Published: August 2, 2025
Today, five chapters posted simultaneously.
This is the fifth chapter.
“Shopkeeper. You’re really cut out to be an assassin.”
After wrapping things up with the help of the slimes, I was suddenly told this.
“Cut out for it, you say?”
“There are a lot of skills needed for assassination. Being strong is good, but just being strong isn’t enough.”
So, what’s more important than strength in assassination is those other skills.
“When there were still disturbances at the shop, you used to make your own medicines and keep them there. You have knowledge of poison and medicine, right? That’s also very important for an assassin. Earlier, you had the slimes clean up afterward. Handling the bodies, blood on clothes and weapons after killing—cleaning those up is crucial. Also, your walking before the fight, how you hide, all of that was good.”
As he said that, he seemed to realize something.
“Wait, I got it wrong. I didn’t mean you’re cut out for it; I meant to say you could become a good assassin.”
“Ah…”
So it was just a compliment after all.
“I’m getting pretty used to your language, but sometimes I still mess up.”
“Learning a different country’s language is tough…”
I remember back when I was forced to handle overseas business, the language barrier was a real challenge. Especially the small talk unrelated to work—it was tough.
Speaking of language…
“The magic used in the earlier fight, that’s from the Jirmar Empire, right?”
“You mean the ‘Yien’? It’s poison attribute magic, meaning ‘smoke.’”
It seems that this country’s “Smoke” and the magic here are the same except for the language.
I learned that Mr. Fay can use a little poison and wind magic. His specialty is creating a smoke screen to hide and blind enemies, then finishing them off inside the smoke.
Judging by the bodies we cleaned up, the four who were killed in the smoke were struck swiftly through gaps in their armor from behind. The first four were taken down by poisoned needles thrown from the shade, their metal glints dulled. Eight enemies in total were defeated in one hit.
…It’s morbid, but it was like watching the protagonist of one of those games swiftly neutralizing foes.
“I raised my voice earlier to draw the enemy’s attention, but basically, I don’t use voice when casting magic.”
“No chanting, huh?”
The technique of casting magic silently... I’ve been practicing it when I have time, but the success rate is low, and power drops significantly, so it’s not yet practical in battle. I wonder if he could teach me some tips...
“Oh, we shouldn’t just stand here chatting.”
Since the house is here, there’s no need to stay outside forever.
Using earth magic, I collapse part of the cliff to open the entrance to my old home.
“Hmm… so this is the shopkeeper’s old house.”
I bring Mr. Fay inside, who seems impressed.
“Ah… nostalgic but dusty…”
They say a house deteriorates quickly when left empty, but since it was sealed, it hasn’t changed much. It still feels very familiar, though there’s a layer of dust from the time I was away. Spiders have spun webs somewhere on the ceiling.
Well, the slimes can help clean this up quickly.
I quickly clean one room to secure a place to rest.
“This should do it.”
Looking at the floor, there’s Sticky, Poison, Acid, Heal, Scavenger, and Cleaner... The slimes who lived here seem to remember the old days, freely crawling around their favorite spots.
Maybe because of the recent troubles, the atmosphere feels unusually calm and relaxed...
We brought plenty of food, and the slimes should be full for today.
Let’s take it easy.
I prepare some drinks and light snacks, then ask again about no chanting.
“If you want to use magic without chanting, the best way is to keep using the same magic. First, study how to hide and handle weapons, then get used to poison and medicine. Practice and gain experience along the way. That’s how I became able to do it. Until then, I didn’t use magic much for assassination. I prioritized medicine and tools. Magic isn’t my specialty, so advice is hard.”