SWNOVELXO chapter 40
Chapter 40
With a satisfied smile, Ebony stepped back and then extended her hand.
The informant, grumbling for a while, reluctantly grabbed her hand and stood up.
“So, what kind of information do you need?”
“Let’s talk outside. This isn’t the best place for it.”
“Hah, must be some big secret.”
The three of them left the tavern and moved to a quieter spot. Ebony insisted on having their conversation in a narrow alleyway where they wouldn’t be overheard.
The informant frowned but followed along anyway.
“We’ll talk here, just us.”
Ebony gestured toward the cramped alley.
“…But.”
“Are you worried I can’t handle him? Don’t worry.”
“Alright. If anything seems off, get out immediately.”
The informant was well aware of Ebony’s reputation.
Understanding the situation, Cain stepped back and gave them space.
Once inside the alley, Ebony spoke in a low voice.
“I’ve heard rumors about black magic in the underworld. I want to know more.”
“What? Black magic?”
The informant looked shocked. He had expected something dangerous—maybe drugs or assassinations—but not this.
Black magic was strictly forbidden everywhere, even among criminals.
It was considered one of the darkest and most dangerous trades.
“So, what exactly do you want to know?”
“The method of trade.”
“…You must be crazy!”
He looked around nervously, making sure no one was listening.
“I don’t know how they trade, but I do know how to find the witches.”
“Witches? Is that what they’re called?”
“Yes.”
He picked up a twig and started drawing on the ground.
“If you go two blocks from here, you’ll find the marketplace. The deeper you go, the more dangerous the goods get. Of course, it’ll cost time and money, but I don’t think that’s a problem for you.”
He pointed to the deepest part of the map he had drawn.
“This is where it happens.”
“How do I find the witches?”
“No one knows. They constantly change locations.”
“They move around?”
“They have to. If their location gets exposed, they’re in danger. So instead of running their shops, they work through intermediaries.
These locations change all the time.”
Since black magic was one of the most dangerous powers, anyone caught using it faced severe consequences. That’s why the witches kept moving.
“Is there some kind of signal? If they change locations all the time, there must be a way for customers to find them.”
“A signal? More like a code name.”
The informant scribbled something on the ground.
“Black Moon”
Ebony instinctively moved her lips to read it aloud.
“Don’t say that name out loud!”
“…What?”
“Shhh!”
He quickly pressed a finger to his lips, signaling her to stay quiet.
“The witches have servants who gather information. These creatures can transform into anything—rocks on the street, birds in the sky. They listen.”
“So if I say the name, they’ll hear it?”
“Yes! They’ve been trained to recognize that name. Use it carefully. If you say it in the wrong place, you could get caught and become their next meal.”
After finishing his explanation, the informant used his foot to erase the writing and drawing.
“That’s all I know.”
He turned to leave.
As he was walking away, Ebony grabbed his hand and placed a pouch in it.
“That’s half of what I owe you.”
The informant looked surprised.
“Informants have rules, right? Once you take payment, you must never reveal the information you shared.
Since you’ve accepted this, you’ll keep our conversation a secret until you die.”
“…You’re a scary woman. I should’ve known from the way you drank back there.”
Shaking his head, he tucked the money into his coat and walked away.
Cain, watching the exchange, spoke.
“So that’s why you prepared the money in advance?”
“It’s always safer to be thorough.”
Ebony handed the remaining half of the payment to Cain.
“You’re quite meticulous… almost frighteningly so.”
“That’s a compliment, right?”
“Of course.”
Cain watched her and was reminded of someone—someone kind and lovely, yet strangely similar to a cold and ruthless man he once knew.
He quickly shook off the thought and refocused.
“Where do we go next?”
“I was thinking of heading to the next district. Is it too late for that?”
“The sun will be up soon. Moving districts might be difficult.”
“Then we should find a place to stay first.”
As they headed toward the inns two blocks away, Ebony suddenly caught a familiar scent.
She instinctively turned her head and locked eyes with a man staring directly at her.
Before she could react, he strode toward her and grabbed her wrist.
“You.”
Her wrist trembled—not just from his grip, but from something deeper.
That one word was enough to tell her who he was.
“You… what are you doing here?”
The man had never been overly formal with her, but he had also never spoken to her so bluntly before.
It meant he was either angry or shocked.
Cain, realizing the tension, reached for his sword.
But Ebony stopped him.
“It’s okay, Sir Reaper. I know him.”
“You know him?”
Cain eyed the stranger suspiciously.
The man’s face was hidden behind a mask, and his body was fully covered in a cloak. There were no distinguishing features, yet Ebony seemed completely certain of his identity.
Cain remained on guard.
Ebony and the man exchanged long, silent glances.
“What are you doing here?”
Her wrist was starting to ache, but she forced herself to sound calm.
The man frowned slightly, clearly displeased by her nonchalant attitude.
After a brief silence, he finally spoke.
“That’s what I should be asking you.”
“…”
“What are you doing here, Ebony?”
His grip loosened, and she was finally free.
Making sure no one else was around, Ebony removed her hood.
“I have things to take care of.”
Diego also removed his hood, scoffing.
“Things to take care of, huh?”
He turned his gaze to Cain, his sharp jawline visible now.
“And who’s this?”
“He’s helping me. I asked my brother to assign me a knight.”
“Yet instead of the best knight in the empire, you’re traveling with some low-grade mercenary.”
Though his tone was calmer, his words were anything but.
Ebony frowned.
She wanted to demand an apology but now wasn’t the time. He was angry.
Cain, however, was furious.
His grip on his sword tightened, and a dangerous energy surrounded him.
Sensing the tension, Ebony gently grabbed Cain’s wrist.
“…Magnus, stand down.”
She had no choice but to use the ultimate command.