Chapter 17

Chapter 17 – Raising a Disciple (1)

On the training ground of the Count Arsene family.

Drip, drip, drip.

Under the scorching sunlight, beads of sweat trickled down a boy’s jawline.

The most important test of his life was approaching.

In preparation for that day, the boy was pushing himself to the limit in his final training session.

“Hey, Kirian!”

Flinch.

At that moment, the boy, Kirian, frowned.

It was the last voice he wanted to hear.

‘Even though I chose the rarely used fourth training ground in the backyard on purpose......’

Despite his efforts, the unwelcome visitors had found him again today.

“Anyone who doesn’t train always acts like this when the test is near.”

“But still, we’re family. Should I help you out, Kirian?”

Jan and Hersen.

The unwelcome visitors were none other than his half-brothers.

“I’m not saying this just because he’s our brother, but he’s way too kind. He’s got his own exam coming up, yet he even wants to help that loser?”

“Hahaha, Hersen. You should also try looking around you during training. A superior should take care of his subordinates.”

“But a subordinate is only worth it if they’re competent. You’re wasting your training time helping that outcast who’s bullied even at the academy.”

“What can I do? It’s the path I’ve chosen.”

Listening to their conversation, something bubbled up inside Kirian.

He had a lot he wanted to say.

That it was his brother who led the very same bullying.

Even his younger brother Hersen would often bring his gang to torment him.

Then they’d return to their class, boasting, ‘We even won against someone older than us!’

“......Thanks.”

But Kirian swallowed his complaints once again.

Arguing here would only make the day longer.

With satisfied smiles, the two brothers stepped onto the training ground.

The merciless beating began.

Thwack!

“Ugh!”

A hard wooden sword struck deep into Kirian’s stomach.

Smack!

Another strike split his lip.

Before the metallic taste of blood could fill his mouth, more blows followed.

Bam! Thwack!

“Were you happy? Huh? Was it nice being saved by your princess in shining armor?”

“Damn it! We should’ve beaten that girl-like bastard like this too! Just try and show up in front of us one more time.”

Kirian was always the target of his brothers’ frustrations.

But today, his mind felt even more cluttered than usual.

“Just once. You only need to muster the courage once, so why do you live like that? What kind of man are you?”

These were words he recently heard from a much younger boy, barely reaching up to his chest.

He had even witnessed that boy mercilessly taking down his brothers.

Kirian wasn’t indifferent to what he saw.

However, the fear deeply rooted in his heart for so long was not easy to shake off.

Woosh.

Whenever he tried to gather the courage and clench his fist, it wouldn’t be long before his strength waned, and vanished without a trace.

When he met the glaring eyes of his brothers, his hands and feet trembled uncontrollably.

The world followed the survival of the fittest.

A society divided into predators and prey.

In that sense, Kirian was always the latter.

He didn’t even dare to summon the courage to resist.

In his dreams, he was a ferocious beast devouring his brothers at least a hundred times, but in reality, he was worse than a rat.

‘Pathetic.’

Kirian knew it too.

How worthless he was.

Nothing would change if he continued like this.

He would remain trapped in his trauma, endlessly falling behind.

The upcoming knight exam was the immediate problem.

He was confident in theoretical knowledge and mana sensitivity tests, but how would he handle the final ‘duel’ between examinees?

He couldn’t even imagine himself wielding a wooden sword against his peers.

That’s right.

Although he hated to admit it, Kirian was already completely consumed by the fear he had created for himself.

“......Damn it.”

Before he knew it, he was alone in the training ground.

Kirian lay sprawled out, covering his eyes with his arm.

“Why can’t I do it like that kid?”

Though the child was an honored guest acknowledged by his father, he was still just a child.

Honestly, Kirian didn’t think the boy was stronger than him in swordsmanship.

Nonetheless, he sought him out, grasping at straws.

At the very least, there was one thing that boy clearly excelled in:

‘Confidence.’

That boy ruthlessly beat down brothers who were at least two heads taller than him.

Kirian hoped that if he could learn just that mindset, he could change, even a little.

So he went to find him.

But then.

“Huh? This guy, a grown man, is now lying down crying?”

***

That night.

Under the dark sky where even the moonlight had disappeared into the clouds, a few shadows quietly infiltrated Count Arsene’s estate.

“You’ve memorized the internal structure, right?”

“Yes.”

“The absence of guards lasts exactly 15 minutes. You must take out the target and get out within that time.”

The assassins, facing each other in the dark, nodded.

They didn’t even consider the possibility of failure.

They were quite renowned assassins throughout the entire Hart Kingdom.

Their target wasn’t the head of the household and they weren’t the kind who couldn’t handle a young brat in a guest room with almost no guards.

But even these assassins soon faced an unexpected situation.

“......Captain, doesn’t something feel off?”

“What do you mean?”

“I can’t hear any breathing.”

It was right after they had infiltrated the room where the target was staying.

They had entered through the window and encountered no one.

But that wasn’t the problem.

Assassins are particularly sensitive to their surroundings.

Breathing.

Presence.

Even the temperature of the air.

These small elements are what allow assassins to sense danger.

However.

“......This room is too cold. It’s like no one has stayed here for a long time.”

As soon as those words were spoken.

Flash!

“Urgh......!”

The dark room suddenly lit up brightly.

***

Indeed, being part of the count’s household, each room had a light sphere installed. I activated it as soon as I sensed a presence.

“I thought I’d die waiting.”

“......!”

I was lying sideways on a spacious table, resting my chin in my hand.

The assassins, who had been squinting against the sudden flood of light, finally widened their eyes.

“B-But, there was absolutely no sign of any presence...”

“You don’t expect me to kindly explain that, do you?”

“......!”

The assassins’ eyes twitched.

“Assassins who would even kill their own parents for money are the same, then and now. I’m a valued guest of the count’s household, yet you barged in so ruthlessly to kill a mere child.”

“Was the information leaked......?”

The one who seemed to be the leader muttered blankly. Then, he looked at me with murderous intent

“Well, well? Just look at those wicked eyes.”

I glared back at him.

In my previous life, anyone who showed me such a look did not have their limbs intact afterward.

“......Are you that brat called Ancelot?”

“Didn’t your mother teach you manners? You should introduce yourself before asking someone else’s identity.”

“......”

The assassin leader looked at me with a bewildered expression.

“They said you were insane, and it seems they were right. Looks like we found the right guy.”

“Insane...... Heh heh heh. So, who are you guys? Though I can pretty much guess who sent you.”

“There’s no need for conversation.”

“No room for negotiations?”

At that moment, the assassin leader’s eyes, visible through his mask, formed an unpleasant curve.

“Really? Do you want to live?”

“Why, are you going to spare me?”

“Just pay 2 million gold. Then I’ll let you live.”

2 million gold.

An impossibly large amount.

“This assassin even has a nasty hobby.”

“Is that too much? Well, a kid like you wouldn’t have that kind of money. Then just cut off one of your wrists here.”

“My wrist?”

The assassin leader nodded.

“Then I’ll deduct 100,000 gold for the wrist. 1.9 million gold.”

“Pfft!”

“......?”

The leader tilted his head in confusion.

Ignoring him, I chuckled softly again.

How could I not laugh?

I never thought I’d hear something like this in my life.

“Hahahaha. Phew, how kind of you. But that’s not right. You have to take care of your men; they work hard too.”

Slip.

I picked up the sword I had hidden by my pillow, still in its sheath.

“Let’s see. How much would all your heads be worth?”

“......”

In an instant, murderous intent filled the air.

If even one of them knew about my past, they wouldn’t have taken my words lightly, but unfortunately, these poor souls didn’t.

“......Cut off that brat’s limbs first.”

Woosh!

With that, the assassins lunged at me fiercely.