Toxin

“Yes.”Fifteen days should be enough time to assess the situation. Gathering information about the atmosphere inside the castle would be valuable as well—if I manage to stay alive until then.“The fate of not only the vassal states but also the remaining Imae Tribe rests on this. Even though they may not show it, everyone is secretly counting on you. If this mission succeeds, you’ll be formally recognized as part of our clan. So, I hope you succeed.”“I’m not a savior. You shouldn’t expect that from me.”At my flat, emotionless tone, the Chieftain’s wrinkles deepened. I pulled the silk hood over my head and spoke coldly.“A clan? Who said I was joining your clan?”Killing the Black Martial Emperor was solely for my mother. Once we both achieve our goals, there’ll be no reason to see each other again. So it’s best not to say such things in front of me. It makes me sick.As we entered the city, the market streets were crowded with people. It was a spectacle for me, having never left the Imae village in my entire life.“To celebrate Black Martial Emperor’s 30th consecutive victory, we’re selling special apples! Thirty apples for three nyang!”“Oh my! So cheap! Give me one!”“I’ll take one too!”As the vendor shouted, the crowd swarmed. Competing with him, another vendor raised his voice.“Over here! We’re also offering special prices to celebrate the victory! Silk robes with the number 30 embroidered, for only twenty nyang!”“Twenty nyang?! Are they really silk?”“Of course! Who would dare deceive you under such a name? It’s a rare opportunity!”“Give me one!”“I’ll take one too!”The people were glowing with pride for their revered emperor. While they enjoyed their prosperity and filled their bellies, others were probably clutching their empty stomachs and coughing up blood. We watched them briefly before being swallowed by the dust and crowd.Even after entering Naragaon Fortress, it took longer than expected to reach the main palace. When we finally saw the massive gates, our group stopped walking. The multiple layers of gates towered arrogantly into the sky, reflecting the grandeur of their owner. Although the structure was made of simple stone, its imposing presence left the Chieftain and the tribe members visibly shaken.The Chieftain approached the guard and presented a paper stamped with the emblem of the Baedal Kingdom. The guard glanced over the Chieftain’s shoulder at us, told us to wait, and disappeared. We stood under the scorching sun for over an hour. The tribe members carrying the tribute grew increasingly fatigued, and the Chieftain suppressed his anger while sweating profusely. The deliberate delay was obvious. Strangely, I remained calm. Just as the Chieftain, on the verge of collapse, was about to give in, a man in official robes appeared and granted us permission to enter.After a thorough body search and inspection of the tribute, we were allowed inside. The interior housed a vast garden with a well-maintained pond and pavilion. While the grand castle’s exterior exuded luxury, the atmosphere inside was cold and rigid. Perhaps it wasn’t the castle but my own gaze that made everything feel so cold. After passing through maze-like corridors, we arrived at a large side chamber. The moment I looked around, I was stunned. The room was already packed with various tribes standing shoulder to shoulder.“Wait here. He’ll be here soon.”The attendant who had led us gave a curt command and left. The Chieftain beside me spoke.“These must be the vassal states gathered to swear allegiance to the Black Martial Emperor. It seems they postponed their promises to deal with everyone at once.”The faces of those who had lost their lands and people overnight and become victims of the emperor’s tyranny were filled with despair and hostility. The Imae Chieftain wore a similar expression. Upon seeing the Sufia and Nati Chieftains, the Imae Chieftain approached them. Without looking at one another, the Sufia Chieftain spoke first.“We started our journey together, so why are you only arriving now? We were concerned something might have happened along the way.”“We’ve been waiting outside the gate this whole time. It’s only now that they’ve finally let us in.”“Hmm… We’ve also been waiting here for several hours. It seems they’re trying to tame us on purpose. But treating the leader of a nation like this… it’s ridiculous.”“Now is the time to be patient.”The Sufia Chieftain clenched his fists, then glanced at me briefly. It was an unspoken signal, a mixture of blatant disdain—implying what could someone like me possibly do in this situation—and a subtle hope that I might avenge this humiliation. I didn’t respond to either sentiment. Instead, I turned my gaze to the extravagant interior. My mind was torn between wanting to see the Black Martial Emperor as soon as possible and never wanting to see him at all. I realized I was more nervous than I thought, as my hands were damp with sweat. It was only then that I noticed the source of the strange emptiness I had felt since entering. There were no armed guards inside to control us. Before I could even ponder why, someone entered the room and cleared their throat.“His Majesty, the Black Martial Emperor, is arriving! Everyone, be silent!”“…!!”A powerful tremor, as if the entire castle was collapsing, surged through my body. Just hearing his name made my blood boil. My eyes instinctively darted to the entrance. Everyone inside immediately knelt, bowing their heads until they nearly touched the floor. But I froze in place. As the sound of approaching footsteps echoed down the corridor like a gathering storm, my thoughts evaporated. My heart pounded so violently that it felt like it would burst. I couldn’t tell if the ringing in my ears was from the footsteps or from my own heartbeat. As a shadow appeared at the entrance, an overwhelming force dragged me to my knees. At the same time, I caught a glimpse of the Chieftain’s furious expression.“You fool! How can you be shaken just by hearing a name? If you’re this weak, then quit now!”His words hit me like a splash of cold water, snapping me out of it. He was right. I couldn’t allow myself to be swayed by a mere name. I had to stay calm. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to steady myself.Even the air seemed to change when he entered. As his legs appeared in the doorway, the entire room fell into a synchronized silence. The first thing I noticed was his legs. Despite the loud footsteps, only three people entered. Haa… haa… My ragged breathing slipped through my lips like an echo in the stillness. With each step he took, the black royal robes wrapped around his legs, accentuating his firm muscles.“Could that… be him…?”The Chieftain, who had been looking at something, narrowed his eyes. I forced myself to lift my gaze. His aura of murderous intent distorted my vision. The first thing I saw was a tall man. Though his features were blurry from a distance, his disheveled robes made him look like someone who had just gotten out of bed. A woman, leisurely fanning herself, was hanging on his chest. He gazed lazily at the people kneeling before him.“Why are there so many? Is it some kind of special occasion?”I thought he might be drunk. His messy hair, slightly slow speech, and loose posture gave off the impression of someone more suited to holding a wine bottle than a sword. It was hard to believe this man was the Black Martial Emperor, the one who had destroyed all the surrounding nations. Could it be that he hadn’t arrived yet? I darted my eyes around, searching for the Black Martial Emperor. That’s when the woman’s voice erased all my doubts.“Ah~ have you forgotten? They’re all here to pledge their loyalty to Your Majesty.”“Indeed! It seems they’ve gathered to swear allegiance to the great Black Martial Emperor! Ha ha…”As the woman playfully hit his chest, a plump official chimed in with flattery. I was left stunned once again. I had expected a monster, if not a beast, with a fearsome, murderous aura. But this man, who seemed more like a carefree playboy, was completely unexpected. Only now did I begin to understand the Chieftain’s earlier expression. Even the Chieftain seemed unable to believe his eyes, frowning as he stared at the Black Martial Emperor. The Sufia Chieftain, standing nearby, was also momentarily confused but then whispered in a low voice.“Could that woman be Veronjubille? I’ve heard she’s the emperor’s most beloved consort, but I didn’t expect him to bring her here…”Although they pretended otherwise, everyone here bore a grudge against the Black Martial Emperor. This was a life-or-death moment, where someone could suddenly rush forward and plunge a dagger into his heart. The fact that he had come to such a gathering without bodyguards or weapons, and with a woman at his side, meant one of two things: either he was deliberately showing off his confidence, or he was genuinely that relaxed.The Black Martial Emperor, toying with the consort’s hair, suddenly turned his head.“What’s that smell?”“Huh? What smell…?”“There’s a disgusting smell.”Alarmed, the woman lifted her arm and began sniffing herself.“Your Majesty, there’s no such smell…”“I can.”One of the attendants, who had been sniffing around for the source of the smell, suddenly clapped his hands in a dramatic display.“Ah! I’ve figured it out! It must be the fragrance of Lady Veronjubille!”“Indeed, I applied a new perfume today… But no matter how much you dislike perfume, calling it disgusting is too much, Your Majesty… Wait, where are you going?”The Black Martial Emperor untangled his arm from around the woman and suddenly started walking. His heavy footsteps echoed through the room, breaking the oppressive silence as he slowly approached the Imae Chieftain. I quickly lowered my head. The sight of his intricately patterned leather shoes entering my vision felt like a crushing weight on my entire body.Soon, the long hem of his royal robes grazed the floor, and the tall figure of the emperor squatted down in front of the Chieftain. He rested his elbows on his knees, placing his chin in one hand—a posture more fitting for a latrine than a throne room. The Black Martial Emperor stared directly at the Imae Chieftain and muttered,“See? I told you. It stinks. A disgusting smell.”I peeled my eyes away from the floor, mustering all my strength to lift my gaze. I could see the side of his face as he looked at the Chieftain. The sight filled me with searing pain, like bones being ground against a sawblade, and a surge of murderous intent coursed through me. He was right in front of me—the one who ruined my mother and crushed my dreams. All I could think of was killing him. But offering a clean death to this brutal murderer was out of the question. Only a death filled with torment, where his bones and flesh were slowly consumed, would be acceptable. I would crush him with a smile when his final breath left his body. The same way my mother had suffered—no, even more cruelly and pitifully. My blood boiled with a burning rage, and I held on with all my willpower to keep from being consumed by it.Just then, the woman named Veronjubille pouted and waved her fan.“Oh my… Is that Imae? They say using Imae horns makes your skin so smooth. I’ve asked so many times, yet you still haven’t brought me any. You’re so mean, Your Majesty.”The Black Martial Emperor fixated on the white horn atop the Chieftain’s head.“I thought I wiped them out, but it seems a few managed to survive. Their leech-like persistence is even more tenacious than I’ve heard.”There was no attempt to hide his hatred for the Imae Tribe, nor did he show any respect for the leader of a fallen nation. Despite being at eye level, the Black Martial Emperor was thoroughly belittling the Chieftain. The Chieftain bowed his head deeply, pressing his forehead to the floor.“Have you been well, Your Majesty, the Black Martial Emperor? I, the Chieftain of the Imae Tribe, offer my first greetings to Your Majesty.”The Black Martial Emperor stared at him as if waiting for more. The Chieftain, forced to beg for the lives of his remaining people from a man barely half his age, looked ashen.“The Imae Tribe… pledges absolute loyalty to Your Majesty, the Black Martial Emperor, and the Baedal Kingdom. Please show us your mercy.”The Black Martial Emperor ran his fingers through his messy hair.“I’ll consider showing mercy, but for someone who’s come to lick my boots, there are still unnecessary emotions lingering. Such remnants of feeling are a nuisance—for me and for the livestock trying to enter my fold.”His tone was unbearably arrogant. Although extreme fury burned in the Chieftain’s eyes, he skillfully concealed it.“We harbor no such disloyal thoughts. If we did, we wouldn’t have come here. We have prepared a humble tribute to offer Your Majesty. Bring it forth…”At the Chieftain’s signal, the Imae people who had been kneeling quickly started moving.“And as a special gift, we wish to present Your Majesty with a portrait…”“A portrait of me? Since when did an old man like you have such talents?”“Oh, no… not I. This child will paint it.”The Chieftain glanced at me and spoke with emphasis.“His father was a renowned painter during his lifetime, and he has inherited his skills, rivaling his own.”The Black Martial Emperor cast a dismissive glance at me before standing up.“I don’t need it. There are plenty like that inside the palace.”Both the Chieftain and I raised our heads in confusion.“Of course, but… I assure you, this child’s skills are just as exceptional.”“No. I don’t need it.”“It’s a token of my sincerity to commemorate Your Majesty’s valor, so please…”“I don’t need it.”The Black Martial Emperor cut off the Chieftain’s words and swept a glance over the leaders bowing at his feet. As he turned away, he added in passing:“But if the old man were to draw it, I might consider it seriously.”His tone was clearly mocking. Before we could come up with an alternative, he strode away without hesitation. In that moment, the Chieftain and I exchanged glances. We had anticipated this, but now that all our plans had been blocked, my mind went blank. No…! No…!! I should have hidden a knife inside me, no matter what, even if it meant they searched me. I wanted to plunge a blade into his back, but my body felt as though it was trapped in mud, unable to move. Just as despair began to settle in and I closed my eyes, my voice escaped before I could even think.“Were you serious about what you just said…?”My suppressed voice caused the Black Martial Emperor to stop in his tracks. Instantly, everyone’s eyes turned toward me. At that moment, a chubby attendant bellowed in outrage.“You insolent brat! How dare you speak without permission?!”I forced the words out through my clenched lips.“Are you saying you would consider it if the Chieftain were to draw your portrait?”“W-what? I’ve never drawn a picture in my life…!”The Chieftain beside me looked like his eyes were about to pop out. Ignoring him, I pressed on.“The Chieftain will paint a portrait of Your Majesty. Please reconsider.”The Black Martial Emperor’s head slowly turned, his gaze sliding toward me.“A half-breed?”The hands supporting me on the floor trembled uncontrollably. I lowered my eyes and barely managed to answer.“Yes.”The Black Martial Emperor’s gaze shifted from the white horn on my head to my eyes. For a brief moment, the boredom and laziness that had been present vanished, replaced by a coldness in his black eyes so chilling it felt as though it could freeze blood in the veins. I involuntarily stopped breathing. Although he wasn’t an Imae, his eyes were as red as, no, even redder than ours. Like a night sky without a boundary between earth and heavens, his eyes crossed all sorts of limits without hesitation. Perhaps I had completely misunderstood… He wasn’t some drunken fool; he was more like a beast that had just awakened from a deep slumber. The Black Martial Emperor stared at me for a while, then curled the corner of his lips. It wasn’t so much a smile as it was a mechanical expression.“I look forward to seeing the Chieftain’s drawing skills.”The Black Martial Emperor turned away again. My heart, which had plummeted into despair, started beating again. The Chieftain, too, looked noticeably relieved at the unexpected permission. The woman standing beside the emperor raised her eyes in disbelief.“Your Majesty, are you really going to have that old man paint your portrait? You’ve ignored even the finest painters who’ve offered to paint you, and now…?”“Indeed! Your Majesty, you honor even such lowly creatures with your promises…! You are truly the greatest of all kings!”The chubby attendant behind him exclaimed dramatically. The Black Martial Emperor’s gaze remained fixed on us—or so it felt. Though I kept my head bowed, every nerve in my body was on edge, allowing me to sense even the smallest movements. The Black Martial Emperor muttered darkly as he looked at us.“I’ve been wanting to test something out anyway.”His voice was steeped in ominous tones, and my fists trembled. It felt strangely familiar, yet not. Wrapping his arm around his lover’s waist, the Black Martial Emperor exited the room at a much quicker pace than when he had entered.“Are you really serious, Your Majesty? This time, you’ve truly promised?”A woman’s coquettish laughter echoed through the hall. As soon as they left, the room erupted into murmurs.One of the tribe members, a burly man, glanced at me sideways.“But, Chieftain, will this really work? Coming here so recklessly without any real plan…”“Yes, Chieftain, I must admit, I had doubts from the start. What kind of skill does a weakling like him have to steal the Wail of the Demons? And to trust a half-breed like that…”“This won’t work! It’s better if I stay behind, Chieftain!”The man’s forceful words were echoed by the agreement of the other tribe members. I sneered at them.“Are you afraid I’ll betray you? Because of what you did to me?”“What… What did you say, you half-breed scum?! Say it properly! We’re not afraid, just doubtful!”The tribe member, his face flushed with anger, stood up abruptly. The Chieftain scolded him.“Half-blood or purebred, what does it matter at this point? How can you talk about such things while we, as members of the Imae Tribe, are being treated worse than livestock?”“It’s just… I’m getting restless being cooped up here. How could someone like you, Chieftain, be treated so poorly?!”“You know I’m not one to act rashly. Not trusting the boy is the same as not trusting me. The Naragaon Fortress is said to have ears even underground, so everyone, be mindful of your words.”“Yes, Chieftain….”The tribe member scratched his head awkwardly and returned to his seat. The Chieftain let out a sigh, glancing at me.“But why did you make such an outrageous promise? I’ve never drawn a picture in my life…”“We had to get him somehow. If need be, I’ll teach you.”The Chieftain stroked his beard, looking troubled. None of the other tribe members, nor the leaders of the allied states, knew anything beyond the fact that I was supposed to steal the Wail of the Demons and assassinate the Black Martial Emperor. Only the Chieftain and I were aware of the detailed assassination plan. At that moment, a court official approached us.“Follow me.”The official herded us like pigs to some destination. We arrived at a garden just outside the palace. It was so vast that it felt more like a forest than a garden. The palace walls extended in all directions, giving the illusion of openness, yet their height radiated an imposing defense. On one side, women strolled through the garden, chatting or engaging in various entertainments. On the other side, heavily armed guards stood at attention, creating a strange atmosphere of both relaxation and tension.“Why have you brought us here so suddenly? Where is His Majesty…?”The Chieftain asked with a puzzled expression. At that moment, we spotted the Black Martial Emperor standing in the center of the garden. My blood immediately surged in response. He was holding some strange object and conversing with an old man. Beside him clung a woman, and behind him, three men stood in a defensive stance. The woman was likely his concubine, Veronjubille, and the three men were likely his bodyguards. The bodyguards were expressionless, their faces cold, all dressed in white uniforms with swords at their waists.The very presence of the Black Martial Emperor grated on my nerves, but what caught my eye the most was the object in his hand. The Chieftain and I tensed up. It was something I had never seen before, about the length of a sword, resembling a thin bamboo tube, and it glinted in the light. I had definitely seen this metallic object that night. Could it be the Wail of the Demons? They said even a single hit from its projectile could shatter bones and rupture internal organs, but it looked like nothing more than an unusual metal rod—nothing particularly threatening. The old man beside the Black Martial Emperor was speaking excitedly.“I aimed to have it ready for Your Majesty’s birthday, but it didn’t progress as planned, so it’s much delayed! And finally, we have moved away from manually igniting it!”The old man’s hands trembled as he poured black powder into a small hole in the metal object and tamped it down with a thin rod.“When you pull the trigger, the hammer will fall and ignite the powder. This will cause the gunpowder inside the chamber to explode, firing the projectile instantly. We’ve also strengthened its explosive power, and it now has a range of up to two li (about 800 meters), Your Majesty.”“Is that so?”The Black Martial Emperor rotated the object in his hands, inspecting the craftsmanship. I had heard that he had recently turned 27. His sharp, meticulously crafted features gave him an intense appearance, but no matter how I looked at him, he seemed like nothing more than a drunkard. As he examined the Wail of the Demons, he spoke.“How many can be produced?”“If we mobilize all the craftsmen and exclude any defects, we can make two a day.”“Didn’t you say four?”“I-I apologize, Your Majesty, but… I had informed you earlier that producing more than two a day was impossible…”The Black Martial Emperor spoke calmly.“No, you said four.”“B-but I clearly reported earlier that producing two was the limit…”“You said four.”“Y-Your Majesty…”“You said four.”The old man, now drenched in sweat, turned pale. One of the more elegant-looking bodyguards shook his head subtly at the old man, signaling him to stop.“The artillery master said he could make four, Your Majesty.”When the elegant man asked, “Isn’t that right?” the old man reluctantly nodded in agreement. The Black Martial Emperor, seemingly satisfied, twirled the metal object in his hand, inspecting it closely. Meanwhile, Veronjubille fanned herself lazily, looking bored.“Garon, Your Majesty, how long do you plan to stay here? You’ve been discussing things I can’t understand for a while now…”The Black Martial Emperor, still focused on inspecting the metal object, responded indifferently.“If you’re bored, go inside.”“Honestly… all Your Majesty ever talks about is war, war, war.”Veronjubille’s voice was sharp with frustration, yet her eyes, fixed on the Emperor, looked drowsy with affection. Earlier, I had been too focused on the Black Martial Emperor to notice, but Veronjubille was even more beautiful than I remembered. She was draped in extravagant clothes and ornate jewelry, yet somehow didn’t seem garish.Something felt off. The object in the Black Martial Emperor’s hand, the open space—no matter how I tried to piece it together, the scene didn’t seem fitting for drawing a picture. Like the faint acrid smell that had lingered in the air, an uneasy premonition crept over me. At that moment, the Black Martial Emperor noticed us standing in a corner. The official, pale-faced, hurriedly herded us forward toward the Black Martial Emperor.“Stop there.”As we got closer, the Black Martial Emperor suddenly stopped us. We froze on the spot, confused. He planted his feet firmly on the ground, lifted the metal object, and placed the slightly wider wooden part against his shoulder. Then he aimed the metal barrel directly at us, adopting a strange posture. Every time I saw him, the Black Martial Emperor displayed bizarre behavior, and now he looked like a careless drunkard again. The Chieftain and the tribe members exchanged bewildered glances.There was a sudden metallic clink.BANG!“Uwaaah…!!”The sound was as loud as thunder. In an instant, the eyes of the tribe member standing next to me exploded. A much larger hole formed in the back of his skull, spewing brain matter everywhere. The overwhelming smell of gunpowder filled my nose, making me dizzy. We were all frozen in place, unable to move a finger. It was an unbelievable sight. I hadn’t seen anything… How was this possible?! Was this the power of the secret weapon we’d only heard about? Veronjubille screamed and backed away, while the guards dropped their spears in panic. The Black Martial Emperor calmly spoke to the elderly man, who was now as pale as a ghost.“The trigger is much smoother. I like the new ignition system.”The artillery master glanced helplessly at the Imae tribesman writhing in agony.“T-thank you, Your Majesty…”“Shall we test its destructive power next?”Just as those words left his lips…