Volume 3 Chapter 48: Decided in My Mind【Assassination Organization Arc】

Upon arriving at Silthia’s mansion, I was immediately shown inside.

When I was led to a room, unsurprisingly, Silthia was waiting there.

“Since your rank is higher, come in after me. Even if it’s only for formality, I really don’t feel like apologizing.”

By the way, even though your rank is higher, my value as a human being is far superior—take note.

“Long time no see. You never come to visit, and it makes me sad.”

I gave a wry smile at Silthia’s words.
Why do I have to willingly face you?

Is this some sort of punishment game?

“Hehe. I do have my own domain.”
“But you’re in the royal capital now, right? If you don’t come up with something entertaining, I’ll have my faction order your expulsion.”

Even my gentle refusal is met with threats.
What is up with her?

Threatening me if I don’t entertain her—what kind of threat is that?
I just can’t forgive it.

“Just kidding. If you did that now, Resk wouldn’t keep quiet. He seems to really love you, you know.”

Perhaps she was enjoying my reaction, as she casually eased the tension.
Resk… he’s one of the four great nobles, just like her.

When I crushed Kelphine, I even borrowed his power.
Not that I feel indebted, though.

I will absolutely repay nothing.
Still, does Resk really love me?
…Maybe I can use that advantage somehow.

“How kind of you.”
“Do you really think so, coming from the man who crushed the four great nobles?”

She peered at my face with amusement.
What are you staring at? I’ll beat you up.

Besides, Kelphine just ended up collapsing on his own for some reason.
Watching from afar and then suddenly being attacked really freaked me out.

“That was so entertaining! Kelphine’s dumbfounded look! Ahaha! Just thinking about it makes my stomach hurt all over again!”

What is with her? So despicable.
I spat inwardly in disgust.

Laughing at someone’s downfall makes you scum.
Mocking others is simply not acceptable.

Me? I’m safe.
I transcend the common standards of society.

“Hey, did you know? Your name is all the talk in the noble council right now.”
“No.”

I prayed to God for this dull conversation to end soon.
Not that I believe in God anyway.

In fact, I am the god.

“After all, you crushed Kelphine. Even though you’re not a court noble, you can’t be ignored. No, it’s precisely because you’re not a court noble that you can’t be overlooked.”

What is she saying?
I won’t say a word, so do as you please.

I won’t allow the Apophis domain to be dragged into this.
After all, it’s the territory that supports me.

“Not being a court noble and yet wielding power in the noble council… Hehe, there’s never been anyone like you before. How amusing.”

She doesn’t find everything amusing, does she?
I’m not amusing at all.

Who said they wanted influence in the noble council anyway?

“Moreover, it looks like even more interesting things might happen. Honestly, watching you never gets boring. How about joining my faction now? It’d be better if I could keep an eye on you up close.”

“No, thank you.”

I answered immediately with a smile.

If I joined her faction, I’d probably just be her puppet—played with and then discarded as soon as she tires of me.

I might enjoy playing with puppets, but the reverse is unacceptable.

“What exactly do you mean by ‘something interesting’?”

I never let unsettling words slip by unnoticed.

That’s Barol quality.

After hearing all that, I figured I might as well just leave; I don’t want to talk with her more than necessary.

“Well, that’s the biggest reason I called you,”

Silthia explained without any hesitation.

She looked at me and slowly began to speak.

“Do you know about the underworld?”

“Are you talking about the society created by anti-social forces?”

I answered somewhat vaguely.

I don’t have a precise definition, but I often use the expressions “front” and “back.”

I’ve always seen it as a place where those who can’t live an upright life gather—a den of filth that makes you want to vomit.

『Aren’t they similar?』

Nanashi-kun, do you want to get fired?

“Well, that’s more or less correct. The truly bad ones hide in the shadows and commit their misdeeds in secret, but the shadows of the royal capital run very deep. That’s why those people end up creating a kind of social order similar to what exists openly. It is precisely the order forged by anti-social forces that is the underworld.”

An order imposed by villains, huh.

I, a good person, can’t even imagine such a thing.

Of course, it looks dangerous, so I have no intention of ever getting close.

“It’s a place where people who aren’t accepted in the open gather. It’s where things that can’t be done openly are done in secret—like assassination contracts, for instance.”

Conversely, it also means that what can be done openly cannot be done in secret.

It has its pros and cons, I suppose.

Those with a dark past probably find it easier to live in the underworld, while those with a clean record do better in open society.

…Huh? I seem to have trouble living comfortably in either.

Maybe the whole world is just wrong?

“The underworld is controlled by several illegal organizations—groups that brazenly commit their misdeeds, which would be immediately shut down if they ever came into the open…”

Some people just can’t help but try to control everything.

Is that just human nature?

While I was musing on that, Silthia smiled at me.

“It seems like they’re targeting you somehow.”

…Is this my moment of popularity?

Haha, I see, I see.

So, anti-social types are targeting me, huh?

…What the heck!

Enough already!

I just want someone else to manage the Apophis domain so I can live a carefree, relaxed life with that money!

“You killed Kelphine, you know? Naturally, you’re attracting attention—whether it’s for better or worse.”

I didn’t kill him!