I Became the Half-Crippled Young Master of the Ducal Family Chapter 78

I headed to the first floor together with Cecil.

‘Just how many survived, I wonder….’

The assassins were not particularly high in level. But that was only from Cecil’s and my perspective.

From the standpoint of the Harlan Mercenaries, they would have felt them to be on par with themselves, or perhaps slightly inferior. However, that only applied if both sides fought in normal condition. If they were ambushed while heavily drunk, even a martial artist who had reached a high realm could fall to a blind blade.

I knew all that, and yet…

I placed my hopes on them.

‘Because they were the ones I chose.’

Even after drinking that much, perhaps they had kept their wits about them just in case.

It was a futile hope.

Step. Step.

As I descended to the first floor, the intense stench of blood pierced my nose.

“Young Master…,”

The corridor was filled with corpses. Fortunately, most of them were masked men. The members of the Harlan Mercenaries were nowhere to be seen. Still, it was too early to be certain.

Cecil and I began opening the rooms where the members had been staying one by one.

The first room.

Crash-!

“Ugh… my head… damn it, what the hell is all this….”

I saw a staggering figure.

It was Tobero, one of the members of the Harlan Mercenaries.

Perhaps because of the alcohol, he could barely steady even the hand holding his sword. However, the three corpses strewn around him spoke for his skill.

“Young Master… I’m sorry. I drank…”

“Report the result first.”

Tobero lowered his head deeply.

“…I killed five. Two of them were in the corridor. Strangely… the moment they appeared, the alcohol cleared right up.”

‘Five, in a drunken state. And ambushed at that.’

Not a bad result.

“Are you injured?”

“My shoulder was cut… but it’s not a serious wound.”

Only then did I notice the wound on Tobero’s shoulder. It was not deep, but a fairly long gash stood out clearly.

The second room.

This time, it was completely silent.

When I opened the door, the musty smell of blood stabbed at my nose. I saw eight corpses. Two of them were our members.

Ark and Delin. Both were highly skilled, but once alcohol entered their systems, they lost all sense of their surroundings.

Yet they had fulfilled their roles until the very end. Their cold hands still gripped their swords, and the corpses fallen around them were proof of that.

‘You fought well.’

I collected their swords. I would have to see that they were buried properly later.

The third room.

“Haa… haa… damn it all.”

Along with ragged breathing, curses spilled out.

“Young Master!”

It was Royden. His usual composed appearance was nowhere to be seen, sweat streaming down through his disheveled hair. Six corpses lay scattered around him.

“How are you holding up?”

“The alcohol… still lingers a bit, but I can fight!”

Contrary to his words, Royden’s breathing was rough. Under normal circumstances, this level of battle would not have left him winded.

‘Indeed… they are the ones I chose.’

A smile spread across my lips.

“The remaining members?”

Royden tilted his head as he answered.

“The last I saw… Helen and Darius. I think they were near the dining hall. And the Captain… ah, right! The Captain went out to the backyard. He said he sensed something strange.”

I nodded. I had yet to confirm whether the others were alive or dead.

“Cecil, let’s check the dining hall.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

Just as we were about to move, Royden staggered to his feet.

“I’ll… come as well.”

His face was still pale, and his breathing uneven. It seemed the alcohol had not completely worn off.

“Royden, stay here and rest. In your current state, you would be a hindrance rather than a help.”

“But, Young Master….”

“It’s an order.”

At my firm voice, Royden reluctantly lowered his head.

“…Understood. Please be careful.”

I lightly patted his shoulder and headed toward the dining hall with Cecil. As we passed through the corridor, traces of battle were visible everywhere. Broken furniture, bloodstained floors, and corpses strewn about. Most were assassins, but here and there, I saw the bodies of our own members as well.

As we reached the door to the dining hall, the sounds of fierce combat echoed from within. The clash of blades, groans filled with pain, and someone’s shout.

“Are you ready?”

When Cecil nodded, I kicked the door open.

“Kwaaak!”

With a scream that seemed to tear the ears apart, an assassin flew toward us and collapsed. A deep wound had been carved into his chest.

The dining hall was utter chaos. Tables and chairs were shattered, and the floor was slick with blood. And at the center of it, Helen and Darius were fighting against more than ten assassins.

“Helen! Darius!”

At my shout, they briefly turned their heads. Relief and extreme exhaustion were etched across their faces.

“Young Master, be careful! These bastards are using poison!”

At Helen’s warning, I immediately tensed.

Poison… the situation had grown even more dangerous.

We joined the fight at once. Cecil moved swiftly, targeting the assassins from behind, while I confronted them head-on.

“Urgh!”

Darius’s fist smashed into an assassin’s face. His massive build was like a human weapon. Even in his drunken state, his strength remained formidable.

Helen’s swordsmanship was unpredictable. Her movements were like a dance, yet at the end of each motion, an enemy’s blood always splattered. Perhaps due to the alcohol, her actions were bolder and more unpredictable than usual.

‘Were they this strong?’

I knew that Helen and Darius were among the strongest within the Harlan Mercenaries, but they were displaying martial prowess beyond my expectations.

But their breathing was gradually growing rough. It seemed they had already been fighting for quite some time. The corpses piled around them were proof of that.

“Helen, watch your back!”

At my shout, Helen ducked. An assassin’s blade sliced through the air above her. I swiftly approached that assassin and swung my sword.

“Kraack!”

The assassin fell. But that was only the beginning. We fought back-to-back, forming a circle. Helen’s bold swordsmanship, Darius’s overwhelming strength, Cecil’s nimble movements, and the tactical maneuvers I directed combined to cut down the assassins one by one.

“Ugh!”

Suddenly, Helen staggered. A small wound had appeared on her arm. The poison was spreading.

“Helen!”

I immediately pulled her back.

“I’m fine… Young Master. This much is nothing…”

She forced a smile, but pain lingered in her eyes. I immediately pulled her back.

“I’m fine… Young Master. This much is nothing…”

Helen forced a smile, but pain lingered in her eyes. The situation was worsening. The members were growing exhausted, and there was no sign of the enemy’s numbers decreasing. If this continued, everyone would be in danger.

I took a deep breath and slowly raised my sword. At that moment, I felt the surrounding air change.

“Everyone, fall back.”

At my words, the members wore puzzled expressions, but soon grasped my intent and quickly retreated.

I tightened my grip on the sword. As I closed my eyes and focused, the qi within my body began to gather into the blade.

“Aaaagh!”

The moment I opened my eyes, I moved like a storm. A blue light flared along the trajectory my sword carved, and that light rushed toward the enemies as if it were a living creature.

“Kraack!”

“Ugh!”

With screams, the assassins fell one after another. My movements grew faster, and the waves of mana produced by my blade intensified further.

In an instant, ten—then twenty—enemies collapsed. Fear filled the eyes of the remaining assassins.

“Th-this is insane…! Didn’t they say his body had only just recovered? What the hell is that!?”

“He’s a complete monster. Damn it!”

“…We’d be better off running now.”

But I gave them no chance to flee. My sword mercilessly cut down even the backs of those who tried to escape.

In less than a minute, it was over. The dining hall was filled with fallen enemies, and the stench of blood hung thick in the air.

“Phew.”

I slowly lowered my sword and looked around. The members were staring at me as if they could not believe what they had just seen.

Helen gaped in admiration.

“Y-Young Master….”

Cecil spoke.

“You have worked hard, Young Master.”

I gave a slight nod.

“You as well, Cecil.”

Darius cleared his throat and said,

“As expected of the Young Master. This is why we follow you.”

At his words, Helen nodded as well. Respect and awe radiated from their eyes.

But there was no time to relax. Camille was likely still in danger.

“Now, we must go help Camille. To the backyard.”

We hurried toward the backyard. As we stepped outside, the cold night air brushed against my face. Moonlight faintly illuminated the yard, but the corners remained shrouded in darkness. And from within that darkness, the sounds of fierce battle echoed.

“She’s over there!”

“Captain!”

Where Helen pointed, a woman was fighting against dozens of assassins.

It was Camille.

Her figure was unbelievably intense. Despite her exhausted movements, her sword moved as if alive, cutting down her enemies.

“Haa!”

With Camille’s shout, a red light burst forth from her sword. Three assassins struck by that light fell simultaneously.

“As expected of the Captain….”

Helen breathed in admiration. I, too, was impressed by Camille’s skill.

But she, too, was reaching her limit. Her breathing grew increasingly ragged, and her movements gradually dulled.

“Let’s go. We need to help Camille.”

Just as we were about to move, a man emerged from the darkness. His attire was different from the other assassins. The ornate accessories and fine fabric of his clothes spoke of his status.

“As expected of the Captain of the Harlan Mercenaries. To endure this long against such numbers.”

When he raised his hand, the surrounding darkness writhed. In an instant, dozens more assassins appeared.

“But your luck ends here.”

Camille’s expression hardened.

She, too, knew how dangerous this situation was.

Cecil spoke.

“Young Master, I will go first.”

Her voice was extremely calm.

I nodded.

“I leave it to you.”

Her gaze changed in an instant. Her usual gentle demeanor vanished, and a sharply honed killing intent radiated from her.