Chapter 237: Rinella’s Destiny is Her Own (30)

Chapter 237: Rinella’s Destiny is Her Own (30)

The middle-aged man's complexion held no sway over me.

With each deliberate step I took, he struggled, futilely attempting to drag his body backward.Ne/w novel chapters are p/u/blished on no/vel(/bin(.)c/o/m

But he couldn't outpace me.

Setting the hatchet down with a resounding thud, I crouched to meet his gaze eye to eye.

The fear in his eyes intensified, perhaps due to the realization that the stone floor beneath the hatchet could easily become a weapon.

“So, answer quickly while I'm still a pacifist... yeah? To whom did you sell these people?”

"Y-Young Master... You must be mistaken...."

Now, a polite tone flowed from the middle-aged man's mouth, a stark contrast to his previous demeanor. He had finally grasped the fragile thread of reason.

His pretense had melted away, and was now replaced by genuine sincerity.

He painfully realized who held the reins of power in this situation.

"I-I'm just a tool! I have no use for you even if you take me as a hostage! Right now, dozens of organization members are gathering here... Among them, won't there be anyone who can defeat you, Young Master?"

With a scoff, I suppressed my murmur as he pleaded with a trembling voice.

"N-Now... It's not too late. Let's discuss a solution together. I-I don't want to die!"

"You won't die."

With those words, I rose to my feet.

Footsteps echoed in the long corridor, signaling the approach of reinforcements.

It seemed that any commotion in the reception room triggered an alert, spreading the news swiftly. Yet, the security measures were lacking, typical of a mere gang.

Was there truly someone capable of defeating me?

Even if they underestimated me, I was still a senior in the academy. These thugs, and even the former mercenaries I had just faced, were no match for my skills.

Even if I considered their numbers.

It was an intriguing situation.

I flashed a faint smile at the middle-aged man, offering reassurance.

"...Until I'm dead."

The middle-aged man flinched, his sobs resuming once more.

His ability to move freely would be severely limited for some time. With a nonchalant swing, I pushed open the door of the reception room and strode out.

In the distance, through the length of the corridor, a horde of thugs armed with an array of weapons were approaching.

It seemed like today's cleanup operation would take a bit longer.

****

Blood splattered with each swift stroke of my hatchet, painting vibrant hues on the colorless stone corridor occasionally adorned with traces of gold.

Severed body parts, flesh-toned and crimson, littered the ground.

I didn't kill them.

Of course, some of the weaker ones may have succumbed to excessive bleeding, but I tried to spare them as much as I could.

They were surely hiding some secret.

Even though they were facing a noble, they were still rushing at me as if they wanted to kill me. Even if they died, no one would say anything about it. However, I still didn't have any intention to kill them.

After all, they were only spies and informants, the faceless bottom-feeders of society.

The extent of their involvement in criminal activities remained uncertain, so I wanted to preserve as many lives as possible.

However, I had no intention of saving them, even if it meant sacrificing their own.

Driven by a reckless abandon of fear, they charged at me with bloodshot eyes.

Their numbers, restricted by the narrow confines of the corridor, was a limitation I was exploiting to its fullest.

A deep sigh escaped me as I adjusted my stance, my hand moving with lightning speed.

The hatchet met its mark on the abdomen of one assailant, aiming for impact rather than lethality, though the metallic force coupled with the added momentum ensured a torrent of blood. As his body doubled over, another attempted to parry with his own hatchet.

I scratched my head with a sigh, feeling way out of my depth in such conversations.

It was unfamiliar for someone else to seize control of the atmosphere unexpectedly.

All I could do was offer what little comfort I could muster.

"...How about witnessing it firsthand?"

"It’s impressive, but..."

With a sharp, resonant sound, the sword was drawn, a sharp intent flowing through its keen edge revealing the meticulous care that had gone into its maintenance.

He was a formidable opponent compared to those I faced thus far.

It was only natural for a former academy student to possess such skill.

"There are lessons one can't learn within the confines of the academy walls. Allow me to show you the swordsmanship I honed at the bottom of life. Now, face me..."

Hearing this, I couldn't help but display a troubled expression.

With a sigh, I spoke to him.

"Um, I don't know what circumstances led to this, but... were you expelled from the academy?"

There were individuals who were worshiped for their brilliant talent, only to confront the miserable reality after being compared to true geniuses.

Well, most freshmen at the academy were like that.

Wasn't I once in that position, too?

I was in the mid to lower ranks at best. And even that was achieved through desperate training.

It took me a considerable time to accept that despite my efforts, there were limits.

"...It was the nobles' jealousy and envy."

"I see. If that’s the case..."

With a fluid motion, I sheathed my hatchet and drew my sword, a gesture of respect towards him.

Gratitude gleamed in his eyes, met with a wry smile from me as I adjusted my stance.

Then, silence enveloped us.

Though brief, the intensity of the moment returned, thickening the air.

In the intense gap of time...

With each stride, momentum surged to its peak.

I propelled forward, bridging the gap in an instant. The man, unfazed, moved his long sword with calculated precision.

My sword gleamed with a silver aura, cleaving through the air.

The long sword's trajectory remained steady, ready to intercept mine, with an azure aura now pulsating along its blade.

The man seemed lost in thought as his gaze deepened.

It seemed he was thinking about his next move.

But the next instant, a resounding crack shattered the calm.

His blade splintered into fragments, leaving him dumbfounded.

Unable to withstand my aura, his long sword crumbled entirely, my silver aura swiftly overpowering the azure.

My blade tore apart the space around his chest, blood spurting forth, yet the man still stood tall.

A disconnect lingered between the reality unfolding before him and his mind's attempt to comprehend it.

In a composed tone, I uttered a sentence.

"...Stop acting tough, you bastard."

The opponents I have faced so far might have been strong, but I had become incomparably stronger than before.

A dropout like him stood no chance against my blade.

Now, it was time to finally unearth the /genesisforsaken