1.
A chilling noise echoed from within, followed by excruciating pain.
Crunch!
But I had to endure.
Because Lactea, the Empress, and <Eclipse> were watching me.
“…Black Wolf, why are you—?”
The Empress said something, but the pain made it hard to hear.
The sword aimed at Reina’s neck had instead severed my back completely.
My skin, muscles, bones, and blood vessels were all torn apart, leaving a cold wind to creep into the gash.
How much time had passed?
【Transcendent Artifact – <Iaso’s Ring (SS+)> is activated.】
【<“Remember, no pain will ever be able to kill you.”>】
Along with the familiar warm voice, I felt my wounds heal in an instant.
Shrrrk.
Shrrrrrk.
As the pain faded, my blurred consciousness gradually returned.
“If it weren’t for the Iaso’s Ring, I’d be dead.”
I truly would’ve met an untimely demise.
‘…Phew.’
Feigning composure, I barely managed to overcome the pain and regain my focus.
“Captain!”
Before I realized it, Lactea, her face pale and her mask discarded, rushed toward me.
I almost flinched, startled, but quickly extended a hand to stop her.
“Enough. I’ll handle it myself. Just pass me the notebook and pen, then stand down.”
“But your wounds!”
Yeah. Those are your doing.
I wanted to say that, but I just wanted to go back and rest, so I answered firmly.
“Lactea. Must I repeat myself?”
“…Understood. My apologies, Captain.”
Although visibly uneasy, Lactea bowed her head and obeyed the command.
Thanks to that, I finally had a moment to breathe.
Releasing the Empress, I stepped back.
Reina Babylonia, the Empress of the Babylonia Empire.
As a result of analyzing the <Babylonia Full Content>, <Encyclopedia>, and <Memories of Black Wolf>,
The Empire was deeply rotten.
-> That’s Eclipse’s doing.
The Hero Party, who went to defeat the Demon King, abandoned their mission and returned.
-> The Hero Party had also been deceived by Eclipse.
While trying to execute the tyrannical Empress, some fools (likely the real masterminds) disrupted the plan.
-> Black Wolf noticed this and attempted to protect the nation with <Black Wolf> (despite the corruption).
They killed the conspirators, the Empress, and then everyone else, leading to chaos and a grim finale.
-> Ultimately, the <Hero Party> and <Eclipse> prevailed, resulting in a bad ending.
Thus, the conclusion:
Reina was nothing more than a “helpless puppet of the hidden schemers <Eclipse>.”
‘…If she must live, then I’ll let her live.’
I scribbled a few pieces of information onto a note and slipped it into her pocket.
That was it.
“We’re leaving.”
“…Yes, Captain.”
I nonchalantly led the visibly shaken Lactea out of the grisly scene.
‘Once we’re back at the hideout, I’ll take two full days to rest, doing absolutely nothing.’
And during that rest, I’d organize the rewards I earned and plan my next steps.
Step by step, one thing at a time—there’s nothing I can’t achieve.
.
.
.
【Congratulations!】
【The bad ending – <5. Tyrant’s Omen (A)> has been prevented due to your decision!】
[Number of bad endings prevented: [5 / 15]]
[You have achieved one-third of the total bad endings!]
[Rewards will be granted!]
[Some information is unlocked!]
[A grace period of <7 days> is given until the next bad ending – <6.???> is set.]
2.
Reina was confused.
Why had her sister killed the knights?
Why had her sister tried to kill her?
And…
“…Black Wolf, why did you save me?”
Reina, cradled in Black Wolf’s arms, lifted her head with a look of utter incomprehension.
The black mask etched with the mark of a wolf.
Eyes resembling an abyss peering through its openings.
The increasingly potent scent of blood thickening the air.
[The target is experiencing overwhelming terror.]
[The effect of <Veil of Shadows (Ex)> is enhanced.]
It was then Reina realized the truth.
The reason this man had saved her…
…Was because he wanted to kill her with his own hands.
“Ah…”
From afar, the fear had been manageable, but facing him up close was like confronting death itself.
“P-please, spare me…”
She wanted to scream and run away, but her body, frozen in fear, refused to obey. Her legs felt shackled by terror.
‘If only I had come with <Yellow Dragon>…’
No.
Even if she had brought Yellow Dragon, one of the Ten of the continent, they would still stand no chance against this man.
‘…Am I going to die?’
Her eyes had only just begun to open.
She had just started to grasp Eclipse’s trail.
She had only begun to reconcile with the Hero Party.
‘…Is it all going to end so meaninglessly?’
It was regretful, but what could she do?
“Captain!”
“Enough. I’ll handle it myself. Just pass me the notebook and pen, and stand down.”
“But your wounds!”
“…Lactea. Must I repeat myself?”
“…Understood. My apologies, Captain.”
In the face of a storm that devoured all.
A tidal wave that flooded the continent.
A deluge of molten lava—
‘What can a mere human possibly do?’
Reina, overwhelmed by the black monster before her, instinctively closed her eyes.
Swoosh.
The shadow looming over her receded as Black Wolf stepped back.
‘…Is that it?’
Was he, like a wolf toying with its prey, savoring the moment?
But then,
“Open your eyes.”
The softly spoken words brought her back.
Black Wolf scribbled something in the notebook before slipping it into Reina’s pocket.
And that was it.
“We’re leaving.”
“…Yes, Captain.”
As if nothing had happened, Black Wolf turned his back and walked away with Lactea.
That exposed back.
‘He must have taken the blow in my stead!’
Reina hastily turned to check the part of his back that had been torn open. But it was unscathed. The once-gaping wound that had exposed bone had already healed.
Step. Step. Step.
Only after the two monsters had vanished into the darkness did Reina stagger back against a wall for support.
‘A monster…’
Not just a mere human, but a being that could rival the <Hero Party>, or even the Great Ten of the world.
How long had she stood trembling alone?
– Open your eyes.
Rustle.
After finally regaining her composure, Reina pulled out the note Black Wolf had slipped into her pocket and read it.
『Trust no one too easily.』
The neat handwriting.
An utterly clichéd piece of advice.
“Ha!”
Had she fallen so low that even a notorious criminal found it worth advising her?
Letting out a self-deprecating laugh, Reina crumpled the note, ready to discard it.
But then.
“…No.”
Recalling something, she picked up a skewer lying near Han-Ryang’s leg and began scribbling something on the back of the note.
‘…If it’s Yellow Dragon, I’m sure they’ll manage.’
Having completed her writing, the Empress signed the note with her personal signature.
Just as she was rolling it up, a commotion erupted outside as the Guard and the Imperial Guards swarmed the scene.
“There! Over there!! Everyone, mo—ugh!!”
“Get your act together, you idiot!”
“They can’t have gotten far! Some of you, follow the trail of the culprits!”
“Imperial Guard, gather here immediately! Her Majesty the Empress takes priority!”
Thirteen knights with severed heads.
A grotesque puppet of flesh left standing behind them.
And the Empress, the sole survivor.
Faced with such a horrifying scene, everyone froze in shock.
The Empress, however, wore a cold expression as she summoned the captain of the Guard.
“Deliver this to <Yellow Dragon>.”
The note was written in blood, still damp with Han-Ryang’s life force.
The captain hesitated to even open it, his voice faltering as he asked.
“What are the terms of the request?”
With a confident smile, Reina replied.
“Direct request.”
Tell them the reward can be anything they desire.
3.
Another peaceful day at the <Black Wolf> hideout.
Barely two hours had passed since the chaotic events of the early morning.
“Captain!!”
Bang!
The creaky wooden door flew open, and Ruby Red entered with a bright, sunny expression.
Lactea was training.
Luna was training.
Han-Ryang was unconscious.
“Perfect! Now I can deliver this to the Captain without anyone else noticing.”
Ruby, sensing her surroundings with ease, mumbled cheerfully before shouting even louder.
“Captain! Present time! Present!”
Her voice managed to rouse Nahan, who had finally dozed off after suppressing his unease.
“…Keep it short.”
“Yes! This!”
Dragging herself down the stairs with visible effort, Nahan accepted the golden envelope Ruby handed over.
It was about the request from yesterday—
The <Assassination of Viscount Gapelt>.
‘…What’s this?’
Ruby had been excited about taking Gapelt’s corpse as a “keepsake”, and now this?
Had she already forgotten?
Suppressing the grogginess clawing at her, I glanced at Ruby with suspicion.
“…?”
“…?”
“……?”
“………?”
What are you doing?
Realizing this could go on forever, I finally broke the silence.
“Is there more to this?”
“Huh?”
“I’m asking if there’s something we didn’t handle yesterday.”
“Uh…? Hmm… oh!”
Clap!
After a brief moment of thought, Ruby clapped her hands and spoke with an even brighter expression.
“Of course! It’s a new request!”
“A new request?”
“Yes! The Empress has issued a direct request for <Yellow Dragon>, the strongest of the Great Ten!”
Yellow Dragon.
A rising star who had suddenly appeared one day and claimed the No. 1 spot among the world’s strongest ten.
A comet in the mercenary world.
‘…My memory’s getting sharper.’
As time passed, the information from <Babylonia Full Content> and <Encyclopedia> came to mind vividly.
On the other hand, the memories of <Black Wolf> were coming back somewhat slowly.
Recalling the information about Yellow Dragon, I frowned and asked again.
“Then why bring it to me?”
“…Huh?”
I’m Black Wolf, not Yellow Dragon.
Feeling sleep returning, Nahan turned away quietly.
“I’m tired, so leave. Deliver the letter to this Yellow Dragon person properly.”
“What?! But Captain, you’re Yel—!!”
Just as Ruby began to blurt something out—
– <Yellow Dragon> should protect the sun, and <Black Wolf> should protect the moon.
A fragment of Black Wolf’s memories surfaced.
I quickly turned back to Ruby, extending a hand.
“Thanks for delivering this.”
“Huh?”
“I’m Yellow Dragon.”
…F*ck.
“Uh… right? I mean… yeah, sure, of course?”
This really is turning into a morning drama.