The Count’s Youngest Son is a Player

Chapter 16

Silently.

As the sun set, among the shadows cast by the trees, the figure of three cloaked men appeared, as if by mirage. The bow slung over a shoulder carelessly, a sheath of daggers belted at the waist, and numerous throwing knives tightly packed in a leather vest were notably visible. Among them, the man leading at the forefront, concealed by the trunk of a tree, surveyed the forest with sharp eyes.

“This is the place.”

Gently touching the markings on the ground, he nodded slightly before taking off.

In an astonishing feat, he leaped atop a tree branch three meters high, his figure soon blurring like a shadow.

His name was Pierce, a knight of the Golden Bear Knights of the Count of Ashton’s household, one of the three knights escorting Raul.

Perched on the tree branch, Pierce utilized a recently learned technique, [Insight]. Along with a strange sensation of mana gathering before his eyes, new vistas came into view.

A small rocky cliff about 50 meters away, heavily overgrown with vines, shimmered like a mirage in a reddish-black hue.

Focusing more mana into his eyes, hidden elements became distinctly visible. What seemed to be a rock face was actually a large wooden gate made by someone, with two men wielding bows concealed in the bushes in front.

“Illusion magic? A barrier? Anyway, just as the young master said.”

Pierce reported the situation to Raul via guild communication, inwardly admiring the scene.

Being told to wait as it would take about five minutes for Raul to arrive, Pierce relaxed his tensed body, lowering the bow he had been aiming.

Leaning against a tree while watching the cliff, memories from a month ago surfaced.

The knight order was no different from the army. Absolute obedience to superiors’ commands was required, and orders must be followed unless in special cases.

Thus, when the news that the youngest son of the Count was going to the academy in the capital, most knights were reluctant.

The youngest son, Raul.

Despite being born into a prestigious martial family, he lacked talent in swordsmanship and was too mentally frail to properly undergo training, barely competent.

For knights who revered martial arts and desired advancement, Raul was no different from trash.

The Count’s heir was already designated as the eldest son, Dylan, and the second son, Lawrence, had reached the advanced expert level in swordsmanship, a prodigy.

Who, then, would want to associate with the third son, Raul?

Perhaps for that reason, the task of guarding the third son was unusually opened to volunteers.

There were some knights who sighed in relief at the news and others who mocked Raul.

Even if he had won the swordsmanship tournament, it was too much to erase the image they had seen for so long.

Eventually, days passed without any volunteers, and that included Pierce.

“But to think he’d come to find me personally.”

Raul had been visiting the knights’ training ground for a while, holding individual meetings with several knights.

Though many deemed it a pointless endeavor, Pierce didn’t take long to change his mind.

“Knight Pierce. Don’t you want to leap over the wall? I can help you.”

It sounded like nothing more than the naive talk of a child.

However, Raul demonstrated his swordsmanship to Pierce in person, pointing out flaws.

Of course, Pierce didn’t take him seriously. How could a mere child who had barely reached the realm of a sword user give advice to a intermediate-level expert swordsman?

But after Raul left and Pierce resumed his training, he couldn’t shake off a nagging feeling and decided to reflect on Raul’s words while practicing his swordsmanship, only to be shocked by the revelation. Wasn’t it that the advanced swordsmanship, which had never flowed smoothly before, unfolded much more smoothly now? It seemed too much for coincidence that all three movements Raul pointed out were so. Realizing this brought back other things Raul had said.

“Sir Pierce, if you stick strictly to the Bear Crush style of the Count Ashton family, it will be hard for you to excel. You have an advantage in agility over strength. And wouldn’t it be a waste to bury your other talents?”

In truth, Pierce was not only skilled in swordsmanship but also in archery. His father had been a famous hunter, and Pierce had learned hunting from him until he became a squire. However, after becoming a knight, there were not many opportunities to use a bow. The main weapon for the Golden Bear Knights was the two-handed greatsword, and the bow was merely a secondary weapon. Additionally, a bow was hardly effective against the thick armors of knights or the hides of larger monsters. Thus, few within the knight order knew of his archery skills, but somehow Raul was aware of them.

‘Perhaps Sir Raul had been watching me for a long time… Otherwise, how could he pinpoint the flaws in my swordsmanship and know about my archery?’

Pierce couldn’t help feeling recognized by Raul and entertained the hope that Raul might indeed be able to hone his latent skills. The next day, Pierce decided to join Raul’s guard. A month later, Raul had kept his promise. Pierce, who had remained at the intermediate level of a Sword Expert, unknowingly stepped into an advanced level. Raul’s provided skill book further sharpened his specialties.

‘It was indeed the best decision. Those who rejected Sir’s offer will regret it deeply later.’

Raul, the second son, turned out to be a swordsmanship genius surpassing his brother Lawrence, an excellent leader who could bring out the best in his subordinates, and seemingly an envoy of divine powers. While it was uncertain why he had concealed his abilities so far, it wouldn’t take long for Raul’s true capabilities to become widely recognized now that he had started making his moves actively. And perhaps, this very moment marks the beginning of that grand step. Whoosh. Pierce leaped from a tree, bending one knee and bowing his head as he landed.

“Have you arrived, Sir Raul?”

* * *

Raul looked towards a distant cliff with his eyes shimmering in a faint golden hue.

Rank: ???

Size: ???

Status: A 3rd-circle illusionary magic circle that manipulates human sight and a 3rd-circle aversion magic circle that prevents approach are deployed. To obtain additional information, dispel the magic circles or enter the interior. Raul nodded slightly, certain of the place he was looking for.

‘As usual. Different cities but the hideouts have similar structures.’

Although the details listed were uncertain, Raul knew. This was the hideout where spies of the Cranen Empire were covertly operating. Although he was now in the free city of Mira in the Ruben Kingdom, in his previous life as Bae Dohyun, he started in Ignit, one of the starting cities in the mercenary state of Marcus Kingdom. The situation in Mira was not much different. Receiving quests in the city and leveling up by hunting in the surrounding plains and forests was the typical growth path for players. The forests harbored not only monsters but also bandit groups and robbers targeting the city and players. Among these bandits, some were not mere robbers.

For instance, slave traders kidnapping city dwellers under the orders of nearby nobility, or mercenary groups neglecting their main jobs in hopes of striking it rich. They were the spies of various factions, bent on recruiting players or resorting to abduction and blackmail. Among these, however, the most sinister and threatening were the agents of the Cranen Empire’s intelligence division, the “Imperial Hounds.”

They stopped at nothing to hinder the players’ progress, not only hunting the players directly but also constantly engaging in manipulation through kidnapping, blackmail, instigation, agitation, and persuasion, ensuring the players could never unite. It was largely due to the influence of the Imperial Hounds that, in the later stages of the game, the major guilds betrayed their kingdoms to collude with the empire. For Raul, these were adversaries he could not simply overlook.

“Sir Pierce.”

At Raul’s command, Pierce strung two arrows on his bow from atop a branch and aimed them toward the cliff.

Swoosh! Thwack!

The arrows pierced through the foreheads of two guards simultaneously, and they fell dead.

Once Raul confirmed no one else was around the entrance, he quickly moved forward, pulling out two small scrolls from his pocket. They were 3rd-Circle Magic Dispel Scrolls he had acquired in advance from the magic guild.

Raul hesitated for a moment as he was about to tear the scrolls and dismantle the magic circles, then stared intensely at the magic formation.

‘I think I can do this.’

Reincarnated with new eyes, Raul could clearly see the flow of mana making up the magic circle before him. Transparent mana streams emerging from behind the door were drawing geometric patterns as they circulated in the air before the cliff.

Putting the scrolls back, Raul drew his main gauche from his waist. Inserting mana into it, he lightly stabbed at the air a couple of times.

Crack.

The circling pattern cracked and crumbled away.

Sensing he got the hang of it, Raul targeted the core of the remaining magic circle – where several streams of mana intersected – and stabbed with his main gauche once more. The magic circle inevitably shattered.

‘I’ve learned something useful. This’ll save me money on scrolls.’

Given their utility, magic scrolls were prohibitively expensive. With already plenty of expenses, Raul was inwardly pleased to save some money.

“Let Jackson and Neil lure the moths into the flame according to plan. I’ll inform you of the entry timing through the guild’s communication system.”

“Yes, young master.”

Two soldiers beside Pierce bowed and disappeared into the bushes. They intended to retrace the path taken by Raul’s group, erasing their tracks while creating false ones to mislead any pursuers.

After the soldiers vanished, only Philip, Jake, and Pierce – three of Raul’s finest knights – remained by his side. Yet, even with the empire’s hideout in sight, Raul showed no signs of tension or fear. Instead, his eyes sparkled like a predator eyeing a delicious prey.

“No need for prisoners. Hunt them all. And don’t forget, the finishing move must always be ‘this’.”

Raul said, waving a sharp rapier in the air.

“I don’t see why we must use such a pointed stick, but orders are orders. Catching thieves doesn’t seem to require a weapon anyway…”

Jake poked the ground with the rapier in discontent. Ignoring Jake, Raul turned to Pierce.

“Sir Pierce, first locate the abducted individuals. Especially, Miss Nakia’s sister, ‘Niki,’ must be found as a top priority.”

“Leave it to me.”

Finally, Raul gave Philip a slight nod before turning around. He was a reliable man who required no specific orders.

“Then, we’re moving in.”

Using psychokinesis to open the door silently, Raul stepped into the cave within the cliff.

Amidst the rustling wind, faint screams and the stench of blood seemed to flow.

(To be continued)