Ch.529529. Beastkin (3)

“Have you completed all preparations as a special illusion mage?”

“Yes, I’ve thoroughly studied the characteristics of beastkin, the beastkin units under the Holy Nation, and even the relationship between the Order and the western part of the kingdom.”

“Good. Your name during this operation will be ‘Vina.’ Remember it.”

“Vina… understood.”

The mage called Vina clearly displayed the elegant smile of a noble lady.

She waited quietly while observing Leona’s chillingly cold gaze.

Like a soldier faithful to orders, or perhaps more like a puppet, Vina maintained her attitude. Seemingly pleased with this, Leona gave a slight nod, only then allowing Vina to relax slightly.

“As expected of my most trusted shadow. If this operation succeeds as well, I promise you not necessarily high honors as a shadow… but pride and greater rewards.”

The Duchess’s shadow.

The secret organization of the Duchy, mostly composed of mages, handled various behind-the-scenes matters for the family. Vina was one such mage belonging to the shadows.

“I’ll be waiting with confidence. You can handle this, right?”

“I will do my best to meet your expectations, my lady.”

Vina’s response was filled with solid self-respect and confidence, enough to instill trust in anyone who heard it.

This was only natural.

While the Duchess’s shadows might not be in a position to gain public admiration and honor due to their nature, within the Duchy, they were a group that received better treatment and recognition than anyone else. Of course, those who knew of them showed respect without hesitation.

She completed her missions with the pride of being part of an elite force.

“This involves the Holy Nation, the Empire, and the Third Princess. Remember that all of this is also in accordance with the wishes of the First Princess, who steadfastly supports the Marquisate of Lephelia.”

“……”

“Since they provoked us first, show them your true capabilities.”

“I will obey your command.”

After receiving Lady Leona’s instructions, she headed from the Duchy to the Barony with five others who would act as her subordinates.

Moving secretly yet more swiftly than anyone else, she finally reached the Barony.

As she needed to leave minimal traces and create as few contact points with people as possible…

─”As discreetly as possible. This involves three organizations. I’d prefer if Baron Vina directly exchanged information with only one baron.”

As Lady Leona had explained when first briefing her on the operation.

She needed to reveal her presence when there were minimal people around Baron Karpel.

After dispersing the people around, when the Baron and Baroness were strolling through the garden engaged in intimate conversation, she released her concealment magic and subtly made her presence known.

“……!”

A chill!

In that moment, she felt goosebumps rising up her spine.

As if aware of her position from the beginning, blue eyes were staring directly at her location, as though they had been monitoring her movements.

While her husband’s gaze wasn’t directed at her face, the expression she wore was so cold it seemed more devoid of emotion than a simple doll.

‘She already knew my position.’

If so, the warning just now meant that if I tried anything foolish, she would eliminate me immediately.

Feeling the intense tension, Vina remained still with her tail tucked, careful not to show any hostility.

With hearing enhanced through mana, she cautiously listened to their conversation.

“Sione, you don’t need to be so wary.”

“Really? Is that really the person Lady Lephelia said she would send?”

“Seems so. They say she’s a mage without any malicious intent.”

“Since you only sent Elvis without saying anything… I misunderstood. I’ve been rude to someone who came to help.”

…Elvis?

At that moment, Vina felt a breeze brush past her.

Only then did she see a spirit in the form of a small child passing by her side.

She couldn’t help but have one thought cross her mind.

‘This is—’

If the Baron’s territory was filled with such monsters, then without the help of the Duchy’s shadows…

Perhaps the Barony could handle whatever those ruffians did on their own from the beginning.

* * *

Vina, the assistant sent by Lady Lephelia.

How should I describe my first impression of her? It would be accurate to say she seemed like a secret agent devoid of emotions.

After exchanging only the necessary greetings, she never initiated any worthless conversation beyond that, only requesting information that would be helpful to her.

“Is just hearing the conversations left by the spirits really enough?”

“Yes. To save the Baron any trouble, I’ve already confirmed international situations and the relationships between the three groups through the Duchy’s information network.”

“Hmm….”

“The actual dialogue between the beastkin alone provides sufficient clues. I should be able to report meaningful results within a week.”

Considering that the only information she requested was the brief conversation Elvis had collected earlier, and generally the times and locations where they frequently appeared.

Her promise to deliver results within a week almost made me feel sorry for her.

It clearly looked like she was pushing herself, caught between her superior Leona and her superior’s friends, me and Sione.

“One week, huh. You don’t need to push yourself too hard. If you need any support from the Barony, please don’t hesitate to let me know.”

I offered these words of concern.

“I appreciate your kindness. However, I am an illusion mage of House Lephelia. Rather than interfering from the outside, I will make them move for our benefit from within—”

“……”

“If by chance my inexperienced mistakes require external intervention at the end, I will carefully request your support then.”

She responded with dignity and pride.

As expected of a mage from an organization where one mistake could mean dismissal under the pretext of appropriate punishment.

Her demeanor suggested there were reasons she had survived as a resource within the Duchy until now, and I couldn’t help but nod in agreement.

After the conversation ended in a fairly good atmosphere.

Vina left the lord’s castle and concealed herself among the crowd using invisibility magic, thinking:

‘There was definitely talk of duels between beastkin.’

Beastkin are those who obey the words of the strong and follow their leadership.

Especially the one called the current captain seemed to know much more than the other members.

‘Since they provoked us first, I was told to clearly demonstrate my abilities.’

To subjugate the captain and extract new information.

To interfere with the tool being shared by the Holy Nation, the Empire, and the Third Princess, preventing its further use.

‘I need to prepare an elaborate illusion.’

Vina couldn’t help but feel new inspirations welling up.

After all, infiltration through illusion magic was her specialty.

* * *

“Ray, is it really okay for us to rest like this while sending that mage alone?”

“Lady Lephelia said so, and the mage said she would handle it herself. We should just continue as we have been.”

“Hmm, but still—”

“I told you, right? The Lephelia family said they would handle the aftermath of the friction with the Third Princess. The Duchy sent a mage to keep that promise. They must have a plan in mind.”

“Well… if you insist.”

Of course, I’m a bit worried too.

But at the same time, I’ve already asked Elvis and Orna to monitor their movements.

We gave them each enough mana for the night and arranged to receive reports the next morning or immediately if something urgent happened. This should be sufficient as a minimal safety measure.

So I pushed my worries aside and focused on enjoying the sweet relaxation time with Sione after a hard day’s work.

‘Despite her worries…’

As if there was something she really wanted to do with me.

I could see a small glass bottle she had brought to our room, cutely wiggling her toes.

I smiled and asked:

“What’s in that bottle?”

“Oh, this… it’s that alcohol we were supposed to try last time…”

“You were just asking if it’s okay to rest, but you already brought alcohol—”

“…That’s why I wasn’t saying anything, because I knew you’d react like this.”

As if she had anticipated my response.

To appease her, I suggested we try the alcohol, and she responded as if she had been waiting for just that.

“Since Ray suggested drinking first! I’ll let you have the first glass!”

Splash—

Sione quickly ran to the table and poured the alcohol into a small teacup.

Perhaps because it was the teacup Sione used for sweet tea with sugar cubes, only a sweet aroma rose rather than the typical alcohol smell.

But Sione’s obvious intentions made it clear.

“…What are you waiting for? Drink up.”

This must either be extremely strong alcohol or have some other special effect.