“Please grant me permission to execute the operation.”
“I grant it.”
“······.”
As soon as I presented the plan, Aria smiled and responded.
Caught off guard, I stiffened in place.
“Your Majesty. You haven’t even unfolded the plan yet.”
“No need to see. Isn’t it dangerous to delay any further? If I were to examine everything meticulously, it would take at least three days… Do you truly wish for that?”
“No, thank you, Your Majesty.”
I immediately snatched the plan back.
Then Aria chuckled and gestured for me to come closer.
“Just tell me. Which path did you decide to take: the safe yet low-yield one, or the risky but high-yield one?”
“The latter.”
“Heh. Just like you.”
I had no idea what she meant by “just like you,” but I couldn’t let this golden opportunity slip away by playing it safe.
Every operation carries risk.
Everyone prepares to face death.
So whether the risk is great or small doesn’t really matter.
What matters is whether this operation can end this dreadful war quickly.
“I have heard that you are quite perceptive to the crises of others, yet you cannot escape your own.”
“······.”
That sounds more like Iris’s situation than mine.
Aria gestured me closer and caressed my cheek.
She continued to gently stroke my cheek, rubbing and even pinching it before finally pulling away her lips.
“Don’t die. If you die, I will not forgive you.”
“Understood, Your Majesty.”
“Swear it.”
“I swear I will return alive without dying, Your Majesty.”
Only then did Aria smile satisfactorily.
Does she realize she’s setting up flags like this?
Thanks to Aria making me swear, I felt an unexpected surge of anxiety.
“Don’t you worry. There’s no way I could die at the hands of some random loser.”
“That’s not what I’m worried about. If my prediction is correct, you will complete this operation without any issues. However, I am concerned about the aftermath of that success. For some reason, I have a feeling that the Majin might take action.”
“······.”
The moment I confirmed Aria’s gaze, I felt a chill run down my spine.
It seemed like she could see right through my intentions…
This operation isn’t solely to strike the Asylum.
It’s also to begin applying pressure on the Majin affiliated with the Asylum.
“Even if the Majin were to attack, I can fend them off.”
“Anyone can say that. You’re just spouting nonsense now.”
It wasn’t nonsense.
I could theoretically kill a Majin.
With my punches wielding over 300 Strength, there’s no way a Majin can remain unscathed.
Of course, that requires the assumption that the Majin is willing to take the hit.
‘Who should I bring along?’
Anyway, the execution of the operation is confirmed.
Now, I need to decide who to take with me…
*
“Cheers!”
Light streamed through the chandelier and poured into the banquet hall.
Nobles in masks clinked their glasses together.
It was a periodically held masquerade ball.
With extravagant food, luxurious cakes, and luxurious drinks prepared, it truly was a feast of indulgence.
The only rule of the masquerade was, do not ask about the identity hidden behind the mask.
No matter how well you hide, the body’s traits or voice can be recognized, but the events that occur at the ball cannot be disclosed outside — that is the rule here.
Thus, nobles considered the masquerade as a place for slight deviations.
“Have you arrived?”
“Good to see you. Are you truly the Archbishop?”
“That’s right.”
Of course, these little deviations weren’t the only happenings.
Though it appeared to be a casual gathering, it was also a location for social exchange and Asylum interactions.
They maintained strict security with various codes and barriers, allowing safe discussions among their executives.
So, even if a knight of the palace were hiding in the ballroom, there was no worry of being caught.
“Archbishop. Recently in the desert-”
“Everyone! I have grave news!”
At that moment, the door swung open with a bang as someone shouted.
With an excited face, he seemed to be brimming with something good.
Just as the music stopped, all the nobles’ gazes turned towards him.
“His Excellency Schlus Hainkel is coming here!”
“W-What?!”
“Is that for real? I thought he hated this kind of thing…”
The nobles exchanged glances in shock.
Schlus Hainkel was a commoner, rumored to despise extravagance.
He had attended a social event only once, and afterward, he never showed up at similar gatherings.
But now he was attending a masquerade renowned for its lavishness among the nobles.
Initially surprised, the nobles quickly broke into wide smiles.
“It seems he wants to strengthen ties with high-ranking nobility.”
“Perhaps he’s looking for a partner for marriage?”
“Either way, it’s great news!”
While everyone was delighted, some Asylum executives in a corner grimaced.
The very reason for choosing the masquerade as a place for conversation was its closed nature and weak surveillance.
Now, suddenly having Schlus Hainkel coming here doesn’t seem like a mere change of heart.
‘He must have caught wind of something.’
Schlus Hainkel must find something suspicious about the masquerade.
It could only be explained that way.
Staying here might well lead to serious danger.
If he came with conviction, no matter how confidently we welcome him, we might raise suspicion and get imprisoned.
He could easily take the heads of his substitutes; a count’s head would be no exception.
Thus, it would be best to escape while I still could.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
“Oh, sure.”
Feigning a trip to the restroom, the count naturally slipped out of the ballroom.
I had to escape before Schlus Hainkel arrived.
But if they realized I left the ballroom after hearing about Schlus Hainkel’s arrival, I’d only raise suspicion.
So the count decided to head to a safe house rather than go directly to the mansion.
There, he would kill time, arriving at the mansion much later to create an alibi.
Then it would seem I was just struggling in the restroom while Schlus Hainkel was here and got tired before leaving.
“How about the tracking?”
“None.”
“What about the magic barriers?”
“Not even a hint.”
Inside the creaky old carriage, the count couldn’t hide his anxiety as he kept glancing back.
‘Did he pick up on something?’
Did he get my tail?
Or did the utterly top-notch barriers finally break?
Or could it be a betrayal by one of the bishops…?
Chewing on his nails, the count considered multiple possibilities.
But no matter how he pondered, the chance of Schlus Hainkel discovering his identity and coming to the masquerade was nearly zero.
Out of the Asylum executives, very few knew his identity.
The Empire, which had only captured laypersons until now, would have no means of tracking the executive class.
But being careful wouldn’t hurt.
The count decided to observe the situation from the safe house.
There were no Asylum members in the mansion, so once inside, he wouldn’t receive any situational reports.
“We’ve arrived.”
“······.”
As the carriage stopped, the count took a deep breath and quickly changed his clothes.
Having swapped his lavish attire for commoners’ clothes, the count naturally opened the carriage door and stepped out alone.
Before him stood an ordinary house.
It seemed to be a home where an ordinary family lived.
However, its true identity was the safe house meticulously managed by the Asylum.
Only the executive class knew its location.
The laypersons mobilized for constructing this place were all brainwashed and had their memories erased, so there was no worry of exposure.
“I’m here.”
Knock knock, the count knocked on the door and swallowed his spit.
Soon, footfalls dragging themselves from inside could be heard-
“Oh! You’re here? Come in quickly.”
“······.”
A stranger opened the door and greeted him.
The count froze for a moment before slowly stepping inside.
Now he felt reassured.
This place is protected by concealed barriers.
“Ah?!”
“······!”
At that moment, a powerful mana ripple burst forth.
The barrier’s spell had broken.
And it had happened all at once, without any warning.
As the count was left stunned, several men in black hoods suddenly sprung out from inside.
“It seems we’ve been discovered! You must evacuate quickly-”
*Boom*! *Bang*…!
In that moment, a bright flash soared toward the count, blinding him.
Along with it came a wave of intense heat enveloping him.
When the count opened his eyes, all that remained on either side were the scorched remnants, with not a single fanatic in sight.
The man who had held his hand and led him was now only a severed arm lying on the ground.
“Y-You’ve got to be kidding me?!”
As the count turned his head, shadows appeared beyond the broken door.
Three human shapes.
*Squeak*!
At that moment, flame magic was unleashed from the house, striking the figures.
A pillar of crimson flame rose up, illuminating the dark night like daytime.
Yet even while he breathed a sigh of relief, realizing the safe house was indeed just a façade, the moment he thought he was safe…
*Bang…*!
“What?!”
In an instant, the house was swept away, turning into dust.
A safe house, supposedly protected by the top-ranking magicians, shattered like a sandcastle collapsing.
“Wha…! Are you serious?!”
As the black smoke cleared, three figures still stood where the magic had struck.
A barrier that could withstand direct hits from such magic…
It seemed monsters had truly set out to attack.
At that point, the count surrendered and raised his hands.
Had he been a fanatic, he would have detonated the self-destruct spell implanted in his heart, but he wasn’t that deeply into the cult.
“How unexpected. Count von Byrne.”
“Schlus Hainkel…?”
Sure enough, emerging through the smoke was Schlus Hainkel.
Just how long had he been tracking me?
No, how did he track me?
The count clicked his tongue.
“Ah, father?”
“What?”
At that moment, a familiar voice came from beside Schlus Hainkel.
The count was taken aback and his eyes widened.
Standing there was his son, mouth agape.
Aintz von Wiegenstein.
His proud son.
