TYMC 30

Chapter 30

“What is he talking about?”

I had only explained how to store belongings. What kind of realization could he possibly have gotten from that?

Ail blinked her round eyes and stared blankly at Rias.

“That look says she doesn’t understand.”

Rias could practically see every thought running through Ail’s mind. What kind of assassin was this transparent?

Or perhaps she was fooling him with her acting.

Just as he was fooling her now.

Well, it didn’t really matter.

Watching Ail’s transparent expression with amusement, Rias spoke again.

“It means everything Ail said was right.”

“Ah, I see. It seems Young Master has found something new to cherish.”

“Mm. I’m planning to lock it up somewhere it can never leave.”

There was a subtle sense of incongruity hidden within Rias’s gentle words. Ail had been about to agree casually, but paused.

“Did the thing grow legs or something? Why would he need to lock it up?”

It must be something incredibly precious. Ail quickly accepted the explanation.

Their conversation, born from a subtle misunderstanding, scattered through the silence.

“Today was inconvenient because you weren’t here. So Ail, from now on, no more vacations.”

“…Pardon?”

“I told you already. I’ve gotten used to having you around.”

This was all your fault.

His pleasant voice whispered something utterly devilish.

To steal away the only sweet privilege granted to a salaried worker like this.

Not that she had any intention of taking leave anyway, but one never knew what might happen.

Ail’s blue eyes trembled tragically at the sudden revocation of her vacation rights.

“…I heard you had breakfast with the Duke this morning.”

“Mm. Ail, you’ve never met Father yet, have you?”

Ail flinched imperceptibly at Rias’s words.

It hadn’t been an intentional meeting, but she had already met the Duke long ago. He had even granted her permission to enter the restricted area.

“No need to tell him all that.”

Ail simply nodded slowly in response.

“If possible, it would be best if you never crossed paths with him in the future. He’s not exactly a warm person.”

Ail found herself agreeing with that assessment.

Both her first impression and every subsequent reflection led to the same conclusion: the Duke was like the wind.

A man who paid little attention to those around him and disliked interference from others.

A person who drifted alone like the wind, devoid of warmth. And because of that, he possessed no mercy.

Perhaps this was exactly why everyone feared the Duke.

“If Rias is the type to drive unwanted people out of his territory, then the Duke is the type to kill them… though not directly. Through other means.”

In truth, the maids feared the Duke, yet they didn’t tremble at the thought of him killing them.

The fear of death and the pressure of authority might both be forms of fear, but they were fundamentally different in nature.

“According to the rumors I’ve heard, people who opposed the Casio family would suddenly die while traveling elsewhere. Could that be the Duke’s doing? I don’t have enough information to be certain.”

Still, she felt as though she finally understood the subtle gap between them.

“There must be another force at work. Something that moves unseen, carrying out the Duke’s commands… perhaps that’s the secret behind the power of House Casio.”

Little by little, the outline of the secret hidden within the Casio family was becoming clearer.

Feeling that she had taken another step toward completing her mission, Ail returned to her room after Rias told her she could rest.

“So he’s planning to enter the Imperial Palace soon? I should report that to the Captain.”

Ail’s hand moved nonstop throughout the night as she worked on her overdue reports.

A short while after Ail left, Demon returned to Rias’s office together with Del.

Unable to withstand Del’s endless shouting, Demon had no choice but to come back.

—You threw someone who barely survived! Can you still call yourself human?!

“Well, I don’t remember throwing any humans. Animals, maybe.”

—You sly bastard! You threw me when I was human!

Grrrr!

The sharp fangs unique to the white fox clicked repeatedly as he ground his teeth.

He had been quietly recovering his strength, unable even to complain about the pain, when he was suddenly hurled into a wall. The absurdity of it all was beyond words.

“Considering you safely returned to your original form because of it, shouldn’t you be thanking me instead?”

Watching Del’s fury with indifference, Rias frowned irritably.

And then he added something outrageous.

“Go ahead. Say thank you.”

Rias offered a magnanimous smile, as though it wasn’t too late.

The gesture looked so natural that Del almost thanked him by reflex.

Realizing that, every hair on his body stood on end.

—I’ve seriously never been treated like this before! Never!

Del began throwing a tantrum, demanding to know how anyone could treat a divine beast so carelessly.

Unfortunately, the only audience was Rias, who had plugged his ears, and Demon, who didn’t know what to do.

“D-Del-nim, please calm down.”

—Would you calm down if you were me? Neither of you even realized I was in pain until I transformed back!

The moment Demon tried to soothe him, Del’s grievances poured out.

Since it was true, Demon couldn’t even argue.

—Fine! I’m going to see Ail!

“Do as you like.”

The permission came far more easily than expected.

Huh? This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.

Del stared at Rias in confusion.

Normally, Rias would have threatened him not to approach Ail except during walks.

Yet now he showed not the slightest interest and simply continued reviewing documents.

Scratch, scratch, scratch.

A strange sense of defeat washed over Del as he pawed at the floor.

This was odd.

Wasn’t Rias supposed to be the one feeling this way?

Before long, Del stormed out of the office.

Soon afterward, the artificial sound of sobbing drifted faintly through the hallway.

“Keep an eye on that thing, Demon. It might not actually be a fox.”

“…It isn’t, technically. It’s a divine beast.”

Watching Del’s behavior with disgust, Rias clicked his tongue.

At this point, Del’s dislike of Rias seemed entirely understandable.

Once silence settled over the office, Demon carefully pulled out a folder he had been carrying.

“Young Master, I have completed the task you assigned.”

About a month ago, Rias had secretly ordered Demon to investigate something.

More specifically, it was around the same time he had ordered an investigation into Black Rose.

“The matter you’ve assigned is complicated and will take time. I’ll report back as quickly as possible.”

Demon had indeed warned him it would take time.

Still, he hadn’t expected it to take this long.

With a proud expression, Demon presented the report.

“We have confirmed that Crown Prince Leonard purchased land in the center of Terasa under the alias ‘Terin.’ He is currently renovating the abandoned mansion on the property. Once his successor training concludes, he is expected to move there.”

Rias glanced through the documents and slowly turned his head.

“Isterin kept his promise at the appropriate time.”

The Crown Prince’s sudden purchase of land in Terasa was entirely due to a deal with Rias.

It was something Rias had asked him to do because acting directly would attract too much attention.

In exchange, Casio’s power would guarantee Isterin’s safety until he reached adulthood despite the constant threats against his life.

After this winter passed, both Rias and Isterin—being the same age—would become adults in three years.

It was a partnership formed for the sake of their respective futures.

“In addition, we’ve confirmed that the mastermind behind the assassination attempt on His Highness was the Second Prince. We’ve also secured the evidence you requested. It should make an excellent bargaining chip in negotiations with His Highness.”

Listening quietly to the report, Rias finally spoke with a noticeably relaxed expression.

“That will be enough. We’ll be heading to Terasa soon. Make the necessary preparations.”

“Yes. But what are your plans regarding Ail?”

At Demon’s question, Rias’s hand stopped moving.

“I’m dismissing all the maids and leaving only Ail behind.”

“…Pardon? You’re not sending her away?”

Rias intended to travel to Terasa as soon as possible for Del’s growth.

However, avoiding interference from the Duke, who constantly coveted the divine beast, required the Crown Prince’s cooperation.

Since that cooperation had finally been secured, it was time to depart.

The only issue was that once Rias left for Terasa, he did not intend to return for another four years.

“Mm. I’ll leave her here. Alone.”

The unexpected answer left Demon visibly shocked.

He had never once seen Rias become obsessed with anything specific.

“I assumed he would discard her this time too…”

Whatever secret purpose Ail might have had, the fact that she was still here meant she hadn’t achieved it yet.

If so, simply sending her away before she succeeded would have ended everything.

“Then… Ail won’t be able to do anything.”

So why?

“Young Master, when people cherish something, they usually hide it away where nobody can find it.”

The memory of those words suddenly resurfaced.

Rias’s eyes curved into crescents.

“Exactly.”

“…Pardon?”

“She shouldn’t be able to do anything. That way she’ll keep staying by my side.”

He had received such valuable advice.

Now it was time to put what he had learned into practice.