Hey. Can I join you for lunch?


　As I was leaving the office, I was approached by an unexpected person.

　It was Spica Amrit, the fortune teller. She's wearing the same perfect make-up as ever in her robe, and she said this while twirling her deep blue sovage hair with her jeweled fingers.

　I'm going to have lunch with her or .......


'If you want the lights, I'm fine with it,'

'Oh, you're having dinner with His Highness Prince Wright. Well, I don't want to interrupt you, so I'll save it for another time.

I'm sorry.


　It was an invitation, but I had a prior engagement, so I don't have a choice.

　Then Spica-san continued to speak with a thoughtful look on her face as she put her index finger to her chin.


''Well then, how about tonight?''

You're having dinner with Wright.

...... tomorrow morning?

With Wright.

Tomorrow at noon.

With Wright.

Tomorrow night.

"Light.

How much do you eat with them?


　Oh, a surprisingly sharp tweak.

　Most of the guys I eat with are made up of lights. But since that guy is sometimes in a very bad mood, at times like that he will eat with Olympia and Joe.


Is it weird?

Strange. Very strange.

That much?

Seven, you are a general and you should be aware of that. If you eat with His Highness all the time, you won't be able to expand your network.


　Mr. Spica lectured me while I was dumbfounded.

　She's not much of a talker, but she's rather telling me.

　To be honest, it's none of my business, but looking at her attitude, it seems that the emperor's resident fortune teller is more important than the general in the empire. It's best not to say anything bad.


''I think connections aren't meant to be expanded, but to be expanded, me.

　Hence, I didn't reject him outright and directly, but rather sarcastically and distantly.


''Hmm?　That's pretty much what you say. You have a point.

Right?

'But what if that doesn't help you network?'

That's a surprisingly wide spread.


　No, really. For some reason, even if I let it go, it keeps spreading. Ever since I came to this empire, it's been a rage. And--.


''Look, Spica-san came today.

!

　It's still spreading.


''Ugh, heh, you've got one. You're definitely the type of person who is interested in a lot of people.

Hi.


　Okay, so that's why I'm automatically expanding my network. I've got a lot of people in the Empire that are interested in me. Not a bad way to feel.


''Hey. Can you make yourself available tomorrow or the day after, or whenever?

　When I'm convinced, Spica says something like that while turning her back to me.


'I'm no ...... exception, you know?


　Then he looked back at me, winked at me and said.

　That means she's interested in me, too.

　It's not that I'm not interested in her, either. There's a lot of things I've heard from Philip at the Maurice Trading Company that I'm curious about. I wanted to talk to her once.


'Well, at lunch tomorrow, then. I'll tell Wright.

　I cancelled my meal with Light and gave priority to the dinner with Spica-san. That's what I meant, but Spica-san misunderstood what I meant and opened her mouth with a disgusted expression.


'Am I the only one who wanted to talk to you alone?

　Tilting her head slightly, she made a provocative face as if to use her coloring eyes, and attacked as if to say, "I'm going for it.

　It might have been a killer move for her, but unfortunately it didn't engage.


'No, I didn't mean for the lights to be with you,'

...... Oh, my God, yes. Okay then.


　Spica-san's expression instantly twitched and she showed me her back, and then she just left. Her ears peeking out from the gaps in her sovage hair were dyed red.

　Spica Amrit, the emperor's resident fortune teller. Surprisingly, she might be a goofy person.



　　* * * *



　In the morning, Nato Shaman was still troubled.

　Whether or not he would obey the order given to him by his lord Melson to mix the Bawi extract into Seven's drink.

　Not once in his time in Melson's service had he ever wondered in this way.

　Always, the answer is yes. Melson was his benefactor and his everything. There was no way in his mind to disobey Melson's orders.

　But for once, it bothered him. He himself didn't know why he was so troubled, but he hadn't been able to make a decision for a whole day now.


"............

　Early in the morning, Nato made his way to the front of Seven's office. His prediction that perhaps he would be up all night again was correct.

'...... excuse me early in the morning,'

　Let's see each other one last time and then we'll find out. With that in mind, Nato opened the door slowly.


'Oh, Nato!　Good point!　What am I supposed to do with this?

!


　As soon as he entered the room, Nato was taken aback.

　There were three shadows (・・・・) lying on the floor.


'It's early in the morning today and there are three of them here.

　Seven says that with a look of amusement on her face for some reason.

　The shadows are all maneuvers. Even Nato himself is an opponent who doesn't know what will happen if he is caught by surprise.

　In addition, with two days of all-nighters, this is the most tricky timing, early in the morning after a series of nighttime surprise attacks.

　No matter how many times Seven won ten consecutive victories against him, it would be strange if he didn't have one or two deep wounds ...... Nato thought so, but.


'!

　Immediately afterwards, we find out a startling fact.

　The three shadows were still alive. Each of the three had been knocked out (stunned) and rolled to the floor in a dying state.


''Hey, why let them live ......?''

　Nato muttered.

　There were a number of questions, but the biggest question among them was ...... why didn't they kill him? There was no point in daring to let him live after returning the assassin.


"The guy from the day before yesterday was kind enough to give me the website, you know. The day before yesterday he was kind enough to give me his HP, and since I had a pretty good idea of what he was going to do, I decided to put them all on the verge of death and stunned. Once you know your maximum HP, all you have to do is adjust the damage, right?

　However, Seven asked Nato's muttered question, "How did you nearly die? And so he tells her how to do it.

　Seven thought of the assassination as a "lukewarm game". Hence, he added the condition of near-death and unconsciousness to make it a fun game.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work for you. As a result of the sudden jump in difficulty, Seven couldn't help but smile.


''The one from yesterday and the day before yesterday, I left it lying in the hallway and it was gone in the morning, is today's one the same?''

...... for a moment.


　Nato took a deep breath for a moment and managed to regain his composure. Then, he sorted out the facts one by one.

　But the more he thought about it, the less he understood. I can't even predict what Seven's aim is.


'............'

　Seven is waiting without saying anything. He waits dutifully because Nato told him to wait.

　When Nato realized this, he was more shaken than ever. Is it really okay to poison him with ......?


'Why ......?'

　I don't know. Nato doesn't understand Seven.


"What?

'There's a man trying to kill you, sir.　Why don't you take any action?

No, no, no, no, you don't want to get hit back.

No, no, no. No, it's not. Why haven't you killed him? Why haven't you--

　As Nato swooped in, Seven tilted her head lazily and then opened her mouth to speak.


''-- Did you want me to kill you?　Would that have given you a little cause to plant Bawi?

!


　Nato's entire body's skin was churning.

　...... had been spotted. Everything. That not only the assassin was trying to set up the assassination, but Nato was trying to set up the assassination as well. And that he still hesitated and even tried to use the Bawi extract.


'I know you well. It's only been a month since we met, but I know you well enough to know what your favorite foods are predictable. So I dare say.


　Seven stared into Nato's eyes, then suddenly peeled back her double teeth and gave him a stern look and said


'Come if you want to come. I won't run or hide.'

......


　It was a provocation.

　Seven knew that Nato was troubled and provoked him.


'And if you fail. Or is when you stop thinking. Read this.

Yeah, that's ......?

You'll find instructions on how to learn certain skills. Well, believe it or not, it's up to you.


　Basically, even the quintessential Seven had learned that no matter what she said, she wouldn't be believed first.

　Seven knows how to be kind to Nato. He can't betray Melson, to whom he owes a debt of gratitude, but that doesn't mean he can't kill Seven, who doesn't seem like a bad person. He's still kind to him, as he struggles with such a dilemma between the boards.

　That's why Seven decided to have him kill himself once. He had the confidence that he would not die even if he was killed. Confidence that Nato's failure was a certainty. It could be described as trust in Winfiled.

　However, even if you told Nato foolishly and honestly that the assassination would be fruitless, there was no way he would believe you.

　Then you should carry out the assassination, convince Melson of the truth, and then get him to believe you.

　In addition, you can also spread the word, killing two birds with one stone.

　It was a simple plan.


You'll love it. You'll love it. It's an itchy skill. It'll give you an edge.


　Perhaps he has considered Nato's fighting style and carefully selected the skills that he would be most suited to.

'This skill would be a dream come true, wouldn't it? And I'm so passionate about others.

　He affirmed and respected those who were trying to kill him, pushed them back, and prepared a heartfelt gift for them.

　Such a man could not possibly be a bad person.


...... read epub read epub. Always.


　Nato was vaguely aware of how kind he was. It was only natural, since they had fought ten fights.

　However, that "vagueness" has just now changed to "clarity".

　But ...... assassination can't be stopped.

　The other person himself is provoking you to come and kill him.

　Strangely enough, Nato was able to blow it off.

　Looking at Seven, who seemed to have a massive amount of confidence, he could rest assured that this person would not die even if he killed him.

　If that was the case, then it was only a matter of obeying his orders as a servant of Melson.


'Hey, Nato,'

Yes, sir.

　And that's beside the point.


'Help me with my paperwork, Crescent Sword: ......'

　Seven cried out to Nato again. It didn't end even after two nights.

　Seeing Seven's instantly pitiful expression, Nato looked puzzled, then smiled as if he had no choice but to say, ''Oh dear, you're hopelessly unsuited.


''Oh dear, I'm hopelessly unsuited to this.



　　* * *



　It's time for lunch.

　Thanks to Nato's early-morning visit, we were able to get all the papers done while I was napping. Thanks to that, I was able to get all my papers done while I was napping.

　Nato guy half-jokingly made me a cup of coffee by hand and said, "This is fine. It was the last coffee I could drink in peace. I said to him, "What a neat thing to do," and he was surprised when I drank it without hesitation, which was a good sign.

　Well, it was only that one cup of coffee that was okay, but I'll have to be careful with my future drinks. No, Nato is a shrewd man. Should I be wary of anything I put in my mouth? Bawi extracts have a unique smell, though, so you'll be able to spot most of it.


'That was very fast. Are you done with your job?

Yeah, well. Nato helped me with that.

Oh, my God.


　When I walked out of the office, Spica-san was already there waiting for me.

　I promised to have today's lunch with her.

　Anyway, Spica-san is really into it, isn't she? Her robe has also been changed to a lighter, more flashy one.

　But did you come for me by yourself?　Is that the kind of thing someone as high in status as she is?


'You don't have an attendant?'

'Yes?　I'll introduce you to them later.

　They're in there. Yeah, I get it. You mean "shadow."


No, I'm just wondering if there are any handmaidens.

Oh, I do most of the work around me. I don't have to, because I'm the kind of person who wants to do it myself.

Wow.


　Surprising. You seem to like dressing up so much and putting on a lot of jewelry and stuff and looking gorgeous, so I thought it was the same for your life.



Yes, this is my room. I don't mind letting you relax as you wish.

...... Yeah.


　No, I'm still a lover of luxury and opulence. It was an extremely gilded and flamboyant room. The room was a concentration of the common people's exaggerated admiration for the aristocracy.


Isn't it great?　This room was a gift from His Majesty. That's how much it's worth to me.

I wonder if that's why they value Spica-san's fortune telling so much.

Yes, I do.

　You're unshakable. You must be very confident in your own divination.


'Here you go. An aperitif.

Oops.


　I was relaxing on the soft couch when Spica-san brought me a drink.

　Liquor all of a sudden? And it was wine. It's not surprising that it has Bawi extract in it.

　As I was sniffing the glass I received, Spica-san smiled and opened his mouth, "Uh-huh.


''Are you worried about the poison?　Don't worry, I've got it all ready for you.

But he's so smart.

Yeah, see .......


　Spica snapped her fingers.

　Then a shadow appeared out of nowhere.


"This is a good time to introduce you. My shadow.

Yeah.

　What is the use of calling a shadow?


Drink.

　Shortly after he wondered, the shadow poured the contents of the wine bottle into his palm and sipped it.


'Right?　There's no poison in it. If it was on your glass, you'd know it by the smell: ...... Use my glass just in case?

No, I'm fine.


　If you've done this much for me, you're going to be a stone's throw away.

　I took one last sniff and sipped the wine in my glass.


'Ugh ......!'

!

...... delicious!

'Phew!　Oh, come on. Seven, you're so funny.


　And then the shadow-san brought the food when I gave my usual gag.

　The only thing I've ever heard of is the fact that it's a guy who wants to do most of the personal stuff himself. You're going to be able to get the shadow to do most of the work for you.


It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what to expect.

I made it. They're just bringing it in.

What, Mr. Spica's homemade?

...... bad?

No, no.


　I don't know if it's a lie or not, but it's an amazing array of dishes. No matter how good a cook you are, it must be hard to make this many dishes.


　...... It's something that's been treated very well.

　I'm not sure if this is the one. I'm sure that's what Mr. Cigarone was trying to say, that I'm being used.

　If that's the case, I can't wait to see what else they're going to say.


The next time you're in the middle of introducing the shadows. You were in the middle of introducing the shadows.

'What?　Oh, yes.

I'm going to show Seven a special look at what's in the shadows.

What?　No, no, thank you.


　How is that happening all of a sudden?


A gesture of faith in you from me. It's a sign of my faith in you, and I really like you. So I'm prepared to reveal the secrets of the shadows as long as you believe me.


　Yeah, all of a sudden. It's all connected to that thing I've been thinking about.


"Are you gonna use me?

Use?　No, no. You are the key to the Empire. I'm only acting on the basis of my divination.

Right, yeah. ......


　I don't know what's going on here.

　Oh well. Believe it or not, let's just hear it.


"What's in the shadows?

Thank you.


　I ask, and Spica turns to the shadows with one thank you.

　Then he utters a word of surprise.



'--Casablanca, show your face and say hello.

!


　Casablanca, that's ......, I believe.


'The Shadow King?　I thought you were dead.

Oh, you knew.

Yes, well. I thought I'd only assume that His Highness Melson's shadow had killed him.

'Indeed, your highness' shadow killed him. The man who was supposed to be Casablanca. And in his place, it seems he failed to assassinate Mein Kastal.

The man who was supposed to be Casablanca: "The man who was supposed to be Casablanca: ......?

Yes. The Shadow King doesn't get killed so easily. The pinnacle of assassins, right?　I'm taking care of it, as I should.

Of course you do.

People must think the Shadow King of Casablanca is a man.

......!


　Behind Spica-san, a shadow took the cloth that was covering her face.

　The one who emerged from under that cloth - a woman with short hair.

　She guffawed and throttled and pecked out a ring from her mouth. Perhaps that was how she changed her voice to sound like a man. Then she broke the silence quietly.


'-- I am pleased to meet you for the first time, Lord Seven. I am Lady Spica's shadow. Also known as Casablanca.