Greed was too much.
I was caught up in the arrogance that I could reconcile the two warring nations.
Through Emilia, I planned to alert the kingdom’s Intelligence Agency about my threat level and slowly persuade them or whatever…
Damn it. Looking back, it was utterly ridiculous.
They say if you’re lacking in strength, your brain suffers.
In the first place, I could have just crushed them with power.
I could have made Hertlocker, who oversees the Intelligence Agency’s military might, my servant.
“You planted a spell in my heart. Learned something good, huh? I also planted a self-destruct spell in Emilia’s heart.”
“What?!”
I’ve never planted anything like that.
Emilia hardly sleeps, so there wouldn’t have been a chance for me to do it.
“If I snap my fingers, Emilia dies. If I tell her, she’ll die. Of course, if I die, the spell will automatically explode. So, what do you say? Are you thinking of following my orders now?”
“You son of a…!”
“Keep talking. I’ll make sure you see a corpse with its ribs spread like angel wings.”
*Gak…*
It seemed Hertlocker was struggling to hold back his anger, biting his lips tightly.
Yeah. This is it.
I shouldn’t treat this villainous bastard like a human being.
“Just kill me! Kill me and let Emilia go!”
“Sorry, but I can’t do that. I need you.”
“What the hell is it?! What do you want?! I’ll do anything! Just please, not Emilia!”
“First, cut off the kingdom’s support for the Rebel Army led by Duke Lorraine Philip in the Southern Colony.”
Earlier, he was shouting noisily, no matter what I said.
Now it seemed he was finally listening.
His posture of kneeling humbly was very good.
“Second, gather information about Mary Ayle’s son and report it.”
“Mary Ayle? No way…”
“Yeah, the innocent maid you killed.”
*…*
Just then, things seemed to go well.
I could gather information about Mary’s son without worrying about the Intelligence Agency by using Hertlocker.
That pocket watch, I must deliver it.
I promised.
“And third, let’s get along well from now on.”
“What did you say?”
As I reached out my hand, Hertlocker, who was listening seriously, looked up at me with a disgusted expression.
Ah. I didn’t release his restraints.
I snapped my fingers and deactivated all the spells binding him.
Instantly, Hertlocker tore off the restraints with sheer strength and stood before me.
Damn…
Is this guy really that tall?
He looks at least 10 centimeters taller than me!
“What did you just say?”
“I’m on your side, the Intelligence Agency’s. So let’s get along.”
You can’t just whip me without giving a carrot too.
I flashed the kindest smile I could muster to put Hertlocker at ease as I reached out my hand.
Hertlocker looked at me like he was about to snap my waist in half…
“Alright. I’ll follow the order…”
He grabbed my hand.
His grip was so strong it felt like my fingers would snap, so I quickly pulled my hand back.
What a freak. He’s disgustingly strong.
“Don’t move out. I’ll come visit whenever I need you.”
*…*
I had received Hertlocker’s address from Jin.
“Then take your time eating dumplings and come out. I’ll be going…”
“Wait a second!”
As I turned to leave, Hertlocker’s booming voice stopped me in my tracks.
“Emilia is… she’s everything to me. My only family. So…”
“I’ll decide Emilia’s fate based on how you behave. So put in some effort, okay?”
*…*
I motivated him plenty before leaving the house.
I succeeded in bringing Hertlocker under my control.
Of course, that was based on the assumption that he believed the spell planted in Emilia’s heart…
But judging by the fact he hadn’t smashed my face yet, it seemed he really did believe.
Until I’m found out, he should be pretty useful.
It won’t be easy to hide forever.
*Hmm.*
Anyway, now that I’m outside, this house has a pretty decent location.
I wouldn’t have thought there was a house underground here.
“This house is amazing, right?”
*…*
When I turned my head, the beautiful boy I saw earlier was grinning.
[The Crow Jin]
[Real Name: Jane Watson]
Just as I thought, it was Jin.
“It’s great. Do you own it now?”
“Yeah. A family of crazy people built it secretly underground in preparation for the apocalypse. They died suddenly from drug addiction, and I discovered it first, so I scooped it up.”
“I’ll buy it.”
“Well, even if you said no, I was going to add it on to the consulting fee anyway. I don’t need it anymore.”
*…*
This guy’s mindset is something…
But I couldn’t blame him.
I couldn’t continue to use a house already discovered by Hertlocker.
“Then shall we settle the fee? Here!”
*…*
As I received the paper Jin handed over, it endlessly unfurled downward.
What is this, some kind of group meal receipt?
I nearly fainted when I saw the total amount at the bottom.
“Would this not work?”
“No way. Not for this piece of junk ring. Maybe if you brought me ten thousand of these…”
*…*
Of course not.
There’s no way this guy would recognize the Ring of Miracles.
In the end, I had no other options.
I didn’t have enough money for that.
It’d be more than sufficient if I withdrew the investments from the Holy Knights and the Sheiden Guild, but that would be a completely stupid move.
I had no choice but to ask a stout ally.
“Would you like to pay in full or in installments, dear customer?”
“Please bill it in full to Irene von der Lichtenburg.”
“Huh? To Baron Lichtenburg’s proxy?”
“Yeah. If I say it’s my money, they’ll pay it.”
“*Sigh*… Alright. I’ll trust you.”
Jin examined me with a suspicious look for a moment, then quickly returned to smiling.
He seemed upset when he came to turn in the completed request, but now he looked cheerful again.
Is he bipolar?
“Schlus Hainkel. At first, I thought you were really annoying, but now you seem somewhat likable.”
“I don’t remember doing anything to be liked.”
“Nothing? You paid in full without haggling. That’s my favorite kind.”
*…*
I’d forgotten.
Crows really do charge quite a hefty fee for requests.
Knowing that, clients usually try to haggle, so normally the price gets slashed down to about half…
I completely forgot that detail.
So I ended up paying double the fee.
Since Jin is known to hit exceptionally hard, I might have been hit nearly ten times over.
But I didn’t care about it.
It’s not my money anyway.
Instead, I was even able to gain Jin’s favor using someone else’s money, so it was a win-win.
Or did I just look like a sucker?
Well, it’s all pretty much the same, isn’t it?
*
*Haa… I can’t concentrate…*
In the dark room with an oil lamp lit.
Iris had taken off her glasses and was slumped over at the desk.
With the midterm exam right around the corner, she just couldn’t focus on her studies at all.
“Is it because I feel empty?”
She placed her hand on her chest but only felt her collarbone.
Her focus was disrupted because the cross that had been with her for over ten years had disappeared.
While it wouldn’t be entirely without effect, Iris knew that wasn’t the main reason.
“*Haa…*”
Thoughts about Schlus kept popping into her head.
She had said harsh words to him.
Made him angry.
Perhaps made him hate her…
Of course, she didn’t regret it.
It was something that had to be said someday.
However, she had no courage to be hated by Schlus.
That’s why she left the cross behind.
Hoping he would remember her.
Wanting him to recognize her, even if belatedly.
But she knew it was a futile act.
If he was going to recognize her, he would have done so the instant they first met.
There was no way he could remember her with such a small cross, easily found at a souvenir shop, Iris clearly understood that.
“I’m really cowardly…”
At that time, she thought it was alright for her to be forgotten as it was part of her duty as a saint.
In fact, she had been thinking that way until rather recently.
She had never once hoped for a reward from those she helped.
But now, that reward felt utterly essential.
Just the recognition from one person.
If he could remember her, it would make her unbelievably happy.
It would make her happy enough to fly away.
But that wouldn’t happen.
Because he was too busy to remember such trivial things.
Having lived a tough life.
All she could do was quietly support him from behind.
Sometimes correct his path if he was walking towards death…
If only that were possible, she thought it would be worth receiving his hatred.
She definitely believed that.
But now, why was her heart hurting so much…?
“I’m not a saint anymore…”
A saint shouldn’t long for any reward.
Yet here she was, desperately waiting for recognition.
She felt unqualified to call herself a saint.
In fact, she wanted to toss away that name immediately.
She wanted to tell him everything and steal his heart.
She was confident it would be possible, considering how objectively attractive she was.
But she couldn’t do that.
“*Haa…* Let’s study.”
There are still many people in this continent who need help.
Moreover, he has someone suited for him…
For everyone to be happy, all she needed was to grit her teeth a little.
Iris picked up her pen again with a bitter smile.
*
‘Is this guy really insane?*
Lichtenburg Mansion.
Erica chewed on cookies while constantly checking her report card.
It was a table detailing all the scores from past tests and practices.
Out of everyone, one person stood out remarkably: Schlus Hainkel.
He had managed to take first place in all practices and exams.
Considering the midterms, the scoring ratio was significantly lower, so it wasn’t that meaningful, but still, it was astonishing.
‘Is he really that great again?’
Rumor had it he was also at the top of most battle magic courses.
However, he still couldn’t take first place across the board due to an elite monster in that field competing.
Even accounting for that, it meant that Schlus was equally adept in elemental magic theory and martial arts using mana in battle magic.
This wasn’t just a dual mastery but reaching the pinnacle of both.
‘To overtake him, there’s only one way.’
The only way would be if Schlus messed up his midterm.
That would at least provide an opportunity.
But with someone as flawless as Schlus… it would be strange if he were to mess up the midterm.
Even the ones who had been dismissing him back at the beginning of the semester would have sensed that much.
Yet, there was still a method.
To ensure Schlus had no choice but to mess up the midterm.
For example, kidnapping him on the day of the midterm and letting him go the next day…
“What am I thinking…?”
As Erica contemplated this dreadful thought, she ended up ruffling her hair.
She couldn’t do that.
As a proud noble of the Lichtenburg family, how could she do something so base?
“Someone will do it.”
But the fact that I thought of it means others would easily come up with it too.
Those mediocre admirers who saw Schlus as a thorn in their side would surely concoct some plan.
Well, that was something Schlus would have to deal with anyway.
Since a commoner had entered the Imperial University, he should have been prepared for that.
“Ugh… Is this correct?”
Thinking once more, Erica sighed.
Is it permissible for a commoner to be attacked simply because they are a commoner?
Of course, it was unfair, but was it really all right for Schlus to bear it all alone?
Maybe I could offer a little help.
Of course, it wasn’t out of ulterior motives. It was just that as a noble, I must eliminate unfairness…
“Ugh?!”
At that moment, a piercing scream echoed down the corridor.
It was her mother’s voice.
Erica immediately jumped up and peeked into the room where the sound had come from.
“Mother, are you alright?”
“Huh? Mmm. I’m fine.”
“Is it because of Schlus?”
*…*
She saw her mother flinch visibly.
It seemed to strike a chord.
“Mother…”
“Why would you suddenly mention that boy’s name? Ha ha, it’s really not him. Not at all.”
“I got it.”
There was no way her mother would tell her the truth, even if she said that.
Erica gritted her teeth, closing the door behind her.
That bastard Schlus had said before.
That her mom would just play with her for a bit and then discard her.
“Damn it…”
Thinking back, there was no reason to help someone like him.
Meanwhile, in the count’s office, Madam Lichtenburg was…
“This guy is really insane…”
She was shaking, struggling to control herself as she looked at the invoice.
Fifty million Tillion.
With just a little more, she could buy a high-end house in the New Town.
What on earth did she ask the Crows to do to get such a ridiculous price?
– Schlus Hainkel said that Baron Lichtenburg will pay instead.
But does that mean I have to pay all of this? In full…
It was Schlus Hainkel’s order, so I couldn’t refuse.
“What a little bastard…”
With tears welling, Madam hurriedly scribbled her signature.
It started with lightly humiliating her, but…
Why did his demands keep increasing as time went on?
How much more would he demand next time?
The mere thought of it made her future feel bleak.
*Sniffle.*
The sound of her pitiful nose being blown echoed through the room.
