The seat Geom Mugeuk chose was the central spot in the inn.

As they sat together, Myeongshin inwardly thought Geom Mugeuk trusted him.

‘He’s letting his guard down.’

Normally, in a suspicious situation, one instinctively sits with their back to the wall. But Geom Mugeuk sat in the open, with nothing blocking him.

Myeongshin glanced around the inn’s interior, eyeing the corner seats.

‘In the end, it’s the right choice.’

Because they’d set up devices along the walls in case someone sat against them. By sitting in the center, Geom Mugeuk had neutralized several traps.

‘Must be a coincidence?’

There was no way he knew about those devices and chose this spot deliberately.

Geom Mugeuk looked at the innkeeper and spoke loudly.

“Bring the finest wine and the best dishes here.”

“Please wait a moment!”
The innkeeper hurried off to the kitchen with eager steps.

“This place has a nice atmosphere.”
At Geom Mugeuk’s words, Myeongshin nodded. He still didn’t want to bring the Little Pill Master here. He even wished he could leap up and leave—if some urgent matter in the Demon Sect came up now, he’d depart, fulfill his mission, and Geom Mugeuk would live.

But no such interruption came.

“You still haven’t loosened up?”
“Don’t ever spread such ridiculous rumors again.”
Even if he wanted to, he couldn’t now.

Geom Mugeuk made it clear he was telling the truth.

“What I said is fact. It was in the sect’s report.”

Myeongshin looked out the window with a stern face.

Could that ledger really have eradicated my clan? If so, shouldn’t I dig deeper instead of looking away? If it’s true, I cannot let this Little Pill Master die here. I should help him fight and avenge my clan’s downfall.

But as always, Myeongshin averted his ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ eyes, forcing himself not to believe, reminding himself this could be the Demon Sect’s cunning trap.

‘Am I afraid of him?’
His gaze fell on the innkeeper, Salwang.

Is he afraid of death? Or afraid that their bond will be broken?

Just then, Geom Mugeuk suddenly asked as if reading his thoughts.

“Aren’t you afraid of change?”

“......”

“I understand you. It’s never easy to break free once you’ve been captured.”

Myeongshin still said nothing.

Perhaps Geom Mugeuk’s words were correct. Just as he never asked Salwang why he’d saved him, maybe he’d always lived hoping life would flow on without complication.

At that moment, the innkeeper brought the wine, and his eyes met Myeongshin’s.

“It’s been a while. How long has it been?”

“About three or four months, I think.”

Seeing Salwang’s friendly smile felt strange. He’d completely taken on the role of innkeeper. Myeongshin had witnessed Salwang’s killing skill many times, but never such immersion in a role.

‘Today the Little Pill Master will die for sure.’

Not only that, but traps hidden everywhere for Myeongshin’s death, and elite assassins waiting outside.

“First, have some wine, and the dishes will come soon.”

Geom Mugeuk offered wine to Salwang.

“Before you go, accept a cup from me.”

“Gladly.”

Salwang accepted the wine.

“How long have you run this place?”

“For a long time.”

“As I thought! When I first saw you, I had a feeling!”

Listening to their conversation, Myeongshin tensed. He didn’t know when Salwang would strike—now, as he set down the cup, or as he poured wine for Geom Mugeuk?

He knew how fast Salwang’s moves were. And with him here, Myeongshin himself would help land the blow the moment Salwang struck.

Could this young Little Pill Master stand against the combined might of the sect’s top and second assassins?

Unaware of how dire his own situation was, the Little Pill Master chatted calmly.

“You’ve been in this business long enough to see it all.”

“To a degree.”

Right now, Geom Mugeuk was exposed. But Salwang wasn’t attacking him. He wouldn’t miss such an opportunity—unless he wanted to savor the moment, or relish a more dramatic instant. No—Salwang felt nothing. That’s why he was the greatest assassin.

‘But why?’

Then Geom Mugeuk turned to Salwang with an odd request.

“Innkeeper, how about a bit of advice?”

Myeongshin stiffened at Geom Mugeuk’s words.

‘Advice? What is he going to say?’

The question was so out of place it shocked Myeongshin.

“A man realized too late who his enemy was. But it turned out to be someone he’d long trusted. What should one do in such a case?”

Myeongshin hadn’t expected that of the innkeeper.

‘Does he know who he really is?’

No—if he’d known, he wouldn’t ask such a thing. The question was so absurd Myeongshin was confused.

Salwang answered calmly.

“It depends on the relationship.”

“One person was being used, the other saw him as a lifesaver.”

Salwang frowned.

“Enemy and using him too? What a vile person. I’d take revenge for sure. If my own power failed, I’d hire assassins to do it.”

Both the questioner and the assassin casually mentioning hiring killers impressed Myeongshin. He was surprised Salwang answered so naturally. Could anyone speak of revenge so openly? The ledger destroying his clan must be the Little Pill Master’s slander. But if the Little Pill Master spoke the truth? Could Salwang even have forgotten he used me?

Of course it was just an answer. But Myeongshin’s heart twisted.

Which was the truth?

“Please, drink.”

As Salwang returned to the kitchen, Myeongshin turned to Geom Mugeuk.

“Why ask that man?”

“One needs a third party for an objective view.”

“Your question isn’t objective.”

Geom Mugeuk met his gaze.

“I understand. Our meeting is only days old, but his bond with you spans decades.”

Geom Mugeuk drank, and Myeongshin tensed.

Could that wine be poisoned? He trusted him completely as Geom Mugeuk emptied his cup.

“But a few days may outweigh decades when one is truth and the other falsehood. Lies stacked for a hundred years aren’t worth one night of truth.”

At least one thing he had to admit.

“You’re persistent.”

“I admit. It’s probably because I’m so persistent that I could carry out what was in your report.”

Myeongshin’s eyes trembled. All through this his instincts cried out: he’s telling the truth. He had lived trusting that instinct, yet at this moment he refused to trust it.

“And as I said, I guard myself by protecting you. Even if you never trust me, at least I can console myself with the effort. I’m as selfish as I am persistent.”

Meanwhile Salwang returned with the side dishes.

Geom Mugeuk picked up his chopsticks and tasted the food.

“Delicious! My eye didn’t deceive me!”

“I’m glad it suits your taste.”

“Come now, have another cup.”

“This isn’t right.”

“This isn’t right.”

Watching Geom Mugeuk warm to the innkeeper, Myeongshin’s heart raced. He had to decide quickly: Should he trust the Little Pill Master? Or not? Should he help him? Or not? Their fates hinged on that choice.

If he trusted him, he might die. Salwang would not spare him. But could he keep the Little Pill Master alive? If fortune favored him, maybe he’d avenge his clan and live on as a respectable assassin.

At that moment Myeongshin heard Salwang’s transmission.

―Someone guards him.

It revealed why Salwang wouldn’t attack.

―His stealth is extraordinary.

Even Myeongshin, the sect’s second-in-command, hadn’t noticed.

―We must eliminate him first.

And at that same moment Geom Mugeuk received his own transmission.

―He’s perceived my presence.

His opponent knew he had been discovered. From the start, Geom Mugeuk knew the innkeeper was Salwang—the only one waiting where Myeongshin led them.

Geom Mugeuk took something from his robe and placed it before Myeongshin. It was the coin he had shown earlier. Both Myeongshin and Salwang saw it.

Myeongshin sensed it was time to face the question, true or false. More important than the answer was his courage to ask.

Gazing at the coin, Myeongshin finally spoke.

“Master innkeeper, I have one question of my own.”

Though Salwang was fully playing the innkeeper’s part, he was inwardly surprised.

“Today this humble man is quite popular. Speak.”

“Does the innkeeper have friends?”

A sudden question, but Salwang was unperturbed.

“I’ve no time for making friends, but I have one.”

“What kind of friend?”

“A friend with a gentle heart and a gullible ear. Though easily deceived by others, he is still a good friend.”

Perhaps he thought it a misunderstanding—that he’d spoken pointlessly to the sect’s Little Pill Master, or been bewitched. But for Myeongshin, something more important remained.

“Have you ever deceived that friend?”

“What do you mean?”

“Didn’t you say he was gentle and gullible? Unintentionally, you must have had chances to deceive him.”

“Let me think.”

Salwang paused.

Myeongshin sent his transmission.

―Was it the ledger that razed my clan?

Though it was not the moment for such questioning, the moment would soon pass.

Salwang’s reply came.

―Your heart is tainted with demonic energy.

Myeongshin asked again.

―I asked. Did the ledger destroy my clan?

Having watched him so long, Myeongshin finally knew him well. The answer he feared came.

―Yes. The ledger handled it.

Myeongshin did not flinch at the fearful truth.

―As you know, it was a duty. If we hadn’t done it, someone else would have. And don’t forget I was the one who saved you.

Surprisingly, Myeongshin felt anger—not at the ledger’s crime, but at the frankness of the admission.

Was this how it would end? On what grounds did he take him for a fool?

But he soon understood Salwang. This was who he was—an empty vessel at heart.

“Why did you spare me?”

He asked aloud, not in transmission. It was the moment Myeongshin defined his choice.

Salwang did not answer.

Then Geom Mugeuk spoke for him.

“Don’t read into it. Even he doesn’t know.”

Salwang and Myeongshin turned to Geom Mugeuk.

“A child who followed his father out on a killing mission likely acted on a whim. Sometimes killing bugs, sometimes sparing them to keep in a jar. Even if there was meaning, what great meaning would there be?”

Geom Mugeuk glanced at Salwang.

“You don’t know either, do you? Don’t remember?”

Just then—

Swaaaak!
A wind sliced the air.
Klaang!
A metallic ring echoed.

Needles flew past Geom Mugeuk’s face, whizzing through the air before clattering to the floor. A sword trembled, blocking his view.

The one who stopped Salwang’s lightning strike was Hwi, emerging from stealth.

Salwang and Hwi faced each other. Salwang, having detected the hidden presence, was not surprised. He might even have expected the attack to draw him out.

Assassin and bodyguard. The deadliest killer and the finest protector meeting face to face—two extremes colliding.

“Demon Sect leader’s guard.”

Salwang recognized Hwi immediately. Only one protector had such skill.

“Word is spreading fast among assassins.”

A curious emotion flickered in Salwang’s gaze.

Though Hwi had acknowledged seeing him, he said nothing and simply stared.

In Hwi’s stead, Geom Mugeuk addressed Salwang.

“Could you kill me now?”

Despite the failed ambush, Myeongshin’s realization, and seeing the Demon Sect’s head guard before him, Salwang remained unperturbed. His eyes were clear—his killing intent unlike that of any assassin, pure as snow and clear as ice.

From that alone one could sense: no one would easily stop death wielded by him who decrees it. It would not be an easy fight.

As tension peaked, Myeongshin picked up the coin from the table and echoed Salwang’s earlier words.

“If I were you, I’d take revenge. If my power fell short, I’d hire assassins to do it.”

Salwang still gazed with those clear eyes.

Myeongshin slowly clenched the coin.

‘This is the moment I face the life I’ve only ever dodged.’

“This contract I gave you to protect him? No. From now on this contract is for me. You took the contract with this coin.”