Chapter 158

“You really caused a mess.”

Rustle.

A hand, perfectly fitting the description of “jade-like fingers,” roughly threw down a newspaper, causing it to spread open across the desk.

[Sultan Salah in Critical Condition.]

[Assassins from the West Found Near the Carriage?]

[Sultan Mahba’s Flag Discovered—Is War Stirring Again in the West...?]

The attack on Sultan Salah that occurred last night.

The widely known story was that the perpetrators were members of the western assassin group, the Assassins. They ambushed the Sultan, inflicted damage, but failed in their mission and committed suicide.

However, those who knew more—those who had uncovered the truth—found themselves with throbbing headaches.

“If you’re going to draw your sword, you should be prepared to get stabbed too.”

“Hah… You sure know how to talk.”

“I have my moments….”

“That wasn’t a compliment, you reckless fool.”

Smack!

In the end, she lifted her fan and smacked him on the head. Unfortunately for her, the knight’s head had grown even harder than before.

“Ow!”

“Are you okay? See? Why’d you hit me? Now your wrist just hurts.”

“You brat….”

Isis grabbed her wrist.

Her wrist stung, and for once, she furrowed her brow.

“…You’ve gotten even harder than before.”

“I did a bit of training!”

“Hah…!”

So shameless.

There wasn’t even a hint of guilt on his face.

But really, Isis didn’t think he’d done anything wrong.

It was just—

“It would’ve been nice if you told me beforehand.”

“…Sorry about that.”

“Are you really sorry?”

“…If you put it like that, not really?”

“…I guess I’ll have to prepare a sturdier metal fan next time.”

It’s annoying, really.

Isis really hated her younger brother.

*****

Ihan had originally planned to kidnap the Sultan.

Whether by kidnapping or some other means, his goal had been to extract the truth from the man.

But unfortunately—

— Sir, what’s the use of a truth obtained through threats?

Wasn’t the truth said to be more powerful than propaganda or fabrication?

Even if Ihan tortured the Sultan out of rage and managed to extract the truth, the Sultan could simply play the victim.

Like a drunk driver claiming he couldn’t remember, the Sultan could just say he acted impulsively due to mental distress.

It would make Ihan’s blood boil, but that was the way the world worked.

So Ihan gave up on kidnapping him.

Even if it wasn’t a satisfying decision—

— Then as long as I don’t kidnap and torture him, it’s fine, right?

— Pardon?

— And if that bastard actually ends up looking pitiful, I might feel a little better about it too.

— W-what do you mean by that, sir…?

— I’m just going to handle it my way. My way.

— ??

And so, Ihan struck first.

He left no evidence behind.

Galahad and Tristan really were capable.

They didn’t even leave traces of their presence, ensuring that all suspicions and accusations were confined within the Sultanate itself.

“I hate to admit it, but it feels bad comparing them to those White Cat idiots.”

“…You do realize you’re insulting yourself too, right?”

“I was the one who stopped them on the scene, so I don’t count.”

“……”

Ihan was confident.

He’d done his part.

And instead—

“So, what were you doing, huh? You act like you’ve got clairvoyance most of the time, but this time you were completely useless.”

He scolded her.

For the first time, Isis’s eyes curved into a smile—like she found it refreshing to be the one getting scolded.

“You seemed more irritable than usual today. So that’s what this is about—you’re upset.”

“Not upset—angry. The kids could’ve gotten hurt.”

“…Hmm. I suppose being angry over that does make sense.”

“?”

Logically, he knew he shouldn’t find her response surprising—but still, he hadn’t expected Isis to admit her fault so easily.

She was the type to be arrogant and proud, not someone who apologized so readily.

Could it be—

“Are you sick or something?”

“……”

“Maybe a summer cold? They can be brutal, you know. You should get some rest. I’ll leave you alone.”

“…Are you calling me weak?”

“You’re not sick?”

“…I will be, because of you.”

“??”

Why was she like this, even when he was showing concern?

“Anyway, it’s not that I ignored the academy because I wasn’t worried. It’s just that with you here, I figured everything would be fine.”

“…Isn’t that neglecting your duties?”

“There’s a term for it—‘right person, right job.’”

“……”

“I trusted you. That’s all it was. So don’t take it personally.”

“…Why is this woman suddenly acting so sentimental? It’s unsettling.”

Instead of feeling touched by her unexpected praise, Ihan felt a wave of unease.

Most people would be thrilled to receive a compliment from Isis. Ihan? He broke out in a cold sweat.

He could already tell—

She was going to dump another job on him.

“Hmph, you’re so annoying. Now I know how you really see me.”

“A truly great person should reflect on their actions.”

“That may be true, but it doesn’t apply to me.”

“……”

…She really was shameless.

But their chatter came to an end as if signaling a return to business.

“You asked earlier what I was doing—why I hadn’t taken any action. And you were right. I had already suspected that the Sultan had a specific purpose for coming here.”

“A purpose?”

“It took some time to figure it out.”

Thud.

Ihan caught the notebook she tossed at him.

Considering she usually prepared official documents when passing along information, the fact that she handed over raw notes meant she’d only just wrapped up her investigation.

It seemed she’d been busy too.

Rustle.

Ihan slowly flipped through the information Isis had gathered.

About three minutes later—

“Did you say Greg Vinn? That illegal mage I’m after.”

“…Can you give me some kind of warning next time? You scared the hell out of me.”

“Hohoho!”

She’d uncovered a secret Ihan hadn’t told anyone, leaving him shaking his head in defeat.

Seriously.

She’s terrifying. Absolutely terrifying.

*****

Greg Vinn was a rogue mage believed to have died several years ago.

Once affiliated with the Imperial Magic Tower, he was branded a criminal mage after conducting illegal experiments focused on [Mystic Plundering]. He was expelled from the Tower, but as the saying goes—stealing once makes the second time easier.

He continued his illegal experiments to plunder Mystics, and during that time, it was reported that he was captured by foreign guards and executed.

…But that was only what was made public.

“So, the reality is that he gathered Mystics in some facility and carried out experiments on them.”

“That’s my prediction, anyway.”

Ihan’s deduction was based on the testimony of Judia Pierre, who appeared to be a survivor of the experiments.

Of course, it wasn’t just speculation.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“I already found some information through the guild during my investigation. No matter how I look at it, that bastard Greg is the one who led those experiments. And apparently, he’s a master at changing his face.”

“Investigation? That has a shady ring to it.”

“It was an investigation. Anyway, looking at what you gave me, it seems I wasn’t wrong after all.”

The notebook Isis had handed over contained details about the people the Sultan had contacted in the West, as well as records of conversations he’d had with his retainers.

Ihan had no idea how she’d obtained such information, but that wasn’t the issue right now.

The issue was—

— [Acquiring Mystics in Pendragon.]

These bastards were up to something.

The summarized notes revealed a shocking fact—

The Sultan was targeting Pendragon’s Mystics.

“This is ridiculous. A Sultan joining hands with a mage?”

“He probably thinks it doesn’t matter how he obtains power as long as he gets it. Not hard to understand, but it’s disgraceful.”

“…Disgraceful?”

“If it were me, I wouldn’t resort to such petty kidnappings. I’d turn it into a secret trade deal between nations instead. Why resort to such thuggish behavior?”

“……”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“…No reason. I’m just realizing all over again how terrifying you are.”

Instead of condemning the act of murdering and plundering Mystics, she understood the intent and even proposed a more refined alternative.

She really was the embodiment of a ruler.

But—

“It’s only natural. Pendragon has the power now, so we can afford to show mercy and benevolence. But what if we didn’t? What if we constantly had to fear invasions and the outbreak of war?”

“……”

“Remember this well. It’s unfortunate for an individual to lack power, but for a nation, it’s a crime. That’s why those who lead nations must always wear masks—both of hypocrisy and necessary evil. Yet Sultan Salah has displayed neither hypocrisy nor necessary evil. Instead, he’s lowered his nation’s dignity with such crude behavior.

“He lacks strength but still refuses to bow his head, holding it high with arrogance. How disgraceful.

“If, one day, I must be called a whore for bowing my head to gain power, then so be it. That’s the duty of royalty and those who lead nations.

“And so, the Sultan fails. Despite his bloodline and decent abilities that allowed him to rise to the position of Sultan, he’s too arrogant and doesn’t know his place. Someone like that cannot be left alone.”

“…Hmm.”

…Ihan reflected.

He had only thought of her as frightening, but he realized now that he’d been shortsighted.

He’d studied the tragedies of powerless nations in history, yet he’d failed to fully grasp their reality. It was clear he still had a long way to go.

“…Sorry.”

“Haha. Just knowing how to apologize already makes you commendable, little brother. The ability to reflect is something I highly value.”

“……”

It felt like she was mocking him, but he decided to let it slide.

He could only smile bitterly.

*****

“—Bring me the mage.”

“Huh?”

“Bring Greg Vinn back alive, and I’ll take care of everything.”

“…You must have a plan.”

“I always have a plan.”

“Hmm.”

Ihan immediately suspected that Isis was scheming something sinister.

He had no idea what she was preparing, but it was probably safe to trust her.

However…

“Ugh, bringing a mage back alive isn’t exactly my specialty.”

“Do your best. If you succeed, I’ll reward you handsomely. Would you like a kiss as part of your reward?”

“No, I seriously don’t need that.”

“…Ungrateful brat.”

What might be a prize to others was absolutely useless to Ihan.

If anything, he’d rather take payment in gold.

Ihan snorted in amusement.

And then—

“Anyway, I get it. You just need me to bring him back alive, right? …I’ll give it a shot.”

“Not try—you must do it.”

“…You’re really piling on the pressure.”

“I won’t hold you accountable for anything that happens along the way.”

“…Seriously?”

“Of course.”

“Hooh…”

“…But that doesn’t mean you can go completely off the rails.”

For a moment, Isis wondered if she’d made a mistake.

Unlike others, who had a sense of moderation, her younger brother…

‘He doesn’t know what moderation is.’

It felt like leaving a cat in charge of guarding a fish.

Isis began to feel a twinge of unease.

And sure enough—

[Magic Tower’s Top Disciple Goes Missing!]

“…Sigh.”

Isis felt a headache coming on.