Chapter 9 The Assassin's Challenge
Vaelith’s POV
Her voice remained smooth and controlled, but I could feel the hostility beneath it.
I leaned slightly against the chair.
“He attacked first.”
“And you killed him.”
“He tried very hard to die.”
For a moment, silence filled the tent.
Then, she laughed. Softly.
“You’re amusing.”
“I get that a lot.”
Another knife suddenly flew toward me.
It missed my ear by inches before embedding itself into the wooden wall behind me. I didn’t flinch.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
“…Most people scream.”
“Most people don’t survive dungeon collapses.”
That caught her attention. The knife spinning between her fingers slowed.
“Dungeon?”
I exhaled slowly. Honestly, explaining any of this sounded insane even in my own head.
“I was betrayed inside a dungeon,” I said calmly. “Then I became the Dungeon Core.”
Silence.
Then, the woman burst into laughter.
I stared at her blankly.
“…You done?”
“A Dungeon Core?” she repeated while laughing softly. “That’s your explanation?”
“It’s the truth.”
“That might be the worst lie I’ve heard this year.”
“I’m serious.”
She leaned back in her chair slowly, studying me carefully again.
“No human becomes a Dungeon Core.”
“I’m beginning to realize that.”
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
“You expect me to believe you’re some legendary dungeon monster?”
“I didn’t say legendary.”
“Please,” she scoffed lightly. “You barely survived being tied to a chair.”
“To be fair, there were a lot of your people hitting me.”
“That was enjoyable.”
“Glad someone had fun.”
Another knife flew toward me suddenly.
Again, it missed intentionally.
This woman enjoyed threatening people far too much.
I frowned slightly.
“Do you always communicate through attempted murder?”
“Usually.”
“…You must struggle with friendships.”
That earned another small laugh from her.
At least she wasn’t completely emotionless. Outside the tent, I could hear faint movements from the assassins guarding the area. They clearly hated me.
Which was understandable.nI had killed one of their own.
Still… I wasn’t about to apologize for surviving. The woman slowly crossed one leg over the other.
“You know what your punishment should be?”
“I assume you’re about to tell me.”
“Death.”
Her voice became colder instantly.
The atmosphere inside the tent shifted sharply. This wasn’t teasing anymore.
She meant it.
“You killed a member of the Black Thorn.”
Black Thorn.
So that was the organization’s name.
“Self-defense,” I replied calmly.
“You still killed him.”
“He attacked first.”
“He was following orders.”
“That sounds like his problem.”
A dangerous silence followed.
Then suddenly, three knives appeared between her fingers. Fast.
I barely saw the movement.
“You’re strangely calm for someone surrounded by assassins.”
I shrugged slightly.
“I’ve had a stressful week.”
The knives vanished. I tilted my head sideways instantly. One blade passed near my cheek. Another brushed my shoulder.
The third buried itself into the chair beside me. She never intended to hit me.
Her eyes sharpened.
“…Interesting reflexes.”
I remained silent. No point revealing more than necessary..Especially not to someone this dangerous.
The woman stood slowly from her chair before walking around me carefully.
Like a predator studying prey.
“You don’t move like ordinary humans.”
“That’s because ordinary humans don’t usually get stabbed this often.”
She stopped behind me. Close enough for me to feel the knife against my throat.
Cold steel pressed lightly against my skin.
“One word from me,” she whispered calmly, “and every assassin outside this tent will cut you apart.”
I didn’t move. Mostly because I knew she was telling the truth.
But also because panic wouldn’t help.
“I still don’t understand why I was attacked in the forest.”
The knife remained against my throat.
“You entered Black Thorn territory.”
“Nobody told me that.”
“You killed one of our scouts.”
“He tried poisoning me.”
“He was testing you.”
“That’s a terrible way to greet strangers.”
The blade slowly left my throat. Then she returned to her chair again.
She clearly expected fear from me.
Unfortunately, after dealing with Seredin and becoming a literal Dungeon Core, ordinary threats felt less effective.
The woman rested her chin against one hand thoughtfully.
“What’s your name?”
I hesitated briefly.
“Vaelith.”
“Just Vaelith?”
“For now.”
Her lips curved slightly.
“Mysterious.”
“You’re literally wearing assassin clothing.”
“Fair point.”
For a few seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then finally, she removed another hidden blade from beneath her sleeve.
Honestly, where did she keep finding those things?
“My name is Nysera.”
I blinked once.
Nysera. Beautiful name. Dangerous woman.
Very unfortunate combination.
“Good to finally know the name of the person threatening to kill me.”
Nysera smirked faintly.
“You’re either brave or stupid.”
“Still deciding.”
That actually made her laugh again.
Nysera studied me carefully again.
“You don’t act like someone afraid of death.”
The question caught me slightly off guard.
I leaned back slowly.
“I already died once.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“…What?”
I immediately regretted saying that.
Careless. But Nysera didn’t seem focused on the strange wording.
Instead, her attention shifted toward my crimson eyes.
Then toward the faint markings visible beneath my collar. Her expression slowly changed. Curiosity.
“You weren’t lying earlier, were you?”
Silence. I exhaled slowly.
“I told you the truth.”
Nysera tapped one finger lightly against the armrest.
“The last Dungeon Core…”
She laughed softly again..But weaker this time. Less mocking. More uncertain.
“That’s impossible.”
“Probably.”
“And yet…”
Her gaze sharpened.
“…you feel strange.”
I frowned slightly.
“What does that mean?”
“The mana around you.”
She pointed toward me lazily.
“It’s unstable. Dangerous.”
Nysera slowly stood again before approaching me carefully.
Then without warning, she grabbed my chin. Our eyes met instantly.
Her gaze sharpened.
“…Interesting.”
I immediately moved her hand away.
“I’m starting to understand why your assassins are so aggressive.”
Nysera ignored the comment entirely.
Instead, she walked several steps away thoughtfully. Then finally spoke again.
“You know what annoys me?”
“I have a feeling you’re about to tell me.”
“You don’t feel weak.”
I blinked once.
“…What?”
“You should.”
She turned toward me again slowly.
“You’re surrounded. Outnumbered. Captured.”
A dangerous smile formed on her lips.
“And yet you still look at me like you’re calculating escape routes.”
I remained silent. Because she was absolutely right.
Nysera noticed immediately.
“That confidence makes you dangerous.”
“I’m actually trying very hard to be reasonable.”
“And that’s exactly why I’m curious.”
Nysera picked up one of her knives slowly.
Then pointed it directly toward me.
“I’ve changed my mind.”
I frowned slightly.
“About killing me?”
“No.”
The smile on her face widened slightly.
“About how I’ll do it.”
The assassins outside suddenly became silent. As if they already knew what she was about to say. Nysera’s eyes locked onto mine.
Then she spoke calmly.
“I challenge you to a duel.”
Silence filled the tent instantly.
Her knife pointed directly toward my chest.
“And only death determines the winner.”
