The Assassin’s Pledge

Chapter 5: Family ties

The guild’s infirmary was quiet, save for the faint hum of healing magic and the occasional groan of a wounded hunter. Sung-min lay on one of the cots, his body still aching from the battle in the A-rank dungeon. His friends were scattered across the room, each recovering in their own way. Li Wei was scribbling notes in a journal, his glasses perched precariously on his nose. Dae-hyun was quietly sharpening his mace, his expression thoughtful. Jung Uk, ever restless, was pacing the room, his daggers twirling in his hands.

The door creaked open, and a nurse stepped in, her expression kind but weary. “You’ve all been cleared for visitors,” she said. “Your families are waiting outside.”

Sung-min’s heart skipped a beat. *Families.* It had been weeks since he’d last seen his siblings. He sat up slowly, wincing at the stiffness in his muscles. “Send them in,” he said, his voice soft.

The first to enter were Sung-min’s siblings: Min-ji, his younger sister, and Ji-hoon, his younger brother. Min-ji was a spirited girl of fourteen, her dark hair tied back in a messy ponytail. Ji-hoon, at twelve, was quieter, his eyes wide with a mix of awe and concern.

“Oppa!” Min-ji exclaimed, rushing to his side. “You look terrible!”

Sung-min chuckled, ruffling her hair. “Thanks, Min-ji. You always know how to make me feel better.”

Ji-hoon hovered nearby, his hands fidgeting. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

“I’m fine,” Sung-min said, giving him a reassuring smile. “Just a little banged up. How are things at home?”

Min-ji’s expression darkened. “It’s not the same without you,” she said. “The guild won’t let us visit often, and it’s… lonely.”

Sung-min’s heart ached. He had taken on the role of provider after their father disappeared five years ago, leaving them with nothing but debts and unanswered questions. Becoming a hunter had been his only option, but it meant leaving his siblings in the care of the guild’s dormitories for low-rank hunters’ families. The system’s rules were clear: until he reached A-rank, he couldn’t protect them on his own. The guild’s custody was supposed to keep them safe, but it felt more like a prison.

“I’m doing everything I can to get stronger,” Sung-min said, his voice firm. “One day, we’ll all be together again. I promise.”

Next came Li Wei’s family: his twin sisters, Mei and Ling, both sixteen and as different as night and day. Mei was studious and reserved, her nose buried in a book even as she entered the room. Ling, on the other hand, was outgoing and energetic, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

“Gege!” Ling called out, bounding over to Li Wei. “You look like you got hit by a truck!”

Li Wei sighed, adjusting his glasses. “Thanks, Ling. Always the charmer.”

Mei sat down beside him, her expression serious. “Are you hurt?” she asked, her voice soft.

“Just a few bruises,” Li Wei said, giving her a small smile. “Nothing to worry about.”

Li Wei’s family had been torn apart when their mother, a renowned mage, vanished during a high-rank dungeon raid. The guild had taken custody of Mei and Ling, citing the same rules that kept Sung-min’s siblings in the dormitories. Li Wei had become a hunter to uncover the truth about his mother’s disappearance, but the guild’s restrictions made it feel like an impossible task.

“We miss you,” Mei said, her voice barely above a whisper. “The dormitories are… suffocating.”

Li Wei nodded, his expression grim. “I know. But I’m getting stronger. One day, we’ll find out what happened to Mom. And we’ll be a family again.”

Dae-hyun’s siblings were next: Soo-min, his younger sister, and Tae-woo, his younger brother. Soo-min was a fiery ten-year-old with a knack for getting into trouble, while Tae-woo, at eight, was shy and soft-spoken.

“Hyung!” Soo-min shouted, running over to Dae-hyun and throwing her arms around him. “You’re so slow! I could’ve taken down that dungeon boss faster than you!”

Dae-hyun laughed, ruffling her hair. “I’m sure you could, Soo-min. But let’s leave the dungeon crawling to me, okay?”

Tae-woo stood quietly beside him, his eyes wide with admiration. “Are you okay, Hyung?” he asked, his voice soft.

“I’m fine,” Dae-hyun said, giving him a reassuring smile. “Just a little tired.”

Dae-hyun’s father had died in a dungeon raid when he was just a child, leaving him to care for his siblings. The guild’s custody had been a blessing at first, providing food and shelter, but it came with strings attached. Until Dae-hyun reached A-rank, he couldn’t take his siblings home. The system’s logic was cold but clear: low-rank hunters couldn’t protect their families, so the guild would do it for them—for a price.

“I’ll get stronger,” Dae-hyun said, his voice firm. “And then we’ll have our own place. No more dormitories. No more rules.”

Finally, Jung Uk’s family arrived: his older sister, Hae-won, and his younger brother, Min-jae. Hae-won was a no nonsense twenty year old who had taken on the role of caretaker after their mother’s death. Min-jae, at fourteen, was a quiet boy with a love for tinkering and gadgets.

“Jung Uk,” Hae-won said, her arms crossed over her chest. “You look like you’ve been through a war.”

Jung Uk grinned, his usual cocky demeanor returning. “Just another day in the life of a hunter, Noona.”

Min-jae hovered nearby, his hands fidgeting with a small gadget. “Are you okay, Hyung?” he asked, his voice soft.

“I’m fine,” Jung Uk said, giving him a reassuring smile. “Just a little banged up.”

Jung Uk’s mother had died when he was young, leaving Hae-won to raise him and Min-jae. The guild’s custody had been a mixed blessing, providing stability but also stripping them of their independence. Jung Uk had become a hunter to prove that he could protect his family on his own, but the system’s rules made it feel like an uphill battle.

“I’ll get stronger,” Jung Uk said, his voice firm. “And then we’ll get out of here. No more guild rules. No more dormitories.”

As the families left, the group sat in silence, their minds heavy with the weight of their responsibilities. The guild’s system was designed to protect low-rank hunters and their families, but it felt more like a cage. Until they reached A-rank, they were at the guild’s mercy, their lives dictated by rules and restrictions.

“We need to get stronger,” Sung-min said, his voice low. “Not just for ourselves, but for them.”

The others nodded, their expressions grim. The road to A-rank was long and fraught with danger, but they had no choice. Their families depended on them, and they would do whatever it took to break free from the system’s chains.

As the group prepared for their next mission, the amulet in Sung-min’s pouch pulsed faintly, its light growing stronger. Unbeknownst to them, deep within the guild’s archives, a shadowy figure watched from the darkness, its eyes glowing with a malevolent light.

“The system’s chains are strong,” it whispered, its voice filled with malice. “But the shadows are stronger. And they will break free.”