62 – Showgun of Grief (2)
It was easy to enter Amelia’s house that we had invaded once.
I had already memorized the patrol routes of the Order Maintenance Corps, which were nothing more than folding screens, and even the magic traps that were set up.
I had prepared myself to some extent, but to someone like me, who is almost a super ninja, it was nothing.
I went into the lodging where Adali was staying first.
Even if I feel betrayed, since Amelia and Adali live alone together, I have to subdue this woman from this year onward, for the sake of a perfect crime, no, a perfect invasion.
Adali was sleeping restlessly on a bed that seemed overly soft for a maid to sleep on.
Coco-nene…
She appeared so defenseless, almost as if she wasn’t from a ninja village. Could she have forgotten everything she learned there?
Although there was a significant difference in skill level, as fellow ninjas, I couldn’t allow this.
“Huh, you-“
Before my hand could reach her mouth, I covered Adali’s lips. She may call me a rotten person, but it seems like my intuition is still alive.
Silently, I tightened my grip on her lips even harder.
“Mmm…!”
She resists fiercely, as if she didn’t neglect her training. Her body wriggles with elasticity, like a jellyfish.
After grabbing her arms and legs as she desperately tries to escape, I put tape over her mouth.
Not just any tape, but a fantasy world-style tape made by smearing sticky sap on cloth.
A honey trap made with Orpheus’ help.
“Be quiet.”
I tightly bound Adali with a rope I had prepared in advance. It’s called the Ninja Ear Tying, different from the ninja bondage I used on the bald instructor.
“Amelia, you’re next.”
“Mmmph~!”
I subdued Adali completely and laid her down on the floor. Luxurious beds are a luxury for traitors.
Now, I am ready to interrogate Amelia.
Without hesitation, I headed towards Amelia’s bedroom.
Thump-
As the red curtains that stimulated her appetite were pushed aside, I caught a glimpse of Amelia, peacefully sleeping.
Suppressing the desire to indulge in a sweet night, I quietly lay down next to her.
“…”
Whether she didn’t sense my presence or not, she didn’t wake up.
“Amelia. Daddy’s here. I brought you two roasted chickens for you. They’re boneless.”
“….Huh?”
I grabbed her chin as she opened her eyes and lifted her up.
“hehehehe-!”
To sleep in such an uneasy yet elegant posture. Isn’t this also a kind of crime?
A crime of tranquility? I remember a similar name.
“Tell me my name.”
It’s time for a confession. After locking eyes with her, I shot a laser beam from my eyes. Of course, I didn’t really shoot laser beams from my eyes.
Amelia, does she know my true identity?
“Click… You’re…”
“Hurry up and tell me my name. I’m extremely angry right now. It means I’m in volcanic eruption mode.”
Pressuring her, I roughly shook Amelia’s neck. A silent threat that I would lose my temper if she didn’t answer.
“…You’re a runaway ninja, aren’t you? Why are you here? Didn’t the resistance tell you the location?”
“Hmm?”
“I-I can’t breathe. I won’t scream, so please let go of my neck.”
“There must be another name that you know.”
“The Guardian of Galdon, the Arbiter of Martolan. Is that what you mean?”
Damn it. I didn’t want to hear that again.
“You know. Something that starts with ‘Ro’. You must have heard it from Adalri.”
“Ro? Ro… I’m not sure. Adalri gathers information from various places, but there’s still a lot missing. If it’s not about the Bureau of Transformation and Judgment, the Resistance would know better.”
This isn’t the reaction I wanted. And more importantly, calling Dad by his title instead of his name. Are we not on good terms?
“Is that all you know?”
“Is there something else?”
Blinking those innocent eyes makes it seem like she really doesn’t know anything. What is this? Am I mistaken? I can’t admit that.
“Why did you tell me your name?”
“I wanted to build a trust relationship. Since I can’t meet you directly because of my position, I thought I had to do it this way. But, I ended up meeting you now?”
Amelia sighed as she said that.
“You want to build a trust relationship with me? Why?”
“Because only you can stand against the Bureau of Transformation and Judgment. I didn’t want to create a situation where we fight each other while doubting one another.”
“Do you want me to kill the Bureau of Transformation and Judgment?”
“…Of course. He is the worst of the worst, a warmonger. He killed countless people under the pretext of law and order. It was the Bureau of Transformation and Judgment who ordered the killing of children during the Telas resistance.”
“But he’s your father.”
“Are you worried because I’m the daughter of the Bureau of Transformation and Judgment? You don’t have to worry. There’s no one who hates him more than me.”
Amelia’s eyes, brimming with life, were telling the truth.
A daughter who wants to kill her father. Indeed, this is a fantasy world of the end times.
Well, it’s not that I don’t understand. If there were yasayoga in my family, I would have killed them without hesitation.
The residents of our house should be grateful that they are not yasayoga.
“Let’s say that’s true. Is there a reason why you sold the house to adventurers at a low price?”
I asked the question to get a glimpse. I still haven’t let go of my suspicions.
“Adventurers… Are you talking about Mr. Robin and Ms. Orphe?”
“Yes.”
“…Did you investigate that too?”
“Of course. Everything comes out in an investigation. So answer the question.”
Amelia gives me an illogical answer to my question? Then the ninja dog will spit out blue flames.
“They fought hard and shed blood to protect Goldon. I believe that actions should have consequences.”
“Are you the one paying the consequences?”
This isn’t fantasy Santa Claus. It’s a bit late to say this, but I don’t trust that bearded, obese old man.
Why? Because that guy, who lived kindly, ignored me and only gave presents to my younger sister. And that’s for 20 years.
That fat old man, who discriminates against people, doesn’t deserve to be the hope of children.
“That’s not it, but… I just wanted to do it. I didn’t want to see those people going around penniless.”
“That’s not logical. Did you give them a cheap price because you’re on good terms with the Lord of Goldon?”
Although it’s not logical, I postponed choosing the ninja dog because I liked the answer.
Judging by the reaction, it seems like they don’t even know that I’m Robin.
“W-What? How do you know that?”
Ah, did I say too much? It’s okay. I can cover it up.
There is no need for my true identity to be revealed.
“I have been watching you for a long time.”
“Why-“
“That’s not important. Answer me. Why did you lie to me?”
From Noble mtl dot com
Ninjado raised his hand as a sign of not speaking twice.
“…I did meet the Lord Goldeon, but we are not close. It was just a brief encounter in my childhood.”
“So, it’s not that you lied to me, but that you lied to the adventurers.”
“I was suspicious of you. I heard that adventurers, who have experienced many hardships, are skeptical of sudden kindness. I just needed an excuse.”
“Hmm.”
So Amelia told a well-intentioned lie. Lies are bad, but this one is an exception.
“You passed. You have the qualifications to be my partner.”
I put away Ninjado and reached out my hand.
“Suddenly?”
Amelia hesitated for a moment but then grabbed my hand.
“I just wanted to know what kind of person you are. I want you to think that everything that has happened so far was part of that process.”
“…I was shocked at night, but well, okay. Everyone has their own way.”
Amelia quickly accepted it. I shook her hand about ten times.
“I heard that you have a lot of information about the Bureau of Transformation and Investigation.”
“…Yes. I even have the blueprint of the mansion.”
What? Mansion? Blueprint? This means I’ll be more comfortable.
“Pass it over now.”
“Yes?”
“Hurry up.”
“…I suppose you have a plan.”
He tucked the blueprint she handed him into his pocket.
Swiftly draw out the iron horn as well.
It was an old saying in the ninja world.
“I’ll take care of him.”
Swish-
After coming out of the window, he crossed the fence and headed towards Byeon Geom-gyeong’s mansion.
Without forgetting to contact Treebo through the necklace.
Ignoring Treebo’s words that Orpheus might have something to say, he ended the communication.
Just empty words.
Ah, I forgot to release Adali. He’ll figure it out on his own, right?
– Kweeek~!
***
The blueprint was more useful than expected.
Byeon Geom-gyeong’s mansion in the center of Neo-Solitron was a place filled with all sorts of magic traps and security enchantments.
He infiltrated the strict place where even a single mistake would immediately expose him.
“…”
I carefully examined every nook and cranny up to the fifth floor, but there was nothing special.
The same was true when I entered Byun Geomgyeong’s office.
One-handed swords, rapiers, scimitars, longswords, halberds, pikes.
The space was adorned with all sorts of weapons, but there was no sign of Byun Geomgyeong.
– Jade Hall –
A finely packaged nameplate shone. Is that Byun Geomgyeong’s name?
Seeing the “Hall” in there, it’s certain that he is related to Ameliah by blood.
If Byun Geomgyeong didn’t leave the mansion today, there was only one place left to go now.
The underground space indicated on the blueprint.
Could he be plotting something strange there, like a mad scientist of the Matap?
I headed towards the underground space.
There was a stone door with a locking spell, but when I matched the pattern according to the password written on the blueprint, it opened without making a sound.
A damp and dark space with no light coming in.
I slowly surveyed the surroundings with eyes accustomed to darkness.
I couldn’t help but be shocked.
“…!”
The underground space was filled with shelves. And on those shelves… were nothing but animal skulls that could be presumed to be human.
What on earth is this? Was Byun Geomgyeong a cannibal?
If not, there’s no way he could have gathered so many human skulls like this.
I lifted one of the closest skulls on the shelf.
Damn it, I really hit the jackpot.
“Lisa Maxillion.”
“What?!”
I turned my body at the sudden voice.
A man was standing up at the end of the underground space.
He slowly approached.
“I am the leader of the Ashen Wolf Knights. The first person I ‘executed’.”
It was Byun Geomgyeong, a short boy samurai. More accurately, an old man who resembled a boy.
“It’s meaningless to ask how you got here….”
He smiled, a smile that seemed harmless.
“Ninja deserter. Are you here to kill me?”
A smile so skillfully crafted that one would never think it was fake.