Chapter 228
Chapter 228
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 228
Chapter Title: Harvest Festival (4)
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The evenings in the Tristan Duchy were quite chilly. Was it because it bordered the Kendrid Margraviate, the gateway to the north?
Bogert Marquis pulled his coat tighter and let out a short sigh.
As he walked out to the inner courtyard with the ducal residence behind him, white breath formed with his exhale.
Having seen everything he wanted to see, his steps showed no hesitation.
“...It’s just unbelievable that he can exert control even over a demon.”
He muttered to himself, scratching his head.
“You think so too, right?”
It looked like he was talking to empty air, but apparently not.
A figure emerged expressionlessly from the faint shadows.
Bogert Marquis let out a scoff of disbelief. Hiding one’s entire presence in shadows this shallow was absurd.
The reputation that one could infiltrate anywhere as long as there was a handspan of unlit space was clearly no lie.
“...A technique befitting someone in a profession with only two members on the continent.”
Bogert Marquis continued, eyeing the two animal ears twitching atop the other’s head.
Vypede, a race that faced extreme discrimination within the Empire.
For such a race to be inside the Empire’s most prominent noble territory would be suicidal for anyone else, but not so strange for him.
“Pleased to meet you, Grand Assassin. This is the first time seeing you in person rather than on paper.”
“...”
“Come to think of it, wasn’t the other Grand Assassin also your family? Your entire bloodline is exceptionally-”
“Get to the point.”
It didn’t faze them at all.
This was his first time meeting the Grand Assassin in person, but the stiffness felt from correspondence matched the real thing.
“...That’s the target just now.”
Bogert Marquis glanced back at the ducal residence as he spoke.
“You saw it from afar too, right? What he was doing to the ‘Vessel of the Demon.’”
“...I don’t take assassination requests on that man.”
The flat response came without inflection.
“They’ve already got assassins from the Holy Kingdom on him. I don’t tangle with the competition.”
“No. It’s not about killing him.”
“...What?”
Why hire an assassin then? Though the response carried that question, Bogert Marquis smiled and explained.
“What that man just did was only the beginning. From now on, demonic activity will ramp up around him. And the only ‘human’ who can observe it up close, undetected and sane, is you.”
“...”
“You get why I hired you, right?”
“...”
The face was shrouded entirely in a hood, hard to see, but Bogert Marquis grinned again at the likely frowning figure.
“Infiltrate the Academy. Get as close to that man as possible. Report any conspicuous activities to me.”
After a pause, Bogert Marquis added with a meaningful smile.
“...Do well, and you might even meet your family.”
“...”
The other fell silent for a moment before chuckling and speaking.
“Don’t care about them.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah.”
Just before vanishing back into the shadows.
The voice turned icy as they continued.
“They betrayed me.”
“...”
Bogert Marquis watched wordlessly as the figure disappeared with those words.
‘...Betrayal.’
A familiar word to him as well.
And it would become even more so moving forward.
“-!”
Suddenly, lost in that thought, he doubled over violently.
Intense coughing erupted from his gut, accompanied by excruciating pain that filled his mouth with blood.
“...”
He grimaced bitterly, wiping his mouth.
The white breath escaping his lips carried a metallic tang of blood.
“...Just hold on a little longer. You’ve done well so far, Bogert.”
Muttering to himself, he instinctively reached for his neck—a habit whenever these episodes struck.
But the locket should have been there was gone.
The locket holding a photo of him, Astrid, and Armin together.
“...”
As expected.
Good thing he’d given it to Armin.
It helped shake off the bad habit of relying on it whenever he weakened.
Instead.
He gritted his teeth and recalled the inscription on that locket.
“Friends.”
From now on, forever.
Even until death parted them, always.
“Just a little longer, friends.”
It wouldn’t be much longer.
It was right around the corner now.
Until he fulfilled his promise to them.
“...Just a little longer, Astrid.”
Muttering that, Bogert staggered forward.
It didn’t take long for his figure to vanish completely into the darkness.
●
The cleanup wasn’t all that difficult.
The White Demon’s demonic energy undoubtedly harmed the mind, but fortunately, it was just a single fragment now. No serious aftereffects.
The recovered guests would wonder why the banquet hall was so quiet and why they’d been standing dazed until moments ago.
‘...And thanks to him, we smoothed it over nicely.’
Thinking that, I glanced at His Majesty the Emperor, who was circulating the hall, greeting nobles.
No matter how dazed they were, everyone had to pay attention in the presence of the Empire’s ruler. Even if they sensed something off, they’d force themselves to act normal.
Thanks to that, the banquet hall regained its usual atmosphere, if not quite as lively as before.
“Doesn’t the atmosphere feel a bit chaotic?”
But to Elnor, who had just entered the hall, it must have looked quite strange.
She scanned the surroundings with a puzzled expression.
“...Probably just your imagination?”
I forced a smile and said that.
Thank goodness she’d arrived late, busy with preparations somewhere. If I hadn’t sent the unconscious Yuria off to the lodging with Lucien’s group to erase the evidence, she’d have thrown a fit about what nonsense was happening in her own home.
“...Is that so.”
Elnor tilted her head in response, then walked toward me with clicking heels, as if she didn’t care.
A pristine white dress, earrings, sparkling hair ornaments, and even her shoes.
“...”
Honestly.
She was breathtakingly beautiful.
I’d believe it if she said she’d stayed away from the hall this long just to get dolled up.
“Then.”
With that appearance, Elnor slowly extended her hand to me.
“Shall we dance, Dawood?”
“...Pardon?”
Before I could reply, she smirked slightly, grabbed my hand, and pulled me along.
To the center of the stage. Right in front of the orchestra.
Where compatible men and women chose partners to dance.
“...Elnor?”
My facial muscles twitched as I spoke.
Eyes were already focusing on us. Partly because she’d dragged me so boldly, but mainly because the partner was none other than the Duchess Tristan.
The hostess of the party had pulled out her partner—how could the attention not pour in?
“...”
And putting it another way.
This was a loud declaration.
This man is my partner. No one touch him.
The problem was.
“Elnor.”
I whispered quickly in a low voice.
“I, uh, dancing is my first time...!”
“I know.”
“...Pardon?”
“I brought you because I was certain it was your first.”
Smiling faintly, she continued in an amused tone.
“I’ll lead. Just follow.”
With that.
Elnor naturally took the lead in my movements.
I’d learned the basics from my father as a noble’s essential skill in childhood, so thankfully, I blended in without standing out too much.
“This is my revenge.”
Suddenly, her voice floated over again.
“Pardon?”
“When we return to Elpante, you’ll likely rise to the 3rd academic rank with high probability. You’ve racked up too many eye-catching achievements. Know what that means?”
A mischievous smile played on Elnor’s face.
“You’ll soon be in the ‘upper ranks.’ Treated the same as frontline forces. The events you’ll face in the academy from now on will enter a completely different phase from before.”
“...”
Meaning.
“New incidents, opportunities, and countless experiences will come your way. And.”
A sharp turn.
Our bodies pressed close in the dance move, and Elnor whispered sweetly into my ear.
“Each time, I’ll claim that ‘first.’ Just like now, taking your ‘first dance.’”
“...”
“Consider it revenge for stealing my heart.”
Well.
What to say to that.
“...A terrifying revenge.”
Utterly like her.
As I smiled wryly at the thought.
[Yeah. But hearing this, we really can’t let it slip.]
‘Huh?’
[There’s one ‘first’ even she hasn’t taken, right?]
‘...’
[If she finds out who took your virginity...]
Well, yeah.
No good answer comes to mind no matter how I think about that one.
‘...We’ll worry about that later, Kaliban.’
Replying that, I focused on dancing with Elnor on stage for now.
She’d clearly gone all out on her appearance for this. Couldn’t disappoint her.
Fortunately, even with my clumsy skills, her lead made the movements flow smoothly.
‘...Another crisis averted without a hitch, huh.’
And like the dance.
The incident seemed resolved for the moment.
Honestly, I’d been on edge ever since the invitation to the Tristan Duchy, fearing some major disaster, but it hadn’t been that bad—relief.
“...”
Maybe.
The only lingering unease.
Was the Emperor watching me and Elnor dance on stage with suspiciously keen interest.
Almost.
Like he envied us. With a hint of longing.
“...”
Cecilia XI.
Kept that air about her until the party ended.
●
“How was the outing, Your Majesty?”
The question floated over as he walked silently, leaning on his cane.
The Sword Saint, seated on the coachman’s perch with whip in hand near the carriage, asked.
The Emperor stared blankly at him.
Lost deep in thought. Just gazing without a word.
“...Your Majesty?”
Rad furrowed his brow slightly and asked again.
“Rad.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Listening.”
“Have you ever attended school?”
An odd question.
But not hard to answer.
“No. I was raised in the knight order, so I never had the chance.”
“I see.”
The Emperor chuckled softly and continued.
“Neither have I.”
“...”
After a moment of silence, the Sword Saint ventured another question.
“May I ask why you’re suddenly curious about that?”
“They looked happy. Elnor, I mean.”
“...Did they?”
The Sword Saint’s voice carried a hint of unease.
He could speak confidently because he was always by her side.
But Cecilia XI was the type to casually commit shocking eccentricities that stunned those around her.
And the aura she exuded now was right on the verge of one.
“Rad.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“If I went to school... could I form such a wonderful bond with someone?”
“...Pardon?”
Rad’s voice dripped with chills as he responded.
No way.
The Emperor, ruler of the Empire.
Was she seriously saying she’d enroll in an imperial educational institution now?
A total disaster worse than the supreme commander enlisting as a grunt...!
“Just thinking aloud.”
“...”
“An Emperor going to school would be the height of farce. Elpante would faint en masse. Politically problematic too.”
“...Indeed, as expected.”
He forced a smile in reply.
Good. The Emperor wasn’t that far gone—relief.
“Then... if I went not as the Emperor...”
“...”
“...Hmm.”
“...”
“Hm. Hm. Perhaps...”
Rad squeezed his eyes shut.
For him, it was undoubtedly an act of God.
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