Chapter 6

Episode 6

I recalled the goal I had set for myself when I first arrived in this world.

To achieve a modest level of success, marry a beautiful woman, have a few kids, and live a comfortable life.

That was all I wanted.

But now it felt like the difficulty had suddenly been cranked up to hardcore mode.

The five hostile presences I had sensed while dealing with Satyr had multiplied, swelling to twenty.

And their nature had changed.

The raw, untamed killing intent had transformed into something sharp and honed, like finely crafted daggers aimed at my heart.

“Do you think those are assassins sent by Satyr?”

“It’s highly likely.”

The masked figures descended from the trees, closing in on us.

“You seem hesitant. Are you considering other possibilities?”

“Because they’re not his men.”

*Clang!*

I drew my sword.

It was a fifty-fifty chance. Either they were Satyr’s men, or they were assassins sent by Lady Lucia.

If it was the latter, then she was likely testing my abilities, evaluating my worth.

It wouldn’t be out of character for the mastermind of this world. She had an abundance of loyal followers willing to die for her.

She wouldn’t waste time with something as trivial as a sparring match against skilled knights.

I turned my back to Selendis.

Ten masked figures, their eyes burning with murderous intent, stood before me, their daggers held in reverse grips.

“Don’t worry about my back. Let’s split them evenly.”

“Are you sure, Master?”

“That’s my line. Don’t die. That’s an order.”

*Whoosh!*

As if to silence any further conversation, a barrage of projectiles flew towards us from both sides.

Sharp, deadly projectiles, closing the distance in the blink of an eye.

It was a surprise attack that would have been difficult to counter, even for seasoned warriors. But I trusted my abilities. I activated my skill without hesitation.

‘The first three are decoys. The real threat is coming from the sides. They’re anticipating my evasive maneuvers.’

I could see their trajectories, every twist and turn. I shifted my body slightly, letting the first three projectiles whiz past me. Then, with a flick of my wrist, I deflected the fourth, a dagger aimed at my throat from the right flank.

*Clang!*

“…”

The masked figures seemed momentarily surprised, but they quickly recovered, charging towards us with their daggers raised.

I waited patiently, observing their movements.

‘They’re well-trained.’

If they were just common thugs, they would have been shouting threats and promises of a quick death if we surrendered.

But these assassins were silent, their movements fluid and precise.

Their only goal was to take our lives.

It only strengthened my suspicion that they were sent by Lady Lucia.

*Clang! Thud! Clank!*

“Ugh!”

“Hmph!”

They stumbled back, their surprise evident. I had countered every single one of their attacks, leaving them no openings.

But they didn’t give up, pressing their assault with renewed vigor.

And then I saw it, a new trajectory emerging from the chaos.

‘A delayed attack?’

They were aiming for my flank, anticipating that I would be preoccupied with the initial assault. They moved like a single, cohesive unit.

‘Not a chance.’

I channeled my aura, imbuing my sword with its power. With a swift swing, I unleashed a wave of energy.

*SWOOSH!*

“…”

*Thud!*

The first attacker, the one leading the charge, crumpled to the ground, his torso severed. The trajectory of the dagger aimed at my side faltered.

*SWOOSH!*

I sent another wave of energy towards the right, decapitating the second attacker before he could react. Blood sprayed into the air like a geyser.

‘I was hoping to avoid using aura.’

Selendis, battling fiercely behind me, must have seen it. Her suspicions would only grow.

But my ability had deemed it necessary.

‘Automatic Combat.’

It was the most powerful skill I had acquired since arriving in this world.

It was a common feature in modern games, a convenient system that calculated optimal movement and executed attacks automatically.

But the version I possessed was different.

It guaranteed victory, regardless of the situation.

(TLN: hopefully the story gone be great cause this shit is too overpowered)

*Slash! Thud! Slice!*

Two more assassins fell, their deaths swift and brutal.

‘Automatic Combat’ was truly a remarkable skill.

Of course, it was possible that I had simply been facing weak opponents.

I had no idea how it would fare against a Captain-rank knight, especially a legendary ‘Sword Master’.

Perhaps it would overload, pushing my body beyond its limits, forcing me to shut it down.

That was why I had initially aimed for ‘modest success’.

I wasn’t willing to risk my life on something so unpredictable.

Unless, of course, I discovered new skills, new ways to enhance my abilities.

A thought occurred to me.

What if I could sense mana while using ‘Automatic Combat’?

Would it allow me to use magic?

The problem was, I had no idea how to awaken my mana sensitivity.

And even if I could, I wasn’t sure I wanted to. Becoming a mage in this world was a risky proposition.

Mages were incredibly rare, considered valuable assets by every nation. Their magic was fundamentally different from the healing magic used by healers.

I would be constantly summoned, forced to serve the whims of the powerful. And I would become a prime target for assassination.

*Slash! Thud!*

Two more assassins fell, their deaths as meaningless as the others.

I cleaned my blade and surveyed the remaining enemies.

Only four left.

I met their gazes, my expression calm and unwavering.

“…”

“…”

The atmosphere had shifted. The assassins, who had charged at us like wild beasts, were now faced with a choice: fight to the death or flee.

Selendis’ battle cry echoed from behind me.

She was holding her own, but judging by the remaining presences, she was also down to her last five opponents.

‘I need to finish this quickly.’

My body responded to my intent, shifting its stance.

*Slide…*

*Whoosh!*

My posture changed, transitioning from defense to offense. I adopted an aggressive stance, ready to strike at a moment’s notice.

This was another key difference between my version of ‘Automatic Combat’ and the generic versions found in games.

It offered multiple attack options, allowing me to choose my approach. That was why I had relied solely on hand-to-hand combat when dealing with Thomson.

I let my body take over, my mind observing the battlefield with detached clarity.

“Scatter!”

The remaining assassins obeyed, leaping in different directions. They seemed to vanish into thin air, utilizing some form of stealth.

But while they might have been hidden from my sight, ‘Automatic Combat’ had already pinpointed their locations.

*SWOOSH!*

I sent a wave of energy flying through the air, my body simultaneously launching itself towards a tree on the right.

It was an unpredictable move, one they hadn’t anticipated.

“Gah!”

My blade found its mark, slicing through the chest of a hidden assassin. Another scream followed, indicating that my initial attack had also found its target.

The remaining two presences retreated rapidly.

They were fleeing.

I could have pursued them, confident in my ability to catch them. But Selendis’ safety was my priority.

*Clang! Thud!*

The sound of clashing metal reached my ears. I activated my physical enhancement skill, rushing to Selendis’ aid. Three assassins were pressing their attack, attempting to overwhelm her.

*Thud! Slice! Slash!*

We struck as one, our combined might proving too much for them. They collapsed, blood gushing from their wounds.

“Not bad for our first time fighting together.”

She didn’t seem to appreciate the humor. Her breathing was ragged, and a deep gash marred her left arm.

“Are you injured?”

“It’s just a scratch, Master. Nothing serious.”

“They’re assassins. Their weapons could be poisoned.”

I retrieved a vial filled with a shimmering liquid. It was an expensive potion, but I didn’t hesitate to apply it to her wound.

*Sizzle…*

The wound began to close, the flesh knitting itself back together. I wrapped a handkerchief around it, securing it in place.

“…Are you alright, Master?”

“I’m fine. Don’t worry.”

We had faced twenty highly trained assassins. Even for a Junior knight, it would have been a difficult battle.

How could I wield aura?

Who taught me swordsmanship?

What was my true identity?

I could see the questions swirling in her eyes. I wasn’t a knight. Until recently, I was just an assistant in the butler department. Her curiosity was understandable.

But she remained silent, a testament to her loyalty.

“None of them survived, I presume?”

“I apologize, Master. I didn’t have the opportunity to take any prisoners.”

“There’s no need to apologize. It just means we’ll have to work harder to uncover their true motives. Let’s examine the bodies. We might find something useful.”

As expected, we found nothing. It was further proof that we were dealing with professionals.

“What do you think? About their identity?”

I had told her to start making judgments.

“I believe this was orchestrated by Satyr. They were likely assassins from House Gerard.”

“That’s the most logical conclusion. But it’s not a complete dead end. Two of them escaped. If we can track them down, we might find some answers.”

“What other possibilities are you considering, Master?”

We started walking. Without our horses, it would be a long journey back to the city.

“I can’t help but wonder if they were sent by the Lady.”

“…The Lady?”

“She seemed curious about my true nature. And I suspect you are as well.”

I met her gaze, my tone lighthearted.

“Let’s keep my aura manipulation a secret, shall we? If you truly are my sword.”

“As you command, Master.”

Her eyes shone with a clear, unwavering light.

It was the color of truth. I was surprised. I had expected a flicker of doubt, a hint of deception. But it seemed I could trust her, at least for now.

“Let’s head back to the safe house. Jericho should take a look at your wound.”

By the time we returned, the moon was high in the sky. Jericho was reading a book, a half-eaten sandwich on the table beside him.

“Welcome back. How did the investigation go?”

“Lady Selendis sustained an injury. There’s a chance it could be poisoned. Take a look.”

“Injured? My goodness!”

Jericho immediately unwrapped the handkerchief. There was a bit of blood, but thanks to the potion, the wound was almost completely healed.

“Are you in any pain?”

“No.”

“Any dizziness or discomfort?”

“I’m fine.”

Jericho examined the wound, a smile spreading across his face.

“It’s not poisoned. It’s healing nicely. But who did this? How dare they attack the Inspection Unit!”

He was outraged, as if he had been the one injured.

On a whim, I decided to tell him about the attack, omitting the fact that we had faced twenty assassins.

“There were quite a few of them, you say? So you eliminated eighteen?”

“Indeed. We weren’t able to uncover their true motives. I suspect this is just the beginning. We should be prepared for anything. We might even end up having to collect each other’s bodies.”

“Don’t say such things, Master! If that happens, I’ll be next! The Lady specifically instructed me to assist you.”

My eyes met Selendis’. She seemed to be asking, ‘Could it really have been the Lady?’

“Did you use only one potion?”

“For now.”

“I’ll make sure to stock up on high-quality potions. To think this happened on your first mission…”

“Finish your meal first. It can wait.”

“Ah, thank you, Master. Have you two eaten?”

He seemed to realize that discussing food wasn’t appropriate, considering the circumstances. He stood up with a chuckle.

“Forgive my lack of tact. I’ll prepare some warm bread and soup. Please, make yourselves comfortable.”

“Thank you, Jericho.”

I finally allowed myself to relax, sinking into the plush sofa.

It seemed I would have to pay Lady Lucia a visit tomorrow. Before things escalated any further.