Ch.428428 – A Hostage Situation Without Hostages

<428 – Hostage Situation Without a Hostage>

“I can’t figure out Charlotte. Why would she want to become a party member of that unreliable hero?”

“Have you seen the hero too?”

“While watching you. When I was in the wall, I wanted to observe everyone. And… I don’t dislike that woman all that much.”

Senior Alice’s words were quite unexpected.

I thought someone with a good personality like her wouldn’t like Ishtar, who easily gives up on people.

What about Ishtar could have caught Senior Alice’s attention?

“When my followers were insulting Hestia, she looked at her without any prejudice regarding status or class. Even though she could have expanded her influence three times over if she had agreed with her followers.”

“Huh. So that happened. She’s definitely not a bad person at her core!”

“But aren’t you seeing Ishtar too positively? She’s repeatedly stood in your way and defeated your friends.”

“Ishtar is a pitiful person with too much to do. Of course I have to support her!”

“Defeating the Emperor and the Demon Lord… Do you really believe that child is capable of such a thing?”

“Of course!”

I’ve actually done it myself when selecting Ishtar as a playable character.

Since I did it, the potential definitely exists within Ishtar.

The question is whether the current NPC Ishtar can follow what I accomplished.

‘She’s still doing okay because I increased her growth rate at the Training Tower during summer vacation!’

Senior Alice asked again, clearly troubled by something.

“Regardless of whether it’s possible or not, why do such a thing? The Demon Lord won’t act unless provoked. The Emperor is also managing the massive violence of the empire in his own way.”

They’re big shots who could be left alone as they are now.

Why go looking for trouble?

Senior Alice’s doubt is legitimate.

“That would be true if the situation remained unchanged!”

“…Sounds like something big is coming that will shake the continent.”

“Should I tell you about it?”

“No thanks. I don’t want to become a fanatic like Dobby.”

“Then I’ll go get information about Charlotte’s butler from Jona!”

“And when you get that information. Are you planning to find that butler and fight?”

I put my finger to my mouth and pondered.

“Hmm… maybe?”

“That’s impossible. The butler is strong. You need to think of him as at least ‘graduate’ level.”

“I still have a plan!”

There are more ways to deal with people than just stabbing them in the belly.

* * *

Charlotte recalled the audacious youngest lady who came from the Foundation.

‘She was fearless. Quite skilled too. Above all, her approach was completely different.’

Until now, no lady had approached the hero.

It’s only natural.

To become stronger as a lady, one inevitably reaches for dark mana.

A power that’s the antithesis to the hero.

Simply put, Foundation ladies become the hero’s targets the moment they leave the Academy.

Charlotte was no exception.

Considering why she didn’t use dark mana when competing with Oknodie, this became even more significant.

“Do you know? That not even a speck of dark mana exists in my body.”

Charlotte, the lady of the Foundation.

Her nickname was the Noble Rose.

There was no room in those lofty eyes for dark mana, that ominous power imbued with the principle of absolute obedience.

A few years ago.

When she had just entered the Academy as a freshman.

After experiencing battle with Alice, who had chilled her to the bone with pure talent and skill, that resolve never once wavered.

‘Power isn’t everything. Only when you can control a perfect power can you truly become strong. Even if that power is small and insignificant.’

Alice had nearly surpassed her with clearly less strength and mana.

She had overcome that wall, while Alice couldn’t progress further.

The only thing that determined victory was whether one awakened during actual combat.

Even now, facing the wall of enlightenment beyond which no further awakening is possible, her conviction remained unchanged.

Even if she had to rely on external power, she would never touch dark mana.

That child who suggested joining the hero’s party as if she knew everything about her.

It gave her goosebumps, if only slightly.

“Perhaps I should have killed her after all.”

Well, that’s still a distant matter.

Becoming a companion in the hero’s party is only relevant after giving up on the Treasure.

She couldn’t give up yet.

“Especially right after a powerful competitor has fallen.”

Urgas, the murderer who wore a hundred lost items.

For some reason, most of Urgas’s lost items had burned black and become inoperable. Normally, he would be Charlotte’s natural enemy, but…

“Power reduced to less than half is merely fertilizer for reclaiming the Treasure.”

“Kuhak! C-cowards… using the Foundation’s power to cut down my strength and then launching a surprise attack…”

The infamous Urgas was dead.

She had also acquired his core lost item.

With the Golden Apple that controls the space around its owner now in her possession, there was no longer anyone with artifacts that could stop her perfect strike.

At the same time, the spatial affinity enhancement effect from using the Golden Apple would allow for more effective offensives.

‘Though Urgas’s final words are somewhat troubling.’

Using the Foundation’s power to cut down his strength.

It’s difficult to expect such skill from her butler.

Could it be the work of <Sticker> hiding in the area reserved for students on leave?

No, that one isn’t so aggressive in nature.

The person who comes to mind is a pretty little girl with a small stature.

That child took down Urgas?

It’s unsettling to think it’s a misunderstanding, but if it’s true, it’s like urging her to quickly fail at reclaiming the Treasure and join the hero’s party instead.

Either way, it feels more like the craftsmanship of a seasoned old butler with years of experience rather than a child.

The one behind Oknodie.

Has butler Jona Wiheomhae become capable of such ruthless moves in just a few years?

But more unsettling than the butler is the lady who carries out his will.

The long sleeves that cover her hands due to her small stature.

The thin arms she extends by crumpling up her clothes.

The face that makes outrageous proposals with an innocent smile.

“Truly an unsettling child.”

Jona Wiheomhae.

She became a little afraid of what kind of monster he had raised.

* * *

“Miss, you mentioned that you once went on an outing with Professor Destroyer.”

“Yes!”

“Do you remember the identity of the Foundation executive who met his end at the professor’s hands?”

Today I came to ask Jona about Charlotte’s butler.

“The Supervisor?”

“Correct.”

“Gasp! Then is Charlotte’s butler already dead?”

Jona pressed his forehead with one hand as if trying to calm a throbbing headache.

“How could that be? A Supervisor is typically someone who manages the Foundation’s butlers. Charlotte’s butler wasn’t a Supervisor from the beginning.”

“Don’t tell me he filled the vacancy after the predecessor disappeared?”

“Correct.”

“Wow. So he got promoted thanks to me! I should tell him to treat me to a unique dish as a promotion bonus.”

“A Supervisor is not in a position to serve dishes to you, Miss.”

“Hmph. The previous one gave me lots before he passed away.”

“Anyway, it’s undeniable that the new Supervisor owes you a debt. If you want compensation, I’ll arrange a meeting.”

I returned to my studies, trusting Jona’s promise.

I also believed Alice when she said I’d hear from her soon if I waited.

One week.

Two weeks.

Until nearly three weeks had passed.

“You’ve been deceived.”

“Waaah. Jona wouldn’t deceive me!”

“Jona is good at lying. He told me eating bell peppers would make me taller, but I didn’t grow at all.”

Not growing taller is because of genetics!

“Jona. This is different from our agreement! You said you’d arrange an opportunity to meet the Supervisor.”

“I apologize. I tried to set up a meeting, but a problem arose.”

“What problem?”

“The Supervisor is actively refusing to meet.”

“Why?”

“He says he doesn’t want to face the scary child who effectively removed his predecessor’s head.”

Oh no.

My reputation as a scary child is so high that he’s refusing to meet out of fear!

“Then I need to cast some bait!”

“If you’re planning to cause another outrageous incident like the baby kraken, please refrain. The level of surveillance on you has increased dramatically because of the incidents you’ve caused.”

“I know that much! One person watching from the ceiling, one spying from the building entrance through the window, two disguised as students wandering the hallway. Right?”

When you level up your hiding ability, you can easily spot good hiding places.

“You missed all the professor-level watchers.”

“Professor level?”

“Not only is there an instructor on the ceiling, but also Professor Destroyer, Ranger Professor Minerva beyond the windowsill, and Monk Myungho disguised as a clear mirror in the hallway.”

“What?!”

“You won’t be able to cause incidents with this level of surveillance. Meeting with the Supervisor will have to be postponed until at least the vacation.”

“I understand.”

If Jona says so, I have no choice.

“I’ll give up on finding him myself.”

“…It sounds like you have a secret plan to make the Supervisor come to you instead.”

“Of course I do!”

Charlotte is in the area reserved for students on leave.

All external communications are completely cut off.

It’s enough to make them believe we have secured Charlotte’s safety.

“Please tell the Supervisor that if he doesn’t come within this week, I’ll kill Charlotte!”

A hostage situation without a hostage has begun.