The Count’s Youngest Son is a Player

Chapter 13

Believing he was being mocked, Jeremy’s face turned into a mottled red and purple.

However, Raul appeared uninterested in his reaction, swiftly scanning the message window that popped up before him.

-Observation of the target skill is 100% complete.

-Copycat can be activated.

-To engrave the target skill in the skill compendium, follow the precise movements via Copycat.

-Copycat: Would you like to activate [Randal Swordsmanship – Shooting Star (B)]?

The S-Grade skill, Copycat, had its constraints due to its overwhelmingly effective nature. It could only be activated on one target at a time, and once observation began, one could absolutely not avert their eyes from the target. The moment the target moved out of sight, the observation rate would plummet, resetting the progress altogether. Consequently, stealing skills amidst a chaotic battle was nearly impossible.

Simply staring wouldn’t increase the observation rate. The best method was to directly confront and engage with the skill head-on, or to observe from as close a distance as possible if not. This was precisely why Raul had taken down the others to face Jeremy in a one-on-one duel.

“Fine, I’ll straighten you out!” Jeremy, infuriated, rushed at him with gritted teeth. At that moment, Raul activated Copycat.

-Copycat: [Randal Swordsmanship – Shooting Star (B)] has been activated.

-Beginner skill level Lv.6 confirmed. Skill duration is 3 minutes.

-Initial synchrony rate: 30%. Please raise the synchrony rate to 100%.

As if the whole world had slowed down into slow motion, Raul saw everything move at half speed around him. A hologram-like, translucent figure, resembling Raul, appeared before him. This figure, flickering with a faint light, thrusted its rapier in opposition to Jeremy’s movements.

‘It begins.’

Illuminating his eyes, Raul mimicked the translucent figure, moving his body like an afterimage. As his form overlaid with the translucent figure, a synchrony rate bar on the side of his vision climbed.

Clang! Clang!!

Sparks flew as Jeremy’s rapier clashed against Raul’s.

Like a choreographed dance, their rapiers met precisely without touching their bodies, clashing non-stop.

‘This is impossible!’

Jeremy’s eyes shook in astonishment.

How could a member of the Count Ashton’s family execute this swordsmanship?

The swordsmanship unfolded by his opponent was undeniably ‘Shooting Star’— not merely an imitation, but genuine swordsmanship adapted to the situation.

It was more surprising that, despite a lower proficiency, the basics were used to counter advanced techniques. This feat would be impossible without extraordinary comprehension and adaptability.

Meanwhile, Raul moved with great delight.

The slowed time had returned to its rapid pace, requiring him to follow the figure closely.

However, Raul’s movements flowed effortlessly, as if riding a rhythm, naturally following the hologram.

‘Real Dance Revolution, huh?’

Back in the day, Real Dance Revolution was a popular virtual reality rhythm dance game.

Bae Dohyun, who boasted a high synchrony rate, was able to top the game, and it was through this game that he first gained followers.

Though there was no music or dance, the sensation wasn’t any different. The 153Combo message, continuously climbing on one side of his vision, was exhilarating.

‘Good, let’s keep this up! Aim for a perfect score!’

Engrossed in moving his body, Raul was suddenly stopped by a system message.

-Synchrony rate of 100% achieved.

-Total 250Combo, time 2 minutes 13 seconds. Rank S.

-Rank S bonus. [Randal Swordsmanship – Shooting Star (B)]’s proficiency adjusted to Intermediate Lv.1.

-[Randal Swordsmanship – Shooting Star (B)] has been successfully engraved in the skill compendium.

-To continue using [Randal Swordsmanship – Shooting Star (B)], please equip it in the skill compendium selection slot.

Clang!!

With one final, harsh clash of the rapiers, Raul and Jeremy each stumbled backwards.

“Ugh! Who are you? Which traitor taught you this swordsmanship?!”

Jeremy trembled with anger, his rapier quivering in his grip.

“That’s funny. Looking for someone when you’re the one who taught me in the first place?”

Raul chuckled softly in response.

“What nonsense are you spouting?!”

Jeremy shouted, to which Raul merely swung his rapier through the air a few times and shook his head in disapproval.

“Such basic swordplay. It’s natural to pick it up after seeing it a few times, isn’t it? It’s not that difficult. Maybe with a bit more practice, I could even surpass you?”

Although Raul spoke sincerely, his words were nothing less than a provocation to Jeremy.

Holding back his rage, Jeremy brandished his sword once more.

“Fine, if you’re not going to talk, I’ll force you to open your mouth. I won’t hold back any longer!”

Raul internally scoffed at Jeremy’s belated declaration of seriousness.

Inside his mind, Raul initiated a system command.

‘Skill list!’

[Displaying user’s skills.]

*Basic Skill Slots

1) Ashton Family Traditional Swordplay – Bear Crush (A+) – Intermediate Lv.2

2) Psychokinesis (S) – Intermediate Lv.2

3) Ashton Family Internal Cultivation (A) – Intermediate Lv.1

4) Copycat (S) – Beginner Lv.6

5) Basic Meditation (E) – Beginner Lv.8

*Skill Tome Choice Skill Slots

1) Blink (C) – Beginner Lv.6

2) Shield (C) – Beginner Lv.6

*Skill Tome Random Slots

1) Steel Fist (D) – Intermediate Lv.1

Initially, users are given three skill slots in Connect, with more slots becoming available as they level up, reaching a total of seven slots at level 100.

Thanks to the Skill Tome, Raul had gained an additional three skill slots.

A testament to having three more skills at his disposal than the others.

Among these, the choice slots allow selecting any two desired skills from all recorded in the Skill Tome.

Quickly scanning his skill list, Raul decided.

‘Swap Skill Tome choice slot 2 to [Randal Swordplay – Shooting Star (B)].’

-Skill Tome choice slot 2 has been swapped to [Randal Swordplay – Shooting Star (B)].

-A 24-hour cooldown is necessary before swapping to a different skill.

‘Now, shall we get serious?’

* * *

Whoosh.

“Why, why…?”

Jeremy, with a hole through his heart, fell to the ground like a straw doll.

His eyes wide open in disbelief, he stopped breathing with a look of utter shock.

Swish!

As Raul shook off the blood from his rapier into the air, a line of red painted the ground.

“Uh, uhuh…”

Turning towards a groaning noise, Raul saw a man named Jerry staring blankly with his mouth agape.

“Ah. Forgot there was one more left.”

Raul scratched his head with his blood-soaked hand and turned around.

And as he stepped towards Jerry, the latter panicked and fell on his rear.

“Wait, just a moment! You, I mean, who on earth are you… Grk.” Raul ruthlessly pierced the throat of the inept speaker with his rapier. Having shown them all he needed to, he deemed the man’s life no longer worth sparing. As he moved toward where the knights were gathered, a servant hurriedly approached him and handed him a towel. Raul casually wiped his hands, then quenched his thirst with a refreshing glass of water before Philip subtly nodded and said, “Well done. What shall we do with those people?”

Turning around, Raul noticed that most of them had already revived. Looking coldly at their groaning and writhing forms on the ground, he said in an icy voice, “Blood must be repaid with blood. Continue killing them for precisely one hour. There are to be no exceptions!”

“Understood. You all heard him, let’s proceed!”

“Yes!”

Swords were unsheathed all around as Raul’s men mercilessly struck down their victims.

“Wait, just a minute!”

“Ah! Please spare me!!”

“I am sorry…ugh.”

Screams erupted as the alley flooded with blood. Raul sat in a chair brought by a servant and watched the scene unfold without blinking an eye. ‘This is neither Earth nor a game. This is the harsh reality given to me. To avoid being robbed again, I must use any means necessary. Even if the path is cruel and dreadful, I will not avoid it.’ Connect was a world ruled by the survival of the fittest. Laws and rules were nothing but veils to justify the exploitation by those in power, and morals and ethics were mere romantic notions for minstrels. Everything was decided by ‘strength’ – be it money, power, or military might, the superior took all. At a glance, this might not seem much different from Earth, but here, interests and relationships were far more blatantly and simplistically represented. Displaying weakness was not an option, for wild beasts might attack at any time to seize what is yours. Raul steeled his resolve further, thinking of someone who might be watching this scene from somewhere.

* * *

“Ugh, this is troubling…”

Someone murmured a low sigh.

“What should we do?”

“How can you ask that after seeing what’s happening!?” Mayor Reynaldo of the Free City of Mira scolded his captain of the guard while lowering his telescope.

“So, what should we do, sir?”

The captain asked, looking perplexed. Reynaldo let out a deep sigh. “What to do? We’ll have to do as they say. Once the situation settles down, we’ll quietly clean it up.”

“Understood!”

The captain bowed and left, and Reynaldo picked up his telescope again, gazing toward the square next to the alley.

‘It seems I might have provoked the wrong person…’

Through the lens, a brutal scene unfolded before him. Blood, blood, and more blood. If one were to imagine a human slaughter, this would likely be it. The knights’ expressionless execution of their task was chilling. What was terrifying, however, was the child who had been watching the scene for nearly an hour without flinching. Cold sweat trickled down Reynaldo’s back.

‘I thought he was just a rich, good-looking fool.’

It seemed he had misjudged the situation. Typically, murders were rare in the Free City of Mira, thanks not only to its blessings but also because the mayor tightly controlled the city’s law enforcement. Only guards authorized by the mayor could use mana within the city, and solely the mayor had the authority to admit or expel citizens. Bribing guards with a few coins was out of the question. Naturally, the actions of Count Randal’s party had long reached the mayor’s ears.

In the end, today’s situation was something he could have easily prevented if he had taken action beforehand.

(To be continued)