A Feather's Weight
Having successfully slipped into the Seirel estate with Kazar, we stood before the entrance of the banquet hall. The knight guarding the entrance bellowed:
"Announcing the arrival of Lady Uplain!"
Click. The arched double doors swung open, revealing the grand party inside.
A magnificent chandelier hung from the ceiling, casting a warm glow over tables laden with the finest delicacies. Nobles stood in clusters, sipping champagne and murmuring in low, polite tones.
Not a single soul spared us a glance. It seemed the arrival of Kazar was of little consequence to this crowd.
"No one is even looking our way," I muttered.
"My family doesn't have much influence," Kazar replied.
"Aren't you a local barony serving under the count?"
"We don't have money."
Ah, of course. That was the crux of the matter. This territory felt all too familiar—a place of relentless, unchecked capitalism. A world that ignored the penniless and fawned only over those who could turn a profit.
Where wealth is the ultimate power.
Then again, was it really any different anywhere else? The packaging might change, but the core of this society was always driven by self-interest.
"Point out Count Seirel to me."
"Do you see those people laughing loudly up on the second-floor balcony?"
I followed Kazar's pointing finger. A group of middle-aged men stood there, boisterously chatting with champagne flutes in hand.
"See the one in the navy suit?"
"Yeah."
"That's Count Seirel."
Given his reputation, I had expected a grotesque, pig-like man dripping with visible greed. Instead, he looked remarkably ordinary—just an average middle-aged man you could find on any street corner.
"I'll handle the rest. Go enjoy the party."
"Fine. But it's a shame. I really wanted to kill him with my own hands."
Kazar's eyes flashed with a murderous intensity. Just how much resentment had she bottled up against him?
"I'll go put a nice, big hole in his chest, so cool your head while I'm gone."
"You absolutely cannot fail, okay?"
"I know."
Leaving Kazar and her anxious gaze behind, I swapped my mask for a rabbit one and made my way up to the second floor. I walked straight up to Count Seirel.
"Count Seirel."
"...And who might you be?"
Hmm, how should I introduce myself? I'll just use the second male lead's name.
"I am an envoy sent under the orders of the young master of the Freiden Marquisate."
"Ho? Do you mean Asil Freiden?"
"Indeed."
Count Seirel's eyebrows twitched with interest.
"What business would the young master of Freiden have sending an envoy all the way here?"
"He wishes to propose a business venture to you, Count Seirel."
"A business venture...?"
"Yes. He mentioned it is a venture that can only be facilitated through the Seirel Barony."
"A venture facilitated through my territory? I'm not sure I follow."
Count Seirel furrowed his brow, his lips twisting in skepticism. He was clearly suspicious. I quickly added more bait.
"It is an arrangement where you won't have to lift a finger to turn a massive profit. Think of it as a sort of transit toll."
Only then did a spark of genuine curiosity light up Count Seirel's eyes.
"Shall we move to a private lounge to discuss the details? There are too many prying eyes and ears here..."
"Very well. Since it involves a profitable venture, I shall hear you out."
He really was a man utterly blinded by greed. He didn't even bother to verify if I was truly an envoy from the Freiden Marquisate before eagerly leading the way to a lounge.
He probably hasn't even considered the possibility that someone would dare assassinate him in his own home.
That arrogance would be the greatest—and final—mistake of his life.
"Let us go inside."
Count Seirel and I stepped into an empty parlor.
Thud. The heavy, soundproofed door clicked shut behind us.
Count Seirel sank into a plush sofa and tilted his head expectantly.
"Now, let us begin the real discussion."
Instead of sitting, I stood before him, a cold smirk spreading across my face beneath the mask.
"...Why are you standing there like that?"
I reached into my pocket and pulled out a feather pen.
"Count Seirel. From this moment on, I will be the one asking the questions."
The count tilted his head, his brow furrowing in confusion. I continued.
"You exploited the people of your barony to line your own pockets. Is that correct?"
"...What nonsense are you spouting all of a sudden?"
"Blinded by lust, you framed innocent women and took them by force. Is that also correct?"
The count's eyes widened in sheer shock.
"How on earth do you know about...!"
It seemed Kazar's claims were entirely true. I had only thrown out the accusation to test him, but his immediate, guilt-ridden reaction confirmed everything.
"Who sent you?! Guards! Is anyone out there?!"
"Shout all you want. It's useless. We are in the parlor, after all."
Count Seirel flinched as realization dawned on him. Parlors in banquet halls were designed for private trysts, meaning they were meticulously soundproofed. No matter how loudly he screamed, no one would ever hear him.
"Consider yourself lucky that I'm the one killing you. Unlike Kazar, I'll make it quick."
"Kazar...? Don't tell me you were sent by the Uplain family?!"
I shrugged and channeled my Aura into the feather pen in my hand.
Clang! With a sharp, metallic ring, a vibrant blue light enveloped the pen.
"A-Aura?!"
"So you recognize it."
"This is impossible..."
Count Seirel stared at me in utter despair. With a casual flick of my wrist, as if throwing a playing card, I launched the pen at him.
Whoosh! The feather pen tore through the air like a deadly arrow.
It silently pierced straight through Count Seirel's abdomen. The force of the blow was so immense that it left a fist-sized crater in the stone wall behind him.
"Cough...!"
Clutching his stomach with trembling hands, Count Seirel looked down in disbelief. A moment later, a torrent of blood erupted from the wound. He collapsed to his knees, his head slumping heavily against the floor.
Time to get out of here.
I quickly swapped back to my cat mask and slipped out of the parlor. I scanned the hallway, but it was completely deserted. To avoid any latecomers, I hurried down to the first floor.
I scanned the banquet hall. Kazar was busy piling various delicacies onto a plate. I walked over to her.
"Kazar."
"Oh, you're back. How did it go?"
"It's done. We need to leave now."
Kazar nodded silently. We slipped out of the banquet hall without drawing any attention.
As we walked away from the mansion's entrance, Kazar whispered:
"Where did you throw the pen?"
"His stomach."
"Aw, how boring."
"Where did you want me to throw it, then?"
"You know where without me having to say it."
She was far more terrifying than I had initially thought.
"So, are you coming with me to the Duke's mansion now?"
"Yes. But before that, there's something I must do."
"What is it?"
"Follow me."
I followed Kazar. She led me to a small warehouse situated adjacent to the count's mansion.
"What are we doing here?"
"You'll see."
Click. With practiced ease, she used magic to unlock the warehouse door.
Inside, there was nothing but thick layers of dust. Kazar crouched down without a word and pulled on something hidden on the floor.
Rumble. A trapdoor leading underground swung open.
"What is this place?"
"This is where the victims of Count Seirel are kept."
He was an even viler piece of trash than I had imagined. Absolute lunatic. I was glad I killed him.
"Let's go down."
Kazar conjured a small flame in her palm to light our way. As we descended the stairs, rows of iron-barred prison cells came into view.
This place looks just like where I was kept when I was captured as a slave.
The painful memory made my eyes sting with unshed tears.
Kazar spoke in a quiet voice.
"This was Count Seirel's little hobby."
She walked down the corridor, unlocking the cells one by one with her magic. Inside were women of all ages, stripped of their clothes and dignity.
"Everyone! Count Seirel is dead! You are all free!"
She shouted, but the response was hollow silence. The women merely stared back with vacant, lifeless eyes.
Kazar shook her head and let out a heavy sigh.
"I should have saved them sooner."
"There was nothing you could have done back then."
"I know, but still..."
The women began to crawl out of the cells slowly. Every single one of them was gaunt, pale, and entirely devoid of vitality.
"The heir will take good care of them from now on."
"Does he know about this place?"
"Yes. He was actually the one who showed me this dungeon in the first place."
So the heir of the Seirel family knew everything. I turned to Kazar.
"Was the assassination of the count his idea as well?"
"Yes. He told me he couldn't stand by and watch these atrocities any longer, and begged for my help."
So this wasn't just Kazar acting on her own whim. Still, it was fascinating that such a righteous son could be born to such a vile father. Usually, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
"Is our business here finished?"
"We still need to report back to him."
"Make it quick. I'm running out of time."
Kazar nodded.
"Then let's go meet him right away."
Using flight magic, Kazar and I slipped through a window of the count's mansion. Inside, a young man sat in a chair, quietly reading a book.
"Is that you, Kazar?"
"Yes."
"And the plan?"
"A success."
Only then did the man turn around. He bore a striking resemblance to Count Seirel, though his demeanor was entirely different. This had to be the heir.
"Who is the person beside you?"
"He is the one who helped execute the plan."
"Where is he from?"
"Well..."
Kazar glanced at me, silently asking for permission. I spoke up in her stead.
"I am from the Descartes Duchy."
"...Descartes? What business would someone from such a place have here?"
"I have my reasons."
"I see."
He stepped forward and offered his hand. Perhaps he wanted to establish a connection, knowing I hailed from the Descartes Duchy.
"I am Eden Seirel."
Ah, so that's his name. Not that it matters to me. I'm just a slave, after all.
"Will you not share your name?"
"I have my reasons for that as well."
"A man of many secrets, I see."
Eden let out a slight sigh of disappointment before continuing.
"I express my deepest gratitude for your efforts. Thanks to you, my father's tyranny has finally been put to an end."
"No, it was only natural as someone who resides in this territory," Kazar replied humbly.
Kazar and Eden exchanged warm smiles. Are they seriously ignoring me to have a moment? I nudged Kazar.
"Kazar. Get to the point."
"Ah, right."
She cleared her throat and turned back to Eden.
"Lord Eden. There is something I must tell you."
"What is it?"
"I plan to leave the Seirel Barony."
"What...?"
Eden's eyes widened in shock.
"Why? Everything is finally about to change for the better..."
"I made a promise to this gentleman."
Eden glared at me. What's with that look? Does he think we're eloping or something?
"It is only temporary, so please do not worry too much. Once I achieve my goal, I will surely return to my hometown."
Eden let out a long, resigned sigh.
"Very well. If that is your wish, I will not stop you. I will rebuild the Seirel Barony into a place of prosperity. I shall await the day of your return."
Kazar bowed politely. I leaned in and whispered to her:
"We don't have a carriage. Ask him to lend us one."
Kazar gave me a look of pure disbelief. Hey, I'm broke, what do you expect me to do? Shaking her head, she turned back to Eden.
"Lord Eden. If it is not too much trouble, could we borrow a carriage?"
"A carriage?"
"Yes. We have a rather long journey ahead of us..."
Eden readily agreed.
"Of course. Do you plan to depart immediately?"
"Yes."
"Very well. I shall have a carriage prepared for you at once."
"Thank you."
Perfect.
"We shall take our leave then."
With a final farewell, we boarded the carriage provided by Eden Seirel.
"Where to, guests?" the driver asked.
"To the Descartes Duchy."
"Understood."
Rumble. The carriage began to roll forward.
I wonder how Franche is doing. I hope nothing went wrong while I was away.
"You look incredibly worried," Kazar noted, tilting her head.
"It's nothing."
"Are you worried about the young lady?"
"..."
"You really are a loyal subject."
Since she wasn't entirely wrong, I remained silent.
"By the way..."
"What is it?"
"Are you really bringing me along just to teach her magic? Or do you have some other motive?"
"I'll tell you later."
"You sure love keeping secrets."
I let out a soft chuckle and gazed out the window. Looking up at the starry night sky, Franche's face drifted into my mind.
The reason I was bringing Kazar back, the reason Franche needed to learn magic... everything was for her sake, and ultimately, for mine.
And in the future...
We would be able to create it—the revolutionary invention that would completely reshape the era of the Empire.