DPAA 47

Felix, who had finally gotten seriously upset, shouted, “Fine! I like being alone anyway!” and stormed out.

Now, with only Aiden and me riding the carriage to the capital, I glanced out the window and murmured,

“Is it okay not to go after him?”

“It’s fine. He’ll get over it soon.”

His response was chillingly cold.

No mercy at all.

‘Well, I guess there’s no helping it.’

I couldn’t exactly explain everything to Felix, could I?

As I sat quietly across from Aiden in the carriage, I organized today’s plan in my head.

‘First, we visit the Department for Reporting Black Magic in the imperial capital.’

The Department for Reporting Black Magic—
This world strictly regulates the use of black magic, so naturally, there’s a department to handle related cases.

After all, no matter how much you forbid something, there are always groups willing to break the rules if there’s profit involved.

That’s why submitting reports or decisive evidence about black magic can even earn you a reward from the Emperor himself.

‘I didn’t know that before, but…’

Judging by Aiden and Felix’s reactions, it seemed to be common knowledge here.

I recalled the conversation I had with Aiden last night.

“These days, the black magic department barely functions, but many skilled magicians are still affiliated with it. If we bring them this case, at the very least, it’ll draw attention.”

“Because the evidence is solid?”

“Exactly.”

At his firm answer, I raised a question that had been bothering me.

“But then, why haven’t you ever submitted any evidence before? If you’d gathered clues little by little, they would’ve at least started to take notice.”

“It’s not that I didn’t—it’s that I couldn’t.”

“Couldn’t? Why?”

“Evidence of black magic usually disappears the moment it’s used. In the case of monsters, you might have a day or two before it fades, but it’s not easy to summon people to a forest like this in time.”

True enough—without my inventory ability, just transporting a creature that size would’ve been a nightmare.

Aiden also explained that even for him, it was the first time he’d seen a monster actually afflicted by black magic.

“Usually, they imprint a mark on humans and turn them into puppets.”

“Ah, right—you said black magic can control people.”

“Not just control. It can also make them stronger. Of course, there’s a limit to how much power one can handle at once, and up until now, I’ve been lucky—their enhanced strength never surpassed mine…”

Aiden trailed off before continuing.

“But the mark implanted in a person disappears as soon as they die. I’ve had no way to capture assassins who’ve been strengthened by black magic.”

“Wait, are they really that strong? You’re a Sword Master.”

“The problem isn’t just strength. They’re not truly alive. Unless you destroy their heads, they keep attacking me even with their hearts pierced.”

“That’s insane—that’s basically a zombie.”

“Zombie? What’s that?”

“It’s… well, a disgusting, annoying thing like that.”

Undead were always my least favorite monsters in dungeons—and now I was facing them in a fantasy world. Great.

“And there’s another problem.”

“Another? What now?”

“If I walk into the black magic office carrying a monster like this, the Empress’s faction will inevitably discover my true power. That’ll put me at a disadvantage in my future plans.”

“Why can’t you just be a little stronger?”

If he were as strong as me, we could just smash everything in our way.

At my complaint, Aiden gave me a strange look.

“…You’re the one who’s abnormally strong.”

Fair point.

I clicked my tongue inwardly and started thinking. Then, an idea popped into my head.

“How about this, then?”

“What?”

“We’ll file the report under my name instead of yours—say that I defeated the monster.”

“But that’ll draw unnecessary attention to you.”

“I don’t mind. Actually, it might even work in my favor.”

To shake the Duke’s household as much as possible, I needed to become a louder, more conspicuous figure.

Besides, it could also provoke Claude and Helena’s side—
a win-win situation.

“I see. Then let’s do that.”

Aiden quickly agreed after hearing my reasoning.

And that’s why the two of us were now on our way to the capital together.

‘Honestly, it would’ve been better to go alone…’

But Aiden had insisted on accompanying me, refusing to compromise on that point.

“There are about three hours left until we reach the capital,” the coachman reported.

I turned my gaze to the passing scenery outside the window.

‘Come to think of it, I broke a promise today.’

If I’d had some free time, I was supposed to go shopping in the capital with May today.

Well… there’s nothing I can do about it now.

Time is crucial in matters like this—
because when and how you strike the enemy’s neck determines your own survival.

“What’s on your mind?”

Aiden spoke up, probably bored after my long silence.

He seemed like the quiet type, but around me, he could be surprisingly chatty.

“…Just thinking it’s a shame I couldn’t keep a promise to my little sister.”

“What kind of promise?”

“Hm.”

He tilted his head slightly, showing interest.

I smirked mischievously.

“We were supposed to go on a date today in the capital.”

“…A date?”

“Yeah. Ah, what a shame. I was actually looking forward to having some fun.”

I grumbled lightly, but Aiden went quiet, lost in thought.

‘Huh, that’s boring.’

I’d expected him to fluster or panic, but no.

Just as I was about to lose interest and look away, Aiden suddenly grabbed my arm, expression deadly serious.

“Then have that date with me.”

“…What?”

I stared at him blankly.

Why on earth would I go on a date with you?

When I made no effort to hide my disbelief, Aiden continued, utterly serious.

“Since it was a weekend with your sister, you weren’t expecting anything romantic, correct? Unless the Lady harbors incestuous feelings.”

“Wait, how did we get there?”

“My point is, what you wanted was simply to spend time with someone—have tea, go shopping, something like that.”

His logic was so absurdly straight-faced that I was speechless.

‘What kind of person is this?’

How can someone take a joke this literally?

“And since your plans were ruined because of me, it’s only fair that I make it up to you.”

No matter what I thought, he stayed completely earnest.

“I’ll cover all the expenses, so let’s have some fun once our business is done.”

…Okay, that was tempting.

The Duke of Eskliff’s household might be rich, but I didn’t have any control over the family funds myself—
meaning I was basically broke.

I straightened up, looked him in the eye, and said,

“Don’t regret it, alright?”

Because I was going to milk that offer for all it was worth.

* * *

“……”

Click, click, click, click.

Luna Ainser glanced sideways at May Eskliff, who was sitting next to her, repeatedly clicking the pen’s tip in and out.

‘Wow, she’s seriously annoying.’

She’d dragged May to the library because her gloomy face had been unbearable since morning, but still—

Luna sighed inwardly.

“May.”

“……”

“Hey.”

“……”

“May!”

It took three tries before May finally turned her head.

“What?”

She didn’t even look surprised—just gave a flat, disinterested reply.

Luna realized that May hadn’t failed to hear her; she’d simply ignored her.

“What’s got you so upset?”

“Nothing… Sorry if I was being loud.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

Luna snapped her workbook shut with a thud.

She already had a pretty good guess about why May Eskliff was in such a bad mood.

‘Because Senior Kanis still isn’t here yet.’

The sun was already high—he probably wouldn’t arrive until this evening at the earliest.

“Do you really like him that much?”

Honestly, Luna couldn’t understand the relationship between May and Kanis at all.

She herself was the third daughter of the Marquis of Ainser, with two older sisters, but in her experience, older sisters were rarely of any use to their younger siblings.

Even if they were celebrated beauties or admired by society, to a younger sister, they were nothing more than two wild beasts.

“……”

May didn’t answer. She just stared intently at her open textbook. Luna’s gaze naturally followed—

‘Of course. It’s spotless.’

Come to think of it, aside from a few brief scribbles earlier, Luna couldn’t recall May writing anything at all.

Resting her chin on one hand, Luna asked,

“When are you planning to actually do your homework? You waiting for your senior to help you?”

“…Huh?”

That got May Eskliff’s attention. She looked up suddenly, then started rummaging through her pencil case.

When she finally moved her arm aside, Luna caught a full view of her notebook—

—and her pupils trembled.

‘…What the hell?’

Every single answer was already written in.