Weapon Master of the Count’s Family

Chapter 2: The Young Count and the Beggar (2)

The eldest son of the count’s family had died.

‘This was unexpected.’

At the time, I thought he was being overly cautious, judging by how he kept his guard up.

But could assassins have really tracked us down this far?

‘Then again, there was no one tailing us that night.’

To determine the exact cause of death, I crouched down to examine the bodies.

Upon closer inspection, the skin on both corpses, including their faces, was mangled as if scorched by burns.

If not for the clothes they were wearing, it would’ve been impossible to tell who they were.

‘There’s foam around their mouths, on both of them. That means…’

There was only one way a death like this could occur,

and the cause was right nearby.

Two lava vipers, sliced in half.

It was known that a bite from these snakes caused excruciating, burning pain throughout the body, leading to death shortly after.

Both corpses had bite marks on their ankles, so there was no doubt they’d been bitten by these snakes.

‘Then who did this?’

Lava vipers lived near volcanoes.

There was no way they’d inhabit a city, let alone a beggar’s slum with no prey.

At least the presence of these snakes here meant someone had deliberately brought them.

Moreover, the place where Evan and the butler now lay was a spot in the slum reserved for the bosses.

‘They’d need to know the inner workings of this place…

Did they know this guy was pretending to be a beggar and bribe someone in advance?’

Could the assassins who took the job be that thorough?

The moment that question crossed my mind, I heard footsteps.

―Splash, splash!

I hid in the darkness.

Whoever was coming would be a clue.

“Ha! This damn bastard! Acting all high and mighty, and look at him now!”

It was none other than the former boss of this area, the kingpin.

Trailing behind him were his lackeys.

“See? What did I say. All we needed was to buy some vipers from the black market.”

“That bastard! That damned bastard! Thinking about all the money we spent just to kill this one guy… Argh!”

“It’s fine! Now we can extort ten times as much from those brats.”

“Heh, that’s right. This guy’s dead now, so… Ptoo!”

The kingpin seemed to revel in stepping on the cold corpse.

“But who’s this old geezer next to him? Why’s he dead too?”

“Dunno. Maybe he was trying to protect him.”

“Kekeke!”

“But doesn’t this sword look expensive? We could make some good money selling it, right, boss?”

They kept spewing profanities while trampling the bodies.

Watching silently, I made up my mind and stood.

I wasn’t kind enough to let these bastards, who genuinely tried to kill me, walk away.

‘Gotta make sure these scum never set foot here again.

I let them off once because we’re all beggars, but…’

I tore my shirt and covered my face.

Then, I lunged forward, kicked the guy holding Evan’s sword, and snatched it.

In one swift motion, I slashed his throat.

―Shwick!

As the guy’s head rolled, the kingpin and the others froze in shock.

“Argh!!”

“Ugh! Murder!”

Were they stunned by how I killed without hesitation?

They didn’t even try to fight back, just turned to flee.

But I, enraged that they’d tried to kill me, had no intention of letting them go.

―Tadad!

I precisely slashed the ankles of the fleeing group as they scrambled in panic.

―Splash! Splash!

The alley, untouched by sunlight, was still wet from rain.

One by one, the kingpin’s crew writhed in the muck, clutching their severed ankles.

“Graaaah!!!”

Their screams were almost primal.

Even at dawn, such cries might draw a curious onlooker or two, but this was the slum.

A lawless zone even the guards avoided.

“Stop screaming. You’ll wake the kids.”

“…That voice? Mikhail? H-How…?”

He recognized my voice, but it was too late.

My sword was already at the kingpin’s throat.

―Shwick!

Seeing their boss’ head fall, the others crawled desperately with both hands, trying to escape.

But it only prolonged their lives by a few seconds.

One by one, they met their end at my blade.

“Hoo…”

After dealing with the group that had antagonized me, I felt more uneasy than relieved.

It wasn’t just the damp weather.

‘These bastards ruined everything.

The count’s eldest son is dead, and I won’t get the rest of the money.

I’ll be lucky if I don’t get blamed…’

The only silver lining was that there was no one left in the count’s family to hold me accountable.

The count and his wife had died of illness, and there were no other heirs below the eldest son.

‘Wait. Let’s think about this differently…

Doesn’t that mean no one would know if I lived as the real thing instead of a stand-in?’

The fact that Mikhail and Evan had switched roles was known only to the dead.

Even the servants who closely observed the young count rarely suspected me.

Only a few sharp-eyed maids had asked why I looked so thin.

But now, even those servants were gone.

‘The water’s already spilled, and I can’t scoop it back up.

So, I’ll just have to start anew.’

No one in this city would care if a beggar died.

As of this moment, Mikhail’s existence had effectively vanished from the world.

So, from now on, I’d live as the eldest son of the count’s family…

‘Wait, there’s one person who might suspect me.’

I recalled the boy I’d worked so hard to save at dawn.

***

Currently, the only survivors in the count’s family were me and a young boy.

I didn’t know what role the boy played in the household.

But it bothered me that he seemed to be around the same age as the young count.

‘If they were close, he might realize I’m a fake.’

With a worried expression, I headed toward the young count’s room.

But there was no need.

“Sniff… Sob…”

The boy had left his bed and was crying in front of the bodies in the mansion.

“Hey, you’re awake.”

As I approached, the boy, his eyes swollen from crying, asked,

“Who the hell are you? Where’s the real young count?”

My heart sank at his words.

For now, I played dumb.

“What are you talking about?”

“Don’t try to fool me, I know everything.

I’ve been by the young count’s side as his attendant since I was eight.

Others might not notice, but I do.”

“…”

“I also know you saved me.

I don’t want to make a fuss.

I just want to know where the young count went.”

Despite saying they were close, the boy didn’t seem to know what the young count was up to.

After all, hadn’t the young count been wandering around with the butler?

“Let’s start with names. I’m Mikhail.”

“I’m Jack Reed. I’m an attendant here.”

“Alright. I don’t know how to say this, but…

The young count you’re looking for is dead.”

“What?”

“Here’s what happened…”

After hearing the full story, Jack looked shocked.

But oddly, he didn’t seem particularly sad.

“As expected, that guy didn’t care about the lives of people like us.

He planned to use everyone as bait.”

Despite following him for so long, Jack seemed to lack any real loyalty.

That wasn’t a bad sign for me right now.

“One of the assassins said this was orchestrated by Glen Pillard.

He was the guest who came yesterday, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Do you know why that guy would pull off something this dangerous?”

“Well, it’s a long story…”

Jack explained the complicated inner workings of the Lafard Family.

Two weeks ago, after the count and his wife passed away, Evan Lafard inherited immense wealth.

This caught the attention of collateral branches of the family, who shared the same roots as the Lafards.

“As a result, with the young count dead, they’ve achieved their goal.”

“What are you talking about? He’s still alive.”

“Huh?”

“Officially, the young count hasn’t been declared dead, has he?”

I pointed to myself.

“Since I look identical to the young count and no one can tell the difference, I’ll just take his place.”

“Why go that far? Even after what happened last night?”

“Yeah. I like this life.”

Even with the threat of assassination, it was better than a beggar’s life.

That life wasn’t free of threats either.

“So, I have one request.”

I extended my hand.

“Help me live as the young count.

I’ll pay you well.”

“…Forget the payment. I have one request.”

Jack’s eyes burned with determination.

“You’re the one who killed those assassins last night, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Then use that strength to punish the ones who killed my friends and colleagues!

They were innocent, pitiful people.”

I nodded at Jack’s words.

“Of course.”

“Alright. Then I’ll help you live as Evan Lafard, young master.”

Jack stood and headed for the stairs.

“Follow me. You need to know what’s going on.”

“Right.”

Jack led me to the study of the head of the household.

“It was here somewhere…”

He rummaged through the room, as if hoping to find something.

“Found it!”

“What?”

“The count’s will.

And this… it’s the young count’s diary.

It’ll be useful.”

Reading the count’s will and Evan’s diary helped me organize my thoughts.

At least I now knew who my enemies and allies were.

“Jack, this revenge might be easier than I thought.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

I picked up a quill and began writing letters.

One was for the Pillard Family members still in the city,

and the other was for another person mentioned in the will.

***

As Evan had predicted, news of the massacre at the count’s estate spread across the territory before noon.

The townspeople gathered at the mansion, weeping mournfully.

Some were families of the deceased servants.

“I’m sorry.

I’ll ensure their funerals are held grandly, and I’ll provide funds for their livelihoods.”

“Sob… Thank you, young count…”

Perhaps because the count had a good reputation, the townspeople voluntarily helped collect the bodies and clean the mansion.

“Thank you so much.”

“No, it’s only right to help after such a tragedy.”

By sunset, the mansion was tidied up,

and as night fell, guests arrived.

The Pillard Family, a collateral branch of the Lafards.

Among them was Glen Pillard, the head of the family and the one who orchestrated the assassination.

“Evan! What’s happened here!”

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

They all acted concerned for Evan,

but at least Glen, leading the group, must have been disappointed.

Perhaps all of them were.

“I’m sorry for inviting guests and having nothing proper to offer.

Let’s have some tea.”

I led the four Pillard Family members, including the head, to the parlor and personally poured tea from a kettle.

It was a subtle way of showing I was the only survivor in the mansion.

It was also a precaution to keep Jack hidden, and the Pillards didn’t seem to suspect anything.

“No need to worry about that.”

“As long as you’re safe, that’s what matters.

But who dared to do this?

Have the culprits been caught?”

“No. The assassins’ lips were sealed, so we couldn’t get a confession.”

At the claim of ignorance, the Pillards exchanged subtle glances.

“So, I’m going to find out.

Right now.”

I tossed something in front of them.

It was a severed lava viper.

“I mixed a bit of snake venom in the tea you just drank.

Without an antidote, you’ll all die in three minutes.”

At my words, those drinking tea spat it out and gagged.

But having already consumed most of it, it was futile.

“What is this!

Isn’t this joke going too far!”

“Fortunately, there’s an antidote.

Here.”

I pulled out a small vial and shook it.

“Tell the truth, and I’ll give you the antidote.

I don’t want to be a murderer.

So, who ordered this assassination?”

“Nonsense!

Hand over the antidote now!”

Glen Pillard stood abruptly, drawing his sword.

I opened the vial’s lid and shook it.

“If you don’t talk or try to take it by force, I’ll spill the antidote on the floor.

Do you think you can move faster than my hand?”

“Evan!”

“Time’s running out.”

“Ugh…”

The fear of death.

Knowing how terrifying lava vipers were, dread crept into them.

And that fear soon loosened their tongues.

“Fine, I ordered it.”

“As expected.”

I had already known.

Still, I’d maneuvered Glen to admit it himself.

“That’s what he says.”

I spoke toward the door, as if someone was outside.

Then, a gust of wind swept through the room.

―Whoosh.

Silence followed.

The heads of the Pillard Family members fell simultaneously.

―Thud, thud.

“Eek!!!”

Only two remained—I and Glen.

The parlor door was sliced in half, revealing someone.

“I’ll bill you for the door later.”

Of the two letters I sent, this person had arrived faster than the Pillards.

It was Heriel Theron, a duke and close friend of the Lafard Count.

“How dare you touch my friend’s son.”

His other moniker was the Sword of the Kingdom,

a man who had reached the realm of a Sword Master.