novelraw Chapter 122 : And What Are You Now.
Chapter 122 : And What Are You Now.
And What Are You Now.
...it was not a guard.
The instant that thought crossed my mind, my body started to tense up.
Whoosh!
Something shot through the darkness, slicing through the air at breakneck speed.
A dagger—definitely a dagger.
Ordinarily, the moonlight would have glinted off the blade, but this dagger, hidden in the shadows, caused no reflection.
It was probably coated with something special. That meant these were professionals at this sort of thing.
And not just one—two.
Their targets: me and the prince standing behind me.
As soon as I recognized that, my body reacted on reflex.
Clang!
I drew 'Blood-Colored Awl' and deflected the first dagger.
I deflected the second dagger just as easily.
With my original skills, fending off daggers with such precision would have been impossible.
― Master, I sense movement. The ones who threw the daggers are putting some distance between us."
This was only possible because of the assistance from 'Chunsik' the Dullahan.
Even more, with him sitting on my head, the world seemed to move just a bit slower.
The power of the Dullahan.
Was it this strong? No, this was about right.
― There's someone behind us as well."
At Chunsik's words, I shifted my gaze slightly and saw the bushes in the backyard rustling.
At this rate, we would be surrounded.
Whether he realized that, Barkal immediately stamped the ground and started to widen our space.
"Hahahaha! It was a good attempt!"
With a thunderous shout, Barkal swung his axe. As he brandished 'Erindal' with a murderous aura, the shaking bushes were instantly blown away.
"Kh, khh...!"
Two figures in pitch-black clothing revealed themselves.
That combat instinct had to be natural talent. To move and avoid a disadvantageous situation like this required innate sense.
"Don't interfere with us!"
One of the revealed assassins spoke. That cold, low voice showed just what kind of deeds they had done.
But—did that matter?
"Do you know who this is?"
"If we didn't, we wouldn't have come looking."
So, you came to kill the 'royal'?
When I asked,
They answered, "Of course."
* 【Skeleton Summon is being used.】
Hearing that, instead of worry, a smile crept onto my lips.
"You are assassins!"
When I shouted that, the assassins gave me a slightly confused look.
It's as if they were wondering what difference stating the obvious would make, but it didn't matter.
"To think you would dare beat the prince until he lost his memory! Unforgivable!"
Now, from here on,
You all were the ones who beat the prince.
* * *
"What?"
When I declared it loudly, the assassins stared at me with incredulous expressions.
Of course they did.
They had suddenly become the culprits without even knowing what had happened.
"I don't know what you mean, but... pitiful."
Pitiful, you say.
"We have no choice. You'll regret tagging along with Prince Edwin today."
With that, the assassin adjusted his grip on his dagger.
At the same time, his form began to blur slightly.
Shadow Concealment.
A skill common among 'Assassin' classes. It was a technique to melt into the night.
And not just him—the other who had spoken also began to grow indistinct.
No matter how skilled they were, no 'Assassin' would dare face a 'barbarian' head-on.
"Do you not intend to run?"
At my question, the assassin replied quietly.
"Why would I let prey I've already caught get away?"
He wasn't running—he was confident, clearly trusting his companions enough to continue fighting.
What a shame...
Our companion is reliable too.
Especially among people, I had never seen anyone compare to him in direct combat.
"Wh-, what the—!"
As I had that thought, one more figure shot from the darkness.
Like throwing out trash, the figure's body was hurled and only stopped when it smashed into a statue.
Pinned beneath the broken remains of the statue, the figure was clearly one of the assassins.
"W-what just happened?"
The first assassin who had revealed himself shouted in shock.
Hey, you think you're the only one who can hide people? We have someone in hiding as well.
Honestly, I wasn't just being foolish when I asked the stranger if he was a 'guard.' It was for this very moment.
When the prince awoke, Serena hid her face by staying out of sight.
She threw bait from our side so Serena could locate the direction of these attackers more easily.
Tap, tap.
Light footsteps echoed through the darkness.
That was the sound of Serena moving.
"N-no!"
The flustered assassin, seeing an ally taken down instantly, tried to reorganize their formation.
However—
"You're too slow!"
Barkal was faster than them.
With a madman's laugh, Barkal swung his axe and charged at the nearest assassin.
Distracted by the ally's defeat, that assassin tried to block Barkal with his dagger rather than fleeing.
But would an assassin's dagger ever stop a barbarian's axe?
"Krrrraaaagh!"
The assassin's dagger shattered.
With Barkal's follow-up kick, the assassin flew into the fountain in the backyard.
I, too, charged at the speaking assassin alongside Barkal.
* 【Hardened Blood is being used.】
As I rushed him, the assassin prepared to throw another dagger. Before he could act, I shot a 'Blood Bullet' at him.
"Ugh!"
Apparently sensing it wasn't just ordinary 'blood,' the assassin dove backward.
But thanks to the 'Dullahan's Strength,' my enhanced leg power let me close the distance before he fully melded with the darkness.
"Tsk...!"
As I closed in, the assassin clicked his tongue and readied his dagger to strike.
Adjusting his stance, he immediately slashed the dagger toward my throat.
Clang!
I blocked with 'Blood-Colored Awl'. Even so, he did not relent.
Two slashes. Barely deflecting them, I gradually closed in and found an opening to strike.
― Not the dagger—use your fist, master."
Just as I was about to attack, chunsik's advice rang through my mind.
― That guy is focusing all his attention on the dagger right now."
When I heard that, I understood what he meant.
Since he's watching 'Blood-Colored Awl', any counterattack would come based on that.
I tried placing my left hand on 'Blood-Colored Awl' to check. Even though it was covered, I could feel his gaze locked there.
With the distance fully closed, I raised my right hand.
Again, I could sense his eyes tracking it.
I didn't miss that opening.
Thud.
"Gah!"
My fist slammed into the assassin's face. Through his eyes, I could almost feel him asking, 'How?'
Of course he'd be confused. Even if he'd been watching 'Blood-Colored Awl', he should have been tracking my whole body.
And given the distance, how did I land the punch?
* 【Skeleton Summon is being used.】
It was simple.
I used 'Skeleton Summon' to extend the reach.
Hit with the 'skeleton exoskeleton', the assassin started to stagger, probably with a concussion.
I didn't pause to catch my breath. Lowering my posture, I lunged at him again.
He desperately swung his right hand to shake me off. I easily dodged, tripped him, and then drove 'Blood-Colored Awl' into his nape.
"Hya, haaaah...!"
I heard the sound of air escaping his lungs.
"If you move, I'll pull out the blade."
The neck is a vital point for all living things. A stab there isn't instantly fatal, but the moment blood starts spurting, you'll die in seconds.
Knowing that, the assassin just stared at me, with no intention of moving.
"E-everyone... fall back...!"
He muttered this so quietly that only I could hear.
Of course, it wasn't loud enough for the others.
"T-they're running away!"
"Stop! You cowards!"
The other assassins were already fading into the darkness.
What's going on...
Oh well, I suppose I don't have to chase them. Chasing running 'Assassins' would be tough anyway.
I looked back at the captured assassin.
His face drained of strength. But reflected in his eyes was resignation, not submission.
"Kh, khh!"
As soon as I met those eyes, I felt something strange coming from the assassin.
And not only that. He thrashed with both hands, as if it didn't matter if he pulled out the 'Blood-Colored Awl' stuck in his neck.
Does he not care about living anymore?
No, he's frantic to die.
* 【Hardened Blood is being used.】
With that thought, I used the blood stored in 'Blood-Colored Awl' to stop his bleeding.
"Grrrrk..."
Still, his groans did not cease.
The dagger lodged in him was pulled out.
The bleeding stopped.
But the assassin's convulsions only grew worse.
― Master, look at his neck."
Suddenly Chunsik told me to check the neck of the collapsed assassin.
Following his advice, I watched as the area around the assassin's neck began to swell.
"Kh, khh."
His eyes rolled back, and his body sagged as all strength left him. He was definitely dead.
Damn it.
I cursed inwardly.
Had he hidden poison in his mouth? The odds were high.
Assassins, once captured, could expect torture.
"Hm?"
But, it was strange.
Something began to writhe inside the swelling on the assassin's neck.
Even the area where 'Hardened Blood' had blocked the bleeding ballooned outward. Simultaneously, something burst out from beneath the skin.
Tendons.
From the 'Abyss'.
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