Ch.259While That NPC Is Away. (5)

‘I’ve managed to evacuate about 80% of our people who sided with us.’

After failing the assassination mission against the princess in Aigram, Dolph had instead received her favor and returned to the Empire. Now back in the Imperial Chancellor’s direct unit, he was gradually advancing his plans, informing only those with minimal hatred toward the princess that something was wrong with the current imperial leadership.

-Knock!

“Enter.”

A single knock—the signal identifying a member of Chancellor Salber’s direct unit. Understanding this, Dolph opened the door without making even a hinge sound after receiving permission from the elderly man who had summoned him. The man continued writing documents without looking up as he spoke.

“So, how do you find working as the new captain?”

“I’m ready to carry out any orders you give immediately, sir.”

This wasn’t the typical conversation between officials about work environment or potential improvements. Though I became captain because I was somewhat skilled and had joined the assassination unit earlier than others—following the death of the previous captain and senior members—and am now tasked with reorganizing the unit, what the Chancellor is really asking is whether I’m prepared to serve as captain.

“Good, it seems you’re ready. I once feared I might lose all of you whom I’ve carefully nurtured, but fortunately that wasn’t the case.”

What fortune? The previous assassination unit that operated through methods bordering on anger-inducing brainwashing against the princess, who had done nothing wrong, was literally a cancer of the Empire that needed to be removed. And…

‘After our mass defection, I’ve made arrangements to ensure they can’t continue operating.’

As the Chancellor asked if I was prepared, indeed I am. I’ve set things up so that those fools harboring strange hostility and hatred toward the princess—apart from those who sided with us—will be suspected of being ‘one of us.’ In other words, I’ve arranged for the existence of the supposedly secret assassination unit to be suddenly exposed to the public, destroying all trust in them.

“Well then, I’ll give you your first orders as the new captain. Go to Ponia, investigate this ‘Forest Keeper’ who reportedly made great contributions in stopping the Monster Parade, and if the opportunity arises, eliminate Ponia’s Chancellor, the right hand of the king.”

Huh, the Forest Keeper again? And assassinating the Chancellor of a major nation that rivals the Empire? Until now, due to the brainwashing-like repetitive education from the previous captain, I thought our work was eliminating cancers within the Empire. But this is increasingly absurd. Information about another country’s key forces should be handled by the intelligence department, not assassins, and assassinating a foreign Chancellor could immediately trigger war. It’s so ridiculous I can barely hold back a sigh. Nevertheless…

“I will obey.”

This actually works out well. I’ll use this Ponia mission to help the remaining 20% of our people and their families escape the Empire. This way, the only ones who will be meaninglessly sacrificed in the assassination unit will be those fools who foolishly direct their hatred and anger toward their true benefactor.

“Then, I’ll prepare immediately.”

“Good. I have high expectations this time.”

“…I will not disappoint you.”

After receiving his pointed remark, I quietly exit and walk down the corridor when someone approaches from ahead and quietly steps aside. Hmm, who is that? Unfamiliar armor. I continue walking past the man who gives off an unsettling aura. And then…

“What is this?”

“Is something wrong, sir?”

“Tsk… No, it’s just that there’s too much information I don’t know. Carry on.”

When I stopped by the intelligence department to collect information about Ponia, I learned that not only our unit but also other official units were sending personnel to Ponia. The Chancellor should clearly tell us whether we need to cooperate with them or keep our distance. Do I need to go back and confirm this with him? Thinking about how the previous assassination captain must have worked under these conditions makes me feel a bit sorry for him. Though I still think he deserved to die.

I head back toward the Chancellor’s office with the information sheet, walking irritably. I can’t show my frustration in front of that old man, so I need to vent somehow…

“Sigh, the Emperor is no longer useful. This could be called a princess addiction at this point.”

“Kekek. It’s absurd. The leader of the continent’s hegemon entrusting everything to his daughter, then removing her and falling into madness—that story wouldn’t even make good drinking conversation.”

It’s an occupational habit. Wherever I am, I act like an assassin, suppressing my presence. The assassination unit is officially a covert organization, so even when walking in plain sight, I unconsciously behave according to my profession.

“So, what’s the Holy Nation’s response? After this is over…”

“Yes. The votes to make you, Chancellor, the next Cardinal have already been collected. If we succeed…”

“Well, success is a given. We’re simply sowing the seeds of war across the continent. Such a task could be accomplished even by someone of lower rank than Chancellor.”

“Kekek. How modest of you.”

I want to shout: Please close the door and use soundproofing magic when discussing important matters!

“But you know what…”

“Kick! Yes, you mean that which you desire? I’ve already sent several to your mansion. And after you defect to the Holy Nation, you’ll be able to freely choose fresh ones without having to receive them from me.”

“Slurp…!! Is that true? It’s been so difficult to enjoy myself in the Empire because of that woman’s laws and security forces!!”

Why does the voice of the elderly man who was speaking with me earlier now sound like a dog in heat? I want to cover my ears and disappear while concealing my presence. But this too is an occupational habit.

“Kekekek. Chancellor, you were truly born in the wrong country. If you had been in the Holy Nation from the beginning, you could have fully enjoyed ‘boys and girls’.”

“…Yes, it’s been truly difficult. I tried to marry normally, but even my own child looked like ‘that kind of partner’ to me, so I had no choice.”

The Chancellor is a pedophile? I’m starting to lose track of what I’m hearing. Surely, sexually exploiting young boys and girls is illegal in the Empire, even for slaves? And the Chancellor had a child? What is this conversation…

“But those painful days will end now.”

“Kekek, congratulations in advance, Chancellor.”

“Hmm! So, does ‘that person’ have something they wish to convey to me?”

“Yes. They plan to summon Gula (Gluttony) here in the Empire and send Luxuria (Lust) to Ponia. Therefore, that person instructed me to provide you with a high-ranking demon for your future work.”

“What about the sacrifices for the summoning? Will the Holy Nation provide them?”

“Well, regarding that part, how will you…”

“A high-ranking demon would require two or three villages, but for the Seven Deadly Sins, the quantity wouldn’t be easy. That’s a bit…”

“Ah, I was too brief. You only need to prepare sacrifices for the high-ranking demon. The sacrifices for summoning Lust and Gluttony have already been prepared.”

It’s dangerous to hear any more. All my senses are warning me. I should not have heard this here.

‘…Damn it. Damn it. Damn it!!’

I blend into the darkness, concealing my presence as much as possible. Making no footsteps, not even breathing audibly. Using all the techniques I’ve trained in the assassination unit, I move away from the Chancellor’s room. And then…

– ⎯.

A sound too faint to be called a sound, too subtle for Dolph to have been careless about. The moment his cold sweat dropped onto the corridor floor, the ‘high priest of the Holy Nation’ who had been talking with the Chancellor looked toward the now-empty corridor.

*

“…And so, while I succeeded in helping all the assassination unit families escape abroad, I’m the only combat operative who survived among those who stayed until the end.”

“Salber… Sigh, what about the Emperor’s condition? Did you hear or see anything?”

After hearing the story from Dolph, the former imperial assassin, I feel annoyed at the absurdity. To think that Chancellor was such a person. Even I spent quite some time working with him… No, actually, he always kept our conversations under a minute and never once engaged in personal talk.

“Actually, I requested an audience several times, claiming to have important information about Your Highness. But each time I was blocked and told to report to the Chancellor instead.”

“What kind of information?”

“Ugh… th-that you were living as a slave. And, um, what you showed us that time…”

Ah, when I acted like a cat? Thinking this man is unexpectedly interesting, I redirect my thoughts. Father. I don’t understand what they meant by him being addicted to me or what condition he’s in. But what’s clear is that the Emperor is unable to check the Chancellor’s rampage. He must truly have fallen into madness.

‘…Hmm, Father. He is my father, after all.’

I don’t feel anything particular about it. I’ve thought many times that Father wasn’t fit to be Emperor, and if he’s become a puppet manipulated by a mere Chancellor, then that’s the end for him. The real problem is…

“The Seven Deadly Sins… how annoying.”

Why? If the Emperor has fallen, they should be satisfied with taking over the Empire. Why are the Seven Deadly Sins and the Chancellor targeting me? Is it really just a pretext for war? No, that doesn’t seem right…

“Y-Your Highness?”

“Yes?”

Dolph, still kneeling on one knee before me, now dropped to both knees and gave me a serious look.

“Though I’ve already turned my back on the current Empire, I cannot stand by and watch my lifelong homeland fall into the hands of demons.”

“My, you’re surprisingly principled, aren’t you?”

“…I wouldn’t call it principle. I just feel wronged. When I think about it, the reason my comrades and families had to flee from the land where they lived was ultimately because of those villains.”

“That’s true.”

Because I escaped? Because the assassination failed? Those could all be reasons, but if such events occurred because of Salber, demons, and the Holy Nation’s intervention, then they are indeed the cause. This Dolph seems to be quite a rational intellectual.

“Therefore, I make this request of you!”

And that intellectual suddenly pressed his forehead to the ground and continued speaking with his head bowed to me.

“Please become the leader of the anti-war faction and save the Empire as its ‘rightful heir to the throne’…!!”

“…Huh?”

Perhaps I was wrong to consider this man an intellectual after all.