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Chapter 68
“Now It’s a Preemptive Strike (5)”
A spacious area located in the basement of a pleasure tavern.
It was filled with crude yet grotesque machinery.
The machines reeked of a foul stench, a result of poor cleaning.
In front of them… Castarion, the head of the Filchester branch of the Black Heaven Sect, spoke.
“Is everyone ready?”
Around Castarion were the sect’s priests, but no one answered.
That was because the ones he addressed were civilians chained up.
They had gags in their mouths and trembled with terror, their eyes fixed on Castarion.
“There’s no need to tremble so much. I’m not going to kill you.”
“……?”
Everyone was bewildered.
If he wasn’t going to kill them, then why were the horrific machines before them operating?
“You won’t die. Your kin… all of them…”
Castarion wore a cruel smile.
“They will merge with the priests of our sect and live forever.”
“……!”
Raising his hand in front of the terrified people, Castarion signaled.
Priests with swords rushed forward to lift the civilians to their feet.
The ritual to produce the sect’s elixir, Soma, was about to commence.
“C-Castarion-sama!”
At that moment, the door burst open, and a junior priest ran in.
“You fool! Didn’t I tell you not to interfere during the ritual?”
Castarion’s anger flared.
He had long dedicated himself to perfecting the production of Soma to reach a higher level of mastery.
Thus, anything that disrupted the process enraged him above all else.
“B-Big trouble… Outside, Gradue… krgh!”
The junior priest collapsed before finishing his words.
Behind him appeared a man with silver hair.
“What?!”
Castarion’s eyes widened.
How could someone like him have gotten in here? What were those outside doing?
‘Who is this guy?’
He looked quite young.
Moreover, a sword he carried radiated a killing aura.
To have graduated at that age implied he was from either the Lichtenauer Swordsmanship Academy or the main branch of the Black Heaven Sect…
‘Wait a minute!’
Castarion scrutinized the man again.
Silver hair, exquisite features… no way.
“You… you’re Ernas Lanzstein?!”
“You’re quick to catch on, Castarion.”
“……!”
It made no sense.
It hadn’t even been days since he had been commissioned to kill Ernas.
Then why was Ernas attacking here?
Nothing had been done yet—so why now?
‘What on earth is going on?!’
Caught in confusion, Castarion hastily drew his sword.
‘As expected, this is right after the Lancaster family commissioned him.’
Judging by Castarion’s reaction, my guess was correct.
If the Lancaster family hadn’t yet acted, this could have been problematic.
‘At least it’s not too late, fortunately.’
The basement held people chained up.
From the look of things, the process to produce Soma had not yet begun.
“Serine.”
I spoke to Serine, who was standing beside me.
Schmitz, Chloe, and Viola were handling the minor threats outside.
“First, get these people out safely.”
I stepped forward without waiting for Serine’s reply.
“I’ll handle the sect members.”
Castarion raised his voice urgently.
“Kill him! That man is the enemy of Carlisle, Ernas Lanzstein!”
Now that I think about it, Carlisle, whom I had killed during the second trial, had been set as this man’s junior. I had forgotten that until now.
“Stop!”
“You brat…!”
Castarion’s subordinates charged at me with swords.
If memory served, they were all graduates—but at best, low-level graduates.
I wasn’t about to be defeated by them.
“Krgh…!”
The first junior priest to charge fell.
Without stopping, I swung my sword and struck the next one’s neck.
“You little—!”
“Die…!”
Two more attacked from behind.
I twisted my body to evade, deploying the golden sword aura of the Baltfeld family.
I used Baltfeld sword techniques to break their blades and simultaneously deliver fatal blows.
“……!”
Four of them were down in an instant.
Fear began to appear in the eyes of the remaining junior priests.
But they couldn’t escape this confined space.
“Ugh!”
My blade pierced the next target’s heart.
Almost simultaneously, Serine took down a priest blocking her path.
The basement quickly became littered with bodies.
“What are you doing…!”
Castarion, unable to stand it, stepped forward.
A threatening sword aura radiated from his bent blade.
‘Intermediate graduate, and quite skilled.’
A sharp sword aura surged toward me.
I dodged and cut down a nearby junior priest.
“Ernas Lanzstein! How did you find this place?!”
Castarion pressed me.
“Where did you get this information? Did you sense that we were after you? Answer me…!”
“Too many questions to answer easily.”
I responded coldly, swinging my sword.
Sparks flew as sword aura clashed against sword aura.
“I’ll tell you one thing, Castarion.”
Clang!
The golden aura of Baltfeld swordsmanship scratched Castarion’s aura.
“Today, the Filchester branch will be annihilated.”
“……!”
Realizing his aura was beginning to break, Castarion tried desperately to rebuild it.
But I gave him no chance.
Maintaining my golden aura, I unleashed Kalesius Thunder Spear Swordsmanship.
“Hgh…!”
Crack!
The golden aura now shimmered with blue sparks.
Speed joined the previously cumbersome Baltfeld technique.
“T-This…!”
Castarion sweated profusely, trying to block my attack.
It was futile. The more he tried, the more his aura shattered.
‘Kalesius Thunder Spear Swordsmanship, Form 2…’
Watching Castarion’s distorted face, I pushed my magic to its limit.
I was about to unleash a technique honed with Yols.
Murei (Dancing Thunder).
Kaboom!
The erratically dancing blade struck Castarion.
The sword flew free of its aura, tearing through even the protective wards around his body.
“Krgh…!”
After the thunderous impact, blood gushed from Castarion’s chest.
It wasn’t fatal. I had never intended to kill him.
Still, to prevent further resistance, I raised my sword again.
“W-Wait, I surrender! Please stop…”
“Pathetic.”
Despite his plea, I swung my sword.
In an instant, Castarion’s wrists were severed, and he screamed like a butchered pig.
“No matter how much people begged, you never stopped before.”
There was no reason to show mercy to someone like him.
The Filchester branch of the Black Heaven Sect was subdued in an instant.
Graduates were dispatched by me and Serine, while the minor threats outside were handled by Schmitz, Chloe, and Viola.
The only real threat here had been Castarion—but with my power now surpassing his, it was no problem.
“Serine, clean up with Chloe.”
“Yes, understood.”
There was much to do, including freeing the abducted civilians.
Leaving the tedious work to Serine and Chloe, I turned my attention to interrogating Castarion.
“Lift your head, Castarion.”
“M-My hands… my wrists…”
“Seems like next time you’ll lose your neck instead.”
I raised my sword to threaten him, and he hastily looked up.
“Castarion, you were targeting me, weren’t you?”
“N-No, it’s not like that!”
Castarion shook his head desperately.
“It’s true I received the commission, but I never intended to carry it out. Truly.”
“But you shouted that I was Carlisle’s enemy just now.”
“Th-That was…”
“Admit it willingly. Time’s wasted otherwise.”
Watching him bite his lip, I pressed further.
“Then… who commissioned you to kill me?”
“They did not reveal their identity…”
“I said time’s being wasted, Castarion.”
I glared at him.
“You already figured out that the client was a Lancaster agent.”
“……!”
Castarion’s pupils wavered.
“Of course, they didn’t reveal themselves as a Lancaster agent. But from your position, you would have suspected it. Not many would request the killing of a Lanzstein heir attending the Academy.”
“Hmm…”
“So you sent your subordinates to tail the client and discovered they were a Lancaster agent.”
This was the Lancaster family’s mistake.
The sect was adept at surveillance and information gathering.
Their careless handling revealed their identities.
‘Normally, the Lancasters would handle this themselves.’
The family usually delegated dirty work, like assassinations, to the Brosian family.
But when Raziel Brosian failed as my assassin last time, their options became limited.
This time, seeking outside help, they contacted the sect—but their inexperience led to a grave mistake.
“Am I wrong?”
“H-How do you know all this?”
“There’s a way to know.”
Castarion looked utterly incredulous.
I had no need to convince him, so I continued.
“Castarion, there’s only one way for you to survive here.”
“H-How…?”
“Testify to the Academy that the Lancaster family hired your sect to assassinate Ernas Lanzstein.”
“……!”
Castarion’s eyes widened.
“Of course, they won’t blindly believe a sect member. But there have long been Academy officials suspicious of the Lancaster family… your claim has a high chance of being accepted.”
“Th-Then I can survive? Just by making that claim?”
“Yes. Someone opposing the Lancaster family will protect you, so no need to worry.”
“…….”
Of course, this was a lie.
Kaleon Ignias would use Castarion’s testimony to corner the Lancaster family, but there was no reason to spare Castarion’s life.
Why save a sect member who had sacrificed countless civilians?
“Of course, I will protect you as a crucial witness.”
“R-Really?”
“In this situation, you have no choice but to obey me.”
“…….”
Castarion had no options.
Finally… he groaned and bowed his head.
“Understood. I’ll follow your orders…”
“Thank you for cooperating.”
I grabbed Castarion by the scruff of his neck.
Having defeated the sect and secured a witness… it was time to return to the Academy.
The Lancaster family had conspired with the Black Heaven Sect to kill Ernas Lanzstein.
The news shocked the Academy leadership.
Previously, suspicions of the Lancaster family attempting to kill Ernas arose, but evidence was insufficient.
This time, however, testimony revealed their collusion with the Black Heaven Sect.
From the Academy’s perspective, this was even more severe than simply trying to kill Ernas.
“How can we believe this? Just the word of an evil sect member is not enough to suspect a prestigious family like the Lancasters!”
“But the Lancaster family had suspicions last time. They had sufficient motive.”
“What benefit would a high-ranking sect member gain from framing the Lancaster family?”
Professors at an emergency meeting in the Academy’s main building debated passionately.
“If they wanted an assassination, they would hire the Blood Sword Elders, not sect fiends. It’s unnatural!”
One professor defended the Lancaster family vigorously.
As others tried to accept this, Yols spoke from the back.
“To hire an elder-class assassin from the Blood Sword Elders, the client must provide their own information.”
“Professor Yols, what are you saying?”
“If the Lancasters truly wanted Ernas dead, they would hide their involvement. Then they couldn’t hire the Blood Sword Elders.”
“But… would the Blood Sword Elders be needed to kill Ernas?”
“From what I’ve observed, Ernas seems capable enough.”
“…….”
“If moving the Blood Sword Elders is difficult… they have no choice but to seek the sect.”
Yols’ words shifted the room’s atmosphere.
The professor defending the Lancaster family opened his mouth, but a loud thump on a desk cut him off.
“That’s why I said it last time! The Lancasters have crossed the line!”
It was Kaleon Ignias, who had previously criticized the Lancaster family for suspicion.
“After the heir Lester Lancaster was expelled, the family completely lost reason! Last time, they sent assassins to kill heirs of other families!”
“P-Professor Kaleon, but that was… insufficient evidence…”
“Enough of that! This time, there’s a witness! We cannot ignore it!”
“Ugh…”
“President Aldbout!”
Kaleon’s gaze fixed on the white-haired elder seated at the head.
A top-tier graduate overseeing the Academy, President Aldbout.
“Isn’t this enough to require Academy action? This clearly threatens imperial order!”
“…….”
“If the Academy does not act this time…”
Kaleon’s voice grew harsh.
“I will bring forces from the Ignias main house in the East.”
“……!”
The room murmured at Kaleon’s words.
If the Ignias forces attacked the Lancaster family, it would spark a full-scale war among swordsmanship clans.
This would seriously destabilize imperial society.
“Kaleon, do not act recklessly.”
Aldbout spoke slowly.
“We must hear the Lancaster family’s explanation first.”
“President!”
“Of course, it cannot be resolved in writing as last time.”
Aldbout’s voice was solemn.
“Kaleon, you will represent us. Visit the Lancaster family with other lead professors.”
“Then…”
“Hear their explanation. If insufficient, personally subdue and escort the Lancaster family head, Henry Lancaster.”
“……!”
Several top-tier graduates, including Kaleon, were being sent.
This was more threatening than dispatching a large-scale enforcement team.
The Lancaster family could only respond forcefully.
“And…”
Aldbout added calmly in front of the tense professors:
“Bring Ernas Lanzstein as well. As the party involved, he will help clarify the truth.”
