Chapter 25

Now, let’s start getting ready.

I sat down at a spot a little away from the Academy.

Based on my past experiences, it was clear that they would probably be summoned near me.

If assassins come as expected, I plan to engage in guerrilla warfare.

I want to mimic their stealthy movements and skilled ambushes.

So, I chose this place, Plentera’s residence, where the trees and bushes are unusually dense.

This place, overflowing with hiding spots, is probably their favorite environment.

After all, I had confidence.

Confidence that I could win no matter who or how many came.

I spent some quiet time spreading Dimension Power to detect my surroundings.

There’s still no sign of them coming.

Will I have to wait a day?

I’m bored.

Rather than letting this time pass meaninglessly, it seems better to try something.

I strengthened my focus with the Dimension Power spread around me.

The function of Dimension Power is transmission.

And resonance.

Strictly speaking, detecting my surroundings through Dimension Power is closer to my senses resonating with the scattered Dimension Power.

Then, isn’t it possible to do more than just sensing?

I got up from my seat and held my sword.

I swung it down without imbuing it with Magic Power or Aura.

I didn’t pay attention to the sword’s movement itself.

I just focused my mind, hoping that the Dimension Power connected to me would follow my movements.

Then.

Thud-

A faint sound came from a tree not far away.

I went closer to check, and there was a very subtle but clear mark.

A thin, long split.

A mark from a sword.

…It works.

I sat down, overwhelmed by joy and a severe headache.

Wow. Woooow.

Without exaggeration, it feels like my head is splitting.

It’s astonishing.

It felt like every cell in my body, starting from the top of my head, was burning.

It was a pain as if my nervous system itself was affected.

After writhing on the ground for a while, Belva, who happened to see me, immediately contacted me.

[What did you do?]

Hmm…

Belva has also become familiar with me, and has changed a lot.

In the past, she would have made a fuss and asked if I was okay.

I feel a bit disappointed for no reason.

I briefly summarized what I did and told Belva.

After a moment of silence, Belva let out a small sigh.

[Honestly, you knew, right? That doing something like that would cause some kind of strain.]

“…A little.”

[Don’t worry me too much. Even if I act calm, it doesn’t mean I’m not surprised. The symptoms are probably from mental overload. If you empty your thoughts and rest calmly, you’ll be fine.]

As Belva said, I lay down and breathed evenly.

It still felt like electric currents were flowing through my nerves, but I felt like I was gradually getting better.

Mental overload, huh.

It seems I used a technique beyond my current level.

It hurt a bit, but I definitely grasped the direction of growth.

My biggest advantage is that I can use vast amounts of Dimension Power without limits, so its utility is infinite.

Let’s keep going like this.

After waiting for about two more hours, I felt a distortion in the dimension in front of me.

Unlike the previous two times, which were a bit further away, this summoning was at close range, not even a meter away.

*

“Why aren’t you coming out. That thing.”

The distortion, filled with a gloomy aura, has been maintained for five hours now.

I’m a busy person. I have a lot to do.

But it’s troublesome if they just keep dragging time like this.

It’s a bit annoying when they set up an atmosphere like a demon king is about to pop out and then no-show.

Since I had so much time to spare, I analyzed the nature and structure of that rift a while ago.

I also tried to strike first before the summoning.

But I failed.

Anyway, it’s time to pop out now.

It really seems like they’re coming out.

I have evidence.

The Magic Power gathered around that rift, as if forcibly tearing the void.

Magic Power is essentially intangible, but it’s a mysterious energy that half-straddles the physical phenomenon realm.

Normally, it’s not much different from floating air.

But the moment it’s recognized and used, it responds to the will and shows various effects.

Sensory enhancement. Physical awakening. Attribute granting and Aura manifestation, etc.

Ultimately, all manifestations of Magic Power carry some purpose.

You can feel the user’s intent.

That’s why I was sure.

They’re coming now.

I slowly closed and opened my eyes, pulling up my sinking focus.

Goooooo-

A sticky killing intent is flowing from the Magic Power surrounding the rift.

Just staring at it makes my whole body tingle.

Such a distinct Magic Power.

It’s not just the sheer amount, but I’m feeling Magic Power trained for a specific purpose for the first time.

It’s probably an assassin trained specifically to kill someone.

And it’s just one.

I thought they would release multiple for a quantity battle, but it’s actually better this way.

It definitely reduces the annoying parts.

[…

Can I win?]

At Belva’s worried words, I silently drew my dagger.

Can I win?

“Of course.”

*

A faint footstep echoed twice from within the rift, and suddenly, I felt a presence in front of me.

Unbelievable stealth and mobility.

Rather than rashly attempting an attack, I swung my sword wide to create distance.

I succeeded in creating distance, but in that brief moment, the guy stabbed my shoulder and thigh before retreating.

Wow, this is way more legit than I expected.

Their speed feels way faster than mine.

A strange heat emanated from the stabbed areas.

Was it poisoned?

The fact that it affects me suggests it might be some kind of magic.

Let’s be careful.

I closed my eyes, still holding the dagger in front of me.

I can’t see them with my own skills anyway.

Don’t rely on physical sight; use the means I have.

I spread Dimension Power around to detect the fast-moving enemy.

They’re smaller than I thought.

They’re holding a single dagger like me.

Their defining feature… a girl? A small girl.

What, some kind of genius girl from an assassin family? Something like that.

Looking at her hollow, dead eyes, I can roughly guess what kind of life she’s lived.

Not my business.

I timed her approach and thrust my sword forward.

She didn’t expect me to react to her speed, flinching and stepping back.

She’s panicking.

She’s inconsistent.

More than that, I can’t figure out how to attack her.

I moved forward and thrust my sword again.

Her body twisted strangely, dodging the blade, and the next strike aimed for my heart.

What kind of movement is that from that stance?

Some kind of mollusk?

Whatever training she’s had, she’s pulling off moves that defy human anatomy.

Ignoring the dagger aimed at my heart, I unleashed an aura burst.

I won’t die even if I get stabbed.

The girl hastily retreated but couldn’t completely avoid the explosion right in front of her.

Boom!

As the explosion faded and the smoke cleared, I finally got a clear look at the girl.

Torn clothes.

A dropped dagger.

A bloodied, limping leg.

What, her durability is way weaker than I thought.

I’m a bit less excited now.

As I approached, the girl started shouting something at me with trembling eyes.

Sorry, my eardrums are busted, so I can’t hear anything.

I ignored her and kept walking.

“Hi?”

“──! ─!!”

I tried to guess from her lip movements, but it’s not working.

Guess it’s because of the language barrier.

Anyway, it doesn’t seem like she’s saying anything nice.

I asked Belva to translate.

[She says she has a younger sibling. If she fails the mission, her sibling will die instead. That’s why she had to do this.]

Oh, really?

I quietly looked down at the girl.

A pretty face, movements that trigger a protective instinct.

Seeing her pale and trembling, it’s definitely a convincing line.

I suddenly wondered.

How many people has this girl deceived so far?

[Is it a lie?]

“Of course, it’s a lie.”

I still haven’t forgotten the eyes I saw at the beginning.

Those aren’t the eyes of someone with a sibling to protect.

They were the eyes of a doll, moving solely by someone else’s will, with no reason to live.

That line was definitely something rehearsed by whoever raised her.

Belva, feeling sorry, said it was sad.

But I don’t think so.

Who exactly should we feel sorry for?

“Look at this.”

The moment I showed an opening, the girl sprang up and lunged at me.

As if this time, she would definitely finish me off.

Smiling, I reached out my hand.

The girl’s face was caught in my grip.

I anticipated her lunge, and her movements had slowed, so subduing her wasn’t too hard.

Now, what to do with this.

Killing her like this feels like a waste.

I watched the girl flailing in the air, clawing at my wrist.

Killing intent oozed from her eyes through the gaps in my fingers.

A good idea came to mind.

I organized my thoughts and asked her.

“Want to live?”