The Former Assassin Becomes a Noble Lady

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The boundary restoration project was nearing its end.

I expected that if we worked today, we could finish it up. However, there was a reason today’s location was left as the very last.

So far, all the places where the boundary restoration was done had been within the city, where the guards were patrolling. No matter how poor the security was, at the very least, a certain line was maintained.

But today was different.

The city of Felches, where the Academy is located, is indeed a safe place. There probably aren’t many cities on the continent with as good security. If I had to think of one, it might be the capital of the Empire.

However, even in this Felches, exceptions exist.

Outside the city lies the slums. Although situated beyond the city walls, the boundary encompasses even the slums. Instead of recklessly eliminating the slums and forcing them to infiltrate the city, they were kept isolated outside.

For that reason, I decided to start a little earlier today. Even though Frecia is a nocturnal being, it’s better to work during the day when her condition isn’t fully charged, rather than at night.

After finishing all classes and having an earlier dinner than usual, I parted ways with my friends and headed to the lab.

Today, unlike before, I was wearing a real sword at my waist.

Upon waking Frecia, who was sleeping on the couch in the lab, she rubbed her eyes and got up.

As we passed through the city’s main gate and walked a bit, the slums came into view.

At the entrance to the slums, I saw an unexpected face.

“Hmm? You guys… no, what are you two doing here?”

It was the guard who had misinterpreted things a few days ago and almost captured me; he was standing at the entrance to the slums.

“You can consider this an extension of the boundary restoration work from a few days ago.”

“… You mean inside the slums?”

“Yeah. This time, I brought my student ID, just to be sure.”

“Well, I already know, so…”

As I was about to pull out my student ID from my bag, he stopped me, saying it wasn’t necessary, so I halted my showy action.

“Well then, off you go.”

“Urgh…. There’s no one here who would dare put you in danger, but… be careful.”

Leaving the guard behind, I took Frecia’s hand, who was a bit dazed, and led her into the slums.

Just a few steps in, an unpleasant smell assaulted my nose. The streets weren’t cleaned, and trash was littered everywhere.

From buildings on the brink of collapse, from the dark shadows of alleys, I could feel gaze looking this way. They were wary of the sudden appearance of outsiders.

However, just because the stares were unpleasant didn’t mean there was a reason to provoke them first. I avoided them like I would steer clear of dirt, not out of fear, but out of necessity.

Frecia, perhaps due to the foul stench or the dirty glares, also grimaced. She didn’t seem to want to linger here too long, as unlike when I was leading her in, she took my hand to lead us toward the outskirts.

The boundary repairs went smoothly without any issues.

However, it was clear that working during the day affected our efficiency; things were slower than usual.

“Two magic stones…”

Following Frecia’s instructions, I pulled out the magic stones and handed them to her while keeping an eye on the surroundings.

Occasionally, I caught glances of people eyeing the magic stones, but as I slightly drew my sword from its sheath, revealing the gleaming blade, no one dared to approach.

“There’s actually a hole here…?”

During the repair work, Frecia said in surprise. Although she was surprised, her voice barely reflected it, yet I could read her reaction given how well I knew her.

“It seems like the previous person just overlooked this spot…”

Accepting the backpack I was carrying as I had done while restoring the boundary at the pub street, I pulled out a handful of magic stones.

It was likely in worse condition than the previous area, and with Frecia not being in her best condition either, it seemed we would take quite a while.

“This… we might not finish while the sun is still up…”

Believing in me, Frecia immediately began the restoration work.

However, as soon as she started using magic for the repairs, the atmosphere around us changed dramatically.

The once unpleasant glares and ambiance began to be covered by sticky malice.

One by one, the men from the slums were slowly approaching.

I drew my sword, pointing it at them.

“I recommend you keep your distance unless you wish to die.”

Yet, the advancing men seemed oblivious to the sword aimed at them, approaching slowly without a hint of hesitation.

And finally, the first man entered my range.

Though I had threatened to kill, I couldn’t truly swing my sword at an ordinary person. Eventually, I sheathed my sword again and swung it like a club instead.

Thud!

The man struck in a vital area fell back and, perhaps knocked out, lay unmoving, but the other men showed no sign of concern and continued to come into range.

One, two, three, four…

With the first man knocked out, more and more bodies began to pile up, as if all the people from the slums were gathering around us.

However, despite the swell of people and the palpable malice…

There was not a curse or murmur to be heard.

They all silently came closer, devoid of any expression.

Like soulless dolls.

Before me lay a pile of unconscious bodies. Even though these were slum residents, their reckless charge was certainly suspicious, but that wasn’t something I needed to worry about right now.

I swung my sword at the seventeenth man who approached, who had come into my range.

“!”

And with no hesitation was I cutting people down, I hesitated for the first time upon seeing one individual.

It was a boy.

He looked to be around five years old, too young indeed. Looking at him reminded me of my own circumstances when I was first abducted.

A boy who had no choice but to become a part of the underworld, unwilling and unable to resist.

The boy before me mirrored the self I once was.

In that brief moment of hesitation, the farthest man, who had been standing still while everyone had moved toward me, suddenly lunged at me.

In the blink of an eye, the man who had been farthest from me was now lunging right at me.

Had I not been distracted by the boy, I could have at least put up a minimal defense. But that momentary hesitation ended with a critical wound dealt to me.

Slash!

I had turned my body as much as possible, but I had no choice but to expose my side.

Fortunately, I quickly retrieved my sword and dodged the follow-up attack while creating some distance from him.

Pain like flesh being torn apart. Yet the hand of the man who had assaulted me had, in reality, clawed my side, causing warm blood to run down my body.

“Cough… I had no choice but to come on orders from above, but this is a better haul than I expected.”

“You are… who?”

The opponent before me was no ordinary foe. At the very least, I wouldn’t be wounded unless he was among the top-tier demonic monsters. Yet I instinctively felt that the man before me was anything but ordinary.

Though I had never seen him before, the sticky malice clinging to my skin, the fear I felt even as I tried to suppress it, and the haughty gaze directed at me all hinted at his nature.

The man before me spread his arms wide and spoke in a relaxed tone.

“I am Balican of Arrogance. Consider it an honor to encounter me today.”

Demonic Race. He was a being far from a lowly demonic creature, even without a title or alias.

Even low-tier demonic creatures pose a threat, yet the being before me was at least of mid-tier or higher. Furthermore, I was already at a disadvantage for having lost the initiative.

“With such an inferior status, what confidence do you have in coming to Felches?”

Felches—specifically the Academy—houses the continent’s greatest talents. No matter how strong the Demonic Race might be, unless bringing an army, it could only be a suicide mission.

“Hoho… You’re right. Felches is indeed a troublesome place for us. However, I’m thankful to you for providing us with a new entrance.”

“Did a filthy dog come in through a hole?”

He was likely referring to the opening in the boundary where Frecia was working.

“Coincidentally, the newly formed entrance was in a rather advantageous location for us. I was hoping to infiltrate slowly, but… I’ve been found out.”

But despite his words, he wore a confident expression.

“Still, it doesn’t seem too bad to have a decently healthy girl and a wizard on hand, does it?”

The Frecia behind me seemed to be concentrating on the boundary repair magic and hadn’t noticed the situation here yet. If she joined in, we might have a chance, but it seemed like we needed more time.

“Hey! What’s going on over there? Get lost!”

As I pondered what to do, a familiar voice rang out from a distance.

It was the guard who had almost arrested me a few days prior and was now patrolling the entrance to the slums. It seemed he couldn’t ignore the ruckus inside and had come in.

“What? You’re still here? Hey, you there…. Urgh!?”

The guard, who had been pushing through the dazed men, stopped in shock at the sight of the unconscious bodies strewn across the ground.

“Well, well. We don’t need trash like that.”

“Run away!”

The Demonic Race turned to look at the guard. However, his hand acted quicker than the guard’s reaction to my command.

“Gah…?”

The hand of the demonic creature pierced through the guard’s armor, slicing into his abdomen. Balican casually brushed off his hand as if flicking away dirt and slowly walked back toward me.

“Well, there’s no need to talk further. Why don’t you come along quietly? If you follow me without resisting, I might grant you the chance to serve as a Succubus by the Demon King’s grace.”

Blood flowed steadily from my wounded side, causing my vision to blur.

As much as I wanted to stall for Frecia’s arrival, time was not on my side.

“You bark like a dog, how fitting…!”

I finished my sentence and charged at Balican.

Before losing consciousness, I had to make at least a minimal resistance. If I could just injure him, there might still be a chance for Frecia to turn the tide.

A white aura flared up on my sword. Perhaps because of the blood loss, my focus wavered, and the aura flickered uncertainly.

The unstable aura swept toward Balican, leaving a trail.

Clang!

However, Balican simply raised a hand and easily deflected my attack. Had I been in better condition, I might have broken a nail or two, but with my current state, it seemed impossible.

But there was no time for disappointment; swinging my sword for another go was the wisest choice.

Clang clang clang!

I kept swinging the sword relentlessly, refusing to stop despite facing constant blocks. Sometimes I would try kicking, head-butting, elbowing.

Yet the more I moved, the slower my attacks became, and Balican parried them with such ease it was almost a joke.

“Hmmm… I prefer a playful puppy over a wild cat…”

True to his name, Balican appeared to be enjoying his time as if toying with me. This sparked despair within me. But still, I didn’t fall into despair. It was clear that my death here was imminent. In fact, not dying and being taken away would likely lead to an even more horrific outcome.

So, even if it meant my life, I had to protect Frecia.

However, I had no strength left to hold on. Therefore, I summoned my last burst of energy.

The white aura flared brighter than ever before. They say that some achieve enlightenment just before death; could this situation be mine?

If I had this power earlier, things might have turned out differently, but I felt grateful that it was showing itself now.

Whoosh!

Though it was supposed to be a nimble sword, it sounded as if a massive club was being swung.

Balican seemed to sense something was off with my sword but was already a beat too late to dodge.

Swish!

A sword that couldn’t even scrape a nail now sliced through his wrist.

“Gaaah! You little…!”

With a shocked burst of anger, Balican swung his other hand to throw me aside. I felt my consciousness fading as my final strength ebbed away, and I could feel myself losing awareness.

However, I caught sight of Balican’s severed wrist and, by its side, Frecia’s relieved expression.