Heretic Assassin

As someone who inherited the memories of the original Riezel, Riezel saw mostly positive memories about Strategic-Class Magicians from the original Riezel's perspective.

No choice.

The original Riezel came to the city to strive for success, all for the sake of becoming an elite, for becoming a noble.

For commoners like him aspiring to be nobles, there were only a few methods.

Either he had to achieve remarkable feats and receive the kingdom's recognition, or he had to climb high and either marry into nobility or join a noble family. Alternatively, he could make the kingdom value him and offer a title to win him over.

The original Riezel chose the last method.

With his naturally abundant magical energy, becoming a Tactical-Class Magician wasn't a very difficult task. In fact, with enough effort and talent, becoming a Strategic-Class Magician wasn't completely impossible either.

If he could at least become a Tactical-Class Magician, he would immediately receive a promotion and a noble title, thus becoming a bona fide noble. Not to mention, if he could become a Strategic-Class Magician, he could be recognized as a national treasure of the entire Jinas, bestowed with the title of a major noble—an existence like Yuri, one person above ten thousand.

With such calculations in mind, the original Riezel naturally harbored feelings of longing and admiration for Strategic-Class Magicians.

Not only him, but most people in this world also held admiration and longing for Strategic-Class Magicians, considering them the most powerful magicians in the world.

As long as they could smoothly unleash strategic-class magic, they could instantly destroy a city or even a small country. This kind of power seemed no different from that of a god to the ordinary people.

Only those lacking sufficient magical energy like Combat-Class Magicians, who no matter how hard they tried couldn't cast strategic-class magic, would hold the belief that a true expert should specialize in combat-class magic.

Strategic-class magic was merely a weapon for war, impractical and solely military-oriented, causing disdain among magicians who couldn't cast strategic-class magic.

This viewpoint wasn't entirely wrong.

According to Riezel's understanding, the conditions for releasing strategic-class magic were indeed strict. Just the chanting time alone was longer than even the lengthiest chants, often requiring several minutes or even tens of minutes of chanting for a single strategic-class magic.

Such lengthy chants and chanting times were impractical in the rapidly changing dynamics of combat.

Let alone strategic-class magic, even tactical-class magic required a minute or several minutes of chanting time, making it unsuitable for fast-paced battles.

Furthermore, combat-class magic often only required a few seconds of chanting, and some were even chantless, making them entirely suitable for direct battle.

In a one-on-one battle, a magician not proficient in combat-class magic, even if they were a Strategic-Class Magician, could be easily defeated in an instant. Even losing to a street hooligan isn't an impossible scenario.

As a result, tactical-class magic and strategic-class magic were almost useless in direct battle, only finding utility on the battlefield and in wars.

Moreover, the power and scope of these two types of magic were too vast, making them unsuitable for use in densely populated areas. This was particularly true in the city, where using them would be a disaster.

In principle, the major countries strictly prohibited the use of tactical-class and strategic-class magic without authorization.

All of these made the situation quite interesting.

In order to enhance national strength and increase the country's combat power and deterrence, major countries were desperate to recruit Tactical-Class Magicians and Strategic-Class Magicians.

Yet, apart from wars, the use of tactical-class magic and strategic-class magic was strictly prohibited and not allowed.

This had placed significant restrictions on many Tactical-Class and Strategic-Class Magicians. Unless necessary, major countries may not even allow them to leave their territories without authorization.

It could be said that Tactical-Class and Strategic-Class Magicians were under constant surveillance wherever they went, whether by their own country or by other countries.

Therefore, people like Strategic-Class Magicians were generally regarded as tools of war, despised by those beyond the ordinary residents.

From Yuri's indifferent response, it was evident that she didn't find pride in her identity as a Strategic-Class Magician, even somewhat fed up with it.

Riezel quietly sympathized with his savior in his heart and began to speak.

"You suddenly mentioned your identity to me. Could this be related to me being attacked?"

He considered this possibility; otherwise, why would Yuri bring up an identity she was not a fan of for no reason?

Sure enough, there was a reason.

"While tactical-class and strategic-class magics are almost useless in direct battle, if used on the battlefield, their usefulness and supreme power are undeniable."

Yuri explained with a sigh.

"Any country on the Akasha continent eagerly seeks magicians of these two classes. However, if an enemy country possesses such magicians, it poses a significant threat to them."

Hearing that, Riezel immediately squinted his eyes.

"Are you saying that I was attacked because of that reason?"

"Yes." Yuri nodded. "Truthfully, I suspected it when you were attacked. It was only after I couldn't find any clues about the attacker that I thought the one who attacked you might be someone from the Heretic Assassin, who has recently become a topic of discussion."

Heretic Assassin.

Riezel was familiar with this name.

It was because of an event that had occurred in the past few years.

As Riezel began pondering, Yuri continued.

"In recent years, many people in major countries have been unexpectedly assassinated, dying under mysterious circumstances. Some were nobles, some were prodigies who gained fame. Although they seem unrelated, they have a common point—they are either Tactical-Class Magicians or those who have outstanding magical energy, with the potential to become Tactical-Class or Strategic-Class Magicians."

The sudden, unexplained deaths of these talented individuals had shaken various countries, and the news had spread throughout the entire continent, becoming a significant topic of discussion.

Gradually, even ordinary residents came to know that there was a group of people who targeted Tactical-Class Magicians, Strategic-Class Magicians, and people with the potential to become both.

"Some suspect that they were secretly formed by one or multiple countries, operating as an assassination unit specifically targeting the war assets of foreign countries."

"Some believe they are a self-formed criminal group of Combat-Class Magicians who failed to become Tactical-Class or Strategic-Class Magicians, driven by motives of revenge and frustration."

"There are also those who speculate that they oppose the use of magic in war, opposing the excessive focus on tactical-class and strategic-class magic by major countries. They united as terrorists to change this phenomenon."

"This is the Heretic Assassin, an underground organization that has gained a reputation in recent years."

The reason Yuri suspected that this organization targeted Riezel was because of their objectives.

Their targets were users of tactical-class and strategic-class magic, as well as people who have the potential to become proficient in both.

Riezel happened to fit these criteria.

"Each time they act, their cleanup is remarkably thorough. After several years, no country can uncover anything, suggesting that one or more countries likely support them."

This was her reason for believing that the Heretic Assassin was behind Riezel's assassination.

The attackers shared many similarities. The cleanup was executed too well, suggesting the support of at least one country behind them. Even the Frenzel family's intelligence network couldn't find anything.

"If it's indeed them targeting you, leaving here is definitely not a good choice." Yuri advised seriously. "Your enemy is a terrorist organization on a national level, and you won't be able to handle them alone."

Hearing her reasoning, Riezel's brow furrowed deeply.

His current situation was indeed tricky.

While he wasn't afraid, if his attacker was truly such a big terrorist organization, he wouldn't be arrogant enough to think he could handle everything alone.

Their unexpected strength, with his current strength, might only allow him to defend himself temporarily, not forever. He was not reckless, blindly plunging into danger without considering the consequences.

If there was a solid reason, he could risk everything for a challenge, but without a necessary reason, he wouldn't recklessly face big danger. This wasn't an adventure; it was just falling into someone else's conspiracy, deceit, and malice.

Unfortunately, he detested these kinds of things the most.

"Stay here for now..." Yuri said gently, looking at his furrowed brow. "I've secretly leaked information about your injuries. If all goes well, you should be out of danger soon."

"Injuries?" Riezel was puzzled at first, then realized. "You mean the damage to my 'Gate'?"

"Yep." Yuri chuckled. "Your 'Gate' is damaged, so you can't use magic anymore. Maybe this isn't entirely a bad thing."

If this news reached the ears of the Heretic Assassin's people, they might abandon any plans to assassinate him. After all, their goal was people capable of using tactical-class and strategic-class magics, and without the ability to use magic, Riezel would lose his value as their target.

"Just stay hidden here for a while; there's no shame in it, y'know." Yuri suggested.

"What about you?" Riezel asked, looking into her eyes. "If it's indeed them, aren't you their target too? Aren't you afraid?"

Yuri, being a Strategic-Class Magician, logically should be the Heretic Assassin's primary target.

However—

"Have you ever heard of a Strategic-Class Magician being killed so far?" Yuri casually tossed out a question, leaving him in silence.

In the Akasha Continent, there were only eight existing Strategic-Class Magicians, and all of them were still alive and well.

"Don't worry. Even if I wanted to die, this kingdom wouldn't allow it." Yuri sarcastically remarked before continuing. "Just stay here for now, wait until the storm passes, and then make different plans."

Upon hearing that, Riezel considered for a moment and nodded.

Staying here might be a good idea since this way he could have an easier time delving into the power system of this world.

"Is this settled then?" Yuri asked, seeing him nod, and seemed pleased. "Come, join me for afternoon tea."

As he looked at the tea in front of him, his complexion stiffened.

In that split second, he began to question whether his decision was a mistake.