ILDBL 19

Chapter: 19

Adolf clawed at his hair, his face twisted in distress.

“This is suicide! Isaac, let’s think about this again, huh?”

Felix, though not as frantic as Adolf, nodded in agreement with an uneasy expression.

“The count’s estate is already on high alert after the first intrusion. Breaking in through the usual route could be dangerous.”

“Yeah, that mute bastard already screwed up and got himself exposed anyway,” Adolf muttered irritably, pointing at Denian.

Denian, on the other hand, stood there blankly with an emotionless face. Seeing him like that only made Adolf more frustrated, and he turned back to try persuading Isaac again.

“Like Felix said, detouring through the waterways is the best option. No matter how strong you are, this is insane.”

Isaac, who had been silently listening to Adolf’s objections, suddenly hardened his expression into something chilling.

“I’ve waited long enough already. You want me to turn back now?”

It was Felix and Adolf who had stopped Isaac from charging in the moment the exam began.

They were also the ones who had soothed him, insisting they needed information on the mansion first, and pushed the most expendable one—Denian—into danger.

Given how fiercely individualistic and impulsive Isaac normally was, the fact that he had waited this long was remarkable in itself.

“If you’re that scared, then you two can detour through the waterways. I’ll be fine on my own.”

At Isaac’s indifferent words, Adolf and Felix were left speechless.

Isaac was the core of this team. Leaving him behind and moving separately was no different from offering up their necks while only guarding their arms and legs.

In the end, as if resigned, Felix spoke up.

“Then let’s split into two groups—front and rear. That should help divide their attention.”

Isaac let out a short scoff at Felix’s suggestion.

“Do whatever you want. I’ll handle everything anyway. Just don’t get in my way.”

It sounded reckless, but when Isaac said it, it carried an air of confidence backed by ability.

Standing beside Denian, whose thoughts were impossible to read, Adolf and Felix reluctantly nodded.

“Elise, could you bring some potatoes from the storage room?”

At the kitchen maid’s request, Ariel beamed brightly and answered obediently.

“Yes!”

Watching Ariel scamper off toward the storage room without dawdling, the head cook smiled warmly.

“She’s so polite and hardworking. Doesn’t look it, but she’s strong too.”

After all, even if Ariel was a non-combatant specialized in recovery, she was still a child who had endured the harsh training of a ducal household.

Though her physical ability was the weakest among the adoption candidates, Ariel still possessed strength and agility far superior to that of an ordinary girl her age.

Of course, neither the head cook nor the maids had any way of knowing that.

“At this point, the kitchen wouldn’t run without Elise, right?”

At the maid’s joke, the head cook and the other maids burst into laughter.

Leaving them behind, Ariel stepped outside the mansion and entered the storage shed.

Soon, Ariel emerged effortlessly, carrying a sack of potatoes nearly as big as her own body on her shoulder.

That was when it happened.

Clang— Clang— Clang—

An urgent bell rang out, and a guard standing watch in the distance began shouting frantically.

“An intruder! There’s an intruder!”

At the sound, the gentle look on Ariel’s face hardened instantly.

At the same time, a signal came through the artifact that looked like an earring—Alvin’s voice.

[Ah— Isaac’s team has started moving.]

The moment she heard it, Ariel vanished.

All that remained where she had been was the potato sack, lying toppled on the ground.

Responding to Alvin’s signal, Karina also abandoned her post while cleaning the floors.

Unlike the other servants who were rushing toward the shelter in panic, Karina headed swiftly in the opposite direction.

In her ear, Ariel’s voice came through. She was stationed atop the tallest spire, monitoring Isaac’s team.

[Isaac and Felix entered through the west gate. Looks like they’re trying to force their way through the guards.]

With that last report, Karina’s figure disappeared from the mansion.

Opening the door that led to the laundry area, Karina grabbed a cart piled high with laundry and headed toward the rear door that led outside.

It was a door used by maids and servants. Normally, guards were stationed here as well, but with Isaac’s team causing chaos at the main entrance, they must have rushed over there.

As expected, the doorway was deserted. Confirming this, Karina channeled her internal energy into her hand and smashed the locked doorknob in one blow.

Beyond the door stood Alvin, glancing around nervously.

“Hurry, get in.”

At Karina’s words, Alvin quickly climbed into the cart she was pulling.

His small body disappeared completely when he hid among the pile of laundry.

After confirming Alvin was inside, Karina immediately turned the cart around and moved quickly back toward the mansion.

Just then, a maid heading for the shelter spotted Karina and hurriedly called out.

“Bessie, what are you doing? There’s an intruder in the mansion—everyone’s in chaos! And what’s with that cart?”

Cursing inwardly, Karina replied as calmly as she could.

“Go on ahead. I’ll follow after I move this laundry.”

Seeing how composed Karina was, the maid looked puzzled for a moment, but soon dismissed her doubts. Karina was usually quiet and calm, so nothing seemed particularly strange.

“Okay! I’ll go on first!”

After confirming that the maid disappeared without looking back, Karina once again pushed the cart toward the count’s study.

Boom—!

A massive explosion echoed, and the ground shook violently.

Karina curled the corner of her lips into a grin.

Looks like they’re really raising hell. Much appreciated.

With this much commotion, there was a high chance the count had left his study to deal with the intruders.

Soon, Karina arrived in front of the count’s study, pushing the cart with Alvin hidden inside.

Click, click—

As expected, the door was locked. Which also meant the count wasn’t inside. Glancing around, Karina wrapped her internal energy around her hand and smashed the doorknob in one strike.

She quickly pulled the cart inside the study.

[It looks like Denian and Adolf have also infiltrated from the east.]

That was Isabella’s voice, who had been monitoring the other side. Soon after, Ariel’s urgent voice followed.

[The guards are split in two! Isaac is pushing inside faster than expected!]

“Tch—”

Karina rushed to the drawer where the box containing the seal was kept.

“Come out, Alvin.”

As Karina removed the laundry as a signal, Alvin finally popped his head out from the pile, gasping for air.

“Pwah— I almost suffocated.”

“No time. If you dawdle, either Isaac or the count will show up.”

At her words, Alvin nodded and quickly crouched down to inspect the drawer.

“Y-yeah… as expected, it’s sealed with an artifact.”

“That’s why I brought you. Can you open it?”

At Karina’s question, Alvin nodded with a serious expression.

“I-I’ll need some time.”

“Hurry.”

Karina turned away to keep watch while Alvin pulled out tools from his clothes and began dismantling the artifact sealing the drawer.

Boom—!

[Isaac broke through the guards!]

At Ariel’s urgent voice, Karina bit down hard.

“Hurry, Alvin.”

Her impatience showed as she pressed him again.

“J-just a little more.”

Crouched in front of the drawer, Alvin dug through its mechanisms with all kinds of tools, sweat pouring down his face.

Kraaash—!

[W-what do we do?! Isaac shook off the count and is moving deeper inside!]

Damn it.

Just then—

Click—

Something dropped with a soft sound, and Alvin snapped his head up.

“I-It’s open!”

Before Alvin could even finish speaking, Karina yanked the drawer open and took out the box containing the seal.

The box itself was double-locked, but this was no time to leisurely open it.

Stuffing both the box and Alvin back into the cart, Karina rushed out of the study.

As she hurriedly pushed the cart down the corridor, she spotted Isaac running toward her from afar.

His entire body was scorched black, and he charged forward like an enraged bull. Seeing him, Karina smiled faintly.

Too late, Isaac.

Crash—!

Suddenly, a window shattered as Count Frederick leapt in, blocking Isaac’s path.

“I will not allow you to run rampant in my mansion any longer!”

Frederick, his fury at its peak, radiated terrifying killing intent. Isaac skidded to a halt before him and shouted in rage.

“Damn it, Karina!”

 Leaving Isaac’s furious roar behind her, Karina calmly pushed the cart and disappeared down the corridor.