Reincarnated as a Genius Prodigy of a Prestigious Family - Chapter 245

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Reincarnated as a Legendary Talent Genius of a Noble Family Episode 245

161. The Mana Stone Theft Incident (4)

Have my senses completely dulled?

Or have they rusted away?

Whatever the case, one thing is certain.

A former assassin who was once somewhat renowned has been caught from behind.

Without even noticing any signs.

‘This is ridiculous.’

No matter how much I’ve retired from active duty, I thought I’d maintained my senses through various incidents.

But perhaps I was mistaken.

If this had been real combat, my head would have flown off without even realizing I’d been caught from behind.

Along with unpleasant shame, curiosity surged.

Could this be an assassin hired by that fellow called Viscount Otier?

Or a third party who was after this Mana Stone?

Whatever the case, one thing is certain.

Move and you die.

Half-hearted resistance would only hasten death.

“What do you want.”

So I asked.

Not to buy time, but because I was genuinely curious.

The answer came in an assassin’s manner.

Thunk.

A very small needle flew and embedded itself in the table beneath the stolen experimental equipment.

And then another needle flew—

It embedded itself right in front of the flask labeled ‘Borian Grass’.

The effect of refined Borian Grass is to put the user to sleep, and if the lethal dose is exceeded, they never wake up again.

‘Stay silent.’

Or rather, don’t interfere.

A simple yet intuitive method of communication.

Tuva nodded his head slightly and closed his eyes.

And after a very short time passed, when he opened his eyes, even the experimental equipment had disappeared without a trace.

Along with it, the cool sensation that had been pressing against the back of his neck also vanished simultaneously.

“Hah.”

Only then did Tuva’s tension release, causing him to stagger.

Such pressure.

How long has it been since I felt this emotion?

Even during his assassin days, being caught from behind like this could be counted on one hand. And even those were all during training sessions with senior assassins.

Because the moment you’re caught from behind in actual combat, you meet death.

In that sense, for Tuva, who had never been caught from behind for any reason other than training, this situation was extremely unfamiliar.

“Damn, I’m screwed.”

But curses immediately spilled out at the fact that he had failed to protect the Mana Stone and even had the experimental equipment stolen.

Of course, since they were stolen goods, strictly speaking he shouldn’t feel this way, but having already stolen them, what did that matter?

He could clearly picture Count Altair’s disappointed and angry face.

But his curiosity didn’t fade.

What kind of fellow was it?

Could it possibly be someone he knew?

“The needle.”

At that moment, what caught Tuva’s eye was the needle thrown by the fellow who had gotten behind him.

‘Left it behind.’

The basic rule of assassins is to leave no traces.

But leaving one means…

Deliberately revealing one’s existence.

The meaning is this.

A warning.

“…”

And upon examining the needle, Tuva’s heart began to pound.

It was a needle he recognized.

Though it was a plain needle without any distinguishing features, the moment he held it, a tingling sensation was transmitted as if he’d been struck by lightning.

The sensation of the needle that his hands remembered.

There was no mistake.

His assassin’s sharp senses were crying out.

“Senior…”

Code name ‘Black Point’.

That it belonged to his senior who now lived as the mistress of a household.

Could she have returned to active duty?

‘The fact that she deliberately threw the needle to leave a trace…’

This might be guidance.

Telling him to follow her.

“This isn’t the time for this.”

Since it was stolen, he had to find it.

Tuva decided to use that as an excuse to track the traces.

I knew a high-level fellow would be guarding it, but who would have thought it would be an assassin.

I managed to retrieve it without major problems, but I almost ended up in a sword fight.

Well, sword fights between assassins proceed quietly and sometimes end in a single exchange…

Given who the opponent was.

“Still, it works well.”

The assassin techniques I learned from Mother are indeed excellent.

All the methods of approaching while hiding presence and even stopping breathing, along with Shadow Hiding.

“Though throwing needles is still awkward.”

And the same goes for the needles.

Of course, it was an intentional action.

By my standards it was somewhat awkward, but well, it was passable.

That fellow will probably chase us.

After facing him later, I’ll extract information from him.

If that doesn’t work, I can show him the assassin’s symbol Mother gave me.

According to Mother, with just that one thing, assassins would set aside their work to help.

For me, it’s like having double and triple safety measures.

Though I never thought I’d end up planning to use the symbol Mother gave me like this.

“At least I’ve retrieved it.”

At least the primary objective has been achieved.

I couldn’t completely prevent information leakage, but the important thing is that I retrieved it.

Well, actually it doesn’t matter if it leaks.

Because efficiency will improve each time my Mana Concentrator increases by one.

More importantly, the fact that I’ve temporarily thwarted Count Altair’s goal.

“Shall I head back.”

I was currently looking toward Priscilla’s direction.

While the guard and Head Butler had come to watch Priscilla’s prayer scene, ‘I’ was standing there like a post beside them.

That’s an illusion.

A very sophisticated illusion at that.

The one Priscilla was going to use when meeting her boyfriend but couldn’t because they broke up.

“I’ll have to wait a moment.”

It didn’t take as long as I thought.

Just then, another guard approached the head butler to report something, drawing their attention…

Swoosh.

I dismantled the illusion while simultaneously putting the device into subspace, then naturally stood in that spot as if nothing had happened.

As if I had been standing there all along.

“I think this should be enough.”

When I sent the signal, Priscilla immediately finished the blessing.

“Thanks to the vibrant energy of this beautifully arranged garden full of life, I was able to complete the blessing well.”

“Thank you, Priest. May God’s grace be upon the Grand Temple and you.”

The head butler and guards showed not the slightest hint of suspicion.

“Still, since you’ve come all this way, we should at least offer you a meal, and more importantly, Count would…”

“No. The Grand Temple’s blessings should not come with a price.”

The head butler was even moved.

“My goodness… I shouldn’t say this, but the priest who visited before didn’t do so…”

“The Grand Temple must change too. If there were any shameful incidents, I apologize on their behalf.”

“N-not at all. An apology? How happy we are just to receive your blessing, Priest. Really… are you sure it’s alright?”

“If you’re talking about donations, it’s fine. I don’t want to do anything shameful before God.”

That seemed sincere.

And I also understood what meaning these priests’ blessings held for people.

“I’ll escort you to the main gate of the mansion.”

Thus we were able to leave Count Altair’s Manor having achieved our intended purpose.

“Blessing… maybe it’s not so bad after all.”

“What do you mean?”

“I thought it was meaningless. Calling it a blessing when they just go to extort donations and show off the Grand Temple’s authority.”

Priscilla doesn’t particularly like the Grand Temple. That doesn’t mean she denies or dislikes God though.

“So I think it’s not bad. Giving blessings without compensation like this. Even though I went there for a reason, I blessed them sincerely.”

I nodded silently.

Priscilla will become a priest someday.

Unless she denies her divine power and denies God.

So, at this moment at least, she looks a little different.

“How the hell am I going to convince those damn old men at the Grand Temple later. Watching those bastards obsessed with money and women fighting over the length of priestesses’ skirts drives me crazy.”

Hmm. She’s back to normal right away.

“Anyway, so what do we do now? Go straight back to Viscount Otier?”

“No. If we go straight back, Viscount Otier will be in danger. Let’s split up here for now.”

“Will you be okay? Even alone?”

“Yeah. You’re the one in danger actually. The opponent is an assassin.”

The man probably started tracking by now.

As Mother taught me, I scattered traces in other directions to create confusion, but he’ll probably figure it out soon enough.

In that sense, I plan to leave new traces right after parting with Priscilla so he can follow me well.

“Assassin…”

Priscilla immediately understood at the mention of assassin.

It was understanding in multiple senses.

“Well, you’d survive even if assassins came. One way or another.”

“Aren’t you trusting me too much?”

“Then show me some clumsy behavior for once.”

I chuckled at those words.

With my nature being like this, that’s unlikely to happen.

“Then I’ll go to the Grand Temple. It’ll be safer than the path to the Academy at least.”

“Thanks. For helping me.”

“What for. Buy me drinks when it’s over. I’ll introduce you to an amazing place later. There’s a place they secretly take apprentice priests after their training ends.”

That’s a concerning statement for the Grand Temple’s future.

After parting with Priscilla like that, I began leaving traces after some time had passed.

Mother said this:

Just erasing traces unconditionally isn’t always the answer.

‘Do we need to leave traces too?’

‘Yes. For instance, when your father drinks secretly behind my back.’

‘What?’

‘He deliberately leaves traces elsewhere to confuse Mom. To drink even one more glass in the meantime.’

Even though the example was Father, Mother said it was quite an excellent attempt.

Though Father ultimately got caught and met the sad ending of having his alcohol confiscated.

Following such teachings, I was now leaving very ‘natural’ traces.

Natural traces that would make even fellow assassins uncertain.

“Got hooked.”

And Mother’s teachings proved correct.

After scattering traces at very wide intervals and entering an alley, one person following me was caught by my sensing ability.

If I didn’t possess sensing ability expanded by the ancient magic power concentrate, it would be absolutely difficult to detect such stealthy tracking.

Truly befitting an assassin.

I deliberately lured the man into a deserted alley.

So I could deal with him without anyone knowing if necessary.

By now, he must have realized my intention too.

But what to do.

Click.

It’s already too late.

“…”

I approached behind the man who was looking around and pressed Nighthorn against him.

“Caught twice now.”

At my voice, the man’s body trembled.

A very flustered trembling.

“…Damn.”

A low mutter.

I spoke to the man.

“I’ll give you a choice.”

Shing.

And I pressed Nighthorn even closer.

“Either die here.”

Gulp.

The man’s throat bobbed.

“Or tell me everything you know.”

“Don’t you know the assassin’s code.”

“Then you’ll have to die.”

“…”

“You know, right? What kind of item you guys stole.”

Viscount Otier’s desperate research spanning several years.

I couldn’t let that be ruined.

More importantly, that’s my ‘investment.’

Those who touch what’s mine are nothing more or less than targets of hostility to me.

“From now on, count to three in your head.”

And as I counted one, two in my head and finally put strength into my hand to slit his throat the moment I reached three.

“Codename ‘Black Point’.”

The man uttered strange words.

“What’s your relationship with my senior? Successor? Disciple?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You’re on the verge of death anyway, so please don’t pretend you don’t know. That needle is definitely my senior’s.”

The needle belongs to his senior?

That needle is an item I received from Mother.

A plain needle without any patterns.

“It’s definitely… my senior’s who taught me.”

I pondered his words for a moment.

And with a faint hope, I rummaged through my belongings while keeping Night Horn pressed against his neck—

“Do you recognize this?”

“…This is.”

I showed him the Assassin’s Token that Mother had given me.

And words I never expected flowed from the man’s mouth.

“Owner of the Symbol, I shall abide by the old promise.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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