TGSA 58

Chapter 58

Racing Through the Darkness (3)

[Permanent binding of Calesius Thunder Spear Technique (B-Rank) has been completed.]

The assassin Rashion collapsed, spewing blood.

At the same time, a message appeared.

The Calesius Thunder Spear Technique, which had been C-Rank until now, had grown to B-Rank and was officially fused with my body.

[The abilities currently acquired through “Ability Reproduction” are as follows.]

== Temporarily Acquired ==

• [Partisan Judgment Swordsmanship (S-Rank)]

• [Balahaile Medium Swordsmanship (A-Rank)]

• [Lichtenauer Light Sword Technique (A-Rank)]

• [Atilion Magic Detection Technique (A-Rank)]

• [—]

== Permanently Bound ==

• [Calesius Thunder Spear Technique (B-Rank)]

• [Eastern-Style Magic Circulation Method (A-Rank)]

Checking closely, I could see that a slot had opened up because the Calesius Thunder Spear Technique had switched to permanent binding.

Now I could learn one more new ability without any penalty.

The number of abilities I could hold had increased to seven.

“With this, I can add a new sword technique.”

Since obtaining Atilion Magic Detection Technique from Claude, I hadn’t had room to acquire a new sword technique.

But now that there was an open slot, I could learn another sword technique and broaden my tactical options.

“But the most important thing…”

I had evolved the Calesius Thunder Spear Technique to a new level.

This held significant meaning. Even the founder, Yols Calesius himself, had not yet reached this level.

“This confirms that I can elevate a sword technique to a higher realm using my own power.”

I knew all the theoretical aspects of how to advance the Calesius Thunder Spear Technique.

But theory alone couldn’t raise its rank. I had to gain real combat experience and transform that knowledge into true enlightenment.

“If I train while sharing this enlightenment with Yols, maybe I can accelerate the growth of the Calesius Thunder Spear Technique.”

Until now, Yols had never seen me use it. How to explain and convince him was still something I needed to consider.

However, since Yols was the founder, sharing my enlightenment could benefit both him and myself.

“If I grow the Calesius Thunder Spear Technique further, I’ll be ready for the battles to come.”

With that thought, I turned my gaze to Rashion’s corpse.

That made nine out of the twelve eliminated.

“But…”

I used Atilion Magic Detection Technique to survey the area.

I couldn’t sense the magic of three approaching from the left side of the campsite.

Instead, the magic near the campfire was moving toward me.

“Ernas.”

Through the driving rain, Heinrich appeared, who had been keeping watch.

He drew his sword and walked toward me.

“There were suspicious movements, so I took care of them all.”

“……”

Once the fight with Rashion had begun, the remaining assassins must have noticed something amiss.

They would have tried to support Rashion, but they were detected by Heinrich, who had also sensed the anomaly.

In the end, the three I hadn’t dealt with were taken care of by Heinrich.

“What about the assistant professors?”

“They’re still asleep. Calm as ever.”

“They wouldn’t hear anything with this storm, so there’s nothing we can do.”

Even we couldn’t hear each other clearly without being close. Using magic to enhance senses would help, but Claude and Mateus were fast asleep.

They were only intermediate graduates, so I couldn’t expect much.

“Ernas, do you know who these guys are?”

“Assassins from the Blood Blade Elder Council.”

“Blood Blade Elder Council…”

Heinrich frowned.

“Then they were targeting our lives. Perhaps hired by another sword technique noble family.”

“Most likely.”

“I don’t know which family, but they’re using filthy tactics.”

Heinrich showed his displeasure.

He believed he could claim the position of Duke of Lichtenauer with his own skill, so such underhanded methods would annoy him.

“Attempting to climb to the top by assassinating rivals… they have no shame at all.”

“……”

In fact, the one who preferred such methods in the stories was Ernas Lanzstein.

He even manipulated other families to kill each other for his own gain.

“Could be the Lancaster, Baltfeld, Ignias, or Schreier family… hard to tell.”

“Maybe the Lanzstein or Agrippa family too.”

“What?”

Heinrich frowned but quickly bit his lip.

“No, it’s definitely possible. They may have intended to kill only one of us.”

“We ended up killing them all without thinking.”

Of course, I already knew they were assassins sent by Theodora Baltfeld.

“Heinrich, don’t report this to the assistant professors.”

“Why?”

“If it gets out that assassins appeared during our camp, our future activities might be restricted.”

“That makes sense.”

“Soon, monsters will come to devour the bodies. Once they handle them, the assistant professors won’t notice anything that happened tonight.”

In the wilderness, many monsters act as scavengers, like hyenas.

Even in this storm, they could detect the scent of blood and quickly approach to clean up.

If the assistant professors investigated thoroughly, they might detect the battle, but the storm would continue tomorrow, and they were prioritizing returning to the academy, so it was fine.

“Then let’s return to the campsite, Heinrich.”

I yawned as I spoke.

The watch was over, and I needed a full sleep until morning, having been kept awake by the assassins.

“I should get some rest too.”

“Hmph, suit yourself.”

Heinrich replied curtly, turning his head.

“Failed?”

“My apologies, Lady Theodora.”

Mohad bowed before Theodora.

He had taken the order from Theodora to hire the Blood Blade Elder Council for the assassination.

“We deployed sufficient forces, but it seems they were completely annihilated without results.”

“What happened?”

“The details are unclear. The storm and monsters erased all traces…”

“I can’t understand. Was the Blood Blade Elder Council really this incompetent?”

Theodora frowned.

Given the target, she had paid a significant sum for this assassination. She hadn’t expected complete failure without any gain.

“They couldn’t even sever an arm from Ernas or Heinrich…”

“What shall we do? The Blood Blade Elder Council suggested sending elder-level assassins.”

“That’s not possible. I can’t make that decision.”

The council had elite assassins at the elder level, but they couldn’t be hired with money.

If Theodora tried, they would demand confidential information from the Baltfeld family, securing leverage for themselves—a long-standing survival strategy.

“It seems there’s no choice now.”

“Lady Theodora…”

“Ernas Lanzstein is dangerous. Leaving him be will be a huge obstacle for the Baltfeld family’s future.”

Theodora spoke with stern authority.

“I’ll handle this personally. It’s better than repeatedly failing with halfhearted assassins.”

“But Lady Theodora…”

“Don’t worry. I won’t do anything to harm the Baltfeld family.”

She reached for a letter hidden among some documents.

“We also received some valuable information. If it’s true, we don’t need to move first.”

As she read, Theodora smiled cruelly.

“Soon, Ernas will come to us of his own accord… and fall right into our trap.”

Returning to the academy and reporting our external achievements, Yols remained silent for a while.

“Impressive. Beyond my expectations.”

He looked between me and Heinrich.

“You are lower-grade graduates, but practically, you seem to have skills equivalent to mid-grade graduates.”

“We assessed the same, Professor Yols.”

Claude gave a wry smile.

“We just can’t use the self-defense device yet. Aside from that, they’re better than us.”

“I agree with Claude, Professor.”

Mateus nodded.

“We could go on external practice without an instructor.”

“Isn’t that too soon?”

“No. As long as a few precautions are properly taught, it will be fine.”

Claude shrugged and added:

“Honestly, even if we sent them out now, they’d earn fame as young graduates dominating the West.”

“High praise indeed.”

“Acknowledgment is due.”

“Still, we can’t do that just yet.”

Yols crossed his arms, deep in thought.

“There was an external training planned after further preparation. But if your skills are already close to mid-grade graduates, it can be conducted immediately.”

“Professor, that…”

“How about it, Ernas, Heinrich?”

Yols’ gaze turned to us.

“Do you want to enter the Western Grand Labyrinth?”

“……!”

The Western Grand Labyrinth.

A massive underground dungeon in the empire’s west.

Countless monsters live in its endless underground maze, making it one of the most dangerous places in this world.

“You’ve probably heard, I gained much real combat experience in the Western Grand Labyrinth.”

“……”

“Reaching my peak skill level was entirely due to that experience. That’s why I want academy students to experience combat there too.”

Practical training in the Western Grand Labyrinth.

This was Yols’ educational philosophy at the academy.

“Thoroughly practical training… that’s the Yols Class policy. After much coordination, I can now actually take students into the Western Grand Labyrinth.”

He looked at us.

“So, Ernas, Heinrich, will you join me in the Western Grand Labyrinth?”

Hearing this, Heinrich immediately nodded.

“I’ll go, Professor.”

“Heinrich…”

“Being able to watch the professor fight up close is enough to gain great insight.”

It was rare to see Heinrich this motivated, showing how highly he regarded Yols.

“Ernas, what about you?”

“There’s one thing I want to confirm, Professor.”

I spoke slowly.

“I heard that noble families from across the empire send personnel annually to manage the Western Grand Labyrinth.”

“The six great sword technique families, yes.”

The six families were the empire’s top nobles, fulfilling many duties. One duty was sending graduates to manage the Western Grand Labyrinth.

“This year, Baltfeld family graduates have been dispatched, led by Lady Theodora Baltfeld, the duke’s younger sibling.”

“……”

The reason Theodora, based in the north, keeps lingering in the west?

Because she is dispatched to the Western Grand Labyrinth.

“If you’re worried about conflict with the Baltfeld family, don’t be. We’ve already coordinated through the academy.”

“Understood. Then it should be fine.”

I nodded inwardly thinking:

‘Sorry, Professor Yols, but that’s mistaken.’

Yols didn’t know the six families were competing for the Duke of Lichtenauer’s seat. He would never imagine Theodora Baltfeld might personally try to kill me despite the risks.

‘If we enter the Western Grand Labyrinth with Yols, Theodora will come herself.’

But knowing that, I would still go.

If Theodora comes to kill me… I’ll just take her down myself.

‘By defeating this major figure, I can advance to the next stage.’

To rise to the top through the bloody competition of the six sword technique families.

The time had come to defeat Theodora Baltfeld.