The skeletal figure opposing me seemed to realize that it would have to take me down first before going after Emma, as it cautiously circled around me with slow, deliberate steps. It had likely sensed something during our exchange of blades but held back, maintaining a standoff while observing.
Now that the assassin had revealed themselves, they must be prepared for a proper beating. Gripping my sword tighter, I charged at the skeletal assassin. However, instead of clashing with me, the figure chose to back away.
Had this not been the residence of a lich, I would have immediately pursued and engaged. But the fact that this was a lich’s domain made me hesitate. The skeletal assassin did not miss this moment of hesitation.
A bead, likely a magical tool, shattered on the floor, releasing a thick cloud of smoke. Despite my focus, I couldn’t see through the mist—it must have been enchanted.
Naturally, the skeletal assassin used the smoke and the ensuing darkness to conceal themselves.
Given that the lich had purposefully set up an environment favoring assassins by dimming the surroundings and disrupting flows of mana, I couldn’t sense the assassin’s presence.
While a one-on-one duel against the skeletal assassin wouldn’t be much to worry about, there were two possible targets for the assassin: me, who was actively looking for them, or Emma, who was fiercely battling the lich elsewhere.
Because of this, the fight was inherently disadvantageous for me—or rather, it had been.
The situation now seemed familiar to when Emma and I couldn’t detect the assassin upon entering the room, yet it could never be truly the same. This was because both Emma and I were now fully aware of the assassin’s existence. Even if detecting them remained difficult, the difference between being aware of their presence and not being aware is significant.
Since I couldn’t see them anyway, I closed my eyes. I focused all my other senses instead, sharpening them to their utmost. To compensate for any shortcomings in pure sensory awareness, I used Aura to heighten my sensitivity even further. Such skills would have been impossible before entering the Academy, but the training I had undergone was not wasted.
In particular, the duels I had with the Sword Master at the Yuli mansion had honed my senses and instincts to an almost superhuman level.
The sounds of Emma’s battle with the lich echoed distantly but didn’t obstruct my hearing. Faint, subtle movements emerged through the noise.
Whenever the lich’s magic exploded or when Emma swung her massive sword, the air currents disturbed my sense of touch. Nonetheless, I could feel vibrations transmitted through the floor as the assassin moved almost silently, each step detectable through the sensation of air flow.
Even if I couldn’t see them, it posed no obstacle. Though my eyes were closed, the assassin’s movements were clear to me, as if I could predict their actions beyond mere sight.
It would’ve been unfeasible for an ordinary opponent to react this accurately, but I had already anticipated and countered their initial attack. Knowing the assassin’s skill level was inferior to mine, this wasn’t entirely impossible.
I trusted my senses and instincts completely.
Behind my closed eyes, the assassin’s movements were glaringly obvious. Despite their stealth, an intuitive sixth sense prevented me from losing track of them.
The silent approach was perceptible, but I held back my response, luring them closer into my range.
As soon as the assassin swung their sword, or rather, just a moment before that, I raised my weapon.
Clang!
Had my prediction been slightly off, the assassin’s blade would have bypassed mine and struck my neck. But my certainty proved correct.
Even though the skeletal assassin lacked expression, their confusion was apparent.
Ah… That’s not how assassination works.
I understood why they were surprised at my ability to block their unseen attack, but as an assassin, the moment their attack failed, they should have moved on to the next action. Whether hiding their body again or attempting a follow-up strike, standing still like they were was a mistake only a third-rate assassin would make.
Therefore, I resolved to teach them what a true assassin should be capable of.
“Want to see something fun?”
The Aura that had been lingering within me spread out slowly, extending beyond my body and dispersing around the area. Unlike encircling my sword with Aura, this was a literal scattering of energy. Considering the amount of Aura consumed, it might seem like a mere waste—powerless and non-threatening.
But it sufficiently masked my presence. Though it might not have matched the magical smoke used by the skeletal figure earlier, it was enough under current conditions. The environment prepared for the assassin by the lich, ironically, had now turned into a double-edged sword against the skeletal figure.
As I concealed myself within the shadows, eliminating my presence, the assassin panicked, looking around aimlessly. Though they had no eyes, I wondered how they perceived their surroundings, but such inquiries were best left to mages.
My talents had been sufficiently recognized by others and extended far beyond swordsmanship. Initially, I had been kidnapped from an assassin’s guild. Had I lacked skill in assassination before learning swordsmanship, I would have been discarded as useless long ago.
Even if it was a third-rate assassin’s guild, the guild master wasn’t a title given lightly. While he was a human-waste in terms of personality, his assassination techniques were commendable. He surpassed even clumsy top-tier assassins in skill, which was why he became the guild master.
The assassination industry is highly competitive—anyone opening an assassin’s guild without sufficient competence would face competitors eager to eliminate them.
I personally learned assassination techniques under such a guild master. Our relationship was less of a teacher-disciple dynamic and more that of a tool and its master, but the crux of the matter was that my assassin skills surpassed those of the skeletal figure before me.
I extinguished my presence to the utmost degree, avoiding the mistake of letting my murderous intent leak out as the skeletal assassin had done.
I ventured carefully into the darkness, confident the assassin couldn’t perceive or anticipate me. They wouldn’t hear my steps.
Passing in front of the assassin, I was certain they couldn’t see me. They wouldn’t perceive my figure.
Then, I slowly lifted my sword.
I didn’t swing it flamboyantly. I merely raised it inch by inch toward the back of the assassin’s skull.
Despite the assassin’s frantic searching, they failed to notice my slow, deliberate approach—even as the blade approached their neck.
Crunch.
My sword pierced the assassin’s skull. Even in its final moments, the skeletal figure likely wouldn’t comprehend what had happened.
The battle ended with that alone. No dazzling swordplay, no radiant Aura—just overwhelming technical and capability superiority.
“Thanks to you, I had a good time. It’s been so long; I was worried I’d gotten rusty, but everything’s still fine, right?”
Naturally, there was no reply, and I hadn’t expected one.
Had the assassin been a swordsman rather than an assassin or had the environment not been tailored to favor an assassin by the lich, I wouldn’t have been able to employ such tactics. However, what could the skeletal figure do? They should blame their misfortune, being a lich.
“Kraaaah!”
A scream emanated from where Emma battled the lich. The pained voice accompanied the disappearance of protective magics. Emma seized the opportunity, smashing the lich’s skull.
Had it been a regular situation, the lich would have regenerated instantly and retaliated with magic, but this time, it crumbled into a pile of bone dust on the floor. Even its robes disintegrated, leaving behind only a single necklace worn by the lich.
Upon inspecting the surroundings, I found within the shattered skull of the assassin a crystal-like object. It was something I’d encountered in textbooks—the lich’s life vessel.
What a relief—they hadn’t gone to unnecessary lengths hiding it. The lich had likely not foreseen such a scenario: Emma dismantling its spells effortlessly while I dealt with the assassin guard so swiftly.
“You’ve found it more quickly than expected.”
Emma approached and spoke.
“I’d have liked to spectate while you fought, but I didn’t have that luxury, so it’s a bit disappointing. Instead, let’s have a joint sparring session another time.”
Given that understanding, I had no qualms deploying assassination techniques. Had there been even the slightest chance Emma might notice, I would have confronted the assassin conventionally.
“Here, this should go to Miss Alicia.”
“This…?”
Glancing at what was tossed to me, it was the necklace left behind by the deceased lich. It wasn’t just a decorative accessory for the bony figure but, naturally, a magical item. Any child in the labyrinth could deduce its considerable value, and Emma certainly knew it, yet she handed it over casually.
“It looks expensive. Practically, Emma did most of the fighting, so it feels odd for me to take this…”
“Think of it as compensation for being dragged into the family and city events. It should fetch enough as a cash reward. You could use it too if you prefer.”
At least from the appearance, it was a valuable necklace.
“Still, we should confirm it’s not a cursed artifact? Once we return to the village, I can arrange for an appraiser. Don’t wear it out of curiosity—we need to avoid unnecessary complications.”
That much, I wasn’t oblivious to. Cursed artifacts come in all sorts, ranging from mildly amusing to severely debilitating physical constraints.
“Shall we return then?”
Emma stepped forward towards the magical circle glowing brightly behind the chair previously occupied by the lich. Though it seemed obvious, I didn’t suspect deception since Emma, more knowledgeable about the labyrinth, didn’t seem wary.
As we both stepped onto the magical circle, a radiant light enveloped us once again.
