210. The Price of Greed
210. The Price of Greed
"Heave-ho."
Thud— I set down the sack I'd hauled all the way here.
Mikel really has no sense for this kind of thing.
If she was going to buy one anyway, she should've gotten a sack that reduces weight and size. Why she bought one that's only waterproof... ugh.
"Mmmnn... what's that?"
Rubbing her eyes— Stella, just waking up, peered at the sack with bleary eyes.
"Materials for the illusion Artifact."
"...Materials? What... did you catch some kind of animal?"
"Something like that."
Blink, blink— Stella, who'd been blinking as if mulling over my words, straightened her back.
"R-really? What is it? Th-then... do I have to imitate an animal...?"
"It's bipedal, so it's fine."
"...O-oh, okay?"
"Yeah. You think I'd make you crawl around on all fours?"
Chuckling— I rolled up my sleeves and headed to the washbasin.
I'd wiped myself down roughly before coming back, but the blood caked under my fingernails hadn't come out.
After scrubbing my hands clean, I saw Stella crouched in front of the sack.
"What bipedal animal is this size?"
Poke, poke— Stella, who'd been prodding it this way and that with her finger to gauge its shape, gradually turned pale.
"...E-Eli... El... El, Elel... Eliarnes?"
"Yeah."
"Th-this... no, th-this... th-this... anyway, there's not a person... a person inside this, right? Right?"
Without answering, I rummaged around and pulled out the Artifact I'd brought yesterday.
"S-say it's not. Hurry... hurry!"
"It's not a corpse."
Probably.
After giving that half-hearted answer, I skimmed through the documents detailing the female knight's daily schedule.
"S-so it is a person. It was a person... oh my... oh my god... E-Eliarnes... kidnapped an innocent citizen... no... no, that's not it. There's no way Eliarnes kidnapped an innocent person. It's a bad person, right? Right?"
Inching closer— Stella crawled over to me, clutched the hem of my clothes tight, and whimpered.
Then flutter— Sparkle slipped out of my pocket and settled on the nape of Stella's neck.
"Stella. Don't worry too much."
"H-huh? Floral... it's a bad person, right...?"
"Yeah. Eli told me on the way here. They were someone who completely deserved divine punishment."
"...Th-then... that's a relief, but..."
Stella's grip on my sleeve tightened.
"Are you okay...? Even so..."
Having finished my inspection, I turned my gaze to Stella. Then I let out a small laugh.
"Why the long face? It's not like this is my first time beating someone up."
"Th-that... even if you're the one doing the hitting... it still feels weird... and besides, this is... this is the Holy Kingdom... if something goes wrong for no reason... wouldn't that be a huge problem?"
"I appreciate it, but you're worrying over nothing. Stop making a fuss and read this slowly."
I placed a thick stack of documents into Stella's trembling hands.
"This is the information on the person you'll be replicating today. It's all written out in detail—starting with her personal relationships, her duty stations that change by the hour, the cafeteria location, her entire daily routine. So just read this and follow it exactly. If your facial acting feels awkward, just put on a full-face helmet. She's a woman on simple guard duty, so you won't have to talk much either."
Stella's expression was a mess of confusion from all the overlapping details, but she immediately started skimming the documents.
"Uh... but is this person connected to that secret warehouse you found yesterday?"
"No connection, and we're not going in there right now."
"Hmm... is that so."
I tilted my head at Stella's casual answer.
"Why aren't you asking for the reason?"
"Because it's something you decided, so I figured there must be a reason. Why? Want me to ask?"
"...Even if you asked, I wouldn't tell you..."
"Heh, I figured as much."
"...Mm."
She really does grow fast—maybe because she's young.
And Stella especially, even faster than most.
When we first met—so, half a year ago—she would've been a total mess in this situation, but now I quite like how quick on her feet she is.
Though at the same time, it's a little... strange.
The thought that I might be putting too heavy a burden on a kid who's still wet behind the ears...
Well... at her age, I was swinging my sword at Gulaka of Gluttony and killing plenty of people, but these are different times.
So did I not want to do it? If you asked, that's not it either.
It was an era where you had to live that way, but ultimately, it was a path I chose because I wanted it.
But Stella? Is she just getting swept up because of me?
Well... I have saved her life several times, but still, a little...
"...What's with that meaningful look?"
"What look."
"It was really... how do I put it? A gaze that doesn't suit you... all tingly. A slightly... worried? expression?"
Stella narrowed her eyes and glared at me.
"Don't tell me... you're worried I'll mess up?"
Then she let out a "Hmph!" and scoffed.
Not her usual prim "Hmph!"—this was a dumbfounded "Hmph!"
"Me, who memorizes an entire magic tome in a single day—you think I can't memorize a few scraps of paper? Eliarnes, that's what I call a useless worry. I am the disciple of the Flame Emperor, one of the Six Pillars, and a genius acknowledged by the Flame Emperor herself."
And then another "Hmph!!"
This one was a confident laugh.
"Sure. You're the best. You do everything."
Why did I even bother overthinking with this goofball?
Right... she hasn't even graduated from the academy yet, so there's plenty of time. When the time comes for something big, I can ask her then.
With a faint smile, I dragged the sack into the bathroom.
I'm not taking out the illusion right away, but I do plan to register it now.
Showing this wouldn't be good for our innocent Pina's education, and this sack is only waterproof—it has no odor-blocking... deodorizing? effect.
So before the stench spreads any further, I need to get rid of it with Mikel as soon as possible.
The registration method is simple. Press all ten fingerprints, let out a certain amount of blood, then shine the body to be replicated once into a small crystal orb, and it's done.
Splat— splat— A blood-soaked, crimson figure sprawled across the bathroom tiles.
"Huh... why does it feel so light?"
"...Isn't it because this much blood drained out?"
Sparkle, who'd at some point climbed onto my shoulder, trembled slightly.
"Even so... it's strangely light."
Like a hollowed-out doll.
"...Should I cut open the stomach?"
"Oh my god. Please, Ro— Eli. Please, not that..."
"Guess not, huh?"
"Yeah. Really, really not that."
Then I'll leave a note for Mikel to open it up and take a look.
With that thought, I pressed the ten fingerprints, let the blood flow, rolled it around this way and that, and finished the registration.
*****
"Got it?"
The two terrified girls trembled.
"No need to shake like that. In the first place, anyone who sees this illusion won't think you two are controlling it—they'll mistake it for someone else. So just act, and if you get caught, erase the illusion immediately and contact me."
I explained again, adding various details to yesterday's explanation.
When Stella controls the illusion, Pina operates an Artifact beside her that can record what Stella sees.
That way, they record the female knight's day while identifying every person who approaches her, then match them against the people in the documents I handed over.
The female knight who's the basis for the illusion is the lowest of the low.
On top of that, her personal relationships are narrow to the point of nonexistent.
So no one will come up to her all friendly.
At most, her superior.
And how to handle it when a superior approaches is in the documents, and it's all still in Stella's head.
No problems.
If there's any variable, it'd be an unexpected person making contact—and if that happens, all the better.
Even better if she gets kidnapped outright.
That's exactly why I'm attaching a location-tracking Artifact.
And even if, by some one-in-a-million chance, the illusion gets exposed, there's no problem.
Mikel's Mana is stored in it, and she's the only one in the Holy Kingdom who owns this Artifact.
Of course, I'd already given Mikel a heads-up that it could be traced back to her. She said it was no problem too.
Still, just in case, I decided to mention it once more on the way to dispose of this corpse.
"Don't shake so much, don't try too hard, just do it half-decently."
"...Got it. Still, I'll try my best not to get caught."
"If any variable comes up along the way, contact me through the crystal orb right away. Don't try to handle anything between yourselves—do it together with me. Understood?"
"Mm... got it."
Stella nodded, then gave me a strange look.
"...Don't you do anything dangerous either."
"I'll take care of myself."
"Come on. Can't you at least give a cute answer?"
"...Fine. I won't."
"Okay. Then promise."
A slender pinky finger approached.
...Haven't I been linking pinkies a lot lately?
"Hurry up and link. Otherwise I won't do the work."
"You call that a threat?"
"Yep."
Beside Stella, who nodded confidently, I saw another pinky finger cautiously approaching.
"Hii..."
It was Pina.
Even Pina, who would drop dead at a single word from me, was offering me her pinky...!
"Sara had to go and show her something unnecessary. Tch."
"Hiik..."
"Don't be scared, Pina. We're the ones holding the weapon. Hmph, anyway, she's a chimpanzee, so she can't even use a weapon— Aaaah!"
I pinched Stella's soft thigh hard with my toes and linked fingers with Pina.
Maybe because she's a Beastkin, her fingers wrapped around mine much warmer than my own.
"Hii hii!"
Pina, completely ignoring Stella writhing on the floor, beamed with excitement.
Our Pina... since when did you become so indifferent to other people's pain?
[Ronan. Because of you, Pina has become utterly wicked.]
'Why is it my fault?'
[She learned it all from you.]
I scoffed at Sparkle's voice in my head and patted Pina's head.
"You're doing great. If anyone comes by, don't ever open the door—contact me right away. Got it?"
"Hii!"
[Eliarnes, please take care on your way!]
"Yeah. I'll buy you something tasty on the way back."
[I had honey almonds yesterday, so today I would like honey peanuts!]
"So basically, I just need to buy every honey-glazed nut, right?"
"Hyaaaat!"
[Youdon'thavetobuyallofthemofcourseifyoudobuythemI'llchewupeverylastonewithoutleavinganythingbehindbutstillthatsalottt]
"Why don't you wipe your drool before you talk?"
Chuckling— I tossed a macaron to Stella, who was still being dramatic, and left the lodging.
The sky was clear, and there were even more people than yesterday.
The stench of Nuclexirol still hung in the air, but my mood wasn't half bad.
Why was that?
Because things seemed to be going well?
Because the weather was nice?
Because the bustling, peaceful streets were pleasant to look at?
Because I was going to meet Luna?
I don't know, but I was in a good mood.
And so, naturally, my senses, my suspicion, my wariness—
just a little, just the tiniest bit, loosened.
That was my mistake.