Chapter 44: Head of a.s.sa.s.sins
(3rd Person)
In dark elf society, each clan specializes in a certain profession, and the perfection of one’s skill in their clan’s profession is what all dark elves strive towards.
Leiha.n.a.luka Heikreuz Ruu.
50 years ago.
She was born to the Heikreuz clan. Seeing her light purple hair (which is rare even among dark elves), her mother gave her the name Leiha.n.a.luka, which means ‘alluring shadow.’
Dark elves have names for each social position, such as Rou [Clan Chief] or Bou [Bow Craftsman], and these t.i.tles are added to everyone’s names as t.i.tles.
The techniques for a.s.sa.s.sination and espionage that she had carved into her body finally earned her the t.i.tle of Ruu [Head of a.s.sa.s.sins] 30 years ago. Due to that, she was granted 5 subordinates, together with whom she served various masters while living in the world of schemes and plots that is Sedia’s underworld.
She herself has high skills worthy to boast of, but after letting a subordinate die due to an oversight on her part, she also sharpened the leadership and discernment that she needed as a Ruu. However, the vacant stare of the subordinate that had died within her arms forever remained in her heart, like a needle that had become stuck inside.
♥♦♣♠
25 years ago.
Right after her clan relocated their base of operations from Reindal to Shulendal, the Master they met completely distorted her and her clan’s fate.
She doesn’t even remember exactly who this Master is. To be more specific, all of her memories after the moment she gazed into those repulsive golden pupils is just a white mist.
Her soul, if it could be called that, was locked in the back of her consciousness after meeting Master.
Her own body had been turned into constraints of flesh that imprison her soul.
Her arms, her legs, her neck, and even her waist—the entirety of her body is now under the full control of a puppeteer right behind her.
If the skin of dark elves is a dark tan color, then the color of her puppeteer and his bonds are pitch black.
Master handed down orders that even she, a member of the Heikreuz clan, found repulsive. Stripped of the ability to resist, she had no other choice but to fulfil them, her body moving like a doll on strings.
♥♦♣♠
10 years ago.
Under orders from Master, she was deployed to the Demonists in the city of Lelis. By this time, she had already grown used to the hatred and strength conveyed through the flesh constraints crawling under her skin.
It’s fine to not think about anything.
If she simply gives in to the absolute powers that binds and manipulates her, she will neither be hurt nor have to worry about anything. Then it will eventually be over……
♥♦♣♠
Several days ago.
Still controlled as usual, she vaguely felt herself being used to carry out an a.s.sa.s.sination.
It was supposed to be another monotonous job, but for some reason the puppeteer behind her seemed greatly agitated.
It seemed that somehow, the job had been a failure.
Mad with rage, the puppeteer tightened her restraints, digging into her soul. She screamed and wept.
The puppeteer then used her to carry out various plots with a never before felt desperation. Her four subordinates, who are all in the same situation, did everything in their power too, but all of these plots also ended up as complete failures.
On top of that, the five of them, who were supposed to be even more inconspicuous than shadows, felt themselves slowly hemmed in and driven into a corner.
It was as if the entire city had turned into their enemy.
♥♦♣♠
1 hour ago.
They were ambushed in the underground refuge where they were lying hidden.
The forces that stormed in were adventurers of various professions and wearing various equipment. The dark elves had plenty of experience trifling with mere adventurers.
The only things different this time were the adventurers’ numbers and morale.
While soldiers blocked off the the escape tunnels with numbers as numerous as mice, the adventurers came after them with glittering eyes.
At that time, for the first time ever, she felt the puppeteer behind her exuding fear.
The restraints digging into her soul loosened just the tiniest bit. However, instead of feeling joy at the weakening of the power that had so completely held her down and controlled her, she felt unease. That’s how much she’d grown to depend on her bonds of hatred and power.
At that moment, a cold, sharp pain a.s.saulted her. It was due to the needle that was the gaze of her long-dead subordinate.
The pain freed her soul for a mere moment.
For the first time in 25 years, she fought under her own will. She managed to occupy the adventurers and soldiers long enough for her 4 subordinates to escape, then was captured.
♥♦♣♠
Now.
Inside the deepest parts of her consciousness, a colorless and shapeless Power is trampling over everything.
The puppeteer that had full control to the very tips of her fingers received the Power head on, then let out a high-pitched scream as if it was a real body.
The fetters that had reigned so absolutely over her were burned as if by h.e.l.lfire, crumbling to pieces like mere waste paper.
The shackles on her soul literally fell off, one by one, until there was none left.
What a wretched release from the bindings that, though tight, had been so rea.s.suring!
With her support gone, terror rushes into her as if to fill the now-empty hole in her heart.
“NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!”
She screams and cries, like a baby.
The puppeteer that had clung to her so desperately is now mere dust, blown away into the wind. There is no longer anything left inside her.
Only——madness.
Having forgotten even her own shape, she was about to let go of her fading self. But at that instant, a tremendous pressure envelopes her.
It is the Power that had burned away that puppeteer.
The Power roars into her hands, her feet, her neck, her waist, and everywhere else. Everywhere the Power goes, it reminds her of that part of herself, until she completely recalls her Self.
She has been reborn.
“AAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Raising her voice in immense joy, the girl returns from doll to dark elf.
All while feeling herself being changed from Ruu [Head of a.s.sa.s.sins] into Shi [One who Serves].