Chapter 24
Facing the Assassin (1)
It was the morning of the sixth day locked inside the Punishment Cave.
I was training in swordsmanship on a field of glowing nightgrass.
“Haaap…!”
Whoosh!
A blade imbued with pure white energy sliced through the air.
Right now, I was holding a short sword, practicing the Lancaster Short Sword Technique.
“My proficiency in Lancaster Short Sword, obtained from Lester, is at S-rank… nearly perfect.”
The Lancaster Short Sword was a highly refined Western-style swordsmanship, known for its versatility.
Because I was wielding it at S-rank proficiency, I could unleash dazzling techniques that even amazed me.
The only drawback was that it wasn’t a Graduate-exclusive style.
If it were a style meant to be used with mana, I could have performed even higher-level movements.
“Still, this level alone is already…!”
Crack!
A blade of sword energy split the air.
By now, I was used to applying sword aura to every technique in the Lancaster Short Sword.
“Originally, this was a level Lester was supposed to reach… but I got here first!”
Slash, slash, slash!
The sword traced intricate, dazzling arcs through the air.
At this level of continuous technique, I could overwhelm most early-stage Graduates in a one-sided battle.
“Though the higher stages won’t be so easy.”
Not all Graduates were the same.
No matter how much Elixir one consumed, without achieving enlightenment to break through, one couldn’t grow stronger.
“Those who just step into the realm are called early-stage Graduates… after that, it goes to Lower, Middle, then Upper.”
At the moment, I could be considered a Lower Graduate.
The term Lower might sound unimpressive, but in the outside world, even this much was enough for people to treat you like a living weapon.
Anne-Lise, the instructor of Black Class 6, was also a Lower Graduate.
“Ultimately, I’ll need to aim for the Upper stage and beyond… but now’s not the time to think of that.”
For now, my goal was to break past Lower and reach the Middle stage.
Even that was no easy feat.
The instructor guarding the entrance of this Punishment Cave had been stuck at Lower for over ten years without advancing.
“Hmm, it’s about time for breakfast.”
Every morning, the instructor brought me my day’s meal.
Just hard bread and plain water—but being locked up here, I had no choice.
“Once I get back to the dorms, I’ll have to eat my fill in the dining hall.”
Of course, I’d have to be careful not to let Viola Oricius steal my food.
With that thought, I left the royal family’s exclusive training ground.
Using Lichtenauer’s Lightfoot Technique, I leapt up the cliff—
“….”
I stopped mid-motion.
Then retraced my steps, picking up the short sword I’d swung earlier.
“Let’s go up.”
With the short sword in hand, I bounded up the cliff again.
Now that I’d grown skilled with mana usage, Lichtenauer’s movement technique performed far better than before.
In an instant, I scaled the cliff and arrived at the spot where food was usually left.
“….”
I picked up the hard bread and bit into it.
Forcing myself to chew, I tossed the rest into the darkness.
“Impressive.”
Slash!
With a calm voice, the bread was cut cleanly in two in midair.
And from the shadows emerged a man, his body cloaked in darkness.
“How did you know?”
“I learned from a friend how to detect prey in hiding.”
Oricius Hunting Technique, acquired from Viola Oricius.
It was particularly effective against Western-style stealth arts.
And since Viola had mastered it to A-rank, she could detect enemies lurking even far away.
“That was Viola’s greatest talent.”
I had even used it when ambushing Lester’s follower, Yuser.
Yuser had learned the Western concealment style Brossian Stealth, but at only B-rank proficiency.
That level was easy to expose.
“The stealth technique you’re using… it’s Brossian Stealth, isn’t it?”
“…!”
I could see the assassin flinch.
So, stronger than Yuser—likely A-rank. But unfortunately for him, I had A-rank Oricius Hunting.
“You must be from the Brossian family, the ones who’ve long served the Lancasters.”
“You….”
“Then… you must be Raziel Brossian, father of Yuser Brossian, who was expelled with Lester not long ago.”
“…!”
His reaction confirmed it.
At this point, the only Brossian assassin likely to appear was Raziel.
In the novel, too, Raziel had used Brossian Stealth to ambush the protagonists, only to be exposed by Viola.
“Judging by the look of it, Henry Lancaster must have sent you to kill me…”
Before I could even finish speaking, Raziel lunged.
As expected of an assassin. Failure to ambush didn’t mean he’d waste time on chatter.
“So be it.”
Fighting Raziel here wasn’t something I had planned.
But he was an opponent I’d eventually have to face.
Killing him now would cause no problem.
“After all, I’ll have to settle things with the Lancaster family sooner or later.”
With that resolve, I gripped my sword.
“Truly remarkable.”
Raziel Brossian was astonished in his heart.
“Not only did he see through my stealth, he even identified who I am—how…?”
He’d heard Ernas had used the Lancaster Short Sword Technique.
Could there be an informant within the Lancaster family?
“I had planned to quietly finish this and leave, but now… no choice.”
The instructor at the cave’s entrance was asleep outside.
He had inhaled the sleeping incense passed down in the Brossian line.
He would awaken in about twenty minutes, thinking he had simply dozed off.
“I’ll subdue him quickly and dispose of the body.”
They said Ernas was only at the early stage of Graduate.
That alone was already remarkable.
But if he was only an early-stage Graduate, he was no match for Raziel.
Though stuck at Lower Graduate due to lacking mana, Raziel had spent decades on assassination missions.
A rookie just entering Graduate was nothing—his neck could be taken in an instant.
“Don’t resent me, Ernas Lanstyne.”
Raziel used his movement art.
He didn’t charge straight.
Instead, he weaved side to side, violently shaking his trajectory to confuse his foe’s vision.
Movements only possible for those adept at using mana.
“He won’t know where to block…!”
Ernas’s stance was shifted toward his right.
Seeing that, Raziel slid to the left, reaching for Ernas’s flank.
In his hand gleamed a dagger coated with sword aura.
“…?!”
Clang!
The clash of sword aura rang out.
Though Ernas seemed to guard the right side, somehow his sword was already blocking on the left.
“What?”
Raziel immediately pressed another attack, seeing Ernas’s lower right exposed.
But then he realized—Ernas’s blade was already streaking toward his neck.
“…!”
He twisted desperately to evade.
The sword didn’t cut into his throat, but the force of its aura tore open the skin.
“That was… the Lancaster Short Sword’s feint tactic!”
A method of deliberately exposing a weak spot to lure the opponent in.
Raziel had known Ernas used Lancaster Short Sword, but still—
“Even if an early Graduate tried that on me, it shouldn’t work…”
If it were Lester Lancaster using it, for instance:
Even knowing it was a trap, Raziel could attack Lester’s open side anyway.
Because his movements were faster than Lester’s, he could land the decisive strike first.
“But this brat—an early-stage Graduate—he’s that fast?”
Disbelieving, Raziel attacked again, now wielding two daggers at once.
Twin blades flashed in a storm of rapid strikes.
But Ernas blocked them all.
“This brat…!”
His body moved swiftly.
Fast enough to respond to every one of Raziel’s attacks.
“Physical ability? No… this is…!”
He was boosting his speed with mana.
Something impossible for just an early Graduate.
“Could he be… Lower Graduate?”
The thought flashed across his mind.
But Raziel immediately dismissed it.
“Nonsense! Impossible!”
By now, Ernas had only consumed two Red Elixirs.
That alone could never push someone to Lower Graduate.
Unless he absorbed over 90% of the Elixir’s mana—something no newly-formed Mana Heart could manage.
“He must be using some strange technique!”
The name of the Demon Sect crossed his mind.
If anyone could grant such power, it would be those who used sinister methods to corrupt the world.
For a successor of the Six Great Sword Families to be tainted by the Demon Sect was unthinkable—but he could think of no other explanation.
“You’re probably imagining something ridiculous right now, Raziel Brossian.”
Suddenly, Ernas spoke.
“You’re probably wondering—Ernas Lanstyne should only be an early Graduate, so how is he matching my speed?”
“…!”
The words pierced his thoughts, startling him.
“Let me tell you one thing.”
“W-what…?”
“I am not an early-stage Graduate.”
In that instant of distraction, Ernas’s sword came crashing down.
“Because I’ve already reached Lower Graduate.”
Slash!
His blade’s aura grazed Raziel’s mask, tearing through it.
“Ghhk…!”
Raziel staggered back with a groan.
I clicked my tongue at the sight.
“Too shallow a strike. Truly, fighting a veteran assassin isn’t easy.”
His mask had ripped, blood trickling from his forehead.
But though it bled profusely, the wound wasn’t fatal.
“Damn it…!”
Raziel cursed, tearing off the mask.
A middle-aged man with sharp features, his face scarred.
“Sorry for adding another scar to that face of yours, Raziel Brossian.”
“Shut your mouth…!”
His eyes burned with fury.
“You? A Lower Graduate? You, who only just formed a Mana Heart?!”
“Sounds like my words struck a nerve, Raziel.”
Earlier he hadn’t wasted time on talking, yet now he snapped back at me.
“Well, I suppose it must be frustrating, stuck at Lower for decades. Maybe the Lancasters should at least let you read a single mana-cultivation manual as a reward.”
“W-what?!”
“To serve loyally for so long and not even be granted that much… pathetic of them.”
Raziel’s face twitched violently at my words.
“You… don’t you dare run your mouth!”
He roared with fury.
“I’ll make sure… you die by my hands!”
At that moment—
A wild surge of mana burst from Raziel.
He kicked off the ground, leaping high toward the cavern ceiling.
He was preparing to unleash the ultimate secret technique of the Brossian Assassination Sword Style.
A technique with strict limits—one that could slay even a Middle Graduate at first sight.
“So you’re finally using it.”
And this—was precisely what I had been waiting for.
