Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Finding the Hidden Lady - 1
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I shrugged.
“You probably expected a hefty price for sticking with Kaild.”
“......”
“With skills like yours, it’d have to be something impossible to achieve on your own. Something you couldn’t even approach without borrowing the hero’s fame, right?”
Cold sweat beaded on his face.
He scrutinized my face before speaking softly.
“I can read a lot from expressions and eyes. And from that, it feels like you already know my wish but are beating around the bush. Doesn’t it?”
“Think whatever’s comfortable.”
“You’re the only one besides Kaild I’ve told about that wish. Are you spying on all our party members?”
“You’ve seen Kaild’s freakish abilities that defy understanding plenty of times. That’s what a hero is. Don’t try to comprehend it—just accept it.”
“Heh heh. So that means you’re a hero too?”
“Yeah. Not a fake like Kaild. I’m the real hero.”
“Puhahaha!”
He burst into forced laughter, shaking off his fear and doubt.
I ignored it and continued.
“Anyway, once I become the hero and defeat the Demon King, I can grant your wish. How about teaming up with me instead of that hopeless Kaild?”
“......”
“......Not that I expect you to decide right here. I’m not telling you to ditch Kaild and come to me immediately. Just do those two favors I mentioned earlier.”
I could see the gears turning in Offense’s head.
It hadn’t been long since he’d joined Kaild’s party, so unlike before my regression, his trust in Kaild wasn’t rock-solid yet.
In that situation, my ‘heroic’ words might have shaken him.
I relentlessly pressed that point.
“This could be a good test, then. If I rescue Ariena from your hands, that proves my abilities, right? Snatching someone guarded by the infamous Bright Death.”
“......”
He stayed silent.
But I caught a faint flicker of agreement in his expression.
Offense might dominate at reading info from faces and eyes, but it wasn’t impossible for me.
“......I’ll warn you now. I’m going all out to hide Ariena this time.”
“You’d better. That way I can show my full strength.”
“Fine. I won’t kill her. And reporting to Kaild...... I’ll hold off on that for a while.”
“Thanks.”
Offense bit his lip at my casual reply.
He spoke.
“One thing. The assassinations known to the world are less than ten percent of my total record. Those were the ones where I intentionally left traces because they ‘needed’ to be known.”
“Impressive.”
“In other words, ninety percent left no bodies behind. Got it? I’ll hide Ariena with the exact same skill I used for those.”
“......”
“If you find her even then, I’ll acknowledge it. That you’re superior to Kaild.”
Satisfactory answer.
We ended our pleasant meeting and returned to the inn.
Neril asked.
“What do we do now?”
“Find Ariena.”
“Who doesn’t know that? But will Offense show his hand that easily?”
“Don’t worry. I’ve got an ace up my sleeve.”
“You sure have a lot of those. Aces up your sleeve.”
Neril’s expression held a playful glint.
This time, Jenia asked.
“Then let me ask again. What should ‘we’ do?”
“There’ll be a stage prepared for you two later. Until then...... how about a walk to deepen the bonds between comrades?”
Neril and Jenia blinked in unison.
“Oh. Sure. Then let’s go, Maide.”
“No. You and Jenia go.”
“Where to? I saw the central fountain looked nice while wandering.”
“Don’t escape reality.”
Neril’s eyebrow shot up.
“For real? You’re seriously telling me to go hang out with this kid?”
“Thank you, Neril.”
“For what?”
“For saying what I wanted to.”
I waved them off.
“Anyway, I’m holing up in my room for a while. Gotta prepare for this operation. Don’t call me until I come out.”
“......”
“Have fun, then. Hopefully, by the time we meet again, you’re at least holding hands and chanting ‘seh seh seh’ together.”
I headed upstairs.
Behind me, Neril and Jenia murmured.
“Phew. What do you think of that?”
“Yeah.”
“How does ‘yeah’ answer this question?”
“Yeah.”
“Can’t you say anything but yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“You’re an idiot, right?”
“No.”
They’re already getting along that well.
Click.
As I closed the door, Trail struck first.
[Wait. I’ve seen this pattern before. I’m not doing it even if you beat me to death.]
‘Calm down. Deep breaths.’
[Sniff. Hoo. Sniff. Hoo.]
‘Alright, let’s get started.’
[I said no!]
It wasn’t even a real voice, but my eardrums rang.
I scratched my ear.
‘Don’t worry. Unlike last time, I’m not peeking at secrets involving dozens or hundreds of people. Just the secret between Ariena and Offense.’
[Huh? Is there even a secret tying those two? The assassination guild kidnapped her, not Offense.]
‘Well, true. Anyway, just show me. It’s not like with Greina or the Martial King—multiple people—so it’s fine, right?’
[Hmm. If it’s just that much.]
Click.
Soon, the screen appeared.
[Used Eye of Omniscience.]
[Current Eye of Omniscience level is 2. Viewable secret rank is C-rank.]
[Selection condition is ‘secret between Offense Daik and Ariena de Maine.’]
[No related secrets. Viewing impossible.]
‘As expected, none.’
[Yeah. None.]
‘It’ll appear soon.’
[......Hey.]
‘Listen. Offense said he’d hide Ariena with some method. The moment he does, a secret forms.’
[......]
‘How can I prepare countermeasures if I don’t see how he hides her?’
Huh.
The screen window shuddered?
‘If you were busy, you should’ve said so.’
[I’m trembling in shock and horror.]
‘By shaking the screen window? You can express emotions like this too.’
[So what you’re saying is......]
‘Yeah.’
I grinned.
‘I’m attempting to view it nonstop for the next 24 hours. Keep the screen up always.’
[That breaks the promise!]
‘I only said I wouldn’t view multiple people.’
[Teacher. Think again. Wouldn’t it be fine to check only when something promising pops up?]
‘Still polite when it suits you. We’ve only got a week. I need to jump into action the second I confirm the secret.’
Trail wailed.
[Arghhhh.]
The secret between Offense and Ariena that hadn’t existed appeared 33 hours after I began the all-nighter surveillance.
[Used Eye of Omniscience.]
[Current Eye of Omniscience level is 2. Viewable secret rank is C-rank.]
[Selection condition is ‘secret between Tobira de Maine and Ariena de Maine.’]
[Secret rank is C-rank. Viewing.]
Oh.
A secret just for perfectly hiding Ariena is a full C-rank?
Offense must be going all-in.
[Aah. The world is full of beauty.]
‘Snap out of it.’
[Yeah. Life is beautiful after all.]
No good.
Guess I’ll watch alone first.
On the screen, Ariena lay face-down on the bed, limbs still bound.
Creak. The door opened, and one person entered.
Offense.
Not Offense in Deirt’s face, but the real Offense.
‘Still an ordinary face.’
[Turn around and I’d forget it.]
‘Oh, you’re back.’
[Vomited a few times and came to.]
I checked the timestamp in the top right.
About 10 minutes ago.
Offense in the screen spoke.
“I’ll remove your gag. Don’t scream suddenly.”
He slowly untied Ariena’s gag.
Ariena was, as expected, a clever woman.
Instead of thrashing or resisting, she steadied her breathing and said.
“Who are you?”
“......”
“My father sent you, right? Decided to just kill me after all?”
Offense let out a light sigh.
“Regrettable to meet you like this. I can’t help but pity your situation.”
“......”
“To answer your question, no intent to kill. You just need to disappear from the world for a week.”
“I already think I’ve disappeared.”
“Hmm. Deeper than this place. Somewhere neither that Maide nor anyone in the world can reach.”
Ariena clearly didn’t understand.
No, she did!
“Maide? The Unyielding Sword Emperor Maide Mohan?”
“Hoo. Didn’t expect even you, milady, to know his name.”
“I heard about Quelk and Rior. The string of events you caused...... they’re calling it the hero’s return......”
“......”
“I see. He’s come here this time. To shatter my father’s vile scheme, prevent the war. And to rescue me.”
Uh, um.
Well, it’s true, but it strangely stings my chest?
[Didn’t know you still had a conscience. Tears blurring my vision.]
I ignored it and kept watching.
Offense shrugged.
“That guy has his own schemes, but on the surface, yeah, what you said.”
“Mr. Maide crushed even the Martial King, the empire’s tenth strongest. You should give up resisting and let me go now—change your mind.”
“Phew.”
“Or how about this? Nameless one. Free me now, and I’ll give you half the gold and treasures in the territory’s warehouse later.”
Even Offense seemed surprised by that.
He widened his eyes and spoke.
“You talk like you have the authority. When you’re already disowned.”
“Do you think I can return to Kitur territory at this point? Even if everything goes well and war’s averted, that family and I are already enemies. Fortunately or not, no child yet.”
“......Hmm. Still, half the gold and treasures is exaggerated. Count Tobira won’t allow it.”
“I will. That’s all that matters.”
Anyone else hearing that might laugh, but Offense on the screen and I didn’t.
We’d grasped the meaning of Ariena’s words.
“You mean?”
“Yes. I’ll oust my father and become lord here.”
“Plotting rebellion?”
“Yes. He committed an unforgivable sin.”
“Well. I get that this situation’s unpleasant. Natural to resent your father.”
“It’s not just that.”
Grit.
Ariena ground her teeth.
“When the assassination guild kidnapped me, my nursemaid was there too.”
“Nursemaid?”
“Settlia. Settlia Rice! She raised me from childhood. And she died protecting me.”
Ariena’s eyes reddened.
As she hurriedly wiped her tears, Offense said something unexpected.
“Ah. That old woman.”
“......!”
“She’s alive.”
Ariena gasped in shock.
“Alive? They’d leave a witness?”
“I heard it directly from a guild member posing as a coachman here. Guild leader’s orders.”
“What?”
“The lord might suddenly turn and abandon the assassination guild. They needed insurance.”
“Ah...... So they kept her alive as a witness to Father’s scheme.”
“Wise.”
Life finally returned to Ariena’s face for the first time.
She practically clung to Offense, shouting.
“Let me see my nursemaid!”
“Now, now. Conversation ends here. Hide in the shadows for a week.”
“What?”
“If everything’s handled well after a week, I’ll let you meet her.”
That was when.
The room’s darkness suddenly deepened.
Especially under Ariena’s bed.
“Huh? Huh?”
Swoosh.
Ariena and the bed were ‘sucked’ into the shadow.
She flailed like sinking in a swamp but couldn’t escape the shadow.
‘What the hell?’
Is that Offense’s ace?
But he never used it before regression.
Not even in the final battle with that Demon King.
“Sob sob. Spare me. Please, let me live!”
“Didn’t I say I’m not killing you? Does my face look that untrustworthy?”
Your face isn’t just untrustworthy.
It lacks all character.
Whoosh.
In the end, Ariena vanished completely from the world.
Snap.
And there the screen cut off.