"Aah, it sure is peaceful - Oh"

I leisurely walked alone through the southern town of Lindwurm.
A few days ago Princess finally recognized her feelings and became lovers with the Crown Prince both in name and reality, and perhaps because she"s completely in the honeymoon period, whenever she has time she clings to the Crown Prince.
I don"t really mind that. I understand their feelings are mutual and they want to flirt whenever possible, but what"s troublesome is that it doesn"t end with jus flirting.
When I think they"re talking while clinging to each other, the next moment they"re kissing, it makes me fl.u.s.tered.
Because it"s not rare for them to rush to a love scene like that, recently I make sure to not get close unless I"m called.

"Well, there"s nothing to worry about since she"s together with that strongest Crown Prince"

No matter the time, that man never lowers his guard. Moreover, there"s the Crown Prince"s strong barrier around that room.
I don"t want to disturb them, and me being me, I go to town at a critical moment.

"Nnn…"

―――― Recently the number of Sahaja a.s.sa.s.sins has increased.

It was granny who secretly taught me.
Granny"s house that I often come to hang around in. While drinking the customary tea, I was cautioned by granny.

"Listen… Don"t forget my advice"

Speaking of advice, I can only think about the words "Short pause".
Moreover, that should"ve finished with me telling the Crown Prince my ident.i.ty.
And yet I was told something so unexpected, I felt shaken.
Seeing my fl.u.s.ter, granny pointed at my face. Like that she pressed on my glabella.

"I"m angry, I gave you a precious hint, yet you don"t put it to a good use"
"G, granny?"
"Well, that"s all I can say. You"ll notice when it"s time to notice"

No matter how much I asked afterwards, she wouldn"t answer. Really, witches are incomprehensible.
Witches are incomprehensible, but they won"t say anything meaningless.
Having heard that, I decided to investigate the town whenever time allows.

"… Be that as it may, it"s daytime, so there won"t be a.s.sa.s.sins wandering about"

Even if they are said to have increased, a.s.sa.s.sin is fundamentally a night occupation.
In order to prevent being exposed, they live lifes of ordinary commoners during the day.
That"s why, it"s normal to be unable to tell, unless you"re like that convincing guy from just before who let out bloodl.u.s.t.
It would be a different story if he recognized my face, but he shouldn"t…

"Ueeee?"

A strange voice left me.
A street with many stalls. Having received goods, a man appeared from one of them.
He"s holding an apple. He took a bite and smiled with satisfaction.
The stall shopkeeper called out to the man.

"Father, it"s a rare opportunity, so take another one. It"s a bonus"
"Thank you. I"ll accept it. May G.o.d bless you"
"Heheh, I"m embarra.s.sed. Don"t mention it"

The shopkeeper put another apple in the man"s hand. Having received it, the man called father politely bent at his waist. Then, he raised his face. With an indescribable expression he met eyes with me.
Unable to ignore him now that I was discovered, I raised my hand.

"… Yo"

On the man"s chest was the characteristic inverted cross.
My greeting was idiotic, but that man"s complexion didn"t change one bit.
He tilted his head.

"Yoo, Cain. Are you alone too?"
"Don"t yoo me. Why are you here. Didn"t you go back to your country"
"Nnn? About that"

At my question he paused for a moment and then showed an unpleasant, smug smile. A disgusting, sticky smile. A smile characteristic to a.s.sa.s.sins. He started speaking, deliberately slowly.

"… Why am I here. Isn"t that as expected because of work"

Wearing his work clothes, the jet-black priest robe, Black Apostate Scheat was fixedly staring at me with his cat eyes.

I absolutely didn"t expect to meet Scheat in such a place.
Even if there were a.s.sa.s.sins I was acquainted with here, who would really expect us to meet. And of all things, it"s him.

"Haven"t you been coming here often recently"

Leaving the main street, I brought Scheat to a narrow back alley.
I dragged him along by his priest robe, but with his usual smile Scheat didn"t oppose me. That behavior itself was disgusting.

"Nnn, it"s a bother, so I also want to stop. But when I"m told it"s work, I have to go. It"s the same anywhere, you can"t disobey your superiors" orders"
"Scheat…"

While nibbling on the apple, Scheat said he came for work in a light tone. Of course I knew that.
Otherwise, there"s no way a leading a.s.sa.s.sin called Black Apostate would go to a foreign country. While leaning his back against the wall, Scheat said.

"It"s bothersome to go home every single time, so I intend to stay here for a while. Of course, it all depends on the clients, so I can"t say how long. It"s really troublesome work. Anyway, preparations are difficult… I want to finish it already"

But, it might be good since I"ve met you, Scheat said with a happy smile.
I carefully asked.

"… Who did you come to kill this time"
"Nnn? Of course it"s a secret. It"s against confidentiality. Say, Cain? I thought so before too, but just what are you worrying about? Who do I keep coming here to kill? You are simple"
"Shut up"

It was enough to have an a.s.sa.s.sin on the level of Black Apostate come. There"s no mistaking it that it"s a quite large-scale work. And supposing the King over there is really involved, then I"m suspicious that it"s related to the Royal Family here.
In that case, naturally it"s not unrelated to my master, Princess.
That"s why I want to hear it no matter what, but Scheat evasively sidestepped it.
I"m honestly irritated.
Perhaps sensing that, Scheat exaggeratedly shrugged his shoulders.

"Scary. Don"t get the target of your anger wrong. Us a.s.sa.s.sins have to be always calmer than anyone. You were taught that too, right?"
"Yeah…"

I know that much. But, even so, I"m irritated. Because, this guy never talks about what"s important.
Scheat sighed. But, his eyes are unmistakably smiling.

"Can"t be helped… It"s really a secret, but oh well. I"ll teach you a little. This much should be barely okay… I"ve been involved in one job here lately. We"re at the final stage of the plan. You see"

As he paused, the corners of Scheat"s mouth warped.
The warped lips resembled a smile. Those lips slowly spun words.

"It was originally your job. ―――― I took over your job. Do you understand with that?"