One Stone, Three Birds (1)
Zeke was deep in thought in the back alley.
‘Hmm, how can I pass this troublesome shit to someone else and make them destroy each other?’
He was already busy enough raising the female protagonist, but one or two troublesome things kept piling up.
And this time, a slightly bigger incident had occurred.
If he laid the groundwork well enough, he might be able to connect them all and solve them at once.
There were three conditions.
First, he had to be able to continue as Ramielli's academy instructor.
Second, the justification for Iriel, Selena, and the prince taking the same class had to be acknowledged.
Third, he had to create an enemy much bigger than Zeke, who had been discharged from the military, so that they wouldn't have time to pay attention to the likes of him.
‘I have a rough scenario in mind…’
Then Zeke thought about his own body.
‘The problem is the acting ability of this body.’
An expressionless, stiff face and a blunt way of speaking.
It was difficult to expect emotional acting from this body.
However, the fact that his face remained the same no matter what he said could also be an advantage, as it made it difficult to distinguish between truth and falsehood.
With a little bit of sauce added, it could even have a greater effect.
‘And even if I don't know who this body used to be, I don't have to worry about being caught since it has no expression.’
Zeke combined in his head Iriel's attitude towards him and the situation within the Eustia family.
‘The relationship between Iriel and this body was very close. And considering that she mentioned engagement or the monastery, at least 40% of Iriel's death is not the work of the Eustia Family.’
He felt a bit rushed because it seemed that those who were after him would soon gather since he had caught Hades.
Zeke regretted that he didn't have time to get more specific information from Iriel.
'It can't be helped. I had to hurry to buy time to deceive this guy.'
Zeke opened his eyes.
‘Right, improvisation. Improvisation. A little bit of truth mixed with lies.’
Zeke looked at Hades.
“Hades.”
The man glared at him with blazing eyes.
“What?”
“Why do you think I left the military?”
“Didn't the young lady use the family's seal!!!”
‘Ah, so that's why I left the military. Then they shouldn't have stolen my money.’
He suppressed the heat rising to his head again.
“……That's right. But do you really think that's the only reason I left the military?”
“You seduced the young lady!!!”
Oh, this could be useful.
“Well, I can't deny that.”
Zeke affirmed his words.
Hades cried out in a frenzy.
“Why! Why when the great plan was just around the corner!!! Did you betray Eustia and think of siding with Yohaiden or the Imperial Family!!!”
Zeke shook his head at those words.
Then he bit his lower lip slightly and bowed his head.
As if he didn't want to do it, but it was an unavoidable choice.
“Because Iriel…. No, because the young lady was in danger.”
“What!?”
“I hold Iriel dear. You know that.”
“…….”
Hades' eyes wavered.
In fact, it was none other than Hades who didn't believe until the end that Zeke had seduced Iriel and made her use the family's seal.
Because he was the one who had seen Zeke's affection for Iriel and his loyalty for the longest time.
If he hadn't heard the convincing circumstantial evidence from Hela, he would have believed in Zeke to the end.
Now, Hades was shaken again by his words.
He felt the need to question the evidence Hela had presented from Zeke's point of view.
“Th, then why Yohaiden and the Imperial Family…...”
“Because at least by attending the same classes with them, Iriel's safety can be secured. I can't always protect her within the academy….”
Hades' eyes widened at those words.
“What!? Are you saying there's someone targeting the young lady!”
Zeke narrowed his eyes.
As expected, it seemed that the Eustia side were not the ones who would kill or harm Iriel.
‘More than that, I'm really curious about what the hell that great plan is. But it's weird for me to ask about it. Iriel didn't know about it either, so she must have been thinking of just taking me out.’
For now, let's continue to deceive this guy.
“Yes, Iriel…. No, the young lady is in danger.”
“!”
Zeke said once again, as if emphasizing.
“The young lady will die if this continues”
‘It's not a lie. She's really going to die with a 40% probability.’
Hades still looked unconvinced.
“Are you saying there are people who would dare to touch the Princess of the Eustia Duchy…?”
“Yes.”
“That's impossible…. No, I can't believe that. Zeke Clayman. Your tongue is deceitful.”
“When I was in the military, I secretly gathered some information. Some very dirty people are planning some dirty deeds. They referred to Lady Iriel as a ‘sacrifice’.”
“Then you should have explained! Why did you attack me? You knew I was Iriel's personal guard! You should have just asked me for help!”
'Oh, were they closer than I thought in the past?'
Zeke nodded.
"I…. Lady Iriel…. I wanted her to remain as cheerful (stupid) and confident (clueless) as she is now, without knowing such things."
"……."
"The young lady must have thought I didn't notice, and secretly approached me…. If I hadn't attacked you there, wouldn't she have been more anxious? So, to make a separate space for you, I took this approach. Forgive me, Hades."
Zeke shook his head, as if he hadn't expected Iriel to act that way either.
'She's really stupid, isn't she? That's what I thought too.'
“……Then why did you lie, saying you'd protect Lady Iriel? Why get involved with the likes of Yohaiden?”
Zeke raised his head slightly and looked up at the sky.
As if showing the nobility of thinking of Iriel.
He muttered.
"I…. I just wanted to protect the young lady from behind, without her knowing. If I stayed close by, she would have witnessed the horrific and miserable scenes. So I tried to keep my distance, but it seems my efforts were in vain….”
“You foolish bastard…. Why…. Always, chasing after dreams that will never come true….”
"Yohaiden is bait. A bait to make them let their guard down and reveal themselves."
Hades bit his lip.
"But even so, you should have informed Eustia as soon as you got more information! You had a separate job to do!”
“……Hades, is Eustia clean?”
“…….”
He closed his mouth at Zeke's question.
“There are enemies within Eustia. The moment this fact is revealed, they might even hasten their plans. The young lady is in danger, Hades.”
Zeke said in a low voice, his face hardening.
The eternal cliché of an inside enemy works anytime, anywhere.
Especially in a place as shady as Eustia, they should be even more wary.
Since it wasn't specific who it was, it was enough of a reason for Zeke to leave the military.
Hades felt as if the pieces that didn't fit in his head were falling into place.
If there was one person Zeke Clayman prioritized over the Eustia family, it was definitely Iriel Eustia.
What reason could there be for him to leave the military, betraying the family's orders?
'If the young lady is really in danger….'
It made sense that this guy would have run away.
It was even more commendable that he had thought of discharge rather than desertion.
And if he built a friendship with Yohaiden and utilized it, it would definitely help ensure the young lady's safety.
'You…. Are you using even our archenemy to protect the young lady….'
However, he couldn't believe his words based on mere suspicion.
“Evidence…. I need evidence.”
Zeke nodded.
Then he took out a marble from his pocket and handed it to Hades.
“Th, this is!”
Hades's eyes widened as if they would pop out as he received the marble.
“Yes, it's a recording crystal ball. I got my hands on this precious item while I was digging into those bastards. I don't need to tell you how valuable this item is.”
“…….”
“I listened to the contents, but I haven't figured out what it means yet. That's why I'm handing it over to you.”
Zeke grabbed Hades's shoulder.
“Hades, can you deliver this marble directly to the top? I can't trust anyone else.”
“……Tell me more about those bastards. Zeke Clayman.”
“They're really dangerous bastards. They're after the young lady, and even Eustia. The young lady is just the beginning for them!”
It was his usual blunt tone, but a slight hint of a threat added to his persuasiveness.
“Did you find out the name of the group?”
“They call themselves ‘Lost Hope’.”
Lost Hope.
A dark cult of black mages who secretly spread the belief in the evil god in the world of dark fantasy.
They were cockroach-like bastards with all sorts of crazy doctrines like sacrifice, corpse desecration, cannibalism, and rape.
‘Even if I use that name now, it's not a name that exists here.’
“They are a group of black mages. It can't be anyone else. Hades, I entrusted Lady Iriel to you. I'm trusting you again.”
Hades's face hardened at Zeke's words, and he nodded.
Then his face contorted. It was the look of someone looking at a foolish man.
“However, you will be dealt with. Zeke Clayman.”
Zeke shook his head.
“……Well. I have to keep protecting Lady Iriel at the academy.”
“Do you think that will go your way? The assassination captain of Eustia will be here soon.”
“Yes, I knew the assassination captain would come someday. I just didn't know it would be today.”
Zeke smiled faintly.
“I thought it would be difficult to deal with the black mage group in the capital city alone, so I should say I was waiting for him.”
“!”
Zeke Clayman had already identified the group targeting Iriel within the capital city.
And he had lured the Eustia family's assassination squad using himself as bait.
'From Eustia's point of view, it's a betrayal…. but…. what a ridiculously stupid bastard….'
How could he stop him?
This fool who, in order to protect the young lady, clings stubbornly to his own way.
Hades forcibly swallowed the sigh that was about to escape his throat.
'Right, it's not my job to stop this guy….'
"Hades, are you coming with me?"
Zeke asked.
Hades shook his head.
"I'll leave immediately and deliver the crystal ball you gave me to Lady Hela. And…. even so…. I can't imagine you'll be safe. But, your judgment…. Foolish as it is, it's just like you. Zeke Clayman."
'Aha, so that Hela woman is the head of Eustia.'
Now, there was almost no doubt left in Hades's eyes.
There were still some questions, but he seemed to think that his mission was over once the assassination captain arrived.
Zeke untied the rope that bound his hands.
Hades looked at Zeke with a heavy expression, then bowed his head slightly and turned to leave.
'Tsk, lucky bastard. What a waste. I was going to blow off at least one of his arms….'
Zeke watched Hades disappear completely and turned around.
'Now, shall we go see the loan sharks?'
Unlike before, when he concealed himself and remained vigilant, he walked with his presence fully exposed.
Soon, he felt the presence of someone following him from afar.
'Yes, follow me well. This time, Mr. Assassination Captain will play the important role of experiencing the power of our Lost Hope and conveying it.'
One Stone, Three Birds.
Zeke thought that one crystal ball wouldn't be enough to completely divert Eustia's vigilance from himself to them.
So he came up with an event.
'They're the bastards who harassed our female protagonist, so I'll have to crush them with the power of the Soi Spoon.'
The berserker utilization ability that he had originally planned to use in Soy Spoon's training.
He had previously watched in depth as she used her emotions to make bread,
and now that she had the transformation technique on the back of her hand,
Zeke was thinking of giving the loan sharks an experience like a drug that paralyzed their rationality.
'And then, bam! Clash with the assassination captain. So, he fights the black mage's minions, his subordinates get injured, and the assassination captain luckily survives. What will happen then?'
He regretted not bringing popcorn.
'I'll just have to munch on some baguette instead.'
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