Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: The Prince's Escort
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Chapter 14
As expected, the Acting Head wasn't particularly surprised.
It seemed she had a relatively accurate grasp of my level.
"Yes."
"I've heard of such places, but that doesn't prove your innocence."
"Of course."
As I replied calmly despite her negative words, one of Kairam's eyes narrowed.
Her gaze seemed to pierce through everything, but she couldn't possibly know my inner thoughts.
'Her mind seems to be in a tangle, but this is actually quite simple.'
The elders currently standing on the tribunal's platform were all the Acting Head's people.
Just as I had called it cheap earlier, this trial depended entirely on Kairam's judgment.
In other words, I only needed to convince one person to get out of this smoothly.
I gave a light shrug and looked up at the platform.
"Acting Head, you saw me about a year ago, correct?"
"I presented you with a red plaque to commemorate your promotion."
"What was my approximate level back then?"
"...You were Tier 5."
After a brief pause, Kairam answered with a slight nod.
She seemed to have already figured out what I was getting at.
"And what about now?"
"You appear to be in the latter half of Tier 4."
The elders had only roughly guessed my level after I used the Demonic Wheel Kill, but she was almost spot on.
To be precise, I was at the very end of Tier 4, on the cusp of Tier 3, but the minor details weren't important.
With a relaxed expression, I spread my hands.
"Is there anyone here who accomplished as much as I have?"
Naturally, no one else had achieved such a level of skill before turning twenty.
Oh, right. Except for one person.
"Of course, I'm sure the Acting Head had a far more distinguished youth than someone like me."
I didn't actually know much about how Kairam had progressed.
But there was no need to get on the nerves of the person who could control this entire situation.
'I'd appreciate it if you could just offset my bragging with a single bit of flattery.'
In reality, I had raised my agent rank at a very rapid pace.
Even while holding back my power to avoid revealing the secret arts of the Riverune family, my performance far surpassed that of my peers.
It was just that the evaluations were only among Class 2 agents and below, so the full report hadn't reached Black Scale Island.
The hall fell into silence.
The suffocating silence was broken by the voice of an elder who had been quietly observing the situation.
"Ray has been promoted at a pace nearly rivaling Mitra's. His field evaluations are also quite favorable."
Thirty Class 2 difficulty assassinations of key figures.
In less than half a year, I had fulfilled all the requirements to become a Class 1 agent.
This was a pace similar to that of Kairam's first child, Mitra.
Since Mitra was the greatest prodigy among the young agents of the Rantzverger family, no one could claim I had been hiding my true level.
"So you challenged the tower simply to become stronger?"
"It seems time flows differently there than in the outside world. I was only there for half a day."
"That's hard to believe."
Kairam looked as if she were deep in thought.
Watching her, I smiled triumphantly to myself.
'With that old witch's capabilities, she can handle a minor flaw like this, can't she?'
Soon, her half-closed red eyes flashed open.
It seemed she was finally ready to pass judgment.
"While there may have been no ill intent, the fact remains that you broke the rules."
"Yep."
"Promotion deferred for one year. During this period, your status as a direct descendant will be revoked. Additionally, you are ordered to undertake a special mission. That is all."
One of the elders, puzzled by her statement, cautiously asked a question.
"A special mission, you say..."
Kairam then pulled out a stack of reports with a meaningful smile.
"I intend to assign him this."
"Ah! A wise decision."
I could understand the deferred promotion and revoked status, but I had no idea what this special mission order was.
When I looked at her with a questioning gaze, she beckoned with a finger and left.
It was a sign to follow.
Shouldering my bag, I immediately started walking.
I completely ignored the complicated looks from the audience.
Proving my innocence was a great relief.
The problem was what on earth this special mission was.
'As long as it counts toward my record, who cares what it is? I'll just get it over with, and that'll be the end of it, right?'
I tried to keep my spirits up as I headed to the Head's office.
However, the task Kairam had given me was not so simple.
* * *
At the southwestern tip of the Livius continent lay the Kingdom of Railhars.
The recent domestic situation in Railhars was quite complicated.
This was because the king had fallen ill without naming a successor.
'First prince this, second prince that... this mission briefing is ridiculously long. Screw it, I'm not reading it!'
I tossed aside all the materials related to the special mission.
They were filled with detailed political information about the Kingdom of Railhars, but I didn't even glance at them.
'This is the problem with the old geezers in the assassination guild. Why are their explanations so detailed? There's no efficiency. None.'
I was currently dispatched to the southwestern part of the Vertos Empire.
Kairam had said she would test my loyalty based on the results of this special mission.
It meant she would consider extenuating circumstances if I completed the mission without any trouble.
But the reality was a bit different.
'She dumps a mission on me that all the other agents avoid and calls it a special mission. Just call it a demotion.'
She had decided to overlook this incident by handing me a troublesome request.
The agent requested by the Kingdom of Railhars was Special Grade or higher, so it was an appropriate assignment for me.
The mission was to be a bodyguard for a key figure.
I was to safely escort Prince Raul, the third prince of Railhars, to the Principality of Caliburn at the northeastern edge of the Veldam States Union.
This kind of covert escort mission was one that agents would inevitably avoid.
It was obviously going to be a huge pain. Who would volunteer for it?
Especially top-tier agents of Special Grade.
"Still, she was pretty considerate. I guess this isn't such a bad outcome."
The punishment of a one-year promotion deferral and the revocation of my direct descendant status was practically meaningless.
After completing this mission and taking a break, a year would have passed easily anyway.
*Clatter! Clatter!*
'They're here.'
As I waited silently on the expected route, a line of three carriages approached.
That seemed to be the third prince's party, heading for the Principality of Caliburn.
I maintained a suitable distance and followed them quietly.
They called it a special mission, but it was an incredibly boring job.
If we camped for a few days, I had to procure my own food and water, and I couldn't leave my post for long.
I also had to scout the surroundings separately for any potential threats.
'A pain like this should count for at least two Class 1 kills.'
I watched the third prince's party, feeling the full weight of the mission's hardship.
But then, I began to hear the unusual sound of horse hooves from somewhere.
*Th-th-th-thump!*
A group was descending from the north along the trade route. I craned my neck to observe their movements.
If they were an unrelated group, there was no need to engage them.
Unfortunately, however, the cavalry seemed to have business with the third prince.
"Finish them quickly and get off the trade route!"
"Let's go!"
*Th-th-th-thump!*
As the earth-shaking sound of hooves thundered past, I immediately let out a disgruntled remark.
"Ah, can't we just travel in peace, you bastards."
The cavalry was already closing in on the third prince's party.
The number of attackers was too large, and even the terrain was disadvantageous.
If I left them alone, there would surely be heavy casualties.
Support was unavoidable.
'Attacking the moment they entered an open area... these guys are professionals.'
I flicked my right hand toward the attackers.
Two throwing knives cut through the air, tracing a strange curve.
*Shwiik! Shwiiik!*
"Hmm?"
"Hup!"
*Clang! Clink!*
The two attackers who were about to launch a coordinated assault on the third prince quickly raised their shields.
Surprisingly, they not only detected my throwing knives but also reacted properly.
Just from their response in the midst of the chaos, I could get a rough idea of the attackers' skill level.
'Oh! Not bad.'
But what I had unleashed wasn't just an ordinary throwing knife technique.
*Skagagak! Thwack!*
"Keoheok!"
"Kuk!"
The moment they collided, the knives swerved sharply, riding up and over the sloped surface of the shields.
It was like a fish swimming around an obstacle.
Two attackers lost their lives to the two daggers.
'For a first field test, this is the best possible result.'
I had succeeded in melting the principles of Brutal Shot into the Floating Cloud Dagger Arts.
I had taken only the bypassing function of Brutal Shot and grafted it onto the Floating Cloud Dagger Arts.
I named this technique the Winding Serpent Dagger.
Upon fully entering Tier 4, fusing secret arts seemed to have become a bit easier.
*Shwiiik! Shwiik!*
I once again unleashed the Winding Serpent Dagger at the attackers approaching the third prince.
"Huk!"
*Clang! Shlick! Thunk!*
This one also reflexively swung his sword to block the projectile.
But the Winding Serpent Dagger changed direction the moment it hit the blade, and he lost his life.
The throwing knife had lodged itself deep in his neck.
*Thud!*
"Ah..."
The third prince looked stunned as he watched the attackers collapse around him.
He had been in a fierce clash with the attackers charging from the front and hadn't been able to pay attention to his rear.
But he couldn't identify who had thrown the daggers.
The attackers, who had instigated the chaotic battle, had isolated the third prince.
"Who is helping me?"
Though the situation was chaotic, the third prince vaguely sensed the presence of an ally.
It seemed he had pretty good instincts.
*Shwiik!*
"Die!"
But the battle was still raging, so there was no time to dwell on it.
*Clang!*
"Keuk!"
The third prince fought valiantly, parrying the attackers' blows.
He remained quite composed despite the unfavorable situation.
'His improvisation is impressive. His stance is solid, and he knows how to use his head. And... you're pretty lucky, too, aren't you?'
Coincidentally, Raul was running toward the bushes where I was hiding.
It would be a shame not to respond when he'd come to me on his own two feet.
I immediately took out three throwing knives and threw them.
I was using the Form-Shifting Invisibility Technique, so no one could detect my presence.
*Shwiiiiik! Shwiik! Th-th-thunk!*
The Winding Serpent Daggers flew straight and embedded themselves precisely in the necks of three attackers.
There was no need for them to curve sharply after impact.
The bastards hadn't even perceived the throwing knives coming at them.
Since the attack came from quite close, they probably didn't hear a thing.
Three of their comrades had suddenly fallen from their horses, but the remaining attackers paid it no mind.
Seeing them act like seasoned assassins, I clicked my tongue inwardly.
'Tsk. Why are their reactions so dull? It ruins the fun.'
The attackers had already closed the distance to the third prince.
If I left them be, the distance would become too great to provide proper support.
In the end, I would have to deal with them using my sword, not the Winding Serpent Dagger.
'Shall we raise the stakes? Alright, player one, enter.'