Disclaimer:
I do not own the Re: Zero series or anything else relating to it. It is all owned by Tappei Nagatsuki. Any OC found within this story is of my creation.
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A flame, albeit small, came to life when the lighter in my hand caused the reaction. Flick after flick, I kept this up as I watched said flame live and die endlessly. A pointless act but one I found therapeutic in a strange way.
As expected, my craving for a cancer stick had been growing ever since my arrival to this withering abode. Due to recent events, I found it was appropriate to indulge in such activity by stepping outside to not face the wrath of the servants. It certainly was a wise decision on my part.
What followed after my altercation with Heinkel had been rather stressful and exhausting. My face and body had been ruffed up fairly well on top of the old wounds dealt by Elsa, making the others worried. Even after several rounds of careful treatments—the pain lingered.
Sometimes being battered and bruised was necessary to achieve results.
It had been three days. Today marked the third day since my arrival to this world. Having found a moment for myself, my mind still couldn't fathom how this was happening. I started to wonder if such a notion would fade away once I had settled into place.
However, that was the least of my concerns as something I theorized when I got here proved true: I was illiterate. Reinhard provided several books from his study that he believed would be beneficial for me to indulge in. It didn't take passing even the cover to confirm that wasn't going to happen. I was far too embarrassed to confess to him that I silently accepted the books as he went off to handle matters in Hakchuri with Felt tagging along.
An unfortunate setback, but I then instead shifted my attention to my inventory. Everything I had when coming to this place was intact. Coincidentally, most of my other pieces of tech were still there which I sighed in relief at. What I least needed was for that blond runt to mess with anything else that was precious.
In addition, the compact solar generator was in pristine condition thanks to the hard case it was housed in. I had the urge to tinker with it but I was far too mentally strained to do so. I knew eventually other matters such as studying and being thrust into the political scene of Lugunica awaited me. How troublesome.
Fed up, I sighed and allowed myself to be sunk deeper into the chair I was lounging on. The once spotless table I had been using was in utter disarray like that of my own head. A part of myself was elsewhere from the absurd amount of responsibilities being piled upon me.
I grabbed my smartphone and went into the gallery. There, I found the recent photos and found the woman who had wounded me just days ago showcasing a gorgeous smile, Elsa Granhiert. The longer I stared at the photo, I began to realize how different she seemed than usual. I narrowed it down to the way she was presenting herself within the still frame. There was no murderous intent—just her being normal.
'What're you up to, Elsa?'
Sadly, the vivid image of her displeased face was burned into my memory after I had mentioned the alias of that person. I should've known that revealing my awareness of her master was a gamble, however, it paid off to a certain extent. Elsa and Meili were still out there. Nobody had died, but they were unaccounted for. Was there a chance—had things gone different—they could've been with me also?
No, the chance of that outcome happening was near zero, at least, for the meantime. It didn't matter if I knew Elsa and her life story, I was merely a fool who stood in her way. Her mark, the signature blade she had given me, was her definitive way of telling me we would meet again.
Next time, I wouldn't allow her to escape quite so easily. Even if I managed to subdue her and make her see to reason, what came after that? Once my official running was announced, if word got out that my camp was harboring a notorious, deadly assassin—my campaign would likely be cut short putting my friends and myself at risk.
Nothing could ever be simple, it seemed.
"...Lord Sean."
Suddenly snapped out of my thoughts, I raised my head to look at the person who called for me. To my surprise, it was none other than Carol. "S-sorry. What can I do for you?"
"I apologize for disturbing you. Is everything alright? You seem troubled," she said. A look of concern was plastered on her face.
"Well, I've been better. It'll take a while before I'm a hundred percent, but it's to be expected," I replied.
Carol frowned. "...Are your injuries not faring any better? I understand if you feel overwhelmed with all that has happened. I worry you may be pushing yourself for our sake."
"I'm fine," I said, sternly. She hovered over me even after I made it clear I wanted to drop that topic.
"I see. Perhaps I should come to you another time then."
"If you wish."
"I-I shall take my leave then. Excuse me."
Then, Carol bowed before she made her way to the door at a quiet, slow pace. I watched as her demeanor changed from being graceful to a slump mess altogether. Acting so dismissively towards the elderly maid had been uncalled for.
"Wait a moment! Please."
"Yes?"
"Carol, I'm sorry for what I said."
"Why is that?"
I bit my lip and sighed. "I feel like so much has been happening and it's been taking a toll on me. I understand that doesn't necessarily excuse how inconsiderate I just was, but it happened anyway because I'm letting things get to me."
"Well, the behavior you displayed is not something I'm unfamiliar with. Although hearing it from you specifically makes this old lady quite upset. It makes me so, so sad," Carol admitted, bringing her hands up to her face. A few soft sniffles came from her as she avoided my confused gaze.
"...Are you crying? I didn't know I hurt you that bad!"
"How cruel of you to treat me like this even after everything I have done for you."
"I'm sorry!"
"I'm just pulling your leg, Lord Sean." I gawked and stood up from my seat. "However, it would please me if from now on you refrain from acting so rude towards those who simply wish to help you. I understand you are going through many setbacks since you set foot here, but be mindful that those you care dearly for may also be dealing with their own issues too."
"Yes ma'am," I muttered, ashamed.
"Good. Let this be the last time I need to scold you. Having to deal with Master Heinkel and Felt is far too much for my liking."
"Right. You do have a lot on your plate with those two, heh. Even so, I'll heed your advice and do better from now on. What kind of man would I be if I was letting my friends down by lashing out at them? I appreciate what you've done, Carol."
Carol gave me a beaming smile in assurance. "Of course. It would make this old lady happy if you did your best to take action for your mistakes instead of simply seeking forgiveness. A young man like yourself I'm sure will come to realize what I mean by this."
"I hope. What you said really means a lot to me," I said. "By the way, what was it that you needed from me? I'm guessing it's serious if you need to come to me directly."
"Yes. I simply came here to notify you that Master Heinkel requested your presence in his office. He has something of utter importance he wishes to discuss with you, it seems," stated Carol.
'Huh, Heinkel wants to see me so soon again? I hope it's not about what happened last night…'
"Interesting. I guess it's important if he's willing to discuss about it with me this early. I figured he'd be indulging in alcohol at this time."
"He is adjusting, I suppose. It will take time but maybe he will realize there is more for him to do than loathe. Your actions and words with him yesterday made quite an impact. I can only hope Master Heinkel will see that."
I nodded. "One day at a time. Anyhow, best not to keep him waiting. Lead the way."
What exactly was it the Astrea patriarch wanted to discuss? My cautious side feared it was something I'd have to tackle soon. This candidate stuff was becoming a pain with each passing moment.
Guided by Carol, it was a brief walk to the office of the man who desired to see me so suddenly.
"Master Heinkel, I have brought Lord Sean as you requested."
"...Enter."
The elderly maid gently opened the set of double doors and beckoned me to the nearest open seat. Similar to the manor, the office looked like it too had seen better days from the aging appearance of the furniture and walls. The room was nothing really to gawk at and instead looked so…ordinary. I guess the Deputy Commander wasn't one to care for how well-furnished his place of work was. Then again, it had been some time since he'd been in this domain in general.
Then, our gazes met and I took in the state of the man who had beaten the crap out of me hours ago. No greeting was exchanged. Neither of us even bothered to say a word as we stared at each other for what felt like ages.
Those azure eyes of his carried some form of animosity in them, but I knew better than to cower when faced with such a complicated person like himself. Just what exactly did he intend to do with me present?
A light cough from the other person we had forgotten interrupted our intense staredown.
"Forgive me, wouldn't it be best for Lord Sean to take a seat? I've brewed some warm tea for both of you to enjoy," said Carol, showcasing a smile that made us both sigh.
She went on to pour us tea and handed them to us with grace. While I wasn't really big into such a beverage, refusing to drink something Carol had made would surely upset her. Heinkel paid the cup served to him no mind and held a bottle of alcohol of some kind.
"...We've got a lot to discuss, brat."
"Do we? I thought what I said last night was enough."
Heinkel smirked, in a way that reminded me of when I first met him. He was up to something. It was then he rudely excused Carol with his hand which she simply obliged. I clenched my fists, but letting my temper get the better of me would serve no purpose here.
The Astrea patriarch sipped a bit from his drink. "I remembered what you told me yesterday. The damn foolish promise you made about…saving my wife. I wasn't in the best of shapes, but what you said was clear as day."
"Oh, about saving Louanna? Of course, I meant it," I said. "I wouldn't lie about something as serious as that. The last thing I want is for Rein to call me out for doing such a thing."
"This doesn't concern the Sword Saint at the moment. This is about my wife."
"It's Reinhard. Your son, Reinhard."
The nerve of the man, I wanted nothing more than to lash out at him but that wouldn't solve anything.
Heinkel gave me a cold, hard look that conveyed he wasn't bothered. "I know."
"And here I thought fighting would help us form some mutual respect for one another, seems I was wrong to think that."
"A brat like you thinks they achieved something from that? Don't make me laugh!"
"Up yours, bastard."
Well, this was one productive encounter.
"Look." I got up and went to his desk which Heinkel raised a brow at. "I'm not here to argue with you. If you think I lied to you about wanting to help your wife, then you have nothing to worry about. I'm not so dumb as to think about breaking a promise I declared to carry out. Don't you think?"
"...That's the problem. Why? Just what makes you think I need your help in the first place?"
Heinkel stood up too and drew his face closer to mine. I didn't intend to back down. "Because it's clear to me that you need help. Even the people who care about you think so too."
"I don't care what you or anyone else thinks I need. Someone like you wouldn't understand what I've been through."
"Well, you're wrong. You're not the only one. Life hasn't been so kind to me either, asshole. Do you really think you're better off spending the rest of your days alone because the world fucked you over?! Grow up!"
"That's rich coming from a snot-nosed brat like you! I never wanted any of this to happen!"
"No shit! Neither did I when things got worse for me, but we don't get a choice in that, do we? That's why I made the promise to you: I understand the struggle you're going through and I want to help."
Heinkel was about to utter something, but instead threw his hand out to grip the collar of my shirt. Carried with him, was the horrid stench of liquor from under his breath. He'd been drinking since morning, hadn't he? And here I thought the comment Carol made early about was true. This man clearly learned nothing from our encounter.
"That's the part I hate about you." Heinkel snarled and kept a tight hold on me. "You think you know everything, huh? One day you're some loser and now you think because the Dragon chose you you're some kind of big shot! That fucking irritates me! Don't think for a second that because of what you did to me yesterday that you're better than me!"
Ah, so that was it. His pride, the one the Astrea patriarch carried as his duty, is what prevented him from moving on and reaching out to others. I realized doing the things I did to him wasn't the ideal method to help him, but at the time I had no other means that could be considered effective.
A man like him, loud and furious at the world around him, required a more aggressive approach to make him see the errors of his ways. The fact he revealed such an emotionally troubled side when confronted on simply lending him a hand—it truly hurt to think acting kind was uncommon here.
"You keep running your mouth on about what's best for me, Lord Sean. I'm sick and tired of hearing empty promises from people like you! When all is said and done—nothings changed. My dear wife is still the way she is. So, stop spewing this nonsense!"
"I won't..."
"Tck. What're you on about?!"
"I won't stop what I'm doing, goddamnit. You're so quick to push me away because I haven't done anything yet. If you keep wallowing in despair, you'll only destroy yourself. Don't you get that?!"
"But why?! Why?!"
"...It's the right thing to do. Reinhard, Carol, Grimm, and even Louanna wouldn't want you to keep this up. So, whether you like it or not, I'm going to help you to the best of my ability."
At that, Heinkel released me and let out a low growl. I kept my gaze on him and readjusted my dress shirt given he thought it best to intimidate me. He was so stubborn that I kind of saw a part of myself in him.
A part of me I left behind long ago.
Then, the doors into the room opened slightly as a familiar face peered in to check on us. I kind of felt sorry for her given that we may have caused some concern for her from all the bickering and shouting. What a shame.
"Gentlemen, is everything alright?" Carol asked with concern.
"Yeah, don't mind us. We're just hashing through some of our differences, right, Heinkel?" I said.
The redhead grunted which Carol arched a brow at. The worry on her face was clear as day but this wasn't something for her to deal with. She didn't deserve to be put through his harsh treatment any longer.
She eventually left and both of us decided to return to our seats. I pondered to myself on what to say next to the stubborn drunkard. What else could I convey to convince him we wanted the best for him? It began to feel like a fool's errand with no clear solution for anyone.
"Fine. I'll bite, brat. Just don't expect me to kneel for you like the Sword Saint. I won't be entirely on board with you on everything. As you know, I have my own duties I need to take care of first."
"Reinhard, you mean.
Heinkel let out a bitter exhale and turned away. It was progress.
"Man, for a second there, I thought I was gonna have to beat some more sense into you." His expression conveyed he wasn't amused. "Glad we can at least agree that we need each other if we expect to get anything done around here. I might be busy once things start rolling for my campaign, but I'll do my best to aid you in any way."
"...If you say so, brat."
Even though we had reached common ground, it was evident I had a long way to go before Heinkel saw me in a better light. Baby steps, I suppose.
"Think it's time I see myself out. It would be rude of me to take up more of your time. I'm sure your son has a long list of things for me to do once he gets back," I said.
"Actually, I might need your help sooner than I anticipated," Heinkel declared, resting his hands on top of his desk.
My curiosity was piqued by this sudden turn of events. "Go on."
"First, let's talk about the reason this shit even started between us: which is letting the Council of Wise Men know that the last Dragon Maiden has been found. The Sword Sa—I mean, Reinhard, was in charge of this task. It's obvious the damn thing has been carried out given you're here."
I sighed in annoyance. "Right, I should have seen that coming. What exactly do I need to do?"
"Believe me, this is a headache for me as well. A letter confirming who you are should be enough to let them get the Royal Selection underway. Afterward, expect a response from them confirming the date and all that."
"Give me a break already," I moaned. "Is this really what I should be doing now? I get the whole importance of it, but I first need to build a foundation for myself."
"There's no avoiding this. Those old farts in the castle will find out sooner or later. Not that I care."
"I know about that. To make matters worse, I'm likely gonna have to play catch-up with the other candidates. If only there was something I could do…"
"Suck it up, brat. There are things even I don't want to do, but they won't get done unless I stop making excuses. None of this is going to get any easier."
"...Maybe. But I think I might have an idea. What if I simply don't tell the Council that I exist? Well, not yet at least," I declared and waited to see how he'd gauge my proposition.
Heinkel stopped drinking from his bottle. "Brat, I was starting to have some respect for you, but it all just vanished."
I nearly coughed aloud at his outright refusal of my suggestion. It seemed I had to elaborate given the point I had been trying to make had been missed by him.
"Let me explain a bit. By delaying this urgent matter I believe it will be for the best. There are things I'd like to do first before I willingly put a target on my back. Dealing with politics and my camp being fairly new doesn't help my case whatsoever. Furthermore," I added, taking a small sip of the warm tea, "I have a feeling this matter wasn't what really concerned you in the slightest, Heinkel. This has to be drastic if you're willing to take up my offer from the get-go. Just what is it?"
"Well, aren't you observant?" Heinkel frowned. "But yes, I got some concerning news coming from the nearby Great City."
"Flanders, right?"
"Correct. An informant of mine reported a recent act of arson and several repeated incidents of murder committed." Heinkel held up an unsealed letter. "A building belonging to a fairly new organization called 'Golden Beetle' was engulfed in flames late last night. From what I read, everyone within the building at the time died. Eyewitnesses stated that the fire started from inside until it spread out of control. No official word on who or what is behind this shit show. As for the murders that are occurring throughout the city which appear random except for one thing: each victim was a member belonging to the Three Heads. My guess is those in the black society have caught wind of this already and are wanting to figure out what exactly is happening," Heinkel thoroughly explained.
"Fuck. Just what the hell is going on over there?" I asked.
"I don't know exactly what's going on, but something tells me it's not good. If someone or some group is trying to start trouble with the Three Heads, it won't be long till the whole city becomes a battleground. That is something I'd like to prevent at all costs."
"I understand. I'm guessing you have something in mind to deal with this?"
"Hmm, I'd say to enact martial law. But since Flanders is run by the black society that causes an issue. The kingdom's presence there is weak. Even if a battalion of troops were sent there, it'd probably make it even worse."
"What a crappy situation this is, huh? Flanders, a central hub for illegal activity, might crumple from the very thing it harbors. Kind of ironic." My nostrils flared at my attempt at humor. I continued, "Are you sure this won't calm down on its own? I figure the people in charge will find who is responsible in no time flat."
"Thinking like that will get you killed, brat. At this rate, it'll spread to other regions before too long and put innocent lives at stake. I'd much rather not have those criminals knocking on my door," warned Heinkel.
Heinkel's foreboding yet brutally honest statement brought some unwanted discomfort to the tense room. The weight of such an outcome if it came to pass would undoubtedly shock the kingdom. Worst of all, was that there were civilians clueless about it, with whom would likely be caught in the crossfire in such a conflict.
Truth be told, there had to be other factors at play attributed to the crisis that was brewing in Flanders. And yet, my mind couldn't seem to decipher what was the end goal for such a hectic scenario.
' Lives…at stake…Why does that sound oddly fa— '
Suddenly, a flash of vivid images flooded through my head, as if a dam holding it back had been breached. It was a collection of events from somewhere that I likely overlooked since I had arrived. I remembered reading about it and how significant it was to this story—the attack on Arlam Village.
Subaru died four times during his stay at the Mather's mansion. The wolgram curse, Rem's outright suspicion of him, and Meili being the culprit behind the attack on the children in Arlam were related. Although her assault was never fully realized, it was foiled by Subaru and co. 's extermination of the wolgram feeding ground with the help of Roswaal.
I was ashamed. How could I've forgotten such things? I told myself I'd use this foreknowledge to prevent any atrocities from happening. Instead, I got so worked up about my camp that Emilia was edging closer to taking the fallout from it.
I had to do something…
"Ow!" I rubbed my forehead as something was thrown at it.
"Quit daydreaming! As a Royal Candidate , you should be the one dealing with this mess and not me," a smug Heinkel stated.
"You don't have to hit me, bastard! If we can't get a large enough force into Flanders, then we ought to send a smaller one instead. One that would go right under the noses of those Three Heads."
"That won't do. I don't have anyone to send nor can I rely on the small numbers already in the city. For all I know, the soldiers stationed there could be conspiring with the black society by overlooking their not-so-legal activities."
"Then I'll go instead."
The Deputy Commander spewed liquor from his mouth. "Are you some kind of idiot?!"
"What? It's not the dumbest idea that's come out of my mouth," I shrugged nonchalantly at his clear rejection of my offer. "At the moment, my status and presence is unknown to the masses and those overseeing the governance of Lugunica. This works to my advantage to do things behind the scenes and get the upper hand on some people. Plus, I wouldn't really be going alone since I would have Felt, Rom, and Rein tagging along."
"Even worse! Having Reinhard there too is just asking for trouble. It'll make it easier for those scumbags there to pin the mess on him. You and the others will be guilty by association."
"Valid concern. That's why we won't be going dressed the way we are. Getting some disguises will allow us to investigate with a low profile," I said.
" This half-assed plan of yours doesn't sit right with me. Not one bit. " The Astrea patriarch vehemently sighed and rubbed his temple. "But it may be the only chance we have in stopping this before it gets out of hand."
"Oh, is that a yes I'm hearing?"
"...Alright. If you're so set on doing this, then I won't stop you as it benefits me; however, you'll need to report to me whatever you find in your time there. The more information we have on the black society, the better. Which is why you'll need the right tools for the job."
The man opened one of the drawers from his desk and stuck his hand in to retrieve something. When he brought his arm back out, he revealed what exactly he had in mind for us to utilize. Oddly enough, it was something I've seen before when it came to terms of useful metia.
I whistled. "A Conversing Mirror? Those are hard to get your hands on."
"Yeah, so don't go breaking it, or else I'll make sure you cover the costs. Anyway, you're probably familiar with the metia given you know the name, so I'll spare you on its functions. I have an additional one which is tuned to communicate with each other."
"Gotcha. I'll be sure to use it wisely. Being able to contact you in an instant if I find something is going to make this a bit easier."
"Don't let your guard down. Even though you're not going alone, things can get ugly when you least expect it. Trust me…I'd know," cautioned Heinkel, stone-faced.
I gulped. "I'll keep that in mind."
I wanted to say that was the end of it, but there was still the matter with Arlam Village. If it weren't for the growing Flanders crisis…I would've let many lives perish. Even so, I had to do anything I could to prevent that.
But I was only one man. Having to prevent tragedies in two separate domains was a tall order for any sane-minded person. It also didn't help that my knowledge concerning Flanders seemed to be superficial at best. If I were to go there with the others, we'd be going into the fray entirely blind and face potential danger.
It was an…unsettling truth. Still, I could likely do something about the trouble Meili and her little troublemakers were brewing from afar. Going there myself would spill trouble for any prospects I had in mind with Emilia. The thought of Roswaal and Rem potentially being a hurdle was in the back of my head.
This had to be the right call, for now.
"That takes care of another issue, yet there is another one that concerns me. I have the slightest suspicion that there's another tragedy I fear brewing elsewhere, and in a domain where another royal candidate resides no less," I said.
"Just spill it already, brat. Being cooped up in this room with you this long is making me want to drink more," Heinkel grunted.
"Well...I have reason to believe that someone is targeting the half-elf, Emilia."
Then, I saw Heinkel simply crack his neck and frown. He didn't bother to even say a word and instead twirled the bottle in his hand from what looked like boredom. I should have known revealing such a thing would not interest him. It wasn't his problem.
"A half-elf candidate? Now I've seen it all. I don't really know or care who this Emilia is, to be frank. If she is going to get herself killed or whatnot—she should've known what she was signing up for."
"It's not only her I'm worried about, but her subjects who will likely face the same fate. The incident we dealt with in the Capital is the reason why I think she's in trouble again. This will likely be carried out by an assassin I'm sure."
"An assassin? Is that what you and others had to face? Great. I still fail to see why they would even want to risk killing a candidate of all things, let alone a demi-human," said the Astrea Patriarch.
"That's another thing I wanted to mention. I feel like someone has it out for Emilia. Think about it," I declared, recalling what I had to back up my claim, "Elsa Granhiert, the assassin we faced, showing up outta nowhere and hiring Felt to steal Emilia's insignia should be a major red flag. While I don't blame the runt for falling into her schemes—it's not exactly common knowledge that Emilia is a candidate. So, that means someone with a lot of power wanted her to lose the one thing that gives her the Royal Candidate status."
"Careful there, brat. Are you implying that a government official ordered this?! Do you know how ludicrous that sounds?"
"Hear me out: What if they wanted to make it look like she was at the wrong place at the wrong time? The fact that Rom and Felt are alive was plain luck overall. Elsa wasn't planning to leave any of them alive for the job she was tasked with. That being said, I can make the assumption on who I think the client is."
"...Spill it. That smug look on your face is annoying me."
I was making a gamble on revealing this to him, given the implications it could have on how events would play out from here on. If rumors spread that Roswaal was a traitor to the kingdom, I couldn't imagine the repercussions on the political landscape, but also for Emilia's campaign as a whole. I'd practically be putting her camp in a complicated spot for siding with a man who was orchestrating the history the world has known for four centuries.
Fuck. Choices like this always fell upon me to decide.
"The person I suspect to be behind this mess is none other than her benefactor: Roswaal L. Mathers." Letting that out, I watched as he processed what bomb I'd just dropped onto his lap. However, the Astrea patriarch rubbed his beard until he began to chuckle aloud. It was evident that what I said was somehow amusing.
"The margrave? Of course! You and countless other fools are so eager and quick to blame him for anything. He may look odd, but he and his family have devoted their lives to the kingdom and its security. Just like my family too," declared Heinkel, turning serious once more as his eyes glistened. "An accusation like that would get your head lopped off your shoulders if it weren't for your status. Unless you actually have any proof to back this ridiculous claim of yours, pinning this on him will get you nowhere. Granted, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that it could be someone in the kingdom with a high standing."
As expected, I should've known the Deputy Commander would view my suspicion as being far-fetched since it was coming from my mouth. There were no other suspects fitting the description besides Roswaal! To tell him I knew more would likely deflect some of his questions onto me…
"If proof is all you need then I have just the thing. Before Elsa managed to escape, I snagged her cloak and now have it lying around in my room."
"Okay, what does a useless garment have to do with anything? I feel like you're taking this too lightly, brat."
"You think that but I'm not. In actuality," I said, shifting in my seat, "it's all the proof you will need to link it to Roswaal. From an untrained eye, many would assume it to be a typical piece of fabric to cover yourself with, but the damn thing is actually a metia."
Heinkel's eyes widened. "That so? While I know they come in different shapes and forms, I never knew they could be regular pieces of clothing. Are you sure about this?"
"I'm positive. I figured out the thing is imbued with the Yin affinity and has the ability to nullify one magical spell which will then make the metia dissolve. You can even get Rein to confirm this notion if you want. In addition, it's also not a coincidence that Roswaal's father was a metia genius, so having exceptional attributes and skills is to be expected of him too." I smirked and flicked the bridge of my glasses. "Here's your proof, Heinkel. What say you? There's also the large sum of holy coins Felt was paid to factor in this as well. If you can't see that it's him responsible for this, I worry what else he'll do…"
At first, Heinkel remained silent and opted to chug down the remaining bit of alcohol. A burp soon resounded through the room as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
"So, there's the connection of how he'd know the half-elf's whereabouts, the metia possibly being his doing, and the payment for the badge. It's a start but won't amount to much, I'm afraid."
I clenched my fists as he peered into my soul with his hardened azure eyes.
"The one thing you failed to mention about any of this is his motive. What does he have to gain by having the candidate he is backing to be murdered? This all sounds instead like a ploy by those wanting to condemn House Mathers for petty reasons. It would be stupid to think that the margrave is jeopardizing his standing within the government. If you can prove that's the case, then maybe, just maybe I would consider it. As it stands, there is some sort of foul play going on. A particular individual or group wants to take him down and the half-elf in one fell swoop," Heinkel countered.
Alas, convincing the Astrea patriarch that Roswaal was the true mastermind had been a failure on my part. My words alone were insufficient to persuade him that the man was in fact a traitor willing to do whatever it took to follow the path he knew was just. To change that I'd have to consider tracking Roswaal's movements for the foreseeable future. He and so many other dangerous individuals lurked out there in the shadows. There was still one thing though we could stand to follow up on in this case, but achieving it would be risky no doubt.
"Even so, informing Emilia about this is something we should do, but it would be making me look bad as a result. If I'm right that her benefactor is the culprit, it gives him an indication that someone out there knows. And if you're right, then those wanting her dead will likely double their efforts while covering their tracks much more thoroughly. Unfortunately, directly telling Emilia about this would cause more harm than good. Mainly for her given her position and what she represents," I stated.
Heinkel nodded as the more we peeled apart the matter, the more apparent it was that it was indeed delicate to address. However, giving up before I could even start was not something I planned to allow within my camp. If I possessed the knowledge that innocent lives were in immediate danger, it was my obligation to take action.
I continued, "That's why… I'm leaving this to you to decide how to sort this mess out. While me and the gang are busy dealing with a potential crisis in Flanders, you'll go do what a Deputy Commander does best and figure stuff out the grunts wouldn't want to think about."
"Why should I?! This is all superstition," Heinkel objected.
"Keep telling yourself that. If Arlam does get hit with an attack while under Emilia's watch and we knew about it…well, I'm sure you understand where I'm getting at."
"Tck. I'll look into it. Just make sure you make do on what you said to me."
"You bet. You'll also need to figure out how to notify Emilia of the looming danger without really making it obvious. Like I said earlier, I have reason to believe another assassin like Elsa Granhiert will be the one carrying this out," I said. I rose from my seat and began to pace around the room. "I just happen to know she has an accomplice named Meili Portroute, who'll likely be lurking in Roswaal's domain for this. For them, failure in the Assassin Organization is unacceptable, so with Elsa messing up on her last job, it'll be up to Meili to rectify that. It also wouldn't surprise me if they took up another job that led them to infiltrate the domain. Either way, the probability of either Emilia and or her subjects being the potential targets is high."
The Depuy Commander nodded and wrote down the intel I had provided on the particular attack. He emptied the bottle he had been sipping from and got up to a nearby cabinet filled to the brim with others like it. That was until he returned to his seat and began assaulting the drink of its contents.
"What makes you think this Meili character plays a part in this? I don't believe I've ever heard or come across this name in similar reports," inquired Heinkel.
"Like I said, they're partners in almost everything they do. Unlike Elsa, Meili is not suited for combative missions since her skillset isn't fit for it. She is more one to plan and wait for a moment to strike. Given her divine protection, she's able to influence mabeasts to do her bidding in a sense. It also doesn't help that the girl is only a child," I explained.
Heinkel frowned. "A child assassin? This world is really awful if someone like that is willing to kill for a living. If she is capable as you say she is, I can see why she'd be able to slip by without people batting an eye."
"Which is why you can't underestimate her. The last thing you want is for Meili to throw as many mabeasts as she can at you, and with Elsa probably lying low nearby that spells more trouble. She's a real femme fatale, that's for sure."
"Noted. And yes, I've read the concerning reports about the Bowel Hunter. She's killed a few knights and civilians which makes her another dangerous fugitive. You got anything on the freak I should know about?"
...Indeed I did. I knew far too much about her that it'd seem suspicious to be capable of possessing such information. Yet, if Heinkel ran into her, then I'd need to inform him of what he'd need to do to survive such an altercation.
I kept pacing and tried to remain calm. "Well, where to start? Elsa is nimble and focuses on delivering fast but precise strikes with her kukri blades. She's able to regenerate from almost any mortal wound that'll render anyone else practically dead, but that doesn't necessarily mean she is immortal. This ability of hers has its limits and once she reaches past that threshold—that'll be the end of her." I revealed, holding my hands together tightly. "Another weakness of hers you can aim for is by engulfing her in flames. The only last thing I can think of is to target Meili if you want her to surrender."
"Just what sort of people do you run into, brat? I understand why no one has managed to take this annoying woman down. What a pain," said Heinkel.
"If you do run into her, don't kill her."
When that statement came out of my mouth, the unruly side of the drunkard resurfaced.
"Huh? What's this shit you're on about?!"
"It's like I said. Don't even think about killing Elsa or Meili."
An unbearable silence grew within the room, that of which I wanted nothing more to dispel to avoid another confrontation. The Astrea patriarch stared at me with mute anger radiating from his entire demeanor. He proceeded to slam his fists onto his desk nearly causing several items to scatter in the air.
Heinkel became livid. "You have some history with this bitch I need to know? Well, do you?!"
"I'm not gonna answer th—" Yet, my answer only seemed to agitate him further.
"Bullshit! You either tell me the truth or we end this here!"
Heinkel had me there. Cornered like a weak dog in such a vulnerable position.
I took my glasses off and sighed. "...Her crimes are known throughout the lands, so much so that the land she hails from, the Holy Kingdom of Gusteko, wants her dead too. That intrigued me, which led me to gather as much information as I could about her. Besides the day in the Capital, I've never personally interacted with her at all. My reasoning for warning you to not kill her is that she's simply a slave carrying out her master's wishes."
"...You're saying her master is what we should be concerned about?"
"Definitely. Not much is really known about her, but she is the one who stands at the pinnacle of the entire Assassin Organization. She is merely known as "Mother". If we can subdue Elsa and Meili, I'm certain we can obtain some information about the organization and more about their master."
"Great. More threats. I can't make any promises I'll be able to even fend off the freak, let alone arrest her for what she has done. You're asking a lot from me," admitted the Deputy Commander.
"I know. Honestly, I should be the one dealing with her. I failed to convince her to concede in the Capital, but I don't plan to give up on her yet. It's vital to apprehend her and Meili in order to cut the head off the snake," I declared.
An image of the so-called "Mother" came over me as I thought of her. It was enough to make shivers run down my spine at the thought of having to confront her one day. She was enemy number one on my list.
Capella Emerada Lugunica. Her reign of terror from the dark was numbered. Then, once she was gone, maybe Elsa and Meili could decide their own fate…
That was all I could hope for.
"We'll see, brat." Heinkel turned to look at a glowing stone hanging on the wall, watching as it turned from yellow to red. "It's about time you and the others get ready. The time to reach Flanders from here is about six hours. Better leave now befo—."
Suddenly, the entrance was forcefully swung open which baffled us as to who could've done such a thing. No. It was obvious who was behind this interruptible act before they even spoke a word. Why in the world Carol let this troublemaker barge in was beyond me!
"Big Bro! Whaddya doing here with that bastard?!" Felt shouted, pointing a finger at the man behind me. Another person, Rein, caught up to her and hoisted her up by her vest.
"Felt, you mustn't interrupt them!" Though he said this to her, she hissed and tried to kick and punch her way out of his hold.
I palmed my face. These two were the ones I planned on taking with me?! Heinkel had a better chance of getting this done with much more capable individuals. What an absolute joke.
"You two should knock first. Doesn't matter anymore since the brat and I just wrapped things up," Heinkel scoffed.
Felt shot him a glare which he ignored. "Good. This place reeks of booze anyway."
"Alright alright, don't antagonize the man. We discussed some important stuff that we need to get a handle on as soon as possible. Which is why you two and Rom will tag along with me to Flanders." The duo fell silent until the blond runt puffed her chest out.
"We're finally doing something? About damn time! Let's go already!"
"Manners, Felt."
"Rein, leave her be," I said, then clapping my hands to get their attention. "Let's hurry up then and get moving. Be sure to tell that big guy also since we'll need all the help we can get. I'll grab a few things and meet you out front. I just know my ass is gonna hurt riding in a damn carriage that long."
At that, they laughed and soon left to do as I instructed. Maybe, I could even sneak in a smoke break before our departure to one of the Great Cities. It indeed was an enticing thought that I began to make way for the exit to make it happen.
…Or so I thought.
"Hold on a second. I have something else I need you to do for me—something important I think only you can do…" Heinkel said.
Guess that smoke break would have to wait, after all.
"It seems everything went according to plan. What terrific news."
A petite woman with dark green twin pigtail hair was adorned in an attire fitting for a professional businesswoman as she glanced at several pages worth of a detailed report. Said report had been given to her by her subordinates covering a recent tragedy that occurred late in the evening yesterday. Her narrow, dark eyes absorbed the entirety of what was stated and finished with a faint smile.
"Now, onto the next step of the plan. I'm certain the Three Heads are fully aware that a building belonging to the Golden Beetle was attacked," mused the woman. "If I can speak with Toto, I may be able to attend their meeting and further my progress then."
Her slender, gloved hands tapped along the desk where she was working in a steady rhythm. Was it wrong for her to feel so fulfilled before she had even accomplished her goal? No, certainly not. It would only be a matter of time before her master would have a hold of this city. Flanders would be another tool for them to use.
Before she could ponder on that, she turned her gaze at the audible knocking coming from her doors. The entrance was opened and revealed to be one of her subordinates looking quite anxious. "You've already disturbed me enough for one day."
"Forgive me, Lady Helaine, there's been an updated report about the incident," said a female subordinate.
Helanine's faint smile began to have a slight shadow over it, causing her lackey to quiver. "Oh, I wonder why that would be? Give it to me and leave as I have many more things that need my attention."
"Y-yes ma'am!"
The double doors were quickly slammed shut as Helaine sighed at the returning silence. Her mind raced at the potential reasons that they had left out crucial information willingly, an act deemed irresponsible for those belonging to their area of work. She slowly peered through the report and did a double-take on a particular set of words.
'Deliverer'…unaware of the incident. Ceremonial daggers found on site…charred but intact. Several witnesses reported…dark hooded figures…fled from the burned building. Casualties not determined…estimated that no agents survived.
Suddenly, her hands began to tremble at the new findings given to her. It had to be a mistake. That was all that Helaine could determine with what was unfortunately presented to her.
The death of that many agents…it couldn't be true. It was originally intended that only a few would perish, but not every single one of them in one go. Her best agents, Rune and Vidal, were surely a part of the death toll. A failure like this was unacceptable.
However, from what she had read, the individual she had hired to carry out the act was not responsible—then who was?
"...Could it have been one of the Three Heads? Have they already suspected me of something? Or has that man ratted me out for his own benefit?! This shouldn't be happening!"
Helaine rubbed her head, clearly agitated at how quickly her advantage had been turned against her. If either of those scenarios were true, it only meant the entire black society would be after the organization. Although, the fact they haven't retaliated further by confronting her in her own office proved otherwise. Yes. She was still fine after all.
Consequently, that meant there was another party unknown to Flanders here at play. What exactly was their motive in targeting her building in the first place? Wouldn't hunting a bigger game make their presence more noticeable? Helaine had to uncover what they wanted before this issue spiraled out of control.
At the end of the day, she could always hire them to do the damage for her.
"I won't be beaten so easily. Things here will certainly get busy once we've all met to discuss what has transpired."
Coming to a stand, the leader of the Golden Beetle reached to look out at the view of the city. It was by the patronage of the shadow rulers that she and her organization were able to make their base here. Slowly, but surely, their control will grow before the black society can respond to the monster they let into their home.
"Master, I will not fail you."
AN: That's it for this chapter! I hope you enjoyed it since I haven't posted a chapter in quite a while (shit happens). Make sure to leave a review/comment, favorite/kudo, and follow this story for future updates.
Also, no omake this time. This was enough content for you guys as it is, haha. Happy Holidays and I hope to see you guys in the New Year.
PS: Shoutout to Speedcar and Pidg, my fantastic betas and friends, for providing some insightful feedback this go around.
See ya!