Episode 78: Monkey in the Night
A minor commotion had arisen, but the banquet wrapped up without too much fuss. Despite the unexpected hiccup, Catherine had diligently pursued her goal of winning over the mages. Just like Serena, she wanted them on her side.
'She's coming at me head-on.'
After the banquet ended, Ian lay alone in his room, lost in thought. With him—their last hope—unable to heal the baron, an armed clash was all but inevitable.
Ian had three main options: side with Lady Serena, side with Lady Catherine, or leave the baron's lands altogether. Honestly, the third one appealed to him the most.
What did he stand to gain by meddling in their family feud? Nothing, really. Sure, backing a winner might net him money and connections, but those weren't pressing needs. He hadn't even found the mysteries he was after.
Just pack up and head out, dropping Kira off at the academy along the way—that didn't sound half bad.
But that night, something bizarre happened. Something Ian had never experienced before, something utterly shocking.
[Ian woke up!]
[Let's wake up too!]
A rustling noise jolted Ian awake. No sooner had his eyes opened than the Umbrakinesis mysteries started chattering noisily.
"..."
Looks like they'd been playing their corpse games while he slept. It wasn't the first time they'd messed around, so Ian tuned them out.
The real issue was the eerie silhouette silhouetted against the moonlight outside his window.
'...?'
A hunched, human-like shape was peering into his room—straight at him, in fact. It kept swiveling its head, searching for something.
Ian watched for a moment, then realized what was going on.
'Oh. It can't see inside the room.'
The culprit was the Umbrakinesis mysteries frolicking by his side. Their antics had filled the room with pitch-black darkness so thick you couldn't see a hand in front of your face.
The intruder lingered on the windowsill, peering around for a good while before cautiously stepping inside. As the moonlight dimmed, Ian got a clear look.
What had invaded his room in the dead of night was... a monkey.
'??? What the hell?'
Ian was baffled. What kind of monkey breaks into a person's room?
But the truly absurd part hadn't even started yet.
The monkey had a sword strapped to its back. Then, with murderous eyes gleaming, it drew the blade with a smooth shing.
Ian was a level 3 Summoner and could read beasts' intent to some degree. What he sensed from the monkey was pure killing intent.
The spark of absurdity in his mind snuffed out like a candle in a downpour. He snapped to full alertness.
This wasn't some chittering monkey dropping by for a midnight snack. That thing was an assassin—clear as day, sent by someone!
'They sent an assassin? To my room???'
Not some lost, innocent ape, surely? He entertained the silly thought for a split second, but the situation was obvious. Someone had dispatched a monkey assassin to murder him.
For a fleeting moment, an odd thought crossed Ian's mind.
'Maybe I've become a big deal?'
Who would've thought? Facing down an assassin sent by some enemy. Back in his modern life, he'd never have dreamed of it.
But here, he was a renowned mage, respected by all. Someone threatened by his presence had sent this killer to eliminate him—no doubt about it.
Once he'd sized up the situation, cold sweat trickled down his back. Thank the darkness mysteries for their antics; if he'd just been sleeping normally, the assassin would've ended him.
Dying to an assassin while working as a mage? What a pathetic way to go.
Ian pulled himself together. Right. In a world where people got rubbed out at the slightest whim, he'd been too complacent. Thanks for the wake-up call, Umbrakinesis.
[No idea what it is, but Ian seems to like it?]
[If Ian likes it, we like it too!]
As always, the Umbrakinesis mysteries were blissfully brainless, content to goof off by his side like simpletons.
But they'd saved his life. Ian drew Anorilsil and addressed the assassin.
"Who sent you?"
"Keeek!"
The monkey assassin hurled a dagger at the voice, but it sailed harmlessly wide. Ian hadn't spoken from his actual position, of course. He'd used Aerokinesis to distort the sound direction.
Shrouded in utter blackness, he was invisible to the naked eye. Unless it was a bat assassin, anyway.
The monkey's limits were plain. Hearing Ian's voice again, it crouched low, readying its sword.
Ian had zero interest in closing the distance. He wasn't wearing armor, and his sword skills were mediocre at best. He'd lose a duel with that monkey, hands down—get butchered miserably.
Better not to engage clumsily. Keep your distance.
But the assassin couldn't reach him either. Thus began a bizarre standoff.
"Who sent you?"
A predictable question, but Ian asked anyway. Maybe the dumb beast would spill? No such luck—the monkey wasn't that stupid.
"Kik! Kik-kik!"
You don't need to know! Mage! You'll be dead in days!
Ian seriously considered hurling Anorilsil at it, but a miss would turn the whole thing into a farce. He barely held back.
Still, rage bubbled inside him. Me? Die?
"Kik! Kik!"
Mage! Know your place! If you value your life, get out of here without a fuss!
The monkey snarled viciously, then leaped out the window. Ian kicked open the door and yelled,
"Guards!"
"Yes, sir!"
Thanks to the ladies' rivalry, night watch was properly staffed. Useless to him now, though.
"Report to the guard captain. An assassin came to my room."
"An assassin, sir???"
"Yeah. Someone who hates mages..."
Ian trailed off, head snapping up.
The culprit hated mages. And in this castle, there were two.
'Kira!'
"Forget that—follow me!"
"Y-yes, sir!"
Ian bolted to Kira's room, dragging the guard. The Umbrakinesis had saved him, but Kira? Could a fake mage fend off an assassin?
"Kira!"
He burst in and locked eyes with her. Thank god—she was alive. But a dagger protruded from her right arm.
"..."
"..."
Her first move, even with the dagger in her arm? Cleaning up the room.
She was frantically tidying, blood dripping everywhere—desperate to hide her "mage tools" from prying eyes.
"Go fetch the guard captain. And Belenca if you can."
"Right away!"
Ian sent the guard off and approached Kira. Her state drew a wry chuckle.
Even on the brink of death, she'd prioritized her cover.
"...Ian. This is..." Kira stammered. Her eyes were dull, lifeless.
Ian paused. Some might call her foolish—prioritizing her facade over her life?
But he got it. To her, [Mage Kira]was her life. If [Mage Kira] died, the real Kira died too. It was her greatest triumph, and it had shackled her.
She knew she looked pathetic, miserable. She was braced for his scorn.
But what came from Ian's mouth wasn't condemnation.
"You okay?"
"...Ian. I'm..."
"I'll clean up here. You—keep that arm elevated. Above your heart. Damn, you're bleeding like a stuck pig."
Ian hustled to hide her props. Kira watched him, a strange emotion swelling inside.
How many people in her life had ever covered for her mistakes, protected her like this?
Just one. A man like her father—La Ventha the Heretic. But bandits had killed him.
Since then, she'd been alone. Pretending to be strong to survive, sacrificing herself for [Mage Kira].
Having someone step up for her felt alien, surreal.
Suddenly, tears welled up. Was it the dagger's pain? Or long-buried grief bursting free? She couldn't tell.
"Hey! You alright?!"
"I-I'm fine... hic." Belenca rushed in, pajamas askew. As expected, she was unscathed.
Only the mages had been targeted.
Ian ground his teeth. No point sticking around for fun anyway. But messing with him like this?
His clean-exit plan? Scrapped.
Ahh, fine. You hate me hanging around your turf that much?
Whoever sent that assassin would pay—personally. Ian wasn't budging until he crushed them.
From today, he was the ghost haunting Drbosi Barony. Time to lock in his geodetic coordinates too.
"Belenca. Looks like we're staying longer."
Ian spoke darkly. Belenca nodded solemnly.
"Music to my ears."
News of the assassination attempt on the mages threw Drbosi Castle into chaos. Well, chaos-adjacent.
"We've heard. How dreadful."
"Oh dear, are you alright?"
Both ladies expressed regret over the night's tragedy. They vowed to prevent repeats and hunt down the culprit.
Ian felt a weird déjà vu at their promises. Where have I heard this before? Past life?
"It's Catherine's doing, obviously. We must reprimand her at once...!"
"Serena's cornered and lashing out wildly now!"
Unfortunately, neither seemed keen on actual investigating. They were too busy spinning it politically.
Ian stared blankly at the ladies visiting in turn. Could he really count on these two for proper help...?
Doubtful. The castle got turned upside down, but no culprit. It just fueled their mutual slander.
Worse, they subtly pressured him: pick a side already, and we'd step up.
What a shitty spot. Circumstantially, one of them sent the assassin. Side with the wrong one?
He'd be their puppet, dancing on strings.
Tension hung over the castle. No one knew about the monkey assassin.
Clerics cried "demons!" Rational folk blamed "mages." Guards doubled up, but shadows lengthened on faces.
Pessimists muttered doom had befallen Drbosi.
At the chaos's eye, Ian calmly pieced it together.
'Highest chance it's a Summoner.'
Key clue from the monkey: it used "Master." And it bantered fluently in Maronius.
A mage—likely Summoning-trained. Explained the human-like behavior if beast-tamed.
Problem: where was the Summoner hiding?
'Fucking mages.'
Ian was reminded how annoying mages could be. Scheming from shadows? A nightmare to counter.
But annoyance wouldn't make him quit. He needed to see that face up close to feel satisfied.