Chapter 107: The Night of the Purge (6)

Time is relative.

That’s something I once overheard in a science class in high school.

Since I’m not exactly a fan of studying, I never really understood its exact meaning.

However, I don’t think you need to approach it from a scientific perspective to grasp the concept. I’ve experienced it firsthand. In fact, not just me—most men in South Korea have probably experienced it as well.

You know, there’s a saying that the clock at the Ministry of Defense moves slower.

The same amount of time can feel longer or shorter depending on the circumstances you find yourself in.

And I think right now is exactly one of those moments.

The time I have left is about eight seconds.

And that’s being generous—it’s probably less than eight seconds.

After all, I don’t have a built-in timer in my head.

‘I should assume it’s between seven and eight seconds.’

It’s a ridiculously short amount of time.

Under normal circumstances, it would be nothing more than the blink of an eye—barely enough time to yawn and stretch.

But in this critical moment, where life and death are at stake, with those two bastards I desperately want to kill right in front of me, and with the Blessing of the God of the Sword manifesting, eight seconds is more than enough to do a lot.

Even as I let my thoughts wander like this, not even a millisecond has passed.

I held my breath and cooled my mind.

To avoid wasting time, I need a clear and precise plan.

I replayed the scene in my mind where the professor cast his spell.

A line of magical energy connected the compressed air bomb to its caster.

Snapping his fingers seemed to be the trigger for detonation.

Of course, there’s no guarantee that he only uses that air bomb magic.

However, I’ve noticed something strange about these villains so far.

Unlike true demons like the siren, who used a variety of water-based spells, human villains seem to be limited to a single type of magic.

Maybe, even though they receive magical power from the Corps Commanders, their origins as humans limit the variety of spells they can use.

It could be a coincidence, but it’s been consistent with every villain I’ve faced.

I stared at the professor. If my hypothesis is correct, then he can only use the air bomb.

I’ve already shown him how to neutralize it before, which is why he’s now completely frozen like a statue.

‘…But that’s still a problem.’

If he slightly changes the timing of his spell, he could catch me off guard. On the other hand, if I fail to cut the red line in time, I’m finished.

It’s a complicated and dangerous spell.

Even for someone like Altair or Knox, who are experts in speed, the rapid activation and wide area of effect make it hard to evade.

Suddenly, I smirked wryly.

‘What a pointless concern.’

If I act before he has a chance to move unpredictably, I’ll cut him down.

If I crush him with overwhelming speed before he can react, he won’t be able to do a thing.

‘I need to move faster than usual.’

I adjusted my breathing, eliminated unnecessary movements, and took a long step to close the distance in an instant.

I immediately turned my thoughts into action.

Overthinking won’t change anything. If there’s no clearer solution, I just have to move.

As I advanced, I counted the seconds in my mind.

‘Eight seconds.’

Crack!

My feet lifted off the ground. Time, which had been frozen, finally began to flow again.

“……!”

The first thing I saw clearly was the professor’s pupils, trembling back and forth.

Just by applying a little more force to my legs, I closed the distance in an instant.

His fingers twitched slightly.

At the same time, I activated the [Blessing of Transition], followed by the [Blessing of the God of the Sword], and unleashed my enhanced perception through the ground, like a pulse spreading outward.

Immediately, everything around me darkened. There was something familiar about this scene. It was similar to what I experienced on the first day of enrollment when the blessing first manifested.

I sensed the air trembling unnaturally beside me.

That damn professor—even with his face full of fear, he’s attempting a surprise attack from a blind spot. He’s not an ordinary opponent, that’s for sure.

‘Seven seconds.’

I pushed forward with determination but had to slam on the brakes as I realized my momentum was tilting me forward.

Crack.

My muscles screamed in protest with a sharp pain.

Though a faint groan tried to escape my mouth, I clenched my teeth to hold it back.

Even the slightest mistake could mean death.

Tap.

The professor snapped his fingers.

A surge of magical energy spread, racing along the transparent line connecting to the air bomb.

‘Five seconds.’

I was out of arm’s reach. If I didn’t act, I was finished.

At that moment, my arm moved before my brain could process it.

Swoosh!

My right hand, gripping the cord, hurled Murasame like a projectile.
Even though the throw was pure reflex, the sword’s trajectory was flawless, without a hint of error.

The blade gleamed as it cut through the darkness, slicing cleanly through the red line connecting to the compressed air sphere.

Bang!

The transparent orb shattered into pieces just before it could explode, dispersing the threat in an instant.

The force of the rupture caused shifts in the air currents, making the surroundings tremble momentarily.

“Damn it! What the hell is going on?”

The professor cursed, his face visibly shaken by the surprise. His eyes, once full of confidence, were now clouded with confusion.

He looked like a final boss making his grand entrance, but his reaction was more like that of a low-level villain.

Desperate, he began snapping his fingers over and over. Multiple transparent spheres began appearing in the air, floating chaotically.

It was impossible to cut through all those scattered spells in the three seconds I had left.

However, I knew this wasn’t the time to get distracted. In moments like these, I had to keep my eyes fixed on my target.

I quickly shifted my gaze forward.

The professor, who had seemingly forced himself too much in his casting, had started bleeding from his eyes.

With an alarmed expression, he clumsily tried to wipe the blood from his eyelids.

That hesitation, that brief moment of vulnerability, I knew—it was the decisive point of this battle.

I clenched Murasame’s cord tightly and flicked my wrist.

Whirrrrr—

The sashimi knife, suspended in the air, moved like a whip, tracing an unpredictable path that slashed through and neutralized all the floating spells.

The blade’s vibration traveled through the cord and registered clearly at my fingertips. It moved freely and fluidly, almost as if the knife had a will of its own.

The edge gleamed as it sliced through the air.

Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang—!

Explosions echoed one after another. The air bombs filling the space detonated mercilessly, generating shockwaves and heat bursts that spread across the area.

Finally, the walls and columns, which had barely remained standing, collapsed entirely. The annex, once a symbol of wealth, was reduced to rubble.

“……!”

Altair and Knox, who had been watching the battle, showed a mix of emotions on their faces.

In less than three seconds, the entire place had turned into utter chaos, leaving them unable to process what had just happened.

Luckily, neither of them had attempted to intervene. Though they trusted their own skills, any hasty movement could have disrupted my rhythm.

After all, a true spectacle must be performed alone.

“…H-how is this possible?”

The professor’s voice trembled. To him, what was happening completely defied logic.

Ignoring the pain searing through my calves, I forced my injured muscles to stay firm. I launched forward.

The impact of my steps produced an even more deafening sound than before, while my body seemed to float slightly in the air before propelling forward.

The air whistled in my ears, torn apart by my speed.

Swoosh.

I slipped behind the professor.

Even though he tried to turn quickly to face me, from my perspective, his movements seemed unbearably slow.

It was as if I were living in a completely different world. I couldn’t help but smirk.

‘A different world.’

Those words resonated deeply within me.

Even though the meaning was different, I felt like the idea perfectly encapsulated my current situation—I had grown stronger, strong enough to face this chaos with ease.

As I raised my knife, recent memories flashed through my mind.

In front of me was someone who had conspired to harm me, someone who had even put my companions—the people who trusted me—in danger.

I felt my mouth go dry, and the blood vessels in my eyes began to tighten.

The professor had only turned his head halfway. Every single one of his movements was unbearably slow.

On his face, there was nothing left but pure terror.

I took a deep breath, filling my lungs, while twisting my waist clockwise like a discus thrower.

My sides tensed to the limit, and with a counterclockwise turn, I unleashed all the stored-up force.

Swoosh.

The knife, charged with rotational force, made a crisp sound as it met flesh.

Slash.

The blade sliced through his cheek with astonishing precision and emerged on the other side.

From my peripheral vision, I saw his eyes widen completely in shock. It was clear that his brain had yet to process what had just happened.

I looked straight at him and murmured,

“One second.”

Thud.

Damian fell, his eyes still open, not even closing in death.

***

“…Hah.”

After a long silence, Altair let out a hollow sigh.

He tried to find the right words to react, but all he managed was a faint murmur.

Unknowingly, a cold sweat ran down his back, soaking his clothes.

The old man turned his head to glance to the side.

Knox’s face was surprisingly calm. Though there were still traces of surprise, his expression remained far more composed than Altair’s, who couldn’t hide his bewilderment.

“…Knox, you’re calmer than I expected.”

“No, that’s not true, Head of the Family.”

Knox replied with an awkward smile, scratching his cheek. Then, he let out a small sigh and directed his gaze back to the front, where Kang Geom-Ma stood.

Without taking his eyes off him, Knox spoke as if talking to himself.

“If you were surprised, Head of the Family, how could I not be? It’s just that… I’ve gotten somewhat used to it.”

“…What do you mean by ‘used to it’?”

Knox paused, slowly observing the traces of battle.

The cuts in the walls, the bloodstains lingering in the air.

Memories he would rather forget began resurfacing, and a faint bitter laugh escaped his lips before he continued.

“I’m sure you’ve heard, but at the start of the semester, I had the chance to face his sword directly. Even now, thinking about it fills me with shame. Out of sheer arrogance, I was the one who provoked that fight. I underestimated him, called him a mere nobody, and challenged him.”

“……”

“Back then, I was considered a genius in our family. But I wasn’t even able to leave a scratch on him. After that duel, you have no idea how many days I spent grinding my teeth in frustration.”

Altair, knowing how reserved Knox was, even with members of his own family, was surprised to hear such honest words. However, he remained silent, allowing his grandson to continue speaking.

“Over time, I started to understand. I understood why Chloe is always attached to that guy. Of course… I still want to separate them as soon as possible. But Chloe… you know how stubborn she can be. She has an unusual personality, though I have to admit, that’s part of her charm.”

At the word “charm,” Altair nodded slightly. From time to time, an image of his granddaughter, Chloe, wielding a knife with cold eyes, would come to mind.

She was an exceptionally promising assassin. After all, Chloe had grabbed a dagger on her very first birthday.

Altair was about to lose himself in those memories, but he quickly regained his composure.

He was still in the middle of a serious conversation with his grandson, on a battlefield where the chaos had yet to fully subside.

He turned back to Knox, his expression filled with understanding and a soft smile. That kind reaction made Knox scratch the back of his head in embarrassment.

“…Chloe once said something. She said that Kang Geom-Ma, that guy, is stronger than the entire Auditore family combined. At first, I thought it was nonsense, but now I have no choice but to admit it. Kang Geom-Ma is, without a doubt, the strongest and most exceptional person I’ve ever met.”

For a brief moment, Knox’s pupils gleamed, dispelling the darkness and dejection that once clouded them.

“And using that strength correctly… I think that’s what made Chloe feel inspired by him.”

“Knox.”

Altair pondered his next words, but Knox met his gaze directly and continued.

“There’s something you’ve told me many times, Head of the Family. That we should cherish the legacy of our family, but follow our convictions if they are firm.”

“……”

“I have decided to become Kang Geom-Ma’s shadow.”

Altair looked at Knox intently. On his grandson’s face, there was no trace of hesitation—only determination. After a moment, the old man asked him seriously.

“You won’t regret it?”

“No, sir.”

Knox responded without a hint of doubt. Altair, after a pause, let out a soft laugh as he stroked his beard.

There isn’t a grandfather in the world who wouldn’t feel proud of his grandson’s growth.

The moment was interrupted when a faint groan, almost a weak scream, echoed from the front. Both turned their heads toward the source of the sound.

With his head hanging low and his shoulders visibly trembling, Cladi remained on the ground.

“……”

A silence stretched between them for a brief moment.

Shing— Shing—!

Both unsheathed their weapons in unison.

The art of assassination, along with the art of torture, were trades passed down through generations in the Auditore family.