The First Imperial Princess Assassination Incident (4)
The mid-level commander of the Seekers, Genome. He was a clever man.
Genome’s exceptional intuition and flexible thinking had contributed significantly to the organization’s various operations. Recognizing this, the Seekers had appointed him as the commander of this assassination mission. They wanted him to remain calm and composed even in urgent situations, ensuring the successful assassination of the First Imperial Princess.
But…
“......”
The scene unfolding before his eyes was enough to twist even Genome’s quick-witted face into a grimace.
The carefully selected assassination squad of the Seekers—men who could be considered elites—were being hunted down one by one. And all by a single boy.
-Clang!!
Kagagak…!
It was fortunate that the boy had lost his reason. If that overwhelming swordsmanship had been paired with calm judgment, every member inside the barrier would have already been slaughtered.
Genome reorganized his ranks and assumed the most defensive posture possible. He had changed his strategy. Rather than trying to deal with the ferocious monster in front of him, he chose to stall for time and wait for the tide to turn.
After all, time was on their side.
The scroll Absolute Domain had at most four minutes left. If even a single squad member survived until the barrier was lifted, the Seekers would win. Once freed from the mana restriction, a mere boy like that would be no problem at all.
They could annihilate the boy and then immediately kill the princess.
“Everyone, stall for as much time as possible.”
Genome devised what he believed was the best possible plan given the situation. However, that plan began to crack the moment it was put into motion.
-No more clumsy coordinated attacks like before will work.
-So which side is getting slaughtered right now?
-Now there are only three left.
The monster was regaining its sanity. A cold intellect was seeping into the once purely violent sword path, and the hazy pupils now radiated refined killing intent.
The moment their swords clashed, Genome instinctively realized it.
‘I’m going to die.’
There was no way to win. At this rate, they wouldn’t last four minutes—hell, not even two. These mages, whose sword experience amounted to nothing more than a few practice swings, were no match for this being. It was nothing short of a disaster.
Genome’s mind spun furiously once again. He had to make the boy lose his reason again, no matter what. But how…?
He knew absolutely nothing about this boy. What kind of psychological warfare could he even attempt…?
‘Wait a minute.’
Come to think of it, the boy had called himself “Raiden Lisite.” It was a name Genome knew well. The eldest son of the Lisite ducal family, a notorious scoundrel. And that boy had displayed intense hatred toward the Seekers.
-My name is Raiden Lisite.
-I will punish your sins in revenge for my mother’s death.
-The Duchess of Lisite, murdered by your hands, was the same.
Genome mulled over the boy’s words and fell into brief thought.
The Seekers knew nothing about the death of Duchess Lisite. The operatives they had sent that day had been slaughtered by Stener before they could relay any meaningful information. The Lisite family had also thoroughly concealed the truth.
But through Raiden’s remarks, Genome was able to piece it together.
“Lisite… Raiden Lisite…”
The date when the Seekers had sent operatives to kidnap Raiden Lisite. The period when the duchess had begun disappearing from high society. And her strangely sudden death.
All the clues connected in his mind like pieces of a puzzle.
Genome finally reached the truth.
“So that’s how it was. I understand now.”
The truth that Duchess Lisite had been killed by the Seekers on that day.
“Hey.”
Genome twisted his facial muscles into a grotesque expression. A golden opportunity to provoke the boy and make him lose his reason again had arrived. He deliberately spoke in a mocking tone.
“Was it that upsetting that your mommy died by our hands?”
“......”
As expected, the boy’s expression hardened. Seeing that reaction, Genome felt relieved that his deduction had been correct. Now, if the boy lost his mind and began rampaging again, he could focus on defense and buy time like before…
“You.”
A spine-chilling voice. The cold tone that set every nerve on edge made Genome’s senses scream in alarm. He didn’t know why. He simply felt that something had gone terribly wrong.
“What did you just say?”
When he turned his head to look ahead, he saw pitch-black pupils frozen in place. Contrary to Genome’s expectations, the boy had not lost his reason, nor was he consumed by madness. He simply stared at him with eyes as dark as death.
“Say it again.”
There was no emotion in the boy’s gaze. No anger, no sorrow, no shock. Only a hollow will remained. A will to tear the opponent in front of him to shreds, no matter what it took.
“......I’m fucked.”
Genome realized it too late. He had touched something he should never have touched.
I had once heard that when anger exceeds a certain threshold and surpasses what the human brain can handle, the mind instead grows coldly calm and detached.
At the time, I had simply thought, Oh, I see, and moved on. But now that I was actually experiencing it, I couldn’t shake this strange feeling.
“You.”
The trembling in my body had stopped. The ragged breathing that had been gasping just moments ago settled as if it had been a lie. It was cold. As if my heart had frozen solid.
“What did you just say?”
An excessively emotionless voice. It might sound strange, but this was the greatest expression of rage I could show right now.
My emotions were gradually fading. In their place, an icy reason began to devour my body.
“Say it again.”
Capturing them alive? That idea had long since been erased from my mind. The only thing I was thinking about now was how to make them die more painfully. How to make the mouth that had dared to mock my mother’s death beg for its life.
“......”
Having finished my deliberation, I raised my sword once more. It was simple. I would just do whatever I wanted.
With that thought, I kicked off the ground.
“He’s coming…!”
“Just buy time no matter what!!”
Buy time? Did they really think that was possible?
Their words seemed so ridiculous that a faint, hazy sneer escaped me.
-Clang!!
The lightly swung sword strike collided with the robe in the front line. Sparks flew for an instant. I violently shattered his defense and drove him back.
-Kang!!
Kik, krrrrrk…!
The moment our blades locked in a contest of strength, another robe that had slipped into my flank thrust at my neck.
It was a rather decent combination attack. But such things should only be attempted against the right opponent.
“Ugh, ptooey.”
I gathered the blood pooling in my mouth and spat it toward the robe’s face.
“Kuh…?!”
The blood hit both of his eyes. With his vision blocked, his sword path naturally faltered. In the end, the attack missed my neck by a hair’s breadth.
I didn’t miss the opening. I quickly shoved away the robe in front of me, then grabbed a fistful of his long, flowing hair.
“W-wait…!”
-Slice.
A silver line drawn across the air. Immediately after, a fountain of blood sprayed out, soaking my face completely. In my hand was the cleanly severed head.
While I stared down at the trophy with an expressionless face, the robe I had pushed away earlier came charging at me again.
“Uwaaaaaah!!!”
Whether out of fear or not, the robe swung his sword with a scream. I raised my sword with one hand and gently deflected the attack. At the same time, I gripped the severed head by its hair with my other hand and swung it like a mace.
-Whooooosh… Thud!!
The head, flying with full force, struck the robe’s temple with a dull impact. He staggered for a moment before losing his balance and collapsing.
I stabbed my blade into the fallen robe’s body and looked at the last remaining bastard.
“......Fuck.”
It was the one who had gleefully mocked my mother’s death just moments ago. I twisted my lips into a cold smirk. Then I immediately kicked off the ground and charged at him.
“Damn it…!”
He spat out a curse and prepared to counter. I raised my sword as if to accept his reckless attempt.
And then.
A violent clash of iron echoed throughout the banquet hall.
-Kaaaaang!!
I moved my sword with dazzling speed, slipping into his openings. Attacks like a swarm of bees, defense like a butterfly. Naturally, he couldn’t withstand my fierce assault for long and began to be pushed back.
-Clang! Kagak…! Tukang!!
One step. Two steps. I slowly drove him into the trap I had prepared.
The fierce struggle continued for a while. The moment he took his fifth backward step—
“......!!”
His foot caught on something, and he lost his balance, falling backward. What had tripped him were the arrows. The very arrows I had deflected with Reflect and embedded into the ground earlier.
-Slice!
I didn’t hesitate to deliver the final blow. A silver afterimage drew a bold line from bottom to top, and the sound of bone and flesh being severed rang out.
-Clatter! Thud…
After that, somewhat noisy sounds scattered across the floor. There lay the sword he had been holding and both of his severed hands.
“Hoo… Well then. Shall we have a little chat now?”
I spoke casually to the man who lay there with a dazed expression. It was time to pay the price. The price for daring to speak of my mother’s death.