Fake Lily
by Afuhfuihgs
I admired the competence of the strategists and evaluated, “Amazing.” But that wasn’t enough, as Bella, leaning back in her chair with an arrogant posture, twisted one corner of her lips.
“If you’re only going to evaluate this much as amazing, it takes the wind out of our sails when we’ve prepared other things too, you know?”
“What else did you prepare?”
It was called a trip, but it was just a short overnight stay of one night and two days. The fact that they prepared not only a portal but also other things in that time meant that the strategists’ competence was several times greater than I had thought.
As I looked at her with expectant eyes, Bella opened her mouth with a bright smile.
“Of course. When you were away on your trip, we put our heads together without even a break to make plans for the future. With three people who understand each other, plans were made surprisingly quickly. That cocky brat’s information was also a little helpful, though.”
Saying that, Bella reached for my dessert that was left on the desk. I wasn’t planning on eating it anyway. Bella, who likes desserts, ate the dessert with a slightly happy expression, then turned serious again and turned her gaze to me.
“The list of those to be killed that you requested is complete.”
Bella took out the list of those to be killed from the small bag she had placed on her thigh. Whether it was an artifact bag with space expansion magic, the list of those to be killed, which was much larger than the entrance, was not of a size that could be written in just a few days.
“The list of those to be killed was created by combining Modest’s information and the information of the nobles who follow me in the Imperial Palace. We can’t read the flow of probability, so we’ve filled the list with names and information for now. You’ll have to check and kill the people who need to be killed yourself.”
“That’s enough.”
Only I could read the probability that could have a sensitive impact on the flow. The list of those to be killed only needs to help decide who to kill and who to save.
I briefly opened the list and examined the contents. Most of the names were unfamiliar to me. Most of them were ‘extras whose names don’t even appear’ that fit the condition that it shouldn’t deviate from the probability I requested.
“Not only followers of the Order and followers of the Demon King, but also information about villains that Modest is tracking has been added to the list of those to be killed.”
I nodded at that. If only followers of the Order and followers of the Demon King were killed by Lily’s hand, there could be a misunderstanding that I had some kind of grudge against the Order and demons. But the death of a famous villain could correct such a misunderstanding.
It was my intention for people to question Lily’s killings. Surprisingly, the Order did not have a bad reputation among the public. Rather, in some cases, it received better evaluations than the church due to the antipathy towards the church.
Demon worshipers like the Demon King’s followers naturally have a bad reputation due to things like human sacrifices. Villains are also guys who commit things like murder or rape, so there’s no need to talk about their reputation.
If I kill them, people will think it’s justice. Some people will say that I did what I had to do on behalf of God, and many people will praise Lily’s killings.
But what if followers or related people of the Order are killed along with them…? People will question it. Why is Lily killing those related to the Order? What wrong did they do?
In fact, they may wonder if they are beings who should receive the same judgment of justice as the Demon King’s followers and villains. Just making people feel uneasy about the Order will greatly reduce the Order’s influence.
Bella, who reached for the dessert again, said.
“We’ve finished talking about Lily too.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Let’s divide Lily and Roel clearly into black and white.”
Saying that, Bella, who shook off the powder on her fingers, continued her explanation with a serious face.
“The current Roel… is an enemy for now, but in the end, we will all gather around Roel. So we decided to prepare various things so that everyone can think of Roel as hope, just like I’ve been doing.”
I nodded. This is already a problem that was discussed a long time ago. Whatever happens, Roel is the protagonist who will save this world. All of our plans ultimately required Roel.
“Roel will become a light to everyone. Contrary to such perfect white, Lily must become a complete black… an existence of darkness. A fearful and unsettling existence that makes people feel fear. That’s the image of Lily that we’re planning.”
I didn’t care at all how people evaluated Lily. Lily is just a tool that I use. No matter what the evaluation of the tool is, it’s enough if I use it well.
From the beginning, I prefer wallowing in the muddy mire to becoming everyone’s hope. Perhaps an old inferiority complex has turned into a self-destructive personality. I readily replied.
“Very good.”
At my cool answer, Bella smiled satisfactorily, then frowned slightly for some reason.
“…And there’s something that requires your consent too. After all, you are our ‘liege.’ I didn’t think the strategists could decide arbitrarily.”
“What is it?”
“I’m thinking of adding Lily.”
“…?”
When I looked at her with an uncomprehending face, Bella let out a faint sigh and explained.
“Some of us will act as fake Lily.”
“Why?”
At my question, Bella frowned. It seems that Bella, who used to be in a position to listen to explanations quietly, is now uncomfortable with the role of giving kind explanations.
“There are several reasons. The risk of being tracked if Lily only operates in the place where you are. The continent is too large for one person to operate. The purpose of spreading Lily’s influence quickly, etc.”
“But won’t someone notice that Lily isn’t one person?”
“It doesn’t matter if they notice. But they won’t notice.”
I was curious about her somehow confident voice.
“Why?”
“Are you stupid? Lily clearly showed everyone that she uses space magic. There’s no noble who doesn’t know that she sells improved portals. Even if murders happen all over the continent, they’ll think it’s possible if it’s Lily, who can move anywhere. That’s what I’m planning to make them think.”
I was speechless for a moment at Bella’s kind explanation. Since everyone knows that Lily uses space magic, they will think that way even if murders happen in faraway places.
If Modest spreads false information through information manipulation that she is a person who can move freely anywhere on the continent… the story about Lily will spread quickly.
Perhaps because Bella and Raellan, who are good at this kind of thing, put their heads together, it was definitely a good method. I nodded and asked.
“How are you planning to operate the fake Lily?”
“I’m thinking of cleaning up the small fries that aren’t written on the list of those to be killed. We should also take care of minor profits. I haven’t decided on Lily’s murder method separately. However, I decided to leave a Lily flower at the scene after the murder.”
“Are you leaving Lily’s signature?”
“That’s right, so everyone can know that Lily killed them.”
I was convinced by Bella’s explanation. If I see a Lily flower next to the corpse, I will think that Lily has been there even in murders that I didn’t commit. It was a good way to avoid tracking and instill fear in people.
“I think it’s a good plan.”
“Of course it’s a good plan. Who do you think we are?”
Is it already ‘we’? Perhaps it was easy to communicate because smart people gathered. Bella, who brushed her side hair back, asked with her chin propped up.
“There’s one more thing I want to ask.”
“What is it?”
“Does Lily only kill people whose names are written on the list of those to be killed?”
It’s a voice that sounds like she’s testing me. It was a question of what to do with innocent family or lovers. It was a question that didn’t need to be considered. Because I had already made an answer a long time ago. I replied with a smile.
“Wouldn’t that be insufficient to instill fear in people?”
Whether that was the answer, Bella smiled, shining her golden eyes.
“…You’ve made up your mind firmly.”
“If I don’t do this, I can’t even catch up with Roel’s shadow.”
Bella, who stared at me for a while, sighed softly and said.
“…I know. That’s why we’re working hard to help you too.”
Saying that, Bella took something else out of her bag. It was a black key with fancy carvings.
“I have a villa near here. There’s a big pond nearby, and there are no people around, so it’s a good place to spend time alone with Luna.”
Bella handed me the key to the villa. When I received the key, Bella raised one corner of her lips and added with a mocking face.
“Of course, if you can get permission.”
Looking at the key, I hesitated for a moment and asked carefully.
“…Can I sell the Crown Princess’s name a little bit?”
“Yeah, absolutely not.”
It was an immediate answer as if she had been waiting for it.
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