Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Note: The previous 2 chapters were a prologue. The real story starts here.

There was nothing to do but laugh.

Shameless, perhaps. But that’s how I felt.

It was currently midnight.

When I looked up at the sky, there were two moons—Eidano and Kaida were shining in the heavens.

I was dressed in black and standing on top of the roof.

Yes, on a roof.

It was here that I was waiting for someone.

But that person was taking his time.

“There was no problem… Had that report been false?”

If it was, I could only laugh.

What had I been doing these last 10 days?

It was 10 days ago.

I received the infiltration investigation order from Her Majesty the queen.

And it was also an emergency.

I hadn’t been given an emergency mission in 2 years, which made me a little nervous.

Regardless, I approached my duty seriously.

And the results…a swing and a miss.

“Really, did I just waste 10 days?”

I sat down cross-legged and muttered without turning my head to the roof behind me.

“…Hey, there. Did you…notice… I suppose you did.”

“I was waiting. So, do you mind if I complain a little?”

“I’m sorry that I was late. If you’re talking about the order, then I’d prefer it if you didn’t.”

I leaned on my elbow and maintained my sulky expression as the latecomer came to stand in front of me.

He was also wearing black.

Then he removed the cloth that covered his face.

He was handsome and fresh-looking.

My older brother in law. Christan Roseite.

He was ridiculously handsome.

Though, there was no reason to say it twice.

“We’ll forget about you being late then. But I want to ask you some questions about the emergency order.”

“Questions? Fine. Ask away.”

His combed back hair reflected the moonlight. It was almost blinding.

It’s nighttime. Bastard.

I knew that my eyebrows were narrowed.

Then he grinned at me.

Damn it. Always trying to be charming.

“Alright, let me ask you this. No matter how much I searched, I couldn’t find anything questionable. Why?”

“I see… Maybe, it’s because there isn’t anything.”

He was strangely calm.

Was it really something to admit so easily?

So, it wasn’t an emergency? Did I waste the last 10 days?

But it was an emergency order from the queen herself.

You would think that he would doubt my investigation ability…or something.

Was there more to all of this?

Maybe I should prod a little.

“It’s rare to see merchants who sell such a variety of things these days. Still, I found nothing suspicious. It was all proper… So, what is it that you’re not telling me, brother?”

I put emphasis on the last word. He continued to grin as he answered me.

He definitely knew something.

My name is Leon Fenard. I have turned 16.

I live in Sol, which is one of the seven great cities of Ryukoku.

My family runs a bakery called ‘Fluffy Fenard.’

To be honest, I don’t like the name at all.

As it was Gikoku bread, it was light and soft.

In other words, delicious…or at least, I thought it was.

In fact, I intended to inherit the bakery in the future while also continuing the other family business, that is, being an assassin. No, I had intended. But…

No, nevermind about that.

What was important now, was the fact that I had recently infiltrated a certain merchant’s mansion.

It was 10 days ago that I received the order. ‘Investigate the merchant with as much haste as possible, and if necessary, kill him.’

After that, I snuck into the mansion every night and searched the place.

During the day, I helped at the bakery. And at night, I watched the mansion. Once the people of the house were asleep, I would start to investigate.

I did this every day for 10 days.

“Brother, if you know something, you better say it quickly.”

Christan looked away when he heard this.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

His eyes were shifty! He was a terrible liar!

I would have to press harder.

“…So, what was the true purpose?”

“Why do you think that?”

“There was nothing suspicious about him. I checked all of the documents while he was asleep. He’s clean.”

“There could have been some that were protected by magic.”

“Yes, the important papers were in such a box. But I checked all of those too. There was nothing suspicious there. In fact, it’s rare to see a merchant that is so proper.”

“And you didn’t find that suspicious in itself?”

“If that’s the case, there would be no end to merchants to investigate. Look, I think it’s time you tell me what’s going on, brother.”

If there was more to this investigation than meets the eye, brother Christan would know about it.

After all, information about it had come from him.

“Aren’t you leaving this town soon? Maybe Her Majesty was seeing if this guy was fit to become your patron.”

“Patron…I see.”

I finally understood.