Chapter 21. The First Ambush (2)
As the assassin charged at Ban with murderous intent, Ban met him head-on while Reina and Ridipin scattered to the sides.
Ban pulled out a mana stone from his robe and threw it in front of the assassin.
“Number one!”
It was the code phrase they had agreed upon in advance.
The assassin ignored him and redirected his path toward Reina.
But at that moment, the mana stone shattered, releasing a blinding flash of light.
What Ban had thrown was a single-use mana stone engraved with a flash spell. As two intermediate-grade mana stones broke simultaneously, an intense light struck the assassin’s eyes.
“Argh!”
Though his aura armor prevented major damage, the debuff was successful. Utilizing that debuff effectively was the key to their ambush strategy.
Abandoning his pursuit of Reina due to the burning pain in his eyes, the assassin turned his attention to Ban, who was the closest target.
Though the assassin’s strikes were sharp and precise—as if he could see—the attacks still failed to land on Ban.
‘He dodged my attack from that close distance?!’
Blocking was one thing, but dodging at such a close range could only mean one thing—he already knew what kind of attack was coming.
But Ban, who had fought this assassin hundreds of times, could already predict his next move from just his footwork.
Meanwhile, Reina, who had shielded her eyes in sync with the flash, opened them and charged at the assassin.
[Serenia Style – Flame Slash]
Switching places with Ban, she struck at the precise opening with a flurry of sword slashes, but the assassin managed to block most of them by bracing his sword.
‘He reacted to that?’
Undeterred, Reina continued her assault, but even with his eyes closed, the assassin parried every strike.
At that moment, Ban threw three mana stones at the assassin and shouted:
“Number two!”
The mana stones that hit the assassin exploded with a loud bang.
BOOM!
The assassin hastily gathered his aura to endure the explosion, but because of that, he couldn’t respond to Reina’s attack.
‘Now’s my chance!’
A perfect opening.
Reina lunged in deeper with her sword, but just then, the assassin’s vision returned.
Without hesitation, he caught her sword with his aura-coated left hand and thrust his right hand toward her neck.
Normally, Ridipin would have intercepted at this moment—but she was still paralyzed by trauma, gripping her bow but unable to fire.
So Ban had to take her place.
He used [Ignite] and charged in, striking the assassin’s arm.
Vwooom!
The aura-coated sword narrowly missed, only trimming a strand of Reina’s hair. But that strike created a new opening. Reina smiled and aimed her blade.
[Serenia Style – Flame Burst]
Like a fired bullet, her sword shot toward the assassin’s solar plexus.
Bang!
A powerful impact exploded behind the assassin, but his body didn’t flinch—let alone get pierced.
As the assassin went on the counterattack, Ban pulled Reina away and threw another mana stone.
“Number four!”
But the assassin advanced without concern.
‘Another explosion, huh.’
The assassin assumed that if it was thrown at the ground, it was a flash; if thrown directly, it was an explosion.
He was wrong.
Just as he charged through the mana stone—flash!—a bright light hit his eyes again.
“Ugh!”
Knowing the assassin was highly sensitive, Ban unleashed [Tracing Fire] rapidly.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Blinded and stunned by the explosion, the assassin curled up and took the brunt of Ban’s attacks.
But Ban’s Tracing Fire wasn’t strong enough to do real damage.
While Reina caught her breath, Ban thought quickly.
They still had other tactics prepared, but if he used them now, they wouldn’t survive the third phase. He had to make Ridipin shoot.
But Ridipin still hadn’t fired a single arrow.
Her hand holding the bow was trembling, unable to aim, and her grip on the bowstring was too tight.
“Ridipin! Don’t hesitate—shoot!”
“I—I can’t…”
She wasn’t going to improve on her own. Ban made a decision and shouted:
“Hold the bow with your thumb and index finger! Place the arrow between your index and middle fingers!”
“Huh…?”
“The bowstring’s sturdy—pull like you’re going to break it! What matters is balance!”
“How do you know all that…?”
“When aiming, raise the arrow to your chin and keep it level!”
To outsiders, it might have looked like Ban was giving a random archery lesson, but he and Ridipin knew the memories those words carried.
‘Please…!’
She was already responding to his voice. That day still lived in her memory. But that alone…
It wasn’t enough to overcome her trauma.
Just as Ban was about to say something else, the assassin opened his eyes.
“If you wanted to stop me, you should’ve brought at least 4th-circle magic.”
Coating his blade in aura, the assassin sliced through Ban’s magic trail from [Tracing Fire] and charged in.
“Reina! Number seven!”
Reina moved to the side, and Ban threw another mana stone. The assassin slashed it in half—
BZZZ!
—another flash-engraved stone, and Ban and Reina closed their eyes in time.
But as Ban opened his eyes again—he saw the assassin opening his at the same time.
“So the number wasn’t the trick. It was the follow-up command.”
The assassin passed by Ban and dashed toward Reina, who was only beginning to open her eyes and couldn’t react.
Ban had to stop the strike—but it was too late to intercept the trajectory.
Only one option remained.
Using [Ignite] and [Blessing of the Wind – Low Rank], Ban accelerated and stood before Reina just in time—taking the assassin’s sword into his own body.
Shlkk!
“Gah…!”
Even the assassin hadn’t expected that—his pupils widened.
Ban felt overwhelming pain and could’ve fainted then and there, but barely held on.
‘Who knew getting slashed in Trihi Hall would help…’
Hearing the dreadful sound, Reina opened her eyes—but it was too late.
Still, Ban grinned through the pain, clutching the assassin’s blade, and sent a glance to Reina.
‘Hit him hard.’
Reina read his gaze and prepared her strongest technique.
[Serenia Style…]
But before she could attack, the assassin dropped his sword and punched her in the stomach.
“Ugh!”
Then, he grabbed her neck and slowly lifted her.
Ban was impaled, Reina was in his grasp—a desperate crisis.
Ridipin, who could do nothing but watch, gritted her teeth so hard they bled as she pulled the bowstring.
But cruelly, her trauma returned—blinding her again with that day’s memory.
* * *
Before the Lightjus family ever produced a knight commander…
Though they weren’t a great noble family then, they were a prestigious swordsmanship lineage. Naturally, Ridipin, the head’s only daughter, began learning swordsmanship at age seven.
But even she knew she had no talent for it.
In contrast, her older cousin Resta Lightjus was born gifted.
With dark green hair and crimson eyes, he had both beauty and swordsmanship talent.
He had surpassed even the family knights. A knight commander title was practically guaranteed.
Despite being from a weaker branch family, he was allowed to train at the main house. Young Ridipin didn’t know that.
She simply thought that if she worked hard, she could be like him.
But effort alone wasn’t enough.
After two years with no progress, her father told her to give up the sword.
To live a peaceful life under the family name, not one of battle.
She shut herself in her room, consumed by despair.
She’d grown up dreaming of leading the family as a knight, only to have it ripped away.
One day, to soothe her sadness, she left her room and watched Resta’s sparring.
His free sword style, unrestrained movements, and endless smile hurt her—she used to be beside him, but now she was just a spectator.
After sparring, Resta spoke.
“Hey, haven’t seen you in a while. What’s up? You haven’t been in sword training lately.”
Through tears, she explained. But didn’t expect comfort—none of the family retainers had comforted her either.
Resta didn’t comfort her either—but he didn’t pity her.
“Then try learning something else!”
“Like what…?”
“This family isn’t all swords. See over there? That’s an archery range.”
Sure enough, knights were practicing archery there.
“But if I don’t use a sword, Father and the elders…”
“Don’t worry. If anyone scolds you, say I made you. Just give it a try.”
She didn’t want to, but he looked so hopeful—she couldn’t refuse.
Resta asked an old knight to teach her archery.
The old knight didn’t like Resta’s branch lineage, but understood his intent and agreed.
While Resta played around, Ridipin struggled.
The knight, knowing her determination, saw that she was now broken—and pitied her. He became a teacher just for her.
Resta stepped back to give them space.
“Hold the bow with your thumb and index finger. Place the arrow between your index and middle fingers.”
“The key is balance. Pull as if you’ll break the string—it’s stronger than it looks.”
“When aiming, raise the arrow to your chin and aim level.”
She halfheartedly followed his instruction. Archery was awkward. Not clean like swordplay. And she had no will left.
But eventually, she found it easier and more enjoyable. Before she knew it, she could hit the center every time.
The knight and Resta praised her.
“Outstanding! You hit the bullseye from this distance!”
“Whoa, seriously! Even I struggle with that!”
“Really? I’m… amazing?”
Their sincere nods made her smile again.
She trained archery for four years instead of swordplay.
At age twelve, in winter, she stood on the training grounds with Resta.
He would soon leave for northern training, so this was their last duel.
It was also when she planned to publicly reveal her archery.
If she could fight on par with, or even beat, Resta—people would accept her.
Their duel was fierce—both had reached the peak of their age’s skill.
But during the match, Ridipin unknowingly imbued her arrow with aura.
The arrow pierced Resta’s sword—and body—causing severe internal injuries.
His veins twisted, and blood spurted out.
He barely survived after a 12-hour surgery. Though he awoke, he would never be the same.
He smiled and told her not to blame herself.
But she saw the fear behind his smile.
From that day on, every time she tried to shoot—she saw that memory.
So she quit the bow.
And locked herself away again.
When she finally came back to her senses, the assassin was trying to pull his sword from Ban’s body.
But Ban, vomiting blood, still held onto the blade.
“Give up. Your struggle ends here.”
“Sorry, but that struggle’s still going. We’ve got a damn good archer on our side.”
The assassin glanced at Ridipin.
“You call that cowardly wretch an archer?”
She agreed.
‘He’s right.’
She was cowardly. A wretch who couldn’t even shoot.
‘I’m nothing but…’
She picked up the bow again to conquer her trauma—but made no progress.
She was about to give up—until Ban laughed.
“She stopped being a coward the moment she stood her ground. And she’s not one now.”
Her eyes widened.
‘What is he saying…?’
His unwavering belief pierced her heart.
“She’s still holding that bow.”
She didn’t know why he defended her without hesitation.
“Just one step—and someone like you is nothing.”
Why did he believe in her so much?
She didn’t know.
But one thing she did know—
‘Ban hasn’t given up.’
On saving Reina. On winning. On believing in her.
So she pulled back the bowstring again.
And her aura—deep green—enveloped the arrow.
But the moment she saw it, she recoiled.
The trauma returned.
Resta, bleeding all over again.
‘I still can’t…’
Then Ban shouted:
“Ridipin Lightjus!”
Her gaze locked onto him.
“You’re the best archer I’ve ever known!”
She remembered their first meeting.
“As far as I know, there’s no one better with a bow than you.”
“If you’ve got burdens or responsibilities—then I’ll shoulder them!”
She remembered his words that made her pick up the bow.
“If you get scolded, say I forced you.”
“So trust me!”
She remembered the words that pushed her forward.
“If you can’t trust yourself, then trust me.”
At that moment, her mind cleared like a cloudless autumn sky.
And she understood—
‘I didn’t fear shooting. I feared myself.’
That she might hurt someone again.
Those memories were her mind warning her.
And now, everything became clear.
Her heavy limbs were just pressure.
Her shaky aim was tension.
What she lacked was belief in herself.
Effort doesn’t solve everything.
The world doesn’t change easily.
But effort is never meaningless.
Because she never gave up, she met Ban. And stood to face her trauma.
Even if she still couldn’t trust herself…
‘Ban believes in me.’
He trusted her more than she could trust herself.
Now it was her turn to answer that trust.
[Light Archery – Flash]
Whoosh!
The arrow tore through the air at near-sonic speed.
The assassin focused aura on his shoulder—but the arrow pierced through it.
Aura exploded within his body.
The assassin’s aura armor shattered under the clash of energies.
“GRAAAAGH!”
Ridipin, who had fired such a terrifying arrow, turned to Ban with a confident smile.
Ban, coughing blood, laughed.
“Took you long enough. I almost died waiting.”
