You, be my colleague (1)
My eyes opened reflexively as my mind suddenly cleared.
There was something black right in front of my eyes. A cold hand covered my mouth which was about to open.
"Ugh..."
His hands smelled sour and spicy. My heart was pounding like crazy.
The masked man's eyes widened.
"If you scream, they'll come after you."
"..."
His voice was rough and husky as if he had a cold.
As I nodded quietly, the man's hand fell away.
I hurriedly got up, hugging the blanket like a shield.
"Baba..."
"Huh."
Baba closed the slightly open window and moved the chair to sit right next to the bed.
It seemed to move without caution and without making any sound.
So that's why I was on high alert all day, but I didn't feel anything. It was just like the leader of the assassination guild.
"How did you get in here?"
"Even if I'm an assassin?"
"Yes?"
"But why are you asking for trade secrets?"
He is a man who gives off a strangely alien feeling.
Do you think he'd suddenly stick a sword into my neck while talking so casually?
The look in his eyes was strange, both playful and threatening. It felt like a well-packaged madness.
"Why did you see my future?"
"I didn't see it because I wanted to see it."
"What's good? Anyway, I'm going to die in ten months?"
"Not only you, but all of your guild members will be ambushed by the imperial knights and killed, Your bodies will be left in the fields to be fed to wild beasts."
"Oh, that's scary."
He responded dryly and clenched his jaw.
He showed no signs of agitation even though he had less than a year left to live.
Is it because he's an assassin? Since death is a daily occurrence, is it because he expects his own death to be the same?
"You're not surprised."
"I'll be twenty-five in a year. That's a long life for an assassin."
Then why did you come to me?
A thought suddenly crossed my mind.
It seems like this man doesn't want to confirm his own death.
'If...'
Surely Oslo must have been promised something in return for cooperating.
Isn't that more important than my life to this man?
"What did the Third Prince promise? Money? Fame? Power?"
"He said that when he becomes Emperor, he will send our guild to the sunny side."
"It won't be kept. After he ascends to the throne, he will drive the Assassin's Guild out of the empire."
"I see."
His speech was dry. He seemed to be indifferent to the fact that the price he had desperately hoped for to join hands with Oslo was not being met.
I realized at that moment that what was important to this person was neither his life nor his promise to the Third Prince.
"Why on earth did you come to me?"
Baba stared at me.
"I wonder how much fun you'll have."
"...Is it fun?"
"That's why I made a contract with the Third Prince. I thought he would entertain me."
The sincerity came out of that muttered, weary voice.
Oh, that's it. I'm so bored, I feel like I'd rather die.
I didn't know that feeling. I was like that in my past life too...
When I lost my power and was confined to the villa, I could neither see the future nor the present.
All I can do is sit all day.
Then, when I got hungry, I filled my hunger with alcohol and passed out to sleep.
A day felt like ten years. Even breathing was tiresome. Except when I was asleep, I couldn't stop thinking about living.
But the reason I didn't die in the end was because of my heart towards Oslo.
I was holding on to my lifeline solely for the reason that I was afraid he would be sad if I died.
When I was betrayed by someone I loved so much, it wasn't the fear of death that tormented me, it was regret.
I should have died in the villa instead. Then at least my family would have lived.
I regretted and regretted it again on the carriage heading to the desert.
"I will die within a year too."
Baba's water-colored eyes met mine. He continued speaking calmly while receiving an incomprehensible gaze.
"About a month after you die. I am betrayed by the Third Prince and imprisoned. Then, as punishment, I am banished to the land of hell. I burn to death there."
It is not known that the 'first walker' cannot see the future of the Guardian.
Since I only found out after going through my past life, I had to assume that others had little knowledge.
So it was natural that Baba believed me. He leaned in closer, his face looking excited.
"Did you see your own future? Is that why you broke up with the Third Prince?"
"I can't die miserably. I will change the future. My separation from the Third Prince is only the beginning."
"Oh."
"What do you think? Don't you think it'll be more fun if you hold my hand?"
Baba's eyes wavered slightly. I could sense a look of concern on his face.
The best way to move this person is to stimulate his interest.
"Why are you telling me all that if I refuse?"
"So please don't refuse. I don't want to kill you."
Baba tilted his head.
"You're going to kill me? How?"
"Unfortunately, I don't have that kind of power. Someone else will do it for me."
"Yes?"
At the same time, the bedroom door opened quietly.
Baba's eyes widened at the sight of Ian blocking the door with his sword held askew.
"Did you know the little Duke was at the door?"
"There must be one outside too."
Baba hurriedly looked out the window. Soon, he saw Kalit and Rahon standing there, holding on under the window, and he let out a hollow laugh as if he had been hit.
"What, really?"
I was sure that Baba would come looking for me soon, so I told the three men before I went to sleep.
If you feel someone sneaking into my bedroom, just surround them quietly.
"No way... You made up a funny story on purpose to get my attention? You're really amazing."
Baba clapped his hands in admiration.
Even though he was in a situation no different from a rat in poison, he didn't seem afraid, but rather excited.
"But..."
Baba approached me with his words trailing off. Then, without giving me a chance to dodge, he grabbed my wrist.
It was such a strong force that I thought my bones would break. I gritted my teeth and endured the paiп.
"It's so clumsy. What kind of idiot would capture such a delicious hostage?"
Outside the door, I saw Ian grab his sword. A hot murderous aura poured out of me, so hot that I could feel it.
Baba opened his lips wide and laughed strangely as if he were imitating someone else's smile when he didn't know how to smile.
"Whoa, Little Duke, calm down. What are you going to do if I get scared and have a fit? She's the woman you chose over Youngjimin. You can't let her get hurt, right?"
What do you mean, "instead of Youngjimin"?
Ian seemed to understand. I quickly intervened, taking advantage of his hesitation.
"Baba, how far can you run with a woman in this weather? You must have left your horse far away for fear of being caught."
"It's okay, we just need to escape the siege."
"I will collapse before I even get to where the horse is. And I will not be able to endure much longer before I die."
"That's better."
"Are you sure you're okay with that? You'll never know what I said was true?"
"It's all a lie anyway."
"I swear on authority, no."
"...What is the truth?"
"You have to figure out how much is true and how much is false."
Baba frowned as if he was displeased. His lips pout out from under his mask.
"Yes, let's stop now and go to sleep. I left a sleeping bag in the reception room on the first floor, so Baba will sleep there from today."
"I haven't agreed to the contract yet?"
"You're going to do it."
"Have you seen the future?"
"No."
"But how do you know?"
"I'm more fun than the Third Prince."
"..."
"I'm sleepy now. Baba, you should go down and sleep too."
I lay down on the bed calmly and covered myself with the blanket, but a cold sweat ran down my face. The back of my head felt like Baba was going to stab me in the back at any moment.
Luckily, Baba didn't attack me. He just stood there quietly and went out of the bedroom.
"Ha."
Okay.
As I was sighing in relief, suddenly, a loud noise of something collapsing echoed through the villa.
"Your Highness, stop!"
It's Ian's voice.
I went out in a hurry.
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