Part 7: Candid (2)

‘Same as before, he’s no pushover.’

The master’s brow furrowed.

He kept his dagger aimed at Aiden, all his senses heightened.

On the other hand…

Aiden stood there casually, arms hanging loosely at his sides.

At a glance, he seemed full of openings.

But that was never the case.

Aiden wasn’t in any particular stance—yet from that alone, the master felt an overwhelming pressure. It was as if Aiden could do ‘anything’ at any moment.

The situation was almost laughable.

To think that the Rogue Master, who once dominated the continent, was being so wary.

Even so, the master wanted to defeat Aiden.

Aiden no longer belonged to the Thieves Guild.

From now on, he had to govern the continent solely by his own strength.

A thorny path lay ahead, but so what?

It was a path he had chosen himself.

Pa-ba-ba-bak!

The master struck first.

In the blink of an eye, he was right in front of Aiden.

Fwoooosh.

His dagger, shimmering under the moonlight, slashed diagonally toward Aiden’s shoulder.

Aiden tilted his body slightly.

Effortlessly, he evaded the attack.

A crescent-shaped arc of light flickered where he had just been standing.

— “Crescent Slash.”

At first glance, it appeared to be an ordinary strike.

In reality, it was anything but.

The master didn’t let go of his momentum.

He relentlessly pressured Aiden.

Head, chest, abdomen, legs—

He targeted only the vital spots with pinpoint accuracy.

His dagger moved with dazzling speed, each strike accompanied by impeccable footwork.

Shadow Step.

A lethal movement technique exclusive to the Rogue Master—one that allowed him to approach his opponent as silently as a shadow.

Just as a shadow never separates from the body, the master remained glued to Aiden.

Front, back, left, right—

From all directions, he attacked like a ghost, giving Aiden no room to breathe.

It looked like the master had the upper hand.

He gave Aiden no time to rest, forcing him into constant evasions.

But the master knew better.

He was the one at a disadvantage.

Despite his relentless assault, he had yet to land a single hit.

“You’ve really mastered the art of getting under people’s skin. Are you not even going to counter with your dagger anymore? But how long can you keep dodging with empty hands?”

The master gritted his teeth.

— “The Climax.”

Boom!

Mana erupted from his Mana Heart, enveloping his entire body.

A white aura surged around him.

In an instant, his physical abilities increased fivefold.

The master immediately activated Supernova.

His movements were soundless.

At the same time, a trail of white mana followed wherever he passed.

Anyone who saw that trail… might as well consider themselves already dead.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The crisp sound of clashing steel echoed through the clearing.

Sparks flew as dagger met dagger.

Aiden had finally started using his weapon.

Until now, the master had been slashing at empty air.

Now, he could feel resistance with every strike.

A good sign.

‘I don’t know everything about you. But you don’t know everything about me either. If I bring out my full power, you’re bound to show a gap.’

Chaaang!

Their daggers clashed again.

A shockwave burst forth, sending a fierce wind howling through the field.

Grass flattened.

Thin branches snapped.

“Haaah!”

The master put his full weight into a push, forcing Aiden backward.

Aiden skidded across the ground.

A long trail formed where his feet dragged.

The master reached into his robe—a subspace storage—and hurled a volley of throwing daggers.

Thirty in total.

The daggers filled the sky like a dense cluster of stars, all streaking toward Aiden.

Above, the sky glittered with stars.

Below, deadly meteors of steel rained down.

Sseeeek!

— “Throwing Dagger Technique: Andra’s Net.”

A perfect formation of daggers.

Dodging was impossible.

Escaping was impossible.

Deflecting was impossible.

“……!”

But then—

The master had to question his own eyes.

Flash!

A single, continuous golden arc of light—

It shredded through the net.

Aiden had deflected all thirty daggers in an instant.

The thrown daggers embedded themselves into trees and the ground, trembling faintly.

They quivered, as if crying out.

A technique never shown before—yet Aiden had dismantled it on sight?

Without even using Dimension Walking?

The master was speechless.

“You had more hidden than I expected,” Aiden spoke in his usual, unreadable tone.

“A thief’s life depends on their secrets. I told you before—if you want to learn everything, become the next Master.”

“I refuse. I might be useful as a wheel, but I have no use as a coachman.”

“Would you cut it out with that wheel nonsense? You’re a person, not a wheel.”

“Let me correct that, then.”

“Let’s be honest—you’ve got way more secrets than I do, don’t you?”

The master narrowed his eyes.

Aiden, the so-called Treasure Vault of the Dead, had yet to reveal a single new weapon or ability.

So far—

He had been using only the footwork and dagger techniques taught to him by the master.

And he was holding his own against the Rogue Master’s secret techniques.

Honestly, it was an insult to the master’s pride.

“That’s true. Then… shall I show you just one thing?”

“Fine. Come at me.”

The master beckoned with a flick of his fingers.

Finally, the tide had turned.

Aiden started to push the master back.

The master couldn’t regain his footing.

It was impossible to predict where Aiden’s dagger would strike next.

It moved like a living creature.

One moment, it seemed to be slicing toward his thigh, only to swing up toward his chin.

It feinted toward his shoulder, then aimed straight for his chest.

Dodging was out of the question—he could barely manage to block.

His nerves were stretched taut as he struggled to keep track of Aiden and his dagger.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Every clash sent a jolt through his wrist, making it feel like it might snap.

Though he wasn’t standing in the rain, his entire body was drenched in sweat.

While the master’s movements were silent,

Aiden’s carried a ghostly wind, whispering like a wailing specter.

That eerie sound alone was enough to rattle the master’s focus.

Ssssshhk!

Aiden’s dagger shot straight for his abdomen.

Flash Pierce.

A simple, straightforward thrust—fast and devastatingly powerful.

The master jerked to the side in desperation.

Swoosh.

The dagger barely grazed past his navel.

A rare chance!

Should I counterattack or not?

Is this a trap or a genuine opening?

A flood of thoughts overwhelmed him in that fleeting moment.

He clenched his teeth and decided to strike back. If he only defended, he’d wither away.

It was time to take a gamble.

— “Let’s go with that.”

The master signaled to the Ego Dagger through soul telepathy.

— “You sure? Aiden might be in danger.”

— “Who’s worried about who here? Just do as I say.”

— “You take responsibility for whatever happens.”

The moment their brief exchange ended, a soft crimson glow pulsed from the Ego Dagger.

But then—!

Just as he was about to unleash his ultimate technique, Crimson Road—

Aiden did something completely unexpected.

Out of nowhere, he spun into a roundhouse kick.

Pivoting on one foot, his upper body twirled, and his leg whipped toward the master’s head.

For a split second, the master thought he saw a faint, ashen aura flickering at the tip of Aiden’s foot.

Close combat?

Is he just offering up his leg?

Or is he confident I won’t cut it off?

There’s no time to hesitate.

Fine. I’ll meet you head-on!

The master resolved to end this—but things didn’t go as planned.

Thwack!

“Guhh!”

Aiden’s roundhouse kick slammed into the master’s temple.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

He bounced off the ground like a skipping stone.

His skull throbbed violently.

It felt like an earthquake had erupted inside his head.

A nauseating sensation twisted his insides, as if someone was stirring his brain with a ladle.

When he finally managed to steady himself, Aiden was standing before him, dagger poised at the ready.

“That makes it 51 wins, 51 matches. Since I turned sixteen.”

“You… What kind of trick did you pull? I’ve never been hit by a kick before!”

The master raised his voice, unable to contain his frustration.

No matter how he thought about it, it was absurd.

Aiden’s kick had clearly sliced through empty air.

He hadn’t even touched him.

And yet, the master had been struck cleanly.

He dodged—but still got hit.

How could such a contradiction exist?

“You were hit. By my kick.”

“How?! I dodged it!”

“To be precise, it wasn’t you who got hit.”

Aiden pointed at the master’s shadow with his index finger.

A chill crawled up the master’s spine.

His hair stood on end.

“So if you attack someone’s shadow… it actually hurts them?”

“Yes. It’s called Shadow Link. I can treat shadows as if they were solid.”

A gray aura flickered around Aiden’s hand—the same one that had appeared when he kicked.

Aiden reached for the master’s shadow and yanked.

And just like that, the master was pulled to his feet, caught off guard.

Aiden had truly ‘manipulated his shadow.’

“I lost. I give up. Do whatever you want.”

*  *  *

On the way back to the tavern.

Neither Aiden nor the master spoke.

The master kept his eyes on the ground the entire walk, sighing now and then.

It seemed he had really believed he could win.

But unless Aiden threw the match on purpose, the master had no chance of victory.

In truth, no one on the continent could stand against Aiden.

But that wasn’t exactly comforting.

So he chose to keep silent.

“When did you learn to control shadows?”

“Not too long ago. Maybe three years? After mastering the Shadow Gate, I figured I could link shadows as well.”

“Used it in battle before?”

“Not too often. It’s exhausting for me, too.”

“Could I learn it?”

“No. I’m the only one who can use it. It’s a matter of constitution.”

“What kind of constitution?”

“……”

Aiden clamped his mouth shut.

No one knew that he could absorb Death Qi.

No one except, maybe, Mugin.

“Tsk, tsk. You only picked up the bad habits from me.”

“Then you should’ve taught me something good.”

“You really never let anything slide, huh? You’re telling me you’ve retired?”

“Yes. Took you long enough to notice.”

Aiden shrugged.

He hadn’t realized it before, but bickering with the master like this was surprisingly fun.

Some things only became clear when you stepped away.

“I raised a damn lion cub! A lion cub!” the master muttered in disbelief.

“Well, seeing you fight seriously today, I can say you’re still pretty strong. That’s a relief.”

“Ohh~ Wow. What an honor. I rarely get compliments, you know? But tell me, Aiden.”

“Yes?”

“What happens if you go all out?”

“I’ll leave that to your imagination.”

“Knew you’d say that.”

The master shook his head in resignation.

In that moment, Aiden activated [The Eye of Insight] on him.

A new ability gained from absorbing the Death Qi of the high-ranking demon, Astaroth.

Wooooong.

Wooooong.

His crimson eyes pierced through the master’s soul and future.

Aiden was curious.

Had the master truly come all the way to Centum just to check on him?

If that was the case, then his future should show him returning to the Thieves Guild.

If not, he’d be somewhere else.

Aiden frowned as he glimpsed the master’s future.

To his surprise—

The master stood in a vast desert, where three moons hung in the sky.

He was scanning his surroundings with a baffled expression.

A desert… with three moons?

Master.

Just what kind of trouble have you gotten yourself into?
 

To be continued

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