When the talk is about the best assassin family in the human continent, the Nightshade family cos at the very top. It was not so ancient family with a legacy stretching back through centuries; only a few decades had passed since its establishnt.
Even then, it rose like a dark horse, leaving behind all the other guilds and families in the field of assassination, securing the top position for itself.
And the reason for this was simple.
Two individuals.
Victor Nightshade and Iris Nightshade.
Victor wielded the powers of Darkness and Ti, while Iris commanded the shadows and the deadly art of poison. Together, the husband and wife beca the backbone of the Nightshade family, their strength raising it to a height where no rival could reach.
The path had not been smooth. Countless attempts were made to kill them, yet every assassin who ca after their lives ended up eting their own deaths. After all, who could hope to live when the two most powerful mythical ranked assassins in the continent marked them as prey?
For their enemies, even the thought of facing Victor and Iris was enough to turn into a waking nightmare.
But strength always ca with responsibility. With dungeons spawning faster than they could be resolved, both Victor and Iris had little ti to rest. The only silver lining was that no dungeon break had happened yet, at least not for now.
For the past few months, they had been completely occupied. Not just them, but also the assassin units working under the Nightshade family, who were constantly moving across the continent, clearing gates and helping other forces deal with the crisis.
Because of this, only the bare minimum security was left to guard the Nightshade estate. But even then, no one in their right mind would ever attempt to intrude into the House of Assassins. One step inside could an walking straight into a trap they would never escape from.
Yet today was not like any other day. Today was different. Both Iris and Victor were at ho, having taken a rare break from their endless duties because... their son, Ethan, had co to see them.
"Look at how skinny you have beco!!! Does the academy not provide food to you? Just tell , son. Even though I cannot kill Nichole, I can certainly make his life hell, harass him until he begs for rcy." Iris spoke with a mischievous glint in her eyes, her voice sharp yet filled with a warmth that could only belong to a mother. To the world, she was a terrifying woman, ruthless and unpredictable, but before Ethan, she was simply a mother who doted on her child.
They sat together at the grand dining table, a piece of furniture large enough to host a dozen guests, yet at this mont it held only three.
At the middle seat sat a man with a straight posture and cold eyes, his black hair framing a face that carried an aura of quiet nace. He appeared to be in his late twenties, though in truth he was far older. His presence was like that of a hidden blade, sharp and unseen, ready to strike the mont one’s focus faltered.
On his left sat a woman whose long black hair cascaded down her shoulders, her crimson eyes glowing faintly in the light. Ethan had inherited those very eyes.
Her presence was suffused with a poisonous allure, a paradox of beauty and danger.
Yet right now, there was no venom in her gaze, no sharpness in her tone. Only gentleness and warmth shone in her eyes as she looked at Ethan, her one and only son.
Ethan chuckled softly at his mother’s words, though a trace of helplessness crossed his face. "Mother... the academy feeds us just fine. I am not starving; you are only exaggerating. And please, don’t cause trouble for the Principal."
...How should I even say it.....?
Looking at the loving gaze of his mother, Ethan hesitated. He had co here because he wanted their help. He knew, just like Ray had beco the disciple of the Principal, the sa could happen with Ash as well.
After seeing Ash’s strength surpass even Ray, it was obvious that he was bound to beco soone important.
Even if not a disciple, he would certainly be considered a valuable asset for humanity as a whole. The fact that he did not attend classes yet faced no punishnt was a simple, undeniable proof of that.
But what Ethan wanted most was for Ash to die.
Ray had escaped his wrath because he had rejected lissia and stayed away from her, leaving Ethan’s path clear. But things were different with Ash. While Ash showed no interest in lissia, the sa could not be said for her.
lissia loved Ash. Ethan could see it clearly, he knew it without doubt..... this ti was different from Ray. He could feel it, even if he could not always see it. lissia was obsessed with Ash.
Just as he himself was obsessed with her. But his obsession ran far deeper. From his childhood years to now, the desire had taken root in every corner of his being. He did not simply want her love. No, he wanted to possess her entirely.
He wanted to own her.
"So, why did you co back? The sester exams are coming. I hope the reason you returned is important."
Victor’s cold voice broke through the storm of Ethan’s thoughts.
When his focus returned, Ethan saw his father had stopped eating, his eyes fixed on him. That gaze was cold and sharp, still carrying the weight of countless battles fought.
Ethan shifted uncomfortably in his seat, feeling the pressure.
"Just stop it. You do this every ti you et him. Do you really expect him to answer honestly when you’re putting such pressure on him?" Iris’s irritated voice cut through the tension. Victor lowered his gaze and resud eating, as if being scolded by her was the most natural thing in the world.
Ethan let out a quiet sigh of relief, but the silence that followed pressed on him even more heavily. He knew he had to respond. Even while she defended him, his mother was still watching closely, waiting for his answer.
What should I do? I need their help..... If I try sothing on my own, I will be tracked, and then everyone will know I tried to kill Ash.
But... will my parents help ?
He was certain they would help him with anything else, but this was about killing soone his age. Even though his parents were veteran killers, he could not be sure if they would agree. They might... and they might not. It was a gamble, and the risk lay entirely in his hands.
"I-I ca here because I just wanted to see both of you before the exams, and..... and...."
As he hesitated, a warm hand rested gently on his own. It was Iris. Her touch cald the tremor in his heart, yet instead of steadying him, it changed his words.
".....and I am not sure if I will be able to take the first position in my class, because there are two monsters who are far stronger than ."
At the end, he changed what he truly wanted to say. He simply did not dare to ask his parents for help.
From his early childhood, Ethan had been trained. Trained to act properly. Trained to wield weapons. Trained to kill without hesitation. But he had never been trained to speak openly with his parents.
When he was young, it had not seed like a problem. Yet as he grew older, so did the distance between him and them. Most of the ti, they were absent. And when they were ho, they used the ti to train him, not to truly speak with him.
While sotis his mother did try to show love, by then it was already too late. Ethan had grown more than capable of not caring about such things.
And the reason for that was lissia. From an early age, the place his parents should have taken in his heart was filled by her instead. Her bright smile, her clumsy gas, her childish warmth... all of it took root so deeply in his mind that even when he saw lissia’s feelings shift from one person to another, his own heart never wavered.
No matter how much she loved soone else, his heart still beat for her, and his love never diminished.
Being called the greatest disease was not just a saying; it was a reality.
Hearing Ethan’s words, both Victor and Iris sighed. For a mont, they thought their son was in so grave trouble, but realizing he was only nervous about disappointing them in the exams felt like such a silly concern.
"My child, you don’t have to worry about that," Iris spoke gently. "Even if you don’t take the first position, as long as you try your best and improve from the previous version of yourself, we will be happy."
She gave him a soft smile before continuing, "The Starlight Academy is a gathering place for hidden talents, so it is not surprising that two stars are shining brighter for now. But do not lower yourself because of them. You are still growing, and I believe my son will surpass them sooner or later."
"So don’t worry about the results—"
"Stop it. You will make him too comfortable."
Victor cut her off, his cold voice sinking into the air as his gaze locked onto Ethan.
"I rember we already had this conversation when you first entered the academy. I expected there would be another ti when we would speak like this again, but so soon?" His voice turned sharper, each word carrying weight.
"Did you give up already? Did you not even try? That is not what I expect from you, Ethan."
Ethan’s head sank lower, sha tightening his chest.
"You are my son, our son. You should be fearless, and you should try to overco all difficulties. Yet here you are, faltering before even giving it your all."
The table fell into silence, heavy and suffocating, until Victor finally sighed and spoke again.
"Listen. I know it may feel as if every road before you is blocked, but there is always another path. You have not found it yet, because your imagination is still too shallow." His tone eased, though it remained steady. "And in the end, just as your mother said, do your best. Even if the result is not what you want, I do not care. As long as you beco the best version of yourself, that will be enough for ."
Finishing his words, Victor returned to his al, occasionally glancing at Ethan as if to ensure he had understood.
"Don’t mind him, son," Iris said softly, reaching out to lightly touch his arm. "You know how your father is. He cannot show emotions properly, but his actions speak for him. What he said was filled with love, even if his voice makes it sound otherwise. So don’t take it too harshly, alright?"
Hearing his mother’s words, Ethan nodded quietly.
But his mind was not calm. His father’s words echoed inside him again and again.
I should be fearless, and try to overco all difficulties... the roads are not blocked, I just haven’t found the way yet...
Yes... I need to try on my own. I lack the courage to even ask for their help. I need to do it myself. And if I cannot, then I must do it in a way where no one can ever trace the evidence back to ...
Yes... that is what I will do...
***
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