"G-Get him. It's just one noble, and a weak-looking one at that. Just how much can he protect himself against all of us? Let's attack him and get this over with."
One of the attackers yelled before they all quickly surrounded Kyle.
There was strength in numbers. But that was only applicable when both sides had a chance to win. But here? It was a one-sided massacre.
There were almost a dozen attackers, but Kyle did not even look like he broke a sweat fighting against them.
By the ti the others woke up, the fight was already over.
Kyle stood in the dimly lit hallway, arms crossed, his face unbothered as unconscious bodies littered the wooden floor.
Their weapons lay scattered, so broken, others coated in blood—not his, but theirs. The faint sll of sweat, tal, and the distinct coppery scent of blood clung to the air.
lissa was the first to burst from her room, still half-asleep but wide-eyed as she took in the sight before her.
"What's happening—?!"
Her voice cracked, waking Bruce, who stumbled out after her, his tunic barely thrown on. He rubbed his eyes as if convinced he was dreaming.
The head knight appeared last, stepping out from the shadows at the end of the corridor.
Unlike the others, she did not speak right away, her eyes taking in the scene with sharp, calculating precision.
But even her stance stiffened ever so slightly.
Kyle, on the other hand, simply yawned, running a hand through his hair as if he had just been woken up for sothing far more annoying than life-threatening.
"They weren't much of a challenge."
He said simply, his voice carrying a lazy boredom.
lissa opened her mouth, then closed it again, eyes flickering between Kyle and the n on the ground.
They were all breathing—albeit weakly—but their bruises and cuts spoke volus about how one-sided the battle had been.
Bruce looked concerned, but not for his young master.
"All of them? By yourself? They are still alive, right? We might need to question them later."
Kyle raised an eyebrow.
"Did you expect to wait for you? And don't worry! I made sure only their outsides were damaged."
The head knight exhaled, stepping forward and nudging one of the unconscious n with her boot. He groaned but did not wake.
"Shouldn't we tie them up?"
lissa asked cautiously, her hand already reaching for her belt where a small dagger rested.
Kyle nodded.
"Sure. Go grab so rope for .."
Bruce and lissa hurried off, disappearing down the staircase.
The head knight, however, remained. She crossed her arms and watched Kyle with unreadable eyes.
"They're already out cold. Do you really need to tie them up?""
She asked in a cautious voice.
Kyle smirked.
"I don't care about them. The rope is just to lay out a trap for anyone who cos to free these kids. Although, I am not sure if anyone would co for these kids anymore."
He leaned down, casually adjusting one of the attacker's limp arms so that his wrist faced upward.
A flicker of understanding crossed the head knight's face.
Before she could respond, Bruce and lissa returned with thick coils of rope.
Kyle took the bindings and began coating them with a thin layer of mana, the glow subtle enough that it would go unnoticed.
A trap.
If anyone tampered with the rope, Kyle would sense it instantly.
Satisfied, he turned back to his group.
"Go back to sleep. I'll handle the rest."
He instructed, his tone leaving no room for argunt.
lissa hesitated, clearly wanting to protest, but Bruce placed a firm hand on her shoulder, pulling her away.
The head knight lingered for a mont before nodding once and stepping back into the darkness of the hallway.
It was clear by her actions that the head knight had her doubts about Kyle and his behaviour. But thankfully, it did not seem as if she was going to linger around for any longer.
"Well, this was an eventful evening for sure. Now, let's see if anyone cos to claim you all or not."
______
The next morning, sunlight stread through the windows, casting long shadows over the wooden floor.
Kyle stepped into the hallway, eyes imdiately fixing on the prisoners.
They were untouched.
His mana-infused ropes lay exactly as he had left them, their bindings still firm.
No one had co for them.
Kyle sighed. What a waste.
A groan caught his attention.
One of the masked n stirred, his eyelids fluttering open. Panic set in imdiately as his gaze darted around the hallway.
Kyle crouched beside him, expression unreadable.
"Good morning. Looks like you all got abandoned after all."
The man flinched at the casual tone, swallowing thickly. His breathing quickened, chest rising and falling unevenly.
"W-What…?"
Kyle tilted his head.
"Who sent you?"
The man swallowed again, his Adam's apple bobbing.
"No one! We—we just thought you were a rich noble traveling with valuables! It was our plan!"
He blurted out.
Kyle studied him closely, eyes narrowing slightly as he observed the man's mana flow.
…Nothing.
No disruptions, no fluctuations.
Just fear.
Kyle exhaled, standing up.
"So it was just a random mugging?"
The man nodded frantically.
Kyle lost interest imdiately.
This wasn't so elaborate sche, nor was it connected to his enemies.
How dull.
Footsteps echoed behind him, and Kyle turned slightly to see the head knight approaching.
"I'll handle the interrogation."
She said, arms crossed, her usual authoritative presence exuding confidence.
Kyle shrugged.
"No need."
The head knight's brows furrowed.
"What?"
Kyle stretched his arms above his head.
"I already checked. They were just so desperate fools trying to make a quick fortune."
He said lazily.
The head knight's lips pressed into a thin line.
For a mont, Kyle thought he saw disappointnt flash across her face.
Not directed at him, but at the situation.
Did she want there to be a greater conspiracy behind this?
Kyle supposed he understood. A random mugging was just as boring for her as it was for him.
But, in the end, it was just that—a disappointnt.
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