Chapter 4: The Young Genius of the Assassin Family (2)

At that moment, in the training ground of the Grim Knights behind the Duke’s mansion.

It was midday, with the sun high in the sky. The area was an open clearing on all sides. Yet, the training ground itself remained completely shrouded in darkness, as if the pitch-black of midnight had descended, untouched by the blazing sunlight pouring in from every direction.

The darkness was, in fact, a barrier magic cast by Sir Hyde, the Shadow Master.

A Knight Commander wielding magic—what an oddity.

For knights, whose power lay in swordsmanship and aura, the very source of magic—mana—was considered a forbidden, opposing force. Anyone who recklessly tried to handle both would often end up with their mana running wild, becoming crippled.

But for the Grim Knights, this was nothing out of the ordinary. Just like the assassins of the Nightwalker Family whom they served, they walked a path different from that of ordinary knights.

They did not revere chivalry.

They had neither the honor nor the pride that every knight ought to possess. Far from understanding honor, they didn’t even bother to reveal their own names.

Yet, no matter what, they always completed the missions they were given.

As hunting dogs loyal to the continent’s greatest assassin family.

—The same went for the Children of Night. Every child brought to the mansion learned the fighting style and principles of the Grim Knights under their guidance until they officially received their baptism.

“The result justifies the means (Exitus acta probat).”

“The more blades, the better.”

“Anything you can hold in your hand is a weapon.”

“If there are no witnesses, it’s assassination.”

Beneath the night, there are always shadows. The way the children learned the Grim Knights’ methods was, in essence, learning the family’s ways.

“Sien.”

A voice echoed from the depths of the oppressive darkness. It was Sir Hyde, the Shadow Master of the Grim Knights.

“And Vigo.”

The surroundings were utterly dark. Sien, eyes closed, adjusted her grip on the sword hilt in her hand.

“We will now begin a one-on-one mock duel.”

5th Class barrier magic! [Barrier Magic of Methuselah’s Darkness].

Within it, not just sight was blocked. Every sense grew dull and heavy, as if several lead weights had been attached to the body.

Shuuu—!

In that instant, something rushed at Sien through the darkness, so thick that she couldn’t even discern what was before her nose.

Kaang!

The distance closed. Blades clashed, sparks scattering as they met. Coarse, rough sounds rang out in quick succession.

“Argh!”

A boy’s scream followed, his grip loosening as he dropped his sword hilt to the ground.

In a flash, the tip of Sien’s sword was aimed at the boy’s forehead. It was a seamless, natural transition.

“How…”

“I win, Vigo.”

In front of the blade pointed at him, the boy, Vigo, was shocked—his eyes shining with a strange brilliance no human eye could possess.

The basic 1st Class auxiliary magic, [Eyes of Night], let him see clearly even in the darkness.

But even with that magical advantage, Vigo could not overcome the pure instincts Sien possessed.

In a darkness so thick that nothing could be seen, Sien raised her head as if such darkness could never obstruct her sight—utterly at ease.

“Nice movement.”

“Sien…”

“But relying on magic for your senses is a bad habit.”

Lowering her sword, Sien reversed her grip and handed the hilt back to Vigo, who stood up after retrieving it.

“Giovanni said he beat you once in here. How did that happen?”

Vigo and Sien. And Giovanni, who wasn’t present. The three children, soon to be baptized, living in the mansion.

“Even I’ve never beaten you.”

“I let him win once.”

“I thought so.”

“He wouldn’t stop until he finally won.”

At Sien’s words, the boy called Vigo burst out laughing.

“You really are impossible.”

At first, he’d been jealous. As mischievous boys do, he’d even played some mean-spirited pranks.

But it hadn’t taken long to realize just how childish and foolish those actions had been.

In the face of such overwhelming difference in ability, petty jealousy or envy became utterly meaningless.

All that remained was calm acceptance.

Half a year had been enough for Vigo to realize this truth. Not only the other children, but even the Grim Knights training in the arena were no exception.

“To think you could be this precise inside Sir Hyde’s barrier…!”

Even so, the fact that Vigo, a Child of Night, could track his opponent’s position and move precisely in such darkness was exceptional. But it was only natural. Only the most outstanding raw talents survived in this place to begin with.

But even among them, the level Sien displayed was on a completely different plane.

They might not compare to the assassins of the Nightwalker Family, but even so, the Grim Knights—renowned as second only to them in infamy across the continent—were here.

“Did she use martial arts? No, I didn’t sense a single hint of aura movement.”

“Did she really face Vigo in Sir Hyde’s barrier with nothing but pure senses?”

“How on earth…”

Even they found it hard to remain calm in the face of Sien’s performance.

No trace of aura, mana, or any magical movement could be sensed within Sien.

Yet she moved so perfectly within the barrier magic cast by none other than Sir Hyde, the Shadow Master? Against a fourteen-year-old Child of Night who could freely wield both aura and mana simultaneously? It was unbelievable—almost impossible.

Just then—

“There you are.”

The pitch-black mist enveloping the area melted away like snow. In an instant. The Grim Knights present hadn’t even noticed the presence until a lazy voice rang out.

—All except two: Sir Hyde, the Shadow Master, and Sien.

“I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

“!”

“So you’re Sien.”

Before anyone else could react, a man revealed himself.

“My sister talks about you a lot.”

Wearing a sharp suit and with wild, blood-red hair, he looked refined, yet carried a slightly unruly air—a young man.

“Y-You are…”

Vigo, startled by the man’s sudden appearance, stammered. Sien remained silent, not even bothering to ask who he was like Vigo.

She had no need to.

“Mikhail, cousin…?”

Laila’s young, immature brother—the youngest in the family.

He didn’t know Sien yet, but Sien knew him.

“Hmm, I see.”

The disheveled red-haired man, Mikhail, stroked his chin, looking Sien up and down with cold, appraising eyes, like evaluating a product.

“No wonder my sister keeps fussing over you. You’re definitely not an ordinary brat.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“It’s just, something’s off about you.”

Mikhail’s suspicious gaze continued. The Grim Knights around the training ground paid him no mind.

“Were you really some untrained back-alley orphan?”

“Yes.”

“And what does our dear Shadow Master think?”

Mikhail turned to address Sir Hyde, the Shadow Master who stood in the barrier.

“Is what Mikhail is doing now the will of His Grace, the Duke?”

“My sister’s problem is, she likes people too much.”

To Hyde’s question, Mikhail answered with indifference. There was no need to say who ‘my sister’ referred to.

“They said you grew up in the slums of the Eastern Free City of the Republic, right?”

“That’s right.”

“But I can’t believe it. I can’t trust records of some bottom-dwelling criminal trash like that.”

Mikhail’s voice turned cold.

“And there are too many suspicious things.”

“What are you suspicious of?”

“Everything, from one to ten.”

“I heard a lot from my sister, and talked with your tutor and the Grim Knights. You’re talented, outstanding, smart—far beyond what mere words could explain.”

Mikhail said.

“Ever since you were raised under those people, you’ve acted more like a highly trained professional assassin than a child.”

Half a year had passed since Sien arrived at the mansion.

Reflecting on all Sien had achieved in that time—indeed, even considering her accomplishments before then—Mikhail continued, looking incredulous.

“Well, sure. Being exceptional isn’t a bad thing. Only outstanding kids can come here anyway. But still…”

Before Sien could answer, Mikhail pressed on.

“You’re different.”

“Different how?”

“You’ve crossed the line. Far too much.”

Without the talent of a natural-born assassin, you couldn’t even exist in this place. This was where the Nightwalker Family chose their own.

But even among these raw talents, Sien stood alone, utterly overwhelming.

“Some things never change, I see.”

Mikhail may be a scoundrel, but he’s no fool. That is to say, Sien’s talent was on a level even the family’s members found hard to accept.

It surpassed even what might be called the genius of the century.

“Do you know what they call someone like you?”

“What do they call me?”

“A liar.”

That’s all.

What Sien had shown in the mansion could be described as suspicious, nothing more. If anything, suspicion was only natural. At first there were doubts, and even now, those doubts weren’t entirely dispelled.

And yet, it was only a fraction of the talent Sien truly possessed.

“Or, as my sister says, maybe you’re someone with talent to rival the great Father of Night.”

At Mikhail’s words, Sien burst out laughing. The Grim Knights did not. For her to say such a thing—no one else, but her!

The one who walks the First Night, with talent to rival the founder Kasan. Those who heard the weight of those words could not take them lightly.

“Whether you believe it or not doesn’t matter.”

“Hmm, sounds like a line I’ve heard somewhere before.”

At Sien’s words, Mikhail smirked wryly.

“Still, since things are like this, I’d like to believe in you.”

Suddenly, a chill flashed toward Sien’s throat.

“After all, we’re going to be family, aren’t we?”

“…….!”

“Sometimes, we should open up and talk like this.”

Mikhail Nightwalker stood unmoving, not lifting a finger.

He hadn’t moved. The one who had was not him, but Vigo, who had been standing next to Sien moments ago.

“S-Sien?!”

The blade in Vigo’s hand shone coldly. No, it was more than a pale, steely gleam—the mana had solidified like ice, condensing on the blade and emitting a chilling blue light.

“Aura Blade!”

The ultimate technique only swordsmen of the highest level could unleash. A blade said to slice through steel like paper.

Taat!

She couldn’t counter it. Even Sien couldn’t face that blue blade head-on right now—it would be suicide.

But it was Vigo, clearly a step behind Sien, who was wielding the Aura Blade—the flower of the knights. And it wasn’t just lightly wrapping his blade in aura; this was the full, sword-force-level Aura Blade that only Master-level knights could emulate.

“Wait! Sien! This isn’t me—my body’s moving on its own…!”

“I know.”

Vigo, terrified, shouted in panic. Sien gave a wry smile and nodded.

It wasn’t hard to find the answer. It was right in front of her.

“It’s about time I showed a little more of what I’ve been hiding.”

The assassin of the family, known as the [Puppet Master], smiled coldly.

“If you don’t want to betray the trust of your family, that is.”