The Assassin (1)

"Did you two bring any protective equipment?" Nine asked.

"No. I didn't," Gabriel said.

"I have my rifle in the bag. But aren't there guards around? The maids too, I'm sure a few of them know how to fight right?" Jennifer siad.

Maids knew how to fight. Nine didn't expect that.

"Where's Miss Margrett? She went to see the Earl again?"

"I don't know. I think she went to meet the wedding organizer instead? She didn't tell me anything besides staying inside the room."

'Miss Margrett, the situation is fine here. What are you doing?'

"Stay here for now. I need to do something for a bit," Nine said, then left the room.

Nobles were having after-meal glasses out in the corridor. A lax, tipsy mood.

"The dorm should be.." Nine pulled his map into a floating panel.

"Nine-san!"

Shit.

"Elaine-sama?"

"Drop it with the -sama. Where are you going?" the girl spoke.

This person was someone Jennifer knew-- and it was also this person that stuck to Nine like glue.

-- This is my daughter.

-- Nice to meet you, my name is Elaine.

-- Nice to meet you Elaine. I'm Nine.

-- You're an adventurer?

-- Um.. sorta?

-- Oh! Then would you mind sharing a few stories?

-- I don't think there's really anything interesting I can talk about..

And so Nine decided to talk about the first thing that came to mind: the incident whereby the heroes were saved from the dungeon. Super abridged version, with Nine and Noel cut out from the picture.

That one story got her hooked. And the second reason why she stuck to Nine like glue.

Some tragic development-- a cliche plot line, Nine thought.

By the way, this was a daughter of a viscount, mind you.

"Just somewhere. Don't follow me. It's going to be dangerous."

"A secret mission?"

"No. it's not.."

Telling this sheltered lady that it's 'dangerous' would only rouse her interest. He chose the wrong words.

Sparkle, sparkle, her eyes lit up.

"No way," Nine thought to just ignore her and walk.

Elaine trailed him from behind.

"Won't your father be worried?"

"Oh no he won't. He's having a really good time with mother right now."

Nine wanted to open his mouth to ask but.. refrained. It probably wasn't what he was thinking.

Entering the lobby, he left through the main entrance. The night sky spread open, round orange bulbs on light poles decorated the scenery of the evening snow. The little flakes descending from above, glistening.

"Are you really going to follow me?" Nine stopped and turned around to face her.

"Yup."

"You really.. aren't like the other nobles."

"Are you suggesting I be like them? Glamorous with my manner of speech, performing ettique to the highest degree?"

"No. I think you should stop following me," Nine said. Not really knowing what he should do about this.

He moved along the main path, and where it branched, he took a left into an avenue of hedges. This path led to the carriage parkings and the dormitory annex-- the maid's dormitory.

On the map, the red dot remained stationary. A quick peek with [God's Eye] would reveal that he was flirting with another maid. Being all touchy touchy..

"What is it?"

"Uh.."

Elaine circled around Nine.

"Nothing."

"Alrighty~"

Nine remained motionless.

"Hm? Aren't we going somewhere?"

"Are you really not going to leave?"

"I want to see what an adventurer like yourself is up to.." she looked at him with upturned eyes, "That story you had told me previously.." Nine was getting a bad feeling, "That person who saved the hero was you, no?"

"It's just a story, you get that right?"

"I will have to give the creator of this splendid story my compliments then. After all, the story was very similar to the true event that took place. Of course, it was a story that had not been told to the public."

".."

Elaine smiled sweetly.

"Whatever. I need to get my work done," Nine pressed on, ignoring Elaine.

"A cold shoulder is it? Then I shall pursue."

They approached the dormitory. The building could be likened to a traditional double-winged mansion. A furnace was located outside, powered by coal as black fumes rose to the air.

They entered, swirly stairs greeted them perpendicular to the entrance. Both sides were enclosed by numerous rooms and a hallway. Low hanging magic lanterns dangled from above, each emitting a small warmth of light, shunning the frosty cold night.

"It's better than the one I had back in my territory."

"You had to say.."

"Hm? Excuse me. Do you have any business here?" a dressed maid holding a feather duster came to greet them.

The entire lobby area was empty besides her. It was suspicious. For a place that houses at least servants upwards to 3 digits, to see such an empty space.. it was eerie. Were the maids still working in the main mansion or was there something else at play?

"Um, I came to find someone. Is it alright if I walk around the place? He should be somewhere around here."

"There is no reason to doubt your identity however.. per master's orders, I cannot allow anyone to do as you please without being in my line of sight. Not when you're standing in this house."

"Um.. okay?"

Nine tried to wrack his brain for a solution. Say if the assassin tried to take those around as hostage.. Nine couldn't do anything to prevent that.

Maybe he should've used a more aggressive approach and climbed the windows?

"Who are you trying to find?" Elaine nudged Nine and asked.

"Are you.. Sorry, could you find someone to escort her back? I can't have her here."

"Apologies for my rudeness but you are?"

"Elaine Daisy, daughter of the viscount."

"And you?"

"Hah? Are you going to judge who to listen to based on their rank?"

"Rank?"

"I'm just your average commoner."

"Please leave."

"What.."

"He came on my orders to serve as my guard. I can't allow that."

"Is that how it is? My apologies," the maid bowed.

Nine wanted to hold his head, and at the same time, felt he like he had to kiss the shoes of this girl beside him. It's that cliche development where this random girl of a higher standing helps a commoner by using their authority.

Now Nine owes her a 'debt'.

"Now, where is this person we need to find?"

"This way.."

Though the maid said she would personally keep watch just a while ago.. It seems Elaine's authority removed that condition. They climbed to the third floor.

"Are you trying to get yourself killed?" Nine hissed.

"Oh no I'm not. An irregular wouldn't just leave a maiden like myself to die would he?"

"I'm not an irregular."

"How humble."

This girl was too smart for her own good. She was like Jennifer, but more elegant. Why did she need to follow him anyways? The thought that she was the VIP access pass into this place didn't sit too well with Nine.

"Listen to what I have to say, I don't want you to die."

"Uh-huh," Elaine nodded fervently.

Nine leaned against a corner. Past this was a dead end with a large window. The chatter of a man and woman could be heard. He checked the map, and then the position of the person via [God's Eye].

Vincent.

"Stay here."

"Do I call for help if something happens?"

"Yes.. just run away."

[Start recording]

Nine walked out from the corner. The man shifted his attention to Nine for a moment, and excused the maid he was talking to.

The maid curtsied with a smile, blushed and left the scene.. no. She tripped on Elaine's extended leg-- the maid staggered but didn't fall to the floor however.

Nine wanted to retort her actions but thought otherwise. First of all, he had to deal with this Vincent guy.

"May I inquire what business you have with me?"

"Three things.. the first is.. um.." Nine lost track, pulled up his notes. "I think I'll go in this order. First is that the Bougainvillea you're aiming for isn't actually from the Bougainvillea household."

"Excuse me?" Nine thought Vincent had quite the gentlemanly voice.

"It's a misunderstanding. He's not from the Bougainvillea household. You can check his status in the morning if you don't believe me. He's removed that from his name."

He clicked his fingers as a sort of reflexive action.. and his eyes opened wide.

"You.."

"Can't use appraisal, can you?"

"No wonder.. What did you do?"

"I'll return that skill to you after I complete what I have to say. Second is.. you were the one who plotted to kill Noel and Liliath, correct?"

"And?"

"Why? Does it have anything to do with the Bougainvillea house?"

"What exactly do you wish to gain from this?"

"Well.. we don't want to be involved. That's why. If it's the name we need to change then you have it. Noel and Liliath aren't descendants of the Margrave.. the Bougainvillea household is a Margrave right?"

"So you've done your research I see."

"So that's the reason right? Just because of the name? If we decided to remove the Bougainvillea name then you have no reason to kill them anymore, right?"

Vincent raised a brow in suspicion.

"Now to the third.." Nine realized that something was off… An orange dot was right behind him… Elaine was being held in an arm lock by that maid, "What's the poison you used on Rinalanashina-san? It's not some normal poison isn't it?"

"Before I answer that question, may I ask one myself?"

"Go ahead."

'Noel, backup,' Nine sent a short message, hoping Noel would pick up his intentions.

"Are they still alive? That demon lord included?"

"Yup. They're alright," Nine took it as no surprise. No wonder.

"I see.. in that case there's no need to answer any more of your questions. My mission is complete."

"Huh?"

"Thank you for the time."

"Wha.."

Vincent stepped out the window and jumped. His figure disappeared at the flutter of his clothes. moon light seething in.

'I lowered her stats, just use [Absolute End].'

Nine turned around and casted [Absolute End] on the maid. She fell to the ground. Elaine stood there, unmoving.

"Are you alright?"

Only then did Elaine fall on her knees.

"You're not alright.."

She started to cry.

"Well.." Nine turned to the window, frosty wind blowing from the outside, "Looks like he doesn't want his [Appraisal] back."

[Stop recording]

'Noel. I think we need to buy elixir.'

"What should I do about this.." Nine looked at the two girls. One in a state of coma, the other bawling her eyes off. Sighing, Nine approached Elaine and tapped her head.

She paused and looked up at him.

"Wait here for a moment."

"Uwuwuw.." tears poured out. Nine thought to deal with her later.

The problem now was this maid here. Shyna was the name.

Unfortunately, Nine wasn't able to get a read on the type of poison this girl consumed, nor how her marker turned orange. The only fact he knew was that it wasn't a lethal kind of poison, and it seems the effect was gone.

That said.. where was her room? Nine couldn't just leave her here could he?

"Maybe I'll just knock on a random door," Nine muttered. Walking up to the closest room, he reached out to the people inside.

"Hm? What happened?!" a girl wearing night clothes, noticing the maid, Shyna and the viscount's daughter, Elaine, on the ground couldn't help but exclaim.

"I can't really say the specifics but do you know which room she's from? I think I should bring her back."

"That girl is from.."

"What about she stays in our place first before she recovers?" another girl popped out from the inside.

"That would be for the best," Nine said.

"S-she.." that first girl had her eye on Elaine's crying figure.

"Wait isn't that.. what did you do to her?" the other girl asked.

"It wasn't me.." Nine raised both his hands, hoping that he would be proven as 'innocent'.

Tonight sure was going to be a long night.. Nine couldn't help but think so.