Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Take a Deep Breath, Plane Crashes Are a Common Occurrence

It all happened in a flash.

The assassin was confident. In the instant he launched his attack, few could react and respond in time.

The group had just passed through an open field and entered an area surrounded by a sparse pine forest. The trap he had set caused a guard to lose their footing and fall from their horse, which was certain to throw the procession into a moment of chaos and halt their progress.

He had appeared from a direction that was in the blind spot of Evans, the strongest and most threatening member of the group.

He knew that "Stone Sword" Evans was powerful, a true Knight, so he had deliberately chosen to attack from the left side, opposite Evans—the very position occupied by Jon, who was behind and to the left of Rosalind.

This way, even if Evans reacted and tried to intercept him, he would first have to get around Rosalind or execute a wide, sweeping block.

In the time that would take, Evans’s window to react would be further shortened, giving the assassin enough time to complete the kill and escape.

An assassin with a well-laid plan attacking an unsuspecting target—that was what made them so deadly.

The assassin’s black robes billowed in the wind, almost merging with the shadows of the pine forest. But his blood-red gloves and the dagger in his hand were like the merciless crimson eyes of a beast of prey, filled with cold, murderous intent.

What he didn’t know, however, was that this seemingly weak flank was just as difficult to breach!

’They’re here, just as I expected!’

The moment he saw the black-robed, red-handed shadow, Jon, who was riding behind and to the left of Rosalind, cursed inwardly and unhesitatingly activated Frightening Roar!

The Skill activated instantly, like an instinct carved into his very bones.

"Enemy attack—!!!"

An unbelievably massive sound wave spread out like a tangible shockwave, instantly making everyone’s ears ring. Even the horses were startled, letting out panicked neighs.

And as it happened, in the short time between Jon’s gathering cry and the wave of sound spreading out, the assassin had already leaped down from the air. He was less than two meters from Jon and took the full, unmitigated effect of [Fear].

Facing the full power of this Fine Level Skill head-on, he felt a heavy blow to his head, as if he’d been struck by an invisible sledgehammer.

An indescribable fear welled up from nowhere and swept through his entire body like a cold current, causing his blood to run cold and his muscles to stiffen. His pouncing motion suffered a fatal delay.

That momentary pause was more than enough.

After letting out the roar, Jon had already turned his body slightly, raising the arm wearing the Arm Shield and aiming at the midair assassin.

He had known all along that this mission to go out and retrieve Reya wouldn’t be so easy.

How could a grand Rare Level chain quest possibly be without a combat segment?

When he and Reya returned to Birch Town, he had relied on his familiarity with the surrounding area to travel cautiously, avoiding all eyes and ears. He never revealed their location, so naturally, they weren’t attacked.

But the enemy wasn’t just going to sit back and do nothing. Since they hadn’t gotten Reya and couldn’t find any trace of her, it was only natural they would stir up more trouble to disrupt the Noble United Commerce Association and strike at Viscount Yed.

Assassinating the most conspicuous target, Rosalind, the head of the Noble United Commerce Association’s Birch Town branch, became the most likely scenario.

Therefore, from the moment they left the Golden Maple Leaf Trading House, Jon had remained on high alert, ready to react to the slightest disturbance.

It seemed his caution had paid off after all.

And now, hadn’t he run right into it?

Magic Mastery, activate!

Arm Crossbow, fire!

THUD—!

With that dull impact, a faint blue afterimage, nearly invisible to the naked eye, shot out from under Jon’s Arm Shield. Like a shooting star, it instantly buried itself in the assassin’s body!

At this range and at this moment, the assassin, still struggling in the aftershocks of the fear, had no chance to dodge!

The Flying Nail easily tore through his light armor and pierced his body, sending a spray of blood into the air.

[-172 (Penetration) -20 (Magic Bonus Damage)]!

Boosted by 17 points of projectile Power, the Fine Steel Flying Nail fired from the Arm Crossbow actually shot straight through the assassin!

And yet, Jon narrowed his eyes, still somewhat unsatisfied.

’Tsk... I should have used a flowering head.’

Against this kind of high-agility, low-defense enemy, a projectile that could cause greater internal damage would have been enough to end the fight with a single hit.

Unfortunately, the time between meeting Rosalind and setting out again had been too short. It wasn’t enough for him to use his Engineering to craft some superweapon; he had only managed to adjust the Arm Crossbow’s firing mechanism.

Still, the continuous bleeding effect from the penetration damage was just as fatal.

Only then did the surrounding guards snap out of their stupor from the deafening roar.

They too let out angry shouts, though they were tinged with fear at the enemy’s speed.

"Assassin!"

"Protect Lady Bennett!"

Evans, on Rosalind’s other side, was also filled with shock and rage.

But he didn’t immediately attack the assassin, because he knew his primary duty was protection.

He unhesitatingly reached out and pulled at Rosalind from a distance!

An invisible force instantly yanked the director, who was just an Ordinary person, behind him, using his horse’s body as a shield.

And at that very moment, the midair assassin finally came crashing down.

However, his attack had completely lost its form.

The double blow of agonizing pain from the Flying Nail piercing his body and the [Fear] effect made him completely lose his balance and his target.

He tumbled sideways and slammed heavily onto the horse Rosalind had been riding. The massive impact worsened his injuries, and a mouthful of blood instantly spewed out from beneath the cloak that hid his face.

"H-How is this possible!?"

The assassin did his best to turn his head, fighting through the excruciating pain, wanting to see the face of that damned guy who was disguised as an ordinary guard.

His assassination tactics were flawless, his analysis of the environment and grasp of the timing impeccable!

The assassination was supposed to be a sure thing, so why had it turned out like this!?

However, what met his gaze was a sharp sword that radiated an aura of death and shimmered with a faint blue light!

Jon hadn’t paused for a second after firing the Flying Nail. He had immediately stood up on his stirrups, drawn his sword, and lunged!

Stance Switching: Dexterity!

Swift Strike!

As a veteran tank who had spent years fighting high-agility enemies in a low-agility state, he knew better than anyone that you couldn’t give these fleeting opponents a single moment to breathe. You had to press the attack relentlessly, suppressing them with a continuous offensive until they were dead!

And as it happened, his newly acquired Stance Switching Skill was perfect for helping him transition smoothly between actions.

A roar, a shot, and a thrust—it was a single, coherent, and deadly sequence of moves, flowing like water without the slightest pause!

So, by the time the assassin landed on the horse’s back, Jon’s sword was already there!

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