TGSA 25

Chapter 25 

Facing the Assassin (2)

The Brosian family had long served the Lancaster family.

Their main work involved dirty tasks like assassination.

Because of this, the swordsmanship of the Brosian family was not suitable for normal, head-on confrontations.

Ambushes, surprise attacks, sudden strikes… their techniques were specialized for such situations.

However, even Brosian assassination swordsmanship had a secret technique suitable for a direct confrontation.

A secret final technique, without even a name.

“The characteristic of this technique is that it is so unorthodox that anyone seeing it for the first time cannot counter it.”

First Sight, Immediate Kill (初見卽殺).

This is a concept in Western swordsmanship, full of unpredictable techniques.

If one faced it unprepared, they would be struck down immediately.

“With this technique, Raziel Brosian could even take down an intermediate-grade Graduate.”

The skill of First Sight, Immediate Kill could defeat opponents stronger than oneself.

Of course, if the skill gap was extremely large, the technique might fail—but otherwise, even someone superior could be defeated.

“That’s why it’s common to keep the secret of First Sight, Immediate Kill strictly hidden.”

Once the existence of the technique was known, countermeasures could be researched.

Thus, members of the Brosian family never used this technique recklessly.

Even the Lancaster family had been kept unaware of it.

“For Raziel to use such a technique on me, it means he’s cornered too.”

Raziel had to quickly defeat me and clean up the aftermath.

In that situation, with me constantly provoking him, he had no choice but to use the hidden final technique.

“Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t have been able to respond at all.”

The final secret of Brosian assassination swordsmanship is a ‘stabbing’ that twists and wriggles like a snake.

It’s hard to anticipate where or when it will strike, and at the last moment, it ‘loosens the joints’ to extend the reach of the arm.

As a finishing move of First Sight, Immediate Kill capable of taking down intermediate-grade Graduates, it was difficult for me, a lower-grade Graduate, to respond.

“But…”

Watching Raziel’s blade strike toward me, I activated the power of my Mana Heart.

Focusing mana on every part of my body, I put myself in optimal condition.

Then, I unleashed my secret technique.

“With this, I can ensure victory.”

Clang!

The sound of blade against blade rang out.

Then… Raziel’s sword was deflected and fell to the cave floor.

“Wh-what…?!”

Raziel faltered, surprised.

He couldn’t understand why the secret of First Sight, Immediate Kill had been countered.

“How…?”

“Raziel Brosian, I’ll tell you something.”

My blade was already at the back of his neck.

Maintaining that position, I spoke coldly.

“Lancaster short-swordsmanship has techniques designed to counter the final secret of Brosian dagger swordsmanship.”

“W-what did you say?”

Raziel’s eyes widened.

“Th-that’s impossible. The Lancaster family didn’t even know such a technique existed…”

“That’s your misconception.”

The Lancaster family knew that the Brosians had First Sight, Immediate Kill.

In preparation for the day they would need to eliminate the Brosians, they acquired the technique and researched countermeasures.

The Brosian swordsman would unleash the technique at the last moment, and if that could be countered, victory was guaranteed.

“They prepared a plan in advance for when they needed to deal with the hunting dog.”

“Ugh…”

Raziel shivered upon hearing my words.

“We’ve been loyal to the Lancaster family…”

He seemed to feel betrayed.

Having lost his will to fight, he did not resist, even with the blade at his neck.

“Damn swordsmanship master family…”

The last words he left were a curse directed at the noble family he had loyally served.

Huff…

After confirming that Raziel’s breath had stopped, I collapsed to the ground.

Although I had prepared myself mentally for entering the world of the novel, taking someone’s life was still a burden.

“Now… what should I do?”

The Lancaster family had sent an assassin for their son’s revenge.

Even in this world, that was clearly crossing a line.

Yet reporting this would not necessarily solve anything.

“There’s no evidence anyway.”

Even if I had spared Raziel, it would have been the same.

Even if Raziel confessed, Henry Lancaster would deny everything thoroughly.

This would become a political conflict.

“The Lancaster family might even retaliate, claiming I falsely accused them without clear evidence.”

If it became a political feud between families, I would be at a disadvantage.

Currently, the Ranzstein family could not intervene for certain reasons.

So I had to face this alone, using my personal skill.

“Right now, I’m just a student at the academy. I can’t push the Lancaster family around at this point.”

Attacking the Lancaster family directly at this moment was impossible.

Even if I went outside the academy and used “mid-story elements from the novel,” I could bring the Lancaster family to their knees… but that was out of the question.

“Should I ask another family for help? No, then I’d be indebted to them.”

In the end, a direct confrontation with the Lancaster family now would be disadvantageous.

But I couldn’t ignore this situation either.

“I was almost killed by an assassin. I can’t just pretend nothing happened.”

Sitting on the floor, I pondered.

“What would Ernas in the novel have done?”

Ernas Ranzstein, a genius in strategy and manipulation.

He wouldn’t have suffered foolishly in a situation like this.

He would have created the most advantageous scenario and slipped away to safety.

“If only the protagonist Akandel weren’t there, he would have gotten everything.”

I was the author who created Ernas.

So I could easily imagine the strategy Ernas would employ in such a situation.

“Alright, I know what to do.”

Finally, an idea came to me.

Henry Lancaster was feeling anxious.

No news of Ernas Ranzstein’s death had come, no matter how long he waited.

Moreover, he hadn’t reached Raziel either.

“Raziel couldn’t have failed…”

Raziel was a veteran assassin, seasoned by countless battles.

Killing Ernas, who was still a novice, should not have been difficult.

What on earth had happened?

“L-Lord, a guest has arrived!”

“A guest?”

Hearing the urgent voice of a servant, Henry frowned.

“We had no appointments today. Who could it be?”

“Th-that is…”

“I’ll excuse myself.”

Pushing the servant aside, a man with a strong build entered.

Henry was startled upon seeing him.

“Caleon Ignias…?”

“Long time no see, Henry Lancaster.”

The head of the Ignias family, Caleon Ignias, who was also a professor at the academy, had suddenly come to the Lancaster household.

“How did you—”

“With my Geomancy, it only takes a few days to get here.”

“That’s not what I mean… ahem.”

Henry cleared his throat.

“What brings you here? I thought all recent matters had been resolved.”

Henry had even written an apology letter himself.

It was humiliating, but necessary to resolve the situation.

“I did not come because of Lester’s expulsion.”

“Then…?”

Caleon threw something to the floor.

Upon seeing it, Henry flinched.

“That is…!”

It was none other than Raziel’s head.

Normally he wore a mask, hiding his face even from family, but Henry recognized it.

“Do you know him?”

“I don’t. Who would throw this here?”

Feigning ignorance, Caleon said in a rough voice:

“He was the assassin who attacked Ernas Ranzstein.”

“Ernas Ranzstein?”

“Apparently, he let his guard down because he thought Ernas was just a student. He was stabbed to death after exposing a weakness.”

“….”

Nonsense.

Raziel would never underestimate a student.

‘Raziel, though a lower-grade Graduate, was a veteran assassin who killed many intermediate-grade Graduates. He would strike others’ weaknesses, not be struck himself!’

Yet here was Raziel’s head on the floor.

Whether killed by Ernas or someone else, he had failed his mission.

Thus, Henry had only one option:

To act as if he had nothing to do with the incident.

“I have a rough idea of what you’re trying to say, Caleon Ignias…”

Henry spoke, maintaining his composure.

“You want to claim that the assassin was sent by our Lancaster family?”

“…….”

“Ridiculous.”

Henry shook his head.

“Ernas Ranzstein did bring down my son, Lester, that’s true. But sending an assassin as revenge is absurd.”

“……”

“Did the assassin even mention my name? No, you came alone, didn’t you?”

Raziel would not have revealed Henry’s name.

There was no evidence showing Henry had given orders.

If there were, Caleon would have come with troops to arrest Henry, not alone.

So, Caleon had no evidence.

“Ernas defeated my son, Lester, in a legitimate duel. I accepted that result. But hiring an assassin for revenge… that’s impossible. It’s an insult to me.”

“Seems like there’s some misunderstanding, Henry Lancaster.”

“What?”

“Ernas said it wasn’t exactly for Lester’s revenge.”

Henry flinched.

What does that mean?

“Ernas initially suspected Lester’s revenge too. But the assassin claimed that after killing Ernas…”

Caleon glared at Henry with a fierce look.

“…he planned to infiltrate the academy and kill the heirs of other swordsmanship families as well.”

“…!”

Impossible!

Henry had never ordered such a thing.

He had only ordered Ernas killed, not the heirs of other swordsmanship families.

This could turn all the swordsmanship families into enemies. Why would someone do that?

“He even said he would assassinate my son, Rufus Ignias… Henry Lancaster, you really have nothing to do with this, right?”

Caleon’s eyes blazed as he stared at Henry.