Chapter 22: There’s Nothing I Can’t Do

“Ella, are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” the pink-haired, thunderous beauty replied in her good-girl voice.

“I just answered whatever they asked truthfully.”

Seeing her at ease, Celes relaxed as well.

She sat down beside the stone table, thinking she should offer some explanation.

“They’re only giving you trouble because of what happened yesterday. The higher-ups are dissatisfied with the internal structure of the Hero Squad and want to interfere.”

Ella covered her cherry lips with her hand in surprise.

“How could they do that?”

Celes waved her hand, brushing the pencil shavings off the table.

“Honestly, I can sort of understand their concerns. Even when the squad was first formed, many people questioned it. Even those who said nothing must have wondered—was it really necessary to create this team?”

That’s right, that’s what I thought too, Ella murmured secretly to herself.

Wouldn’t it be better for you genius girls to just stay home being geniuses, instead of forming a team to deal with the Demon King?

Look at the mess it’s caused—forcing the Demon King herself to sneak in and play the good girl.

If the Demon King’s schemes—no, her brilliant strategies—succeed in the end, won’t you all feel bad about it?

Hurting others without benefiting yourself, what’s the point?

“But I know it’s necessary. We have to… never mind.”

Celes sighed to herself.

“They won’t believe me, much less accept it.”

As the young lady of a Noble Family, Celes had been exposed to a lot since she was a child.

Her family guarded the Coastline. Once, in order to apply to the Kingdom for another General position, more military funds, and new recruitment quotas, her uncle had inflated the number of sea monsters in his report tenfold, even fabricating a Kraken with tentacles a thousand meters long.

She remembered her uncle patting her little head and saying, “Little Celly, everyone does this. You must remember, if you don’t exaggerate, you won’t get any resources.”

So now the question was, how could she honestly explain the true reason for forming the Hero Squad?

Back then, to become a General, they only reported a kilometer-long sea monster.

But now, if you report an apocalypse, what are you aiming for—the throne itself?

“Don’t worry, I’ll find a way.”

After waiting so long, this was all Ella got in return.

She smiled sweetly and replied in a gentle voice, “Mm, I believe you’ll think of something.”

Then, inwardly, she cursed this damned riddle-speaker.

“Pointless political games.”

Leah walked by, holding her red tea.

“Luckily, it has nothing to do with me.”

Celes had always felt helpless about her.

She opened her mouth, but in the end, said nothing.

Finally, she turned to Ella.

“Go back and rest for now. It’s still early.”

“Alright.”

The Royal City remained as bustling as ever.

The minor incident in the northern district had no impact on the outside world, and no second group came after.

Celes waited in the courtyard all day, only getting up to leave when the sun set and dusk fell.

Simply waiting around wasn’t a solution.

No matter what, it was better to have some information in hand to gain a bit of initiative.

With this thought, she went up to the second floor and knocked on the door of the nearest room.

“Zero, are you there? I have something to discuss with you.”

She wanted the assassin girl to gather some intel—see how many people above were involved, and how firm their stance was.

But after several minutes without a response, Celes pushed the door open in confusion, only to find a leave note on the desk.

[Something came up, went out for a bit, will be back tomorrow.]

Just left? And so late at night.

Everyone in the squad was free to come and go, so Celes didn’t think much of it and went back to her own room to sleep.

Zzzz

The Royal City grew a bit quieter at night, but for those places aglow with expensive Crystal Lamps, the night was only just beginning.

A luxurious carriage slowly entered a grand estate.

The Coachman, anxious, got down and reported in a low voice to the plump Butler.

“…She escaped midway, jumped out the carriage window. I didn’t notice…”

“What! You useless fool, you can’t even handle a trivial task. Just wait for your whipping!”

After scolding him thoroughly, the Butler hurried upstairs, walking through the opulent corridor, and stopped at the master bedroom door.

His previously fierce face now wore a fawning smile.

“Master, there was a problem with the Coachman picking her up. She escaped halfway…”

“You worthless idiot! Can’t even do such a simple thing. Wait for your whipping!”

Taidin kicked the Butler aside after a tirade, then grabbed the wine on the table and took several gulps.

He was furious today.

With the Royal Palace’s support, he’d thought capturing that pink-haired, busty girl was a sure thing.

Who would’ve thought she wouldn’t even make it out?

When the Guard Captain returned to report, he even claimed that Miss Ella was sincere and had a pure heart…

Pure, my ass! Taidin had berated him on the spot.

“Wants to be a Hero? Hmph, as long as she spends one night with me, she can be whatever she wants.”

Just thinking of that alluring body made Taidin burn with desire again; no amount of wine could cool him down.

He hadn’t caught her during the day, so he’d sent someone to fetch a similar-looking girl from the outskirts of the Royal City, but she’d escaped on the way.

The whole thing infuriated him…

“A bunch of whores!”

He downed the bottle in one go, the alcohol rushing to his head and blurring his vision. In his haze, he seemed to see a petite black shadow in the room, and in a blink, it was right in front of him.

The alcohol vanished instantly.

Just as he was about to scream, something cold and sharp pressed against his throat, freezing him in place.

The petite shadow made a shushing gesture and casually took the wine bottle from his hand, lest it fall and make a sound.

What a bizarre scene.

The Crystal Lamp in the room was clearly shining, yet it couldn’t illuminate the shadow’s features.

Taidin was scared out of his wits.

“Wh-who are you?”

“Wh-who are you?”

The shadow didn’t answer, but instead repeated his words in an identical voice, perfectly mimicking even the trembling fear.

“Wh-what do you want?”

“Wh-what do you want?”

This time it was even more accurate, the tone capturing his desperate attempt to control the situation, mingled with a trace of confusion at the end.

Realization dawned, and Taidin’s terror reached its peak.

“You’re imitating my voice? You…”

“You’re imitating my voice? You…”

Pfft—

Taidin’s throat was slit.

At the same time, another blade stabbed into his heart. The double fatal wounds killed him instantly.

Pa! Pa! Pa!

Out in the courtyard, the Butler was venting his anger by whipping the Coachman when he suddenly heard a noise upstairs. He hurried over to inquire:

“Master, do you have any orders?”

“Prepare the carriage, you useless fool,” he heard Taidin’s voice say. “I’m going out for a bit.”

“Yes, Master!”

The Butler didn’t dare ask more.

He tossed aside the whip and was about to order the Coachman, only to find the man half-dead from the beating and unable to get up. With no choice, he brought the carriage over himself, then returned to the spot.

“Master, the carriage is ready.”

“If it’s ready, get over here and drive, you useless thing.”

The voice came from inside the carriage.

“Or do you expect me to do it myself?”

The Butler shuddered, hurrying to the driver’s seat and grabbing the reins.

Master was in quite a mood tonight, he thought, so impatient.

“Master, where are we going?”

“Bright Church Plaza!”