Ch.271271. Suddenly, at That Moment! (1)

In the fantasy genre, especially in games, there’s a strong tendency to classify player roles into four main categories:

Warrior, Rogue, Mage, and Priest.

By now, this could be considered a standard formula without much controversy, but among these four, the one with the most unstable position would be…

The ‘Rogue’—or more precisely, the role responsible for scouting and reconnaissance.

Typically imagined as lightly armored and equipped with light weapons or ranged weapons, this role is often the most easily looked down upon, lacking anything particularly flashy or exceptional.

In reality, roles focused on scouting and non-combat activities are not only difficult to notice, but most media even describe these reconnaissance specialists with the criminal term ‘thief.’

However, regardless of this strange treatment, the so-called ‘rogues’ of this world are by no means opponents to be underestimated or taken lightly.

First of all, in this world, scouts are classified as warrior-type roles that rely on physical abilities, and therefore the condition for them to reach intermediate level is the same as other warriors—reaching the intermediate level itself.

And the moment they reach intermediate level, many of their disadvantages transform and sublimate into advantages.

The abilities to scout enemy positions, detect ambushes in advance, find hidden things, or conceal themselves all see a significant increase in output due to aura awakening.

If before they were simply techniques using a little magical power, now they become specialized magical abilities, at least partially.

Simple stealth techniques used to suppress one’s presence and hide behind cover transform into something akin to a pseudo-invisibility called “presence blocking.”

Additionally, their ambushes evolve from merely attacking from unseen positions to becoming a kind of finishing move delivered after momentarily stepping outside the opponent’s perception range.

Assuming first exposure to such an attack, there probably aren’t many enemies who could withstand it.

Thus, the greatest characteristic of those called scouts in this world is the hit-and-away tactic.

Rather than pouring out continuous attacks to maintain stable combat, they specialize in concealing themselves, repeating attack and retreat patterns to wear down or kill enemies.

Of course, this might sound like they’re simply superior versions of traditional warriors, but this world is governed by equivalent exchange.

Scouts, in the process of implementing such precise aura manipulation, inevitably have lower output compared to warriors, so when comparing scouts and warriors of equal level, warriors have the advantage.

Therefore, scouts typically show weakness against warriors, but they demonstrate definite strength against magic users.

For magic users who generally lack physical abilities due to not having aura, there aren’t many effective ways to counter scouts who move quickly and focus on stealth and ambush.

No matter how much magic they cast, scouts can dodge too easily, and if they try to sweep them away with area attacks, scouts quickly close in and force close combat.

Between an aura-awakened person and a non-awakened one, it’s only natural that the aura-awakened has the advantage in close combat.

And this principle applies equally to the ninja—who had been hiding in our parlor before launching an ambush—who also falls under the scout category.

Thanks to a famous manga from somewhere, when we think of ninjas from our previous life, we imagine people using some kind of magic, but in the history of our previous life, ninjas were just a term for scouts or assassins that existed in any country.

However, at least in this world, ninjas are a unique type of scout—a hybrid magic warrior who uses magic called ninjutsu.

And the general assessment of such ninjas is that while they’re versatile, they aren’t properly specialized in any one area.

If we consider pure assassination ability, an ordinary intermediate assassin would be several times more skilled.

For ranged combat, rangers who specialize in long-distance engagement are more efficient.

And in terms of being a mage-scout hybrid, “Mystic Tricksters” are superior, with better magical abilities and stronger countermeasures against magic users.

But despite all this, the reason ninjas are universally assessed as “not to be underestimated” is because of the variable-creating ability of ninjutsu, magic that only ninjas can use.

“…Huh?”

Ambush. I was momentarily confused by the sight of a ninja suddenly bursting through the door of the inner quarters, but this didn’t last long.

Just before he threw shuriken at me, I reflexively activated thought acceleration and carefully examined the ninja’s clothing and appearance.

The ninja, dressed in Japanese-style black clothing that seemed to have some magical properties, wore a classic outfit reminiscent of something from before Naruto appeared.

Though it was difficult to tell with his body completely wrapped in cloth, judging by the distinctive smell of male hormones, his gender was male.

As I observed him armed with numerous shuriken, I reversed the flow of time and fired a slashing spell—

—Slash!

Ironically, what actually got cut was a log that had been substituted with a puff of smoke.

‘Huh? I’m sure it was a real body?’

I felt great confusion because I firmly trusted my own senses, but contrary to those emotions, my reason quickly scanned the surroundings and reached a conclusion.

“—There you are!!”

—Slash!!!

The slash cut down the stone lantern where he was hiding, and as he revealed himself from that gap… he seemed to finally recognize my identity (advanced level) and trembled.

And then…

—Thud! Clatter!

Without a moment’s hesitation, after throwing away all his weapons like shuriken that he had been carrying, he performed what is commonly called “dogeza,” a Japanese-style deep bow, and firmly declared:

“I surrender! I’ll tell you everything, just please spare my life!”

Judging by his actions, he probably didn’t even know that we, his assassination targets, were advanced level, only realizing it when he actually confronted us.

…While this could be considered a wise choice, it’s unavoidable that he appears somewhat pathetic in our eyes.

“Can you reveal your backers and everything else?”

“Of course! I’ll reveal everything! So please, please spare my life!”

But after all, they’re just trying to make a living too. Making a big deal out of this and going on about it… doesn’t it feel a bit off?

No matter if these people make their living through assassination and such work, demanding some kind of professional pride here would only complicate matters.

Therefore, despite feeling somewhat deflated, I chanted a spell to restrain and bind the surrendering fellow.

[…Bind.]

With a short incantation, vines and leaves sprouted from the ground, completely binding him, seizing his body, and then transforming into something like shackles or handcuffs.

The ninja, who flinched at first, clearly became more compliant after recognizing that this was only meant for restraint.

And meanwhile.

“Servant.”

“Y-Yes!”

“Go immediately to the police bureau or government office and report this. Just report that an assassin has appeared at my residence.”

“Under-understood!”

The fact that an assassin had appeared seemed somewhat shocking to those who hadn’t lived lives close to combat, but unfortunately, we don’t have the luxury to accommodate him right now.

“Lancelot, escort him.”

“…Yes!”

With me even assigning Lancelot as his escort, the lodging staff member, who was important enough to be reserved separately by the court, soon gathered courage and headed somewhere.

And now, I approached the captured ninja to interrogate him.

A captured male ninja. Honestly, as I wondered what genre would have demand for such a thing, I mentioned the name of the person I suspected was behind this incident.

“Your client is Prince Jinseong, isn’t it?”

Since coming to this world, I haven’t done anything particularly blameworthy, and if someone has accumulated enough grudge to hire an assassin against me, it’s probably only one person.

Moreover, given that this assassin fellow didn’t properly know my power level, the possibility seems even higher, so at my conjecture, the assassin nodded in affirmation… or?

—BOOM!!!

It happened right at that moment.

Just as the assassin… the ninja was about to open his mouth, his head suddenly swelled as if inflating from the inside, and then burst.

Skin, bone fragments, brain matter, and blood sprayed and flowed in all directions.

Having never expected things to unfold like this, I was left dumbfounded and…

“…A silencing measure. Well, let’s see how far this goes.”

I vowed that, even if it became a bit troublesome, I would personally erase these damned people who had made things annoying for me.