Infinite Skill Devourer
Chapter 58: A Marksman Arrow V

Chapter 58: A Marksman Arrow V

Ryuen’s breath caught in his throat as he read the lips of the figure.

"Obtain the thirtieth skill, and then I’ll show myself, Sato."

His mind raced. Sato. It had been years since anyone had called him that name.

Except for the voices in his head and his sister, no one else knew—or maybe he had never paid enough attention to realize if anyone did.

But he had never told anyone that name. Never dared to. He didn’t see the point.

So how did this figure know it?

Was it mocking him? Warning him?

Before he could process it further, the figure vanished—or at least, that’s what it looked like.

But he could still feel it was there.

Then, an arm suddenly landed on his shoulder.

"What are you doing?"

Daiki’s voice shattered the silence, causing Ryuen to frown.

He sighed and turned toward Daiki with a relaxed expression and a slight smile—one that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

Daiki raised a brow at him and glanced at the seat before moving his gaze back to Ryuen.

"Why are you standing there like a statue?" Daiki asked, glancing at the throne again.

He, too, felt the strange presence lingering in the air.

"Don’t tell me you actually have a thing for this place now."

Ryuen chuckled softly and stepped away from Daiki, slipping his hands into his pockets.

"I wanted to remind myself how it felt to die."

He said it casually, but there was truth in it. A small percentage of the truth.

Because when he saw the blood—his blood—on the ground, it reminded him of what death looked like.

Even though the figure was gone, he could still hear a faint whisper lingering in his ears.

"Soon."

Suppressing a sigh, he ran a hand through his hair and exhaled.

"It’s nothing, really. You don’t have to be worried."

Daiki didn’t seem convinced, but he shrugged.

"Anyway, Yurei’s already heading to the next gate. If you don’t move, she might leave us behind."

He turned and walked ahead, while Ryuen followed. But just before stepping forward, he cast one last glance at the throne—

And that’s when he saw it again.

At the far corner of the chamber, barely visible in the dim light.

This time, it didn’t speak.

Instead, it waved.

A slow, deliberate wave, as if it knew something Ryuen didn’t....and it did.

A chill crawled down his spine, but he didn’t react.

He simply turned away.

"Let’s go."

---

The trio made their way through the dungeon gates, stepping into the fresh air.

A massive difference compared to the damp, almost suffocating air inside.

The sky was still dark, a sign that the sun hadn’t yet risen on this side of the world.

A thick forest stretched far before them, the trees swaying gently in the cool morning breeze.

"Let’s keep moving," Yurei said as she continued ahead, blending into the darkness as usual.

Ryuen adjusted his coat and followed, while Daiki moved at his usual lazy stride, unbothered by anything.

He was just a supervisor, after all. What Yurei and Ryuen chose to do wasn’t his concern.

It wasn’t even his fight.

This was Ryuen’s battle.

And then there was Yurei, carrying a huge grudge against one of the royal family members.

Jun.

A name Daiki would never forget after what he had done to Yurei.

But he didn’t let his mind linger on it for long.

She would have her revenge.

That is—if she didn’t lose her mind and wipe out the entire palace.

He then moved his gaze to Ryuen, who had his eyes closed, with a lot of thoughts running through his mind.

He couldn’t help but pity him—from living a peaceful... not-so-peaceful life to one filled with chaos and danger.

He already knew what Ryuen must have faced at the first palace, that was if he hadn’t provoked them too much.

And then how he must have lived with the Shirokami sisters, followed by the self-entitled beast-taming northern princess.

That one, he would definitely have a word with.

After all, it had been years since he last set eyes on the emerald-eyed peacock.

And finally, the human-hating prince.

The one who had done a lot to Yurei.

He chuckled at how amusing the interactions would be.

But what he truly wondered was whether Ryuen would give those who had wronged him a chance to apologize—

To explain.

To beg for forgiveness.

Or if he would attack from hidden spots while Yurei threw the palace into chaos.

They climbed up a hill, one that had a perfect view of the entire city, especially the palace just a few blocks away.

"It feels good to be home," Ryuen uttered, a very satisfied smile on his lips.

He let the wind move through his coat and hair, taking a deep breath.

Then, his gaze suddenly went dark.

"It reeks of elf and kitsune."

Yurei glanced at him with a bored look in her eyes.

"And what’s with that tone of yours?"

He shrugged.

"Just excited. I get to actually be an assassin again."

Daiki’s brow curved into a frown.

"Did you get the retirement revoked?"

"Tsukiyama said he would handle it," Ryuen replied with a smile.

"I thought I’d actually wait until he sent word and permission..."

"... But I don’t think my patience can stretch that long."

"Don’t kill anyone without orders," Yurei ordered, earning a cold stare from him.

"But they killed me without caring. If you won’t help, you might as well wait here until I’m done."

Yurei scoffed.

"And let you have all the fun? No way."

Daiki sighed.

"I knew putting you both in the same guild wouldn’t be good."

Ryuen laughed and slipped the bag off his back, then adjusted his coat and dragged the hairband off his hair, letting it fall freely over his shoulders.

"I might need a trim after this."

"I can help with that," Yurei offered, patting him on the back. "Who’s your first target?"

"The King first, but..." He paused, a smirk creeping onto his lips.

"I need to pay one of my admirers a visit first."

"I’ll wait here for you two," Daiki chipped in, sitting at the edge of the hill.

Yurei bowed before Daiki. She wasted no time before jumping off the hill and vanishing from sight.

"Are you really going to kill them?" Daiki asked, not sparing Ryuen a glance.

But a low chuckle already gave him the answer he needed.

He sighed.

"Just don’t start a war."

"I won’t make promises," Ryuen said, a smirk in his tone. "Just be ready for non-humans as citizens."

And with that, he jumped off the cliff, leaving Daiki behind—who only smiled and shook his head