The Regressed Blood Knight’s Strategy

[Translator – Helga]

[Proofreader – Lucky]

Chapter 52

Meanwhile.

The front gate of Rehinar Estate was shrouded in a blood-red mist.

Camilla’s eyes widened to their limit.

Her mouth hung open in astonishment.

“…I knew the Young Master was strong… I saw him kill and capture the mutated monsters in the Forest of Deadly Poisons myself. But I didn’t realize he was this powerful….”

She muttered to herself in a daze.

Kane’s magic was beyond imagination.

The power to burn over 500 monsters into a sea of blood instantly.

She couldn’t help but wonder where his limits lay.

The Guardian Knights wore the same astonished expression as her.

“Is that even possible?”

“I don’t know, man!”

They, too, could kill all the mutated monsters.

The lowest rank Guardian Knights were Beginner-Tier 4th class.

Their average was Beginner-Tier 5th Class..

What surprised Fabi, however, was that he killed so many mutated monsters at once.

And he did it using magic, not swordsmanship or spearmanship.

“But that magic looks familiar….”

“Hurry up and remember.”

“Hold on a second.”

Fabi activated his brain to its fullest.

He strained to pull out the memory lying dormant in his mind.

“Ah!”

“Did you remember?”

“It resembles the Skill ‘Hellfire’ used by the King of Hatzfeld.”

The other knights vehemently denied it.

“What!?”

“No way. That technique couldn’t possibly be Hellfire… could it?”

Hellfire was the seventh form of the Fire Dragon Spearmanship.

The annihilation technique of the King of Hatzfeld.

A wide-area attack that turned the surroundings into a land of flames.

It got its name because it burned until all life was annihilated.

“When the flames engulfed the Dark Tribe Goblins! It looked just like Hellfire.”

“…No way.”

“It bothers you too because it looks similar, doesn’t it?”

“Well, that’s true.”

“Who said the Young Master used Hellfire? It just looks similar, but I’m sure that it’s a completely different technique.” A senior Knight said with conviction.

All the Guardian Knights nodded in agreement.

“Even the mages in the Dragon Tower of the Imperial City can’t use such powerful wide-area magic.”

“So, in addition to swordsmanship and spearmanship, he has mastered magic as well.”

“Exactly.”

Their eyes, which had been wide with shock, now sparkled with admiration.

“Now it’s clear.”

“What is?”

“That he’s been hiding the fact that he’s a prodigy all this time.”

“Haha, I’ve thought that for a while now.”

Fabi wore a satisfied smile.

“Why are you the one looking proud, Vice Commander?”

Smack!

Fabi smacked the back of his subordinate’s head.

“Ow! Why did you hit me?”

“Because I felt like it, you idiot.”

Fabi’s expression darkened as he looked at Kane.

‘If Duke Carl hears that the residents were killed, it won’t just end with a scolding…’

There were thousands of residents gathered in front of the manor’s gate.

He hadn’t bothered to save them.

And what was the result?

The mutated monsters had brutally killed them.

The most important thing was that all of this was Kane’s intention.

“Make sure the others keep their mouths shut.”

“As long as you don’t blab, Vice Commander.”

“Damn it! This isn’t the time for jokes.”

“Got it! I’ll tell everyone to keep quiet.”

Fabi couldn’t take his eyes off Kane.

Throwing humans to the monsters wasn’t something just anyone could do.

Puddles of blood had formed, yet Kane hadn’t even blinked.

‘Should I call him cruel, or ruthless?’

He didn’t know how Kane had lured the mutated monsters.

‘But still, it feels like a weight has been lifted.’

Using those monsters to deal with the traitors was a very clever move.

“And spread the word in the territory. Tell everyone that the Young Master has dealt with all the mutated monsters.”

“Is it alright to reveal the Young Master’s identity, even though he’s been hiding it until now?” A knight asked confused.

Fabi ignored him and said, “Also, say that there were significant casualties.”

“……?”

The subordinate tilted his head, not understanding.

Fabi elaborated.

“If we say there were significant casualties, we can hide the Young Master’s true power and prevent rumors that he didn’t protect the residents. Even if they were traitors, it’s not good for rumors to spread that the Young Master didn’t protect his people.”

The subordinates, now understanding Fabi’s thought, said,

“So, you’re saying we should spread the word that while the Young Master took care of the mutated monsters, there were still many casualties?”

“Now that you understand, get moving.”

“Yes, sir!”

Fabi’s gaze deepened as he watched Kane, who was catching his breath.

He didn’t know exactly what kind of power Kane was hiding.

But he was certain of one thing.

‘His boldness rivals that of His Grace.’

Who would have thought of using mutated monsters?

Only a madman or a genius could come up with such a plan.

‘He’s truly terrifying.’

* * *

“Huuu.”

Kane exhaled deeply, trying to steady his breath.

[Blood Flames].

The third move of Blood Dance.

A barrier-type wide-area attack that utilized blood.

Even though he had reached Beginner-Tier 4th Class, It required an immense amount of mana to kill this many Dark Tribe Goblins at once.

If he hadn’t reached the level of Blood Bond, he would have had to stop using the skill midway.

“Compared to Ray Hatzfeld, I’m still weak.”

He had rid himself of his mediocrity and gained the unparalleled UR trait called “Pure-Blooded”.

Moreover, his class had advanced to a Blood Knight, achieving S-rank, but he still paled in comparison to Ray Hatzfeld.

Ray was an SR-rank character from the start.

He possessed the [Fiery Phoenix Physique].

Compared to him, Kane felt his current body was garbage.

“I need to complete the Blood Knight quest and quickly obtain the ‘Five Elements Blood Extreme Physique’ ….”

The ‘Five Elements Blood Extreme Physique’ was a special trait unique to Blood Knights.

It allowed the user to hAreness any elemental rune using blood.

Of course, the quest would only be given if the starting conditions were met.

When he was Ray Hatzfeld, he died without completing this quest.

If he had obtained the [Five Elements Blood Extreme Physique] , he might not have died.

As he breathed and replenished his mana, numerous messages appeared.

[You have defeated the mutated monster ‘Dark Tribe Goblin’.]

[You have gained experience points.]

[You have defeated the mutated monster ‘Dark Tribe Goblin’.]

[You have gained experience points.]

[You have defeated the mutated monster ‘Dark Tribe Goblin’.]

[You have gained experience points.]

[Your level has increased.]

……

……

……

[Your level has increased.]

[You have defeated the mutated monster ‘Dark Tribe Goblin Chieftain’.]

[You have gained experience points.]

Despite killing over 500 mutated monsters, his level had only increased by five.

He was still amid his first evolution.

[TL/N: Could be either Evolution or Mutation. Might change it depending on context.]

Expecting to become much stronger than this was pure greed.

Many more waves of mutated monsters would come in the future.

There would be plenty of opportunities to grow stronger.

[You have completed the quest ‘The Uprising of the Mutated Monsters!’.]

[You have received 10 billion gold as a reward.]

[A new character has been unlocked.]

[You can now draw new characters from the shop.]

[Characters of 4-star and above can be registered in the system after being drawn.]

‘So, in other words, I need to meet them in person to unlock them? Things are going to get busy.’

[A new chapter has been opened.]

“Finally, we’re moving on.”

Kane was watching someone approaching from the inner area.

—

Sweat was trickling down Aren’s forehead.

‘Why is that guy in the Guardian Lord’s room!’

The one who commanded the Guardian Knights was Cedric Harca.

While the territory was being trampled by mutated monsters!

He hadn’t taken action.

It was a miscalculation.

‘I didn’t expect to be discovered so easily….’

He was a Beginner-Tier 5th Class Assassin.

There was a massive level difference between him and Cedric.

But he was confident he could escape if caught.

He prided himself on leaving no traces during his covert operations.

‘I need to get out of here now. If I stay any longer….’

As Aren’s steps slowed,

Cedric’s voice came through.

“Stay still. You’d better follow me.”

It was a very short sentence.

But Aren was terrified to the core.

Only one emotion filled his mind.

‘I’m going to… die!’

He looked around for an escape route.

But there was nowhere to run in the wide-open garden.

Even if there were….

He wouldn’t escape from Cedric Harca, known as the Blue Flash.

‘I was too complacent. The Blue Flash is much more of a monster than I thought.’

In fact, he had underestimated Duke Carl and the Blue Flash Cedric.

He had dismissed them as old relics from the previous generation.

He believed a new era dominated by emerging powers had begun.

He thought their time was over….

‘How has the McCarthy family managed to endure against such a monster all this time?’

After meeting Cedric in person, his perspective had completely changed.

Previous generation?

Past their prime?

All nonsense.

The Blue Flash was much stronger than he had imagined.

It felt like facing the King of Hatzfeld.

‘…How can I get out of here safely?’

While Aren was racking his brain, the Guardian Knights arrived.

Cedric called out to Fabi in a low voice.

“Fabi Scheider.”

Sensing the tense atmosphere, Fabi responded in a disciplined manner.

“Yes, Commander!”

“How did this rat manage to infiltrate the estate?” Cedric demanded.

He made no move, yet Aren’s body was suddenly lifted into the air and dropped in front of Fabi.

“A Hatzfeld Dark Sentinel?”

“Answer me.”

Cedric’s presence was commanding, his face filled with anger.

This rare display of emotion from him caused Fabi and the Guardian Knights to tense up.

“It… it’s my fault, Commander.”

“Is that all you have to say?”

Bang!

Cedric’s spear struck the ground.

A simple action, but it caused all the Guardian Knights to cough up blood and collapse.

Fabi was no exception.

“Ugh, I… I have no excuse.”

“Do you think you deserve to call yourselves His Grace’s personal guard?”

Cedric was furious at the mere idea that their master had been put at risk.

“Ugh.”

“Argh…!”

The 200 Guardian Knights gritted their teeth and endured.

Eventually, some could no longer withstand the pressure and fell.

“You all are just relaxing after returning from the battlefield, what a pathetic bunch of idiots.”

The Guardian Knights were supposed to be unyielding.

They were the last line of defense for Rehinar, yet they couldn’t detect this mere presence.

Cedric was enraged.

While the Guardian Knights were being scolded, Aren’s heart pounded.

‘Damn it… What’s happening?’

The fault lay with him, yet it seemed the Guardian Knights were being blamed instead.

He thought about using this chance to escape, but his body wouldn’t move. He was more terrified.

‘Why are they fighting among themselves!’

At that moment, his eyes caught sight of someone.

The Young Master of Rehinar.

Kane Rehinar came into view.

‘That’s it! If I take him hostage, I can escape!’

The greatest strength of an assassin was quick judgment.

Aren dashed toward Kane, aiming to take him hostage.

But it was the quickest path to hell.

Though he judged the situation swiftly,

he completely ignored Cedric’s temperament in his decision.

“Who the fuck do you think you’re targeting!”

Cedric’s form flashed, appearing above Aren in an instant.

True to his moniker, the Blue Flash moved with incredible speed.

Just as Cedric’s spear was about to pierce Aren’s head,

“Do not kill him,”

Kane’s voice halted Cedric’s spear.

Bang-!

Kane’s fist filled with mana hit Aren’s spine.

[Translator – Helga]

[Proofreader – Lucky]