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Chapter 26
Facing the Assassin (3)
“Don’t speak nonsense!”
Henry objected urgently.
“Assassinate the heirs of other swordsmanship families? Why would I do such a thing?”
“Think carefully, Henry Lancaster.”
Caleon glared at Henry as he spoke.
“Among the heirs of the six great swordsmanship families, your son is the only one expelled from the Academy. Doesn’t it drive you mad to see the remaining ones still around?”
“Don’t insult me! That doesn’t mean I would go and kill the heirs of other swordsmanship families! How could I handle the aftermath?”
“Well, isn’t it worth it this time?”
Henry flinched at Caleon’s words.
“Could it be… that you know something as well?”
“Do you think I wouldn’t know what you already know?”
Henry bit his lip.
This was related to what he had almost revealed to Lester before—the reason why this cohort was special.
“Rising to the top of the Academy this time holds immense significance,”
“……”
“But Lester was expelled from the Academy. In this situation, the only way for him to surpass the other five… is to eliminate all five of them.”
Henry swallowed hard under Caleon’s piercing gaze.
In truth, Henry had considered such a method himself.
However, at this point, he had no intention of acting rashly.
His plan was to eliminate Ernas first, then carefully assess the situation before making any moves.
“The motive is clear enough, isn’t it?”
“There’s no evidence, Caleon.”
Henry glared back at Caleon.
“This could have been the work of assassins sent by the heretical cult, or another family seeking the position in the Six Great Swordsmanship Houses.”
“If that were the case, they would have targeted Lester Lancaster first, as he’s unprotected after leaving the Academy.”
“There’s no guarantee they would…”
Henry felt frustration boiling within him.
No matter how he looked at it, this was Ernas’ trap.
Ernas had given false testimony to make Caleon suspect Henry.
Right now, only Caleon had come, but if the rumor spread to the other families, Henry would be in a difficult position.
“How can anyone believe that the assassin targeted heirs of other families too? Isn’t it all just Ernas’ testimony?”
“Then you’re saying Ernas lied? Why on earth?”
“That is…”
The most frustrating thing for Henry was that he couldn’t reveal the truth.
The real truth was that Henry had sent Raziel to assassinate Ernas.
But that truth could not be revealed.
In the end, to counter a lie, one had to lie in return; even the slightest mistake could unravel everything.
“Does it make sense that an assassin sent to kill all the heirs of the swordsmanship families failed against just one, Ernas Landstein? For a mission of such importance, wouldn’t they hire someone more skilled?”
“They weren’t careless because they underestimated him as a student.”
“No, originally…”
“Originally, what?”
“Cough, nothing at all.”
Henry had to cover his slip of the tongue before giving Caleon any clues.
Desperately, he tried to recover, but Caleon stared at him with a terrifying gaze.
“Henry Lancaster, you know something, don’t you?”
“I already said I know nothing!”
“You’re becoming increasingly suspicious.”
Caleon ground his teeth audibly, creating an atmosphere as if he were about to draw his sword and demonstrate Ignis Flame Swordsmanship.
“I’ll share this with the other families as well. I wonder how they’ll react.”
“Don’t push the Lancaster family without evidence. Do you want a war?”
“If you draw the sword first, we’ll gladly accept it.”
“Caleon…!”
Henry had originally planned to balance his position among the other families.
But now, the Lancaster family would become a common enemy among the remaining five families.
“The Academy is thoroughly investigating the scene right now. You’d better pray that no evidence comes out.”
“The Lancaster family has nothing to do with this, so whether evidence surfaces or not, it doesn’t matter.”
“Hmph, you speak well.”
Caleon snorted and left.
Watching his back, Henry clenched his fist tightly.
“Ernas Landstein… you…”
He wanted nothing more than to storm the Academy and kill Ernas right now.
But if he were discovered, Henry would become the mastermind behind the incident.
At worst, the Lancaster family could be erased from the ranks of the Six Great Swordsmanship Houses.
“Damn it…!”
Swearing, Henry smashed the armrest of his chair with his fist.
“Just wait, Ernas Landstein….”
Though it was difficult now, when the opportunity came, he would kill Ernas without fail.
Henry ground his teeth, making a solemn vow.
“By now, Caleon must be furiously busy, moving about.”
Thinking this, I boarded the ship to return to Black Class 6.
I should have returned earlier, but the additional investigation into the assassin incident kept me occupied.
Even the fact that an intruder had entered the Academy was a major incident, and now we learned that the intruder attempted to assassinate Ernas Landstein and planned to kill the heirs of other swordsmanship families… a thorough investigation was inevitable.
“Even if they investigate diligently, all they’ll find are the traces I left intentionally.”
While managing this incident, I guided the Academy to suspect the Lancaster family.
Requesting a private meeting with Caleon Ignis was also part of that plan.
“Caleon is a rather simple-minded man. Making him suspect Henry wasn’t difficult.”
Caleon is a serious senior, but like his son Rufus, he has a simple side.
Even in novels, he’s been deceived multiple times by others’ schemes.
By raising various points to make him suspect the Lancaster family, he left in a fury.
“He cherishes his son, so naturally he would become even more furious.”
Caleon would complain to Henry, then spread the story to other families.
Other families would then suspect the Lancaster family, putting them in a difficult position.
“Even without my direct involvement, the other families will restrain the Lancaster family.”
This was my contingency plan.
I could retaliate against the Lancaster family without moving personally… a method befitting Ernas Landstein.
“I cannot allow it to become a fight between me and the Lancaster family.”
Right now, I had to focus on training myself at the Academy.
I had no time to engage in political conflict with the Lancaster family.
That’s why I changed the dynamic.
“Let the fight be between the other families and the Lancaster family.”
I didn’t provide physical evidence that the Lancaster family was the mastermind.
If I had, the Lancaster family would be too disadvantaged, ending the conflict too quickly.
They might even submit to the other families.
“The Six Great Swordsmanship Houses must maintain a proper balance. It would be problematic if the Lancaster family were destroyed or absorbed by another family.”
With this, the Lancaster family wouldn’t dare approach me for a while.
They would be too preoccupied with responding to other families, and approaching the Academy recklessly would draw suspicion.
“They could risk invading the Academy… but if the Lancaster family tries to act against me again, I can repel them.”
And I would make sure they suffered a worse humiliation than this time.
With knowledge from the novel, I could find a way without issue.
“Then let’s depart soon, Ernas Landstein.”
“Yes, please.”
The instructor was about to set the ship in motion.
But then a voice called out.
“Ernas, so you’re here.”
“Professor Yols?”
Yols Kalesius of the Dragon-Slaying Sword.
The swordsmanship instructor of Black Class 6 was approaching.
“Do you have a moment?”
“Of course.”
The instructor bowed politely to Yols.
Having defeated a dragon alone and received praise from the Emperor, Yols was respected by everyone.
“I heard you were attacked by an assassin. I’m glad you weren’t hurt.”
“The opponent was far too careless in front of me.”
“You mean to say you were caught off guard?”
Yols looked at my face and said,
“If the rumors are true, the assassin sent by the Lancaster family would have been from the Brosian House.”
“Is that so?”
“I don’t think their assassins are that sloppy.”
“……”
“At the very least, they would have sent someone at Graduate level or higher.”
When I remained silent, Yols gave a wry smile.
“You don’t have to answer. I’m just glad to see your rapid growth.”
“Thanks to your guidance, Professor.”
“Don’t say things you don’t mean.”
Yols looked me up and down as he spoke.
“You can see just by looking. Compared to when you first arrived at the Academy, your body has changed a lot—in just a few months.”
“……”
“It proves you’ve trained harder than anyone. You must have trained every day, even in the punishment wing.”
Yols’ words made my chest tighten slightly.
At least my physical strength was entirely due to my own effort.
It was gratifying that someone recognized that effort.
“Still, your body is far from complete.”
“Yes, I agree.”
“Keep training your body. Even if you can enhance physical abilities with magic, basic strength and endurance are required to maximize its effects.”
“I understand, Professor.”
“I’d love to personally guide you… but as you know, that’s impossible.”
Yols looked at me with serious eyes.
“After passing the second test, it would be possible.”
“Professor…”
“What I’m saying isn’t for now. But remember that I am keeping an eye on you.”
“……”
Yols was referring to promotion after the second test.
But as he said, now was not the time.
So we didn’t discuss it further.
“By the way, are you returning to Black Class 6 now?”
“Yes, it’s been over ten days since I left.”
“Of all days, you return on a day like this.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
Yols’ voice turned stern.
“In the joint practice starting the day before yesterday, Black Class 6 moved together with Yellow Class 3 and Green Class 4.”
Yellow Class 3 and Green Class 4—the heirs of the Baldfeld and Schreier families, two of the Six Great Swordsmanship Houses, were the representatives.
“The final results came out today. Black Class 6 performed terribly… due to sabotage by Yellow Class 3 and Green Class 4.”
