Chapter 370 - The Thorny Path
The battle began quietly.
It started with the dull clink of metal, not with flashy spells. The guard knights had allowed the enemies to get too close, and the sudden melee had caught them off guard.
They probably wanted to whittle down the attackers before they got too close, but the assassins’ stealth skills were formidable. The cacophony of the emergency bell no doubt distracted them as well.
Shouts of anger and the sounds of destruction soon followed as spells shattered the surroundings. The Bluecoats would likely respond soon, but the attackers seemed determined to achieve their goal before reinforcements arrived, fighting with abandon.
Among the fifteen attackers, more than half seemed weaker than the guard knights, but their numbers were overwhelming, and a few were clearly superior. The size of their mana was a clear indicator. While mana alone doesn't decide a battle, it's a crucial factor.
However, this was the Earl's stronghold, and the fortress was equipped with various advantages. The fight wouldn't be decided by the sheer number or strength of combatants alone.
The guard knights might repel the attackers, or they might break through and reach the Earl’s neck. For now, it was fifty-fifty, and the knights were performing better than I'd expected.
Well, better to be prepared. I pulled out a small bottle from my pocket and downed it in one gulp.
The effects of the physical enhancement potion spread through me, granting me an immense surge of energy. I had to admit, this was a bit of a cheat.
"What’s that?"
"Just a little pick-me-up. Want some?"
"...I'll pass."
The Earl, no doubt sensing something suspicious, even in this dire situation, seemed to suspect I was on some kind of high. My unusually cheerful demeanor probably didn’t help.
"By the way, Earl, what should we do about this?"
I was still wearing the Magic-Sealing Bracelet. Even though I could remove it at will, those watching me wouldn't be so lenient. From the Earl's perspective, I was a top-tier threat, and his trust in me was still shaky.
If I were allowed to use magic, I might turn against them and aid the attackers. I could even be in league with the enemy.
Despite the attack, I was relaxed, which only added to the Earl's unease. I wasn't worried because I had no intention of holding back.
The Earl had faced a series of betrayals, Badoo Lot’s curse, and other incidents. He was in no position to trust anyone.
But the threat was real and approaching. The Earl couldn’t be optimistic about the fight between the attackers and the guards.
He was torn between using me as a powerful ally and the risk of betraying him. My casual question only added to his dilemma.
The Earl remained silent, and one of his young aides spoke up.
"P-Please don’t take this the wrong way. We can handle it, so there’s no need for you to—"
"Guests should behave like guests, right? Fine by me."
I was a bit disappointed, but I had no intention of overstepping. If the guards could handle it, so be it. But based on my mana sensing, the situation was tilting in our favor.
If my turn came, there was no need to argue.
Heh, I mentioned it just in case, but even without the bracelet off, I was more than capable. The potion was already working, and the odds were heavily in my favor.
By going along with their wishes, I could build a lot of trust. I’d make sure to sell my loyalty at a high price.
The room was suffocating with tension.
The loud emergency bell, shouts, clashing swords, and spell explosions grew more intense outside, while the Earl and his entourage remained silent. I, on the other hand, was relaxed, sipping tea as if it were a picnic.
The tension was partly due to the threat outside and partly due to their misplaced vigilance towards me.
I wanted to ease the tension, but any move might only heighten it. Better to play it cool.
I listened to the occasional updates from Heidi, preparing for my moment.
"—No, sir!"
"Someone, lend a hand over here!"
"Don’t charge in, just buy us some time! Reinforcements are on the way!"
The guards were putting up a good fight, but the threat was closing in. Two of the attackers had formidable mana, making them difficult to contain.
"Sir—please run..."
The door burst open with a loud crash. The guards had done well against superior numbers and skill.
A massive, blood-soaked figure stood in the doorway. Most of the blood was likely from others, but he was clearly injured. As Heidi had mentioned, the man emitted a faint presence, thanks to some magical item. That’s why the guards hadn’t noticed him until he was close.
His dilated pupils suggested the use of some drug. They might be similar to the painless warriors of the Legisamo Cartel.
The two massive warriors entered the room, dragging large swords. Their target was undoubtedly the Earl. They ignored me, underestimating my threat despite my lack of physical enhancement.
The Earl and I remained seated. His aides, though frozen in shock, rallied to protect their lord. Impressive, to say the least.
Alright, time to move.
"Seems like my turn. Earl, I’m stepping in, alright? I won't use it, so don't worry."
I said this with a bit of sarcasm and a lot of nonchalance, standing up with a spring in my step.
If they were painless warriors, I knew how to handle them. Inflicting pain was pointless; I needed to incapacitate them quickly, either by killing or capturing them.
The assassins were lightly armored, making them easy targets for someone like me. The Earl’s aides, ready to die, handed me a spear without a word. The man’s silence was a testament to my superiority.
The assassin’s face was emotionless, his target the Earl. I was relieved it wasn’t me. I deliberately let the enemy make the first move to make my intentions clear to the Earl's aides.
"Go ahead, have your fun in hell."
The assassins moved seamlessly. The two massive men cast fireballs, then charged the Earl’s aides, completely ignoring me.
They were more focused on the attack than speed. Both readied their large swords, coordinating well.
Impressive, but not enough. I threw my teacup at the fireball, deflecting it mid-air. The cheap magic item’s effect was negligible.
These two had decent mana but lacked combat skills. They were weaker than I expected.
"Too slow, it's making me yawn."
I’d given enough. Kicking the chair aside, I blocked the first assassin and thrust my spear into the second’s temple, driving it deep. The lack of a wind-up made it impossible for him to react. I’d capture one, but killing the other would do.
The first assassin, having missed the chance to attack the Earl, swung his massive sword. He prioritized defense over offense, likely due to the drug’s influence.
I didn’t give him another chance. Grabbing his collar, I slammed him into the wall. The sturdy wall held, a testament to the building’s quality.
"Surrender now, or it’s too late!"
I stepped closer to the pinned assassin and drove the metal tip of the spear into his shoulder, shattering bone and flesh. I repeated this on the other shoulder, embedding the spear into the wall.
The assassin, drugged and fearless, showed no signs of pain. Despite the severe injuries, his face remained unchanged.
I shattered his hips, thighs, knees, and ankles, immobilizing him completely.
"Not done yet."
I continued, using the blunt end of the spear to crush his bones and muscles, ensuring he couldn’t move.
Even if he couldn’t feel pain, he was now completely incapacitated. I crushed his throat for good measure, leaving him unconscious.
"Good, you’re still alive."
Lack of oxygen would knock him out, regardless of the drugs. I had captured him, just in case he had hidden tricks.
"Don’t just stand there, secure him. He might be a valuable source of information."
I scanned the ongoing battle. The two I’d taken down were likely the strongest attackers. Despite this, the enemy showed no signs of retreating.
They were willing to die, perhaps as disposable forces. Either way, I needed to stay vigilant. The building was sturdy, but I kept my mana senses active, ready to protect the Earl.
"This is Heidi. Yukari-san, no reinforcements so far. I found someone hiding and observing from a high vantage point. Probably overseeing the attack. I’ll keep him under surveillance to trace his return route."
"...Understood. I can handle things here."
I communicated discreetly while sensing the mansion’s mana. The room was now safe. The aides secured the downed assassin, and the Earl, though shaken, remained composed.
The battle outside was tilting in our favor. The guards were fighting with renewed vigor, leveraging their home advantage.
The Earl, sensing victory, stood and gave orders.
"You saved me... And you didn’t use magic?"
"It’s sealed, can’t use it. If I could, I’d have taken care of them before the fight."
I wasn’t exaggerating. With my control over the area, I could have used a spike spell to finish them off. But that’s not my style. Combat is both my job and my pleasure, and I do it my way.
"Why didn’t you remove the bracelet? Your safety is at stake, and I’m not complaining."
"The young aide told me not to. Besides, 'safety' isn’t a concept in my world."
In a normal situation, he’d be right. Most people would remove the bracelet without question. But I’m not most people.
"Hah, safety is a foreign concept in the underworld. You’re a young woman, yet you talk as if you understand."
"I’m still young, but I’m a criminal. I can’t walk the safe path. I’m the kind of fool who chooses the most dangerous path, which is why I’m feared. As one of the Three Great Families, I can’t afford to be seen as weak. If I want safety, I’ll retire."
I choose the most dangerous path because it’s exhilarating. I walk proudly through the city, regardless of who hates me. That’s what the Kikyo Society is about.
If you prioritize safety over conflict, you’re better off retiring. You can’t survive in the cutthroat world otherwise.
"Hahahaha!"
The Earl’s sudden laughter caught me off guard. He laughed for a moment before turning to his aides.
"I owe you one. If you need anything, speak to my daughter."
"It’s a big favor, so be prepared. Speaking of which, what about your next appointment?"
"Ah, thanks to you, I can still make it. You’re welcome to take anything from the vault."
The Earl stood, gave further instructions to his aides, and left the room with purposeful steps, ignoring the chaos around him.
He was impressively calm, moving on to his next task without flinching. High-ranking nobles are a breed apart.
Alright, time to find information on Badoo Lot. I’ll check out the vault."
From here on, the story will get more violent as we delve deeper into the criminal underworld!