Chapter 69: Assassination (2)
What is the most important thing in assassinating someone?
Some would say swordsmanship skills, and others would say the ability to handle Hidden Weapons or poisons.
Stealth and infiltration abilities are also indispensable virtues, and disguise techniques are also effective in certain situations.
And Harang possessed most of the abilities mentioned above.
‘Poison and disguise weren’t to my taste…….’
Of course, that didn't mean he was a complete novice, but Harang preferred a clean method using swords and Hidden Weapons.
It was the same this time.
A dark night where even the moon hadn't risen.
Arriving at Viscount Kilkearn’s territory, he boldly jumped over the wall of the lord’s manor and entered the building without making any sound.
“No, Ms. Köln’s daughter did that? Huh…… really? I can’t believe it, even if it’s you.”
“I’m telling you, it’s true. Have you ever seen me talk nonsense?”
“Well, that’s true, but……”
The voices of the private soldiers patrolling inside could be heard.
It wasn't just them.
As if their work wasn't finished despite it being night, the voices and breaths of maids and workers bustling around seeped into Harang’s ears.
It was thanks to the Sensory Awakening utilizing Aura.
His extremely sharpened hearing allowed him to guess the approximate locations of the individuals within the lord’s manor.
No, it wasn't just that.
In addition to the intuitive information entering his eyes and ears, the smells of all sorts of things entering his nostrils were overlaid.
His senses of touch and taste also provided assistance, though not greatly.
As the flow and taste of the wind caressing his skin and tongue served as support, a map naturally formed in Harang’s mind.
Harang summarized the current situation.
There was no problem with his skills or condition.
The rough internal structure of the lord’s manor was also mostly figured out.
This was becoming more accurate as he moved and expanded his senses.
A few nuisances were chattering and roaming inside the building, but it wasn't a big problem.
For him, who could hide his body as long as there was a shadow even under the sun, the private soldiers’ powers of observation and attentiveness were as good as nonexistent.
That was right.
Now, the important thing was only to figure out which of the numerous rooms in the lord’s manor Kilkearn was in.
‘Should I grab someone and ask?’
That was the first thought that crossed Harang’s mind.
It was also the easiest method.
If he caught a maid who spent most of her day in the lord’s manor and broke a few of her fingers, she would spill everything she knew.
If he didn't trust her, he could catch one or two more for cross-verification.
However, he was reluctant.
Firstly, he didn't want to show his face to anyone.
Secondly, he didn't want to arbitrarily intimidate those unrelated to him.
For the same reason, he wanted to avoid killing everyone to silence them.
‘Not everyone under Kilkearn is a threat to Marzen.’
Harang’s thought was that he wanted to see minimal blood if possible.
Then what should he do?
Should he hide in the darkness like now, investigate rooms one by one, and search for where Viscount Kilkearn was?
Fortunately, there was no need for that.
Hiding behind a decorative suit of iron armor, Harang raised his Aura.
At that, an unfamiliar energy was detected in various places by his even sharper senses.
Woong.
Wooooong.
Wiing, wiiiiing……
Mana.
The source through which a Magician could perform miracles, and the mystical energy that served as the driving force for Magic Tools to operate.
It was felt in various places throughout the lord’s manor.
To be precise, it felt densely concentrated in certain locations.
‘Probably surveillance devices or alarm devices.’
And that also meant that there was an existence there that they wanted to protect, even with the help of such expensive equipment.
Hoo, Harang, letting out a faint breath, nodded.
And he moved his steps.
There was no hesitation.
Hidden Weapons silently poured from Harang’s hand as he moved with an uncharacteristically fast pace for an intruder.
They attacked the alarm devices hidden behind flower pots, on the ceiling, and in picture frames, like ghosts.
-!
-!
Magic Tools being eliminated one by one.
A black-haired young man strolling leisurely through the neutralizing surveillance systems.
After such a scene was repeated several times, Harang abruptly stopped his steps and looked somewhere.
A huge door with brilliant gold decorations.
He had a feeling.
Viscount Kilkearn was here.
‘Let’s finish this quickly.’
Harang’s eyes gleamed in the darkness.
An existence aiming for his life.
Furthermore, an existence threatening the safety of the Eddy Mercenary Corps.
There was no need to respond to such a person’s invitation.
This method was indeed the best.
Having finished his thoughts, he quietly opened the door and carefully stepped through the small gap.
And a moment later.
Thump.
He collapsed to the floor like a marionette with its strings cut.
“Do you know this?”
The old man watching him, Viscount Kilkearn, opened his mouth in the darkness.
As if quite pleased with the current situation, he did not lose his leisurely demeanor throughout.
After taking a sip of coffee, he continued.
“I do not have a good personality. On top of that, I am greedy, and my actions are exceedingly cruel. That’s why I have many enemies. Even if it weren't for you, there are guys everywhere trying to take my life. So I usually prepare a lot. The private soldiers patrolling all over the mansion are the first, and the excessive number of Magic Tools are the second. Most are thwarted here, but you neutralized them as if it were nothing. Honestly, I was surprised. It’s not something possible just by having great swordsmanship skills. If I had been a little more careless, there’s a high probability that the one lying on the floor now would be me, not you.”
“……”
“Do you know this? From the moment news of Dukan Iter was cut off until now, I have burned sleeping incense in my room every day. So deadly that one would never wake up without an antidote…… Ah, you don’t need to worry about me. I am always taking an antidote. It’s not a very good ingredient for the body, so it wasn't something to do for long, but…… now that I’ve caught you like this, I feel it was well done. What do you think, do you all think so too?”
“That’s right.”
“We can only admire His Lordship’s insight.”
“Indeed, Your Lordship.”
At Kilkearn’s words, praises poured from the mouths of the butler and the two knights standing behind him.
It was also true that they were genuinely impressed.
To set a trap in reverse in preparation for an assassin’s visit, he was indeed a person befitting the nickname ‘old fox’.
‘Well, being such a person, he must have survived until now despite having so many enemies.’
‘It’s not a thought to harbor towards the person one serves, but…… there probably isn’t anyone in the Nadan Kingdom, at least, who can surpass this person’s cunning.’
Of course, the knights did not voice such thoughts.
Hiding their true feelings, they gilded their lord’s face a few more times, and Viscount Kilkearn, who was in a good mood, laughed heartily and then poured himself whiskey instead of coffee.
Though he was pretending to be strong, he too had been under immense stress and tension for the past month.
The death of Dukan Iter, the territory’s top power, was a significant blow to him, and the fact that the being who killed Dukan Iter was hostile towards him was an enormous danger.
Of course, now that he had captured the fellow, it was merely a resolved problem.
All that remained was to invite a renowned Magician, cast a brainwashing spell on the fellow, and brand him with a slave’s mark.
‘With this, Dukan Iter’s vacant spot has also been somehow filled. Good. Very good.’
“Phh, phhh phhh……”
Viscount Kilkearn, chuckling once more, downed his whiskey.
He then looked at the private soldiers with a deliberately solemn expression and said this.
“The assassin…… I want to see Harang’s face. Bring him here.”
“Yes!”
“Yes! Your Lordship!”
Whose words would they refuse?
The knights grabbed the arms of Harang, who had collapsed, poisoned by the sleeping incense, and forcibly lifted him.
Viscount Kilkearn chuckled as he watched the opponent arrive before him, feet dragging.
“Hold his head up. I can’t see his face well.”
“Yes.”
“……It’s strange. To have defeated Dukan, he must be a Graduate, but to be this young…… Where on earth did such a fellow pop out from? It’s also strange that his name hasn't been known until now.”
Viscount Kilkearn, having confirmed Harang’s face, muttered while stroking his chin.
The knights nodded as if agreeing with his words.
Swordsmen of Expert level had increased in number recently compared to before, but Graduate-level individuals were treated with respect wherever they went.
Since it was a stage difficult to reach even if born into a prestigious Swordsmanship Family and learning an advanced Aura Cultivation Method, it was normal for those with such qualifications to stand out like an awl in a pocket.
But, a master whose appearance suggested he wasn't even thirty yet was still unknown?
Could such a thing be possible?
It was when the knights’ attention was briefly distracted by such thoughts.
Harang, who had been limp as if dead until now, suddenly opened his eyes.
And he spat out something he had been hiding in his mouth.
Pyuk-!
“Keo…… Heo……!”
A needle-shaped Hidden Weapon pierced the center of his throat!
Kilkearn clutched his throat.
However, he couldn't stop the gushing blood.
It was a critical condition, so much so that he wouldn't be able to prolong his life no matter how much expensive healing potion was poured on him.
At this, the knights who had been supporting Harang drew their swords with horrified expressions.
Shushuk-!
But it was futile.
Instantly reversing his form, he drew his sword from his waist and swung it in an X-shape.
The attack, delivered at a terrifying speed, took the knights’ lives.
Srrr…… Thump!
Thwack! Thwack!
The upper body slid down like a smoothly cut ice sculpture.
Following it, the lower body lost its balance and toppled over.
It was gruesome.
The smell of blood and filth pouring from the internal organs vibrated in the room.
Naturally, it also stained the face and clothes of Harang, who had murdered them.
It was a grotesque sight, enough to make a squeamish person vomit immediately.
However, the black-haired young man had an expressionless face, as if nothing had happened.
The butler was the same.
Despite the master he served having died, his expression was as calm as someone out for a night stroll.
He asked.
“Why weren’t you poisoned by the sleeping incense? Did you prepare an antidote beforehand, knowing this would happen?”
“No. I’ve had enough poison since I was young. I’m resistant to most things.”
It was true.
During his Godok days, absorbing poison until near death and building resistance was a daily occurrence.
Of course, many lost their lives in the process, but Harang was fortunate enough to have survived until now.
Harming him with poison was nearly impossible.
‘With this much sleeping incense, I’d have to drink it by the bucketful to fall asleep.’
Indeed, it had been like that when he was tied up and moved in the carriage.
Probably most of the surviving Peers would be the same.
Harang, who had briefly reminisced about the past like that, looked at the butler.
Just as the butler had something he was curious about, he too had something he was curious about.
So he asked.
“Why did you do it?”
“What?”
“You could have easily protected the Viscount, why didn't you stop my surprise attack?”