Chapter 46

Carson addressed his mercenaries sternly.

“Let me say it again: if we fail to capture that fallen duke, our mercenary group’s honor will be shredded to pieces. Even now, my heart rages because the Marquis has trampled on my pride.”

Carson ground his teeth, placing a rough hand over his left chest.

It was bad enough that he had been humiliated by Alec; being insulted by Marcel had only fueled his fighting spirit further.

“We must capture him at all costs, even if it means risking our lives. If necessary, kill him. Approach this as if you’re ready to die!”

“Can we really do it, Captain? He moved like a ghost, even though it was said he had never hunted before.”

Carson shot a sharp look in the direction of the voice.

“Anyone who thinks it’s impossible can leave this mission. Better yet, get out of my mercenary group.”

Carson gestured to a man who appeared to be his lieutenant. The surrounding mercenaries began to drag the terrified man away.

“Captain! Captain!”

It seemed unlikely that he would be let off unscathed.

At that moment, someone burst into the room.

“Captain! We found him!”

“What?”

“The house where he’s staying.”

“Really? Was he in the north after all?”

“Yes.”

“Are you certain?”

“We saw his face from a distance!”

“Got it. We’ll launch a surprise attack tonight after sunset.”

Overhearing this conversation, Alec continued his meal.

For Carson to stake the survival of his mercenary group on capturing just one person showed remarkable determination.

Such dedication deserved a response.

After finishing his breakfast, Alec returned to his room to prepare for the arrival of the mercenary group.

A few days ago, he had dealt with only ten men, but facing dozens would be challenging with his current level.

Since he needed to defeat them himself to gain experience points, using Gideon wasn’t an option.

Ultimately, he needed to strengthen himself further.

Alec opened the system’s physical training quest and completed a basic strength workout.

His HP increased slightly as a result.

Still not sufficient, Alec advanced his mana to the second circle.

It took several times longer and consumed much more energy than creating the first circle.

Attempting to grow another circle anytime soon would risk severe backlash.

Though his stamina was depleted from activating mana to the second circle, he recovered fully without too much delay.

* * *

Late at night.

Alec confirmed that his family was asleep before stepping outside.

The mercenaries planned to infiltrate his house and kidnap him and Louise while they slept.

However, they wouldn’t even cross the threshold of this mansion.

Alec sent Gideon into the air to scout the area.

Three groups were stealthily approaching from the east, west, and south, excluding the north.

Each group seemed to consist of about twenty men.

Around sixty men in total.

While it wasn’t the entire mercenary group, deploying so many for one mission was rare.

Carson, the leader, was among the group approaching from the south.

‘I’ll deal with the south last,’ Alec decided.

He turned towards the mercenaries to the east.

At that moment, a familiar notification sound chimed.

Today’s alert was particularly welcome.

[Dramatic Quest Triggered!]

[~Defeat the Grave Mercenaries and gain experience(2)!~]

[Earn 5 experience points for depleting each enemy’s health.]

[Quest Reward]

[Experience (?), Reputation (?)]

‘So quests do trigger during attacks.’

Alec quickly scanned his status window.

Without Louise present, the quest rewards had changed from affection and trust to reputation.

With sixty mercenaries, defeating all of them would yield 300 experience points.

While it seemed like a small amount, it was enough to level up four times. Although he still needed more affection points…

Alec checked the newly unlocked skills after reaching level 2.

One attack-related magic skill caught his eye.

[A New Skill Has Been Unlocked!]

[Beginner Husband’s Tickle: Lightning Strike]

[Generate a strong current capable of quickly incapacitating recognized enemies. Can be used gently like static electricity. The user must control the intensity and path.]

[Consumes mana.]

The bizarre skill name made him squint.

‘It’s just an electric skill… but why call it Beginner Husband’s Tickle?’

Having to recite the skill name, even internally, felt awkward.

Nevertheless, he couldn’t afford to hesitate any longer.

Alec activated his enhanced speed skill, moving swiftly.

“Skill. Speed.”

Dust rose in his wake like a sudden gust.

With the second circle, his mana felt heavier, and the increased mana pool allowed for prolonged use of magical skills.

The mercenaries were spread out, maintaining intervals as they moved.

He quickly identified their positions and slipped through the gaps in an instant.

“Skill: Beginner Husband’s Tickle.”

Whoosh, patter-patter-pat.

The flash of light, controlled by him, struck the enemies’ sides as it passed by.

The mercenaries were attacked without understanding what was happening.

“……!”

They were merely puzzled, having seen a flash of light as the last thing before them.

It was a swift, dazzling, and silent attack, like lightning passing without a sound.

The HP bars of twenty people simultaneously dropped to zero. The unconscious mercenaries fell in unison.

They would wake up only after recovering their strength.

And with the sharp pain they hadn’t noticed when they fell.

Ding.

[Experience increased by 5!]

[Experience increased by 5!]

[Experience increased by 5!]

[Total experience increased by 95!]

The notification sound announcing the experience increase rang nearly twenty times in quick succession.

‘But why isn’t it 100? Were there nineteen instead of twenty?’

Alec was puzzled but didn’t dwell on it.

He saw that his mana had decreased slightly in exchange for securing 95 experience points.

However, he had enough mana left to incapacitate the remaining mercenaries in the same way.

Alec briefly checked the house through Gideon.

Fortunately, it was still quiet as if his family was sound asleep.

“Skill: Speed.”

Now he headed west.

However, in a place beyond his sight, one of the mercenaries, who had been trying to join the group belatedly, trembled and hastily turned around.

* * *

“Captain! Captain!”

One of the mercenaries, panting heavily, looked for Carson.

“Ah, you’re still safe! You need to flee from here immediately!”

“What? Is this guy sleep-talking? What nonsense is he spouting suddenly?”

“Huff, huff.”

The mercenary, who had barely managed to utter those crucial words, paused to catch his breath, almost collapsing from exhaustion.

He had run so desperately that it felt like his throat was about to burst.

But Carson and the others looked at him as if he were crazy.

“Hurry, hurry….”

The mercenary didn’t know how to explain the scene he had witnessed.

In the blink of an eye, about twenty mercenaries had been struck down by a lightning-like flash of light.

It felt like a bolt from the blue, and from within that light, a tall, well-built, and beautiful man had emerged.

The light that had instantly struck down the people was flashing ominously behind the man.

Will this man die soon too?

Such a thought crossed his mind, but the moment he saw the man’s eyes, the mercenary realized.

That lightning-like light was this man’s power.

Somehow, his appearance itself was unreal.

What could he be?

Could he possibly be Zeus, the legendary god of lightning?

“Something strange is happening! You need to get away immediately!”

TL NOTE: More advanced chapter of this story is already up to the site. Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories