Ch.19What are you saying? I’m really not going to kill you.

# 1.

Balkan Gardner.

The guardian, or tank, of the <Hero Party> and the eldest son of the Gardner family.

He is a man of good character who, despite not having awakened his family’s power, trained relentlessly to become strong enough to join the Hero Party.

Shield-bearing sage,

Guardian of peace,

Hero Balkan.

These titles were not at all excessive for Balkan Gardner, who was consistently an upright person.

But isn’t there a saying?

That strong iron may withstand repeated hammering without breaking, but once it breaks, that’s the end.

『…The Black Wolf. I will capture him alive. From his toes to the crown of his head. I will tear him apart slowly and comfort Hestia with his death.』

After losing Hestia, Balkan picks up a sharply broken shield instead of his usual one and becomes a particularly troublesome enemy among the <Hero Party>.

So then,

“Sigh… That aside, what are you doing breaking in through the window?”

“You misunderstand. I didn’t break in through the window; I simply came in and found the window was already broken.”

I should try to smooth things over as best I can.

“What do you mean…?”

Following the questioning voice, I shifted my gaze to see a woman in pure white nightclothes.

Light brown hair like dried leaves,

Much darker chestnut eyes,

Skin so white it was almost pale.

If the Black Wolf members were idol-like beauties, Hestia was an elegant beauty one might occasionally encounter on the street.

As I stared at her, entranced, Hestia finally gathered her thoughts and spoke.

“I apologize. It’s been a while since I’ve met someone more foolish than my brother, so I’m at a loss for words.”

“The night is long, so it’s fine. Make yourself comfortable as if this were your own home.”

“…This IS my home.”

“Then all the more reason to be comfortable.”

With no other members around, I treated her with my natural personality, causing Hestia to press her temples and sigh before looking up.

“So, who are you?”

“That’s quite sudden. I’m not sure what you mean.”

“I’m asking who gave ‘that information’ to you, Black Wolf.”

“…Well. I’m even more confused now. Perhaps you could explain further.”

Click.

Hestia put on her glasses and picked up a pen from the table beside her chair.

“The Gardner family is known for having good bodies but rarely exercising their minds, but unfortunately, I’m the opposite. My body is weak, but my mind works all the harder for it. Oh, and to be clear, my inability to walk is due to an accident, so don’t misunderstand.”

Scratch, scratch.

What could she be writing?

Neat, precise handwriting gradually filled the blank paper.

“Black clothes with a wolf emblem on a white mask. Sturdy build and tall stature. Identical to the records from the Emperor’s assassination attempt. And above all, the commotion outside.”

Following Hestia’s words, I listened toward the broken window and heard the commotion about the Black Wolf’s attack and warnings not to panic.

“After the incident at <Central Square> this morning, ‘that operation’ was planned, and before the night was over, you came to find me, the ‘strategist.’ What more needs to be said?”

Tap.

Hestia put down her pen and looked at me through her glasses.

“I’ll ask once more. Who gave ‘that information’ to the Black Wolf?”

The information Hestia referred to must be what I heard from Amela earlier today—using the ‘Imperial First Legion’ and the ‘Golden Dragon’ to eliminate the ‘Black Wolf.’

She thought there must be a spy who informed the Black Wolf immediately after the plan was made, and she was asking who it was.

It was a perfect deduction based on the intruder’s identity and the current situation.

“There is always one truth.”

“…What?”

“It’s just something that exists.”

I acknowledged her sharp deduction and sat down across from her.

“Anyway, you’re impressive. Truly a perfect deduction worthy of the First Legion’s brain.”

“No. It wasn’t perfect until just now. But you confirmed it, making it perfect.”

“…Oh my, you got me.”

I joked while glancing at the paper on the table.

What she had been scribbling all this time was her own will.

“I was tricked too, so let’s call it a tie.”

“……”

I naturally looked away as Hestia folded the paper and tucked it into her bosom.

“You could have kept looking.”

“I don’t make a habit of prying into others’ secrets.”

“So you do have some manners after all.”

Hestia smiled slightly, leaned back in her chair, and closed her eyes.

“Anyway, killing me would be pointless. The legion will move as planned, and you and your subordinates will die. Just as knowing a storm’s path doesn’t mean you can change its course.”

“Haha! Why would I kill you, Lady Strategist?”

“…Giving me false hope is useless. I won’t reveal anything.”

“What are you talking about? I really won’t kill you.”

If you die, Balkan will go berserk.

Balkan’s descent into darkness would increase the difficulty, and for me, who was already struggling to survive, it was an obstacle I needed to avoid.

‘My goal is simply abduction.’

Of course, I’d have to make it look like she was dead until the <Hero Party> returned, but I would find Balkan before he turned dark, clear up the misunderstanding, and return her.

“So please leave now.”

I spent all my money on a new <Golden Dragon> hideout just to keep you.

As I approached Hestia to help her up,

Grab!

Hestia suddenly opened her eyes, grabbed my wrist, and pulled me toward her.

“Yes, please leave now.”

Only when I was close enough to smell the faint lavender scent did I realize.

The pen that had been on the table was now gripped in her right hand like a dagger.

My body tilting forward,

The sharp pen tip flying toward my throat,

And,

“But you won’t be going alone.”

A beautiful face drawing closer with death, seemingly having made a firm resolution.

Like most people, I almost surrendered my life, entranced by the momentary beauty, but,

-Can you fulfill my dream for me?

Because I always kept something more precious deep in my heart, I twisted my neck just in time to avoid the pen and whispered in her ear.

“Then let’s go together.”

“…Eek!!”

I lifted her slender body in one motion and placed her on my shoulder like a sack.

Tap tap tap.

Only then, having exhausted all her prepared moves, did Hestia start hitting me and shouting.

“Evil person!! Wicked person!! You plan to kill me in front of my family!! You intend to present my corpse to my parents!!”

Whoa,

Your words are more evil and wicked.

“Nngh…!! Is anyone there?! Damn, if only I could move my legs!!”

“…I still think I could have caught you easily.”

“Y-you trash!!”

Realizing my words were sincere, her voice grew louder, but her actions became more subdued.

Finally having a chance to escape, I slowly walked toward the window, but…

“Oh, I’m dizzy.”

“…?”

“I have a fear of heights.”

“…After coming in so easily?”

“They helped me on the way in.”

While I could enter as I pleased, leaving was another matter, so I decided on a frontal approach.

“Is that the main entrance?”

“……”

“I guess so.”

Silence usually means yes.

‘Ruby and Dalan are distracting attention, so there should be relatively fewer troops here.’

With the now-quiet Hestia as my hostage, I confidently opened the door, only to find:

“So this was the young lady’s room!!”

“What are you doing!! Call everyone else here too!!”

“A-rank knights, form the front line!! The rest, support from the rear or whatever, just catch that bastard!!”

I faced a swarm of reinforcements.

“Goodbye.”

I calmly closed the door again and asked Hestia, still on my shoulder.

“What should we do?”

“…Why are you asking me?”

“Good point.”

Just as I suspected.

“I’d prefer not to hurt anyone if possible.”

“…?”

Although I had to break in, I didn’t want to cause injuries.

But the only skills I had were <Black Curtain>, which instills mortal terror, and <Flash Sword>, which actually kills.

“Would you prefer they be scared to death, or just die?”

“…Obviously the former.”

“I thought so.”

Until I could control it more delicately, I had tried to refrain from using it, but,

‘It’s better than killing or being killed.’

Having made my decision, I opened the closed door without further hesitation.

“There he is, now!!”

“Save the young lady!!”

“Kill the Black Wolf!!”

With at least 50 troops tactically filling the narrow corridor and rushing in,

“Excuse me.”

“Eek?!”

“C-careful!! He’s using the young lady as a shield!!”

“That’s right.”

I used my friend shield to buy a moment of time, then closed my eyes and visualized an image.

A box filled with smoke.

A tiny hole appears, and smoke escapes through it.

People find the box suspicious and avoid approaching it,

【Target(s)’ fear detected.】

【<Black Curtain(Ex)> activates.】

Such a static image.

After completing this image training, when I opened my eyes again,

…

No one could move.