Chapter 129
Chapter 129
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 129
Chapter Title: Epilogue: Magical Girl, Knight, and Agent -1
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Imperial capital, Crown Hall, "Inner Circle."
Viscount Benston's villa. Code name: "Drug Den."
Around 10:30 p.m.
"......"
Viscount Benston's banquet was held on an unprecedented scale. Under the pretext of celebrating his son's birthday, he had invited nobles from even the farthest reaches, making it nearly twice as large as before.
With Crown Hall as his central stronghold, Viscount Benston struggled to exert influence over provincial nobles. There was a subtle rivalry between capital nobles and those from the provinces, and above all, the physical distance made it hard to "persuade" them with drugs.
When bodies are far apart, hearts grow distant too—that's the natural order, isn't it?
Moreover, the viscount's banquet didn't carry enough prestige to draw provincial nobles in droves. Normally, they would have made excuses about pressing matters and politely declined.
But this time, the timing was perfect.
First Princess Elaine was soon returning from the eastern front. She had recently achieved great merit alongside her direct unit, the Azure Wind Knights, and was set to return to the capital briefly to receive the emperor's commendation.
To celebrate, nobles from across the nation flocked to the capital. They wanted to make their faces known to the person most likely to become the next emperor.
Viscount Benston aimed to exploit this gap in the market. Nobles who had come early to await the First Princess would surely attend his banquet while they were at it.
For the viscount, this was a chance to expand his business.
If he could spread the drugs among the provincial nobles at this banquet, he could wield meaningful influence over them. It would aid his future plans... and of course, bring in money.
Hahaha. Hohoho. Pretentious laughter filled the ballroom.
And weaving through the crowd was a servant. His eyes were sharply piercing like an awl, but the deep-brimmed hat concealed them, keeping him inconspicuous.
His name was Roderus.
The plan was simple.
Infiltrate Viscount Benston's room or the study of the "drug pusher" Zwidi Benston and gather evidence. There was sure to be something valuable inside.
To do that, he needed a disguise. Fortunately, Roderus had the ability to change his gender. He'd use that.
Wait for the right moment → Transform into a pentasapling at an opportune time → Knock out one of the cleaning maids and swap clothes → Infiltrate.
During the operation, use his "Duplicate" ability to create an alibi. Leave a mana duplicate in Roderus's form and wrap things up as quickly as possible.
If everything went according to plan, he'd extract the materials cleanly and avoid suspicion. There were risks, of course, but it was worth them.
And all this had to be finished before the ball ended. Roderus estimated it would wrap up around 2 a.m.
Three hours and thirty minutes left.
First step of the plan... seize the opportunity.
The perfect timing would be when Zwidi Benston was working his schemes on the provincial nobles. Roderus blended in among the servants, carrying wine glasses and food, biding his time.
He listened carefully to the voices. He'd know it when he heard it.
"Milady, may I have this dance? No, milady... you even wore such a fine cape on purpose!"
"That guy's a dud, it seems. What's the point of being rich if he's that arrogant?"
"Hahaha! Exactly. I got my hands on some truly rare herbs, and once you try them, day or night, nothing holds you back..."
"Ahem, ahem..."
Amid the crowd's clamor, he caught the sound of tongues wagging. He focused. The moment the viper struck its prey, Roderus would move too.
"How can I get that handsome knight to notice me?"
"But no side effects, right?"
"If you like, I can show you, my lord. The similarity between parties and beds... is that they both need a lovely lady. If you wish, tonight—"
"Ugh, this dress feels so unfamiliar..."
Not yet. But the timing was close. Once the deal was sealed and they delved deeper...
"......?"
He could've sworn he heard a familiar voice just now. Roderus quietly turned his head.
There, amid the crowd, was Kim Lulu fidgeting in a lavishly dressed-up gown, glancing around.
"Why is she here...?"
Roderus blinked, glanced toward Zwidi Benston, then back at Lulu. A brief moment of hesitation.
Opportunity or friend.
Roderus chose his friend. He slipped through the crowd like a shadow and reached her side. Their eyes met.
As he opened his mouth to ask why she'd come to such a dangerous place—
Lulu's eyes lit up with joy and delight, her whole body expressing it as she stretched out her arms and shouted.
"Pentasapling!!"
Roderus pressed a finger to his lips.
"Quiet."
"...Pentasapling...!"
"I said be quiet from now on—no need to repeat it quieter. So, why the hell are you here?"
"Well, after we met at that dessert cafe, and then the third chase ensued, you know that guy Ronald in the Capital Knights? The one with the mustache. Lately, I've been hanging out with him..."
Kim Lulu started explaining her entire story from A to Z, but Roderus covered her mouth. Too many people around.
"...Just follow me for now."
Roderus led Lulu naturally out of the ballroom.
Viscount Benston's villa, second floor, B-3 balcony.
Around 10:50 p.m.
Roderus and Lulu reached the empty balcony. It was far from the noise, bathed in soft moonlight—a rather romantic spot.
Below, in the midnight garden, drunks wandered about, but if they kept their voices low, it wouldn't carry down.
Lulu pressed a hand to her pounding chest and looked up at Roderus.
"Um... hi? I tried dressing up a bit—how do I look?"
"...You know this isn't the time for that, right?"
"Then when is?"
"Why are you here?"
Faced with Roderus crossing his arms in stern mode, Lulu pouted sullenly and grumbled her answer. In this mode, his nagging power was maxed out.
Better to answer honestly and avoid a lecture.
"Ronald said this place is super suspicious. His team's investigating, but if things go south, a fight might break out. He told me to sneak in and flip the table if needed."
"Our operations overlap... I was planning to extract some documents myself. This is a drug den."
"Vigilante stuff?"
"Something like that. Kim Lulu, if I request cooperation on this... think the Capital Knights would agree?"
Lulu pondered, then shook her head.
After so many incidents, the rift between Magical Girl Pure Knight and the Capital Knights had grown irreparable.
It stemmed from the horrific damage during Roderus's escapes. Lulu said solemnly,
"If you hadn't burned off Ronald Mustache's facial hair, it might've been fine, but after he went clean-shaven in that last chase... he's pretty pissed."
"I shaved that filthy mustache for him, and no thanks?"
A middle-aged man's grudge over losing his identity runs deep. Cooperation on this op seemed unlikely.
Even with the same goal, uncoordinated action could spark trouble. The knights would try to capture him, and he'd have to resist.
Nor could he support the knights invisibly. Pulling out entirely felt like a waste.
With the influx of guests creating chaos and gaps in security, this was the perfect moment to crush Viscount Benston's drug trade. Too good an opportunity to pass up.
Glancing at his watch: just under three hours left.
Time to push the plan. Dawdling would only increase the risks as time wore on.
As the night deepened and nobles passed out drunk or left the ballroom one by one, the ratio of Benston's forces and their bought allies in the villa would rise.
Fewer eyes meant... they could get aggressive.
He had to move. Tell Lulu to enjoy the party and stick to the plan.
As Roderus resolved this and fiddled with his transformation device, the balcony door burst open. A servant wheeled in a cart.
"Excuse me. Thought you might want some refreshments."
"......!!"
A noble lady alone on the balcony with a young servant. It could lead to unnecessary misunderstandings—like a tryst across class lines.
Roderus quickly composed himself, acting the part of a mere servant. As if he'd stepped out briefly on a noble's orders.
"......"
"Uh, uh? Should I speak? Oh, uh. No thanks, we don't need snacks... Huh?"
Roderus and Lulu narrowed their eyes at the servant's familiar features. Voluptuous figure, pink ponytail. Yellow eyes hiding a beastly ferocity.
They knew her name.
"...Yuri Frostlover?"
"H-How are you here?!"
Shing—!
Roderus stepped forward protectively, gripping his transformation device. Lulu clenched her fists, pulling out her power armor summoner from her pocket.
As tension peaked, the Four Heavenly Kings of the evil organization adjusted her glasses and slowly drew an ID from her bosom. Click.
A magically sealed seal from the Imperial Defense Bureau. She said calmly,
"Yuri Lanster. Here, I'm a Defense Bureau agent. Long time no see, 'Pure Knight.'"
"...D-Defense Bureau agent!!"
"We said all the evil organization's executives were otherworlders... From our world, huh. Yuri Frostlover."
Kim Lulu and Roderus sharpened their edges at the arrival of a former foe. But Yuri Lanster just shrugged nonchalantly.
"Wasn't that all a dream? Besides, we were the losers. If you've claimed victory but can't let go of grudges... well, can't be helped."
"......"
"You're after Benston, right? So are we at the Bureau. I think we can find common ground."
She extended her hand.
If it were Eternal Dark, who contributed to Lulu's death, there'd be no compromise—that hatred ran too deep. But Yuri Frostlover...
Aside from the tentacles' lecherous deeds on the magical girls, she'd never caused casualties or attacked civilians.
And if she really was a Bureau agent, this was an opportunity. A chance to take down Benston in one blow. But... but...
"Oh, hesitating because of those tentacle memories?"
Roderus's berserk button was hit; he raised his voice.
"...Shut up! One suspicious move, and I'll smash your head!"
"Even if you bare your fangs, knowing your erogenous zones from end to end, it just sounds like a kitten in heat—"
"I'll kill you...!!"
"Hold on, hold on, Sapling!! She's the nice big sis who massages you every time!!"
After Kim Lulu barely restrained Roderus—his male pride deeply scratched—he ran a hand through his hair, sighed, and relented.
"No choice... Temporary alliance this time."
"Don't drag us down, Magical Girl."
Estimated time limit remaining: three hours.
A dramatic temporary alliance was forged.