Chapter 405 – The Temptation of Evil

000

“Find the dark horse family and the maid!”

From across the alley, clamoring voices and footsteps were heard.

At Cleon’s request, he was being transported to an antique shop called Adamant, but Eustes held his breath at the ominous presence he felt every time he turned the corner.

‘Assassin… ! Haven’t you given up yet… ?’

Remembering Amelia’s transformation, it might be best to aim for Cleon right now.

If he was poisoned and fell into a state of suspended animation, he would be able to take his life without suffering much.

Her heart her grew impatient as she felt Cleon’s body temperature slowly drop on her back.

‘Shit… It’s a little while until the store you told me about…!’

From the place of the march to this place, I probably haven’t used up all my luck in my life.

I was able to come all the way here without being noticed by the assassins.

The signs of magical power that Mistiltein was reacting to were pointing to the assassins lurking on the way to Adamant.

‘Is there no choice but to do it…? To protect Cleon… Assassins and…!’

As she thought so, she brought her hand to the holy sword at her waist.

“This way! Considering the bloodstains, they are nearby!!”

“Kuh… !”

The voices of the assassins heard, did they go back to themselves first?

Although it was Eustes, who somehow hid Cleon’s blood with his back and hid it in a red-stained maid outfit.

Apparently, it was a limit.

She turns her head to see the red bloodstain on the ground.

“… Whoop, whoop… Great. Eustes. You can do it. Believe in the holy sword and your own strength.”

It would be a lie to say that the fact of wielding a sword against assassins was not burdensome, but now was the time to fight for Cleon as well.

Eustes carefully put Cleon on the ground so that he leaned against the wall, then pulled out the sword hanging from his waist her.

Hold your breath, focus your mind and sharpen your senses.

Although it wasn’t a very long time, Eustes prided himself on having improved his fighting skills considerably while fitting in with the battlemaid’s training, but…

What I felt while dealing with the assassins heading to the march with Rubera until now-

In a rush to parry her foe’s attacks, she had Rubera flying across and slicing through all of her opponents while she drew attention.

‘But now I’m alone… The only one who can protect Cleon is me! Now is the time to repay the favor I received!’

If you come, come and see! The figure of Eustes holding the sword with both hands with his waist slightly lowered.

His mindset his was great, but his posture his seemed a little awkward.

And, the voice of an assassin coming from the other side of the road.

“Don’t miss it, 3 million!”

“What!? If you divide it between the two of us, it’s 1.5 million! Are you thinking of taking it to yourself!”

“You fool! That guy has 3 million heads!”

… Somehow, it was a conversation that severely undermined Eustes’s will his to greet him with all his determination his.

However, as the footsteps approached, their voices grew louder.

The more he does, the more he brings back the tension that he was able to shake off for a while with absurd conversations.

“Great! You’re almost there!”

“I went first… Ah? What are you-

Kwadeuk! Kwajik!

An eerie, unexpected sound came from the direction they were approaching.

From what you hear, it’s the sound of bones breaking—no, breaking.

Besides, after a while, Pajijik! When a bolt of lightning explodes with the sound of a spark bouncing.

As Eustes backtracked, he wondered if it would be better to run with Cleon now.

But, again. Again. When the sound of the heel of a boot goes straight to him, Eustes gives up his escape and decides to fight back as well.

At that time, what appeared from across the alley was-

“It’s convenient because the assassins will find you even if you don’t have to look for it yourself. How are you, Eustes Woodnocker?”

A woman wearing a white and blue coat over a fancy dress.

With fine drilled blonde hair on either side of her head, she looked aristocratic at first glance.

And, in one of her hands as she moved, the lightning that she had been glimpsed earlier was shining.

There were bloodstains on her cheeks that made me wonder who they belonged to.

“…Lady, a handkerchief.”

“Oh. Thank you. Ascalon.”

And, the one that jumped out from behind her was a tall woman similar to Cleon.

She has silver hair, the exact opposite of the aristocratic lady who came out first.

Even her outfit under her black coat her was close to her men’s attire, but there’s no denying that she’s an attractive enough woman.

After wiping the bloodstains from her face with the handkerchief she handed her, the lady’s gaze turns to Eustes and smiles.

“Everyone, you… Who is it? No way, the noble council…?”

“Oh. Excuse me. Even seeing this sentence, you don’t know who I am… Are you still a noble?”

Saying so, she shows off the gold triangular accessory on her ear.

Eustes stares at her earring for a moment, then in shock, she involuntarily backs away from her.

“Ah, Arcadias!”

“I feel a little late, but. Since it is the correct answer, I will forgive you.”

Saying so, the lady who brushed her drill her her hair her-Merca Alca Dias.

She is one of Cleon’s collaborators and a girl who is Aruru’s friend her.

And at the same time, the Kingdom’s Special Investigator.

Also called the guard dog of the kingdom, it was also an object of fear for nobles with a stabbing point on the back.

I heard that when Eustes’ father was still alive, he lobbied heavily to avoid being investigated by Arcadias.

At the time, he didn’t know what it was all about.

Now, I know all too well the weight and fear of the name Alcadias.

Looking at Eustes, who seemed to be frightened somewhere, Merca spoke with a smile of a noble lady.

“Don’t worry! If it was the old Woodnocker family, it would be the subject of my investigation. I have no interest in your family, which has already fallen! I already brushed everything off!”

“Miss. I think it’s a little rude to put the person in front of you. According to the investigation, Mr. Eustace Woodnocker- No, Miss Woodnocker is said to be acting with sufficient self-awareness as an aristocrat.”

“Oh. That’s right. I forgot because the impressions of the past were so deeply embedded in me. Excuse me. Miss Justina.”

“Stop changing names one after another… No, now is not the time to talk about comics!”

Eustes gets caught up in their one-pace conversation and loses her energy. Suddenly, he recalls his original work and approaches Cleon, whom he had left lying on the wall.

“Cleon! … Oops, my condition got worse…!”

Somehow Mistiltein had prevented his condition from getting worse, but now that was also close to the limit.

In the first place, Misteltein was not a holy sword with powers specialized in recovery, and Eustes did not know how to use recovery techniques.

At that time, Merca approached Eustes, who was checking Cleon’s condition her.

“That’s what the investigator who was watching the march told me. Cleon… It really hurts like this…”

“As expected, are you also acquainted with Cleon… !”

Eustes guessed that the woman who suddenly appeared and organized the assassins might be an acquaintance of Cleon, and it seemed he was right.

“Yes. It happened in many ways. So? Where were you taking Cleon? No matter how you think about it, this is not the way to the temple.”

“I was asked by Cleon… I’m on my way to the antique shop called Adamant.”

“Adamant? —Didn’t Cleon give you something like a coin?”

At Merca’s question, Eustes nodded broadly and took out the adamantite coin given to him by Cleon.

Merka examines it carefully, then nods her head.

“It looks authentic. Certainly, as long as you enter there, you won’t be attacked by assassins.”

“Do you know… What kind of place is it?”

In response to Eustes’ question, Merca raises the corner of her mouth as she speaks.

“It has nothing to do with an innocent person like you. However… Like. You probably won’t be able to go in alone. Let me help you. Ascalon? I’m sorry, but do you think it would be best to hide for a while?”

Merca speaks to her partner in her ladylike tone as if she has remembered her.

Then, Ascalon nodded her head and changed shape as it were, becoming the form of a dagger.

“Wait, holy sword?”

“What are you so surprised about? The same one you have around your waist. … Ruler! Then this Merca Arcadias will guide you!”

With that said, Merca picked up her Kleon-and put it around her shoulder her just as she was.

Despite being slightly smaller than Eustes in terms of her size her, her strength her seemed much than him.

“Wait a minute!? If you fall like that…”

What surprised Eustes was the way she carried Cleon like a bag of flour.

“I’m fine. Because the power of Ascalon is protecting him! Oh-ho-ho-ho!”

Merca smiles high as if to tell her not to worry, holding one of her hands her to her mouth her.

“You watch out for other assassins approaching. Do you know?”

“That, yes. Okay.”

When her Eusteth, overwhelmed by her full of confidence, nodded her head, she proceeded forward with her Cleon on her back.

001

“Is this really the right place for me?”

And, we arrived at an old antique store in a dark alley.

Eustes himself wouldn’t even think of setting foot in a store like this.

“Yes that’s right. This is the antique store Adamant. I was only aware of the information, but it was the first time I came to see it myself. No matter what, it’s a place you can’t enter without this coin.”

When she said that and took out the coin given to her by Eustes from her pocket her and showed it to her, Eustes gulped nervously for no reason.

“Come on in. If the information is correct, you can hand this to the old man inside and tell him the password.”

And stride.

‘Excuse me, please come!’ Eusthes, who looked anxiously behind Merca as she entered the room, greeted her cheerfully. Just as she said, an old man who appeared to be the store manager was sitting at the counter at the back of the store, reading a newspaper. Something was seen

“… It’s noisy.”

Saying that, the old man raises her head and looks at the visitor.

Even though there is a man with a lot of blood on her shoulder her, the old man looks up at her with her ‘what are you looking for’eyes her without her panicking.

Seeing the scene, Eustes thinks that the old man is not like an ordinary antique store owner.

“I’m looking for an old drink that tastes like water!”

Shouting those words in her confident voice of her, she handed over the coin she was holding in her hand of her, and the old man received it, sighed, and stood up.

“I want people like you to realize that you shouldn’t come into a place like this in the first place. Merca Arcadias Special Investigator.”

At the words of the old man who grumbled, Merca raised the corner of her mouth her.

“It is the job of an investigator to enter the den of criminals! But don’t worry, I’m not here to shake the inside out much today! Healing this man on Ash’s shoulder is a priority! Oh ho ho!”

At Merca’s words her, the old man shakes her head and guides the two of them by snapping her fingers as if to follow her her.

“…Hey, Miss Alcadias…”

“It’s okay with Merca. Justina.”

“…Then. Miss Merca. What is this place?”

As if he still doesn’t know what kind of place this is, Eustes follows the old man and Merca to the back of the counter.

Then, when a huge elevator appears in front of the two of them, Eustes gulps and swallows as if he is even more nervous.

“This is Adamant. It is disguised as an ordinary antique shop, but the reality is the only ‘assassin’s house’ in the kingdom that is allowed to order and accept orders for contract killings. In other words, the Assassins Guild.”

At her words, Eustes could only hold his breath.

“Now, wait a minute! Then, from now on, you’re going to take Cleon to a place full of assassins!?”

“Most of the Assassins are out looking for Cleon right now. There must be people residing inside, right?”

“What are you thinking!? Trying to enter the enemy’s lair with a body that cannot fight!”

Looking at Eustes who stopped in front of the elevator, Merca talked.

“Don’t worry, Justina. Fighting inside an assassin’s house is strictly forbidden according to the assassin’s rule. Anyone who violates it will not be forgiven, no matter who they are.”

“… That, is that so… “

Eustes nodded her head as if he understood her words her a little.

“Besides, Cleon must have been poisoned, right? Assassins are poison-savvy humans, so they may be aware of the poison that is causing Cleon’s death. Cleon’s visit to this place, in a way, must have been the right decision. Come on, get on. Let’s go inside and see if there’s a name that can save Cleon.”

While saying that, Merca climbed on the elevator, and Eustes carefully followed and got on the elevator.

Rattle! The elevator, which shook for an instant, quickly took the two of them down to the basement.

While the elevator is moving, Eustes is so nervous that she cannot open her mouth to say a word, but Merca continues to talk to Eustes without any sign of it.

“Originally, this was one of the hideouts made and used by intelligence knights before the war between the kingdom and the empire, but after the war, the knights, whose financial situation deteriorated, seem to have sold this place to a vicious rich man. However, when the rich man was assassinated by assassins, the rights to this place were passed over. Since then, it has been well used as a meeting place for assassins, so it can’t help but be ironic~”

‘… Bird, just like he looks, he’s a talkative person… ‘

“Your father said he used this place several times. In the process, he also formed a relationship with Evelyn, an assassin from the Empire—”

Surprised by the sudden revelation of a story about him, Eustes responds without realizing it.

“… Eh, Evelyn? Could it be that she is the one who served as Rubera’s teacher?”

“Yes, that Evelyn.”

“…Father… How many political opponents do you have to assassinate…”

Merca shook her head in response to Eustes’ words in her.

“Ah. I don’t lend my power to such things. The quests you can receive here are only assassination quests necessary to maintain order in the kingdom. Assassinations to solve such personal desires must be commissioned personally, not through this place.. . . If you used this place to meet such an assassin. Well, an assassin named Evelynn was in charge of your father’s request, though.”

“Is that so… “

After death and before death.

Still, Eustes felt unable to understand his father.

“What… In front of this is literally the den of criminals, where the kingdom’s necessary evils are gathered. There may be some people who can run amok if they are not restrained by the leash of discipline. So let’s be careful enough. We can ‘t laugh when we die after coming to save the dying Cleon.”

To Merca’s words her, Eustes shook her head and answered.

“… I don’t know. Why so…Are you full?”

“──”

At Eustes’ words her, Merka blinks and then erases the smile from her face her.

“…Reserve anger for later. Eustes Woodnocker.”

At the sudden coldness of her voice, Eusthes looked at her, feeling a flurry of goosebumps in her.

“…Because we have to beat Cleon thoroughly to find the culprit who destroyed him like this. So, for now, let’s laugh and pray that we can find a way to restore Cleon.”

“… Yes…”

Soon after, Merca flashes her smile again, and the elevator rattles! And stops with a loud noise.

And, if you look beyond the slowly opening door-

“… “

A red-haired woman with her glasses grabbing her glass her at her bar.

Assassins around her-even her bartender her-could be seen pointing at her, her weapon drawn.

A woman shaking a glass of ice, unmoved by those assassins who seemed to number 10 or so.

And the moment he saw the woman, Eustes’ expression quickly hardened.

“…Ishtal.”

“Ah, Eustes. And the Kingdom Special Investigator Merka? That one.”

“Ishtar, the leader of the devil-worshipping crime syndicate, Astarote.”

Merka laughed as well, and her hand was on her waist her at some point toward the holy sword.

“Let’s stop. I’m having a drink here. I was just waiting for you to come. To be precise, with Cleon on her shoulder her-“

Ishtal laughed and raised her hand her to her cup her-

Raising only her index finger her, she points at Eustes.

“You. I want you to appear before me again on your own feet.”

“… “

Ishtal said so, and set her glass in her hand down on the bar table.

Then, to the two of them, he said:

“I will save Cleon. Would you like to make a deal instead?”

——It was, indeed, a whisper from the devil.