Opening Skirmish - 3

"The central district of the inner castle doesn't require much hands-on work, does it?"

"It's already quite well-developed there."

The central district of the inner castle was home to collateral families, knights, and wealthy tycoons, so there weren't many areas that needed attention to begin with. It wasn't the kind of place one could dismiss simply because this was a medieval world. It possessed a beauty and dignity reminiscent of famous tourist destinations from modern foreign countries. Of course, adjustments would be needed there eventually, but it wasn't high on the priority list.

"For now, I'll start with the general districts. Once people grow somewhat accustomed to the new ways, I'll move on from there."

I had plenty of new ideas in mind. Unfortunately, my knowledge of construction and architecture was nonexistent, so I could only provide rough concepts like always and leave the rest to the actual professionals. Some trial and error was inevitable.

"Looking at it this way, there isn't much construction work to be done."

It was natural to have that impression as I walked around with Isabel. With both manpower and time currently in short supply, I couldn't afford to take on too much. I needed to handle what was possible first.

"Still, it looks pretty decent, right?"

"Yes. Widening a single road and separating it into pedestrian walkways and carriage lanes... This should greatly reduce accidents."

Since we'd begun work on the main central street first, the result looked quite impressive. After compacting fresh soil, we'd laid down clean carriageways with sidewalks on both sides designed for people to walk along. Installing streetlights on top of that made this section feel like an entirely different world. The buildings on either side were still the same as before, so it wasn't particularly flashy, but it was a start.

For now, it was merely a minor modification to the narrow roads. Later, I'd have to demolish the adjacent buildings and expand everything on a much larger scale. But for the moment, this was as far as my city-construction simulation could go.

"What about the invitations?"

"They've been sent to all the nobles in the southern region, and we've received replies. Most have said they'll attend. Responses from the central nobles are arriving one by one, though it will take longer for the nobles from other regions to receive theirs."

"Good. Make sure everything is prepared properly. It's not just our honor at stake, but Lady Irina's and the entire Count Boreng family's reputation as well."

"Yes, understood."

I nodded at Isabel, who bowed her head with a visibly tense expression. This was her first time handling an event of this scale, so she couldn't be entirely comfortable with it, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠yet her background as an administrator meant she was carrying out her duties without mistakes. She asked the right questions about anything she didn't know.

"It's almost time."

Of course, considering the travel distances for some nobles, there was still quite a while left by modern standards. By this world's reckoning, however, it wasn't long at all. Some would return home immediately, but for those who stayed, we'd need accommodations, food, music, and more. The Romeo and Juliet performance we'd prepared was part of that effort.

"Everything will go smoothly."

"It had better."

Her attempt to comfort me over what was essentially my first time organizing something on this scale brought a small chuckle from me as I nodded. The two of us were ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠slowly making our way back toward the inner castle when it happened.

BOOM!

"Hmm?"

A heavy sound rumbled from far away. This was...

"Is it from one of the construction sites?"

"No."

I could sense the faint aftertaste of magic power lingering in the air. A hollow laugh escaped me.

"Lord Leoric?"

"Well, this is an interesting side effect."

If this had been before, I would have sensed it more clearly. Was it because it was nighttime? My senses felt dulled. When I looked up, the moon hung in the sky. Naturally, I could still claim sharper senses than most magic users, but feeling them grow blunt in real time was a strange new experience. Then again, moonlight was technically only reflected sunlight, so why this reaction? Or perhaps knowing that fact was why the effect stopped at this level...

"Side effect? Are you alright?"

"Yeah. This is just another burden I have to carry."

I shook my head at Isabel's worried tone. At least there was no immediate major problem. It was only a temporary phenomenon.

"In any case, it seems connected to a magic power user. Shall we go take a look?"

"Wouldn't it be better to send the soldiers..."

"This will be faster."

Under normal circumstances I would have sent soldiers or knights, but since I was already out for a stroll, I figured I might as well see what was happening.

I reinforced my body with magic power and kicked off the ground. I landed lightly atop a building and scanned the direction the sound had come from, adjusting my path according to the lingering traces of magic power.

"That area is..."

Isabel, who had quickly followed me onto the rooftop, began circulating her own magic power in earnest to sharpen her senses. She seemed to have noticed it too, because she was staring in the same direction.

"It's the entertainment district."

"If it's the entertainment district, could it be adventurers causing trouble? But for the sound to carry this far..."

BOOOOOOM!

An even louder crash rang out. At the same time, one of the buildings collapsed within our view.

"Lord Leoric!"

"Ha. This is something."

The corner of my mouth twisted. I didn't know who was causing the commotion, but that bastard was finished.

"Fuck this shit."

The man spat a curse after examining the paper he'd pulled from his chest. He crumpled it and shoved it back inside his clothes.

Release the thing in the basement? Doing so would reveal where it had been kept and that he was the one in charge of the location.

"This is too dangerous."

The message had been wrapped in plausible language, but it was ultimately a disposable order. Support? With the recently tightened inspections, sneaking in was nearly impossible. Most of the bribe-taking soldiers had already been replaced, and he had heard that Triana Müller, the guard captain, was managing the troops with extreme strictness.

Support or no support, he had to run. The organization offered no answers anymore. No matter what that thing downstairs was, he didn't believe it could do anything about that sun.

"If it's come to this..."

Hiding in this city had reached its limit. There had been too many suspicious signs lately. The organization might pursue him if he fled, but staying and getting caught would be worse. Taking only the valuable items and escaping was the smarter move.

When he looked around, the other organization members had already left on their own. Only he remained.

Creak. Creak.

The sound of footsteps on the stairs leading into the shabby basement made him swallow hard. Even he didn't know exactly what was inside. He had seen it a few times, but only his superiors or the people sent by the organization knew the full details.

"Some secret weapon..."

If it was, they should have used it long ago. What good would it do after everything had already gone to hell? Just like his current situation.

"I'll release this bastard, then hide and wait for the right moment to escape. That should work..."

The organization would be distracted dealing with this creature and Müller's movements. The territory would be busy handling the aftermath of the incident, so slipping away shouldn't be a problem.

Yes. That was the plan.

"Running away?"

"Uwaaaaaah!"

In a house where no one should have been, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the sudden voice from behind made the man scream and collapse. Turning with a deathly pale face, he saw a stranger standing there.

"When did the Red Blood become an organization that lets people come and go so easily?"

"Hii, hiiiik! W-who are you?!"

The stranger glanced at the collapsed man with clear disinterest before looking deeper into the house. After a quick scan of the surroundings, his gaze dropped to the floor.

"It's here."

The moment he muttered those words and extended his arm, blue magical light began radiating from his entire body.

"M-magic power! A n-noble...!"

"Ha."

Hearing the startled man's outburst, the stranger turned toward him with clear annoyance.

"You think anyone who uses magic power must be a noble? What an idiot."

Looking at the man like he was trash, the stranger swung his magic-clad arm. With a crunching sound, the floor that had been carefully concealed split open completely. Discovering the staircase leading downward, he began descending slowly.

"You're from the organization! I'm saved!"

Only then did the man regain his senses and scramble after him.

"The lord of this territory isn't human! It's true! During the Blessing of the Earth, that noble really summoned the sun! We have to run, right now!"

"......"

Ignoring the noisy man trailing behind him, he reached the basement. The space resembled an alchemist's workshop, filled with countless chemicals and strange apparatus. His eyes lit up as if he'd found what he was looking for.

"The previous person in charge died meaninglessly, and now there's truly only me left!"

"Then where are the other organization members?"

"Except for the ones who died, the rest have already returned to their own hiding places."

"Is that so? That's fortunate."

After asking only what he needed and picking up a vial from the workbench, the man slowly turned toward the still-babbling fool. In the dark space, only his blue eyes glowed with an eerie light.

"The other members are all idiots who don't even realize they're Red Blood! Even now, you should flee with me... Ugh!"

Cough!

The noisy man clutched his throat. His neck, his neck! Something was strangling him!

"S-save...! Save m..."

As the man trembled and collapsed, the other looked down at him with cold indifference.

"Have you no pride as a Red Blood? To speak of running away so easily. Enlightening fools like you is precisely our mission."

Yes. And those hateful Blue Blood were our sworn enemies.

"This is our first step toward the great mission."

He uncorked the vial and began forcing the man's mouth open.

"Mmph! Mmmph!"

"Your sacrifice moves us one step forward. Congratulations on becoming fertilizer for the great plan. At last, you've found a use."

Even if the gap between us and the nobles remained vast.

Acknowledging that gap, we explore and research. Because that is the power of humanity.

Because before human potential, all things are equal.

And because that is our mission.

"Didn't you join the Red Blood after swearing that very oath?"

"Mmph, mmmph!"

He grabbed the man's hair and lifted his head. Seeing the red pattern engraved there, he nodded.

"Lucky. If there had been only unsworn members left, I wouldn't have been able to run the experiment. It's good that a few remain."

The man's face, staring up in terror, flushed bright red. Eventually, unable to hold his breath any longer, his mouth opened and the chemical slowly poured in.

"Magic power must be equal."

Red Blood were foolish. Blue Blood were arrogant. Magic power ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was the power of possibility that everyone should possess. It was a power that must be claimed equally by all.

Nine of Purple murmured those words and began to carefully observe the transformation unfolding before his eyes.