”
I frowned slightly.
“What?”
“The others won’t tolerate your presence forever.”
“I thought they followed your orders.”
“They do.”
Her expression darkened slightly.
“But even I can’t protect you forever after what happened.”
The wind rustled through the trees softly.
Then Nysera spoke again.
“I can’t help you.”
