The Calm Before the Storm
North Annex of the Dukedom.
Originally used as Duchess Lagrind's residence, it was currently a place that received no special care other than basic cleaning.
And. A group of people were gathered there now.
The number was at least thirty.
Each of them was dressed in a dark robe, their faces hidden by masks and thick hoods.
"The number of guards is higher than expected. What the hell happened?"
The number of guards belonging to the Dukedom and their patrol routes had already been identified in advance.
However, once they infiltrated the Dukedom, the information they had gathered was all useless.
The number of guards was at least twice as many, and the number of patrols had more than doubled.
Perhaps thanks to this, only thirty of the brethren, who were originally close to fifty, were able to gather.
"Could it be that our plan has been exposed?"
"I don't think so. If it had been exposed, we wouldn't be here like this."
If the information that assassins were infiltrating had been leaked, they would probably not be in this world by now.
The very fact that they were here now was tantamount to denying that possibility.
"What do you want to do? The risk is too great to proceed as it is."
"It would be better to wait for the next opportunity..."
The Lagrind Dukedom was not an easy opponent for them either.
Their target, Duke Lagrind, was one of the top five strongest in the Kingdom, and his daughter, the princess, had long since transcended human limitations.
Against such opponents, the truth was that no matter how many of them there were, they could not be sure of victory.
"No, we will proceed with the plan as it is."
However, the man who appeared to be their leader spoke in a firm voice.
At his words, all the believers around him looked at the man.
"What is our first doctrine?"
"Death is not the end, but a new beginning."
The believers around him answered the man's question.
The first doctrine of the Cult.
Death is not the end, but a new beginning.
"Remember that even if all of us die here, even if we fail to kill the Duke, it does not mean that we have failed the mission."
Their ultimate goal was to become one with the God of Death through death.
Killing the Duke was nothing more than one of the steps in the process of heading towards death.
"Everything is according to the will of the great Death."
"Everything is according to the will of the great Death."
The man chanted first, and the believers around him slowly recited the phrases.
And the next moment.
The man, raising his head, said with blazing eyes.
"We. We will be martyred here."
***
Annex of the Dukedom where the banquet was in full swing.
"It's already dark..."
Looking at the clock in the corner of the banquet hall, Rudell muttered to himself.
The time was already past six thirty.
If his prediction was correct, the assassins' attack would be in about thirty minutes...
"I'm still worried..."
It was good that he had attacked the guards and informed them of the intruder's presence, but Rudell was not satisfied with the measures taken afterwards.
Reinforcement of the guards and reduction of the patrol cycle.
That alone would certainly not be enough.
That was because, in the original novel, the Cult's actions were literally beyond imagination.
Indiscriminate massacres, threats, kidnappings, terrorism, and so on...
Frankly speaking, it was not much different from the actions of Middle Eastern terrorists in 21st century Earth.
One difference was that the scale was enormous, as magic existed in this world...
Therefore, if by any chance the situation unfolded differently from what he knew, there would be no greater misfortune for Rudell.
"Hmm..."
It was then that Rudell let out a low groan, feeling his head becoming more and more complicated.
"What's wrong? You look unwell?"
"Do I look that way?"
"Yes."
Without a moment's hesitation, Leje nodded.
Did he look that serious...
At Leje's answer, Rudell reflected his face in the windowpane, but only his usual appearance was reflected there.
'It's the same as usual...'
Rudell, who thought so, soon shook his head.
The way others see him and the way he sees himself are bound to be different.
Moreover, Leje was quite observant, so it was possible that she had seen something else that he had not.
"Would you like a piece of cake?"
"Yes, thank you."
Leje, who was looking at him, put a piece of cake from the table on a plate and handed it to him, and Rudell nodded and took the plate.
The cake, cut into bite-sized pieces, went into his mouth...
As the sweet taste of the cake spread in his mouth, Rudell could feel his anxiety gradually disappearing.
"Alma told me that when people are stressed, eating something sweet makes them feel better quickly."
"Hmm..."
Rudell had also heard such stories.
It was probably something related to hormones...
"Can you tell me about that worry?"
"Sorry... it's a bit personal."
It was then that Leje, who was watching him, asked, but Rudell shook his head at her.
No matter what, he couldn't possibly tell her that he was going to be attacked, could he?
Whether it was true or not, if she asked about the source of the information, Rudell would have nothing else to say.
I saw it in a novel.
It was a story that would make him sound like a crazy person.
"Hmm... then I'll give you a piece of advice instead."
"Advice?"
Leje, who was looking at him with narrowed eyes, said so, and Rudell made a puzzled sound.
"The more you worry, the more you lose. If it's a problem that can be solved by worrying, there's no need to worry in the first place, and if it's a problem that can't be solved by worrying, there's no need to worry either, right?"
"What's that?"
"It's something I read in a book I read a while ago. Was the title of the book... [101 Ways to Live Positively]?"
"That's a surprise. You're actually talking about reading a book?"
Letting out a low groan, as Leje recalled the title of the book, Rudell said with a playful smile.
"Hey! I'm also a princess of the Dukedom!"
"Then how about you try to fix your habit of using your fists before your words?"
"You really!!"
When Rudell playfully spoke to the grumbling Leje, she took a posture as if she was about to pounce on him, but soon clicked her tongue as if she didn't like it and turned her head away.
After all, there were so many eyes watching.
If it became known that the princess of the Dukedom used her fists before her words, it would be Leje, not Rudell, who would be in trouble.
'Come to think of it, it's not wrong.'
Meanwhile, Rudell, who was chuckling as he looked at Leje, thought so as he recalled what Leje had just said.
At first glance, it sounded like a play on words, but Leje's words made sense.
He had already taken all the necessary measures, and the assassins would be somewhat restricted in their actions.
If an unexpected situation arose, he could just step in himself, even if he had to explain it later.
Whether Leje would believe him or not was unknown, but judging from what Rudell had seen of Leje so far, the probability that she would not listen to him was not very high.
"By the way, how are you feeling? You seem more relaxed than before."
"I think so. Thank you."
Rudell smiled back at Leje, who asked with a faint smile.
Meanwhile... the hands of the clock were already approaching seven o'clock.
There were only about five minutes left.
"Leje, I'm going to the restroom for a moment."
"Huh? Okay. Do you know where it is? Should I take you there?"
"Do you think I'm a child?"
Responding to Leje, who spoke with a playful expression, Rudell headed out of the banquet hall.
The sound coming from the banquet hall gradually faded away, and when it became almost inaudible, Rudell changed his expression and took out a small pocket watch from his pocket.
"About three minutes left..."
Three minutes left.
It was really close now.
"Sigh..."
So this moment has really come...
This was a very important event for both Rudell and Leje.
Depending on how this turned out, there might be a big change in the story going forward.
"I should be nervous."
But he wasn't afraid.
He was confident that he could protect Leje and the Duke with his abilities.
Wasn't that what he had cultivated his strength for?
"Whew..."
With a sigh, Rudell focused his mind, and as his magic power reacted, his shadow began to cover his body.
A moment later, when the shadow that had covered his body disappeared, there was a boy hiding his identity with a black hood and mask.
"Well then. Let's begin."
The boy muttered as if speaking to himself and disappeared into the shadows...
And so, only a quiet silence lingered in the place where the boy had been just a moment ago.
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"Indiscriminate massacres, threats, kidnappings, terrorism, and so on...
ReplyDeleteFrankly speaking, it was not much different from the actions of Middle Eastern terrorists in 21st century Earth."
Sounds like the US military tbh, killing civilians with drone, no matter if they're kids or women. "Defending" their country in other countries land, thinly veiled excuse for invading and destabilising them.