The Count’s Youngest Son is a Player

Chapter 242

‘How fortuitous. Am I really this lucky?’

Raul pondered as he walked through the dim underground passage.

The passage that Kane and his subordinates had secured led to the Warhorse Palace, located on the eastern side of the royal palace complex.

This was the residence of the 6th Prince Gerard, who was a friend and academy colleague of Raul. And as luck would have it, the surviving royal family members were currently imprisoned in the Warhorse Palace.

With the execution of the 5th Prince Edrad and the 4th Queen, only four princes remained alive.

3rd Prince Herdian.

4th Prince Jonas.

6th Prince Gerard.

8th Prince Aenbad.

Considering that the 8th Prince was only fourteen and not yet an adult, the most significant threats to Herdian were Jonas and Gerard.

Leaving the two brothers, potential future threats, alive might have been a sign of confidence from the victor or a strategy to prevent intervention from the likes of the Templeton Dukedom.

In any case, the three princes were currently held together under strict surveillance in the Warhorse Palace.

“We’re here.”

Kane stopped and announced.

Next to a dead-end sewer passage, an iron ladder, seemingly newly installed, led up to the ceiling.

“Everyone, attention.”

The group turned their eyes to Raul. Raul made eye contact with each of them.

First Knight Order Captain and overall commander of the First Domain, Philip.

Vice-Captains, Jake and Pierce.

Head of intelligence and guard captain, Kane.

First Combat Unit Commander and head of the First Academy, Dalton.

Five knights who had ascended to the level of Master stood by Raul.

“Let’s confirm our mission objectives one last time. The top priority is the rescue of the 4th Prince Jonas. The 6th Prince Gerard is the second priority. The 8th Prince Aenbad will be abandoned if the situation does not favor his rescue.”

“Understood, Master.”

The 4th Prince was given top priority due to the Count Randal household. Count Randal had already declared support for the 4th Prince but couldn’t act while he remained a hostage to the 3rd Prince Herdian.

‘That cannot be allowed.’

There was the potential for a worst-case scenario where the McNeil Marquisate and the Count Randal household allied. The key to preventing this alliance was the 4th Prince.

To stop the 3rd Prince’s unchecked ascent to the throne, a rival was necessary. In that respect, the 6th Prince Gerard was a kind of insurance policy.

‘Depending on the situation, he could become a new alternative.’

For now, it was imperative to prevent the 3rd Prince from ascending the throne.

“Let’s move in! From now on, all communication will be through the guild channel.”

「Yes, Master.」

Thus, with Raul leading, the six superhumans infiltrated the royal palace.

***

“Yaaaawn.”

A man sprang up from a makeshift bed, letting out a long yawn.

“You’ve arrived?”

Stretching briefly, he reached out and grasped something heavy.

Chink.

It was a pair of large battle axes connected by chains. The axe blades, reflecting the moonlight streaming through the window, glowed a dangerous blue.

The man, appearing to be in his mid-forties, was named Delo. The leader of the McNeil Marquisate’s “Hatchet Knights” and one of the three new Masters to emerge from the House.

Stomp, stomp.

Opening the door of his room, he stepped into the hallway where about twenty fully armed knights were already waiting for him.

“Intruders.”

He said no more. As he began to walk, the knights followed, their destination clear—the room where the 4th Prince Jonas was held captive.

‘I suspected they would come eventually, but to think it would be on my watch. Tsk.’

The security of Warhorse Palace was maintained by the three new Masters on a rotating basis.

Having the Marquis himself standing guard made no sense, and Royal Knight Captain Hamond was on 24-hour duty protecting the 3rd Prince Herdian, so it was inevitable.

For intruders to infiltrate the palace undetected, they must be quite skilled.

‘…Or perhaps they have inside help. Either way, it doesn’t matter.’

Judging by the few presences detected by his senses, it was likely a small team or experts in stealth.

Halt.

Delo suddenly stopped in his tracks.

“Show yourself.”

Raising his axe, he intoned.

“You’ve got good instincts. Well, a Master should at least be that perceptive.”

A voice emerged from the shadows, and a man stepped out from behind a pillar. Standing around 2 meters tall. Even in nightclothes, the outline of his muscular frame was evident.

His sharp eyes peered from behind a mask. He was Philip, the commander of the First Knight Order.

Thud, thud!

Two knights in armor emblazoned with axe symbols charged at Philip.

Swoosh.

With a swift motion, the yellow gleam of a sword traced an arc through the air.

Thud, thud.

The two knights split in half, falling to the ground without a word. Delo’s eyebrows twitched as he watched.

Thud, thud.

As more knights prepared to charge the intruder, Delo raised his arm to halt them.

“Where are you from? Templeton? Randal? Ashton?”

Philip didn’t answer, only raising the corner of his mouth in a slight smirk.

“Well, it doesn’t matter, does it?”

Delo slung one axe over his shoulder and spoke.

“You’ll die by my hand anyway.”

Vroom!

An aura blade, dark navy and exuding a cold chill, formed along Delo’s axe blade and shot towards Philip.

Bang, boom!

Blocking the weighty axe was a seemingly ordinary longsword. Although the yellow aura blade protruded from the end of the longsword, Delo was not particularly surprised.

No one in their right mind would face a Master alone unless they were confident in their abilities.

‘It’s confirmed that the Dukes of Templeton, Count Randal, and Count Ashton are in their territories… Is this the emergence of a hidden Master?’

He’d heard rumors that there might be hidden Masters within other families but didn’t expect to encounter one so soon.

Clang! Clang! Boom!

The two battle axes and the single longsword clashed, filling the hallway with thunderous noise and shards of aura energy, creating utter chaos.

In less than a minute, after exchanging over a hundred blows, the two Masters distanced themselves, pointing their weapons at each other.

“…Who are you?”

Delo couldn’t help but ask, though he knew the opponent wouldn’t answer. Because the swordsmanship the opponent was using—

It was the advanced common swordsmanship of the Empire. Philip was the most knowledgeable about sword techniques after Raul within the First Viscounty.

It was common practice for him to use borrowed swordsmanship to hide his true identity, but his proficiency was exceptional.

‘Why is a Master using Imperial swordsmanship here now? The Empire… no, it doesn’t matter.’

Who the enemy was didn’t matter. The issue was something else.

Squeeze.

Delo gripped his axe handle tighter and charged forward.

Whirr! Boom!

It seemed like this time he was going all out, as his axe now held a much larger and denser aura blade, and his movements were noticeably more agile.

But nothing changed.

The opponent continued to parry his axe using only the advanced common swordsmanship of the Empire, without even a break in his breathing.

‘… I can’t believe this. Is he really taking his time with me? Me, Delo?’

-Not all Masters are the same.

-Even if they can use an aura blade, their skill depends entirely on how they wield and utilize it.

These words from Clifford de McNeil, head of the McNeil Marquisate, flitted through his mind. And the truth of this statement had been proven in his recent duel with Master Metaor.

Despite having the advantage of a 4-to-1 ratio, they didn’t all fight him together. Instead, they took turns facing him one by one, resulting in a landslide victory.

Although they were all novices in Mastery, the Masters of the McNeil Marquisate toyed with him. This was thanks to the aura management techniques imparted by Marquis Clifford and the aura duels they were accustomed to through training.

But what was this opponent before him?

‘The strength I feel from him isn’t any different from mine. Yet, why?’

It was unthinkable for him to be blocking his nearly flawless axe techniques with mere common Imperial swordsmanship. It was intolerable. For his pride and for the honor of the McNeil Marquisate.

“You scoundrel!”

Whirr, rumble!

He flung one of his battle axes towards Philip. The chain connecting the handle of the battle axe glowed with a dark blue aura, resembling a massive blue marlin darting with its dorsal fin raised.

Bang! Boom!

***

「Wow, seems like the captain had a lot of pent-up frustration.」

「He hasn’t been able to join any battles recently because he’s been busy overseeing the territory.」

Jake and Dalton shook their heads as they communicated. One of the reasons Raul sent Philip to engage the enemy Master was due to this.

Of course, the main reason was Raul’s trust in Philip’s abilities.

‘He is the strongest among us, except for my father and me.’

Philip had demonstrated the most outstanding skills among the newly ascended superhumans of the Ashton and First Viscount territories.

This was likely due to his S-Grade potential combined with his long experience assisting Raul and becoming familiar with the ‘Connect system’.

In just three months after surpassing the Master barrier, he had reached level 115, surpassing the threshold of a beginner Master.

For reference, the level stages of a Master were as follows:

Beginner Master: 100~114 Lv.

Intermediate Master: 115~129 Lv.

Advanced Master: 130~139 Lv.

Top-tier Master: 140~149 Lv.

Raul was currently at level 126.

He had been steadily progressing toward Advanced Master.

‘The wall combat and the subsequent appearance of high-level Gates were a great help.’

Although not officially recognized yet, Raul used his knowledge from his previous life to locate several B-rank and A-rank Gates.

By exploiting the characteristics of these high-level Gates, which allowed free entry and exit, he had been hunting high-level monsters, slowly but surely leveling up.

「Found it! Over there.」

Rabel shouted from the skills compendium, adjusting his glasses.

「Let’s hurry.」

Raul sprinted forward, gliding like an arrow, followed by his team. They arrived at a room resembling a storage area on the sixth floor.

「This place has a barrier set up. They tried hard, but it’s nothing once you leave it to me.」

Rumble.

A small vibration shook the area, mana flaring up and sparking from various points. Then, like a mirage disappearing, the room’s appearance changed instantaneously.

Bang, bang, bang!

“Here, here!”

A small storage room had a prison cell installed with iron bars. Inside were the gaunt figures of the three princes, each confined separately.

“Such a morbid taste….”

It was clear this was meant as a warning to the younger princes. On the table in the center of the storage room were the decomposing heads of the executed 5th Prince and Marquis Edmer, along with the broken head of Queen Ariella.

Swish. Clang.

Raul’s sword sliced through the iron bars.

“Have you come to rescue us? Who sent you?”

4th Prince Jonas asked with a suspicious look. It seemed he had grown wary after experiencing all sorts of ordeals.

But there was no time for a leisurely conversation. And Raul had no intention of revealing their identities just yet.

“You must escape immediately. We will explain everything later. Please forgive any rudeness in the meantime.”

Kane spoke on behalf of the group, and it was the 6th Prince Gerard who moved first.

“Brother, now is not the time to hesitate or question. Even if it’s a trap, I choose to leave this place. Staying here will not change our fate.”

Reluctantly, Jonas nodded and headed out.

The 8th Prince Aenbad looked too weak to move on his own. It seemed he hadn’t been eating properly, as vomit stained his clothes and the cell.

“Pardon me.”

Jake lifted the 8th Prince onto his back, and the group hurriedly started running downstairs.

「Sir Philip, we have successfully completed the mission. Join us at the escape route.」

「Yes, Master!」

Boom.

A loud noise erupted as Warhorse Palace shook.

“Argh! You wretch!”

Ignoring the distant roars of anger, the group quickly reached the underground escape route.

「Proceed! I’ll cover the rear.」

Raul confirmed Philip’s approaching presence and entered the underground passage with the group.

‘Strange. This seems too easy…’

The thought briefly crossed Raul’s mind, but he quickened his footsteps nonetheless.

(To be continued)