Ch.264264. Dispute

Though Victoria had been told to shut up for a moment, it took her quite a while to actually calm down.

“…I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”

She finally regained her composure, pressing her temples firmly as she spoke.

Of course, compared to her usual self, she couldn’t hide the embarrassment and heat in her voice.

“Me reconciling with you? I’d rather die first.”

Setting aside that… ear-doubting purpose attached at the end.

The very premise of her and Serath becoming that kind of relationship was strange. At least until the ‘past’ issues involving him were resolved, Victoria had not the slightest intention of becoming that sort of relationship with him.

But the voice that followed was so resolute that it left no room for persuasion or argument.

“Is that so?”

Regardless, Darwood’s silent shrug was infuriating.

It was a gesture full of confidence that no matter how she refused now, things would eventually go his way.

It was infuriating.

Just plain infuriating.

“Let’s drop this for now. We’ll talk about it later.”

“…What? Now you’re suddenly acting busy.”

“No, I’m actually about to get busy.”

At those words, Victoria’s eyes narrowed.

Come to think of it, before throwing out this absurd topic, he had said “let’s talk since we have time.”

As if he had something scheduled here.

She glanced around.

Still, there was nothing.

Only she and Darwood were present.

“…Let me tell you, if you’re really planning to do something strange to me—”

“I won’t. If you don’t want to.”

“…”

That sounds like he would if she wanted to?

Victoria glanced down at her own body.

Compared to those women around this man with their abundant “curves” all over their bodies, hers was quite lacking.

And he’s interested in a body like this?

“…”

This man really is a pervert.

Even now—

“Feel free to entertain strange thoughts on your own.”

Suddenly, a voice came from across.

“Hey, could you duck your head for a moment?”

At the unexpected request, Victoria lowered her head.

Darwood was already moving from across.

It wasn’t a speed impossible to react to.

Someone with her level of “skill” could probably dodge it well enough.

But it was fast enough to make her miss the “throwing knife” flying from behind her.

“…!”

—What.

Victoria’s eyes widened.

She was the continent’s greatest assassin. Yet someone had snuck in without her noticing?

Close enough to deliver a “strike”?

While that shock crossed her mind, Darwood, who had blocked the attack, was already moving into his next action.

As the assailant froze in shock that his attack had been “read,” a smooth joint lock sent his body floating into the air.

Darwood was a man who had deeply trained in martial arts passed down from Riru and Kasa. Few people could match him in close-quarters combat.

As the man slammed to the ground and passed out without even making a sound.

“Right.”

Darwood’s eyes gleamed dangerously after instantly taking down the assailant.

“Of course they’d come. My ‘troublemakers.'”

As if.

He was genuinely “pleased” that these people had come looking for him.

●

“…So there’s no need to be so depressed about it, okay?”

I opened with an exasperated voice toward the dejected Victoria.

The attacker who had ambushed us was now tied up with his “camouflage suit” removed.

A full-body suit that clung to the entire body. It had an “invisibility device” attached that seemed more fitting for a sci-fi setting than this world.

Something that completely erases one’s appearance and presence. Judging by how Victoria hadn’t even imagined someone was there, it must be able to completely mask “aura” as well.

There’s only one group on the continent that could use something like this.

“It’s a completely different type of technology, so it’s natural you didn’t know. Even adult-level humans would have trouble detecting this, right?”

It’s Demonic Spire technology to begin with. Just as you can’t notice what you don’t know exists, even those who have reached such heights would allow themselves to be ambushed by someone wearing this if they were determined to hide.

Whether they would die from such an attack is another matter entirely.

“…But you knew they were there.”

That gloomy response came to my words of comfort.

Victoria, who had been visibly deflated since earlier, continued mumbling.

“This is humiliating. For an assassin to allow someone with hostile intent to get so close…”

“…”

Well, about that.

< System Log >

[ A potential life-threatening target has been detected. ]

[ ‘Skill: Critical Moment’ is applied at A-rank. ]

For me, I have an excessively good “radar” installed for these things.

This had been popping up the entire time I was with Victoria today, so I couldn’t miss it.

Honestly, if it weren’t for this, I probably would have taken a hit too.

[…You’re really something. You knew someone was following you and still casually brought her here? Even taking a shower so calmly?]

‘No, they probably had no intention of attacking in the first place.’

[What?]

‘They were probably just spies. Considering what I’ve been doing, they’d know that this kind of ambush would have a low success rate.’

Indeed, despite this person being nearby, Critical Moment had consistently remained at C~D rank.

At that level, it’s more accurate to interpret it as “will use violence if necessary” rather than clearly intending to harm me.

However, the trigger was.

[Then how did you know they would attack like this?]

‘No, I just mentioned killing Count Nicholas and noticed they seemed angry. I was just prodding a bit.’

[…]

From the moment I claimed I “killed” Count Nicholas.

They must have been close friends.

That’s when they started thinking about harming me.

That’s when Critical Moment’s rank started rising.

[You used a dead person as bait.]

‘That guy deserves it, doesn’t he?’

[…]

‘If they get upset hearing about him, they’re probably not that sane either.’

Calivan made a “hmm” sound and fell into thought for a moment. Probably stroking his chin.

[…Fair enough.]

‘Right?’

Darwood-Calivan. Season 1 grand unification.

‘Anyway, if they attack us in any way, that becomes a pretty good excuse.’

I say while wiping my mouth.

I’ve been desperately waiting for them to make the first move like this.

I was hoping for an ambush while leisurely strolling around with Victoria, but I never expected them to create an “opportunity” like this first.

[Did you go on this date intending this?]

‘To some extent, yes.’

[…That poor girl, destined to be strung along by someone like you…]

Ignoring the words flowing from his side, I briefly check the system window.

Actually, there was something “to reflect on” in what Calivan just said.

< System Log >

[ ‘Skill: Fatal Charm’ activates! ]

[ Target ‘Victoria Evatrice’s affection has risen to ‘Trust Level 5’! ]

I haven’t completely won Victoria over. My goal was to raise it at least to “Affection.”

[…What, man?]

‘No, I boasted I could win her over completely in one day. This result is a bit disappointing.’

[…]

As Calivan fell silent with nothing to say, someone continued to mutter gloomily nearby.

“I’m a disgrace as an assassin. Where on earth did I leave my mind…”

Sighing again, I address Victoria, who was clutching her head and sinking into a swamp of self-deprecation.

“It’s okay, these things happen.”

“They shouldn’t happen, which is why I keep—!”

“Well, maybe you were distracted by me?”

Honestly, I threw that out without much thought.

She looked so down that I said it with a hint of humor to cheer her up. I expected her usual response of snapping back about what nonsense I was talking.

But.

“…”

Victoria’s body froze.

Huh.

Like I had caught her off guard.

Then.

She flushed so impressively that even I was amazed, jumped up, and pointed her finger at me.

With pupils darting nervously everywhere, she fired back.

“T-that, that’s, that’s im-im-impossible!”

“…”

She’s broken.

Why is she suddenly acting like this?

As I stared blankly at Victoria, whose face had turned red enough to burst, she seemed to realize her own strange state and after staying still for a moment.

“Ah, uh, uuuuugh—!”

She disappeared with that strange sound.

“…What was that?”

[…I don’t know. What was it?]

Calivan and I could only exchange voices of bewilderment.

And as Victoria stormed out of the room, a window appeared before my eyes.

< System Message >

[ Target ‘Victoria Evatrice’s affection has risen to ‘Affection Level 1’! ]

“…”

Excuse me?

Why?

[…No, her reaction was definitely strange. Is there some backstory here?]

“It does seem that way…”

Maybe I should ask Serath about it later. Why she’s acting like this.

Well, what’s good is good for now. Having raised her affection like this means I’ve achieved my immediate purpose in bringing her out.

Now what’s important is.

“…Making good use of this.”

I muttered while looking down at my “right to pick a fight” lying bound before me.

Honestly, I couldn’t stop smiling.

●

“What a lucky bastard.”

Count Rebel sighed deeply as he said this in his private chamber.

He had just received a report from his aide about what Darwood Campbell, who had dispatched “personnel,” was currently doing.

Laughing it up with a woman on his arm in the heart of enemy territory. Is this man insane?

Having made a surprisingly accurate assessment, Count Rebel sighed deeply and continued.

“Let him continue wandering around so carefree. Don’t neglect managing the informants we’ve placed around him.”

“I will obey your orders.”

The conversation would have ended normally like that.

If not for the thunderous sound that shook Count Rebel’s mansion as if the sky were falling.

“W-what is that?”

“It’s coming from the main gate, sir!”

Count Rebel and his aide hurriedly looked out the window.

Dust was swirling in the air. The sound of walls crumbling could be heard sporadically.

Amid the chaos of screams and shouts echoing in all directions, Count Rebel’s gaze rotated here and there, trying to find the cause of this situation.

And finally.

When he found it, reason and logic died in the count’s mind.

No.

Is this real?

“…Is that.”

Count Rebel spoke with an incredulous voice.

The scene was so beyond common sense that such a reaction came before any emotion could be felt.

“Darwood Campbell?”

“…It appears so, Count.”

“Is he currently breaking through my mansion’s main gate?”

“…”

“In the heart of enemy territory?”

“…”

“Alone, unarmed?”

“…”

The aide could only maintain an affirmative silence.

●