Distinguished heroes would subjugate the main enemy, demonic beasts, under the sun. They gained honor, were revered by the world, and solidified their positions.
But always hidden beneath the surface were internal enemies. Vested interest groups that used the heroes' authority to oppress and exploit those who did not possess the same authority.
When public power became too corrupt to punish these forces, a member of a hero's family voluntarily took on the role of the shadow, eliminating them.
A family that followed the motto 'Work in the dark, yearn for the light,' balancing the maintenance of order with assassination.
The Aditore Family.
Ostensibly a minor noble family residing on the southern coast of Italy, but in reality, a family of assassins who purged internal enemies and excised the diseased parts.
Family members were trained as assassins from an age before they knew right from wrong. The period of heightened emotions is usually adolescence. Before blossoming in their teens, they underwent mental conditioning to become emotionless assassination machines.
Chloe's first taste of blood was at the age of fifteen.
The sticky, slippery sensation wrapped around her fingers. With every swing of her blade, the blood of corrupt nobles splattered beautifully.
Chloe's life, in the prime of her youth, was stained by the darkness of night and the color of blood.
"Chloe, do not deny your talent as an assassin."
From an age before she knew right from wrong, this phrase echoed in the ears of family members.
The expectations of family members who had early on discovered Chloe's potential as an assassin were like a rope tightening around the heart of the introverted little girl, but the Aditore Family, to suppress her fragility, forced her into various trainings.
Chloe accepted it. In fact, she had no other choice.
The endless harsh training disturbed Chloe's inner self, and a deep shadow enveloped her heart.
As her self gradually wore down, leaving only traces of emotion, Chloe unknowingly reached the age where she could enter Hogwarts Academy.
Three years at the Academy were just a segment of her tumultuous life; Chloe was destined to be an assassin.
Due to the family's tradition of pursuing secrecy, members of the Aditore Family were assigned to ordinary classes.
There was no doubt that each of them possessed strength at least on the Dragon-tier or higher.
However, to avoid drawing attention, the Aditore Family reached an agreement with Hogwarts Academy, and three years of their youth were also stripped of free will.
Now it was the Hogwarts Academy placement test. The family had informed her of the test content in advance, so she knew.
Although the Aditore Family informed her of the test content, they also reminded her not to draw attention. While she wondered why they told her the content if that was the case, Chloe passively nodded like a puppet.
Nothing would change in the end anyway. She used to think that. Until she met a male student.
In the placement test, she was assigned to the same group as the Mao Twins, known as the "Bully Twins." Whenever they swung their iron fists, their opponents would scream in pain and have their waists broken.
That sight did not stir Chloe. She was a killer. The sound of flesh being cut and bones breaking disgusted her.
Even if they were the Bully Twins, compared to the blood on her hands, they were merely fresh blood.
Moreover, this was an illusory realm, a space where one would not truly die even if killed. The lives she had taken so far were real.
The Mao Twins, who used to treat their classmates as toys, turned their gaze towards Chloe. A cold sneer played on both their lips.
Chloe decided to indifferently accept their attacks. She would be assigned to the commoner class anyway.
Although her entire body trembled slightly from the fear of death, she could overcome that fear. This was the result of Aditore-style education.
"You bastards! Don't touch her!"
Suddenly, someone yelled at the twins. The twins reflexively followed the source of the voice.
The loud shout momentarily blanked Chloe's consciousness, and the Weapon in her hand dropped.
A black-haired male student, holding two kitchen knives, was shouting at the twins.
That shout, mixed with curses, shook something deep within Chloe. It was as if an earthquake had occurred deep inside her.
In the scene where a cold wind howled, it was as if the dark clouds had scattered and sunlight poured down. Something hot surged within her heart.
Then one of the twins smugly turned to him. In his hand, he held a blood-stained iron gauntlet, sneering.
The tip of the knife pointed at the twins was trembling. If that happened, the male student would be hit in the face with one blow.
Although it was an illusion, experiencing death would completely change one's values.
"Must stop him."
Chloe fumbled on the ground, struggling to pick up her dropped Weapon. Then the black-haired male student awkwardly moved his wrist and drew his scabbard.
Immediately after, Chloe's eyes widened. Every time the male student's blade trembled, chunks of flesh fell off.
A blade to protect someone. The reason the male student swung his blade was her. Her heart pounded violently, as if knocking against her ribs.
Under the relentlessly advancing blade, in less than a minute, the heads of the once-provocative twins dropped below their shoulders.
She remembered the fairy tale she secretly read hidden under her pillow. The story of a prince rescuing a princess trapped in a castle. An illustration of that prince instantly appeared before Chloe's eyes, overlapping with that male student.
Her cheeks flushed, and her chest felt itchy. She covered her cheeks with her hands, looking at the male student. An indescribable, hazy emotion welled up in her heart.
Chloe decided to define that emotion as love.
***
Chloe stared at me silently for a long time.
She was still wearing unwashed rubber gloves on her hands.
"...."
"...."
I pretended not to know anything and smiled lightly. Then, her body remained still, only her neck twisted.
I leaned silently against the railing, looking out the window.
Fifth floor.
"I'm screwed."
Where did it all go wrong?
Was it from peeking at a teenage girl's innocence, or from foolishly following her for food?
I swallowed lightly, shaking off my thoughts. Right now, the first thing to consider was how to survive. I secretly glanced at her.
That face, once soft as a little bird, was gone. Empty eyes, surrounded by white sclera, stared at me.
I cleared my throat, scratched my head, and said,
"Chloe, isn't the moon beautiful tonight?"
"...."
No response.
"Today, thanks to you, I had a delicious dinner for the first time in a while."
"...."
"Well, I'll be going now. See you tomorrow."
As I finished speaking and was about to leave, Chloe gently took off her rubber gloves.
I felt a chill and gripped the railing with my hand. Her tightly closed small mouth opened.
"Did you see it?"
"Huh? What?"
"That."
Chloe gestured with her chin towards the diary on the table. I subtly raised the corner of my mouth and replied,
"Ah—you mean the reference book? You really study hard..."
"The diary."
She frowned and rolled her eyes.
I was startled.
The honorifics she usually insisted on had somehow turned into rude informal speech. That attitude was like facing a completely different person.
"I didn't look."
"Liar."
"Then you looked."
Saying that, Chloe picked up the Japanese sword leaning against the wall. The blade was well polished, and the cutting power of the edge should be very strong.
Whoosh—
Chloe drew the sword. The blade surface had a wavy pattern. Looking at those viper-like eyes, she probably wanted to dye the wallpaper from white to red. On her slender wrist, gripping the hilt, terrifying veins were clearly visible.
Chloe took a step forward. No retreat. No advance.
Before me, a menacing, murderous ghost approached, and if I jumped out the window, my body would be shattered. I turned my head to Chloe with a glimmer of hope.
Motionless, unfocused pupils. Her consciousness seemed to have snapped, and the tip of the sword dragged on the ground, slowly approaching.
I generally knew that type. Yandere.
She would probably chase me to death. If I took control of the situation here, my future life would be safe.
Moreover, the instantly fierce tone and the eyes stained with murky red were no longer the Chloe I knew.
"Is it a dual personality?"
It felt like opening the diary was the trigger for a personality change.
The yandere attribute alone was already difficult, plus the dual personality attribute.
...Academy life is not easy.
I rolled my eyes, looking around. The kitchen knives lined up in the kitchen caught my eye. But if I ran there and reached for them, I felt like I would end up with one arm or one leg.
I shifted my gaze even faster. If I wanted to live, I had to come up with a solution.
The closer Chloe got, the stronger her killing intent, and intuitively, it felt even stronger than the Mao Twins. So why did she hide it then? Situational judgment became difficult.
I shook my head violently. Instantly, my gaze stopped at the table. A paper cutter stuck in the pen holder.
"...."
Chloe's footsteps quickened. The allowed time was 9 seconds.
"I had originally intended to resolve this through conversation."
I quickly grabbed it and held it up.
Click—
The protruding blade made a sound.
【Wisdom is exercised, mental level is elevated.】
【Words and actions temporarily carry a sense of intimidation.】
【The restraining force begins to adjust to suit the user.】
Creak—
Instantly, a heavy tugging sensation at the back of my neck.
Then the chest, heated by irrational calmness, quickly cooled.
【Blessing of the Sword God manifests.】
++++++++++++++++++++++
"May the Blessing of the Sword God be with you."
++++++++++++++++++++++
I met her gaze and spoke in a low voice. A cold wind blew, and Chloe's red hair clung to her cheeks.
"Chloe."
An indescribable sense of intimidation made her chin tremble slightly.
"Your hair is a bit long."
The bright moon hid behind the clouds.
"I'm going to cut it."