Chapter 17: Reaper Squad on the Move

Midgar Royal Spellsword Academy, a prestigious academy for spellswords. The vice principal is sitting on his office desk when a man entered the room through the window.

"Rex. Report." Commanded the vice principal.

"Yeah yeah. We've done it, old man. We've stolen the thing you wanted from the Reaper Squad. It's hard even without that Necromancer guy around, you know? Transporting it is an even greater pain in the ass!"

"Good. Bring it to the academy."

"Oi oi. You want to lure the Reaper Squad here? Along with Shadow Garden?"

"Yes. That's the plan."

"Ohhh… so you plan on pitting them against each other! Ha ha ha! That would be fun to watch!"

"Indeed." The two of them grinned as their plans fall into motion.

The Alexia kidnapping incident came to a close. Me and Cid were released of all suspicion and Zenon became a known traitor who is responsible for Alexia's kidnapping. Alexia broke up with her boy toy. Is she no longer opposed to being betrothed with me or something? Or it's because she's bored of him already? Heh. At least Cid won't be bothered by her again.

And I heard stories of a "Murder without Corpse" that became the school's urban legend. Ho ho… Is there a budding serial killer roaming free out there? I'd like to meet them. Maybe I could give them some pointers.

Iris received criticism from the nobles for my arrest even though she wasn't responsible for it, courtesy of my sister, and trust in the Knight Order and the Royal Bushin sword style, of which Zenon was the famous instructor of, collapsed due to Zenon's crimes being exposed to the public. The Knight Order is currently busy with restructuring and vetting their members while Iris formed the Crimson Order in order to investigate the Cult and Shadow Garden.

I would like to return to Everick in order to check on my subordinates but currently my sister just won't leave me alone. She even insisted we sleep in the same room. Due to her influence as a duke's daughter, the dorm manager allowed her to stay in my room for a few nights. What a pain, this cute little sister of mine.

"Charlotte. You do realize that your brother is strong, right? You don't have to go this far."

"Shut up, stupid big brother! What I'm doing is absolutely necessary because you're too reckless! If I leave you alone, you'll get into another trouble!" Can't argue with her there.

"And why did you join the Crimson Order?" My sister asked concerned. I went silent.

"It's because of him, isn't it?" She concluded. "Really. You're such a dumb and reckless brother…" She hugged me worriedly. I pat her head in response.

"It is what I must do as your big brother."

"Stupid big brother. Just make sure you don't ogle the princesses while you're on duty!"

"Why do you think I would do that?"

"Because I know you've always been a pervert, brother!"

"Me? A pervert?"

"Because you always grinned whenever you think about perverted things! And you stared at our maids whenever they accidentally showed their cleavage or legs which I'm convinced are not accidental at all!" I wasn't thinking about perverted things whenever I grinned! I was thinking of evil stuff! But I can't say that to her. Though… it's true that my eyes are weak towards the female form. Screw puberty! I swear I'm not a pervert!

And so we slept together. In different beds of course! Even she has to relent when I insisted on this. The dorm manager brought us an extra bed for her to use and my room was large enough to accommodate two beds without occupying too much space.

She's surprisingly a light sleeper so she'll notice if I tried to sneak out of the room. The nights I spend with her are frustrating because I can't do evil things when she's around. But…. I have to appreciate the proper sleep schedule it allowed me. Using magic to function with minimal sleep is fine but… a full night's sleep felt so much better and relaxing. I have my sister to thank for that I guess.

Few days later she was forced to return to her dorm after rumors of us having incestuous relationship started growing. She insisted on leaving the extra bed on my room though, just in case she wants to return.

I also found out that she befriended Claire Kagenou when I was arrested and the two of them often hang out together. I can imagine the things they chatted about are their brothers. Cid, my man. I feel your pain.

I met both Lutheran Barnett and Sherry Barnett as part of my Crimson Order duties. Iris entrusted her with the analysis of both the flower shaped Artifact and my Pseudo-Artifacts that the knights secured from Zenon's bases. Sherry is a sweet and smart girl, if a bit shy and introverted. Lutheran the psychopath played his part as the kind and supportive father really well. I give him 10/10 for his performance.

I wasn't able to interact much with Sherry since I don't stand guard over her lab as often as other Crimson Order members due to me being a student but I noticed her being in a good mood these past few days. Today I'm on guard duty so I decided to ask her.

"Something good happening, Miss Barnett?" I asked her.

"Y-Yes! I received this chocolate from a boy named Cid Kagenou!"

"Ho hoo… Chocolate? From Mitsugoshi?"

"Yes! Father said he must've waited in line and spent a lot of money to buy this for me! And… and…" She blushed. How cute. "And that he might've done it because he likes me…"

"I see. You're a lucky girl." So Cid likes this kind of girl. Probably makes sense since he had to deal with girls like his sister and Alexia so much.

"But… but I'm not ready for that kind of… I've never… had… I've never even had friends… So I… My father suggested I at least answer his feelings and…"

"You can start by being friends."

"Really!?"

"Yes. Give him something in return and then ask him to start as friends."

"A-Alright! Umm…"

"I'm Claude Normann. You can call me Claude."

"Mr. Claude! Thank you!" She smiled sweetly. Such a sweet little girl. Makes me almost feel bad about her fate. Almost.

"So how's the progress with the Artifact?"

"Umm… I'm getting close to finding the relevant texts and translate them."

I took a look at the flower shaped Artifact with red jewel at the center surrounded by four petals.

"Interesting Artifact, isn't it? I wonder what it was used for and why the Cult has it." I said, despite already having the general idea of how the Artifact functions by analyzing its enchantment with a single glance.

"Yeah. I'm curious too. I hope it's nothing dangerous. Thankfully so far the texts that referenced Artifacts like this didn't mention anything dangerous. " Explained Sherry.

Feeling generous, I decided to help her out a little bit. "I wonder if it doesn't function alone."

"Huh!?"

"What's wrong?"

"T-That makes sense! In one of the texts I read, it mentions of an Artifact functioning as a control unit and another Artifact that functions as a prison when paired with another Artifact! I need to search for the relevant texts!" Declared Sherry as she searches the texts she mentioned.

"A-Ahh…. Thank you so much, Mr. Claude!" She almost forgot to thank me. How cute.

"You're welcome." I smiled.

"How could you be so reckless, Alexia!?" Scolded Iris at the currently injured Alexia. Her left hand was injured after she was attacked by a suspicious cloaked individual last night.

"Sister. I assure you that it was pure coincidence that I was attacked-"

"You shouldn't have walked out alone at night! At least take some guards with you!"

"Yes. I'm sorry, sister."

"Hahhh… No matter. At least tell me what you know. Who attacked you and why?"

"The ones attacking me was a group of black cloaked men who wore skull masks. They wielded those Pseudo-Artifact swords. I don't know what they were doing there. They attacked me on sight, until I was rescued by Shadow."

Oh? The Reaper Squad is here? In the Capital City? What are they doing here? I have to get in contact with them as soon as possible.

"Mr. Claude… Are they…?" Questioned Iris.

"They are the Reaper Squad, the Necromancer's subordinates." I confirmed. It wouldn't hurt to let them know that much.

"What are they doing in the Capital?" Asked Iris.

"I don't know. But we have to find out what schemes he could've concocted this time." I replied.

"Also… How curious that Shadow came to rescue you once again." I said.

"That means he and the Cult were enemies." Declared Alexia.

"We can't say that for sure. They could be on the same side but had simple internal conflicts we know nothing about." I replied, trying to cast doubt on Shadow garden's heroism once again.

"I agree with Mr. Claude. As long as we know nothing of their objective, we can't say they're the side of justice even if that man saved you twice." Iris said.

"Sister… I think it would be best if we don't antagonize Shadow… his powers…"

"We agreed that the explosion was caused by an Artifact going out of control. You lost so much blood before that night and thus your recollection can be… mistaken." Iris rebuked her. Alexia seemed to be hurt at how distrustful her sister is at her, though she said nothing else.

"And the fact that they wield such dangerous thing and was willing to unleash it upon the capital is another reason not to trust them." I added. Iris nodded in agreement.

"I suppose so…" Alexia said, not entirely convinced. No matter. I'll let her be the one who sides with Shadow Garden while her sister sides with the Cult without knowing it. Heh heh heh.

"Mr. Claude. I want you to guard Alexia. I fear that she would be targeted again. And I want both you and Alexia to carry those Pseudo-Artifacts." Iris ordered. Even though I want to get into contact with my Reaper Squad after being unable to contact them for some time due to my sister's meddling, now I have to guard Alexia. Haahh…

"As you wish, Princess Iris." I obeyed. And so my workload increased.

Author's Note:

Reaper Squad is on the move! Lutheran Barnett's plan deviates slightly due to him having less manpower than in canon so he lured the Reaper Squad in. We'll see where this goes.

CrazedGammaMan1721: This is going to be very interesting.

Answer: Indeed.

J-More: wait, so Claude is still a pretender for Alexia... can we have more Cid x Alexia based on that premise?!

and so, THE MIMIC WARS BEGUN!

Answer: Yes but I've written Alexia breaking up with Cid because she trust Claude a little bit and at this point she already have real feelings for Cid and thus she wants a real relationship, not a pretend one, and Cid would obviously refuse and she won't force him again. Plus, I've written some Alexia bullying based on that in the next chapter.

YES, IT HAS BEGUN.