Chapter 115
Chapter 115
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 115
Chapter Title: The Masquerade Ball
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As soon as I stepped down from the carriage, they checked if I was smuggling dangerous goods or carrying any artifacts, then let me pass.
I sauntered slowly into the mansion.
Well, well.
Of course, adulthood here starts at eighteen. And considering nobility, there were probably no restrictions on indulgences even before that.
'This place is a madhouse.'
Kids with everything hanging out.
Ah.
Of course, I was well aware that my current thoughts sounded like some old fogey ranting.
And I knew full well not to shove Earth's morals onto this world.
By that logic, everything I enjoyed was a privilege of the class system, and the blood on my hands was someone's life.
'But still.'
Come on, this is a bit much, isn't it?
"Hehe..."
"So lovely."
Barely reaching my shoulder, they exchanged whispers too mature for their age, twirled in dances, teased servants who moved flawlessly despite blindfolds as if they could see.
'Rotten to the core.'
The Empire's rotten, completely. I'd known it intellectually, but seeing it raw like this was another matter.
And the faint scent lingering at the tip of my nose.
A sweet smell so subtle you wouldn't notice unless you paid attention, without any nausea.
'Given the vibe, no way this is just perfume.'
I snatched a silver goblet from a tray carried by a blindfolded servant.
Maybe they only used silverware to reassure the paranoid that it wasn't poisoned.
In the smooth goblet, I saw blond hair and blue eyes.
But in the distorted ornament of a candelabrum, whose surface wasn't smooth enough to clearly reflect, my hair looked black.
Even that flickered to gold the moment I recognized myself.
The perception-disrupting magic on the mask was far inferior to the debuff from the badge I carried.
It only muddled hair and eye color, literally disrupting recognition. Maybe body shape a bit too.
Being such weak magic, I could faintly notice it.
Valthus's mist or the tree badge's powerful mental magic bounced off instinctively, but ambiguous spells left a slight gap in reaction.
"Why are you here all alone? No fun."
"I'm waiting for someone."
"What? Got a prior engagement?"
I brushed off the occasional approaches with vague replies, shifting positions at regular intervals.
A partygoer lingering too long in one spot without mingling looked too suspicious.
'Should've come with Rachel, factoring in her hot-tempered nature.'
Everyone else was in pairs, making my solitude stand out more.
Paiyan was nowhere in immediate sight, doing who-knows-what. Zero was...
'Over there.'
Two beauties had latched onto Zero and wouldn't let go—what could I do to interfere?
Grinning as I watched, Zero backed away with a troubled face until cornered, then glanced around.
Our eyes met, and somehow he recognized me, relief washing over his expression.
But why would I rescue him?
They clearly weren't doppelgangers or potion users, so Zero being stuck there for now was fine.
No need to hand over a perception-debuff badge for something that minor.
"Then good luck."
"W-Wait!"
As I waved and slipped away, Zero desperately broke free.
Uh.
That was a problem.
Men alone in a place like this, no women? We'd draw eyes. He had no sense of the mood.
I frantically scanned around, then turned toward a dizzying lily scent carried on the wind from somewhere.
"I have business with you..."
"It's me, Iyan."
Grabbing Paiyan's shoulder as I found her, she tossed a casual pickup line, thanks to the mask's disruption. I called her pre-agreed nickname.
At the same time, Zero grabbed my other shoulder.
"Aren't you overdoing it?"
"Not at all. You clueless oaf."
Using Paiyan as a shield, I led Zero onto the balcony and shut the glass door.
"Any listeners?"
"Mana barrier up."
"Wait... just a sec... you two, so boss and boss's subordinate?"
Had Paiyan decided to call me boss? Ah, right—through her eyes, I looked like someone else.
"Who else?"
I briefly removed then replaced my mask; Paiyan's lips twitched.
"No way... how'd you find me? The mask has magic..."
She'd assumed we'd meet separately after it ended. I shrugged with a grin.
"Trade secret. And Zero... found anything out?"
He'd seemed stuck, unable to move freely.
At my question, Zero ruffled his hair with a frustrated look.
"For starters... none of my kids are here."
As expected.
No doppelgangers under Zero's control had allied with the Evil God Cult.
I just kept the worst possibilities open while proceeding.
"But there's one potion user."
Really? Hope that one's not royalty.
"We'll check them out with me later. And Paiyan."
Calling her lowly, she twirled a strand of white hair around her finger as she replied.
"I've dug up plenty. I'll compile a report later, boss."
Her eyes curved confidently. I whispered back in a pleased tone.
"Give me the gist."
"Pestilence, and the imperial family's internal hierarchy."
Plenty.
Grinning, I patted Paiyan's head.
"See you later then."
Ah, no.
"We should stick together a bit further."
Two men and one woman.
Not an uncommon combo.
But two guys wandering a ball together?
Unwanted stares were the last thing I needed.
Honestly, misunderstandings didn't matter. With no thrill from Luna, Leaf, or Rachel, I wouldn't fret over rumors.
But drawing attention now was bad. Only when I chose the moment, hitting them all at once—not letting anyone chip away at my identity bit by bit.
So.
'If someone's doing that now.'
"Excuse me... could we talk?"
Thanks to the mask's magic, everyone I'd seen so far had unfocused gazes.
Eyes looking elsewhere, not at me.
But.
This girl stared straight into my eyes as she spoke.
Soft, melting cotton-candy brown hair and hazel eyes.
"Sure, why not."
Pretending nonchalance, I tucked one hand behind my back; Zero brushed my fingertips passingly.
Signal to go ahead, and his acknowledgment.
[Verbut the Agria—Third Selector of the Evil God Cult]
Representative Traits: [Acting(A)] [Domination(B)] [Greed(B)]
Hidden Traits: [Brainwashing(A)] [Ruthlessness(C)]
There you are. The one targeting me now.
Wearing masks, we locked eyes squarely.
I through buoyancy, she through some other method I didn't know—we recognized each other perfectly.
"Too many people... it's embarrassing."
"Opposite for me."
Pretending not to know was ridiculous.
Part of me wanted to drag her somewhere secluded, call Cain, and slit her throat.
'But she seems to be thinking the same.'
"How about... somewhere a little darker?"
"Nope."
Knew your name, traits, looks—no need to stick around.
Grinning slyly, I stroked Verbut's cheek deliberately with my knuckles.
"Boring."
Then turned away, leaving her.
Better bail before she bites my neck and poison spreads.
Head-on fights weren't my style, especially not now.
'As I keep saying, I'm the black幕 concept.'
"Wait."
"Persistent types are unattractive, regardless of age or gender."
Shaking off Verbut's grip on my wrist, I hurried inward.
Laughter from nearby mask-wearers in trysts scattered behind me.
No body-related traits in her profile, so I circled the garden, avoiding sights, then headed to the hall with music.
Dim outer lights for illicit meets. This for socializing?
Food, drinks, dances.
Some danced social dances like light exercise for fun; others sipped booze and gossiped over food.
"So, that lofty Ice Flower this time..."
"Shh, she might be here?"
"So what? Hearing your own tales in a place like this is part of the charm, right?"
Anonymous masks hiding identities.
I knew well how they stripped people bare.
"Ah, so anyway. Planning to hit her hard at this hunt festival."
"Don't know who you are, but you're a braggart, hehe."
Drunken young ladies arm-in-arm like old friends.
"Need to head far for business?"
"Drunk and delirious, huh? Haha."
Someone playfully grabbed another's waist and shook; the victim laughed like it'd never seen such a joke.
Kids loved dumb gags, after all.
Watching them through jaded eyes, I grabbed a drink casually and circled to the hall's edge.
At least here wasn't skin-focused, so Zero looked less troubled, chatting lightly with chattering ladies while tilting his glass one way.
'That group.'
Three girls and two guys tangled giggling on a long sofa.
'Five.'
Including Verbut earlier made six.
Manageable. No need to check every trait—just pick the essentials.
Hugging the wall, I signaled Zero; he scratched his head, took a lady's hand, and headed center to dance.
As planned, he'd learned by watching others here. While eyes drew to him, I pretended to watch Zero but shifted to the royal group.
"Not the type our dance circle knows?"
"Even with mask correction, who has that build?"
Kids chattering about Zero. Slowly recalling the user's eyes.
'Magic. Spirit arts. Spear arts—skip. Short-lived... pity. Found it.'
[Shaka—Puppet of the Evil God Cult]
Representative Traits: [Endurance(B)] [Etiquette(C)]
Hidden Traits: [Fastidiousness(B)] [Emotion(C)]
Girl with sand-colored hair and blue eyes.
Last question: was she impersonating royalty now? Easy to check.
[Shahad von Taiteria—12th Imperial Prince]
Representative Traits: [Frailty(B)] [Sensitivity(B)]
Hidden Traits: [Short-lived(C)]
Sealed Traits: [Genius(B)] [Martial Prodigy(B)] [Divinity(C)]
Sealed traits seen once at Lepid's.
Confirmed the cult's reach stopped short of royalty, and identified their swap target.
No need to stay.
Confirming Shaka's appearance once more, I slowly exited the hall.
"Hah, hey. Talk to me."
Crossing the garden to my carriage, someone grabbed my wrist.
I quickly side-glanced around.
Good—three kids hiding in bushes up to no good.
"What about?"
Verbut, slightly winded from chasing me, caught her breath and faced me.
Stroking my captured wrist with a slight smile—cute to normals.
'They wouldn't bring assassins to a royal party.'
One of me was enough.
"Talk elsewhere?"
Unless not stabbing now—abduction or recruitment.
"What do you gain?"
'Plenty.'
My value was beyond imagination.
Retreat first.
Smiling slowly, I slipped my wrist free and bolted.
"Wait!"
Rounding a garden maze corner, Cain snatched me like luggage, leaping tree to tree.
"Escape."
"Got it."
Glancing back, Verbut halted, looking around; from the opposite garden, Zero shook his pursuers.
Hadn't given badges since no need for me— he got caught midway, looking troubled.
'As long as it's not me.'
See you alive, Zero.