ALL NOVEL Chapter 2 - The Girl Called “Ghost"
“Welcome back, Ghost,” a man greeted her with a smirk. He looked to be in his mid-thirties, tall and broad-shouldered, with a body that was clearly well-trained. Yet, he didn’t appear clumsy. His movements were fluid and deliberate, giving off the impression of a skilled hunter casually wielding a hatchet.
The girl nodded curtly and replied in a flat voice, “Master, the ‘job’ was completed without incident.”
Her response was concise and devoid of emotion, devoid of even a hint of a smile.
In contrast to the man, the girl gave off the impression of a sharp, thin short sword. She was just a little below twenty, perhaps seventeen or eighteen. Her body was so slender it seemed like it might break. She was slightly taller than 160 cm, which made her appear even thinner.
Her long, deep black hair reached her waist, accentuating her piercingly white skin. It was almost pathologically white. Her regular features seemed artificial due to her lack of expression. Her eyes, slightly slanted, were devoid of any emotion, and her black pupils seemed to peer into the abyss.
Her simple jacket and ankle-length pants, both black, did not hinder her movements. Combined with her appearance, she gave off the impression of a grim reaper. … Or rather, she was in fact the grim reaper.
“Is that so? Good work. Go check your equipment, clean up, and then take a break,” the man replied, seemingly unfazed by her emotionless report. Perhaps, as the one who had taken away her emotions, he was used to it.
The girl nodded curtly and headed to her room. As her back turned, the man, known as “Master” or Greg, called out to her.
“Oh, right. Tomorrow, we’ll have a different client. It seems to be a referral from a regular. Join us at the usual place.”
“…Understood,” she replied, pausing for a moment before continuing on to her room.
After she left, Greg nodded in satisfaction.
“She’s a really useful tool,” he said. His voice was not that of a proud employer with a talented subordinate, but rather a cold compliment to a useful tool.
Greg was a rational man, or perhaps in a not-so-good sense. For his own benefit, he would betray even his benefactor without any hesitation and discard them. Yet, he treated his subordinates well. To prevent betrayal. To ensure they remained obedient for his own benefit.
His ability to lead such a ruthless organization such as the assassination guild, at such a young age, was a testament to his skills.
“Now, what kind of lucrative deal will we have tomorrow?”
That “lucrative deal” meant murder. He muttered those words with a sinister glee.
The girl known as “Ghost” entered her room. The name “Ghost” was a code name, given to her for her ability to infiltrate seemingly impenetrable places and carry out assassinations with precision.
No one in the assassination guild called her by her real name anymore. Just as you call a pair of scissors “scissors,” she was called “Ghost” as a tool. She didn’t seem to mind that at all.
She entered the cramped room with a narrow bed, a side table, and a box filled with various tools. She tossed her clothes aside, now wearing only her underwear, and sat on the bed. She casually and eerily smoothly drew the dagger, which had just taken the earl’s life, from its sheath.
She then slowly and quietly drew the short sword from its sheath, examining the blade.
… There were no nicks or bends in the meticulously sharpened blade. However, it was slightly clouded, having only been wiped off roughly.
She then applied oil to it, wiping it several times, and polished it. The blood dissolved away in the oil and flowed away, preventing rust. To make it “usable” again.
As she performed this task, her hands, which had just taken a human life, showed no hesitation or disturbance. When she finished polishing, she sheathed the dagger in a smooth motion.
She placed her short swords on the side table, then sat down and spread her legs, slowly leaning forward. She then slowly checked for any tension in her muscles, stretching them carefully to avoid injury. She took her time with it to relax her entire body.
When that was finished, she moved her fingers and limbs slightly to check her movements. … In other words, her body was also equipment that needed to be inspected.
After completing all her inspections, she slipped into bed.
She closed her eyes and fell asleep in a matter of seconds, or rather, she transitioned into a state of consciousness between sleep and wakefulness, a state where she could sense any abnormalities immediately. While minimizing rest for her brain and body, she prepared for the next morning.
Half-awake, she did not dream and saw the night through to morning.
**Next: A Villain’s Smile Hides a Dark Secret**