All-Master Player Of The Academy [EN]: Chapter 83

42. I Should Go – 1

Not long after they ventured into the village, Valla pulled Blanche aside.

“We’re being followed.”

“……Huh? Really?”

“Yeah. They’re driven by a relentless determination to eliminate their target… At this level, they must be highly skilled assassins.”

“Could it be Blue Moon?”

Blanche knew Ian had dealings with Blue Moon [a notorious assassin organization].

That’s why Blanche subtly gripped his spear.

He was glad he’d brought his weapon, just in case.

“I don’t know about that……”

“I’m sorry.”

Osnen, who was walking behind them, spoke up.

When the two looked puzzled, he bowed his head, looking dejected.

“They might be here for me.”

“Or maybe they’re after our esteemed Crown Prince?”

Blanche had learned after the academy term started that Ian had captured Blue Moon assassins, gaining intel on the organization, which led to the family targeting him.

In the process, Ian became an enemy of Blue Moon.

Everyone in the North knows the infamous reputation of Blue Moon.

That’s why Valla also hefted his battle axe.

“If it’s Blue Moon’s investigative prowess, they’d know I’m practically blood brothers with Ian.”

Valla’s serious tone made Blanche thoughtful.

“Wouldn’t they try to catch me and threaten Ian instead of you?”

While the two exchanged worried glances, Osnen interjected.

“I think they’re after me. I’ve encountered assassins several times on my way here.”

Regardless, the pressing issue was that they were being followed.

Blanche addressed Valla and Osnen.

“Follow me, now.”

“Are we heading into the alley?”

“We can’t fight in a crowded place.”

Whether their pursuers were Blue Moon or those targeting Osnen.

A public brawl would endanger the villagers.

Blanche made a quick calculation.

From their current location, Ruben’s Table [a local tavern] was closer than the academy.

Plus, there was a guard barracks nearby, so they could seek assistance.

“The goal is Ruben’s Table. Osnen, keep up.”

“Okay.”

The moment they entered the alley, the murderous intent intensified.

Sensing it, Valla nudged Blanche and Osnen forward.

At that signal, the three of them sprinted.

“Left!!”

Hearing the sound of pursuit behind them, Blanche abruptly changed direction.

But murderous intent emanated from that direction as well.

Two figures materialized.

They wielded long swords and spears, crackling with blue aura.

“Break through!!”

Blanche roared, gripping his spear tightly.

A blue aura flickered on his spear, and Valla tightened his grip on his axe.

“Haaap!!”

“Leave the rear to me.”

The three assassins pursuing them were also at the Expert level.

Osnen extended his hand towards the two assassins, swinging the sword he had drawn with considerable force.

-Clang!!

Osnen, having parried one of the assassins, stretched out his hand towards the two remaining assassins.

-Woong!!

A blade of blue aura materialized with a low hum.

As it severed the heads of the two assassins, Blanche and Valla forced the other two to retreat.

“Let’s go!!”

And so began a desperate chase through the narrow alleyways.

He thought he knew every alley in the village.

But the enemies’ reconnaissance was extensive.

Unexpected ambushes sprung from unexpected places.

And sometimes they would seize villagers, using them as human shields.

Blanche and Valla were gradually sustaining injuries from these despicable and underhanded tactics.

“Keuhm…… Hey, are you okay?”

At Blanche’s question, Valla nodded, raising his axe.

Blood streamed from his thick right arm.

The son of the snack shop owner he often saw in the village had been caught.

He’d been injured trying to protect the child.

“Damn it. I shouldn’t have interfered.”

Valla grumbled, gripping the battle axe with one hand.

Osnen and Blanche had avoided major injuries, but blood trickled from various parts of their bodies.

“How many are coming?! Seriously!”

“It’s not that there are so many. They’re just using a rotating formation.”

Osnen’s calm observation made Blanche and Valla grit their teeth.

“To choose to fight without running away with that level of skill… I can only applaud their courage.”

Blanche bristled at the words, unsure if they were praise or mockery.

“Damn it! Are you suggesting we abandon an innocent child?! Maybe the Imperial Academy would, but Fredon Academy…….”

He firmly gripped his spear and took a deep breath.

Calmly gathering his aura, he waited.

The leader of the enemies, seemingly the captain, gave the order.

“Strike.”

As the assassin who had been holding the child hostage charged forward, Blanche unleashed his remaining energy in an explosive burst.

“I don’t even consider those guys human!!”

Osnen was taken aback by Blanche’s outburst, who seemed even more determined to fight.

“That wasn’t my intention.”

“If you have time to talk nonsense, kill one more!!”

Blanche roared, swinging his spear at the neck of an assassin targeting Valla.

The spear, bending in an unnatural arc, pierced the assassin’s neck.

But such a powerful attack left him vulnerable, and the enemies seized the opportunity.

A short sword lunged towards Blanche’s chest.

“Damn it!”

Just then, a battle axe hurtled through the air.

The axe embedded itself in the chest of the assassin attempting to strike Blanche, but another assassin quickly retrieved it.

Having lost his weapon trying to save Blanche, Valla bit his lip and drew a dagger.

“Kill.”

Once again, the assassins surged forward.

The moment Blanche saw this and tried to swing his spear again.

-Pshushushut!!

The head of the assassin rushing towards him was cleanly severed.

Turning his head, he saw Osnen, who had struck the air, responsible.

Osnen, having eliminated one person with a technique similar to Ian’s, slowly inhaled.

“You guys fall back and protect yourselves. From now on, I will deal with…….”

Before he could finish speaking.

Something shot out from the side of the alley.

A figure wielding a sword sliced through the group of assassins.

-Pshushushut!!

The heads of the assassins in his wake tumbled to the ground, fountains of blood erupting.

“Ian!!”

“Brother!!”

The person he was most relieved to see at that moment had arrived.

While Blanche and Valla rejoiced, Ian pointed at Osnen, who had summoned his aura blade.

“He’s still fine, but why are you guys so beat up? You need to train harder.”

“Hey! Is this the time to say that?”

“Are we on par with the monster Crown Prince!”

He felt tears welling up from sheer relief.

As the two grinned and grumbled, Ian surveyed the scene.

The enemies had not yet lost their will to fight.

“Hey, Osnen. Looks like these guys are your guests.”

“I suppose so.”

“I’ll make sure to get proper compensation for this.”

“Cloud Kill!!”

As Ian spoke, three assassins revealed bracelets and chanted.

Cloud Kill.

A potent 5th circle spell that conjures a cloud of poison, poisoning everyone within its radius.

This must have been their trump card.

They smiled smugly.

But.

“Myaaaaa!!”

Mya Nya [Ian’s familiar] on Ian’s shoulder screeched.

With that single cry, the green cloud shattered and dissipated into the air.

The assassins, taken aback, attempted to activate another artifact.

‘Circe.’

“Heok?!!”

“Wh, what is this……?!”

Ian’s eyes turned navy blue for a fleeting moment.

And the assassins within his gaze fell into a state of confusion.

No sound, no light.

They were unable to process any external stimuli.

While they panicked, trapped within their own minds, Ian swung his sword.

Cheonma Singong, Chapter of Destruction [a powerful martial art technique].

Death God Sword [a sword technique].

The intangible sword energy unleashed from the sword instantly decapitated the assassins, like the grim reaper harvesting souls.

As they fell, unable to resist while shielded, Blanche collapsed in relief.

“Oh, whew.”

“I came back to life…….”

Ian glanced at the two.

Blanche’s injuries were minor, but Valla’s arm wound was significant.

“Don’t move.”

He placed his hand on the wound.

As the pain subsided with the influx of warm energy, Valla was astonished.

“You can use healing magic too?”

“What? Didn’t you know? I healed Acewin last time?”

“I thought you used a healing potion.”

Valla was newly impressed by Ian’s abilities.

The swordsmanship that felled over ten experts at once was impressive, but he could also heal.

“Ah, Brother, to come so quickly to save me like this… I don’t know how to thank you.”

“I came to save me?”

“I’m going to get travel expenses.”

He felt relieved, so he joked.

Ian, after a brief exchange with the two, turned to Osnen.

“You’re not going to have an easy life either.”

“Regardless, thank you for helping me.”

“I think thank you should be done with both hands full [meaning a more substantial reward is expected].”

Just then, people swarmed into the alley where Ian had entered.

“Hey! Ian!”

“Heo…… Heo…… I’m not good…… Heo…… at running…….”

Ha-ryun, Grajin, Philoa, and Mei arrived, panting.

They were horrified by the carnage in the alley.

“Wh, what is it?!”

“What happened, Blanche?”

Ha-ryun asked, and Blanche promptly replied.

“An assassin came targeting that guy.”

“……Thank you for the succinct explanation. Crown Prince Osnen, what’s going on?”

“What that friend said is accurate. These assassins have been targeting me since the Empire.”

“Even so, we have suffered damage.”

“I will compensate you sufficiently for that. And…”

He slightly bowed his head to Blanche and Valla.

“Thank you for your help.”

But perhaps he felt it wasn’t enough.

Osnen, raising his head, said calmly.

“I don’t think I can dare to imitate your courage in doing reckless things to save others even though you are weak.”

The four Fredon Academy students frowned at his words.

While seemingly a compliment, it sounded like he was telling them not to interfere when they were outmatched.

“Then let’s call the guards to clean up the surroundings. By the way, why did you come out?”

“I wanted to talk to you.”

“Do we have anything to discuss separately? If it’s a duel request, wait. There will be an opportunity soon.”

A venue would be arranged, like when he fought Rakid.

And he would thoroughly defeat him then.

But Osnen shook his head.

“It’s not because of that.”

“Then what is it?”

He glanced at the students around him, indicating he wanted to speak privately.

“Ha-ryun, go out and call the guards and take the kids to the store. We have to finish what we were eating.”

“I already paid the bill and came out?”

“Then they’ll buy it today since I saved their lives.”

“Oh my, of course! Hey, let’s go! I’ll buy it!”

Valla, having recovered, shouted energetically, and everyone retreated, taking the rescued villagers with them.

In the alley, now filled only with corpses, Osnen asked Ian, who was rummaging through their pockets.

“It came to mind yesterday. The third son of Baron Brandon of the Scarlet Kingdom. Ian Brandon.”

“What are you trying to accomplish by reiterating something everyone knows?”

Ian, retrieving artifacts and identification from the corpses, answered bluntly.

“Do you know about those called Pandemonium [a shadowy organization]?”

At those words, Ian’s hand froze.

“When I was fifteen years old, I had been to war.”

At that time, he followed the Emperor and fought in several battles.

And.

As he was returning from a small-scale night skirmish, a man appeared.

He suppressed the soldiers and knights with terrifying swordsmanship and magic and approached.

“So?”

“He, who did not harm a single ally, showed me several portraits and names and said…”

Osnen continued, his gaze unwavering.

“He would sell their talents to me.”

“Hmm.”

“And one of those portraits had the face and name of a child presumed to be you written on it.”

Ian gripped his sword at those words.

“So, did you make a deal?”

“You may or may not believe it, but I rejected their offer. And he retreated, and I have never met him since. However…….”

He gritted his teeth, speaking with hatred.

“I am also looking for them.”