Chapter 548: Face
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 548: Face
"He actually... ran?"
Feeling the spatial fluctuations that had yet to settle before him, Cotton still found it hard to believe.
That strict, old-fashioned, straight-laced Nell, who always charged in first whenever there was danger... had actually chosen to flee?
Was this a joke? Was the Nell he had known for ten years just a persona that bastard had put on?
"Captain Cotton, the spatial fluctuations are still present. We should be able to track their destination. Shall we pursue?"
"Pursue? Pursue what?"
Cotton glared fiercely at his idiotic subordinate. "Don't forget why we're here! It’s just as well that he fled. I know that bastard’s strength better than anyone. If he truly fought to the death, we’d lose a good portion of our men even if we won. That would do nothing but harm our plan! For all we know, he’s acting like that just to bait us into chasing him!"
"We’ll settle this score with him when the opportunity arises. For now, handle the business at hand."
"Yes, sir!"
The men who had fanned out to surround the area gathered once more. Cotton looked at the nine remaining men, himself included, and rubbed his chin in thought.
Aside from himself, the forces he’d brought hadn't actually suffered much loss. And even though he’d been caught in an ambush, he still possessed considerable combat strength.
Mages might have "short health bars," but the upside was that they recovered quickly. His external injuries had already healed after using several consecutive healing magic scrolls; the only lingering trouble was the remnant mana belonging to Nell inside his body.
But that tiny bit of mana wouldn't cause much of a stir.
The only problem was... Seniel’s desperate final strike had completely shattered their foolproof plan.
Setting aside the fact that the formation was utterly destroyed, there had been such a massive commotion here that the First Prince would have to be brainless to still pass through this area.
"It seems we’ll have to change our strategy."
"Oh? And what strategy would that be?"
"Waiting in ambush is no longer an option. We must take the initiative."
Cotton pulled out a gold pocket watch and glanced at it. "At the very least, we need to obtain more detailed intelligence from the Inner Council within the expected timeframe. They must have someone watching the First Prince."
"Mm-hmm. The Inner Council, the First Prince... those are some quite intimidating names. It seems you’re plotting something big, Cotton."
"Of course. My goal is—"
Cotton’s body froze. His words, which he thought were a response to a "subordinate," came to an abrupt halt.
Perhaps under the influence of some invisible force, he—who was usually extremely cautious—only realized after several lines of conversation...
The voice of the person speaking to him sounded familiar.
But... that voice didn't belong to any subordinate he knew. It belonged to...
"Vice... Vice Guild Master?"
Cotton raised his head with great difficulty. As his field of vision extended upward inch by inch, the figure who had appeared there at some unknown point manifested in the reflection of his pupils, bringing with her an endless sense of dread.
She was a noble lady of about thirty, with refined features and an elegant temperament. Even the voluminous platinum-colored robes of her uniform could not hide her mature, curvaceous figure.
The noble lady didn't look frightening; in fact, she exuded a sense of approachable warmth. Yet, looking at her, Cotton’s expression instantly turned to one of sheer terror, as if he were staring at a demon from hell.
"It’s 'Guild Master' now."
The noble lady smiled and said:
"Didn't you know, Cotton? Not long ago, that old fogey handed the position of Guild Master over to me. So, you should call me Guild Master."
"Guild... Guild Master."
"Good boy."
The noble lady patted Cotton’s head like a playful young girl. Cotton allowed her to mess up his hair into a bird's nest with utter disrespect, not daring to offer the slightest resistance.
"So, why aren't you all sleeping in the middle of the night? What are you doing in a place like this?"
The noble lady looked around. Her gaze was incredibly gentle, yet everyone she looked at felt a surge of overwhelming fear. One of the weaker-willed men could no longer support himself; his legs gave way, and he collapsed to the ground, trembling.
"Nothing... we’re not doing anything. I just brought them out for some night training. That’s right, training."
"Then what about the First Prince you mentioned, and the Inner Council...?"
"...Targets! Right, those were hypothetical protection targets. For training to be effective, you need targets, of course."
"So it’s training. How diligent. As expected of Cotton, the man most likely to become the next Vice Guild Master." The noble lady nodded, her praise sounding remarkably sincere.
"You... you flatter me."
Cotton wiped the cold sweat that poured down his forehead, struggling to steady his heartbeat. He lowered his head and asked:
"But what about you, Guild Master? It’s so late. Why have you graced the Lower District with your presence?"
"It’s nothing major, really. I just received a report from someone."
"A... report?"
"Yes, a signed report. The whistleblower was your deputy, Nell. I’ve heard of him—supposedly a strict, old-fashioned, and serious character. I figured a report from someone like that wouldn't be without merit. So, I came to take a look. After all, I’ve just taken office; I have to do something."
The noble lady produced a letter from somewhere and began fanning herself with it, as if feeling the heat of the spring night.
"So, regarding what was written in the report—that certain members of the Royal Mage Corps were acting without authorization, plotting some treasonous conspiracy in the Lower District... Cotton, do you have any thoughts on this?"
The noble lady continued to smile as she looked at Cotton.
The rustling sound of the envelope being used as a fan was exceptionally clear in the silent night.
As clear as the whispers before death.
"Ha... hahaha..."
The next moment, a fit of manic laughter shattered the dead silence.
"Nell... damn you, Nell! I actually... I actually..."
The silent Cotton suddenly snapped his head up. The submissiveness was gone from his face, replaced by the madness of a man driven to a dead end!
"Guild Master my ass! You bitch, die!"
Mana surged, and the air roared and vibrated as a massive magic array instantly expanded behind Cotton. Amidst his practiced, frenzied chanting, he ignored the fact that the distance would catch him in the blast. A rainbow light of destruction swept forth...
And then, it vanished.
Like noise scattered by the wind, it simply dissipated.
Cotton stood frozen, staring blankly as the noble lady suppressed all the turbulent mana in the vicinity with a mere clench of her hand.
His spell had been snuffed out in its infancy before it could even be unleashed.
"So you’ve... already broken through to the Truth-Tier?" Cotton’s lips trembled. At this moment, he lost even the courage to try and mobilize his mana again.
"Isn't that obvious, Cotton? If I didn't have sufficient strength and magical attainment, do you think the position of Guild Master of the Royal Mage Corps is something one can occupy just by being clever?"
A mocking curve formed at the corner of the noble lady’s mouth. She gave Cotton a light pat on the shoulder, instantly stripping him of all control over his body.
"Besides, you aren't even clever. You’re just a complete idiot."
*
"One, two, three... hmm, still missing two."
The noble lady counted on her fingers, looking at the nine people on the ground who were bound tightly with chains like cocoons. After finishing her count, she couldn't help but look troubled.
"Do we need to capture them?"
At some point, another shadow appeared beside the noble lady.
"After all, those two are also traitors to the Corps."
"Traitors... honestly, the Corps’ benefits are so good. Why do people always choose such foolish paths?"
Glancing toward the direction where a faint spatial fluctuation still lingered, the noble lady sighed.
"Forget it. Consider it giving someone face."
"Face? Duke Campbell?"
"...Why would you think I’m giving face to that brute whose brain is stuffed with muscle? Shadow, don't you know that what I hate most in this life are brainless brutes?"
"No... I heard that back in your student days..."
Sensing something, the shadow immediately shut its mouth.
"You’re overthinking it. I’m giving face to adorable little Celicia."
The noble lady turned back, the gentle smile returning to her face.
"After all, as little Celicia’s magic mentor, I can't exactly go out of my way to make things difficult for her young fiancé, can I? Well... though just looking at that playboy face of her fiancé makes me want to tear it to pieces..."
"..."