A month and a half ahead of schedule, the new cosmetic store opened a month and a half after the prototype of the milky lotion was completed.
　The cosmetics brand was named Orna, and six months after the store opened, it had grown to the point where it was no stranger to the name.
　The cosmetics store, which focuses on milkshakes, has become a hit several times larger than he imagined.
　This is probably thanks to the tremendous way in which the word of the latex has spread, starting with Balor's wife.
　I had hoped for a word-of-mouth network of noblemen and wealthy wives, but I was reminded that even those expectations were underestimated.
　Thanks to this, the shops were queuing up day after day, and the latex was sold out just as soon as it arrived. We have been gradually expanding our production system, but we have not yet been able to keep up with the expansion.
　No matter how much they increase the number of products they can produce, word of mouth will spread further and demand will increase even more.
　Not just from other cities, but even from neighboring countries, so much so that customers are coming in, such as the other day, Count Murteu received a letter of intent from another country's royal family asking him to provide them with latex.

.......A fierce information war is raging behind such glamorous activities.
　Every day spies from other merchant associations were infiltrating the production plant in an attempt to steal the manufacturing process of the latex, and bribing employees was an everyday occurrence.
　It was not something that could be prevented in any way.
　They've discovered that the plant is a mixture of olive oil, water, herbs and a mystery potion.

However, the method of obtaining or making the lecithin, which is called a secret medicine at the production base, has not been specified, and currently no milky liquid can be made outside the Valor Trading Company.
　The reason why the recipe for lecithin is not revealed is because it is not made in the city of Murteau, and Balor is hiding the fact that it is purchased from Touahade by disguising the fact that it is made in Touahade.
　Even if it was discovered that he was making it in Touahade, the Touahade territory has a production system in place where my father takes great care not to divulge any secrets, and the people of the territory are much more tight-lipped than here.
　It's easy to see what would happen if they sneak into the assassin's property in the first place.

Apart from that, the Touahade side was also struggling.
　The amount of lecithin required was ridiculously high, and the soybeans they were making in the territory disappeared in an instant.
　That said, they can't just say "we can't make any more" and not be convinced, so they buy soybeans in secret from other cities.
　I'm good at that kind of manipulation because I'm an assassin.
　It is quite interesting that Balor is desperately trying to hide the purchase of lecithin from Touahade and Touahade is hiding the purchase of soybeans from him.

'The rest of the Chamber of Commerce wants to sell latex too. They can't steal the formula at all. It's only logical that they would get impatient and go after the people who know for sure. I didn't realize it was so obvious.

My prediction has come true.
　In the middle of the night, someone has snuck into the house and is approaching my bedroom through the ceiling, with a "reasonably good" presence.
　It's top-notch, because I rate it as "reasonably" good by my standards.
　But it's not nearly enough to kill me.

It's easy to deal with, but this is a good teaching tool for both of us. Let's sit on the sidelines until just before they kill me.
　Someone reaches right above me and punches a small hole in the ceiling without a sound.
　Probably with a blowtorch or a needle coated with poison or something. The goal is not to kill him, but to abduct him and find out the secret of his latex.

Well, what will the Tart and Maha do?
　The answer will come soon enough.
　Without a sound, Tart walks into the room and rolls up her skirt.
　There is a knife on his right thigh and a metal rod folded in thirds on his left thigh, which he pulls out.
　The rods were connected and even transformed into a spear as they were connected to the knife by an attachment at the tip, which poked the ceiling.
　A spear is the most powerful weapon in melee combat. It is said that when fighting with a sword and a spear, the sword wielder is required to have three times as much skill. In addition, Tart had a talent for spear. Probably, he has the [Spear Technique] skill.
　This spear that can be hidden is a birthday present I gave him. Tart loves it badly and says it's a treasure and doesn't miss taking care of it every day.
　It's a good idea to use a spear and a knife depending on the situation and timing, and if you're a knight in shining armor, you've mastered the ability to defeat even a head-to-head battle.

''It's formidable,''

A red stain spreads across the ceiling, though it seems the assassin wasn't dumb enough to scream.
　It wouldn't be a fatal wound through the ceiling, but the scabbard in which the tart houses the knife is coated with a neurotoxin.
　It's a custom-made item that I modified with my knowledge of the Touahade secret. Once snatched, unless you have a very special constitution, you won't be able to move a single finger.

He wouldn't even allow himself to kill himself to avoid spitting out information about his client.
　A plank in the ceiling was removed to reveal Maha.

"We got him all right. We've got him gagged and bound so he can't kill himself.

When Tart and Maha noticed the intruder, they immediately moved to back up, with Tart escorting and intercepting, and Maha blocking the escape route.
　I'll give them a passing grade.

''Well done to both of you. I didn't know you were able to recognize and capture an assassin of this rank. I have a nose for it too.

The speed with which the assassin's intrusion is noticed, and the subsequent stagnation in planning and execution. It's not perfect, but it's above a certain level.

'Ehehe, I'm glad.'
'Yes. I'll be fired up for what comes next.
'You've only made me do torture in the classroom. Just as well, we can finally practice it. If you can get him to give up the client's information, it's a good card to play. See if you can devise a way to get him to talk without committing suicide. I've already taught you the skills you need to do that.
Yes, I'll do my best!　He's the one who tried to do something terrible to Master Ilg. I won't show any mercy.
Yes, I'm very angry, too. ...and when you do well, praise me. Brother Ilg.

Best of all, you're not afraid to kill or injure people for me.
　Unlike me, I couldn't train myself to get used to killing with a death row inmate, so I wasn't sure if I could kill someone.
　But it seems that the desire to please me, to do something for me, outweighs the repugnance of killing people.
　........I love those girls.
　This can be used in a real battle.
　Now, while they're busy torturing me, let's clean the blood-stained ceiling and make some food for them while we're at it.
　It's going to be a long night.

◇

And in the blink of an eye, it's been two years since I arrived in Murteu.
　I look back on what has happened so far.
　I was busy as a joke with the new store, but it has allowed me to learn about the world.
　I've been invited to various venues as a young successful person who made the Valor Trading Company's cosmetic brand [Orna] a success, so I've made quite a few connections.
　The funds have been tremendous as well.

As promised, I continue to receive 5% of the top payment for the entire Valor chain of cosmetics stores, and I am the manager of the first store with the largest sales of all the stores to begin with.
　Since I get the rest of the money after paying the head office and employees' salaries, I've already made enough money to play with for the rest of my life, and I'm doing some interesting things with it.
　Today is finally the day I return to Touahade.
　I've already completed the handover and the work-related greetings. Today I will meet only with my people.
　A carriage was parked in the yard of the mansion, and Tart and I were riding in it.

"Maha, this is Orna, the makeup brand. Maha, Orna, the makeup brand, and you'll be in charge of the network and taking over.
You can count on me, Brother Lug. I'll protect Murteau's base.

We were now fourteen years old and growing up had made a huge impression on us. Tart was pretty and Maha had grown into a beautiful woman.
　Fourteen is the age at which one is considered an adult in this country.

I tried to train Maha for two years, but she was still not suitable for an execution unit. But he's grown up enough to be entrusted with the logistics manager.
　With the opening of the new store, I've appointed him as my secretary, and he's working as Irg Balor's right hand man, and he's also developing his skills as a merchant.
　While I am out of the city of Murteau, he will take care of all business on my behalf.

........And I give her my real name and my real business. That's why I called her Brother Roug, not Brother Ilg, on this occasion.
　She is to act as the deputy representative of Orna, the Balor Chamber of Commerce's makeup brand, while collecting information, providing funds, and securing the necessary supplies for the assassination.

'Maha, I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I'm the only one who has to go along with Master Lug.
''I'd be lying if I said I didn't envy you, but I'm proud to be able to help brother Roug's brother in a way that only I can. .........Tart, you can help brother Rougue near me.
Yes!

Tart, my personal servant and assassination assistant, replies.
　Tart and Maha encourage each other.
　When it was over, Maha looked at me. Tears are pooling in her eyes. It's hard to say goodbye to her too, after all.

'Come and see me every once in a while, even if it's just for a little while. 'Brother Roug,'
I promise. Even if I don't have a job, I'll still come to see Maha.
Yes, I promise. If you don't come to me after visiting Lady Dear, who is so far away, every month I'll probably cry in frustration.
Maha is my protégé and my assistant. How could she not come to see me?
Yeah, I'm waiting. And I found what my brother Lugues asked for. An uninhabited island off the Merchant Marine route. Here's a map. What's the use of an uninhabited island that no one ever goes near?
'When I came to see Dia two days ago, I perfected my new magic. It's a little too powerful, and if it's not on a deserted island, it's going to be a disaster.

It was the new magic of killing the heroes. It was undoubtedly the most powerful ever. The basic theory was complete, but the experiments hadn't been done. It was too powerful and the range of effect was too wide. If it wasn't an uninhabited island, it couldn't even be experimented on.
　The carriage departs.
　We've lost sight of Maha.
　........The final trial, in two years, he became a top-notch merchant and succeeded in obtaining the signboard of a merchant of prestige.
　The representative of the supernova cosmetic brand [Orna], Ilg Balor. There isn't a noblewoman or lady who won't welcome him upon hearing his name.
　Once we return to Touahade, we will be able to conduct a real battle.
　I haven't killed anyone yet, except in that crypt.
　How do I feel when I kill people now?

◇

The carriage continues down the street.
　Tart is getting a little homesick.

'Tart, do you miss Maha?'
''I'll be honest with you, I miss you. I've never had a friend my own age before.

If possible, I would have brought Maha with me, but I can't let go of the Balor Chamber of Commerce's information network.
　Besides, it would be great to have a base of operations I could rely on in the event of a situation that threatened Touahade's survival. At worst, he could fake the death of the rogue Touahade and live on as Irg Balor.

'I see. From now on, as far as possible, I'll leave the lecithin transport to the Tart. There will be plenty of opportunity for us to meet.

Tart has also grown in two years.
　His handling of magic is top-notch accuracy, and he has become able to use his own attribute, wind, to good effect.

He is the perfect person to be your bodyguard during transport.

''I'm glad. But I'm sure Maha-chan will be more than happy to have Roug-sama go.
Really?
'Yes. Maha is very fond of Master Lug, so it's not a family affair or friendship or anything like that. It's, well, that sort of thing.
'I know what you mean, but that's not it. Maha's is a longing. They're similar but different.

It's similar but different.
　That of Maha is longing, not love.

'Sometimes it's difficult to do what Master Lug says,'
You'll see.

As I was saying this, the carriage came to an abrupt stop. We are surrounded by wolves.
　The guru jumped off the carriage and ran away, leaving us, his guests, behind..................and we fell prey to the wolves.

It wasn't just a wolf.

It was one size bigger, and its claws were unusually enlarged.
　I can feel a slight magical power.
　Is it a demon? The definition of a demon is an animal that has magical powers. Just as humans become strong by being clothed in magical power, animals also become strong by being clothed in magical power, and in many cases, their bodies are transformed.
　Demons are supposed to live far away from human settlements and rarely go out to human settlements.

''Just as well. Can I try the results of my training, if you don't mind, it's a distraction.
Yeah, I'm looking at you right here.

As soon as I say that, a tart with its entire body wrapped in magical power and enhanced physical abilities leaps out.
　Three wolf demons, taking advantage of their pack, move to surround the tart.
　And then they jumped at him, fangs bared.
　But the mouth that was supposed to feed on Tart's flesh had been pierced by the blade. Before he knew it, a spear was in Tart's hand. His skirt was flipped up, and he took out the dark weapon he'd hidden there and assembled it in an instant.
　The tart was trained by me. There was no way I could catch them in such a straight line of motion.

The second one, which came in a timed attack, attacked me from my back, and the next moment I was struck in the jaw and sent flying through the air.
　It was due to Tart's wind magic, [Wind Bullet].
　Most mages can only invoke the magic from their palms.
　This is because the magic formula given to them by God is like that.
　However, by changing the magic formula, they can invoke it from anywhere in the magic area of a few centimeters to a few dozen centimeters centered on themselves.
　Tart's magic area is about forty centimeters. The moment an opponent stepped inside the realm, she could strike his jaw with a wind bullet and make him fall into a coma.
　Even top-notch swordsmen believe that magic doesn't activate from anything other than their hands, and they aren't wary of anything other than that.
　It's an attack that can be a modest but extremely effective surprise attack.
　The last one runs away. It's only a wolf and extremely fast. Tart's legs would not be able to catch up with it.
　However, that wolf was pierced by a spear from his back.
　The spear was flicked by the force of the wind and turned into a bullet.

''Splendid.''
'That's because Master Lugue trained me. I was very active on the battlefield.

While Maha became my secretary at the Chamber of Commerce and honed the skills needed for logistical support, I had Tart gain real battle experience on the battlefield.
　There was a limit to how strong he could become with training alone, and he needed real combat. He was anxious to send them out, but it was good.
　With a look of pride, Tart returned to the carriage, and when I patted him on the head, he squinted his eyes as if he felt good.

''........Is it about time for the brave man to appear?

I had to do it alone so the Tart wouldn't hear me.
　I was reborn to kill a brave man.

After the heroes kill the demon king, they go crazy and become a blight on the world.
　It is said that when the number of demons begins to increase, the demon race will eventually appear and the brave man and the demon king will descend.
　Thus, the demons that didn't descend into human settlements appeared on the streets.

When that happens, the things that follow will happen one after another.
　We must hurry.
　For the past two years, I haven't only been a merchant.
　I trained Tart, the assistant who fights with me, and I built a base and raised Maha so that she could be entrusted with logistical support.
　I've also begun to create a trump card, the Card, for killing heroes.
　I'm looking forward to the experiment on the deserted island. That one, even if it's a brave man, will be powerful enough to shoot him down.