Return of the Dragon-Devouring Assassin

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

The report Zak had submitted detailed Feyr's conduct in meticulous fashion—conduct that could rightly be called eccentric.

Azazel read through the report's contents and stretched his mouth into a wide grin.

"Interesting. So what reward were you thinking of giving?"

"I was considering the Bronze Vault key."

The Bronze Vault—the lowest tier among the treasure vaults that existed within the family.

It was a place that stored mainly weapons considered to be of decent quality, usable cultivation methods, and passable swordsmanship textbooks.

He had judged that a Bronze Vault key would be sufficient to cover the combined value of the first exam's reward and the rewards for the two consecutive exams that followed.

Even that was, after all, a legitimate treasure vault.

But Azazel appeared to have a different idea.

"Give him the Silver Vault key."

"The silver key, you say?"

Zak's eye twitched.

From the Silver Vault onward, what was stored was hardly the sort of thing to be handed to Trainees.

Artifacts.

Among the contents were things that could charitably be called degraded versions of the real ones.

'Though the genuine articles are stored higher up, of course.'

Just as Zak was thinking that for a moment—

Azazel, seeming to know what Zak was thinking, spoke with ease.

"Rewards and punishments must be handled decisively."

That was right.

Beilhart, being a house where the strong are respected, had to be clear about rewards and punishments commensurate with ability.

Had he not just said that very thing to Feyr moments ago?

That he could look forward to it.

Recalling that, Zak nodded in apparent understanding at Azazel's words.

As Zak gave his nod, Azazel waved his hand and said.

"Then see that the Silver Vault key is given."

"Understood."

At Azazel's command, Zak bowed his head.

But Azazel seemed uninterested in Zak with his head lowered, simply shifting his gaze back to the report.

Continuing to read through the report, Azazel found himself suddenly curious.

Just how much more interesting a path would this fellow show him.

Thinking that, as though a amusing idea had just come to him, Azazel smiled and added.

"If that Trainee reaches the 2nd Star within three days, issue him the Gold Vault key."

Three days.

That was the period in which Azazel himself had forged his second Ring in the past.

Along with the notice, Azazel tossed a single gold key in front of Zak with a thud.

"Should he fail, simply issue the Silver Vault key as is; should he succeed, take the treasure without reporting it."

Zak picked up the gold key that had fallen to the floor and answered.

"I will act in accordance with the Family Head's orders."

"Mm."

The dismissal came, and Zak gave a small bow before leaving the Lord's Chamber at once.

And as silence descended once more—

"Things are flowing along interestingly."

***

Zak returned to the Training Ground and called for Feyr without delay.

"I was told you called for me."

Feyr arrived at the Head Instructor's Office and spoke, looking at Zak.

Zak gave a small nod and asked Feyr.

"Do you know why this instructor called for you?"

"Is it regarding the top-rank reward?"

"You're well aware."

Having finished speaking, Zak drew a single silver key from within his breast pocket.

Seeing it, Feyr's eyes went wide.

'The Silver Vault key.'

The Silver Vault was a treasure vault housing mid-grade treasures.

To obtain that key, one had to render some minor service or carry out a mission bestowed by the family.

The items within the vault were accordingly on the valuable side.

'I thought it would be the Bronze key at most.'

Perhaps because it was a combined reward with the previous exam, something fairly decent had come of it.

Thinking that, Feyr feigned ignorance of the key's identity, contrary to how he truly felt, and asked with a casual air.

"Is this the top-rank reward?"

"That's right. It's a key to the family's treasure vault."

It's wasted on a wretch like you.

Zak's expression seemed to say exactly that.

Zak then set the silver key on the desk and spoke.

"Those above seemed rather taken with you."

At the words those above, Feyr's eye twitched.

The person who could be called those above to Zak.

That would have to be the Family Head, Azazel Beilhart.

The fact that the person he hated most was pleased with him was unpleasant, yet Feyr replied calmly regardless.

"Is that so?"

"Yes, and so it was decided to make you a proposal."

At the word proposal, Feyr narrowed his eyes.

"What sort of proposal?"

"Three days. Forge one more Ring within that time. If you succeed, the reward will be……"

Zak drew another key from within his breast pocket, one glowing with a golden light.

"This."

The eyes of Feyr, who had been looking at the key Zak produced, slowly grew wide until they were perfectly round.

It couldn't be helped.

That golden-gleaming key was absolutely not something that ought to appear in a place like this.

'The Gold key……!'

The Gold Vault key—awarded when one rendered a feat worthy of being called a great achievement within the family, or accomplished a mission of impossible difficulty.

And that was what had just appeared here.

'In my past life, no matter how I struggled, I never received it once……'

Even when he rendered service akin to a great achievement.

Even when he accomplished missions that defied reason, Feyr had never received the Gold key a single time.

The reason was simply this: Feyr was an assassin.

No spotlight could be shone upon an assassin.

That would expose the family's covert operations.

And so Feyr had never once received the Gold key.

Even in a place where rewards and punishments were so clear.

Yet now, it was a situation where he could receive it simply by forging one more Ring.

It was truly absurd.

'……Still, a good thing is a good thing.'

There was no reason to refuse something being given to him just because of lingering bitterness from his past life.

All the more so when what was being offered was something as valuable as the Gold key.

'That said, it seems Azazel was quite impressed by me.'

Going so far as to put up the Gold key as a reward, no less.

Of course, in general terms, forging a second Ring within three days would be unreasonable.

Forging the second Ring requires more than double the Mana needed when forging the first.

That was why such an extraordinary reward was being offered alongside this proposal.

'He obviously expected me to fail.'

But that judgment was wrong.

Feyr already had three Rings.

Naturally, not knowing that, he had set these terms.

With those thoughts in mind, while Feyr sat in silence, Zak let his voice slip out like a taunt.

"Even for you, forging one more Ring within three days would be unreasonable."

At Zak's voice, Feyr met his eyes.

Unreasonable?

Was it really?

At Zak's paltry provocation, Feyr murmured low.

"……I will."

"What?"

"I will have it made by tomorrow."

Made by tomorrow.

He was saying he would reach the 2nd Star in a single day.

At Feyr's answer, Zak let out a small, involuntary laugh.

Because it made no sense.

That was why Zak judged it impossible and couldn't help the laugh that slipped out.

But that only lasted a moment.

"……"

Zak had to let the corners of his mouth fall.

Because Feyr's expression was more serious than it had ever been.

And so, despite knowing that forging one more Ring within three days was unreasonable, Zak found himself unconsciously thinking—

'If it were any other fool, I'd dismiss it as nonsense.'

But if it was that kid, maybe it actually was possible.

As Zak sat in silence with that thought, Feyr slowly opened his mouth.

"May I be on my way now?"

At Feyr's question, Zak gave a nod as if to say, go ahead.

Giving a small bow, Feyr left the Head Instructor's Office and headed straight for the Mana Cultivation Chamber.

To wipe that smirk off Zak's face.

'And get some Mana cultivation in while I'm at it.'

So Feyr entered the Cultivation Chamber, sat down, closed his eyes, and immediately began his Mana cultivation.

A full day after Feyr entered Mana cultivation.

Having finished, Feyr stretched his stiff body while gauging how much Mana had accumulated.

'I haven't even filled a tenth of it.'

That was a given.

Even drawing on his past life's experience, it had taken a month to reach the 3rd Star.

The 4th Star was the stage leading toward the next realm—Sword Expert—so it would inevitably take even longer than that.

From here on, the only answer to raising his level was steady, consistent cultivation.

'There are other methods, of course……'

But if at all possible, he did not want to use them.

The risk involved was far too great.

More than anything, he had plenty of time, so there was no need to be impatient.

With that thought, Feyr shook his head and cleared his mind.

'For now, let's step out.'

By this point, enough time had passed.

Feyr made that judgment and stepped out of the Cultivation Chamber.

Perhaps because a full day had passed, it was still bright outside.

And with that, Feyr headed straight for the Head Instructor's Office.

To reveal his achievement and collect his reward.

Knock knock.

When Feyr knocked on the Head Instructor's Office door, Zak's voice came from within.

"Come in."

As Feyr entered the Head Instructor's Office, Zak leaned back in his chair and looked at Feyr.

"As confident as your answer was—was there any result?"

"There was."

"Oh? Then let's take a look."

At Feyr's still-confident attitude, Zak activated his Mana Eyes at once.

And Feyr also began rotating two Rings.

Wuuuung!

Within Zak's Mana Eyes, two fiercely spinning Rings came into view.

Just as Feyr had claimed, he had truly forged two Rings.

At that fact, Zak exhaled as if he couldn't believe it.

"Ha……"

Had there ever been anyone in the family's history who had achieved this so quickly?

No.

There hadn't.

Even Azazel, the current Family Head, had taken three days to forge two Mana Rings.

Yet this kid had done it in a single day.

And only two days after learning Mana cultivation at that!

'Even granting that the Crescent Moon Cultivation Method is fast up to the 3rd Star—it's this fast?'

He couldn't believe it.

He couldn't comprehend it.

Zak kept his reaction as understated as possible and spoke calmly.

"You've truly succeeded."

"I got lucky."

"Ha! This is absurd."

Zak laughed in disbelief and drew the Gold key from within his breast pocket, handing it to Feyr.

Feyr received the key, bowed his head, and expressed his gratitude.

"Thank you."

"We give rewards and punishments in proportion to ability. If you wish to be grateful, prove it to the family with your loyalty."

At those words telling him to show it to the family, Feyr immediately fell silent.

When no further words followed, Zak took it as his cue and began explaining how the key was to be used.

"That key is for the treasure vault in the main castle. You must go to the main castle to use it, but a Trainee like you cannot access the main castle freely."

The main castle.

The castle where the Family Head, the direct bloodline, and the family's elders resided.

As it was the residence of those with power and high standing within the family, it was, just as Zak had said, a place a Trainee like Feyr could not approach.

No matter that Feyr held the Gold key.

So Zak said to Feyr.

"Therefore, this instructor will assign one escort instructor to accompany you when you use the key."

He would assign an instructor as an escort when heading to the main castle.

That meant he was saying he would assist by attaching an instructor so that he could go to the main castle.

In other words, Zak was showing consideration for him.