IBWMD 110

~Chapter 110~

It all started right after Reina left.

I was just about to open the couple’s bedroom door.

‘Okay. Get a grip. Deep breath…’

‘Haaa!’

‘…Wait, I’m not ready yet.’

I was about to turn the doorknob when a weird, loud noise outside the window made me stop.

‘…Eliza?!’

I turned in shock to see Eliza, hood pulled up, clinging to the window frame, panting.

I immediately opened the window and yanked Eliza inside like I was pulling up a giant radish.

She looked a mess, hair wild and body shaking from running so fast.

‘What happened…’

‘Jeez… why are there so many guards now… huh?!’

‘…’

‘Every secret passage was being guarded by soldiers!’

‘Hmmm…’

‘Did someone get caught trying to escape from the manor or something?’

I felt a bit guilty.
After all, I had been caught sneaking out recently…

Maybe that’s why she worked so hard to get here, using every bit of strength she had.

‘Anyway, that’s not important!’

Before I could even apologize, Eliza got to the point.

‘I, um, was following the assassin guild guys—’

‘Tsk. I told you not to do dangerous things.’

‘But I think I found the way to their boss in the back alley…’

‘…What?’

‘Someone’s about to die there…’

‘What?!’

One shocking news after another. Now I understood why Eliza was so rushed.

‘And, cough, it looks like it’s someone from the Temple.’

‘What?!’

‘I was going to just let them die, but… cough! If we save them, maybe we can get some good info…’

Wow. What a strangely clever and sneaky plan.

While I was quietly impressed, Eliza gestured desperately.

‘Hurry! If we don’t go now, the trail will—ahh!’

‘What’s wrong?’

I clapped my hand over Eliza’s mouth, glancing at the couple’s bedroom.

The Duke might be in there—if we made too much noise…

‘Mmmph!’

Then I noticed what Eliza was pointing at, and almost made a scene myself.

‘…Eyeball?’

The golden eye inside the snow globe was winking at me.

‘You’re back!’

Happy, I picked it up, but the eye looked from Eliza to the window—clearly telling me to follow Eliza out.

‘Eek!’

Eliza looked ready to faint from fright at the thing’s attention.

‘Alright. Let’s go.’

…And that’s how I ended up changing clothes in a hurry and running out into the night.

I left the Duke alone in the bridal room, but oh well.
I’d just make up an excuse later.
It wasn’t just my fault anyway—it was the dragon’s fault!

‘If I have to, I’ll just blame Eyeball for everything.’

Right now, something more urgent was happening.

“Urgh!”

Right on cue, Zeon’s voice echoed through the alley.

I clicked my tongue.

All I heard was that someone from the Temple was caught, but—

‘Who would’ve guessed it was Zeon?’

Did he get caught poking his nose everywhere?
I couldn’t just leave him, especially since it was partly my fault.

I followed Eliza straight into the maze-like back alleys—and stopped short.

“….”

‘Was it always like this here?’

Maybe it just felt different at night.

There was a creepy feeling in the air.

A place that should have been noisy was now completely silent, making it all the more unnerving.

“There were a lot of people here earlier…”

Eliza seemed just as creeped out.

She hugged her arms and shivered.

‘This is bad.’

I looked at the dark buildings and whispered,

“Alright, let’s split up here, Eliza.”

“But…”

“There’s no need for a group. This is a job for just a few.”

“Even two is already a small team!”

“No.”

I drew the line.

“I’m elite, but you’re not.”

“That’s not—!”

“You’re fast, good with your hands, and great at disguise. But you can’t fight. Not against assassins.”

“I can fight… a little!”

“Could you handle a skilled assassin?”

“….”

“Those people aren’t easy opponents.”

This time, I couldn’t budge.

As an adult, I couldn’t bring a child somewhere this dangerous.

When I looked at Eliza, her face was twisted in frustration, but she couldn’t argue with me.

I patted her on the shoulder.

Still, I wanted to encourage her.

“You’ve done really well, Eliza.”

“You organized the pickpockets and got the info I couldn’t.”

“Well… that’s just what I can do…”

“There are plenty who could help but don’t.”

I repeated the Duke’s words, and my chest stung a bit.

I spoke seriously.

“You’re an excellent scout.”

“….”

“But fighting assassins is a job for soldiers.”

“Scout? Soldier?”

“Yes. A soldier of Saint-Ports.”

“But only townspeople—”

“You’re a townsfolk too, Eliza.”

My words shook her.

There are all kinds of roles in a knight order.
From my time as vice-captain, I could tell: Eliza wasn’t meant for front-line fighting, but that didn’t make her less valuable.

“And you’ve done your part as a townsfolk perfectly. Thank you.”

Her eyes shimmered. I continued calmly.

“From here, I’ll handle it.”

I only had one destination in mind.

The tallest building in the center of the alleys, lit up like a beacon.

How was I sure?

‘It’s the only building with the lights on.’

And Eyeball kept staring at it.

I patted Eliza’s shoulder for the last time.

“Can you cover the rear?”

“….”

“Go back and tell the pickpockets, especially the adults, to be ready for anything.”

Her face was red, but this time it was from shyness, not anger.

She really is weak to praise.

Most of all…

“…Fine! Just tell that thing to stop staring at me!”

Eyeball kept glaring.

“I’m going, I’m going!”

She hurried off down another alley.

“Good job.”

I patted the snow globe and Eyeball winked mischievously.

Honestly, the more I looked at it, the cuter and weirder it seemed.

“Let’s go, too.”

I tied the snow globe securely to my waist and pulled out the musket I’d hidden in my cloak.

The screams in the alley had died down.

A cold, creepy wind brushed my cheek.

‘Zeon better not be dead.’

He’s huge—he shouldn’t go down so easily, but…

‘Just be stuck somewhere, please.’

Nervous, I ran between the buildings. The moonlit roofs formed a path above.

Soon, I reached the building next to my goal.

Looking around, I saw a terrace I could jump to from the roof.

The terrace door was slightly open, almost as if inviting me in.

“Hup.”

I jumped down lightly onto the terrace.

A cold wind blew through the open door.

Inside, the moonlit room looked old and fancy.

‘If there’s a boss in the alleys, this is exactly the kind of place they’d use.’

The halls were pitch black except for one light, high up on the top floor.

‘It could be a trap.’

But I had no choice.

Bracing myself, I stepped inside—

Screeeeech!

A sharp sound ripped through the air.