Taken (9)

In a situation where he should have immediately dashed to the mansion, Ian found himself held back by five Master-rank Barbarians.

If he got tied up here like this, the kidnappers at the mansion side could take Yuria and escape.

Someone had to continue chasing after Yuria before they could run away.

Straight into the very heart of enemy territory.

[I’ll head towards the mansion at Number 12.]

Ian volunteered for this most dangerous and crucial role.

[If Lady Yuria and the kidnappers are there… I’ll leave traces as I pursue them. Sir Javier, please take care of the Barbarians with the Heavenly Sword knights and follow my trail.]

He couldn’t entrust this vital role to anyone else.

[Wh-what are you saying…!]

But from Javier’s perspective, Ian’s suggestion seemed reckless.

The mansion at Number 12 was highly likely to be enemy base camp at this point.

In effect, Ian’s words meant he would jump right into the heart of the enemy forces all by himself.

[Absolutely not! How could I possibly send Young Master Ian alone! You even gave me your greatsword! And you have no weapon right now!]

[Sir Javier. Please calm down. There’s no need to worry that much.]

While it was just a probability, there was a high chance that, at present, there was no opponent at the mansion who could put Ian in a tight spot.

No matter if the mastermind of this incident was Theo Hisperion, the eldest son of the Heavenly Sword Lord, he couldn’t keep deploying an infinite number of Master-rank combatants.

Most likely, the only Master-rank powers stationed in this village were those five Barbarians.

‘I can’t say it’s 100%, but it’s a possibility worth betting on.’

Theo was used to dealing with multiple enemies at once. There was no way he would concentrate all his forces on kidnapping Yuria.

He would have to reserve strength to protect his business from the enemies of Hisperion, and deploy separate teams for the other ongoing operations against external forces.

Thus, the Master-rank experts dispatched here were probably just those five Barbarians.

There was a high chance that the mansion side was almost devoid of strong forces.

There would at least be some guards, but if they were only at the Expert rank, they would never stand a chance against Ian.

At this point, Ian’s pure combat power exceeded even a early-stage master.

‘As long as I don’t face a mid-stage master or higher, I can easily overwhelm them with the Frenzied Insight Style and Authority of Projection.’

He couldn’t use Vladiark since he’d loaned it to Javier, but anything at or beneath lower Master-rank could be crushed with ease.

[Trust me. Sir Javier.]

Ian sent an aura message, brimming with confidence.

[The method I suggested is the best way to break through this situation.]

[Y-you…]

Javier wetted his dry lips and hesitated.

‘It’s true… If we all get tied up here, all our effort chasing after Lady Yuria will have been for nothing.’

As Ian said, someone had to continue chasing after Yuria.

But…

Sending such a young boy alone into the mansion—was that really the right decision?

‘No, in that case, perhaps I should go myself instead…’

Rejected.

If he left this spot, the remaining members would be completely wiped out by those five Barbarians.

‘Then… What about sending the Heavenly Sword knights instead of Young Master Ian?’

Again, instantly rejected.

He couldn’t trust the high-ranking, but merely Expert-level knights for such a risky and crucial mission.

Sending a squad leader who was at Swordmaster level would be no different—once Javier left, the disparity with the Barbarians would be too great and handling them would be impossible.

‘Then… There really is no choice but to send Young Master Ian.’

At least, Ian’s combat ability… posed no problem.

He had just seen Ian fight the mercenaries as well as a squad leader could.

‘What about his other abilities?’

Tracking kidnappers required more than just strength.

Quick judgment according to the situation, information gathering skills, tracking ability, composure, and experience were all needed.

‘These… are impeccable as well.’

Ian had no shortcomings in any of those areas.

The information gathering and judgment he’d shown at the hospital incident.

The composure he’d displayed when facing the Nightingale branch manager and the bartender at the Kartai Inn.

His strength and calmness when fighting the mercenaries.

‘If you consider his young age, it’s an unbelievable feat, but…’

The overall ability Ian had shown up until now was, honestly, even better than Javier himself, who was the Chief of Investigations.

While Javier had been at a complete loss with this case all morning, Ian had tracked down the culprit’s identity and location and chased them all the way here in just half a day.

‘And…’

Reflecting back, Ian had never once shown signs of distress or fatigue in all this time.

That is to say, not only had he demonstrated exceptional ability thus far, but he might even have plenty of stamina left.

Moreover, that composure remained even when facing five Master-rank Barbarians now.

While even Javier was biting his lip in frustration, Ian boldly presented the next plan and showed no signs of shrinking back.

‘Come to think of it… I shouldn’t be the one worrying about Ian at all…’

Rather—

‘It’s time to trust and rely on Young Master Ian.’

The fact that they’d tracked the kidnapped Yuria this far was 100% thanks to Ian.

It was clear that Ian’s proposal, given with such confidence, also meant he had another sure means at hand.

Besides, Ian still had reserves of strength that they couldn’t even gauge.

If he unleashed that hidden power, in addition to all he’d shown so far…

Perhaps breaking into the mansion alone to track the kidnappers and rescue Lady Yuria wouldn’t be so difficult after all.

Having reached this conclusion, Javier sent an aura message.

[… Thinking it over, you’re right. Your proposal is the best. I’ll follow it as you suggested, Young Master Ian.]

But—

[Don’t be too reckless in pursuing them. We’ll wrap things up here as quickly as possible and follow, so if you’re in trouble, please wait for us.]

[Yes, I’ll act cautiously too, so don’t worry.]

Ian had no intention of throwing away his life carelessly.

Rescuing Yuria was important enough to risk his life, but if Ian himself died, Yuria’s future would be doomed as well.

Sacrificing his own life was to be the very last and final measure.

[Then… Oh, one last thing before I leave.]

Ian gave Javier one final piece of important information before departing.

[When you face the pink-haired Barbarian, aim for the right leg.]

[Yes…?]

[He’s known as Crimson Yaksha (紅夜叉). His right leg was severed by a cursed sword in the past. He can’t infuse aura into it.]

This was something Ian had learned in his previous life while gathering information to hunt down Crimson Yaksha.

When Crimson Yaksha was still an Expert, a swordsman wielding a cursed blade had cut off his right leg.

Though he managed to reattach it, the mana circuits there necrotized and never recovered.

[If you attack from his sides—left or right—he’ll have trouble responding.]

[H-how do you even know that…!]

Because Ian had killed Crimson Yaksha Dorca himself in his past life.

― Ssweaeeek!

Just then, suddenly, a morning star whistled through the air towards Javier’s head.

― Kaang!!!

Even while conversing with Ian, Javier skillfully deflected the weapon with Vladiark.

“How long are you going to just stare at me?!”

Perhaps bored after such a long standoff, Crimson Yaksha roared.

“Come on, let’s fight!”

[Looks like he’s running out of patience.]

–Ssshhk.

Javier lowered his stance, holding Vladiark in one hand and his beloved sword, caladbolg, in the other.

[Then, I’ll…]

Just as Javier was about to say his final words to Ian before throwing himself into battle.

― Tatatat!

“?”

Ian was already sprinting towards the mansion.

“Huh.”

Javier glanced at the retreating figure, his conviction strengthening.

Young Master Ian only looked like a fourteen-year-old on the outside.

While he couldn’t guess exactly who was inside, he was at least sure it was some veteran who’d seen countless battles.

‘There’s no way any real fourteen-year-old could move with such speed and decisiveness.’

No matter how elite a Heavenly Sword knight was, the younger ones would freeze or hesitate when quick judgment was required.

Even those who entered after completing all sorts of hellish real combat training would sometimes falter, yet Ian had immediately and seamlessly acted to handle his tasks from the moment the situation started.

‘Young Master Ian… Just what are you, really…?’

A secret weapon hidden by the head of the Heavenly Sword Family in the Greysel House?

“Damn! One of them is running away!”

Seeing Ian sprinting toward the mansion, Crimson Yaksha shouted to the Barbarians on the rooftops.

“Don’t let a single one reach the mansion! Get him!”

–KWAANG!

At Crimson Yaksha’s command, four Barbarians leapt as one, pounding the ground.

They soared toward Ian.

–KUNG!

–KWAANG!

The impact of their leap smashed the buildings’ rooftops like cookies.

The four Barbarians flew through the air like rocks launched from catapults.

“Where do you think you’re going…!”

Seeing them, Javier quickly raised his beloved sword high.

His role was to tie up those Barbarians while Ian made his dash to the mansion.

As a knight, there was no way he could allow them to hinder Ian.

“Release the Sword Spirit!”

Release the Sword Spirit.

A special secret technique that only those bestowed with the prestigious swords of Hisperion could use.

By calling the true name of the sword, it unleashed the sword’s true power—a technique reserved for decisive moments.

“Caladbolg!”

–KWARUNG!!

As Javier called the name of his beloved sword, a massive bolt of lightning struck down upon his blade.

And at the same time—

–KWAGAGAGAGAGA!

“Guh!!!”

“Graaaaagh!!!”

As if divine judgment was being delivered.

Countless bolts of lightning rained down upon the heads of the Barbarians arcing toward Ian.

–KWAGAGAGAGAGA!!!

“Keo-o-o-ogh!”

“Keok!”

The four Barbarians were flattened into the ground as if struck by a giant’s mace.

“Huh, huh?”

At the sight, Crimson Yaksha Dorca’s eyes widened in shock, showing his teeth.

“He looks like a pushover… but turns out he’s pretty tough!”

Dorca licked his lips greedily with his gluttonous tongue.

“That sword… I want it!”

–Uuuuuuuung!

Dorca crouched, beastlike, as if he might explode into a charge at any moment.

Ominous light began to gleam from the tattoos covering his body.

That crimson glow was the reason Dorca was called Crimson Yaksha (紅夜叉).

A tattoo engraved with the blood of a powerful foe he personally hunted—a unique tribal secret technique that allowed him to steal and use a portion of his prey’s strength.

“And your blood…!”

It was a Bloodline Tattoo.

“I want it!”

–KWAANG!

Crimson Yaksha stomped the ground violently.

The earth shattered as if struck by a massive shell.

“Hmph!”

Javier also lifted Caladbolg in response.

–KWARURURUNG!!

Bolts of lightning rained down in focused volleys upon Crimson Yaksha.

It was the beginning of a life-or-death struggle between Masters—like a force of nature itself.

————-= Clacky’s Corner ————-=

【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】

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