Episode 30 – I Am the Master’s Disciple
Karl and I had a lot to say to each other. But as soon as we reached the hideout, the tension melted away, leaving us both overwhelmed with exhaustion.
Without exchanging any more words, we collapsed into sleep.
The cool breeze brushed across the open field, and the night sky sparkled with starlight. It felt surreal—like the hell we had endured just hours ago had never even happened.
My eyelids grew heavy, and through my fading vision, I saw Elton calling the assassins to patrol the area.
Can I really trust them enough to sleep?
If they decide to betray me, there’s nothing I can do. But then again, knowing about it in advance wouldn’t change anything either.
Snrrrrk—!
“......”
From a distance, I could hear Karl snoring loudly.
Am I worrying over nothing?
I let out a sigh and closed my eyes.
“Yaaawn!”
And just like that, the nightmare that was my first day in Laup Forest came to an end.
The next morning arrived with a calm that almost felt anticlimactic—far too peaceful for the hellish events of the day before.
The sound of a nearby stream drifted through the cool air, accompanied by birds chirping merrily.
The sun’s gentle warmth greeted me as I turned my gaze upward.
Everything that had happened so far felt like a bad dream.
Without the chimeras lurking around, this place could have passed for an ordinary forest.
‘Finally, a bit of peace.’
I rolled around lazily on the soft grass, enjoying the brief moment of tranquility. That’s when I overheard Karl talking with Elton nearby.
Perched on a boulder, Karl gave a slight nod as Elton reported back.
“The patrol has returned.”
“How’s the situation?”
“More survivors than expected. There are still many hiding, so it’s hard to get an exact count, but I’d estimate around fifty.”
“Fifty? That’s quite a few.”
“Shall we proceed as before?”
Karl scratched his chin, considering his options.
Up until now, they had maintained a neutral stance—gathering information from newly arrived survivors without getting involved in conflicts. There had been no need to quarrel with the other trapped individuals.
“Let’s stick with that for now.”
“For now?”
“Things have changed, as you know.”
“Because of him?”
Karl responded with a subtle smile.
A silent confirmation.
It was a sign that Karl’s stance could shift at any moment.
Elton turned his gaze toward me, watching as I lazily stirred on the field.
‘What did Karl see in him?’
My skills were decent, sure, but not remarkable enough to change Karl’s usual cautious approach. Which meant there must be something more—a decisive reason why Karl’s behavior had shifted.
“What about his belongings?” Karl asked.
“It’s difficult to check.”
“Really?”
Elton gave a small nod, and Karl raised an eyebrow in surprise.
He had ordered Elton to search my bag while I slept last night, but Elton hadn’t even gotten close.
“You couldn’t even get near him? You?”
“He’s extremely sensitive to his surroundings. He reacts the moment someone enters a certain range—almost instinctively. I stopped because I was afraid he’d wake up.”
“And you asked the others?”
“They all claim not to know him.”
Most of the group consisted of former Crux members, so Karl had hoped someone would recognize me. But no one knew anything about my identity.
“So, he’s a newcomer from within the past year? And with those skills?”
“Shall I investigate further?”
Knowing Elton’s methods, it wouldn’t be a gentle inquiry. But Karl shook his head firmly.
“No. Leave him be for now. Just keep watching.”
“May I ask why?”
“I told you. I owe him my life. Let’s keep things friendly.”
“…So that was true?”
“It’s not just that. I’ve got a good eye for people. Just wait and see.”
Without another word, Elton nodded and withdrew.
He trusted Karl’s instincts implicitly—believing that no one could read people better than Karl.
As Karl dusted off his hands and stood, he gestured toward Elton to follow. I was already approaching them.
“You were snoring quite loudly last night,” Karl teased as I drew near.
“Me? Snoring?”
“Didn’t you know? Better be careful—assassins who snore don’t tend to live long.”
“How old are you, by the way?” I asked.
“Mid-forties, I think. Why?”
“You’ve lived surprisingly long, then.”
“...?”
Karl looked at Elton in confusion, but Elton quickly glanced away, pretending not to notice.
Does he really not know? Has no one ever told him about his snoring?
I chuckled inwardly as I rubbed my stomach. There was a more pressing reason I had approached them.
“Got anything to eat?”
“I figured you’d ask.”
“Really?”
“Come with me.”
Karl led me to a spot where the others had already gathered for a meal.
A campfire crackled in the center, and over the flames, a boar’s hind leg roasted to perfection. The smell made my mouth water.
Elton shifted to sit with the other assassins, leaving just Karl and me by the fire.
Karl cut off a piece of the roasted boar with his dagger and handed it to me. It tasted divine.
Like a baby bird waiting to be fed, I happily accepted each slice of meat Karl gave me.
As I blew on a piece to cool it, I casually asked, “Tell me about your time here.”
“Here? This damned place? Why do you want to know?”
“Will you share your experience? In return, feel free to ask me anything you’re curious about.”
“Trading questions, huh? I like that.”
Karl set down the piece of meat with a small grin.
Two months and fifteen days of memories—memories so unpleasant that just recalling them was enough to ruin his appetite.
But Karl recounted his time in the experimental prison without emotion, as if he were telling someone else’s story.
I ate quietly, listening intently.
It was fascinating.
It felt like I was hearing a side story of one of the novel’s main characters—a story that deepened my understanding of Karl and the people around him.
And as I connected Karl’s narrative with the original story, I gained new insights.
‘He must’ve held a high position in Crux.’
A large number of assassins had followed him all the way to Laup Forest, which meant he had to be a senior figure—likely one with his own faction.
It made sense. Accessing classified information about Boom would require more than just a captain’s rank. Even the man who forced the parasite into me had been stronger than most captains.
Karl must have been just as formidable—if not more—before he lost his arm.
‘No wonder he’s filled with resentment.’
Losing comrades and an arm in the process... It was clear Karl harbored deep hatred for the Master.
He must have chosen the Mad Butcher as his instrument of revenge.
The Butcher needed a powerful ally for his ambitions, and Karl needed someone capable of toppling the Master.
Their mutual interests aligned, resulting in an unholy alliance.
‘He showed up at the Butcher’s side with a small but elite group of assassins.’
I glanced at the assassins sitting around the campfire.
Those who had survived the experimental prison were hardened, battle-tested fighters. Elton, in particular, seemed to be part of Karl’s core team—his most trusted soldiers.
Just then, Karl said something that snapped me out of my thoughts.
“Betel’s Poison?”
My eyes widened.
“You know what Betel’s Poison is?” Karl asked, noticing my reaction.
“You mean... this?” I pulled out a small vial from my bag—a violet-colored liquid I had confiscated from the bandits when I first arrived here.
Karl’s eyes sparkled as he inspected the vial.
“Yeah, that’s the stuff. Where’d you find it?”
“It was lying around during the monster attack. I grabbed a few vials from the bandits, just in case.”
In truth, I had taken them from the naked bandits after the attack, but there was no need to mention that.
“How many do you have?”
I poured out a handful of vials, and Karl’s smile grew wider.
His reaction told me these were invaluable.
“I can’t believe you managed to get these,” Karl said, clearly impressed.
“Is this poison really that useful?”
“It’s more than just useful. It’s essential for survival.”
“Essential? How so?”
Karl gave me a knowing look.
“This poison... is the key to disabling Boom.”
“...!”
My heart skipped a beat.
This is exactly the information I’ve been searching for.
“Is it a cure?” I asked urgently.
“Not exactly. But without it, a cure would be impossible.”
I clenched my chest.
Betel’s Poison slows the heart’s rhythm dramatically, creating the illusion of death. It was clear the poison had some unique effect on the parasite.
But Karl hadn’t revealed this for free—there had to be a reason.
I stared into the flickering flames, lost in thought.
Karl handed me another piece of meat, which I accepted silently.
After a moment, I met his gaze.
“Why did you tell me this?”
“First, answer one of my questions,” Karl replied with a sly grin. “It’s only fair.”
“What do you want to know?”
“Back in Crux... whose apprentice were you?”
I held my breath.
“You’re too skilled to be just some rookie,” Karl continued. “I’ve been thinking about it, and I think I know the answer.”
He picked up his dagger and cut another slice of meat. The firelight illuminated his scarred face, making him look almost comical—like a grumpy old bear.
But I knew better.
Karl Bastain wasn’t a bear.
He was a fox in bear’s clothing—cunning and dangerous.
Sometimes, the only way to deal with someone like that is through a direct confrontation.
“I have a request,” I said.
“A request?”
“It’s about Boom.”
I pointed to Karl’s empty sleeve, where his arm had once been. His expression darkened instantly.
But instead of anger, Karl let out a cold chuckle and fixed me with a sharp gaze.
“So, you knew who I was all along, huh? I figured.”
“Karl Bastain—Crux’s number one assassination target.”
“Hah!”
“I heard you were marked for death after discovering how to disable Boom.”
“And where did you hear that? That information is supposed to be top-secret.”
“I had access to privileged knowledge.”
“From who?”
“From the Master.”
Karl’s expression froze.
“...What?”
I gave a calm, measured response.
“I am the Master’s disciple.”
As my words hung in the air, the mood around us shifted.
One by one, the assassins rose from their seats, their hands drifting toward their weapons.
For these men, the Master was a hated enemy—someone they had vowed to destroy.
Damn. These guys don’t miss a thing. They’ve been listening the whole time, pretending to eat.
And yet, despite the growing tension, Karl’s expression remained neutral. He stared at me with quiet intensity, as if weighing my every word.
After a long moment, he raised his hand, silently signaling the assassins to stand down.
The trust these men had in Karl was absolute.
“Not just any Crux operative, huh?” Karl muttered. “The Master’s personal disciple... You’d better have a good reason for telling me that.”
“I was made his disciple... and then discarded.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m a failed experiment.”
“...A failed experiment?”
“I’m a defective Divine Awakener.”