From a Broken Engagement to the Northern Grand Duke's Son-in-Law

Creeeeak.

The ancient hinge protested as we crossed Death Veil’s threshold—the same welcoming sound that had greeted us at this charming establishment’s entrance.

Kai’s grip tightened on my sleeve, his knuckles white against the fabric. The dry sound of his swallow echoed in the stillness.

Well, there’s no turning back now.

I drew a small steadying breath and stepped forward.

The interior defied every expectation the ramshackle exterior had set. Lavish decorations adorned every surface, creating a chamber worthy of the Emperor’s own audience hall.

Under different circumstances, I might have muttered something about neglecting the building’s facade, but I couldn’t summon the energy for such trivial observations.

Not with the monster watching us.

The terrifying creature—no, the Veilmaster—perched high above, regarding us with the casual interest of a cat observing particularly entertaining mice.

Malevolent eyes swept over us while killing intent thick enough to taste made the very air recoil in terror.

“You’re the guests?”

His voice rolled through the chamber like distant thunder.

The Veilmaster began his examination, studying us with a butcher’s practiced eye.

“Hmm.” After a moment of uncomfortable scrutiny, his lips twisted into what might charitably be called a smile. “Well, well… What manner of lunatics have wandered into my domain?”

At his single word, the surrounding assassins moved with perfect synchronization, hands flying to their daggers.

The message rang crystal clear: We can end you whenever we choose.

But the Veilmaster raised one hand, freezing them mid-motion.

“Wait. This isn’t what it appears.”

Whoosh.

The assassins vanished instantly—a demonstration that drove home exactly how deep into the lion’s den we’d walked.

Keep focused. One wrong move and we’re all corpses.

I kept my muscles coiled and ready while watching the Veilmaster chuckle and wave dismissively.

“I have no intention of hostility. Especially not toward lunatics of your caliber.”

“Lunatics?” I asked carefully.

“Indeed.” His eyes narrowed as he studied each of us in turn. “One beloved by the spear, another blinded by revenge and dragged along by his sword, and the third... well, he couldn’t fight his way out of a paper sack, but he’s gifted in everything else. And then—”

He paused, his gaze shifting between Kai and me with growing fascination.

“A bloodline of Death Veil bearing the Slayer’s Birthright, and his master who’s achieved Aura Master rank at such a tender age. I can even smell that old Divine Archer’s influence on you. What is this—did someone ransack the world’s talent vault?”

He saw through all of that?

An incredulous laugh escaped before I could stop it.

I had to revise my assessment completely. This man wasn’t merely on par with my father.

Max had been a Master approaching Grand Master level, but this was someone who had seized that pinnacle and made it his throne.

My eyes darted around the chamber, calculating escape routes.

Can we get out? If we run, which direction offers the best chance? How many could I save? Could I at least—

Crunch!

I bit down hard on my tongue, using the sharp pain to snap out of my spiraling panic.

The taste of blood filled my mouth, but paradoxically, my mind cleared like morning mist before sunlight.

I spat blood onto the polished floor and glared at the Veilmaster.

“…Let’s end the games.”

My voice came out sharp, irritated.

The Veilmaster didn’t seem offended—if anything, he looked impressed, one eyebrow arching upward. “You noticed?”

“Yes, though it leaves a distinctly foul taste.”

I steadied my breathing and surveyed the chamber. My companions were still gasping, caught in the same panic that had nearly consumed me moments before.

He had invoked Dread Aura upon us. A technique that scrambles the mind, crushes the will, and ultimately drives victims to end their own lives. That’s what the Veilmaster had unleashed.

He probably hadn’t intended to kill us, but the experience left a foul taste in my mouth indeed.

“I brought here Death Veil’s long-awaited Slayer Incarnate. As bearer of your token, I’m also under Death Veil’s protection. Yet you seem unwilling to honor that arrangement.”

I ran fingers through my hair, then sent small jolts of pain toward my companions through a sharp wave of mana.

“Ah!” They gasped and shook off the artificial terror, their minds clearing.

With them recovering behind me, I continued addressing the Veilmaster.

“If this is how Death Veil conducts business, we’ll take our leave. I don’t know how far your information network reaches, but you won’t find us if we head for the Demonic Realm.”

“Hah… You think we’ll simply let you walk away?”

“Yes. Because while you’re formidable, you’re not stronger than my master.”

I deliberately emphasized the word, knowing the Veilmaster had mentioned detecting my teacher’s influence.

He clearly knew who had trained me—which meant he understood exactly what Aura cultivation technique I practiced.

Perfect for a strategic deception.

“You believe I’d fear that old man?” The Veilmaster’s killing intent flared as he posed the question.

Anyone else would have been sobbing and begging for mercy by now.

I didn’t even flinch.

I pressed down on my already-bitten tongue, using the fresh pain to keep my thoughts razor-sharp, then met the Veilmaster’s gaze directly.

“I do. Because you know exactly what my master’s temperament entails.”

Vekrahn the Divine Archer. Among Grand Masters, he was infamous as the most unpredictable madman of them all.

Max the Emperor Slayer? Compared to my master, he was practically a model citizen.

And for good reason.

Master destroyed half the Eastern Continent for the woman he loved.

Once, while deep in his cups, my master had told me why he’d fled the East.

He’d been a commoner, she a noble. When she carried his child, her family had tried to kill her for the disgrace.

At first, they’d simply run… but she’d been mortally wounded during their escape.

From that day forward, Master had obliterated half the Eastern Continent before crossing to the Central lands.

The man is genuinely insane.

Massacring half a continent for one woman—who could even conceive of such devotion?

I shook my head, still half in disbelief.

Master’s story was legend throughout the Central Continent. Unless you harbored a death wish, provoking anyone connected to him was considered the highest form of taboo—unless you happened to be a fellow Grand Master.

I studied the Veilmaster’s face. He would certainly know Master’s reputation intimately.

People with something to protect tend toward caution.

Sure enough...

“Hah.” The Veilmaster snorted and withdrew his killing intent. “If anyone else had tried invoking the Divine Archer’s name, I’d have killed them where they stood... but you might actually be worth preserving.”

“How gracious.”

“Even that insolence resembles your master.”

The Veilmaster shook his head, clicking his tongue repeatedly.

Finally, his attention shifted to Kai. “You’re the bloodline he left behind.”

The words were barely a murmur, but they carried the weight of revelation. Then, with a faint smile, he addressed the surrounding assassins.

“Enough verifying. Return to your positions.”

The assassins moved immediately, but instead of melting back into concealment, they now stood in formal formation throughout the chamber.

The Veilmaster produced a coin and let it fall.

Clang.

The coin bore Death Veil’s sigil, and the red star blazed brighter than I’d ever seen.

“I have found the successor.”

Those simple words echoed through the chamber with the force of a proclamation. 

Despite the quiet, the very air seemed to celebrate—a wordless cheer composed of pure killing intent.

Amid this charged atmosphere, the Veilmaster continued with measured words.

“No longer must we hide. We have found our lost successor and reclaimed the bloodline of our great founder.”

Silence.

“You all know how the continent regards us.”

More silence.

“They call us relics. Toothless wolves, old men clinging to faded glory.”

The tension grew thicker.

The Veilmaster’s voice rose to a roar.

“Is that truly what we’ve become? Are we genuinely forgotten?”

The assassins’ eyes gleamed crimson as they gripped their daggers with renewed purpose.

Seeing their response, the Veilmaster delivered his killing blow.

“Let us proclaim to the continent that we have returned! Let them remember what Death Veil truly was!”

The assassins released a silent roar, their blazing eyes fixed on their master with absolute devotion.

“Follow me! And follow that child—the bloodline of our founder and my chosen successor!”

The Veilmaster’s final cry rang through the chamber, and every Death Veil assassin turned toward Kai with the reverence of knights greeting their new sovereign.

And amidst this momentous scene, Kai spoke quietly.

“I’m not going to be the successor, though.”

* * *

The Veilmaster wondered if his ears had betrayed him.

Even children possessed desires not easily abandoned—especially when offered leadership of a massive assassination organization like Death Veil.

He’d deliberately unleashed his killing intent to demonstrate Death Veil’s true power. Yet even after withstanding that display, the boy could still make such a statement.

The archer who appeared to lead their group showed the same incomprehensible attitude. None of them made any sense.

“…You would become Death Veil’s master. You could command every assassin in the world. And you still refuse?”

“Yes.” Kai’s answer came without hesitation

The Veilmaster felt a headache building behind his temples.

Having to plead with someone to accept leadership of the great Death Veil—was this truly his reality?

“…Consider it again. You should continue your grandfather’s legacy.”

“My grandfather was just a grandfather who liked telling jokes. Not the world’s greatest criminal or deadliest assassin—just my grandfather.”

Damn it all.

The Veilmaster found himself speechless. Kai was probably the only person alive who could describe the legendary Max in such mundane terms.

The surrounding assassins practically radiated murderous intent at the casual dismissal.

This is maddening.

But he couldn’t simply dispose of the boy. Setting aside the connection to his adoptive father, there was Slayer’s Birthright to consider—that incredible talent was undeniable.

His natural ability surpasses even mine... and I’m supposed to let him walk away?

Absolutely not. If the boy joined another assassination organization, it would spell disaster for Death Veil.

Just as he wrestled with this impossible dilemma, someone stepped forward.

“How about this?”

The Divine Archer’s disciple—the one whose strength echoed Vekrahn in his youth—moved into the center of the chamber.

“What?” The Veilmaster turned toward Louis, who continued speaking with a little smirk.

“I’ll leave Kai with Death Veil. He’ll listen to me, so he’ll make an excellent successor. However...”

“However?” The Veilmaster’s expression grew wary as Louis’s grin widened with dangerous promise.

“However, you’ll teach him all your techniques, Veilmaster. And Kai will live outside Death Veil’s walls.”

Louis Berg, disciple of the Divine Archer, had made his proposal crystal clear: Train Kai and deliver him to me.

“Is that acceptable?”

The Veilmaster wordlessly looked between Kai and Louis, noting the thoroughly roguish smile of the latter.

What had he gotten himself into?