Chapter 94
Innerpeace and Block were promised an enormous sum of money by the Emperor. One of the guards standing beside Keln placed a large pouch of money next to the painting.
“The down payment is here. If you succeed, we’ll pay the remainder immediately.”
“Very well. Just leave it to us. Heh heh.”
Normally, Block demanded the full fee upfront without exception. But in this case, the advance alone was enough to cover a typical commission, so it was acceptable. Especially since the amount promised upon success was staggering, he was more than satisfied.
Block selected, from among his members, those he especially favored for their agility. Eighteen of the finest operatives within Innerpeace. Living and dying by money, this choice reflected his determination to see this job succeed no matter what.
Innerpeace moved quickly. They intended to act before word spread that the golden ship had entered Rafu Island. More truthfully, they simply wanted to taste the big money as soon as possible. The twelve assassins who had been chosen secretly infiltrated Russ on the very night Keln had visited. Because it lay right next to Rafu Island, Russ was like a front yard to Innerpeace.
“You go this way, you go that way. We head straight ahead.”
“Yes.”
Clad head to toe in black, wearing black masks, they spread left and right in perfect unison at the assassin leader’s command.
To scale the fortress, they hurled grappling hooks high into the air. When the sharp tips caught on the edge of the battlements, they tugged on the ropes several times to check stability. Scaling the wall by stepping against it as they climbed the rope was a movement honed over far more than a day or two. It was the accumulated experience of many long years as nocturnal intruders.
Thud.
“Who—! Ghk.”
Several guards on patrol were suddenly attacked from behind and fell without resistance. The countdown had begun. From now, they had thirty minutes to complete the mission and withdraw before the next guard shift arrived.
A night when the faint moonlight made one’s heart inexplicably restless.
I had been sitting by the window, staring blankly outside, when I suddenly sprang to my feet. Being confined to my room for so long for safety reasons had finally become suffocating.
Raymond had grown even harder to see because he was so busy. I often spent the entire day making healing potions, only to realize the day was already over. Okhee, who usually visited every other day, hadn’t shown up today either. Koa, who had said she would step out briefly, was also absent. Pan of Neverrest, who had been assigned to me afterward, had been called away for other duties once things became a wartime situation and was no longer my guard. Even so, I felt an urge to go out.
Just for a little while should be fine, right?
Worried about the cold air, I draped the shawl hanging on the chair over my shoulders and quietly slipped out of the room. When I peeked down the corridor, I ran into Koa, who was just returning to her room.
“Where are you going?”
“I wanted to go for a walk…”
I spoke in an uncertain tone, rolling my eyes as I gauged Koa’s reaction. She let out a soft chuckle with her exhale and gestured politely.
“Then let’s go together.”
“Thank you, Koa.”
I quickly moved to her side.
We walked along the quiet corridor and soon reached a spiral staircase. Thinking that climbing it might offer a view of the village at night, we followed the stairs upward.
Up high, the wind was stronger than expected. And because of that, it felt refreshing.
The cool air, felt for the first time in a while, seeped into every corner of my body and even seemed to cleanse my lungs. Below us, small lights flickered from house to house, creating a simple yet beautiful atmosphere. It was a scene that made it impossible to believe we were in the middle of a war.
“I can’t believe we’re really in a wartime situation.”
“That just means His Grace the Archduke is doing a good job.”
I spoke while holding down my hair as it was tousled by the wind. Koa looked in the same direction as me, yet her gaze held something different.
“If the defensive line collapses, we won’t be able to see this peaceful scenery anymore.”
“That’s true.”
“Once preparations are complete, we’ll march on the Imperial City as well. When that happens, you’ll miss the night view you saw today.”
“You’re right. I should take it all in before we leave.”
I nodded without taking my eyes off the village.
A peace that would soon be shattered. That was what frightened me.
Just imagining the smiles disappearing from people’s faces, replaced by pain and sorrow, was agonizing.
But if we chose complacency, even more people would be forced to live in suffering. It would be no more than turning our heads away and pretending not to see.
In the empire currently ruled by Kyle, only a few territories—like the Ruslo family’s lands—allowed their people to live ordinary lives. Everywhere else, excessive exploitation by the nobility had caused the number of people starving to death to skyrocket. Russ, too, was part of the Ruslo family’s territory, making it one of the more livable places.
As my thoughts grew tangled, a question slipped out.
“Koa. Raymond can win, right?”
“He has to. That’s why we started this.”
Rarely, Koa nodded firmly. The confidence in her voice was pleasant to hear. Just as I was about to smile and meet her gaze, a black mask suddenly appeared behind Koa. My eyes widened.
“Danger…!”
My scream came a beat too late, but Koa turned and blocked the attack. Her reflexes were superb—she moved just a fraction faster. With a dagger drawn from her side, she knocked aside the opponent’s sword, and at the same time pulled out her longsword with her other hand.
“Lower your body to the ground.”
At her words, I quickly bent my knees and crouched down. Six masked figures rushed Koa all at once, but every one of them was held back by her exceptional skill.
Even so, it was one against many.
She was doing well, but it was clear the fight was taxing. Rolling up the hem of my cumbersome dress, I desperately crawled along the floor. I needed to call for help from someone—anyone—fast.
But the situation wasn’t on my side.
Whiiish!
A whistling sound rang out nearby, and soon after, more masked figures sprang out from the opposite side. Koa, who had easily held off the three approaching me, hurried over to my side.
Now there were nine enemies. No matter how capable Koa was, fighting them while protecting me was too much.
Who on earth are they? What are they after?
How can we break through this situation? We need some kind of plan.
My mind was desperate, but in a place where blades were flying, all I could do was curl up and try not to get in the way.
What good is being strong? As Adrien said, fighting is about skill.
Why did I suggest going for a walk and cause all this!
As swords flashed overhead and I berated myself internally, a thought struck me like lightning.
Right. Let’s use the fact that I’m strong!
I looked down at the ground beneath where Koa and I stood together. If my memory was right, directly below was the open central shaft of the spiral staircase. If the floor beneath us collapsed, we could put distance between ourselves and the enemy.
Once that thought took hold, I lifted my foot and stomped down hard. For a moment I wondered if this thick stone floor would really break—but then cracks spread with sharp sounds, and in an instant a circular fracture formed.
“Koa. I’m going.”
“…?”
Before Koa, who was fully absorbed in the fight, could even grasp what I meant, her body suddenly dropped downward.
The sudden change startled both Koa and the enemies. But more surprising was the fact that even I, who had devised this, was taken aback.
As the floor gave way, my body kept falling with it—endlessly, with no sign of an end.
“Uh… aaaaah!”
Clinging tightly to Koa, I screamed. I had tried to survive, but now I was going to die for sure—nothing else filled my mind.
Then, suddenly, the force pulling us downward vanished.
When I opened my tightly shut eyes, Koa and I were floating in midair.
“Truly reckless.”
At the familiar voice, I looked up to see Nyan before us. Like us, he was floating in the air. He gently lowered himself and us down to the ground. When my feet touched solid earth, gravity returned to my body.
“How did you get here…?”
Both relieved and stunned, I asked. To anyone, it was obvious—we’d survived thanks to the archmage’s comet-like arrival.
“Didn’t you know I was watching through the orb?”
When I only blinked in response, as if it were the first I’d heard of it, Nyan looked down at me in shock. He extended a hand, pulled me to my feet, and then began scolding me in casual speech.
“You did all this without knowing that? Were you trying to get yourself killed?”
“Getting stabbed by the enemy or falling to my death—it’s about the same, right?”
“Say something that makes sense…!”
“No, I mean, I was trying to create some kind of chance to escape.”
“Or you just created a new chance to die?”
Tch. If that was the case, he could’ve shown up a little earlier to save us!
I’d thought I’d found the perfect breakthrough, so being scolded like this felt unfair.
As Nyan sarcastically picked at me and lectured me, a savior appeared. Koa stepped in front of me and bowed her head to him.
“Thank you for saving us.”
“Ah—well, you’re welcome. And thank you for your hard work protecting Lady Aileen.”
Nyan, suddenly embarrassed, scratched the back of his head. When formally thanked, he turned shy instead.
What bothered me even more was how differently he treated Koa and me. Forgetting my own fault—and even my gratitude—I puffed out my cheeks in a sulk.
Meanwhile, the masked figures who had attacked us stared blankly down at the gaping hole in the floor. Judging by their actions, I seemed to have been their target, but they couldn’t exactly jump down after us, leaving them at a loss.
“You’d better not think about leaving here alive.”
Then, from beside the masked men, a deep voice rang out, and they quickly turned and vanished.
“Let’s hurry back up!”
When I shouted, pointing upward, Koa and Nyan nodded at the same time.
