12. Damn, why do you always see through me?
Damn, why do you always see through me? The moment we arrived at the Archduchy, I headed straight to the Archduke's mansion and submitted my forged documents with all the personal details.
"Hmm, let me see... Miss Chloe, age 20... You're exactly the same age as our young lady, aren't you?"
"Ah, yes."
By the way, the name Chloe that this servant woman called me... well, that's me. It's one of the countless fake identities I use for ninja missions. Which means all the personal info and work history on those papers are complete fabrications. Even my age is fake.
The day I opened my eyes in this world, I was roughly around ten years old, but I didn't know the exact age back then. It's been exactly ten years since, so publicly I'm claiming 20, but it's not precise. I might be a few years older for all I know... but doesn't 20 just feel right? Even if I age more, I plan to stay "20" for the next decade or so.
"There'll be a final interview the day after tomorrow, so please come back then? Her Highness—no, our young lady has been quite busy lately."
"Yes...? The interview is with the Archduchess herself?"
"Sigh, our lady has a bit of an airheaded streak... She's awfully picky about the looks of her servants."
"......"
"By my standards, you're a pass, Miss Chloe, but it might be different by hers... She usually handles servant interviews personally for that reason."
No matter how I think about it, she sounds like a total loose screw...? I knew she had that airheaded vibe coming in... That's why I planned the 'seduce with beauty, lower her guard, then assassinate' strategy.
But what the hell—having the highest in the family (the Archduke who hired me is treated like a worthless relic locked in the tower) personally check faces for a maid interview? Not even a lady-in-waiting, but a lowly housemaid. Pfft, what a riotous lady...
Anyway, I scheduled the follow-up interview, left the Archduke's mansion, and wandered around the inner castle town.
The Archduchy was lively overall. Both the inner town and the outer village I'd passed through before visiting the mansion... Not saying everyone's living happily ever after, but you wouldn't easily spot that bone-deep despair where folks stare at the dirt and sigh, or rage at injustice.
If anything, there were plenty expressing gratitude toward Archduchess Lily. Step into a tavern, and you'd hear drunks yelling, "Hip hip hooray for Archduchess Lily~!" every now and then.
Meanwhile, the client who ordered her hit gets chewed up like bar snacks... How utterly pathetic must he have been? Tsk tsk.
But Archduchess Lily... no matter how kind, competent, or beloved by the masses she is... it doesn't matter one bit to a ninja. We follow the client who brings profit to us and our clan to the letter, and we kill the target. That's the ninja's code, our very reason for being.
So I'll kill her, Archduchess Lily... Plus, there's that grudge from my past life—144 hours of grinding for her ending, only to get screwed. Heh heh...
......
....
Hmm, lost in all sorts of random thoughts, and bam—I bumped into some drunk in a back alley.
"Hic, you bastaaard... Watch where you're goin', you bitch?!"
"......"
"Ooh, hey... look at this pretty little face? How 'bout you and Uncle have some fu—wait, why's there fire on my hand... Gah! Gaaaahhh!! GYAAAAH!!!"
"Pfft, kekeke..."
See? Spoiling the lowly masses with too much grease just invites this. Look at these pig-dogs, oblivious to their place, leaking lard everywhere, begging to be burned alive.
Wouldn't happen in Inari Village. The lowly know their place—eyes on the dirt, living accordingly.
Ahh, wanna wrap this job up quick and head home. How long's this one gonna drag?
The day of the interview arrived. When I got to the Archduke's mansion, there were already several others lined up for theirs besides me.
Apparently, she wasn't doing one-on-ones today but batch interviews. Makes sense... A busy Archduchess like her wouldn't waste time on solos.
Waiting's my least favorite, but no choice. After a solid two hours plus some change, the line dwindled, and my turn approached.
The line led to the family head's office. From inside came a voice like a fruit bursting with juice—tart and refreshing.
"Next, please come in?"
Click. The door opened, and the servant outside gestured for the next group to enter.
I stepped into the office with the other four in my batch. There, seated at the desk, was a single girl...
And that girl was the real power here in the Archduchy... my target this time. Lily Claudia.
Hmm, but... wow. Woooow... insane, how can she be that pretty?
Bright pinkish long hair with soft waves, big round sky-blue eyes... porcelain skin, pert nose, cherry lips. And it wasn't just pretty parts—it was the perfect harmony of proportions.
Stoic, she looked like a fragile flower; smiling wide, she'd burst with the freshest charm imaginable... Every flattering descriptor fit. The "world's greatest beauty" sat right before my eyes.
Ah, right... In my past life, I grinded 144 hours straight for her ending, maxing affection. But the real deal blows the game art out of the water. Damn...
Not that I got NTR'd or anything, but for a good 30 seconds, I just blanked out, drooling like an idiot.
Hey, snap out of it... She's pretty, sure, but I still gotta kill her. Sadly.
......? But just as I froze like I'd been hit with a stun on sight...
Her gaze seemed locked on me too, not budging. Like she was similarly stunned, lost in thought.
Eventually, she pinched her brow and spoke.
"The two at the ends pass. Sorry, but the ones next to them... fail."
"And the one in the dead center... sorry, could you stay back a moment? Talk with me alone?"
"Pardon? Ah, yes."
For reference, the one in the dead center... was me. I got singled out alone.
The other four got their verdicts—some smirking, some sniffling—and left the office, leaving me behind.
......What's this? Why me alone? Hmm.
Aha! Got it—she fell for me at first sight too!! Lily, you easy girl!
"Excuse me, let me check... Miss Chloe?"
"Yes, yep."
"You're the assassin they sent, right."
......
....
Wait, how'd she catch on? That cute face from when I entered... now stared at me cold as midwinter.
Even that felt cool, chic, haughty—stirring something inside—but whatever. More importantly, how did she know?
No clues. Time to play dumb.
"Wh-what do you mean, Archduchess...?"
"You thought I wouldn't know? Looks like more info leaked than I thought."
"I-I have no idea what you're—"
"You're polymorphed, aren't you? Spirit mages like me... we see a bit more info, y'know?"
"......!"
My henge is visible?! No way... the game never mentioned that!
Game over. Shouldn't have underestimated this cheat character.
How do I escape?
"Seriously... who knew an assassin would polymorph into my exact type."
......Huh? What'd she say?
"......Pardon???"
"Ugh... jet-black hair, chubby cheeks like fresh-baked bread—so cute... My ideal type, never told a soul..."
"......"
"And those red eyes? Total charmer—poppin' with personality!"
"Ah, th-thank you...?"
"Doesn't matter. Drop the polymorph, and you'll turn into some creepy old man. Like that weird tanuki beastman last time!"
No, wait—not at all...?
This is my face, though? Sure, I'm using henge—polymorph—to hide my tail and swap fox ears for human ones.
But "creepy old man" stings a bit... well, I was one in my past life. Though I died young enough to legally be "oppa" to her.
Speaking of, that Mujina vice-chief, the furry bastard. She offed him too? With forbidden alchemy, the TS beauty spell...
Yeah, caught after that? He'd chug poison and off himself from shame. Totally get it. Next life, reincarnate as the TS girl you dreamed of and ascend to bliss. Just not in some weird-ass place like me...
Anyway, now what? Truth's out—confess I'm the assassin, yell "Muhahaha, see ya next time!" toss a smoke bomb, and bolt?
Not bad if I can slip away easy. But seeing her slowly building aura... nah, scratch that.
Just like the game, she's a monster in real life too. First time I've seen anyone emit aura like that this lifetime.
Human-beastman physical gap? Irrelevant. Channel that into strength, and she'd crush me flat.
Plus two knights guarding her... 1v1 escape iffy; 1v3? No shot. Ehehe, pass.
But I got a hint. Me—no, my face—is smack in Archduchess Lily's airhead strike zone.
Her own words, fact. She's mistaking me for a shady uncle polymorphed into a cutie, but clear that up...
And I can totally trap her in my honey pot. Sure, dropping henge reveals I'm a beastman... but ninja crisis tactic #1: Fuuton Jaw Bluff covers it!
Plan set... now max effort.
I released the henge. Human ears vanished; fox ears popped up atop my head. And the fluffy tail too...
Can't deny beastman now. So only one play...!
"It's a MIIIIISUNDERSTANDING!!!!!"
"Wha—?!"
Land the animal-eared girl's ultimate dogeza, swear I'm no assassin. One truth—beastman. One lie—not assassin. And honey pot!
These three arrows'll get me outta this! Brace yourself, airhead Archduchess Lily Claudia!