The Guardian Knight of Affection-Starved Young Ladies

103 – Larris (05)

104.

“Wh… What is this…”

Is this impossible?

It’s nothing to be proud of, but Nadil thought his combat skills were at least not something to be ashamed of.

Okay, to be a little more honest, wouldn’t he be among the top?

A mercenary recognized even by skilled mercenary groups, or a knight trusted by the Imperial Knight Order.

Putting into words what he’d kept inside, Nadil was confident in his own abilities.

He’d endured the Lylle Guild’s training, no less.

Among his brothers and sisters who endured the training together, Nadil displayed considerably excellent skills.

The Lylle Guild master, Flaber Lylle’s recognition was proof of that.

Flaber Lylle is a terrible person.

His mind is solely composed of a binary system that categorizes things into profitable and unprofitable.

His heart seems to have rotted black, expecting any human warmth from him is less likely than waking from the dead.

He has a deep-seated distrust of people.

To serve by his side in important missions for a long time, is a symbol of trust in its own way.

They’re saying I’m a tool they can use comfortably, good enough to be entrusted with important missions.

But for Nadil, that was enough.

Flavier Lyle calls those he takes in and raises his children.

And those orphaned by fate are forged through harsh training, reborn as something Flavier Lyle can use at any time.

The Lyle Merchant Guild contracts with perfectly sound mercenaries, but it’s hard to truly order them around as you please.

Flavier Lyle’s ‘children,’ that’s the true strength of the Lyle Merchant Guild.

And among those ‘children’ of Flavier Lyle.

Nadil, the most exceptional tool, couldn’t believe what was happening before his eyes.

Even with confidence in his skills.

Even setting aside his own circumstances, even with being Flavier Lyle’s core fighting force.

*Shhhk!*

Nadil’s dagger slashed through the air.

But the boy, who should have been cut, had already evaded the attack and was back on guard.

Originally, Nadil was never supposed to awaken to magic.

Magic is almost the exclusive domain of nobles, and although there are some among commoners who awaken to it.

Even then, it’s only a tiny fraction, nothing short of a miracle.

But the Lyle Merchant Guild’s massive wealth forced that miracle to happen.

Out of his children, Flavier Lyle himself selected a few with talent and provided them with magic instructors.

Nadil wasn’t a genius who awakened to magic on his own.

But he was capable enough to understand and accept the magic taught to him.

Invisibility magic was one of the miracles he had achieved.

Eliminating a rival merchant guild’s successor, or killing skilled mercenaries protecting them.

Invisibility magic has been crucial to Nadil’s success in carrying out Flavier Lyle’s orders.

So this boy should have been disoriented by an unseen attack and then subdued…

“…Hhph…!!”

*Shhhk!!*

He just can’t reach him.

Someone unfamiliar with combat might see it as the boy barely evading the attacks by a hair’s breadth.

But those with skill would know.

Evading attacks so narrowly, with such minimal movement.

That’s how vast the gap in their skills was.

Nadil, who had succeeded in countless assassinations and battles, knew what was most important in combat.

Especially if it was a life-or-death fight.

Not to get excited.

In that sense, the boy was terrifyingly calm.

Perhaps even elegant, one might say.

With eyes as composed as at the beginning, he read the blade’s tip, minimizing stamina loss with clean, efficient movements.

What was even more astonishing was that, to Nadil’s knowledge, the boy was a mage.

He had no sword, and hadn’t he just attacked the other siblings with ice spears?

The boy…

Until now, he had only evaded attacks; he hadn’t used magic.

The darkness had always been on Nadil’s side.

Assassinations carried out under the cover of darkness were enough to fluster anyone.

But today, for the first time, Nadil felt like the darkness wasn’t on his side.

The difference was that it wasn’t a dark night.

It was an assassination, yes, but the trusted siblings who had come with him on Flavr Lyle’s orders were also lending their strength.

That slight awkwardness and relief.

Nadil unconsciously tightened his grip on the dagger in his hand.

*Swish!*

Nadil’s dagger slashed through the air once again.

*

“…Seems like there aren’t any.”

*Swish!*

*Swwiish!*

Kalen thought, leisurely dodging the blade.

It seemed no one else was coming to help this guy.

If there were more support, they wouldn’t leave him in this state.

The man constantly blurring before his eyes, he was clearly skilled.

Even when ambushed with a 3rd-tier combat attribute magic in the alley, this was the only one who had evaded.

If there were people, they would have obviously tried to help in this clearly disadvantageous situation.

Alright then, nothing’s holding me back now.

Purposely avoiding attacks, that was just to see if anyone was left.

Going around looking for them one by one is troublesome and a pain in the ass.

That turning-invisible magic is surprising, I’ll give it that.

But it’s just a 1st-tier combat attribute spell after all.

To Kallen, a 5th-tier, it’s just a simple trick of the eye.

Still, it’s a pain in the neck when they disappear with that transparent magic and then just pop up somewhere else, plus their position isn’t fixed.

Kallen gathered energy at his fingertips, creating an ice spear.

And then, he just grabbed it.

Nadil couldn’t understand Kallen’s actions.

Close-quarters combat is an assassin’s domain.

Naturally, he’d be outmatched by a knight, but if he uses his transparent magic to boost his speed, he’d have the advantage.

The scary thing about mages is their range.

Even in this peaceful age, due to their merchant family’s nature, they travel all over the world.

There were many mages amongst those they encountered, and closing the distance was always the hardest thing when facing them.

But the boy in front of him is actually trying to rush in wielding an ice spear.

A mage’s physique can’t keep up with that of an assassin; he’ll clearly be losing in speed.

Nadil was taken aback by this, but his body reacted steadily.

A mage charging in with a weapon.

His subconscious, believing he had the upper hand, made Nadil’s body heavy for just a fleeting moment.

And at the same time, Kallen’s ice spear rushed in with unbelievable speed.

Nadil was startled and quickly pulled his body back, but the ice spear was too fast, piercing his shoulder.

*Thunk.*

“Kugh…?”

A gasp of incomprehension.

It’s only natural Nadil wouldn’t understand.

For a mage to manipulate composite attributes is like drawing multiple complex blueprints simultaneously.

Kallen is already using the combat attribute magic of an ice spear.

The sharp wind swirling around the boy’s spear, Nadil couldn’t possibly understand it.

Kallen’s long, extended ice spear pierced Nadil’s shoulder, the triangular tip catching on flesh.

Kalen yanked the spear back, and Nadhil, being pulled along, swung his dagger, but –

*Clang*—!

Kalen, who had somehow conjured an ice spear wrapped in wind in his other hand, deflected Nadhil’s dagger.

Then, he straightened the ice spear and thrust it towards Nadhil, who was being dragged closer.

The spear had snagged his shoulder flesh, rendering his invisibility magic useless.

Assassin or not, the boy was beyond the norm.

At this rate, he would be impaled and killed by the ice spear, no question.

That realization plunged Nadhil into terror.

His desperate endurance of Phlaver’s training had all been to survive.

He didn’t want to lose his life like this.

In that urgent moment.

Nadhil closed his eyes and shouted.

“Wait…! I’ll tell you everything!”

*Whoosh*!

Kalen’s ice spear shot out, sharp and fast.

*Sssshhh…*

“Hah… Hah… Hah…”

Quiet silence.

The sound of a dust cloud, likely stirred up by Nadhil himself, scattering, and the sound of someone who had stared death in the face, exhaling in relief. That was all that echoed.

Slowly, Nadhil opened his eyes, only then realizing he was sprawled on the ground.

He lowered his trembling head, finding no hole through his abdomen.

The pain in his shoulder.

The bitter cloud of dust entering his mouth.

These things told Nadhil that he was still alive.

Before he could even take comfort in being alive, he tried to turn his head.

*Thud*!

“Ugh…”

A burning pain seared through his other shoulder, the relatively unharmed one.

His head still trembling, he turned to see the boy’s ice spear piercing through his other shoulder as well.

Then, a heavy weight settled against his back.

“Your mouth’s fine, so you can talk.”

“Haa… haa… I, I’ll tell you everything… everything… Please, just let me live…”

“…”

Kalen, with his foot on Nadil,

fell into a quiet contemplation.

Subduing him wasn’t particularly difficult, but neither was interrogation.

He’d realized these guys were Larice’s enemies simply by recalling what she’d said about the Ryle Merchant Guild.

Therefore, Larice would know even better what was going on here.

Kalen conjured an ice spear above Nadil’s head.

He’d never intended to kill him in the first place.

He didn’t think his personality was so rotten that he’d kill someone without being sure.

And generally, assassins, if captured by the enemy, would choose to take their own lives rather than beg for mercy.

This assassin seemed strongly determined to live, so extracting information would be easy enough with this level of threat.

Kalen indifferently raised his head.

“Miss.”

“…”

“Miss Larice.”

“Ah… Ah. S-sorry, Kalen.”

“You seemed to know him, ask what you want to know. I need to go bring the guys I subdued earlier.”

“…Is it really okay if you don’t ask directly, Kalen?”

Kalen nodded his head.

“I’d rather hear it from you, Miss.”

“…Huh…?”

It was better to hear it from Larice if possible.

He didn’t want to get involved in complicated relationships, he only needed to know how the situation was unfolding.

It was better to hear Larice’s summary than trying to understand the incomprehensible words the subdued assassin might spout.

“If you move, shout immediately. I’ll drop this instantly. Got it?”

“…”

Larice didn’t answer.

She just slightly lowered her head and gave a small nod.

Kalen watched them, then turned without hesitation.

*Because if the ones he’d subdued escaped, it would become a pain.*