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“Hey, I can see everything.”
I said, standing up.
Crackle, crackle.
The darkness was fading. The current sporadically spurted out, revealing a camouflage combat suit. It was a sealed full-body combat suit, so the face was not visible.
When I saw the camouflage full body combat uniform, I was reminded of Rick Silva Nunez. However, the enemy in front of me was much smaller than Rick. He was about the same size as me.
“You are not a target for assassination. If you want to live, get out of the way.”
The bastard’s helmet glowed red. His voice was machine-modulated, so I couldn’t feel any emotion. I let out a hollow laugh.
“It’s been a while. A guy who looks down on me like this since our first meeting.”
“I’m not looking down on you. I’m a pro. I try not to kill anyone other than my target.”
I listened to the sounds in the back room and saw that Francesque and Len were rolling around. I didn’t know that I was facing the enemy.
‘It’s strangely strange.’
Something wasn’t quite right. That little bit of discomfort made me talk to the enemy.
‘Just listening to what Francesque had to say, it felt like I was hiring a third-rate assassin.’
However, the assassin in front of him did not seem like a third-rate person, although his personality seemed a bit strange.
He was wearing expensive camouflage combat gear and his gait was incredibly well-balanced. Judging by his light feet, I thought I wouldn’t get hit if I shot him.
What’s more, I didn’t know he was in the house until I got close. Of all people, I was.
My combat instincts are usually right. I rarely get it wrong. If I get it wrong, I’ll get seriously injured or die.
“Do you know who the man on the other side of this wall is?”
I said as I slowly pulled out the crucian car. I intentionally referred to it as a ‘man’ and not a ‘person’.
‘The assassin prepared by Francesque was hired to kill Ren Itanori.’
The assassin didn’t seem surprised to hear that he was a man. That meant he wasn’t the assassin hired by Francesque.
“I know. But I don’t care. This is your last chance, boy. Get out of the way. I was also asked to leave as many witnesses as possible.”
The assassin placed both hands on his waist and drew his twin swords. He gripped the swords in a counter-attack and took up his stance.
It was an irregular dual-wield weapon. One of the blades was about the length of a forearm, while the other was long enough to reach the shoulder. Since they were of different lengths, it seemed like it would be difficult to deal with.
‘If he wasn’t the one who came to kill Ren Itanori… … .’
The assassin in front of you came here at someone else’s instigation. Perhaps the assassin that Francesque saved ended up as a corpse in a back alley.
‘This guy was sent by Ivan Krachia.’
I followed Ivan’s thoughts and figured out the flow.
‘To foil the Emperor and Kinuan’s plans, we must kill Francek much sooner than the appointed time.’
Then the plan of the Emperor and Kinuan will collapse. Great chaos will fall upon the empire.
Confusion, confusion, confusion… … .
My thoughts were reaching the finish line. I thought I knew where the twin assassins had come from.
‘Speech and actions that don’t care about being a royal family member. And the way to cause even greater confusion from Ivan’s perspective… ‘
… … That assassin is not of the Empire. He is a man of Bellato or Cora.
If someone from Bellato or Cora were to assassinate the Crown Prince of the Empire… … it would be war. Especially if it was Frances, who was popular with the public.
‘The Emperor and Kinuando, they were trying to use Frances as a trigger for war! You crazy old farts!’
The curse came out naturally. Francec was a sacrifice to bring about ‘imperial unity’ in the run-up to the war. If the crown prince of their own country were to be killed by a foreigner, the people of the empire would, without a doubt, unite and wage war.
The current situation was Ivan’s arrangement.
‘Ivan must have lured the foreign assassin into the heart of the empire through some route.’
Ivan’s eyes seemed to be looking into me. His ominous gaze kept coming to mind.
‘Even if things go according to Ivan’s plan, it will be war. And it will happen faster than the Emperor and Kinuan’s plans!’
This is different from the sporadic local wars of the past. This is an all-out war that pours national power into. The caustic effects of war will burn the continent and the planet.
But… … if the war starts now, the Custoria family can survive. The survival of Heilas is also guaranteed. We can’t purge key figures in the military before an all-out war.
I don’t know what will happen after the war. But by then I will have grown up, and Ivan may have ascended to the throne.
If we just buy time, the era of the Emperor and Kinuan will pass, and the era of me and Ivan will come. They will become weak, and we will become strong.
‘When the time comes, do your part. You are my watcher and no one else’s.’
Ivan’s words came to mind. The time had come, and I understood Ivan’s meaning. I also understood the mission he had entrusted to me.
king.
My arm fell loosely, the tip of the blade touching the floor.
If Francesque dies, I will be held accountable for failing to protect him. I might even die. But I have my accomplishments and the background of Custoria. Above all, Ivan will try to save me somehow. If my judgment is wrong, I will die.
“Good decision. I hate to say it myself, but I’m very strong. People in this country don’t know me… … .”
The assassin slowly approached me after seeing my hanging arms. He tried to pass me by.
“How much did you get paid?”
The assassin stopped walking at my question. He tilted his head to the side. Behind his helmet, his face seemed to be smiling.
“It will change not only my life, but also the lives of countless others.”
“But there will be a war.”
I know about combat, but I have never experienced war. However, combat has also caused many tragedies. I know the magnitude of the disaster that war can bring.
“That’s none of my business.”
The assassin answered indifferently.
“… … I see.”
I let out a small breath as I answered. Time is short, but thoughts are long. Many people passed through my mind.
Keying.
The Crucis I had lifted blocked the assassin’s path.
“I really need to stop you. This isn’t right.”
I made a decision. The assassin stared at me with a crooked gaze.
“There is no right or wrong in this world, kid.”
I know too, the world is too complex to be explained in terms of right and wrong.
——————
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“There is no such thing as right or wrong in the world, and there is none for you… … but there is for me.”
So I decide what is right.
“In the end, it is I who am not him. Youth, boy. But youth, fleeting and short like a spring flower, will fade under my sword.”
The assassin muttered as if reciting poetry. He stepped back with a light tap.
“Shut up and come at me, you idiot.”
I said with a grin. The assassin who had been standing in the way shook as if he was disappearing.
Kang!
We clashed.
* * *
I, Lucius Custoria, clashed with a strange assassin.
In conclusion, in less than a minute, my left prosthetic hand was cut off and lying on the floor. There was no excuse. It was purely due to my skill in close combat.
It was less than a minute, but I felt like I had been fighting for days without sleeping. It felt like a long time, and fatigue was weighing on my head.
“Hoooo… … .”
I started fighting and was able to catch my breath for the first time.
Okay, let’s take a look around and recap the current situation.
First, the house that became the battlefield was a mess. The walls were torn to pieces and the windows were broken. Every time we fought, the furniture and walls in the house were torn apart, turning it into a large empty space. There were things on the floor that cost more than my salary.
“What the heck is this… … .”
Francesque’s amazement flowed from behind me. The wall was partially broken, so we could be seen through the gap.
It seemed that even Francesque had not anticipated the situation at all. Ren had already screamed and fainted.
I still have to fight to protect Frances. I don’t know how long it will take for support to arrive.
The second surprise was the identity of the assassin. I didn’t find out his name or identity.
‘female…….’
Through the half-broken helmet, I could see a woman’s face. The curves of the combat uniform made me think it was a man, but it wasn’t. The woman’s face was covered in scars like any veteran warrior or soldier.
‘… … and that woman’s body is made of blood and flesh. Even her limbs are not machines.’
I don’t know if it’s the combat suit’s assistance or her biological enhancements, but she outclasses me in close combat with her body, not replaced by machinery.
If it weren’t for Archie’s Victory, I would have died. That assassin had fighting prowess far beyond that of a cadet. It would be safe to say that he was at the level of a senior guard or even higher.
Crackle, crackle.
Electricity was flowing out from the cut surface where the left arm had been blown off.
Fortunately, I wasn’t the only one who had to catch my breath. The assassin was also in high-speed combat, so he needed to catch his breath as well.
Anyway, our first clash ended with the loss of my left arm. After I finally caught my breath, I had to fight in a disadvantageous situation.
“You fight strangely. This isn’t even the fighting style of the Empire… … .”
The assassin spoke, throwing away his helmet, part of which was broken off. His voice, now devoid of mechanical sounds, was crackling.
There was still one silver lining. The assassin didn’t know anything about Archie’s combat techniques. He seemed to be greatly uncomfortable with my combat techniques and movement optimization, so he didn’t rush in.
“Your Majesty, to be honest, I might lose. I’ll buy you some time here, so you can run away.”
I said without looking back.
Wheeeeeeeeee.
The broken glass and shattered walls allowed the characteristic high-rise winds to blow through the house.
‘Plague.’
Unfortunately… … a pile of dust mixed with powder covered my face. I opened only my right artificial eye and closed the other eye for a moment.
And the opponent was an experienced warrior. He took advantage of the momentary narrowing of my vision and rushed to the left.
‘Quick and accurate judgment.’
I could pride myself on being strong.
Whirl!
The assassin who approached me from my left leaped and spun around. I didn’t open my left eye to see him directly. I just judged him by the shadow and the sound.
I lowered my head and dodged the enemy’s blade. Then I raised my foot and tried to kick the assassin.
I felt like I was okay with getting my feet cut off. I was inferior in terms of pure skill and experience. I had to admit what needed to be admitted in order to strike at the enemy’s weak points.
And my strengths are the special nature of Archie’s Victory and the limb prosthesis. Even if there is a loss of the prosthesis, I have to constantly create variables to create a situation that is advantageous to Archie’s combat skills.
‘Cut off my legs.’
Then my sword will tear apart your torso, and your pure entrails will see the outside world for the first time.
The kick I just delivered was a trap, and my real attack was a slash that I would deliver while spinning around. If that woman tried to dodge my slash by stepping back, I planned to swing Crucis around like a boomerang.
My double-think was ready to drive my opponent to the brink of a catastrophe in a short period of time. I laid a double trap in a short period of time.
Boom!
But the assassin did something different from what I expected. She took advantage of the shock by bumping into me as if tripping over my toes.
Phew- Yeah!
The assassin who had just grazed my foot was flying all the way to the outer wall. At this distance, even if I threw Crucis, it wouldn’t hit.
‘This medicine is so effective… …!’
The assassin didn’t even learn Archie’s Victory. How much combat experience did he have to make such a judgment? My swearing was nothing but admiration.
The pupil of the assassin who had flown away was briefly turned towards Francesque.
Phew!
A light appeared in the assassin’s hand. A needle-like throwing weapon flew towards Francek.
Whoosh!
Francek dodged the projectiles while holding Ren. He is also a member of the royal family and a crown prince. His body is also highly functional and he must have received basic combat training. He was able to dodge the clumsy attacks.
“Tsk.”
The assassin flew to the outer wall and clicked his tongue, grabbing the exposed steel frame. He tried to climb the outer wall of the building and enter Francek’s room.
Kaaaaang!
I quickly threw Crucis. Crucis flew towards the assassin, shattering debris, walls, windows, and everything else.
The assassin extended his arm and grabbed another skeleton to avoid Crucis. He didn’t think he could kill him with this in the first place. He just had to buy time.
I ran with the Graken Boot in my mouth, and stretched out my right arm to break the wall and make a path.
“Hey, you… … .”
The assassin’s eyes widened as he realized my intentions. I smirked with the Graken Boots in my mouth. The corner of my mouth was slightly torn by the blade.
Kwaruruk!
I jumped and hit the ground with my heel. The high-powered, spinning downward strike caused parts of the building to collapse as if an earthquake had occurred.
The outer wall the assassin was holding onto is collapsing and he is falling outside. However, with the assassin’s agility, he will be able to climb up the collapsing debris and get here.
‘That’s why I will be your companion.’
I threw myself at the assassin, intending to free fall with him.
Kiing!
I extended my right arm and pulled out my preheated stun gun. I aimed at the assassin.
Kwa- Ang!
The assassin looked at the gun barrel and jumped to the side. She probably didn’t even know the power of the stun gun, but she evaded by keeping a wide radius of damage. She was very skilled.
But my stun gun blew away the debris that had been our foothold, and now there was no more ground to support our feet.
We fall endlessly.
Whirl!
I did a somersault as I fell. In the meantime, I took off my shoes and grabbed the Graken boot I had in my mouth with my feet. With my remaining right hand, I kept changing the aim of my shock pistol. I have to fight like this without my left arm.
The assassin and I are falling fiercely. The world’s landscape is falling like a lie.
‘Ruina, do this right this time. I don’t only like Crucis.’
No, actually, I do favor Crux a bit.
Too-ung! Thud!
I fired the stun gun repeatedly. The assassin moved around in the air without any foothold. I don’t know how it worked, but it was incredible.
Even though she had somehow managed to lead to a drastically changing situation, the assassin’s fighting power remained the same. She quickly adapted to the changing environment and situation, just like I did when I learned Archie’s Victory.
“I guess the magazine is empty?”
The assassin muttered in the fast-moving wind. She scraped her sword against the outer wall, slowing her descent, and leveled with me.
In fact, there is one step left.
I pretended to lower the barrel of my stun gun, then raised it again. It was as close as I had expected. My chance had come.
Ruina is my personal weapon. There’s no way that she knows how many rounds are in Ruina’s magazine. It’s a trick that can be used before one magazine is completely empty. Counting bullets in a fight at our level is not a problem.
The bullet trick is a crude improvisation, but it can be a great trick because situations change so quickly.
The more confusing the situation, the harder it is to fight while assuming all variables and situations. In such cases, we tend to unconsciously exclude basic tricks.
Ruina’s gun barrel and the assassin’s gun were in a straight line. I tried to pull the trigger with all my heart. If this attack succeeds, I will deal with Ruina before Crucis.
Woohoo!
But my index finger broke before it could reach the trigger. The assassin had swung his foot and passed my hand. It was a finely crafted feat.
“You’re so cute. Did you believe what I was saying to myself?”
The assassin showed his composure. I was the one who had been fooled by his basic trick.
‘I guess the magazine is empty?’
… … Now that I think about it, I’m so angry at how stupid I was for believing that.
And the ground was getting closer.
