Sweeping Operation (1)
Deep into the night. Bzzz—Elraim woke to the vibration coming from the table.
“……”
It would be nice if it were just her imagination, but the screen showed the exact time he'd left the room. Just one minute ago, no less. That meant the young master would be out any moment now.
Elraim immediately pretended to be asleep. But even after several minutes passed, the sound she'd expected never came. Only the silence of the predawn hours filled the air.
Sensing something off, she expanded her senses to their maximum. Far off in the distance, she felt his mana. In that short time, the young master had left the dorms entirely. Thanks to over three weeks of rigorous training, she'd grown sharp enough to notice.
His evaluations had been improving day by day with that kind of behavior, so why suddenly…?
No. It's not too late to judge after confirming.
Jumping to conclusions was dangerous. She set aside her judgment for now. He might have just stepped out for a walk, after all.
Elraim left her quarters and followed after the young master. No matter how much of a head start he'd gotten, keeping up with him was easy for her.
She observed him from a safe distance. And that's when she noticed something strange. No sounds came from the young master at all. No footsteps, no breathing. Nothing.
A magic tool?
That was her conclusion. He must be using one infused with a silence spell.
When did he…?
She'd confiscated all his magic tools on the day of the trial. He hadn't acquired any since. He had no money for it anyway, and she'd been watching him closely.
The tools he'd bought in the capital yesterday were all for daily use. Nothing with spells like that.
No. Later for that.
First things first—where was he headed? By then, they'd reached the academy's central area. He'd turned off the tool, apparently; his presence was clear now.
The young master paused to take in the surroundings, then headed east. Eventually, near a different section of the walls. He checked the guards at the capital gate, then walked along the wall.
“Around here, I think.”
A quiet mutter. He stopped in front of a tree planted for the academy's aesthetics and felt along it from the bottom. Midway up, he pressed something firmly.
The wall in the center slid open.
What's that…?
Before she could question it, he bolted for the entrance. Elraim followed belatedly, but the door had already sealed shut.
She glanced at the tree he'd touched, then headed for the academy gate.
“You've had a long night.”
“Yes. Business in the capital?”
“Yes, urgent business.”
Urgent won her passage from the guard.
“Thank you.”
Elraim dashed off. Fortunately, the young master wasn't far. He was strolling the streets of the imperial capital. Booze, women, fights—they all caught his eye. But he only glanced before moving on.
Utterly unlike him.
Then he stopped in front of a tavern.
“Ah, beer sounds good.”
He watched someone drinking inside, swallowing hard and smacking his lips.
As if he'd pass it up.
Since enrolling, he'd never gone a day without alcohol. Every three days, he'd pick a fight and end up in holding. The Arden family had bailed him out each time—over fifty incidents, costing more than 10,000 gold coins in bail alone.
Wait. He's just leaving?
But contrary to expectations, he brushed off the temptation and left the street behind.
They arrived at a rundown tavern. Of course, Elraim thought, extending her senses further to eavesdrop inside.
But it was like hitting a wall—no sounds from within. No, the mana flow was blocking any noise from escaping.
“Magic?”
As far as she knew, only magic could produce that effect. Suspicious. Way too suspicious. Magic in a crumbling dump like that? Definitely not your average tavern.
“Come to think of it…”
She'd heard rumors before leaving the family estate—that some group was helping the young master. That place must be their hideout.
Having reached that conclusion, Elraim…
“……”
Closed her eyes quietly.
I was a fool for hoping.
Yeah. That wastrel had always been like this. He'd strike when others let their guard down, stabbing them in the back. Kyle Arden had always operated that way.
A guy who'd wasted his life on debauchery wasn't about to change now.
What was I even thinking, believing in him…?
Elraim regretted it. Holding out even a sliver of hope for him. Believing he'd changed. Agreeing to help him.
She cursed herself for judging him based on just a few weeks together.
…Time to go back.
She wanted to storm in right then, unleash this raging emotion. But she didn't.
Back at the dorm, Elraim installed various devices. Then she lay in bed, waiting for the young master.
A presence approached. Definitely him. But she didn't go out to greet him.
Then a voice.
“Please don't wake up until it's all over.”
Realizing what that meant, Elraim thought: Fine. Admit it. That wastrel has no hope of redemption.
After that, she prepared to deal with him. The family had protocols for cases like this. Even so, she kept watching. He kept up his daily routine, as if still trying to fool her. Each day, he seemed somehow resolute. But now that she knew the truth, even that felt fake.
One dawn, he strapped a sword to his waist. Two days later, he wore a ring. Two more days passed, and she'd finished all preparations to drag him back to the family.
That's when she spotted a pouch at his belt.
Today too…
Third time bringing bribes. He'd really hit rock bottom.
Won't see that face again…
After today, he'd never step outside again. Doomed to rot in the family estate until death.
Elraim steeled herself. Pity would only ruin things. But thinking of him vanishing forever brought back memories—her little brother's smile from childhood, him calling her “sis.”
At least hearing his excuse wouldn't hurt…
She wanted to bury those happy memories under his ugly final act. So she'd never think of him again.
“Young master.”
It was the last thing she could do for the brother he'd once been.
Busted.
And fucked.
That was my first thought when Elraim appeared.
“Young master!!”
When I didn't answer after a few minutes, she shouted louder. The blade bit ever so slightly into my neck, as if to force a response. It burned.
A razor-sharp sword was more than enough to slice flesh just by pressing against it. Push harder, and my head would come off clean, blood spurting from the stump.
I turned slowly, sword still at my throat. Elraim's eyes burned with anger like her voice, but they looked sad too.
“How long have you known?”
“From the first day.”
Damn… She'd known and held back this whole time? Impressive patience.
“How'd you find out?”
“A magic tool that alerts me when you leave the room.”
“Didn't notice that one.”
Makes sense. Predawn Elraim was too defenseless. That's why she could sleep soundly—with that safeguard in place.
“Mind telling me how much you saw? …Feels like everything.”
Her glare said lying wouldn't fly.
“Elraim.”
“…Yes, young master.”
“What happens to me now?”
“From today, you'll… be confined to the family estate for life.”
Good, not dying today at least.
No choice.
Things had gone south; I'd have to take Elraim out of commission. I could overpower her, but with execution tomorrow, I didn't want to waste energy. And I didn't want to hurt her.
I said quietly,
“If there was a reason, would you believe me?”
“Do I look like a fool who'd buy that after seeing you dressed like this?”
“So even bringing this is part of the reason…”
“Young master.”
Her voice dropped low. Her arm trembled with rage.
“That's enough. Don't disappoint me any more than you already have.”
A voice thick with sorrow. She looked ready to burst into tears.
For some reason… it hurt.
My chest tightened. That contemptuous gaze made me ache.
I liked Elraim as a character, but not enough for this level of emotion. This was the body's reaction. Kyle feared her hatred.
Normally, I'd suppress it. But weirdly, I didn't want to reject this feeling. I usually thought following emotions was stupid, but sometimes it was right to go with your gut.
This time, I'd follow my heart.
“…Elraim.”
I took a step forward. She halted me.
“Stop…!”
“Sis.”
She flinched, stepping back. I closed the gap.
Locking eyes, I called again.
“Sis. Just believe me this once.”
“Ugh…”
Elraim turned her head sharply. Her face flushed red.
I pressed on.
“Everything's ready. Just tomorrow—just one more day—and it'll all be over.”
I narrowed the distance. Her sword tip began to quiver.
“So sis, trust me just this once. I can explain everything if you want.”
“Now…?”
Her arm dropped limply, tears welling in her eyes as she spoke.
“Don't you think it's too late for that now…? Kyle…”
Her voice trembled faintly. It stabbed at my heart.
“Sorry…”
That was all I could say. All that would come out. Regret. Kyle's body felt it deeply.
Elraim's eyes widened. Her pupils shook like an earthquake. Her lips moved, but she didn't speak.
I stood still, awaiting her judgment. No movement, no resistance. Just gazing into her eyes.
Click.
The metallic sound rang in my ears. She sheathed her sword. Then she turned away, hiding her broken expression.
“…Go inside, young master.”
Back to her usual tone. I replied,
“Yeah.”
I staunched the cut on my neck and went in. Midway, I called to her.
“Elraim.”
“Yes.”
She paused on her way back to her quarters.
“Good night.”
“Yes.”
Silence settled over the predawn once more. We returned to our rooms.
The next day, things between Elraim and me were awkwardly strained. We barely spoke even before, but now the air was suffocating.
Even Evan, who bumped into Rana and us by chance, noticed. But he played it off.
We finished the day's schedule and returned to the dorms around 11 p.m. Dawn was approaching soon.
Today was the day to sweep out Cantia, so I'd prepared meticulously. I slid the ring all the way to my fingertip so it wouldn't slip. Sword on my left hip, quest rewards—“sneeze powder” and poison pouch—on the right. Top-grade magic stone in my sleeve. Body check complete. All set.
I left the dorms. Elraim was already waiting at the entrance.
“Wait long?”
“No.”
I eyed her gear. Equipped solidly, just like me.
“Young master.”
“Yeah.”
“…You've only been sleeping three hours a day since that night?”
“Yeah. Only time I had was predawn.”
Her expression grew more resolute at my answer. She nodded once and said,
“I'll hear the details on the way.”
I nodded back. Then she followed behind me.
Hmm, this feels…
Reassuring? I'd worried the plan might go awry at first, but now that the day was here, my mind changed. Having an Expert Upper knight along was more reliable than I'd imagined.
Might end even easier.
Yeah, way easier.