Chapter 8. Raid

A massive explosion ripped me from my doghouse. Reflexively.

“Kyaaa!”

“Put out the fire!”

“Young Lady!!”

This fucking… The mansion’s on fire.

Even out here in the garden, the heat’s intense.

…Didn’t even sense a precursor.

Was I asleep? No, they just used an attack I couldn’t detect.

That’s why it was an ambush.

And the Royal Knights got ambushed just today.

Did they reorganize and immediately come after us, their next target?

Ruthless bastards.

The timing is impeccable, though.

They nailed the exact moment of vulnerability.

More importantly…with all this chaos…no, wait.

The thought of escaping flitted through my mind, but I quickly dismissed it.

Am I crazy?

The Void Family isn’t some small-time family.

A raid like this won’t shake their foundation.

Things will settle down eventually, and if anyone remembers me and holds a grudge, a pursuit squad might come after me.

Plus, even if I shake them off, I'd be looking at a long and arduous life on the run.

Leaving behind this comfy Courtyard where I get fed and train? No thanks.

Besides…

Lowell’s words echoed in my head.

The Void Family's Esoteric Technique, the most prestigious Noble Family in the Adel Kingdom.

The promise of learning *that* still lingered.

Yeah, this is a chance to earn some merit.

Besides, Lowell's in this mansion.

Hard to imagine us losing.

So, just as I was about to make my move to earn some merit…

More fireballs launched from outside the mansion walls. I saw them coming.

Whoa…

Is *that* Magic?

My momentary awe at seeing proper, Fantasy-esque magic for the first time was cut short.

I saw where those fireballs were heading and freaked.

Fucking hell! Right here!

Should I dive back into the doghouse and hide? That thought crossed my mind just as…

*KABOOM—!*

The incoming fireball exploded mid-air, as if it had hit a wall.

Looking closer, there was someone on the roof.

…That crazy old man.

Did he just jump out and deflect the magic?

Wait, could that even *be* deflected?

The mansion's on fire after getting hit once, and the servants are pouring out.

Well, whatever.

Seeing the old man eased my worries a bit.

Yeah, with that old man around, we're not losing.

"Everyone, to the annex!"

With the mansion ablaze, the security led the servants toward the annex behind the mansion.

Guess that part’s not on fire yet.

Before moving, I assessed the situation.

The Young Lady…well, she’ll have her Bodyguard Knight.

The head of security, that knight guy, also lives here, so he’ll show up soon to help.

That gives me a pretty clear idea of what I need to do.

I hopped onto the roof of the doghouse.

They're not just going to lob fireballs, are they?

There’s gotta be a main force somewhere.

Whatever their goal, it must be infiltration.

So, from my high vantage point, I surveyed the surroundings.

And sure enough, I spotted Masked People scaling the wall nearby.

“Oh, dear.”

They're closer than I thought.

No time to just observe.

I ran towards the wall, weaving through the servants fleeing to the annex.

"You’re…!"

"Intruders!"

First priority: prevent the intruders from slaughtering the servants.

"What…! Everyone, get ready! Intruders!"

Fortunately, thanks to my relatively smooth stay here, the security believed me, and they started forming a defensive line.

“Borrowing this.”

I snatched a sword from a guard who looked like he had a decent one.

“Huh?”

The guard gaped at me, momentarily stunned by the sudden theft.

“I’ll take the lead!"

With that shout, I charged forward, sprinting toward the approaching Masked People.

The security here is pretty competent, but…

That guy among the Masked People.

Yeah.

The one at the front, drawing his sword.

He's on a different level.

So, circulating my Aura, I swung my sword.

*CLANG—!!*

Even with my full Aura-enhanced strength behind the swing, it was easily blocked.

An Aura User, as expected?

Seriously, everyone and their Dog uses it these days.

"The Dog, just as we heard. Take him out."

"I'll bite."

Where did they get my information?

Well, a Colosseum Champion becoming a Noble's Dog…

After this much time, rumors and information would’ve spread.

I *was* quite the popular Champion, after all.

Anyway.

From that clash, I felt I had the advantage in strength, so I was about to press the attack when…

"Insolent."

The Masked Person’s momentum shifted with those words.

Immediately…

‘Track.’

A bad feeling crept in, so I focused my Aura into my eyes to observe his movements.

The world slowed to a crawl.

And in that slowed world…

The Masked Person moved at normal speed.

…A skilled Fleet.

Using Fleet right after the first clash…wants to end this quickly?

Focusing my Aura, I used my own still-developing Fleet.

A speed invisible to the other Masked People and the security.

Within the accelerated time of Aura Users, our swords clashed.

*SCREEECH—*

However…

I still wasn't skilled enough to use Track and Fleet simultaneously.

The masked person parried my underpowered sword to the side, their blade slicing across my chest.

“Ugh.”

A searing pain flared, and Track deactivated, returning me to the mundane world.

“Not bad.”

The wound was deep.

But I had deflected the crucial first strike.

Fleet was the most taxing basic technique for Aura Users.

Even if they looked proficient, using it consecutively would be difficult.

*Clang!* *Clang!* *Clang!*

Gritting my teeth against the pain,

I blocked the ensuing attacks.

*Thud, Thud-*

With each exertion, the chest wound tore further, spraying blood.

However.

Stopping meant certain decapitation.

“Help!”

“Surround them!”

The guards were already engaged with other masked figures.

The outcome of this entire raid hinged on my duel with this masked person.

*Clang!* *Klang!*

Steel clashed.

Each impact sent a burning jolt through my chest.

“Hah… Hah…”

Still.

Surviving the initial exchange with a skilled Aura User like this put me at an advantage.

They were the ones pressed for time.

Like last time, they were attacking, I was defending.

And having launched such a brazen attack on a Noble's mansion in the Metropolitan Area, every second was crucial for them.

Especially for someone of their caliber.

They wouldn't want to waste time getting their ankles bitten by a mere 'dog' let loose in the courtyard.

*Kaaang-!*

Our swords collided again.

Damn, they were fierce.

Their basic Swordsmanship was exceptional.

Very orthodox.

How should I put it—a systematic style built on solid fundamentals.

Aura proficiency and Swordsmanship.

They surpassed me in both aspects.

However.

Physical abilities and experience.

Plus, I had the edge in intuition.

Now was the time to make my move.

Before they used Fleet again.

Just as I was about to press the attack…

*Whoosh-!*

Again.

That strange sensation.

…Fleet?

No, different.

More like releasing than compressing…

“Hah!”

This is…!

*Clang–!!*

A deafening clang, and my sword shattered.

Rush!

This bastard, a real expert.

“Hah!”

The moment my sword broke,

confident of victory, they lunged.

A prickling sensation at the back of my neck—I jerked my head to the left.

*Swish-*

The blade grazed my hair.

“...!”

Seemingly surprised I dodged, I heard their startled gasp.

Twisting my arm with potentially damaging force, I jammed the broken blade into their shoulder.

*Thud-!*

“Gah!”

A direct hit.

*Crack-*

"Aagh...!"

I twisted the blade further, then let go of the hilt.

*Wham!*

While they flinched in pain, I kicked them in the gut, creating distance.

*Thud-* *Thud-*

“Ugh…”

Taking a moment to catch my breath, I glanced down. Blood gushed from my chest.

…Deep wound.

“Hah… Hah…”

I focused on my opponent.

“Kgh…”

They clutched their shoulder, the embedded blade protruding, gasping for air.

“Get lost.”

This was enough.

My wound was deep, but their shoulder was severely injured.

Continuing would result in heavy losses for both of us.

“...I'll remember this.”

They seemed to realize it too, retreating into the shadows.

“Phew…”

Once they disappeared, I surveyed the surroundings.

“Push forward!”

“We’ve won!”

“Hold the line!”

I had won my duel, but the other masked figures remained.

…Were they buying time?

Well,

this clearly wasn’t the main force.

The main force…

*Boom-! Bang!*

The mansion's roof.

Explosions continued, fleeting afterimages flashing by.

That’s where the main force, along with the old man, must be fighting.

Getting involved there would be suicide.

I tore off my coat and bound my chest.

The infirmary was out of the question in this situation…

At least I wasn't dying, right?

I’d faced countless life-or-death situations in the Colosseum.

As long as I managed the bleeding, I could still move.

Besides, shouldn't I be racking up some 'merit'?

I looked at the burning mansion.

Those masked figures were surprisingly strong.

With Lowell occupied, was the Young Lady alright?

Well, I needed to deal with this first.

Tightening the makeshift bandage, I joined the guards in their fight against the remaining masked assailants.