Chapter 130
Chapter 130
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 130
Chapter Title: Epilogue: Magical Girl, Knight, and Agent - 2
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Viscount Benstone's villa, 3rd floor, cleaning maid supply room.
Around 11:20 PM.
"In that case, I'll gather the evidence and handle things through the Defense Bureau."
"If you pick up scraps and still fail to nail Viscount Benstone, you'd better be prepared."
"If the evidence is solid, we can bulldoze him. We'll handle the political side cleanly, so the Capital Knights Order just needs to cover the physical takedown."
"Just leave the remains, right?"
Negotiations concluded.
With the most critical part of the collaboration—who gets the credit—resolved surprisingly smoothly, the operation kicked into high gear.
The basic framework adopted Roderus's plan. The trio had slipped into the supply room and changed into spare maid outfits.
"Transform."
Two women and one man went in, but only three women came out.
Yuri Lanster straightened her maid uniform, which was tight in certain areas, then noticed something and asked Odaesu.
"Looks like the owner of this mansion is quite the lecher."
"...Why do you say that?"
"This maid outfit looks normal at first glance, but it's designed with structural weak points. Target the ribbon at the small of the back, and it comes off in one pull."
"...Why are you only thinking about that?"
Yuri Lanster wagged her index finger. If you don't want it stripped off, guard the ribbon, she said. Sensing a chill, Odaesu reinforced the ribbon at her waist with mana.
"What's the security setup like in the mansion?"
"Normally, soldiers patrol in pairs, but the party's size bumped it down to singles. Plus, manpower's concentrated at the ballroom packed with nobles."
"What about magical traps? Rich nobles always set a few."
"They're on key points: the viscount's room, Zwidi Benstone's room, underground drug vault. Won't open without pre-registered mana, and sirens go off."
Magic doors, huh. Yuri Lanster ran through options.
Kidnap Viscount Benstone or Zwidi Benstone to make them open it. → That's not infiltration; it's a declaration of war. If that was the plan, they'd have gone full assault already. Rejected.
Deactivate the trap instantly with fancy mana manipulation. → Possible for heaven-sent geniuses or mad wizards, but not her. Rejected.
Infiltrate through an untrapped entrance. → This one. Punch through the floor from above, tie a rope around the waist for anchoring, slip into the room.
Thinking that far, Yuri Lanster asked Odaesu. If he knew about the traps, he'd have a way through.
"How do you plan to breach it?"
"I'm registered for the magic traps, obviously. Even if I got demoted for mission failure, I'm still from Duke Redburn's household, the viscount's boss."
"Whoa."
This is why insiders make things so much easier!
As Yuri Lanster marveled at the mystical benefits, Kim Ruru grabbed Odaesu's hand with flushed cheeks and tugged excitedly.
"Kim Ruru, what?"
"I, I wanna try being a secret agent like that too!"
Thump-thump. Kim Ruru's heart raced fiercely. Not from love this time, but pure fantasy.
Sunglasses-wearing government agents infiltrating, cracking secret vaults, escaping amid explosions—how thrilling those movies had been.
"This isn't the time to fool around... Haa. Fine. Uh, so, Agent Kim Ruru?"
"Yes!!"
"I'd like to assign you rear guard in case of emergencies..."
"Halt. Patrol ahead."
Yuri Lanster raised a fist for the stop signal. Odaesu, mid-play with Ruru, hardened his expression and assessed quickly. The three hid around the corner.
"This doesn't match the patrol route I scouted. Change of plans?"
"Looks like that soldier's off-script. Face red like he's drunk, can't walk straight. Probably strayed from route while wasted."
"Take him down?"
"Deceive and pass. Less noise, the better."
Odaesu and Yuri Lanster schooled their faces, casually pushing a cart down the hall. Kim Ruru went uh, eek, flailing before scurrying after.
"Hic, heeey?"
The drunk soldier eyed them with boozy gaze, then squinted.
"This ain't the party hall. Where you headed...?"
Yuri Lanster's expression bloomed like a flower.
Gently slanted eyes, soft voice laced with nasality. Every move exuded grace with a hint of allure.
"We're off to attend late-night duties, sir. You know how it is—some services are needed deep into the night."
"But... new faces..."
"We worked at another of the viscount's estates. Came here 'cause they needed hands... Probably first time meeting you, handsome soldier."
Clack. Yuri Lanster stepped closer, straightening his collar. Overwhelmed by her seductive scent, the soldier floundered, face beet-red.
"Busy tonight, but... we might meet again. Excuse us."
"Uh, y-yeah..."
Clack-clack.
Yuri Lanster led Ruru and Odaesu away. The soldier stared entranced at the trio's backs, then shook his head and resumed his route.
Out of sight, Yuri Lanster dropped her mask and muttered.
"We'll meet again—in prison."
"...Classic honey trap."
"Kim Ruru, straightening a man's collar or tie scores big points. Reference it next chance."
"Don't teach Ruru weird stuff...!"
Kim Ruru mentally noted: Next time with Roderus: Fix his collar.
The three smoothly cleared the hurdle and reached Viscount Benstone's room. As a hand neared the knob, a green magic circle floated up, scanning mana.
"Step back. I'll open it."
Odaesu infused mana, unlocking it. Click! The door swung easily.
Shh. Well-oiled hinges were silent. Beyond: a large bed, bookshelves, decorations.
"Divide and search. I'll take the bookshelves."
"I'll do the decorations."
"Wh-what about me?! What do I do?!"
"You... check the bed. Something might be under the pillow."
Search began. Yuri Lanster methodically pulled books, checked contents, replaced identically—mechanical precision.
Odaesu moved fast, prioritizing speed over traces, checking for hidden passages or artifacts.
Kim Ruru poked around like a middle-schooler in an escape room.
About 10 minutes later, conclusions.
"Nothing."
"Nope."
"Hey, I found something like a magic wand!!"
Whirr. Odaesu quietly snatched the nighttime "wand" spinning in Kim Ruru's hand and tossed it back.
"Why?!"
"Not evidence. Anyway... Viscount Benstone doesn't handle business himself."
"Right. Zwidi Benstone? Probably delegated drug ops to him."
"...His office is on the 4th floor. Move."
Viscount Benstone's villa, 4th floor, in front of Zwidi Benstone's office.
Around 12:10 AM.
The trio confirmed Zwidi Benstone was still at the ballroom, then tried entry. But.
Beep.
The green circle rejected Roderus. Odaesu gritted her teeth.
"That bastard..."
"What happened?"
"Had a falling out with Zwidi Benstone. He must've blacklisted my mana pattern."
"No alarm went off... Small mercy."
The insider lock they'd expected to breeze through became a snowball from past grudges.
"Now what? Should I just blast it open?"
"No. Need to breach undetected if possible. Even if we grab evidence for the report, if they catch on... the Capital Knights will move before we secure it, and he'll destroy everything."
"Report fails big time then. He's under Duke Redburn's protection."
"Any... way around?"
As Odaesu and Kim Ruru fretted gravely, Yuri Lanster pondered, then pulled her cheat key.
"There is a way. But you must keep it secret."
"...If it gets us through, mum's the word. Whatever it is."
"I know a wizard. The best among my circles. The world calls him the 'Mad Wizard.' We'll get his help."
"...Where does this guy live that we can just ask, and wait—is that safe?"
A person nicknamed Mad Wizard?
Odaesu and Kim Ruru imagined a raving lunatic mage, wondering if they should stop her now.
"Connecting comms now. Quiet."
Pingvales closed her eyes. She was attempting long-range comms, a byproduct of remote TRPG research via dreams.
Using dream demon traits to route signals through dreams. A wait later, connected to the Academy's Mad Wizard.
"Need help, Mad Wizard. Disarm a magic trap silently, no traces."
The Mad Wizard peered through Pingvales's eyes, calculated instantly, and dictated the solution.
"OK. Copy that."
Beep.
Neatly packaged memory data arrived via dream. Pingvales placed her hand on the circle, moved mana: left, right, left.
The circle reacted to unauthorized mana, glowing red, prepping alarm.
Kim Ruru gulped nervously; Odaesu readied her rapier. If alarm, fight through.
But Yuri Lanster stayed calm. Mad Wizard wouldn't err; she just had to execute.
Zzt. Exploit vuln, access core. Stream Mad Wizard's data.
Whiiiin──!!
Circle turned crimson, on verge of mansion-wide intruder alert.
Beep!
It flipped green, recognized Yuri Lanster, unlocked. Click.
"Haaa..."
Kim Ruru melted in relief.
"No time to melt, Kim Ruru. Op not over, no key evidence yet. Search!"
"Entering. I'll take left."
Thud. Door open. Room empty, messy: rolling bottles, scattered papers.
Yuri Lanster and Odaesu moved fast, rifling for drug trade proof. Kim Ruru spaced out briefly, then rolled up sleeves to join.
She wanted to do something cool too. Something awesome...
"In movies, it's always..."
Kim Ruru sneaked over, lifted carpet. Secret safe revealed. She yelped in joy, jumping.
"I, I found the safe!!"
"...You did?!"
Yuri Lanster dropped mine labor docs; Odaesu ditched Zwidi's drug collection scan. They rushed to Ruru.
"I figured it'd be here, so I lifted like this—bam!!"
"Good job. Great—so tone it down while excited, Ruru."
"Mithril alloy safe. Can't open by hand; needs key."
"Zwidi's dumb, but carries vital keys. Or take safe whole..."
Can't open by human strength.
"......"
"......"
Yuri Lanster and Odaesu eyed Kim Ruru. Superhuman outside human limits right there!
Under expectant gazes, Ruru shyly averted eyes.
"Sh-should I... open it...?"
"Please."
Grrrrrind.
The living heavy machine ripped the safe free. Inside: gems, ledger. Yuri Lanster skimmed it.
Simple verdict.
"We hooked the big one. Who, how, what deals—all documented."
"That enough?"
"Yes. Plenty to bury Benstone. Well done, Magical Girl 'Pure Rodeo'."
"Hee, hehe...!!"
Yuri Lanster ruffled Kim Ruru's hair wildly. Odaesu, queasy and jealous, swatted her hand, yanked Ruru over.
"......"
"......"
As subtle rivalry brewed.
Zwidi Benstone's voice from outside.
"My room's full of great stuff! Awesome... drugs too. Low-grade in storage, high-end here."
"Touring another noble's collection is delightful. Grateful for the invite."
"...!!"
Odaesu and Yuri Lanster scanned: under bed, window, ceiling corner, desk bottom, closet.
Closet?
Eyes met, nodded. Yuri shut safe, reset carpet; Odaesu tucked Kim Ruru under arm, into closet.
"Eek...!!"
"Quiet."
Yuri squeezed in too. Door shut. Darkness fell. Then, she spotted sharp pure-love glare.
Flirty with pretty girls or not, Yuri Lanster was pure-love core. She deliberately shoved Odaesu with her back.
"You...!!"
"Tight space. You two, get closer."
"Already plenty close...!!"
"Gap between navels, no?"
You call that a gap?!
Squish-squish.
Forced tight, no space left—even heartbeats through pressed chests.
Ruru whispered.
"I-I'm... fine...!"
"Don't say that now...!"
"Shh."
Yuri Lanster, stirring man-woman storm, peeked through closet crack. Zwidi hawked drugs, opening box.
"This one's... one pill keeps you going three days and nights..."
"Hoo..."
Buyer: bushy-bearded middle-aged man. Desperate for male pride revival.
"...?"
Yuri Lanster inhaled deeply. Familiar scent: drugs.
Dream-Lure Pill.
Or, Succubus Invitation.
Refined succubus fluids; induces deep sleep, opens mind for dream demons.
Smell suggested top purity.
Only succubus queen fluids make this grade.
Cold fury in Yuri Lanster's eyes. Unexpected harvest. Didn't expect this lead here.
How she'd longed to tear those limbs.
Now, chain Zwidi, leisurely trace drug source. Right now—
Whispered butterfly voice in ear. Yuri closed eyes, deep breath. Right—Violet Magic Tower Master watching. Op ongoing.
"...Fine."
Lips only, message sent.
Wait quietly. Quietly.
Till heart settled.
Viscount Benstone's villa, 1st floor, garden.
Around 12:40 AM.
Yuri Lanster waved the ledger.
"Sending this straight up the chain for max speed. Need protection, Roderus?"
"Nah. Don't tell anyone. Can't risk Duke's suspicion."
"...I'll protect Odaesu! Like always!"
"...Thanks, Kim Ruru."
Kim Ruru had always created openings whenever Capital Knights chased "Blue Rose," letting him slip.
Problem: fueled rumors he was transcendence-level powerhouse, driving him nuts.
"See you at the raid then. Won't take long. If Second Prince Irid takes it seriously, could move at dawn. Prepare."
"Roger."
Yuri Lanster nodded, melted into night. Just two left. Kim Ruru glanced slyly.
"...Ti-time left? Wanna dance?!"
"...Guys ask for dances."
"O-Odaesu's a girl!"
"I meant—not that...!!"
She blew it.