49. Perfect Tactic

After parting ways with Cecilia and the others, Randy and Liz returned to their residence to gather the supplies they'd need. 

Their destination this time was a bit far from the royal capital. While they could technically teleport back if necessary, preparing for a journey was part of the fun.

"I'll take this with me…"

In Randy's small magic bag were a customized greatsword and some sweets— after all, this is otome game, so there are sweets.

"In that case, I'll take these… and also—"

Liz's item box was similarly filled with emergency rations and more snacks.

Though the two were treating their journey more like a field trip, neither Harrison nor Rita showed any signs of concern.

They knew the two could return easily if needed. More importantly, they trusted that as long as Randy was around, everything would be fine. 

After all, this was the same man who had trained in the Demon Forest all by himself.

A simple trip posed no challenge at all.

The two "field trippers" were now sitting on the floor, sweets spread out before them as they checking over Liz's item box. 

It was still filled by other items.

"…So, when exactly will we be able to synthesize this staff?"

"Ellie says it still needs more blood. Apparently, the original blood needs to be overwritten."

The two peered into the item box, but the label for "Blood of ■■" remained the same. 

According to Liz, this blood was one of the necessary mediums for the synthesis, and they were currently in the process of slowly combining it with small amounts of blood they'd collected so far

Since they could only gather a little variation each day, it was a slow and tedious process.

"Well, we can leave the staff for now. Let's just pack some candy, and we can grab chips along the way."

"Good idea. The item box can keep fresh snacks perfectly."

No one around them bothered to ask, "What are you even going for?" 

Only Harrison raised an eyebrow and chuckled faintly, noting how Liz seemed to have grown quite accustomed to Victor family's eccentric.

"All right, let's go!"

At Randy's command, Liz gave an enthusiastic nod, slinging a small shoulder bag over her arm to camouflage the item box.

"Take care of the residence while we're gone!"

The two waved back at Harrison and Rita before leaving the residence. 

While they had considered bringing them along, they ultimately decided against it. The residence's defenses weren't fully set up yet, so Harrison was tasked with guarding it like a watchdog.

Rita, on the other hand, stayed behind purely to keep Harrison in check. He had a tendency to slack off the moment he was left alone, and Rita's vigilant presence was the perfect remedy for that.

"Have a good trip! Bring back some wine as a souvenir!"

With Harrison's farewell behind them, the two set off on their journey.

Their first destination was the southern gate of the royal capital, one of the city's four main entrances. From there, they would take a half-day carriage ride to the banks of the Rail River, which flowed south of the capital.

After spending the night in a riverside town, they planned to board a boat that would take them to a forest area upstream, the main destination for their journey.

"This is our first time traveling so far."

"Yeah, it is."

Liz bounced happily, but Randy couldn't help feeling a bit annoyed by the strange presence lurking around them.

(Not Miranda's.)

Since Randy was usually with Liz, shadow agents from the Marquis family rarely approached them. This meant that whoever was loitering around was more likely some kind of assassin or pursuer.

Being tailed during the entire trip would be very irritating. 

While Randy furrowed his brows in mild annoyance, the presence that had been hovering around them disappeared by the time they boarded a wagon.

(…Limited to the royal capital, huh?)

Randy glanced back at the royal capital as it grew smaller in the distance through the rear of the covered wagon, but he quickly dismissed the thought.

(Ah, I see. They must have figured out our destination. No need to follow us anymore.)

The wagon's destination was a town along the river. If their pursuers had already confirmed that destination, they'd likely either move ahead to intercept them or rely on allies waiting at the final destination.

(Well, let them do as they please. If they come after us… I'll just drown them to the bottom of the river.)

Randy chuckled lightly and turned his attention back inside the wagon, only to find Liz looking at him with a worried expression. She seemed to have sensed the presence of the assassins based on Randy's demeanor.

"Don't worry about it. They're nothing more than pesky flies."

Randy's reassuring smile earned a nod from Liz, though her expression remained tense.

The rest of their wagon ride was free of any hostile presence, it was peaceful and comfortable.

They chatted with a young man sharing their ride about how smooth the journey was,

Shared snacks with a parent and child traveling together,

And even had an incident where Randy tried to accept a middle-aged man's offer to share his wine, only for Liz to scold him.

As expected of a route frequently passed by wagons, there were no monster attacks, and their journey progressed smoothly. By the night, they had reached their destination.

"Wagon aren't bad at all."

"Indeed. This is what they mean by 'a once-in-a-lifetime encounter,' isn't it?"

Grateful for the encounter they had made during their journey, the two headed toward an inn near the port. 

It was recommended by the driver, who had even gone out of his way to suggest the place. Clearly, their ride had been a fortunate one in many ways.

The inn was small and cozy, known for its delicious fish dishes harvested the great river. Apparently, these dishes went perfectly with wine.

"—They say it goes well with wine."

"It seems like it."

"If it's really that good, let's come back when we're adults and try it properly."

Surprised by Randy's unexpected comment, Liz turned to look at him. 

She had assumed he was simply talking about wanting to drink, so she'd given a casual response—but his words had caught her off guard.

"What's with that face?"

Randy furrowed his brows at her reaction, and Liz hesitated for a moment before quietly responding:

"I just… thought you only cared about drinking wine…"

　Ellie appeared, laughing cheerfully.

"What are you even saying? I must stay alert at all times, how can I drink?."

" The dumbass who tried to chug a wine on the wagon is trying to act all cool now."

Ellie snorted, and Randy muttered. "Th-that's because there wasn't any suspicious presence nearby on the wagon!"

"Oh? And is there one now?"

Ellie's grin widened as her sharp eyes darted around the area. She could detect the locations of people through magic fluctuations, but unlike Randy, she couldn't sense hostility or intent.

"Idiot. Don't look around like that. Just act like proper bait."

"Boring. Let's just blow up the whole city"

"Yes, yes, stop pretending to be a villain."

Randy chuckled, grinning, and Ellie muttered under her breath, "You wretch…" but ultimately just snorted again without further comment.

"Alright, let's head to the inn."

"Indeed, filling your stomach takes priority."

With Ellie rubbing her belly, Randy led the group toward the recommended inn, carefully avoiding any suspicious behavior that might alert the lurking presence.

——-

"Well then, will they show up?"

After arriving at the inn without incident, enjoying a delicious meal,, Randy had taken a shower and now lay together with Liz on the bed in Liz's room

"D-d-d-don't you think… it doesn't have to be like this?" Liz stammered, her back turned to Randy, clearly embarrassed.

Randy felt a little guilty but wasn't doing this to tease her. He had already explained: this was a legitimate plan to lure the assassins.

The people lingering around them likely had some ability to sense presences. By deliberately creating a situation that suggested vulnerability, they could draw the enemy out.

A young man and woman on a trip,

Alone together late at night in a room,

Close to each other,

And no movement afterward.

It would naturally appear as though they had fallen asleep after enjoying themselves, creating an ideal moment for an attack. If the enemy didn't strike in such a situation, they likely wouldn't at all.

Even though Randy had explained this to Liz, he couldn't deny it was an extreme tactic. Liz was blushing furiously, and Ellie hadn't even shown herself.

"Maybe we should st—"

Before Liz could finish her sentence, Randy's sudden silence made her realize something. Her flustered demeanor shifted instantly as she grew serious. 

Whether it was out of extreme tension or her upbringing as a member of a Marquis family, Liz now lay still and quiet and focused on the situation.

As Liz calmed down, Randy turned to face the window, closing his eyes to feign sleep.

For a while, there was silence. Then, a faint creak of the window opening broke the stillness, followed by soft footsteps approaching the bed.

The occasional creak of the floorboards made Liz's body stiffen, but Randy gently placed a hand on her head, calming her. As Liz's tense body relaxed, the sheet covering them was slowly lifted—

Randy's iron grip seized the closest man by the head.

"Ellie!"

"Don't give me orders."

Almost simultaneously, Ellie's magic activated, restraining the remaining intruders. 

Vines shot up from the wooden floor, wrapping around the men and even covering their mouths.

"Well, that worked like a charm… Ellie, one on the roof across from us and another farther down."

"Hmm. Two idiots on the rooftops."

As Ellie nodded, Randy knocked out the man he had caught.

"I'll go fetch the ones outside."

Ellie nodded, Randy was already jumped out of the window and landing near the men restrained by Ellie

On the rooftop, one man was similarly bound in vines, while another figure struggling at a little distance away. It seemed Ellie had already subdued both of them.

After confirming there were no other presences nearby, Randy approached one of the captured men, crouching to look him in the eye.

"Good evening… Mind lending me your face for a moment?"

Randy's grin widened wickedly before he knocked the man unconscious.

—

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