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Chapter 86: Retreat
🕑 Added 2024-08-23 16:21:13 +0000 UTCThe guild was still lit, even in the darkest hour before dawn. With the advent of feystone lamps, working late into the night was possible, but few companies did so. Feystone was expensive, and people needed rest. The fact that the Monster Tamer Guild's windows were still glowing meant someone was still working.
It was much harder to use my camouflage skills in a brightly lit room. I had to find some dark corners to hide in. Despite the light, there was only Seles inside. Sensing no one else around, I approached her, entwining my dark tentacles around her. Surprisingly, she had some talent as a dark mage and resisted, but I was more proficient.
"What are you doing? Are you assaulting a government employee? That's treason, you know."
"Why should I honor agreements with people who steal from the poor? You sent those royal knights to steal the spawner from us, didn't you?"
"The money will be ready in a week. Just be patient! Blame the mercenary guild, who only took upfront payments and needed 5 working days to cancel. We will pay 400 gold for the spawner." Seles answered calmly, though I could see beads of sweat trickling down her forehead.
"I didn't come here for money." Her eyes widened in shock when I told her the truth.
"Five years ago, in Shadowstep County, on the roadside, you brought hundreds of your summons to attack a carriage. On the night of the Reaper Comet, you killed my grandfather and mother. Do you remember?"
"That's impossible. No one was left alive there! There shouldn't be any witnesses!"
I tightened my grip around her neck, ready to snap it. Eli was watching, but I was still in control—probably because we both wanted the same thing. We had to avenge our mother!
"Wait... cough... I didn't kill your mother. A noble wanted to conquer Shadowstep. We merely provided the monsters." I loosened my grip as she coughed and gasped for breath.
"So, who was the mastermind?"
"Alana. A friend of Princess Claire." Seles smiled, thinking she was finally going to be let go. But that was her mistake. I never planned to let her go, even if she told the truth.
"Really?"
"Yes! It's true! The real villain is Claire! She sabotaged our country and started this war!"
"Well, let's confirm that with your corpse." My blade slid smoothly into her chest. Seles looked at me, bewildered, as the light left her eyes. The stab was clean. Unlike the other kills I'd made, this one felt exhilarating.
"You..." Seles couldn't even let out a curse after she died.
I began using necromancy on her. The corpse animated, the body still fresh, her skin still flushed as the blood hadn't even dried yet. But just by looking into her eyes, now staring like endless voids, it was clear she was dead.
"Now, tell me the truth. Did Claire and her friends orchestrate the killing of my mother?"
"No. It was Droner Gustav." I repressed the anger rising within me. These nobles—they even lied in death. No wonder corruption could never be rooted out. They could lie even when faced with their own demise. I was almost impressed. I will never question these guys again. From now on, let's just use necromancy for interrogation.
"Why did you lie?"
"Because Droner promised Tione Alex would become the new maquis, and I'd get to be a baron."
"Was Dregorn part of this?" I closed my eyes as the truth settled in. My resolve to kill these people only grew stronger.
"No. He was just a clerk."
"I see."
“Argh… help me…” Seles moaned as I pondered my next move. Her moans of despair made Eli giggle. She tickled me and whispered to me to prolong the spell for a little bit longer.
"Where are Tione and Gustav?"
"Tione is in the House of Lords. She rarely comes here. Gustav was exiled after the invasion's failure." Seles answered.
I wanted to take her body with me, but the mana cost was severe. I doubted I could maintain the spell for more than a day. Attacking a noble's residence in the middle of the night while carrying a dead weight like this was impossible.
"You may go." I cut the connection.
“One down… two more to go…” Eli whispered from within me, her smile of satisfaction reaching me. I sighed. I was growing tired of this revenge. I wondered if I could just relax and play with Alicia and Safira at the restaurant. But Eli was hellbent on this vengeance. I'm sure I'll see her again tonight in my dreams. The image of her skipping gleefully around Seles's corpse was a bit too vivid for me.
I threw myself out of the room using my tentacles, smashing through the window and slamming into the dirt outside. I didn't know why I did it—my danger sense simply screamed at me to run. A massive surge of mana formed inside the building, and moments later, the room I had just escaped was engulfed in a sea of flames.
"Damn it! How did she evade our ambush like that?" Two men appeared. Dread filled me as I recognized them. They were the remaining two of the Three Musketeers.
"Be careful. She has a gun," one of them warned.
"I know."
"Is this revenge?" I asked.
"There are two reasons. You see, Samuel was like a brother to us. Sure, he was a bit snobbish and arrogant, but we lived together in the Gulag. So, yes. One reason is vengeance," the red-clad man spoke.
"And the other?"
"Your head is worth 1,000 gold."
The two of them dashed toward me. The ice mage encased himself in ice armor and wielded a sword, while the fire mage took the rear, the water swirling around him threatened to engulf me. I had no business with them, so I ran.
"Wait! Don't run, you little bitch!"
Using my camouflage and dark tentacles, I sprinted away. I had enhanced strength and speed, but I paced myself by relying more on my tentacles. Enhanced strength and speed drained too much stamina, and if not managed carefully, could leave me fainting.
As I leaped over the fence, I managed to lose the two Musketeers chasing me. When I returned to my inn, I pondered the Three Musketeers. Fighting them would bring me no benefit. In the worst-case scenario, Claire might come after my head if I killed them. The Three Musketeers were her henchmen in the book. However, the wind mage had been Dregorn's subordinate. Things were already different from the book, and I wondered what kind of relationship Claire had with the Musketeers now.
Morning came. Eli didn't visit me in my dream somehow. With my newly bought hood, I started asking around about Tione Alex. She wasn't a very prominent member of the nobility—just mediocre. People knew where she lived and what her job was, but that was about as much information as I could gather. Similar to the Althemer royal capital, the nobility here had their own space, guarded by five people. Unlike Althemer, however, the guards here were strict. They had magic glasses and a mage on duty. I couldn't use my camouflage or illusions to fool them.
"Hey! Have you seen a girl with red eyes and blue hair around?" a guard nudged me from behind. I turned and cast an illusion on him.
"No, sir. I don't recall ever seeing one."
"Heh... you're quite beautiful. Want something to drink?" The guard smirked. "I like your blue eyes and white hair."
I shuddered. Was I being hit on? Ah, how nostalgic. It reminded me of being picked on like this before I became a reaper in Althemer.
"You said you were looking for a red-eyed, blue-haired girl? Did she do something?" I asked.
"Yup. She attacked a guard station. Be careful; despite her petite stature, she's quite dangerous. Probably some assassin from Althemer. So, want some food or drinks? I know a few restaurants around. Hehehe."
"No, thank you. I'll be off now." I was disgusted. Was this guard seriously hitting on me in broad daylight?
"Come on, just for a while! If not, I'm going to report you to your parents. Naughty girl. What are you doing here in front of the noble quarters? Trying to poke around noble society? I can teach you about that. I actually know some women who sneak around the noble quarters. Want me to teach you? It'll only cost one night." The smirk on the guard's face grew wider as he assessed my body. I was about to slap him, but when I heard about a way into the noble quarters, I hesitated.
"Oh my! You know how to get into the noble quarters? You see, I'm a mage. This noble wanted me, but somehow, I wasn't let in just because I'm a commoner." I suppressed my disgust and played along.
"I see. A promising young girl. Beautiful and also talented. I like you! Let's go to an inn. Or would you prefer a secluded alley?" He smirked as he caressed my cheek, his disgusting chubby fingers slithering down to my nape.
"Wherever you want, handsome. Though, I'd prefer not to have an audience." I didn't actually smile, but through my illusions, he must have seen me as a goddess smiling seductively at him. Once I confirmed that there was no one else in the alley, my dagger slid into his windpipe. He let out a soundless scream as his life flickered out like a dying candle.
"Damn trash, lolicon." I muttered as I wiped my bloodied blade with water magic. I then cast necromancy on him.
After throwing his corpse into a random barrel, I went to the aforementioned backdoor. It turned out what he had said earlier was true. There was a hidden backdoor to the noble's quarter, used by some noble's prostitutes, and sure enough, it was unguarded. Luckily, this guard had the key. It was purposely left unguarded to prevent any witnesses to the nobles' debauchery. I had mixed feelings about this—disgusted but grateful at the same time.
With the key, I opened the steel door and slipped inside. The door didn't even make a noise, proving it had been lubricated and maintained despite its abandoned appearance.
After sneaking into the noble quarters, I asked around and found that Tione's house was a small place in the corner. Despite being the head of the monster-taming guild, her house was surprisingly modest and mediocre. The wooden gate wasn't even locked. I debated with myself whether I should wait until nightfall or sneak into her house right then.
I opted to wait until nightfall. There were too many eyewitnesses around. Even though her house was in a secluded area, there were still pedestrians walking by.
I was about to leave the premises and return at night, but Eli stopped me, forcing me to look at the house again. A man entered, fitting the description of Tione Alex. I sighed in resignation. I knew Eli wouldn't let me go after seeing that.
"Eli, what kind of assassin kills in the middle of the day? It's dangerous..." I muttered, my words carried away by the wind. She didn't listen.
As I picked the lock of the house with my dark binding, I found Tione on the ground, bound. A woman with golden hair and a silver tiara sat on a comfy couch, staring down at Tione. Her maid stood beside her while other goons held Tione down.
It was Claire.
"Greetings, Elidranthia. Please, have a seat." She motioned toward a couch beside her as her maid poured a cup of tea for us. Claire sipped her tea elegantly, but her eyes were fierce.
Am I in trouble?
