"I originally thought it would take you at least a year to figure it out. Didn't expect you to catch on in just one night."
"Are you praising me?"
"Yeah. You can actually be happy about it now."
In the middle of their habitual bickering, the three of them unknowingly passed through the forest. After staying a night in a town outside the imperial capital, they didn't take long before, on a certain evening, they arrived at the outskirts of the imperial capital.
The imperial capital of the Empire was unexpectedly magnificent.
On the outside there was a wide moat. The capital itself sat like an island, and beneath it, the whole structure was essentially a towering mountain, somewhat similar to the structure of a Japanese-style mountain castle.
Layer by layer of steps rose upward. On the outer perimeter there were two walls, and the inner city also had two walls, all protecting the core Victorian-style castle.
But to break into the castle, it wasn't just the four walls standing in the way. At each entrance of the four bridges connecting to the capital, there was also a satellite city set up.
There were multiple altitude-restriction barriers in the air. To attack, you'd have to properly break through the reinforced walls and the national defense barrier.
Although there were entrances from the east, west, south, and north, when they actually passed through the southern satellite city and stepped into the outer capital, they saw two familiar figures at the gate.
One was the First-Class Mage who had always handled support work during the First-Class Mage Exam, the slicked-back, glasses-wearing man, Falsch.
The other had extremely long hair, and from afar looked like a plush toy, clearly someone you'd want to pet, a petite girl, Sense.
However, the two didn't show anything special. They just signaled for them to follow and silently walked ahead.
"I've got a bad feeling this is definitely going to be troublesome."
Frieren looked reluctant, but Ash smiled and followed anyway, "No need to be so scared of trouble. We're already here, so we might as well gather, right~"
With him saying that, the three of them followed at a distance and arrived at a secret base of the Magic Association in the capital.
The base wasn't empty, but it only had several rooms. Each room contained just a bed and some scattered furnishings. The living room only had a table, and besides that there was nothing, not even chairs.
As soon as Falsch entered, he spread a map on the table. Sense didn't bother with any greetings and went straight to the point, "This time it's a large-scale mission carried out jointly by multiple First-Class Mages. Lord Ash, Fern, and Frieren... I hope you can also participate."
"What does that have to do with me?", Frieren, who had been ambushed at the city gate, looked displeased. She sat cross-legged on the floor without caring about appearances, grabbing Ash's pant leg, "I'm not part of your association, right? I can go shopping, right? I didn't get the chance in the royal capital last time. This time you definitely won't—"
"Shouldn't you be discussing that with Fern instead of me?"
"Because! Fern never lets me buy magical tools! She gets mad every time!", Frieren clung to him, looking like she'd cry if he didn't agree.
"If I agree, won't I be the one getting blamed?", He let out a long sigh, pried her hand off, then slipped behind Sense and placed his hands on her shoulders, urging, "Don't mind Frieren, go on?"
"Ah! Yes... I'll explain the general situation first?", Sense was startled but didn't care much about him putting his hands on her shoulders and hiding behind her. She cleared her throat and continued, "Ahem! Soon it will be the Empire's National Day. At that time, there will be a large-scale ball in the palace. Nobles from across the Empire, as well as many important figures from the northern countries other than the Kingdom of Oisast, will attend. Lady Serie will also be invited as the representative of the Continental Magic Association."
"What? Don't tell me someone is really going to assassinate Serie, and you want us to protect her?", Frieren's expression shifted in surprise. She stopped glaring resentfully at Ash and looked at the petite girl in front of him.
Sense froze slightly at her words, glanced back at Ash in surprise, but didn't ask how she knew about the assassination. Instead, she explained, "Although we only received detailed intelligence last night, it has been verified multiple times beforehand. Its credibility is very high."
"There are really people like that? What's wrong with the Empire?"
Originally, when Ash said that, Frieren still held some hope. The Empire, which had managed to survive to this day largely thanks to her master's legacy, something that could be called her master's life's work, shouldn't have fallen to such an extent.
It had to be that Ash's side had misjudged the intelligence, or another country was framing the Empire, but... Sense's confirmation forced her to accept it. The Empire had already gone mad. Not only her as a disciple, but even Serie and the others, they wanted to kill them all.
A lonely expression appeared on Frieren's face. She looked out the window toward the castle atop the distant mountain and murmured, "If this keeps going... will Serie be sad too?"
"Probably. That girl is cold on the outside but warm inside," Ash said, sounding a bit helpless.
Even though letting the Empire carry out its plan and forcing Serie to counterattack out of necessity might be an efficient way, he still didn't want to use his master like that.
As Frieren shifted from noisy resentment to genuine loneliness and sorrow, the atmosphere in the room grew subtle.
Even Fern felt uncomfortable and couldn't help changing the subject, "S-speaking of which, Lady Serie is so strong. Is there really a chance she could be assassinated?"
"You saw the shadow warriors last time. If something goes wrong, it's still possible, though the probability is very low. After all, Serie definitely has a lot of close-combat magic, and probably automatic counterattack types too."
Ash waved his hand with a smile. He gave an example but then dismissed it, turning back to Sense and Falsch, "By the way, are you acting as close bodyguards?"
"Yes. Falsch and I both specialize in close combat, using magic suited for fighting at close range against warriors," Sense nodded without hesitation, making Fern nod as well.
"Right. Against mages specialized in close combat like that, long-range magic would have a better chance, but based on what Lord Ash said, is it really necessary to add more guards?"
"Not really necessary. And it doesn't feel like Serie's style. She's probably trying to increase your experience fighting people. Or, she can't bear to personally destroy an enemy nation, or her disciple's life's work, so she set up a buffer, hoping the Empire will back down after seeing so many First-Class Mages."
He hesitated slightly, but still voiced his second guess. After finishing, he quietly walked toward the exit, "I understand the general situation. But I won't be involved in this. You all do your best. I have my own matters to deal with."
"Eh... L-Lord Ash?", Sense, who had planned to greet him properly when alone, only reached out after coming back to her senses, but he had already closed the door.
"We've already reached the capital. What urgent matter could he have?", Fern shook her head, "Lord Ash really is... too free-spirited."
"Then let's go shopping too!", Frieren hurried outside before Fern even finished speaking, making Fern puff her cheeks and quickly chase after her, "Lady Frieren! Slow down! If you want to buy things, I won't completely stop you, but I have to come along."
In the blink of an eye, the three of them were gone, leaving only the two who had arrived earlier.
"They're really free."
"Can't be helped. It's Lord Ash, after all."
"You're way too... how should I put it? Tolerant of Lord Ash?"
Watching the three disappear and then looking at his colleague, Falsch adjusted his glasses with a troubled expression, sighed, and rolled up the map that hadn't even had a chance to be used.
———
They arrived at the capital in the evening. By the time Ash left the secret base, it was already deep into the night.
The temperature had dropped sharply, and a light snowfall even began drifting down from the sky.
But Ash had no time to admire the snowy scenery of this foreign capital. As soon as he stepped out, he saw a side-ponytailed girl in a black dress, Ubel, who seemed to be planning to report to Sense.
However, the moment she saw him, she changed her mind. Even though he initially ignored her, Ubel followed behind him with a sly smile, not greeting him, not doing anything, just sticking to him relentlessly.
Only when he was about to drive her away did she suddenly mention her mission and what she had discovered, making him swallow all the words he had been about to say.
———
After walking through several blocks and still failing to shake her off, Ash considered whether he should leave using high-speed movement.
But the traces left behind would be too obvious. Ubel would definitely notice and give chase, maybe even take to the air a bit.
To avoid drawing attention, Ash simply turned around and looked at her, "Ubel, do you really have nothing to do? Why are you following me?"
"Because~ it'd be such a waste to stop halfway," Even with his annoyed expression, Ubel was all smiles.
"Careful, or I'll lift your skirt again."
"If I don't bring it up, would you really do it?", Ubel asked in return, her tone relaxed. Annoyingly, he couldn't refute it, "I'm not a pervert. No way I'd just lift someone's skirt on the street for no reason."
"Hehe~ I knew it," The girl clasped her hands behind her back and leaned forward slightly, her black dress accentuating her full figure. Her pretty face lit up with genuine delight at her accurate judgment, and she licked her lips brightly.
"I followed you for quite a while before. Didn't gain much, but my intuition isn't for show. Judging people is my specialty~"
"I've got serious business. What do you want? Here to give me benefits again?"
"Do you take me for some kind of pervert?", Ubel raised an eyebrow.
"Definitely not normal."
"You're not the first to say that~"
"I'm not praising you."
Honestly, Ash didn't think she was particularly smart. But she had considerable magical talent and intuition, a rather nasty personality, and could kill without hesitation. She also loved fighting.
Of course, when it came to killing without hesitation, he wasn't really in a position to judge. Still, he preferred peace.
But trying to investigate the capital's situation while being stuck with her was giving him a headache. He reached out and pressed his hand on her head.
"What do you want? Just say it. Also... don't you have a mission? Aren't you doing it?"
"Of course I'm doing my mission~ And right now, I'm planning to report it~"
"Is that so? What exactly is it? Let me hear it."
"Telling someone directly would break the rules, right? This is a confidential mission, after all," She said that, but looked at him with a half-smile, her eyes clearly expecting him to compromise.
Though reluctant, after a moment of silence, he still asked, "Let me confirm first. What's your mission?"
"Reconnaissance."
"Got any results?"
"What if I say I do?"
"I'll treat you to a meal?", After thinking for a bit, that was his answer, but Ubel scoffed.
"What do you take me for? You think one meal is enough to make me break my principles?"
"Then what do you want?"
"In a couple of days, when you're free, chat with me. The kind where we talk all night. You're not allowed to chase me away or say I'm annoying. And you'll treat me to meals too... how about it?"
"Fine, but your principles are that flimsy?", He was stunned at how easily she gave in and couldn't help commenting.
But she didn't care at all and casually changed the topic, "More importantly, I heard the Golden Land Macht was killed. Judging by the timing of your arrival, that was you, right?"
"Yeah, it was me."
"Heh~ you really are amazing," Getting a clear answer deepened her smile. The way she looked at him was like she was seeing some rare creature... or a valuable prey.
Excitement flickered in her eyes, like she was admiring a perfect piece of art. She circled around him, looking him over, lightly patting his shoulder as she continued, "I'm really curious how you did it. A monster like Macht... even the Empire couldn't deal with him and had to abandon a large territory. You must've used some kind of strategy, right?"
"No. It was just a straightforward fight to the death. I barely managed to win. And it was something everyone risked their lives for. It wasn't just me. It was our team's victory."
"When did you start sounding like a hot-blooded protagonist?", His righteous tone made Ubel narrow her eyes, her gaze full of suspicion.
Those overly noble lines, combined with Ash's upright expression, gave her goosebumps. It didn't sound like something the Ash she knew would say.
"Fine. Actually, I just fought him and won. That's all. Nothing else."
"You... really are a monster."
Faced with what sounded more like a lie, Ubel couldn't detect any deception at all and was left dumbfounded.
"I knew you'd say that."
"Haha~ sorry, sorry~ So then~", Ubel blinked playfully, gave his shoulder an insincere pat, then suddenly shifted the topic. As she led him toward an alley, she said, "Since we're in the same organization, it's fine to tell you. Actually..."
Just as Ash had guessed, Ubel's mission was similar to espionage. The intelligence she needed to gather at this time was naturally related to the assassination of Serie.
Although she had only just wandered into the capital not long ago, after strolling around, she had already found some suspicious targets.
There was no evidence. It was purely her intuition telling her those targets were suspicious and related to the matter.
Even though that might not sound reliable, in this kind of thing her intuition was exceptionally sharp.
While someone like Ash was too abnormal for her to read, causing her to stumble, when it came to most others, her beast-like senses could clearly pick up the difference in their aura.
Even for shadow warriors, who were extremely skilled at hiding their presence, facing someone like her, whose instincts ignored logic, was still troublesome no matter how good their concealment was.
Knowing Ash would definitely come to the capital, Ubel didn't conduct standard reconnaissance. Instead, she casually wandered around a few times, using her intuition to filter suspicious targets.
After all, troublesome opponents could just be handled by Ash. Somewhere along their previous journey, she had unconsciously developed that way of thinking. It had even taken root without her noticing.
On top of that, she had learned techniques from Fern for concealing her presence, making her blend in as a passerby even more naturally.
And just by acting like this, she had already noticed several suspicious points: a tavern owner, a mercenary who was often drunk at an inn, a tavern waitress, a street vendor, and a dwarven vagrant.
"They all look completely ordinary on the surface. You can't even detect any magic from them. Most of them aren't even warriors, and even that mercenary is pretty average, but," Ubel leaned closer with a mysterious smile.
"My intuition tells me they're definitely not ordinary. I also followed them secretly and found that these people occasionally disappear together at fixed times. Probably going to meet up somewhere? But I didn't get too close, in case they noticed."
"Good. Then take me to have a look," He casually placed his hand on Ubel's head and leaned down, "Let's start with the vagrant. After all, someone like a vagrant... disappearing occasionally wouldn't seem strange, right?"
"No! No! I already told you everything I know. So~ shouldn't you help me out with something like leading the way?"
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
[email protected]/AmbitiousTranslator
🥳Joining P@treon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰 You can access upto 20 advance chapter through P@treon.