Chapter 148
Three days after that .
Crimson Osprey and the others had infiltrated the residency of Duke Nyrestria . In one corner of the residency that is wide enough to house a small village, Crimson Osprey recalled the mission while looking from afar at the training grounds .
It would be much easier to sneak in during the night rather than doing a bold assassination during the day . In the day, there would be many more escorts, and also their figures will be seen . Just that much would make the difficulty skyrocket .
But it’s different since the requestor wished for it especially . Who knows how much money was put on the table, the plan was formulated knowing the danger even with this many experts member of the organization .
Maybe the requestor only wished the world to know 『There was an assassination attempt on the Duke’s daughter』 .
Though, as one of the members of the operation team, Crimson Osprey didn’t have the position nor method to know what the reason is . She only has to do what she was ordered to .
The role of Crimson Osprey was to 『Report』 .
No matter the success of the operation, her utmost priority is to record down every detail of the operation and report to the organization . That’s why, Crimson Osprey is not participating in the operation directly .
Her job is to overlook the operation from afar from start to finish, and bring back the report without interacting with friendlies nor enemies .
(It’s almost time)
Just like what was planned prior, her comrades were in position to surround the training grounds .
Crimson Osprey looked at the center of the training grounds . Her gaze found two people .
One of them is a young girl with iris colored hair . It is the target, the duke’s daughter . Opposite of him is a black-haired young man . He’s suspected to be the mercenary with the second name, Countless Swords Sorcerer . And then there’s a golden beast over a meter long beside him .
(What is that? It’s too big to be a pet?)
Crimson Osprey’s frowned at the uncertain element .
There’s only two person and one beast in the center of the training grounds . The servants and aides are probably in a resting spot a little far away from them .
There’re a few escorts put around the training grounds but, in other words, if they can break through them, there’s only one mercenary beside the noble lady .
Originally, there’s no need to purposely aim for the time when the Countless Swords Sorcerer mercenary is right beside the target . But still, that just means that if they can hold down him, it’ll be easy to take down the single defenseless young lady .
As the other escorts are dispersed, they will take time to get to the target . Even if it’s only a few seconds, it’s enough time to stick a blade in the target’s throat . It’s not something difficult for the experts of the organization .
After all, infiltrating into the duke residency is already a hard task . But in this occasion, they had a few insiders and were easily let inside . No matter how loyal they are to the duke family, they can’t say anything when their family is taken hostage .
It wasn’t cruel . Having important people that they would be troubled if taken hostage . That much is already happiness in Crimson Osprey’s opinion .
(It’s time)
The time that had been decided beforehand arrived . Even Crimson Osprey that hadn’t approached anywhere near so far creeped up closer while hiding her presence in order to see everything .
The scenery bathed with sunshine . Her comrades started moving in its wake .
Suddenly, two shadows appeared from a corner of the training grounds .
Knocking down the escort that questioned their identity, the nine assassins started dashing for the target along with the Countless Swords Sorcerer without even looking aside .
The escorts nearby immediately took up the irregularity but, the escorts that were opposite of the wide training grounds didn’t seem to realize the situation yet .
As for the two in the middle of the training grounds―― .
(They noticed?)
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The Countless Swords Sorcerer directed a gaze towards the direction of the assassins . Did the target get warned by him, she seemed to have taken up a stance with her wooden sword .
But the assassins didn’t stop running . Having hesitation this late into the operation wouldn’t benefit them at all .
The escorts that had noticed the presences of the assassins running towards the target are already too late . The assassins that had now closed the distance in just a mere fifty meters took out some kind of stone from their pocket and threw .
The next moment, an intense red flaming ball was shot out . Without waiting, new flaming spheres appeared one after another . The training grounds is already covered in intense windstorm and dust clouds .
The flames were created using a relic, 『Scorching magic stone』 . The magic stones are able to draw out phenomenon like casting a magic spell, but the method to manufacture them are said to be even older than the age of ancients and god, there’s no way to make more .
It is the reason magic stones are valuable items . The magic stones that can have the power of matching upper-grade spells are priceless for any normal person .
And the 『Scorching magic stone』 that can produce an effect matching 『Flames of Purgatory』 can easily feed a family of four in the capital for 2 years . To have them used up in just a moment was too much of a waste .
On top of that, there were thirty . The number of magic stones that were thrown towards the target by the comrades of Crimson Osprey .
That is the reason why they can even attempt to take down the target in broad daylight despite a strong mercenary known as the Countless Swords Sorcerer is around . Although the cost of using the magic stones should be absurd, the requestor must have really been intent of harming the duke’s daughter .
With that many magic stones and each wielding powerful might, even Countless Swords Sorcerer can’t be all fine . And without saying, a defenseless noble lady――, 『Yarn Crank』 had judged so .
Of course, they can’t entirely rely on uncertain methods . Even if it’s really like what 『Dive Swallow』 hypothesized about not letting her attend the banquet in a few days, the organization’s order was to 『Kill her』 .
Verifying the burnt corpse of the target, and taking a proof of that from some accessories on her would be the only way for them to say it’s mission accomplished .
The flames subsided, and the dust clouds calmed . And then, the nine shadows moved quickly into it .
As arranged prior, two shadows headed towards the target . It’s to verify her death, and to stab her if she still has any breath .
The remaining seven members are to deal with the Countless Swords Sorcerer . If he is still alive, they must keep his hands full . But in the next moment, what Crimson Osprey witnessed was unbelievable .
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The figures of her comrades being blown away .
「Surround them! 」
An order shouted by『Yarn Crank』 . Then, the comrades that were blown away in an arc . Next, the figure of a black-haired young man without wounds in the center of the aftermath .
(Impossible!)
Crimson Osprey almost shouted out .
The 『Scorching magic stone』 that has almost the power of upper-grade spells aren’t normal . And taking on thirty of them at once and living unscathed is even more abnormal .
Then there was the figure of the target still holding a wooden sword without any injuries . He must’ve protected not just himself and the target as well .
A cold sweat trickled down Crimson Osprey’s back . It’s probably what her comrades feel while facing him too .
But they aren’t just going to have a staring showdown . In this situation, time is their enemy .
「Ojou-sama! 」
The escorts spread around the training grounds was already in a dash to the target . In other words, the assassins are getting cornered .
「Get on it! 」
『Yarn Crank』’s short order made all the assassins leap .
Even if a strong sorcerer, he can’t possibly handle that many opponents at once . Although it’s said that the sword magic the black-haired young man use is lethal even in close combat, what he has in his hands is just a wooden sword .
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Since a normal mercenary aren’t allowed to hold a sword in the duke residency, it is made sure by all the servants that his swords are put in custody before he can enter .
A magician with a wooden sword can’t possibly handle assassins . That’s also another reason why they had assaulted them in broad daylight despite there being a famed mercenary .
Even though that was the case―― .
(Why can a wooden sword cut people!?)
Crimson Osprey’s eyes widened . The same time when Countless Swords Sorcerer swung his wooden sword, one assassin fell on the ground . The assassin that was cut down had fresh blood spewing out .
Even Crimson Osprey could feel the surprise and unrest of the assassins that surrounded him .
Even though the assassins came at him, the sorcerer easily incapacitated them one after another with swordplay . The swordsmanship that showed no gaps isn’t something of a sorcerer’s self-defense measures .
But the assassins are all experts . Just as planned prior, two of them moved in accordance to kill the target . As long as the Countless Swords Sorcerer can be held down for a moment, they can finish off the target and the mission will be accomplished . There’s no reason to take down the hardest opponent at all .
But another unbelievable thing happened in front of Crimson Osprey’s eyes . At the arm of the assassin that tried to stab with a dagger, the golden beast that had been curling up beside the target bit at it . At the same moment, the target that’s supposed to be a young noble lady dished out a sharp slash with her wooden sword .
(It’s difficult)
Crimson Osprey who was looking at the happenings from afar knew the mission has failed .
Nine assassins and four had been done in by the sorcerer, and one had been done in by the golden beast and the target herself . And when the sorcerer brought down the leader that is『Yarn Crank』, the remaining three assassins had decided to retreat .
Hitting the 『Scorching magic stone』 for retreating use left on the assassin incapacitated by the duke daughter, flames spewed out in all directions . Although it’s likely that the escorts that come their way will obstruct them, the assassins aren’t that weak to not break through .
(Failing even with that nine……)
The moment when the remaining three decided to retreat, was when Crimson Osprey turned around and escaped the duke residency as well .