Chapter 36: Junior Assassin Title

Chapter 36: Chapter 36: Junior Assassin Title

The attacker swung his blade, slashing down toward Vili’s head. His blade collided with Vili’s Hunting Knife.

The force of the impact sent a jolt through Vili’s arm, making it go slightly numb. He instantly determined that the man before him was physically stronger than he was.

Vili’s heart tightened. He could feel that this man was a threat to his very life.

But Vili remained calm. He knew that this was precisely the time not to panic. One wrong move, and he’d lose his head.

He took advantage of the clash of their weapons to pull away from the attacker.

A hint of surprise finally flickered in the attacker’s eyes. He had expected to assassinate Vili in a single, stealthy blow, yet this boy was actually able to meet him in a head-on confrontation.

But his movements didn’t pause for an instant. He continued to press his attack, thrusting the blade toward Vili’s throat.

Vili brandished his Hunting Knife to meet the attack. Although the weapon in his hand wasn’t a Cross Sword, it didn’t stop him from utilizing his Fencing skills.

His Fencing had reached a masterful level, allowing him to unleash incredible power in real combat. Because it was an Ability granted by the Title Attribute Panel, even though it was only a Basic Knight Squire Level skill, it wasn’t that far off from the Fencing of a Middle Level Knight’s Squire.

As their blades clashed, both the attacker and Vili were determined to kill each other.

’Something’s not right...’

In the heat of battle, Vili picked up on an unsettling detail. ’This assassin is also using Fencing!’

He was certain. With his Ability, there was no way he could be mistaken.

’This Fencing style... it’s almost identical to mine. Isn’t this something only Noble Guards are supposed to master?’

Although variations of this Fencing style were known to outsiders, even if a commoner learned a move or two, they could never use it this skillfully. Only after long-term, practical combat training could one wield it with such power. To use Fencing so fluidly, this attacker definitely wasn’t a commoner. He had to be part of an organization under a noble.

’Is he one of Baron Kels’s men?’

Countless thoughts raced through Vili’s mind in an instant.

If this attacker was one of Baron Kels’s men, why would he be killing hunters like him?

Vili couldn’t figure it out. He still had no idea who the attacker was.

The fight had already lasted for two or three minutes, and the attacker’s movements were growing increasingly frantic.

He couldn’t fathom how a simple Hunter could execute Fencing so flawlessly.

He had already wasted too much time on this young Hunter. If he ran into any of Baron Kels’s other men now, he might be put at a disadvantage. He knew what his true mission was; killing these Hunters was just something to be done along the way.

"Kid, you’re pretty good."

The attacker suddenly pulled back his blade. He let out a cold sneer, then stopped his assault, turned, and fled.

’He’s running?’

Vili was surprised. Even now, he still couldn’t figure out the man’s objective.

But Vili didn’t dwell on the question. Seeing the attacker’s rapidly retreating figure, he acted decisively, swiftly grabbing the longbow from his back.

If the attacker had continued to fight him up close, Vili really wouldn’t have had many options. But with distance between them, the situation was completely different.

The attacker, it seemed, had forgotten that Vili was a Hunter.

He drew the bow, nocked an arrow, and let it fly. The shaft streaked toward the attacker, whistling through the air.

"Hm?"

The attacker had already vanished into the forest undergrowth when he suddenly heard a sound of something slicing through the air right behind him.

’Is that... the sound of an arrow?!’

The attacker’s heart leaped in terror. ’How is this possible! I’m already nearly fifty meters away from that young Hunter, and I’m moving at high speed! It’s the middle of the night, pitch-black—how could an arrow possibly hit me?’

PFFT!

The arrow sank into flesh.

The attacker felt an excruciating pain as cold sweat instantly beaded on his skin.

Gritting his teeth, he didn’t dare to look back.

’I misjudged him! This young Hunter’s overall combat prowess is absurdly high.’

’How can someone so young be this skilled? Even the heir of a noble family, rigorously trained since childhood, might not possess this level of strength.’

The attacker was truly starting to panic.

Yet before he could take more than a few steps, another arrow found him.

PFFT!

This time, the arrow pierced his heart.

"How could... this be..."

The attacker’s eyes were wide with disbelief, a final question hanging in them as he died.

THUD. The body collapsed.

"Phew..."

Vili let out a long sigh, his taut nerves finally relaxing a little.

He was about to go and check the attacker’s body when a flash of white appeared before his eyes, followed by a new notification from the Title Attribute Panel.

"Successfully killed ambusher. Title acquired: [Junior Assassin]. Reward: 0.5 attribute points."

"Upon acquiring the [Junior Assassin] title, you will automatically learn various assassination techniques and gain the relevant experience. You have now become a calm and brilliant assassin."

[Vili Ferren—Constitution: 2.1; Intelligence: 1.2; Remaining attribute points: 0.5]

’Junior Assassin?’

Just like that, without any warning, he had another title.

’It seems coming on this trip to Bole Forest was the right choice.’

’Put the attribute points into Constitution.’

Even though he’d killed one ambusher, Vili couldn’t be sure if there were other assassins lurking in Bole Forest. For the sake of self-preservation, he didn’t hesitate to continue upgrading his Constitution. His Intelligence was already twenty percent higher than an average person’s, and he had no pressing need for more at the moment, so he wasn’t in a rush to add points there.

With a mere thought from Vili, his Title Attribute Panel refreshed.

[Vili Ferren—Constitution: 2.6; Intelligence: 1.2; Remaining attribute points: 0]

Vili’s Constitution was now comparable to that of a Middle Level Knight’s Squire.

Vili felt his muscles grow taut, brimming with explosive power. He was certain that if he were to fight that attacker now, he could cut him down even in a direct confrontation.

After checking his gear, Vili walked over to the attacker’s corpse.

Blood flowed from the attacker’s wounds, soaking the ground.

This time, Vili felt no revulsion at the sight of the corpse. The Junior Assassin title had already granted him the composure to face death unflinchingly.

Vili began to search the attacker’s body, looking for something that could prove his identity.

’What’s this...’

At the attacker’s waist, Vili’s fingers brushed against a cold, iron badge.

It depicted a blooming Dusklight Flower with a Cross Sword behind it.

’It’s a noble family crest!’

Vili recognized it at a glance. He had seen similar family crests with different designs among Baron Kels’s own Aure Family.