"Good morning, Arthur," Emily greeted me with a smile as I took my seat beside her.
"Good morning, everyone," I replied, nodding politely as I exchanged morning pleasantries.
"You seem in good spirits, brother," Emily observed, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "Did something nice happen?"
"No, nothing like that," I said with a smile. "Just had a pleasant dream, that's all."
Father's voice cut in. "So, Arthur, have you given thought to what we discussed yesterday? What do you plan to do after your awakening?"
"Yes, Father. I'll join the academy."
"Yes!" Emily exclaimed, clapping her hands. "You've made an excellent choice, little brother. Big sis will take good care of you!" She gave me a playful wink.
"Father, was there something else you had in mind?" I asked, catching his pensive expression.
"No, Arthur," he replied with a slight nod of approval. "This is precisely what I wanted for you. Your elder brother is well-suited to command the knights, and as the heir, your focus should be on building alliances. The academy is where you'll meet future leaders and allies."
"I'll do my best, Father," I said, committing myself to his words.
[Ding! New Mission: Make "Connections" with several noble ladies.]
[Reward: Depends on the number of "connections."]
'Well, I'd have done that with or without the reward, but I won't say no to a bonus,' I mused, glancing subtly around the table.
Our conversations drifted to lighter topics, and I took the opportunity to scan my father and brother with Observer's Gaze.
[Name: Lucious Ludwig]
[Age: 49]
[Race: Human]
[Class: Swordsman]
[Level: Peak Grandmaster]
[Skills:
One with the Sword (SSS): Sword seamlessly becomes an extension of the wielder, allowing instinctive, fluid combat movements.
Blade of Annihilation (SSS): A forbidden technique capable of cutting through almost anything.
Temporal Slash (SS): A strike that briefly distorts time for the target.
Phantom Step (S): Allows quick, nimble dashes in any direction.
Aura Burst (A): Temporarily boosts speed and power.
Unbreakable Will (C): Heightened resistance to pain and mental distractions.
Combat Awareness (B): Enhanced battlefield perception.] [Blessed by the God of War, Ares]
[Name: Adam Ludwig]
[Age: 25]
[Race: Human]
[Class: Swordsman]
[Level: Peak Advanced]
[Skills:
Omniguard (SSS): Briefly shields all allies from damage.
Aetherial Slash (SS): Breaks through both magical and physical defenses.
Sword Dance (S): Unleashes a flurry of rapid strikes on multiple enemies.
Blade Storm (SSS): Creates a protective ring of spinning blades.
Aura of Courage (B): Steadies allies' nerves, boosting their resolve.
Counterstrike (B): Reflects a portion of received damage back to an attacker.] [Blessed by the God of War, Ares]
'Impressive. No wonder the Ludwigs are the overlords of the north,' I thought. 'With skills like that and blessings from Ares, their strength is undeniable.'
Ares, God of War, was known for his love of battle, so it made sense that he would favor the men of the Ludwig family, who had long fought at the frontlines against demons. Ares' blessing enhanced combat effectiveness, boosting morale, applying buffs, and even clearing debuffs.
The men weren't the only ones gifted. The women of the Ludwig family had blessings from Athena, the Goddess of Strategic Warfare, creating a powerful combination of strength and intelligence. My aunt, Sophia Ludwig, was a prime example, serving as the chief strategist at the northern borders.
Athena's blessings included:
Tactical Insight: Mildly improves strategic thinking and situational awareness in combat.
Athena's Guidance: Enhances perception and foresight, allowing the user to anticipate enemy moves.
Strategist's Mind: Provides clarity for complex battle strategies, granting resistance to mind-altering effects.
Wisdom of Athena: Sharpened mental acuity for tactical victories, drastically improving sharpness and foresight.
With the Ludwigs defending the northern territories, demons would find it nearly impossible to advance—unless, of course, a demon king or something equally powerful emerged, or the family faced an unexpected crisis like the original plot's tragedy. But I'd ensure that wouldn't happen.
As breakfast wrapped up, everyone went their own way. I exited the dining room and met Lily waiting in the hallway.
"What would you like to do today, young master?" she asked with a gentle bow.
"Nothing specific," I replied, feigning casualness. "Let's just walk around the castle a bit."
"As you wish, young master." Lily nodded and began leading the way down the corridors.
My primary goal wasn't just sightseeing. I needed to familiarize myself with the palace's ins and outs, but I also had another objective: finding the assassin. I examined every person we passed—maids, servants, guards—activating Observer's Gaze with each encounter, all while memorizing the layout.
The palace was massive, housing countless rooms: expansive gardens, vast training grounds, an armory, barracks, stables, a library, mage training chambers, a combat training arena, the audience hall, and many more. I'd likely need a guide to avoid getting lost; it would be embarrassing for the heir to wander aimlessly in his own home.
While strolling with Lily, we approached a group of servants who immediately greeted me with deep bows.
"Good morning, young master," they said in unison.
I returned a nod but felt my attention fix on one of them. He was watching me as if he'd seen a ghost.
Activating Observer's Gaze, I focused on him, smirking as I confirmed my suspicion.
[Name: Rud (Fake)]
[Race: Demon]
[Subspecies: Nether Assassin]
[Traits: Demon from the underworld's dark realms, proficient in shadow manipulation and stealth.]
Abilities:
Soul Render: Direct attacks that damage the target's soul.
Dark Concealment: Uses dark energy to blend into surroundings, becoming nearly invisible.
Space Rift: Creates portals to ambush or escape.
[State: Confused]
'You must be wondering how I'm still alive,' I mused, suppressing a smirk.
[Ding! New Mission] [Eliminate the threat] [Reward: Unlocks a new feature]
'Hm, a new feature? You still have something to offer, Sol?' I asked inwardly.
[More than you could guess. But you'll have to fulfill certain conditions,] Sol replied with a haughty tone.
'Always a mystery with you. Can you at least tell me what conditions I need to meet?'
[Oh, don't worry—I'll let you know when you get there,] Sol responded coyly.
'Fine, your game, your rules,' I sighed.
Now, I just needed a plan. I couldn't risk attacking the demon in front of everyone, as it might reveal his abilities too soon. I'd have to find a way to lure the demon somewhere more isolated, away from prying eyes.
'This should be interesting,' I thought, plotting his next move.