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chapter 50
Clang—!
Whoosh—!
The battle between Asla and the assassin unfolded with terrifying speed and simplicity.
Razor-sharp gales and an unknown white radiance.
Both powers were astounding, but the spirit techniques honed over long years were on an entirely different level.
Whirl—!
The white-haired old man moved with agility unfitting his age.
Partly thanks to the wind, but fundamentally, the difference in caliber was vast.
“Ghk!”
The assassin’s formerly relaxed demeanor was nowhere to be seen.
Strength, speed, experience—none of it could surpass the opponent before them.
Shhk—!
Clang—!
Asla pressed the assault relentlessly, giving no opening.
Watching the assassin barely hold on, he spoke.
“Why don’t you pray to your god?”
“Shut up!”
Thud—!
Forcing the swords apart, the assassin retreated.
The white glow that had enveloped their body had already diminished considerably.
“You are wielding power beyond your station. Like your god, it is impure and grotesque.”
“How dare you blaspheme the god!”
Provoked by Asla’s words, the assassin ground their teeth in rage.
But there was no way to overcome the old man in this situation.
“I will kill you no matter what.”
Boom—!
With those words, light erupted explosively.
The blinding flash swallowed everyone’s vision.
Shhk—!
At that moment, the sound of wind sliced sharply through the light.
“Ghk!”
The assassin’s cry rang out once more.
The blinding light vanished immediately after.
“…Huh?”
As her vision returned, Ria stared ahead in shock.
The assassin who had been there moments ago was gone.
All that remained was blood splattered across the ground.
-They ran away lol.
-???: How dare you blaspheme the god!
-???: I will kill you no matter what!
-Got hit once and dipped lol.
“Hm.”
Asla, who had sent out the wind blade, relaxed only after a moment passed.
Sheathing his sword, he turned around—and froze.
“…….”
His eyes met the gazes of the four people watching him.
After hesitating, Asla finally turned his head away.
“…There are too many people here. I’m feeling unwell.”
“There are only two new people. Please stay a bit longer.”
Hanbit grabbed his master, who was about to leave.
Social anxiety aside, the situation still needed to be settled.
“Borrowing the power of spirits?”
“Could it be… is this person a spirit swordsman?”
Cowen and Ria were told about him.
Rather than being Black Dragon’s master, the talk of spirit power surprised them more.
Asla himself had his back turned, pretending to watch the alley entrance.
The two approached him.
“Thank you for your help.”
“I didn’t know someone as strong as you was in Edlen. It’s an honor to meet you.”
“…….”
Despite the gratitude, Asla gave no response.
Hanbit, who had followed, added an explanation instead.
“Please understand. He’s not good with people. Maybe if there were alcohol, but…”
“Alcohol?”
That word caught Cowen’s attention.
“He denies it himself, but he’s a huge drinker.”
“…Didn’t you say you quit drinking?”
“You drank twenty bottles in one sitting.”
“…….”
-Fact attack. LOL
-Facts are DragonTube.
-The way he avoids eye contact is hilarious. LOL
Asla cleared his throat and turned his gaze down the alley.
Watching the exchange, Cowen spoke carefully.
“I have some fine liquor. If it wouldn’t be rude, may I offer it as a gift?”
“Fine liquor?”
“Yes. Wine made from ingredients gathered in the Garden of Night. I believe it will suit your taste.”
“Hm.”
At the offer, Asla pretended to think for a moment.
Then, slightly turning his head, he asked,
“…How many bottles?”
***
“Kuuh.”
In the secret space beneath the old building.
Asla let out a satisfied sigh after taking a swig from the bottle.
Five empty bottles were already piled nearby.
“I’m glad you like it.”
Cowen, who had brought the alcohol from his room, still kept watch around Ria protectively.
Even in a safe place, there was no room for carelessness now.
“If you keep that up, your nerves will wear down. While I’m here, relax.”
“…Thank you.”
-Don’t say cool things while holding a bottle;
-The taste is reliable.
-But can’t they get in here?
-Probably not 100% safe?
-Still safer than outside, I guess.
This space could only be opened by the Northton ring.
Even so, the earlier attack made it impossible to lower their guard even slightly.
Chirp—!
A bird’s chirping rang out amid the tense atmosphere.
Ria, sitting beside Hanbit, was gently stroking Sylph.
After learning it was a wind spirit, she seemed to feel a certain closeness.
“So, how did you get there earlier? It was exactly at the critical moment.”
Hanbit asked, recalling the ambush.
He had known Asla would appear eventually, but the timing had been too perfect.
“Even after warning you, I continued searching around Edlen. Then I sensed two strange reactions.”
“Two?”
“Yes. One was the child’s ring from the waterway, and the other was the power used by the Holy Nation assassin. Sensing those reactions, I was able to reach where you were.”
Asla explained while taking a few more drinks.
Few would notice, but he was ready to grab his sword at any moment.
Even if another assassin attacked, their neck would be severed instantly.
“Thanks to you, we survived. Once again, thank you.”
“I only sought to save my disciple. But… I cannot ignore the traces left by the Spirit King.”
Asla’s gaze turned to Ria, whose expression had darkened slightly.
Though she had run out insisting she wouldn’t leave Edlen, reality had confronted her too quickly.
Facing repeated attacks like that, it would be hard to keep insisting.
“Ria, you can stay in Edlen.”
“…Huh?”
“Black Dragon?”
At the sudden statement, both Ria and Cowen turned to him.
Sensing the complicated questions, Hanbit asked Asla,
“You’ll stay with us until this is resolved, right?”
“My purpose is only to protect you and eliminate those impure ones who harm spirits. The squabbles of humans are not my concern.”
“But the one at the center of that squabble, Vares, is targeting the traces of the Spirit King. If they fall into his hands, things will definitely get noisy.”
“Hm.”
Listening to the situation, Asla stroked his chin.
To him, it was an extremely simple problem.
“Then wouldn’t it be enough to kill this Vares fellow?”
“If killing him would end it, we would have done so already. And that ring is a treasure personally empowered by the Spirit King Salion. It carries the will to protect the Northton family.”
“…….”
At the mention of the Spirit King’s name, Asla fell into serious thought.
After a brief silence, he approached Ria.
“May I take a look for a moment?”
“Ah… yes.”
After glancing at Hanbit, Ria nodded and held out the ring.
And the moment Asla carefully took it—
Whoosh—!
A burst of heated wind exploded outward.
“Ugh!”
“Miss!”
Startled, Ria and Cowen rushed into defensive stances.
But Asla lightly raised a hand to stop them.
“Do not make a fuss. You will disturb the spirit.”
At his scolding tone, the two froze.
In the silence that followed, the wind settled again.
Opening his eyes, Asla let out a sigh and looked at Hanbit.
“Very well. Until this is over, I will protect that child. However, if your life is in danger, that will take priority.”
-Disciple love is insane;
-If I got a disciple after decades, I’d lose my mind too.
-This is totally a professor.
-???: Would you like to study a bit more?
-Today, another innocent college student was lost.
Asla’s strong will left no room for negotiation.
In any case, with him as an ally, one major hurdle had been cleared.
Not only could Ria be protected, but even the tracking of the ring could be scattered by spirit power.
“Thank you. With your help, we couldn’t feel more reassured.”
“Protect yourself. And bring more alcohol next time.”
“Yes, of course.”
Cowen nodded with a faint smile.
Now that Ria’s safety—the most important thing—was secured, it was time to move.
“We can’t just keep taking hits.”
Cowen wore a resolute expression.
Regardless of the relationship between the Holy Nation assassin and Vares, the important fact was that the enemy had begun attacking.
They had to prepare a counterattack as quickly as possible.
“You know, right? If all of Edlen’s key figures are on Vares’s side, then the only thing left is the capital.”
“Right.”
At Hanbit’s question, Cowen nodded.
Since it was the only method he had long considered, he continued without hesitation.
“We will seek help from the King’s Sword—the Royal Guard. Their judgment will suffice to punish those trying to overthrow the nation.”
-Wow;
-Damn;
-The Royal Guard appears here;
-Anyone who wants to see Leon unnie, upvote.
-She’s already being sold in front of our eyes. LOL
-I messed up the story and didn’t see it properly;
-You lost half your life. LOL
The Royal Guard, known as the King’s Sword.
At the mention of that group, viewers began shouting a certain name.
‘As expected, she’s popular.’
Leon, the vice-captain of the Royal Guard.
Considering her looks and personality, it was no surprise viewers loved her.
They were people who’d been thrilled even when Artsvel scolded them.
The knight coming to Edlen would indeed be Leon, so the reactions would be intense.
“The Royal Guard is coming here? Aren’t they people who move only by royal decree?”
“Crimes that shake the nation are reported to the king as well. The contents contained in this projection magic tool are enough to summon a member of the Royal Guard to Edlen.”
Cowen nodded and added his explanation in response to Ria’s question.
It would be nice to have more time to prepare, but time was of the essence now.
Bringing the Royal Guard here as soon as possible was crucial.
“First, I’ll gather signatures from various figures and nobles for a petition.”
“Nobles? Aren’t they all under Vares’s control?”
“On the surface, yes. But there are still those like me. Lord William had a positive influence on many people.”
Lowering his gaze, Cowen quietly recalled the past.
Then he continued while looking at Ria.
“Let us go meet your father’s… Lord William’s former retainers.”
