The Villainous Employer, Blow Deblique

Skadi Hetaya was in a fine mood today.

Herbena and Cindy had thrown themselves into the third exam as if it were their own, and thanks to them she had wrapped the whole thing up beautifully. If she had truly done well, her overall standing might even crack the top fifty—and the thought alone had a tune humming out of her before she knew it.

The exams were finished. From today on, just as always, she meant to stop by Hills every evening for dinner. The investment was already decided, so no one would think it strange if she planted herself there for good. She would simply go on with those quiet, peaceful days of sharing a beer with Blow, and when the year drew to a close she intended to suggest the two of them slip away somewhere nearby. He had looked as though he wanted to try riding a wyvern. She would drag that into it if she had to.

She had been looking forward to today in every possible way.

By the time she reached Hills, red papers came fluttering down out of the sky and shattered those expectations to pieces.

An article by Redprine, steeped in what felt like a personal grudge against Blow. If facts like these were scattered to the public at large, there was no telling what would follow, and her heart lurched into a frantic rush.

"Drive the carriage even a little faster!"

"Yes, my lady!"

"And send word to the estate—tell them our most important guest is ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠expected today!"

"I'll dispatch the message the moment I step down!"

Right now she had only one goal: Blow's safety.

That was why, the instant she reached Hills, Skadi all but begged him.

"Blow, let's go to my estate for now, all right?"

Her heart was racing by the second, but Blow only closed his eyes and opened them again, then turned the sheet over to study the back—the side she had never even checked.

"An attack on 108 Swords?"

Reading it through, Blow thought back to his conversation with Mnevoir the day before—the one about people who harbored discontent with the current order.

Looks like I've been dragged into something rotten. My luck is absolute garbage.

"Blow, that isn't what matters right now! We have to get you somewhere safe first—they're still scattering these all over Caipol!"

Skadi's pleading voice, the way she stamped her feet—she truly was worried for him. Even if she was the youngest daughter of House Hetaya, the rulers of the East, she was still an academy student who had not fully come into her own. And so Blow offered her a smile that was almost leisurely.

"Skadi."

"Huh?"

"I'm embarrassed to say I wasn't of the Unification War generation, but in a war, the moment you retreat is when you have to be most careful."

"That's true, but..."

"I know you're startled. And your judgment is right. I do mean to get clear of this."

"...Okay."

"But before that, I need a little time. The articles only just went out. They won't come swarming right away, and most people will still be unsure what to believe."

"Ah..."

"So we take just a moment. Understand?"

He said it while patting Skadi's shoulder. Anyone responsible for others had to keep a level head and a cool one, always. It wasn't only Skadi. Jane, who had come out with him, and Hans as well, were both trembling.

"Jane."

"Y-young master..."

"Breathe in for a second."

"Hup—"

"Now let it out."

"Hoo..."

"Skadi, Hans. You too."

"Yeah..."

"Yes."

Once he had settled them, Blow looked over the article again and tried to put his thoughts in order.

First, this red paper was Redprine's, and for some reason she didn't seem to have the slightest intention of hiding that. Their bad blood ran deep, but the focus of the piece felt less like him and more like something behind him. If that something was the Six Great Mages, named on both sides of the sheet, then did Redprine truly mean to bring the order down? Or did she simply want attention, the way she always had?

But this was no children's game inside the academy. What she had leaked was nothing less than the minutes of a meeting in which the Imperial Magic Bureau had taken part. Did she even understand the size of the offense she had committed? Or did House Blueos have the power to clean a mess of this scale up?

For him, though, the greater problem was that his name had been stamped into the minds of a great many people, and in a thoroughly ugly direction. Future business was one thing. Right now was the real crisis. In this world or the other, the public boiled over easily.

There was no need to grab a falling blade on purpose. For the time being, both Hills and Red Forest would have to go into temporary closure. What snagged hardest in his mind was Red Forest's potion subscription. The penalty fees didn't matter. This was a matter of trust. Trust, once broken, was a miserable thing to build back up.

While that worry deepened, the beastkin, Cunsai among them, were coming out of Red Forest. Haghia, too, had been outside for some time, watching how things stood.

Blow looked them over, swallowed a sigh, and managed an easy smile.

"As you can see, this is an emergency. Before I say my piece—if anyone has something that absolutely has to be said right now, speak first."

They all hesitated. Haghia, standing at the back, raised her hand.

"Haghia?"

"May I offer a single word?"

"By all means."

"I believe Lady Skadi is right. These papers have been scattered across this whole district, and they will likely spread through the entire city in a moment. Facing something you don't need to face is truly exhausting. However low one's station, once people mass together their momentum is nothing to scoff at. I met magical beasts at the front often enough to have learned that a few times."

"I agree with that completely."

"So in my view, those closest to you—Lady Jane, Hans, and the like—would do better to withdraw with you."

Was it because she was Rachel's trusted hand? Her voice, belonging to someone who had lived through the war against the magical beasts, did not shake in the slightest.

"Haghia, then what will you do?"

"This is the main point, young master."

"The main point?"

"I will remain and guard Hills and Red Forest. The Campbell crest—this should be enough. The pretext, of course, is that I, Haghia, have something to collect from you in the Campbell family's name."

"Hm..."

"There is also the magic stone I brought you, down in the cellar of Hills. That was a gift from Lady Rachel as well. I have a duty to protect it."

"So you're saying you'll do the thing that truly has to be done."

"Yes. To put it very simply, I am in a position where I can remain. And a pretext of this degree is sufficient."

Blow listened closely, then decided to take her point a step further.

"So you're saying we'd do better to sort out who can stay and who can't."

"I don't think I'd have much trouble on my own, mind you."

"No. Alone would be too heavy a burden, and if there are too few of you, the deterrent drops."

"Yes."

"Then the ones who can stay..."

Before he could finish, Cunsai raised his hand.

"Young master, we will remain."

"Cunsai..."

"The potion subscription is your greatest worry just now, is it not?"

...The finest mind the beastkin have, they say.

Blow's eyes went wide at how cleanly the words struck home, and Cunsai went on at once.

"We've watched the washing process all this time, so we'll keep it turning as normally as we can. So long as potion production doesn't fall behind... there will be no trouble keeping the rest of it running."

Before Blow could say a word, the beastkin answered, none of them waiting on the others.

"That's right! We'll be here, young master!!"

"We'll say we're owed wages! If we have to, we'll tear down a wall and take it with us!"

"That would mean I, the owner, withheld your pay."

"For now, even if it has to be that way..."

Flustered by his reply, the beastkin glanced at one another. At the sight of them, Blow burst out laughing before he could stop ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠himself.

"Unbelievable. Still—yeah. Better than being robbed, or burning down."

...If he were leaving only them behind, he would never agree to it. But even so, for now, there was Haghia.

Having weighed it that way, Blow nodded to them.

"Even if you go ahead with it, if it gets too dangerous, abandon the place and go."

"...Yes!"

"And washing isn't the problem. There's production, and there's distribution. If this mess isn't resolved, you just stay in Nynix."

"We will obey!"

They all nodded at his words. Looking over those faces one by one, he felt steadier than he had any right to. Whatever else, he had done everything he could do right now. Blow let out a breath of relief and shifted his gaze to Hans and Jane beside him.

"We'll have to leave this place empty, so just in case, entrust every voucher to the bank and pack up anything of value."

"Yes...!"

The two answered and went in. Blow, meanwhile, drew Melo into his arms—she had come out at some point and was watching his face—and spoke.

"It'll be all right, Melo."

"I'm fine! But Liz..."

"I'll ask Karlfeld to look after her for a few days."

"Then I can rest easy."

Melo breathed out in relief. As Blow stroked her hair, Skadi came up to him with an awkward look on her face.

"Blow..."

"It'll be fine. I'm only planning for the one chance in a thousand."

"I'm the one who ought to be reassuring you, and I feel like I'm no help at all..."

"You're wrong. You're a tremendous help. Just by being here."

Startled, Skadi worked her mouth without quite speaking, then nodded.

"Mm."

"And it's about time they—"

Before he finished, a communication circle unfolded in front of Haghia. She confirmed who it was and nodded toward Blow.

"It's Lady Yulia."

"Take it."

From the far side of the circle, glowing deep indigo, came Yulia's voice, thick with worry.

"Young master! Are you all right?"

"Yes. I'm fine."

"What a relief."

"For now we've decided to gather what we need and go to Skadi's estate."

"That's wiser. Lady Skadi's estate sits on the outskirts, after all."

"We're trying to react quickly, so please don't worry too much. The shops will have to stay closed for a few days, I think."

"Leaving them open wouldn't do any good. But what about the subscriptions?"

"The subscriptions will have to wait for a meeting this evening. First, let me tell you what's already been decided."

Then Blow condensed what had just been settled and laid it out for her.

"Haghia, thank you, truly. Once again I'm in Lady Rachel's debt."

"Not at all. I'm only doing what has to be done."

"As you said, young master, we really should meet this evening."

"Senior, would you be able to gather the staff?"

"I was planning to go to Lady Skadi's estate myself, so that works."

"Yes. I mean to leave behind whoever can stay, and cut our losses as far as possible. The potion subscriptions... could you guarantee them in your name?"

"Of course. I'll spread the word as best I can. You're calm, even so."

"Everyone around me is making me that way."

"Then I'll try to do the same."

"And please tell Herbena to come to Skadi's estate."

"Understood. I'll prepare a rebuttal article on my end, and I'll send Linne to Herbena."

"Yes, Senior."

The communication circle went dark.

In the time that remained, Blow was telling Haghia and Cunsai which points they had to watch, when the alley children came running with armfuls of red paper.

"Young master!"

"You kids..."

"W-we're picking these up! As many as we can! We'll pick up as many as we can!"

"Kids, these were scattered across all of Caipol. You don't have to take that risk on yourselves..."

At that, Maled—the one who passed for their leader—stepped forward, eyes shining.

"Young master, we'll pay you back for all the potatoes you've always shared with us!"

"Maled, I've told you over and over. That was pay for the work you did."

Maled shook his head hard, then spoke to Blow in a clear voice.

"Nobody else ever gave us potatoes just for cleaning an alley."

"......"

"We'll spread the word too! That the young master is a really, really good person!"

Blow had no confidence he could argue with those shining eyes. For a moment he looked up at the sky. Gray stormclouds, and now and then a face of blue showing through. It felt, somehow, like he could breathe again. He turned a small smile on the children.

"Then I'll leave it to you."

"Yes!"

The children ran off once more toward the far end of the alley. Jane and Hans, having packed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠only what needed packing, hurried up to him.

"Got everything?"

"Yes!"

"Then shall we close up for now?"

"It feels strange, closing at this hour."

"Can't be helped."

Jane and Blow hung the notice on the door themselves.

Perhaps because they were looking at it under a bright sky, it felt awkward beyond words.

Then the door of Skadi's carriage opened. Before he climbed in, Blow swept his eyes over all of them.

"I'm counting on every one of you."

"Yes!"

On the night red rain fell over Caipol, in Scampia Street, the city's slum.

Even the watch had given the place up. Counted the worst district in Caipol, it was remote and foul in a way that could not even be compared to Dusk Block, which at least sat near the magic school. Crude stone ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠buildings and brick ones stood in a long row, along with structures that had a wooden frame smeared over with mud and looked ready to collapse at any moment. In the deepest alley, underground—

In a space one would be embarrassed to call a house, three figures in black robes had settled in and were pulling hard on cheap cigarettes, waiting on the empty seat.

Among them, a female elf with one ear cut away narrowed her eyes and muttered in a thoroughly dissatisfied tone.

"When is she even coming?"

The words were barely out when Redprine Blueos kicked the door in.

She came through with her whole face twisted, dropped into the empty chair, and snapped at the rest of them.

"Well, don't you all look pleased with yourselves? I've been flying all day and I'm about to freeze my ass off."

"You did what you were supposed to do. And why are you so late? I thought you'd been taken out."

"Shut up, Raniel. Useless bitch, except for being an elf."

"What?"

"Did you buy the coffee?"

"Why the fuck would I buy that? You're the only one who drinks the shit."

"I knew you'd be like that, so I bought it myself—that's why I'm late, you brain-dead bitch. No, wait. Thinking about it, you are an idiot, so calling you an idiot isn't even an insult, is it??"

"You little bitch!"

Raniel shot up from her seat, and the other two strained to hold her down. Redprine, meanwhile, picked at her ear and propped her legs up on the table. A little later, once Mariel had calmed and taken her seat again, the bald man with the sharp face put a question to Redprine.

"Redprine. Did you get all the articles out?"

"Obviously! The city's going to be in an uproar starting tomorrow!!"

"Right. It's the article about 108 Swords going down, after all."

"Yeah. And the moment that gets officially confirmed? It'll be even worse, right, Narcis?"

The sharp-faced man nodded. Satisfied, Redprine stretched, then turned to Mariel.

"Hey, one-ear. 108 Swords is one of the Six Great Mages, isn't he? How the hell did they catch him? Throw a magical beast at him or something?"

"Hey, you crazy bitch. Watch your mouth."

"That person's magic is almighty enough for it."

The gloomy beastkin man sitting beside Mariel answered in her place. Redprine ignored Mariel, who was biting down hard on her lower lip, chuckled, and asked him again.

"So how? I was something of a prodigy at the magic school, you know?"

"Prodigy, my ass. You got yourself expelled."

"If you're gonna talk shit, shut up, one-ear. Damian—why isn't that bastard Haller here?"

"Haller is busy. He's watching the vessel..."

"Ah, Herbena? They say she might come over?"

"She may not look it, but she's frighteningly good with words. It shouldn't take long, should it?"

"So you're saying only Haller and I are pulling one person's weight? Narcis, Damian, Mariel—how about you all try a little harder? Hm? Especially you, one-ear."

At her words an uncomfortable current ran through the room. Mariel, needled again and again as one-ear, bit her lip so hard that blood welled there. Redprine, who had no reason to care about any of that, tipped back the coffee in the potion bottle, hummed to herself, and shouted.

"This is so fucking fun!!"