Ch.129129. Nice to Meet You

Serath Evatrice is an aide directly under the Pope, the leader of one of the continent’s most famous covert organizations, “Crescent Moon’s Oath,” and such a formidable assassin that some people lose their will to fight at the mere mention of her name in the underworld.

Typically, someone with such a lengthy title would take on a supervisory role rather than appearing in the field themselves, overseeing those who do the actual work.

But occasionally, even she needs to personally confront someone.

Generally, this happens when the target is too difficult for other operatives to handle.

For example.

When the target is guarded by several former Imperial Guards.

One Imperial Guard alone has the combat power of a regular knight squadron, two would equal a platoon, and three would match a company.

Such rumors seriously circulate about the Imperial Guards.

They are one of the Empire’s strongest forces, unless the Guardians from history were to return.

It’s almost excessive manpower for guarding a single person. More like a force assembled to raid an impregnable dungeon.

No matter how specialized assassins are in ambushes and one-on-one combat, engaging directly with people of such impressive credentials would undoubtedly be burdensome.

So.

This situation is perfectly suited for her deployment.

“M-Monster…!”

“…”

A phrase she’s heard so often that she doesn’t even know how to react anymore.

Serath stared expressionlessly at the person who said those words.

Nearby lay blood-soaked corpses. These were the bodyguards whom the fat man had believed would protect him even if the sky fell.

Among them were knights from the Imperial Guard, whom ordinary people wouldn’t even dare to challenge.

“…Your skills are disappointingly inferior compared to your active duty days.”

Muttering that, Serath casually tossed aside the ‘tools’ she had used to create this scene.

A dinner knife and fork.

With just these, she had slaughtered everyone here.

Serath Evatrice. One of only two [Grand Assassins] on the entire continent.

At that level, such feats are not even difficult.

“Smuggling within the Holy Empire, multiple attempted murders, and drug trafficking.”

Serath spoke while wiping blood from her face.

“You have plenty of reasons to die.”

“Who, who sent you! I’ll pay you double what they’re paying!”

Her answer came with an annoyed sigh.

“Well. This is by the Pope’s order. No matter how much you offer, you won’t be escaping from here.”

“T-The Pope? That bastard! He’s just trying to seize the land I bought near the sanctuary with such dirty—”

Before he could finish, the fat man’s voice was cut off.

Because Serath had kicked him in the abdomen.

The motion was barely more than a tap, but the effect was astonishing.

“…!”

His insides were instantly shaken. He retched, his eyes rolled back, and blood streamed from all over his body.

This happened because she had precisely struck a vital pressure point.

“Don’t casually refer to His Holiness with that filthy mouth. He is not someone the likes of you can address so easily.”

Serath’s frosty voice fell upon the man writhing in pain.

“S-Sorry…! Sorry…!”

The man, unable to complete his sentences properly, screamed and thrashed on the floor.

“W-Wait, still, let me…!”

“I’ll allow you some last words. Speak.”

“The land, I’ll give up all the land! I’m not even asking for forgiveness! I’ll accept a public trial!”

He clearly had the business acumen to acquire land near the sanctuary that the Pope coveted.

Even in this moment, he quickly assessed what the other party wanted and knew what to surrender.

Saying he would accept a public trial meant he was willing to let the Holy Empire confiscate everything they wanted besides that land. Arithmetically speaking, that would be more profitable than simply killing him.

Even Serath tilted her head slightly and stroked her chin after hearing those words.

“…Hmm.”

With a snort, she approached the man who was lying face down on the floor, gasping for breath, and stood before him.

“You’re right. Even for a criminal like you who deserves death, it would be more profitable to keep you alive and take everything.”

At Serath’s emotionless words, a glimmer of hope appeared on the man’s pain-stricken face.

Perhaps his sincere plea had actually worked.

“However.”

Serath continued with a bright smile.

Though her eyes weren’t smiling at all.

“That’s not my concern, is it?”

“Why, why…!”

“You insulted His Holiness. That’s reason enough to die.”

As the man tried to speak, his throat was lightly sliced with a soft sound.

This happened simply because Serath, standing in place, had lightly drawn her hand horizontally through the air.

“…”

Serath looked down at the blood that had splattered onto her suit.

Her fine brow furrowed deeply. His Holiness had complimented her on how well this outfit suited her. And now it was soiled during such a mission.

“His Holiness wouldn’t mind that much.”

“…Bizla?”

Serath, who had been showing her displeasure, suddenly sensed a presence and turned around.

Bizla. The leader of the “Exorcists,” an organization under the Crescent Moon’s Oath.

Normally, he should be at the Academy monitoring “that man.” What was he doing here?

“…”

Following that thought, Serath’s expression darkened further.

Darwood Campbell.

Among those who had harmed the Pope, he was the only one she had not yet killed.

It was because His Holiness had said he still had “usefulness” and should be left alone.

“This is a special mission directly ordered by the Pope.”

Serath, who had been consistently displeased, immediately bloomed with a radiant smile upon hearing those words.

“His Holiness ordered me directly?”

Her voice was filled with excitement, like a girl in love.

“…”

Of course.

With her being covered in blood while making such an expression, Bizla felt chills running down his spine.

“…Yes.”

And, coincidentally or not.

“Judging by your expression, you seem to have already thought of the relevant person.”

Bizla was also bringing up the man she had just thought of.

Then he took out a magic orb from his pocket.

It contained a recording of the Pope speaking while seated at his desk.

[The time is approaching, Serath.]

When Bizla activated the orb, the Pope’s calm voice emerged from it.

Simultaneously, Serath prostrated herself.

As if she couldn’t fail to show proper respect, even though the person himself wasn’t present.

[‘Paradise’ will soon be brought to this world. So we should start laying the groundwork.]

“I await your command.”

[First, we need to eliminate any potential obstacles to our plan.]

His voice continued steadily.

[Especially those who can freely wield demonic power—they should be quickly removed. Would you infiltrate Elphante and inflict a critical wound on that man? Don’t kill him. It’s not time for that yet.]

“As you wish, Your Holiness.”

[Being unconscious for a few months should be sufficient. About… three months?]

“Three months. Understood.”

Bizla silently watched Serath with a hardened expression.

Her eyes sparkled as she responded to the Pope’s words as if they were having a conversation.

It was an eerie scene. As if she couldn’t just listen quietly to the recording. As if merely listening was an honor.

This level of devotion bordered on fanaticism.

“…”

Honestly, Bizla didn’t like that Pope.

Beyond having a dark heart, he gave the impression of not even seeing other humans as humans.

But he couldn’t express this outwardly because the leader of his organization followed that man to such an extent.

The sentiment within the organization probably matched his thoughts.

“Bizla.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Would you arrange a route and timing for infiltrating Elphante? You would know well, having lived there.”

“…”

However.

Serath clearly didn’t care about such opinions, even if she knew about them.

There was certainly a good reason for that.

Within the organization, not a single person would dare to defy her, given her overwhelming skill.

Being one of only two Grand Assassins on the continent carries that level of prestige.

“…Infiltration is possible as early as tomorrow. If our collected information is correct, that man will also return around that time.”

“Then there’s no reason to wait. Please prepare transportation. I’ll go immediately.”

After saying that, Serath added after a moment of silence.

“…I’m looking forward to it.”

“Pardon?”

“Finally being able to stab that man.”

“…”

Ah, so that’s what it was.

She must be reveling in the ecstasy of finally being able to defeat the Pope’s enemy.

But.

Everyone would be astonished if they knew a Grand Assassin was being deployed just to deal with a single student.

It’s not even like using a butcher’s knife to kill a chicken. It’s more like dropping a tactical weapon to kill a single flea.

‘…Well.’

Bizla secretly sighed to himself.

Although he hadn’t been observing this Darwood Campbell for long.

One thing was certain.

‘That guy is full of variables.’

Without a doubt.

It was obvious that things wouldn’t go as smoothly as the Pope and Serath thought.

●

[Is it really that difficult?]

Calivan threw those words at me as I sat in the cabin with a serious expression, deep in thought.

[Someone like you should be able to seduce a woman within a month. What’s a month? Couldn’t you do it in a week?]

“…”

What does he take me for?

I glare at Calivan with an expression of disbelief.

“Don’t say such nonsense. What do you mean, a week?”

[That’s surprising. I thought you would definitely—]

“A day would be enough.”

[…]

Leaving Calivan speechless, I sink back into my thoughts.

Actually, it’s not that strange for Faynol to ask me to “seduce” someone.

The reason I can seduce him within a day isn’t because I have some profound understanding of women’s hearts, but because this was a development in the original work.

There was a branch where he became friends with Elia and asked her to awaken his “emotions.”

“…Of course, that’s assuming he’s a normal living being.”

The problem is.

The reason he’s asking for this is because he wants to “die.”

After all, resurrection isn’t something that happens easily.

Demons don’t give anything for free. Structurally, that’s impossible.

If someone dies and comes back to life, it means they’ve lost something in exchange.

[What do you mean?]

And what Faynol lost was.

“He can’t feel anything.”

[…What?]

“Touch, smell, sight, pain, hearing… he’s lost it all. Even emotions.”

A living corpse.

There’s no more accurate description for Faynol.

Originally, he would likely have been in a zombie-like state, just barely alive and unable to do anything. The reason he can act like a living person despite his condition is because he’s using his mastery-level mana control to “appear” that way.

He’s replacing his senses with an incredible level of mana control that he can use as naturally as breathing.

But, even if that’s possible.

It’s impossible to replace “emotions” with mana.

That’s probably why my fatal charm doesn’t work on him.

“He probably thinks that if he regains everything he lost when he was resurrected, he can break the demon’s restriction that brought him back.”

He must think that dying again would be better than continuing to live in this state.

He can replace his five senses with his own mana. He can awaken them with his own power.

But emotions.

No matter what, he can’t revive them. That must be what’s so desperate about his situation.

In that sense.

My trait of being able to seduce anyone related to “demons” would be his only hope.

In the original work, he would have approached Elia, who frequently interacted with that side, but now there’s me, who is a far superior option when it comes to demon-related interactions.

[…So the reason he wants you to seduce him so he can die is because of that.]

“That’s right.”

[I see. So do you have a plan to make that woman feel emotions again?]

“…”

I do.

It’s a bit complicated, but I definitely have something in mind.

“…First, there are some people whose moods I need to improve.”

The homunculus sisters.

Yuria and Lucien.

The first step to awakening Faynol’s emotions starts with them.

“…”

To improve their mood, ordinary methods probably won’t work.

I feel like I need to create some kind of dramatic event.

[Planning something crazy?]

“…Why do you automatically assume I’m going to do something outrageous when I say I’ll do something significant?”

[Has anything you’ve done so far not been outrageous?]

I can’t argue with that.

Still, considering the sisters’ personalities, it will definitely work.

However.

“…I just hope no strange, crazy women get involved while I’m executing the plan.”

[Somehow it sounds like you’re badmouthing all the women around you.]

“…”

I’ve never done that.

People see what they want to see, I guess.

“Besides, it’s not like such people are common, and it’s not like I’d easily run into them. What are the chances of that happening?”

Originally, all the Demonic Vessels who would have eagerly rushed toward me are actually avoiding me right now.

Unless some new person appears out of nowhere, the probability of such interference is extremely low.

Saying that, I look at the huge academy visible in the distance from the station while yawning.

“…Home.”

I absentmindedly say that while looking at Elphante.

Strictly speaking, it’s not really my home, but after spending a full day on the train, it truly feels like home.

Spending a day on a train is more exhausting than one might think.

‘…Let’s go in, take a shower, and get some rest.’

Even with many things to do, nothing gets done without proper rest.

Thinking that, I look around and see students pouring out from inside the train.

“…Whoa…”

Swept up in the terrifying crowd reminiscent of a subway during rush hour, I unconsciously utter those words as I’m carried along.

No joke, even if I just stand still, I’ll be moved along by the bodies of the people around me.

And.

It was around that time that I felt a “killing intent” amidst this densely packed crowd.

< System Message >

[ A crisis situation has been detected. ]

[ It is judged to be an extremely, enormously, absolutely threatening level to your life. ]

[ ‘Skill: Dire Straits’ is applied at EX rank. ]

I widen my eyes at such a window suddenly appearing.

“…?”

What is this?

Is there any reason for something like this to appear at such a timing?

“…!”

I grit my teeth and look around.

The killing intent is still palpable. It’s definitely being directed at me.

I’m not sensitive to energy like masters of other martial arts, so I couldn’t tell exactly how close it was, but I instinctively knew it was only a few meters away.

However, due to the density of this crowd, I couldn’t tell who it was, let alone which direction they were approaching from.

The killing intent gets closer and closer.

Closer and closer. Just a span away. Just a few steps.

A distance where I could see their face if they were nearby.

At this rate, I’ll be hit!

Thinking that, as I prepare to forcibly break away from my position by kicking off the ground.

< System Message >

[ ‘Skill: Dire Straits’ is deactivated! ]

[ Target ‘Serath Evatrice’ feels a shock that shakes her head upon seeing you! ]

[ ‘Skill: Fatal Charm’ activates! ]

[ Target’s hostility disappears! ]

[ Target ‘Serath’s ‘Affection’ is unlocked! ]

“…?”

Such a window.

Suddenly appeared.

●