Gazing up at the clear, piercingly blue winter sky, Iris Lune sighs.
Over the past few days, Iris Lune had slipped out of bed in the middle of the night three times, transforming into a ninja as usual, to rescue the families of soldiers who were about to be attacked.
She had used her emotion-sensing ability to detect a group moving through the castle town with strange hostility.
She had prevented Night Python’s plot, but her heart remained uneasy.
“–If they’re attacked within the same town, I can still notice and go help, but otherwise, there’s nothing I can do. Damn it.”
The effective range of her emotion-sensing didn’t even cover the entire city of Eltaref. She couldn’t detect those being attacked in nearby villages or distant towns.
“–If the Count’s pawns continue to be diminished like this, it could lead to the battle ending without a decisive conclusion… and that’s a problem.”
Of course, the Count thinks the same, which is why he’s moving to decide the match.
It seems he’s finally going to capture the boss who controls the territory.
However, Iris Lune’s goal is to crush Night Python itself. The Count, who only needs to drive them out of the territory, has different goals. Currently, under the hopeful assumption that a high-ranking executive controlling the territory would know the location of the big boss, they’ve made a somewhat rough plan to secure the territorial boss first and then think about it.
Unfortunately, the Count told her to stay behind, but at this point, there’s no need to pretend to be ‘Iris’. All she has to do is pre-emptively attack the boss’s hideout that the Count has located.
–…At worst, that’s fine, but I have a feeling that solving it by force will definitely cause a commotion. There’s also talk that Night Python might be connected to the coup d’état faction, so what should I do?
If capturing the territorial boss causes a commotion and the big boss escapes, it’s all for naught. Even if that doesn’t happen, she’d prefer to do things quietly if possible. After achieving her goal, whether she prepares for battle or escapes, it will be much easier to move if the country’s side is unaware.
–But, how do I do that specifically? For example, bring it to an all-out war between Night Python and the Count, and defeat the big boss… No, that’s impossible. It exceeds the Count’s ability to deal with it. Hmm… I wonder if it’s okay to just force my way through…
While thinking, Iris Lune walked on top of the castle wall. The cold wind seemed to blow through and cool her head.
Count Kealy’s castle, while relatively small in proportion to the size of his territory, was a battle fortress built with walls on a small hill. The top of the wall offers a good view and a panoramic view of the houses in the castle town.
The soldiers standing guard notice Iris Lune and salute her respectfully, as they would their lord. She’s currently dressed normally as an adventurer, but they probably show respect because they know what Iris Lune is doing to protect Catherine.
–Hmm, I can’t come up with any ideas. For now, let’s try to check the reactions in the castle town.
Iris Lune expanded her emotion sensing range to its maximum and continued walking along the castle wall. The reason she chose the castle wall for her walk was to see if anyone was monitoring the castle. The other day, she had eliminated two hired freelance thugs, but it wouldn’t be surprising if the next one came soon. If someone was watching here, she thought they might suspect something from the fact that Iris Lune, who was playing the important role of the young lady’s body double, had appeared, and react by moving their emotions.
The response was surprisingly quick.
–Oh? It’s a building with a view of the castle. Is this ‘surprise’? And, the cold ‘hostility’ peculiar to professionals…
While walking, Iris Lune took out a crystal ball at a position that was just in the blind spot of the watcher.
“<<Crystal Eye>>”
The reverse detection was a complete success. Inside the crystal ball, there were two men in a bleak room, holding magical binoculars and looking out the window. In the room, there were things like portable food and weapons scattered around, as well as other disturbing items.
–Oh my, there’s a rope and a bag that looks like it could fit a person. They’re planning to kidnap someone. …Wait, who?
One of the men momentarily took his eyes off the binoculars and looked at the kidnapping kit. Iris Lune didn’t miss that gesture.
–Me…? Why?
Iris Lune briefly considers the usefulness of kidnapping. As Night Python, just as they are attacking the raid units and their families, they would probably want to do something about “Dragon’s Throat”. Considering why they would want to kidnap instead of killing…
–I see, they don’t have any insiders anymore! They’re trying to take ‘countermeasures’ without knowing that ‘Dragon’s Throat’ won’t be in the final battle!
Killing the families of the raid unit was an effective attack. Some members even deserted, thinking, ‘I don’t want my family to be killed.’ But what if they killed a member of “Dragon’s Throat”? Would it serve as a warning to stop meddling? No, it wouldn’t. On the contrary, it would lead to a full-fledged battle for revenge and retribution.
So what happens if they take a hostage? Probably, those three would be immobilized if Iris was taken hostage.
–But how are they planning to kidnap me? I don’t have any plans to leave the castle anyway, and if they try to kidnap me in body double mode, it’s practically the same difficulty as kidnapping the young lady. It might even be easier to deal with the four members of ‘Dragon’s Throat’ than to kidnap me?
“Iris! There you are.”
Suddenly, someone calls her name from below.
“Benedict!”
Benedict was in the courtyard inside the castle walls, waving his hand. Although she knew Benedict didn’t mean anything by it, Iris Lune casually held down the skirt of her robe. If it were to spread out a little in the wind now…
–Wait, did I just do something normally girly? …I’ve been living as Renée for 10 years, so it’s not strange to have that habit.
As ‘Chojiro’, it was a little complicated, but Benedict didn’t seem to notice her complicated and twisted gender concerns.
“Catch this. It’s for you.”
Benedict tossed up a large card-like object. Iris Lune caught it in front of her with a shirahadori catch as it flew spinning.
Translator’s Note
Shirahadori is a technique where you catch the blade with your bare hands.
It was an envelope with the Adventurer’s Guild seal on it.
–From the Adventurer’s Guild?
“Thanks, Benedict.”
Seeing Benedict off as he waved and left, Iris Lune opened the envelope.
Inside was a summons from the guild. The content was lengthy and overly ornate, but if the 7 lines of text were summarized into one line, it said, ‘There was an error in the previous quest report, so come and correct it.’ As an adventurer, and as a guild, it’s a matter that shouldn’t be taken lightly.
That’s why it’s too suspicious. Or rather, the timing is too good. Iris Lune, thinking something was strange, immediately realized.
–Ah…! There’s a Night Python insider in the Adventurer’s Guild! He was a spy for the town’s Night Python, but the territory’s Night Python re-established contact, huh. Since there’s nothing they can do anymore, and there’s no way to naturally convey the existence of the insider… I thought about leaving it alone. They’re using it here…
She doesn’t know if it’s a fake document that the guild insider issued on his own, or if he somehow talked the branch manager into writing it, but it’s certain that he’s involved.
And, since the job of “Dragon’s Throat” is to protect the Count, it’s unlikely that they would all leave the castle together. Especially now, right after the attempted assassination of the Count. Inevitably, Iris Lune will have to go alone, or maybe with one or two others.
It was almost certainly a trap to lure Iris Lune out.
–Alright, then let’s use it. The duck is coming out carrying the green onion. But it’s a poisonous duck and a poisonous green onion! If you eat it, you’ll get a stomach ache!
Translator’s Note
This is a Japanese saying. Kamo ga negi wo shotte kuru (A duck comes bearing green onions) means that something is too convenient or too good to be true.
Her mood is rather like fishing. The fish came to her on their own. All she has to do is scatter the bait.
–Now then. I should consult with my party members… no, I shouldn’t. They might stop me. Should I just go like this?
“<<Fly>>”
Iris Lune jumped off the castle wall, stealing a glance at the guards.
This seemed to startle the men who were watching, and they began to move around in a hurry, surprised and flustered. Following their movements, Iris Lune floats softly in the air and descends into the town.
Iris Lune landed on a street that was on the side of the castle and started walking the shortest distance to the Adventurer’s Guild. It’s a path that goes through intricate houses and alleys between buildings. In short, it’s perfect for an attack.
The two men with hostility were rapidly approaching. It was no longer necessary to use her emotion-sensing ability; she could feel their presence so strongly that she could almost reach out and touch them. They probably think they’re concealing their presence, but ‘reading presence’ means sensing the flow of faint magical power. And Iris Lune’s true form is an undead that perceives the world through magical power. She is extremely good at reading presence.
The men close in, silencing their footsteps. They’re closing the distance with Iris Lune, who is walking leisurely. And then.
“Mgh!?”
When they got close enough, Iris Lune was suddenly embraced from behind and a damp cloth was pressed over her mouth and nose. Air imbued with magical power invades her body. As a courtesy, Iris Lune screams and struggles.
–Sleep potion… If it’s this, it’ll work for about 3 hours… Increase resistance… getting… sleepy.
Iris Lune’s consciousness was abruptly cut off.