Chapter 29: Before the Battle: The House of Assassins

(T/N: I have messed up the numbering from Chapter 29 to Chapter 31. This is chapter 29)

My visit to Eto’s house went on after dropping Arti off at her house.

At the house, Xenia had already arrived and was steadily progressing with her preparations.

“‘―That’s why. So, I would like to entrust you with diversion and disruption, but how many pieces of maneuver are currently available to you?”

“Right. There are seven or eight of them in the Garrison Corps, but they are all just minnows that don’t carry any magical power―Ah, I am not exactly dissing you, Mr. Matthias.”

“That kind of thing doesn’t matter. Continue, Xenia.”

Immediately after returning to Eto’s house accompanied by me, and entering the living room, a conversation of this nature was overheard, and I was beyond respectful and amazed at how spontaneous the two of them were.

“Oh, the two of you are back? Welcome homeー”

“T-Teacher Xenia, you are being the same as usual today too…”

Eto, who was apparently sharing the same sentiments as I was, formulated a half-hearted smile.

A glance at the table between Xenia and Matthias revealed several sheets of paper scattered about with detailed writing in every corner. Aside from Xenia, Matthias conceived his plans as scrupulously as I did when work was the focus.

I prompted Matthias to proceed with the conversation.

“…So that means you have some pawns in the Garrison Corps as well, right? When you release the Golems into the city to disorient them, utilize those pawns too, whenever the security of the main city falls to a level of inadequacy. With that, the Garrisoned Corps will be temporarily out of action, and chance is high that ‘Hunter’ will run amok on his own in the meantime.”

“Understood. How do I take care of ‘this body’?”

“You can’t afford to lose that body yet. ‘Xenia’ can have fun with the people guarding the relatively low-security areas. Afterward, leave it to me.”

“After that or rather, this degree of diversion will probably bring about a quick end to the chaos, and pulling the most obnoxious people out of the main camp will perhaps be a stretch, you see? Against the main forces of ‘Kaguya’ and the Garrison Corps, will you be able to cope on your own, Mr. Matthias?”

“―No problem.”

From the drawer of the shelf that customarily contained the wanted posters, Matthias retrieved an object reminiscent of a black jewelry box.

When it was opened, a necktie pin with a sorcery formula engraved on it lay inside. That was supposed to incorporate the sorcery of “Iron Gauntlet,” as I recalled.

Only a needle was attached to the necktie pin, and on the tip of the needle, Matthias affixed a magic crystal stone that I had created. “Iron Gauntlet,” a magic belonging to the lowest-class magic, would invariably be able to be invoked with only that magic crystal stone.

Matthias then donned a black jacket over the white shirt he was wearing, put on the necktie, and finally added the necktie pin to finish the look. This was Matthias’ formal attire for a job.

By all appearances, the impression exuded was that of a ubiquitous businessman. Nevertheless, Matthias’ line of work would go unnoticed to someone encountering him for the first time.

Weapons of any type were completely absent from Matthias’ body, save for his necktie pin, and magic detection was impossible since he didn’t even possess any magical power. Being neither a warrior nor a magician, this alone would dissuade most people from being on the alert. This was one of the reasons why he had “never” failed in his assassination attempts over the past few decades.

“Well then, Xenia, after eight o’clock, you can start whenever you like. I will do my work then.”

“Yesー. See you again after the completion of the jobー”

As if with the same nonchalance as always, Xenia sent Matthias off.

As Matthias also made a nod, he closed the front door without uttering a single word to Eto. Perhaps Eto was conscious of this, for there was no confusion in her expression.

Following the disappearance of Matthias’ shadow in the frosted glass, Xenia stretched broadly.

“Yeah, my appetite is growling after all that brainstorming! Eto, Kanaki, do you guys want to grab a bite to eat somewhere?”

“Your audacity really impresses me… I will have to pass.”

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“Um, today I will be waiting at home for my father and the others so…”

“Is that so? Then I guess I will go out for yakiniku on my own.”

Xenia looked back to me as she walked away, slipping on her high heels.

“―Kanaki. Are you honestly not intending to take any action today?”

“That’s a given. How could I possibly survive in a battle of this magnitude?”

“You liar… Well, forget it.”

―What a boring man.

Leaving that remark, Xenia exited out of the front door this time.

In the garden, bell crickets were seemingly beginning to chirp. With the evening sun streaming in dully through the glass door, our feet were vaguely illuminated.

“…Don’t you have to set your preparations up, too, Teacher?”

Eto’s voice, strained as it was, blended into the hallway’s wooden flooring as silence descended on the house all at once.

“You said that to Teacher Xenia, but the truth is, you are planning to make a move today too, aren’t you? I won’t disclose this to the two of them, so it’s all right.”

“…Eto, why?”

“I can tell by the look in your eyes when you stared at Ms. Fina today, Teacher.”

Looking at Eto, whose eyes were tear-stained slightly, an awkward smile broke out on her face.

The words of apology threatened to escape my throat somehow, but after swallowing them, I too showed my original, awkward smile.

“…I was confident in my ability to fake facial expressions.”

“Please don’t underestimate me. I have been watching you, Teacher Kanaki, for four years now.”

Feeling a newfound sense of freshness at the sight of Eto puffing up with pride, I returned to the living room and gathered up my belongings. Though having said that, my baggage was not especially large. Among them were a pistol, a rarity in this country, which I had employed in the battle with Aldar the other day, and five magic crystal stones. The rest was simply a white bangle with “Chakrameth” technique engraved on it.

To Eto, who was observing this with a complex countenance, a smile was presented to her.

“Rest assured. I don’t intend to pull any major maneuvers today, so there is not much at stake.”

“…Is that true?”

“Compared to the work your father is doing today, yeah. Well, it is more like night patrol to check if any of my students are in jeopardy.”

Winking at her, Eto gave a laugh, as if distressed.

“I will be waiting for you and the others on your way home, okay?”

“Yeah. It shouldn’t take too long.”

With a last smile―that same reassuring smile, of course―I dashed outside, already aware of my destination.

To the corner that overlooked multiple sniper points, not far from the hospital where Karen was hospitalized―

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