Outing (2)
“Tch.”
I clicked my tongue once and flopped onto the sofa irritably, pouring all my frustration into the motion.
Thud. An iced glass of liquor appeared before me. Bellum lifted the bottle and poured.
“What’s gotten into our young master today?”
Bellum faced me with a smiling expression. Even as I threw my tantrum, his face didn’t change a bit.
“What’s gotten into me? Is that the bullshit coming out of your mouth right now?!”
Bam! I slammed the table. The plates and bottles rattled.
“Do you even know what kind of humiliation I’ve suffered because of you bastards?! If you’d handled things properly, I wouldn’t…”
I shoved the blame onto them, prodding at their pride. Still, Bellum didn’t drop his smile, playing it cool as ever.
“We didn’t want to fail either. How big was that last job?”
Bellum downed his glass in one go. Dissatisfied with the amount—or maybe with my attitude—he tilted the whole bottle back.
“Kuh~”
With a satisfied groan, he continued in a defensive tone.
“And the princess was involved. Even we can’t take on the Empire.”
“Then you should’ve done better!”
“Young master.”
His voice dropped low. The smile vanished from his face in an instant. I flinched back, feigning fear. Looked like he’d only let it slide once.
“We took a hit too. A whole million gold. Cut us some slack this time.”
Satisfied with my reaction, Bellum reverted to his original demeanor. Then, as if catering to my whims, he made a proposal.
“That said, it’s not like we’re blameless. This was a joint operation between you and us. We should’ve put in more effort on the execution side.”
“Y-yeah. We should’ve kept it hidden from the princess…”
“Exactly~.”
Bellum nodded in agreement. I’d already paved the distribution channels. Supply and management were their responsibilities. In other words, the blame for this mess fell squarely on them.
“So, as compensation—or call it an apology—five times.”
Bellum spread his fingers wide.
“Five free commissions.”
The way he acted like he was doing me a huge favor was pure trash. With the intel I’d provided, they’d already pocketed over five million gold. Typical criminal scum.
“That’s not enough.”
“Our young master’s so greedy~”
“Try saying that in front of the princess.”
In the story, Cantia wasn’t mentioned even once until it clashed with the protagonist. That was possible partly because Kyle had hidden it well, but mostly because Cantia operated so discreetly. One word from me, and these guys were done for. I knew their hideout’s location and the boss’s identity. That was the veiled threat: cough up something more useful, or else.
“Think about the mess you’ve put me in. Do you know how hard it is to keep up the act?!”
Bellum surely had eyes on how I was faring at the academy. No better mark than a cornered fool to squeeze dry.
“Hmm…”
Bellum pretended to ponder. Or rather, put on a show of it. As the head of the organization, he’d already decided, but this was performative theater. Look how much I’m considering you.
“Fine. We’re still standing thanks to your sacrifice.”
Snap! Bellum flicked his fingers. The door opened, and the bartender from earlier placed a pouch on the table.
“A thousand gold. We can’t give more. Take this and go for today.”
“Tch.”
From what I knew, the baseline was five thousand gold. Kyle Arden’s lavish spending demanded it to keep a wastrel satisfied. And now I could see them trying to ease away. Just like in the novel.
“We’re done here.”
I pocketed the gold-filled pouch and stood. My goal today was just to scout the hideout’s layout and Bellum himself.
“The liquor’s right there. Leaving already?”
“Can’t. Being watched.”
“Ah~ That Elraim bitch? Our young master sure slipped out nicely. Want us to… take her out?”
Empty words. He knew the fallout of touching a family knight. It was just for show.
“No need. Shut up and stay quiet until I hand out commissions. The family’s investigating.”
“Got it. We’ll be careful.”
I turned and left the room under the bartender’s guidance. I slipped out of the capital without incident.
“Hoo…”
I took a deep breath of the fresh air. The cave’s stale atmosphere had been suffocating. And Bellum… that drug stench was no joke. Did he partake too?
“Ah, I reek.”
The smell of drugs and booze clung to my clothes. They were new—bought yesterday, technically—so it irked me. This wouldn’t wash out easily…
“Ha…”
Maybe coming was a waste. Still, it solidified my plan for dealing with Cantia. For the record, I’d planned to wipe them out from the moment they approached.
I’d learned a lot from the entrance exam. No matter how quietly I lived, interference would come one way or another. The status window, quests, meeting my brother—they were prime examples. Especially my brother’s appearance; that was off-script. No guarantee it wouldn’t happen again.
So this time, I’d intervene. I’d run the episode in a tightly controlled environment, with zero deviations. That was my plan. To do it, I needed Bellum as my puppet. Control him, and I could shape most scenarios.
“When should I strike…”
I’d gathered plenty of intel. Traps, secret passages, weaknesses—all mapped. Bellum’s current strength too: barely Expert Upper. In the story, he’d just hit Master Assassin when clashing with the protagonist. Manageable now. But I needed prep.
Gear first. The academy’s standard sword wouldn’t cut it against Bellum.
“Maybe snag some via commissions.”
I didn’t plan to profit personally from commissions. I’d donate half this gold secretly, keep the rest for emergencies. Gear was unavoidable, though.
Mulling it over, I reached the exit. Pressing the stone 13 meters away opened the door. I dashed in smoothly.
I walked the academy grounds back to the dorm. Thankfully, Elraim was still asleep.
“Phew…”
If she woke, it’d be trouble. Serious trouble. Her involvement would complicate the Cantia purge.
“Please stay asleep until it’s all over.”
I whispered softly and returned to my room. Then I lay down, closing my eyes for tomorrow’s classes.
At the same time, Cantia hideout.
“We good just leaving him be?”
A subordinate appeared silently behind Bellum.
Gulp. Bellum downed his glass. The earlier smile was gone; his face twisted in a scowl.
“Leave him. Touching him brings nothing good.”
Called the discarded son of Arden, but family all the same. Killing him rashly could stir up trouble. Best to placate and wait now. They’d already extracted most of what he offered. The brat’s value was less than a single gold coin now. He kept the connection only because the kid knew Cantia’s secrets.
“What about the business?”
Bellum asked lowly.
“Progressing steadily. Should wrap in two months.”
“Shorten it. One month.”
“That’ll make fund recovery tough.”
“Better than getting caught.”
The Empire was already hunting them. Add Arden, and it was dire. Capture was inevitable. If Cantia weren’t so discreet—if they hadn’t stayed completely underwater—they’d have been exposed long ago. Time to retreat, losses be damned.
“Hoo…”
Bellum exhaled cigarette smoke. The haze filled the room.
That little shit…
Arrogant wastrel who didn’t know his place. Acting like a king after a bit of flattery. If he’d performed better, none of this would’ve happened.
He’d never expected much anyway. Why scale up based on that fool? They’d shrunk operations from the intel provided—without the idiot knowing.
Five hundred thousand gold’s a bargain.
Cheap for his life.
But I do need to deal with him…
Bellum pondered Kyle’s disposal. Let him run wild for now, but eventually… The wildcard Kyle Arden would bite back someday.
“Anything from that wastrel’s antics?”
“Nothing. He’s quiet since the family expulsion rumors.”
“Tch.”
Bellum clicked his tongue. Would’ve been easy if the fool self-destructed. Nothing but obstacles to the end.
“Report if anything pops up.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Go.”
The subordinate bowed silently and vanished into the ceiling. Bellum kept scheming.
“If worst comes…”
Sowing discord was an option. Plenty of young punks hated the brat. Nudge them, and he’d die easy.
“Or…”
Bellum toyed with the hidden weapon in his bosom. If things went south, kill him outright. Last resort, though.
He drained the rest of his drink.
“Wish that mongrel would just vanish before I have to lift a finger.”
Whatever the method, better if he disappeared on his own.
To eradicate Cantia, I prepared methodically. First, I shifted wake-up to 5 a.m., extending training. Exhausting, but my body adapted fast. It even grew more vibrant.
Daily physical drills stretched sparring to 40 minutes. The professor noticed, grades improving. Unexpected bonus.
I kept part-time and volunteering. In Contract Land, I did morning mana training sans volunteering. No skips.
That routine eased up too. After daily duties, I’d sneak out at dawn for Cantia contact. Every other day.
“So, the stuff I asked for?”
Bellum nodded, and a sword appeared on the table. I drew it from the sheath, inspecting.
Bellum watched, hiding his doubt: Like you know swords.
Better than you, asshole.
I ignored him. Not shoddy—well-balanced, good steel.
“This’ll do? Just one sword?”
“It’ll do.”
“If our young master says so.”
One free commission down. Two days later.
“Commission item?”
“Here.”
Bellum placed a ring. Mana recovery magic tool.
“What’s this even for?”
“To smash someone.”
“Easier to commission us, no?”
“Told you. Family’s sniffing around. And I can handle it.”
“If you say so.”
Nosy questions deflected like that. Next day.
“Need poison. Now!”
“Our young master’s pissed. Should’ve commissioned us.”
Thud. A pouch of poison on the table.
“Careful. Potent stuff. Odorless, colorless—no detection.”
“I’ll make sure…”
I snatched the pouch.
Prep complete.
I bolted from the hideout. Bellum smirked as I left, but I nearly laughed. Clueless it’d all boomerang.
“Now just condition management.”
Dawn escapes wrecked my sleep. Three hours tonight? Mana circulation eased fatigue, but limits existed.
“Yaw~n”
Yawns nonstop. Hurrying to dorm entrance for quick rest.
Then—
Shing— Sword drawn.
No time to turn. Blade at my throat.
A chilling voice followed.
“Young master.”
“Yeah.”
“Where have you been?”
“……”
Silence as answer. Elraim shouted.
“I asked where you’ve been this dawn, young master!”
Killing intent laced her voice. She looked angrier than ever.
“Answer me!!”
And sadder than ever.