The magic stone, which was tinged with the magical power of light, faintly illuminated the deep darkness.
　The Rhine Cathedral was a huge structure that boasted an overwhelming area of land for a small city, approximately one kilometer from east to west and one and a half kilometers from north to south. Behind the cathedral, which was open to the public, there were various buildings related to divine affairs as well as opulent accommodations that invited dignitaries from the Holy Land.

　The religiously decorated buildings look like a row of aristocratic residences.
　Since there are so many of these things lined up in plain sight, the amount of money that religion can earn is tremendous.

''That's the first nobleman's house. The stars are over there.

Where is it?

'Either the first floor bedroom or the second floor office, probably the latter at this time of day. I'll take care of the invasion of the second floor, and Duranshama would like to go downstairs, just in case.

Yes, sir.

So this is a high ace, don't you think?

What's that?

'Well?　I heard that the Demon King Shama said this a long time ago. It's a kidnapping cliché.

It's a dirty word.

　With that, Duran and the others split up.
　Scratching through the eyes of the soldiers, Duran entered the grounds. It seems that there are gatekeepers and patrolling soldiers, but their skills are only at the level of the average soldier.

　Covertness has never been his forte, but seeing and imitating Minaria and Lesia, Duran's it has reached the realm of martial arts (arts) that professionals handle at the earliest. There was no way a soldier with only general training could find it.
　Passing through a fountain that blended with nature and reflected in the moonlight, I hid my breath at the walls of the noble guesthouse.

(I could make a frontal breakthrough but my gain is a bit unreliable.)

　Sensitive to the breath and magic around him, he senses the breath and magic around him and searches for an unpopular place.
　As he did so, he pointed his sword at the window of one of the rooms he had arrived at and flashed his sword without a voice. At the same time as the drawn sword is swung out at an invisible speed, a line runs across the thin glass.

　Then he hollowed out the glass, which began to shift slightly, and Duran entered the noble guesthouse without anyone noticing.

(Well, the bedroom is on the far left from this position.)

　The internal structure of the building has been drummed into my head from the materials handed to me beforehand.
　It was at that moment that Duran thought that if everything goes well, he will be able to finish the matter without being found out.

''H--!

　A black knife flew from the depths of the deep darkness at a terrific speed.
　Duran quickly half-avoided it by turning away and at the same time, he turned his gaze into the deep darkness.

　The something, which was in front of him, was probably not a soldier.
　The small figure, whose entire body was covered by a black robe, looks like a child. But even a single flying knife is not a half-hearted thing. I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.

''It's quite disturbing....''

　Although not as good as Lesia and Minalia, Duran had a certain amount of confidence in his own skills.
　The fact that it was so easily perceived like this meant that these must be the elites that Lesia was talking about.

''Xinnyusha.................''



　At the same time a harshly mechanical voice echoed from behind the robe. A new blade, taken out to spill out from behind the blackened robe, approached Duran.
　Before he could question the unhuman voice and the unnatural movement, his body had taken an evasive action.

''Mm.........''

　The blade closed the distance in a single breath and was wielded. The movement, especially the footwork, was like an amateur gait.
　The wielded blade is also not as if it is unskilled.
　And yet, its speed is uncommonly fast. This is a level that is reminiscent of the Ice Emperor of days gone by.

(What the hell, these guys.............

　It was as if their speed was breaking through the limits of their physical abilities, but their skills were not able to keep up with the speed as if they were breaking through the limits of their physical abilities. If it was only simple physical ability, these two would be comparable to an A-ranked adventurer. However, the sword skills they wielded were, to Duran, like a child wielding a blade.

(The problem is the weapon...)

　The blade, which looks as if it has been strained through blackness many times, is probably a curse.
　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for when you're in the market.
　That's why Duran continues to avoid a series of severely limpid impressions, right in the middle of a barrage of blows.

　The two sword blows pouring down like a storm. But Duran is not just concentrating on evading.
　There is a rhythm to the attacks that people unleash, a breath like a living thing. It is the same for both skilled masters and amateurs who have just held a sword. It's a good thing that you're able to read the fundamentals of even the most mismatched and inconsistent of movements, as Duran has spent many years on the battlefield and has experienced thousands and tens of thousands of battles.

　The black blade that is about to be swung down in front of you right now. Without lowering the leg that had been drawn until now from the mad blade that is not even allowed to be touched, Duran steps in ahead of the others.

''Kahaha!''

Ka....

　Two flashes in the space of a moment.
　The sword that was wielded with all its strength left some kind of hard hand, but it blew the small body away for several dozen meters.　
　The slash that struck the figure that rolled on the ground and was blown away until it hit the wall was definitely a blow that cut off both sides of the body.
　Nevertheless, the blown-up figure twitched and stood up, behaving like a broken doll.

(After all, that's not normal........)

　Duran held his sword up guilelessly, but the blade he had driven into the strange body was just a little bit missing.



My God, my God, my God, my God, my God.

　Something wriggling screamed out.
　Then, in the blink of an eye, a black speckled pattern spread across the ground.

''Nah!''

　A curse so dark that it could be visualized.
　It wasn't coming from the weapon in their hands, but from their bodies.
　With that alone, as the shadow stepped forward and closed in, an unavoidable negative magic force attacked Duran.

''Kuch........''

　It's going to be dark in front of my eyes, those words become a reality.
　And the world, black, covered in.







◇







'Well, well, well - we'll finish the job quickly while the Duran shama does a nice decoy... or diversion.
　Lethia walks in the darkness.
　You can find a lot of people in the middle of the corridor, and yet none of them notice your presence, just like walking through your mansion.

　The moonlight carried a faint light. A shadow descends on one such dimly lit room.
　The door didn't open, no sound was made, and yet its voice just echoed.

''Good evening, nay~''

　The office, which could be described as large, was covered with piles of paper stacks.
　Lesia's voice echoed over the sound of crunching brushes.

'Hmm, I didn't mean to schedule a visitor, but if I dare say a few words - welcome, welcome, I should say - most unwelcome, though.
　A man's voice came from the darkness.

'This is also surprising, sir. You are not surprised, are you?'

'No, I'm surprised enough. This still gives me an accurate picture of my worth. Hence, although I assumed that this could happen, I thought there was less than a tenth of a percent chance of it becoming a reality.
　It was a low, dark voice.
　Its voice still showed not the slightest hint of agitation in the face of an entity that could be called an assassin.

''If you were expecting it, shouldn't you have taken measures?''

'I'm sorry, but I've done everything I could possibly do. In my temporary command, it's a lot of work just to pull off two people. Besides, that's still a Holy Knight (Sacred Knights), I also thought that was enough. Apparently I didn't have a good outlook - you're here like this, and that's all that matters. And what do you want, assassin of the assassination state of Solarus?
　The man looks at Lesia.
　Dark eyes look at Lesia from the darkness, even more eerie with the flatness of his words.
　The Seven Saints are the highest-ranking and most important position in the Holy Land, in charge of politics and rituals. That image may be a glittering one, but the man in front of me is anything but. The man in front of me is dark, gloomy, and somewhat eerie. That was the impression I had of the man.

"It's just for the purpose of talking to you here and now,

Hmm, not very specific.

Well, shall we tell him what you want? I'm going to have to ask you to leave the stage.

　Lesia's voice is terribly cold.
　It's as if she's thrusting a blade of ice at him.

''Things are so tumultuous, I'm afraid I can't die yet.

　Ludwald's hand snaps to a halt as he tries to move slightly to the magic tool that must be at hand.

''--Do you think you can resist?''

　It was a cold tone that couldn't possibly have emanated from a young girl.
　At the same time, a dense killing atmosphere, as if materialized, filled the room.
　Unexpectedly, his breathing stopped and his body stopped working regardless of his will. It was as if every single cell was being terrorized and controlled.
　Only my throat trembles in the midst of it.

'I will resist, it's human.

　Lethia laughed with amusement and exhaled.
　The tense air instantly dissipated.

''That's quite an admirable thing to say, isn't it, golden witch--''

'There's no denying it, money is everything in life. Ninety-nine percent of the world's ninety-nine percent of the world's people live in bondage to money. That's why gold is dirty, bloodied, and still shines. Isn't that brilliance beautiful, don't you think?

It's reckless to ask me for my consent when I've been away from people's shirkiness for so long - and money is a shudan, not an end in itself, isn't it?
　Only after hearing Lesia's words did Ludewald's face, like a Noh mask, become slightly distorted.

I'm not sure........but, well, the opponent for whom the power of money is ineffective is not my domain - let's hear it for a moment, don't turn. I'll load you up with gold.

　Lethia laughs.
　As if she was terribly dumbfounded.
　Only her mouth smiles slightly, but there is no light in her eyes.
　The distorted mouth tells you leisurely.
　What a ridiculous thing to say.

''--When Lesia leaves the Princess Shama, it will be when this life fades away, sir.

　Even the word mind-blowing is lukewarm, an absolute tone falling.
　It fell into the depths of my mind and reverberated powerfully.

'Huh, well, I'm not expecting anything. The runner-up in this situation would be a ninety-nine percent loss. But - how much is my life worth in the present situation, if you would be so kind as to tell me for reference?
　Rudwald has certainly earned the important position of finance, but he is not the face of the missionary or a symbol of military power. He is only a key figure to the extent that he can be replaced. There will be some confusion for a little while, but a person one level lower should be able to provide a replacement.

　Then, if you ask whether Ludwald will be the card that stops the black knight who is currently working to defeat him, this is also a nod to the head. Ilmina will never obey the weak. There is even a possibility that she would easily dismiss Ludwald's life.　
　If you were to kill Rudolph here and now, there would be little profit for the seven nations. On the contrary, if the assassination of the seven saints within the seven countries, there is a risk that the home country will even raise its hand. That was why it seemed that Ludwald was unable to weigh Lesia's true intentions.

''Rest assured, you will soon understand--most of all, if you don't make a mistake in your future choices, sir.

　Again, tension fills the place.
　A moment of silence.

'--Let's hear it.'

　Lethia slowly opens her mouth.

'But I'm repeating myself - I want you to disappear for once, sir.