Chapter 105: The Owl

On the night of Count Fondant's murder.

It was a serene night in Oriana capital, but not so in Count Fondant's mansion. Count Fondant himself is enjoying his after meal wine in front of a fireplace in his private room.

"Hmm… It's been boring lately because of all these murders in the Opera Houses. Why can't they pick someplace else to commit murders?" Complained the aristocrat with neither a shred of empathy nor worry.

He sips his wine once again before resuming his complaints. "At this rate I might have to expand my mansion in order to build a private theatre for myself. Might have to increase tax on my land and forcefully demolish my neighbor's houses but who cares about those lowly peasants? They should be glad to contribute to my entertainme—I mean to art and culture!" Remarked Count Fondant, feeling very entitled.

Suddenly he felt a cold breeze coming from the direction of his window.

"Hmm… Who is the fool who forgot to lock the window? Don't they know it's cold out there in the winter!? Someone is going to get fired tomorrow!" Complained Count Fondant as he walked towards the window, only to find it already locked.

"That's strange. Where did the breeze come from then? Perhaps there's a hole somewhere in the walls? I must complain to the architect who designed this mansion and have them fix this mess on top of paying compensation to me for almost making me catch a cold." Complained Count Fondant once again before the fire at the fireplace suddenly went out.

"What the hell!? How did…!? Who's responsible for this!? Enough pranks! Show yourself and I will show you mercy!" Shouted the man angrily, only to be met with silence in the dimly lit room.

"Tch. Servants! Servants! Come here at once!" He shouted, calling his servants. After a few seconds no one answered. He's starting to get more and more annoyed.

"Alright. My evening is ruined and someone will die before the sun rises!" Declared Count Fondant angrily before sipping his wine once again. After that he went to turn on the lights of his room for some illumination. The moment his finger was about to press the switch, all lights in his room shatters, whether they are on or off. His room is now plunged into complete darkness, with only the moonlight to serve as illumination.

"Fuck! Who the hell is it!?" Count Fondant, still angry but a bit nervous due to the darkness, let his wine glass fall to the floor and ran towards the door. Opening the door he saw his servants lying on the ground.

"You useless fucks! What are you doing!?" He shouted as he kicked one of them roughly before proceeding to walk away in search of help. As he walked he noticed that the light in the hallways have also been shattered.

"No… No… It can't be. The murders only happen in the Opera Houses. Not here. I'm safe here. This is just a silly prank and I'm not the one who will die tonight. The prankster will when I find them." Count Fondant murmured in denial as he nervously walked through the halls.

As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he eventually noticed a silhouette of a person appearing in the hallways in front of him.

"Hey! You! Are you the one who broke the lights!? I'm a merciful man so if you show yourself and state your business, I shall spare your life and will merely sentence you to a lifetime in prison." Said Count Fondant towards the silhouette, eventually revealed to be a black cloaked figure wearing a white mask, which made him even more nervous despite his apparent bravado.

"C-Cute mask… but that doesn't scare me! Answer my question!" Shouted Count Fondant, only to receive no answer.

Losing his nerve from the lack of response, Count Fondant decided to run back towards his room to retrieve his sword. The masked figure followed him slowly.

"HEEELP! GUARDS! ANYONE!" He shouted for help. But nobody answered. The servants in his mansion have been neutralized beforehand and he is now alone with the masked figure. As he ran he stumbled on the body of his fallen servant.

"Tch! Useless servants!" He shouted before kicking said servant and resumed his run. He tried to run as quickly as he can but when looked back, the masked figure is always close behind, making him panic even more.

"Waaaaghh!" He screamed in complete fright as he kept running.

When he arrived at his room, he scrambled around the room, trying to find his weapon. But before he can find it, the back of his knees were hit, forcing him to kneel. The masked figure is behind him, a blade in hand.

"P-Please… spare me… I'll pay you whatever you want!" Pleaded Count Fondant. The masked figure ignored him and stabs him in the chest and twists the blade on his heart.

"Aghh…" Count Fondant was unable to scream as his heart and lungs are pierced by the masked figure's blade which also flooded his lungs with blood. He eventually expires and the masked figure removed their blade from his chest.

"HYAAAAHHHH!" Screamed a maid who witnessed the murder before running away.

The masked figure, satisfied with a single murder, didn't chase after her and merely left the mansion through the window.

It's been a long time since I returned to my homeland Oriana but I couldn't go home. Not yet. I was given a solo mission by Lady Alpha to assassinate several members of the Perv faction in order to weaken his hold on the country. This is a chance to prove myself. It saddens me that I have to do such things as soon as I returned but if it means cleansing my homeland of evil, so be it.

I messed up on my last mission to assassinate Count Fondant and, despite my efforts to do otherwise, allowed an eyewitness to live and tell the tale. I can't bring myself to kill an innocent bystander. Luckily I wore a mask during my mission. I can't have the people knowing that a princess is killing her own subjects after all, even if said subjects are traitorous scum. But even if it comes to that… I will accept the burden… as long as I can save my father and liberate my kingdom from the Cult's evil. Due to my mask resembling an owl, the people have taken to calling me the Owl. A fitting name for someone who hunts in the night.

I missed the old days… the simpler times where all I have to worry about is school work… and love. None of this political turmoil, none of this Cult business, none of these wars… Just me… and Cid. Ohh… Cid…. I missed you so much.

But I must persevere. The Cult's evil must be purged before they can harm him too. After all… I've chosen the path of the sword. I must use the powers I've been granted to protect those I care about… and repay the debt I owe Styli—Lord Shadow.

I also cannot afford to involve Cid into all of this mess. That's why when I parted ways with him, I only vaguely explained my intentions and told him to wait for me. Knowing how brave and determined he is, I know he would chase after me if he knows… wait. He most likely knows already. I just hope he didn't do anything to endanger himself.

It's been a day since my escape from Count Fondant's mansion. I managed to outrun the guards but it delayed me for a full day. Now I've arrived at my destination.

I sneaked into one of Oriana's Mitsugoshi branch outside the capital silently through the night after making sure I'm not being followed. I entered the building through a secret underground tunnel that only members of Shadow Garden know. It connects to the building's cellar.

When I entered the building properly, I am once again amazed by the architecture and craftsmanship of Mitsugoshi, or rather, Shadow Garden. The Seven Shades told me that they are products of their lord's Shadow Wisdom. Knowing him, it might be true.

Their products and innovations are things never before seen. Their technology is rivalled only by the Snow Fox Corporation. I wonder if Snow Fox Corporation is also working with a secret organization behind the scenes... No. How could I forget? It must be Don Jon. That man was a menace that made even the Seven Shades nervous. I'm glad he is eliminated and that his crime empire didn't affect Oriana too much. My country has suffered enough as it is.

I entered the office room to report to my superior, Lady Beta, who hid her face under her hood all the time, though I find her figure somewhat familiar. She is sitting on her desk, writing something.

"Report, Lady Beta. I've eliminated Count Fondant. But there were… complications." I said as I kneeled before her.

"Complications? An eyewitness is more than mere complications, don't you think, Number 666?" Lady Beta said in a cold tone as she tossed a newspaper towards me. Said newspaper has the news about the Owl in the front page. So the news has spread this far even though it's only been a day. I did take an entire day to return due to being chased by the guards.

"Please forgive me, Lady Beta! I promise I'll do better next time!"

"Hmph. For now it's fine. Here's your next target." Lady Beta said as she tossed 5 pictures of the next targets, complete with their dossier filled with all the information I need to kill them. It's strange that I'm given more targets already even though I haven't finished some targets I've been assigned with… No. I'm too slow. That's why. I must kill these people faster…! No more hesitation!

"It shall be done."

"Make sure not to get caught this time, Owl."

"Y-Yes!" I replied nervously as I left the room to fulfil my next mission immediately. My delay has cost us some time and I was not given any time to rest as a result. I must do better this time!

Cid! Wait for me! I shall return to you!

"Haaahh…. How troublesome. I always end up babysitting people, especially her." I complained to myself after making sure she left the room.

Rose Oriana… or Number 666, is more pleasant to converse with compared to that witch princess Alexia. But she's still a love rival so I can't let my guard down around her.

I heard from Lady Alpha that she gave Lord Shadow a kiss in the cheek! How bold! Even we, the Seven Shades, who have spent years living and training with him, never managed to go so far! Uuuughh…! I'm so jealous! Ignorance is bliss, as Lord Shadow once said. That is true in this case! Her ignorance allowed her to…

*Snap*

Oops. I snapped my pen between my fingers. This is bad. I must control my emotions. Calm yourself, Beta.

"But still… to think she became so sadistic. Did she hate those nobles so much? Or did those nobles provoked her into killing them in such gruesome manner?" I remarked as I glanced at the newspapers reporting the deaths of Gelatin, Isomalt and Schaumann. All of them found dead, killed in most painful ways that their faces warped in fear even long after death. I felt no pity for these people, for they are part of the Cult, in other words, enemy. All I'm worried about is 666's mental state.

Should I evaluate her mental state? Her father going mad must've disturbed her greatly but it shouldn't lead to this much brutality. But I did notice that she's getting more and more desperate to accomplish something. Is she getting desperate because we still couldn't allow her to approach her father because we still lack information about his faction? Or does she have a side of herself that we are unaware of?

"Haah… Babysitting is work too… Beta…" I dropped my face to the desk tiredly as I sighed, not really wanting to deal with the mental state of a subordinate. I'm not a psychiatrist after all.

But she's… a friend too. Her wish to become friends with me… with Natsume Kafka, was genuine… and I can't help but appreciate how much she loved my work, unlike that silver haired witch. I suppose I have to help her overcome her challenges as a friend.

*Knock Knock Knock* A knock on the door. Oops. I must present myself as a proper superior. I lifted my head from the desk and tidy up the papers and books on the table.

"You may enter." I said and a subordinate entered the room.

"Report, Lady Beta. We just received news that Countess Stevia has been found dead in an Opera House." The subordinate reported while kneeling before me. Countess Stevia? In an Opera House? She's one of the targets, but... Something's not right.

Author's Note:

The Owl makes her return! The Owl was originally from the Web Novel and was also referenced in Master of Garden's Auxiliary Chapter: Masquerade.

Knolleg: Oh this serial killer just terrified the nobles now they gonna send everything they can after them just to feel safe.

Answer: Will anything they sent be enough?

A-Yellow-Liz : No mercy, as expected from Necromancer-sama. Is claude trying to scare nobles out of perv's faction?

Answer: You will see.

Bolvar57: ¡Waaaagh! Uff, tremenda referencia.

Answer: Reference?

Wholesome07: So, different version of Jack The Ripper?

Answer: Kinda.

Snajper: Hmm, Claude is going to marry Iris, but he's him Sherry. Shouldn't she push to be at least him concubine, which Claude will agree to get rid of the problem, which will infuriate Iris and Alexia. Claude's sister could get involved too. There is some potential.

Answer: I don't really want to make him get harem. Iris is merely a means to an end.