Along the path that connected the Iphelleta mansion and Iffa village, there was a forest.

If someone were to see the state of the forest right now, they would be overpowered by the stench of blood. The sanguine pools made from the headless bodies of the assassins would make most people turn back in terror.

‘Am I dreaming right now?’

The boy was walking towards him as he swung the wooden blade through the air…

This was the sight that made Tes doubt that he was awake.

It was Riley, the supposed ‘Lazy-Blade’.

The slothful boy he never had any interest in as the master of the Trading Guild, was now walking slowly towards him after slaughtering countless assassins like a demon.

“And then, there were two” Riley mumbled.

Tes and Orelly were the last ones left.

“...!” Tes’ eyes began to roll as he regained control of his body.

Just as Riley had stated, there were no assassins left, it was only Tes and Orelly.

‘I can’t die like this.’

Tes knew that Riley never had any intention of allowing them to live, even though Orelly was his father’s first wife. He also didn’t want to leave any witnesses.

He also was aware that he needed to put everything on the line to even have a chance of getting out alive. If he couldn’t, then at least, his daughter…

“R-…” He stuttered, and then dampened his lips, “Master Riley.”

Riley, who was standing in front of the two with his sword raised, stopped at Tes’s voice.

“P-Please.”

Riley’s eyes narrowed.

Tes couldn’t help but swallow at his stare.

As the master of the Trading Guild, he had seen many people--but he was unable to read the boy in front of him. In contrast to his young age, Tes could see maturity and experience behind those narrowed eyes.

“You, you may kill me, but my daughter…I beg you, let Orelly, my only daughter, live.” Tes pleaded.

“The limit of my Restrain was 5 minutes…no, 4 minutes?” Riley muttered quietly, ignoring Tes’s words.

Tes tried again, “It’s true that the child has done wrong, but she wasn’t originally bad--she was a nice girl. Just, just-!”

Riley’s wooden sword whistled as it cut through the air.

It was the greatest mercy that Riley could give them--he had chosen to kill them both at the same time, so they didn’t have to see each other die.

***

“It’s finished.” I muttered, watching the father and daughter collapse first onto their knees and then down onto their faces on the cold hard ground.

After a few seconds, I turned away.

Unlike 5 minutes ago, there were now bodies scattered over the ground.

“Haah…” I sighed, stabbing the tip of my wooden sword into the ground, leaning against it.

Nausea flooding me, not because of the killing, but because I had haphazardly released my Mana when I used Restrain on all of the assassins. It was affecting Tes that was the most difficult, he had been fighting back the whole time.

I couldn’t help but throw up, falling to my knees--my head was spinning and I felt a burning pain behind my eyes. I hadn’t used my Mana like this since I was born here.

After what seemed like an eternity, the nausea, pain, and dizziness disappeared without a trace. I carefully made sure that there were no marks on my clothing, using a simple cleaning spell, before standing up.

It would be suspicious if I returned with blood all over me.

I was unable to repair the cuts in my clothing, but I could just say I got them from the kitchen.

“Well, this body is different than my previous one; it is also too young, and un-augmented, to store anywhere near the amount of power that I had before.”

I looked down at my hands, they were trembling uncontrollably, which was another side-effect of using more power than this body could safely channel.

“Well, this was something like a test…but I don’t think I can use Mana for a while. If I’m moving, I should just use a sword.” I was talking to myself.

But, someone did say something about me being a Mage, I think this life I will learn Magic.

Well then, it was time to go to back.

“Ian would’ve gone nuts at the point.” I found myself smiling as I imagined him…it was very likely that I would get a severe scolding.

***

The incident of Riley’s disappearance had finally reached the Count.

Sera and Ian gasped loudly, before hiccuping. They were trying not to anger Count Stein any more--since he had already exploded before because of Lady Orelly.

“Tell me again, Ian. Riley has disappeared?”

“That is…”

What would happen if the words ‘he has likely been kidnapped by the assassins’ were said when Count Stein was already completely furious.

“...”

“...”

Ian and Sera didn’t want to consider the consequences, shutting their mouths and looking at each other.

Hypothetically, Count Stein was likely to say these words: ‘What? He’s been kidnapped by the Assassins? Pathetic, there is no need to look for him. The Iphelleta House doesn’t need such a failure.’

 

…Then Riley would be in a similar situation to Orelly, who had just been banished--which meant that they wouldn’t be allowed to save the Young Master.

“That is…”

Ian, who had little talent for words, began to squeeze his brain for ideas.

‘How can I get through this crisis…What excuses can I make?’

Just when his dry lips were about to open…

“Did you call for me?”

“...?!”

A familiar voice came from behind Ian and Sera.