Volume 3 Chapter 65: It Was an Incredibly Good Dream【Assassination Organization Arc】

“……Gone?”

Blinking rapidly, Artemis couldn’t understand what had just occurred before her eyes.

Until moments ago, men had been closing in on her.

One man had attempted to drag Balor along as he fled.

She thought, “I’ll kill the first one, but the second—I’ll torture him mercilessly before killing him.”

Yet in an instant, they vanished as if they were mere illusions.

Was it some kind of magic?

However, Artemis couldn’t fathom why all three would use a vanishing spell—there was no ally to aid them, and their advantage remained completely unchanged.

She was about to sink into deep thought when she noticed Balor collapsing.

“Master!”

Artemis immediately rushed over.

She moved with such swiftness that one might have assumed she employed the same instantaneous teleportation the men had planned.

Gently, she cradled him, taking care not to cause any harm.

He was in a deplorable state.

It nearly brought tears to her eyes.

Then, Balor slowly opened his eyes.

Would he berate her? Had she done something needless that endangered her master? She felt she deserved a scolding—but, please, she hoped he wouldn’t despise her.

With that sentiment, she looked at Balor.

“…I’m drunk, so my head hurts.”
“Master!”

Balor, as always.

With his trademark sarcastic smile, he made Artemis, overcome with emotion, cling to him.

The tears that streamed down did not fall to the ground; they soaked into Balor’s clothes.

Yet he too must have reached his limit.

He promptly closed his eyes.

His breathing remained steady, so death would not claim him.

Still, she needed to get him to a hospital.

Cradling Balor carefully—ensuring no jolt was transmitted—Artemis hurried through the night streets.

“(What on earth were those eyes…)”

She suddenly recalled the moment those men vanished.

They had disappeared in an instant.

Not even a trace of their power remained.

In other words, she couldn’t fathom what had happened.

Yet her sole concern was Balor.

Hadn’t Balor awakened at that moment?

What clung to her mind were Balor’s eyes at that time.

They were no ordinary eyes.

They were neither human nor, for that matter, demonic.

They seemed far more otherworldly… as if belonging to an entirely different realm…

Well, it doesn’t matter.

Even if his eyes were something utterly otherworldly, or if he himself were not an ordinary person—after all, she would always remain by his side.

Artemis smiled gently.

“Master, you’re the master, after all. I’ll always be with you.”
“Ha?”

Balor appeared dissatisfied.

◆

I, at long last, have returned to the Apophis domain.

…It’s been so long that it’s not even amusing.

This is strange.

Why has the feudal lord been away from his territory for such an extended period?

Wouldn’t things fall apart without me? Normally.

That was what I thought, but apparently Ashvin has been running things without any issue.

This makes me feel like an unwanted child.

Don’t mess with me.

If I was never needed in the first place, then do everything without me.

Don’t assign any tasks to me.

I’ll just take it easy until I can snag some random woman.

“But seriously, the royal capital was shit.”

I realized once again—cities are really shit.

Sure, being called to the noble council was unavoidable, but I got nothing out of it! I only wore down my mind and body.

Are they fucking idiots?

Sure, there might have been plenty of attractive women, but for someone like me—who cares about looks—they meant nothing.

Isn’t there a woman who can run a domain and let me mooch off her? Right now, if she just supports me, I get the Apophis domain along with it!

Awesome! What a steal!

“Indeed. I couldn’t finish off our master… ghe-fun ghe-fun—either.”

“You really haven’t managed to cover it up at all, you bastard.”

I glared at Nanashi. This person really wasn’t any help at all.

I even failed using her as a decoy. What the hell is she?

“After all, I think just this domain is enough for me.”

I reaffirmed my belief: for me, having the Apophis domain alone is plenty.

I can’t stand those court nobles at the noble council—constantly kicking each other down and betraying one another until it makes your stomach turn. Is running a country really such a great deal?

Just being able to indulge in a decent amount of luxury and live in safe decadence already makes you a winner in life. To me, the stage is the Apophis domain.

I never intended to vie for an important national position anyway; that only made my resolve stronger.

“So, what were you doing? Your precious master was getting absolutely beaten up!”

Artemis understands. Somehow, she ended up helping out, and it was well worth hiring her. Keep it up.

And Nanashi? This person didn’t do a damn thing, did she? I absolutely won’t forgive the fact that she showed up in front of me—rubbing her eyes and yawning. I got completely beaten up, you know.

What about your role as a decoy?

“I just had a reason I absolutely couldn’t move.”

“Oh really? Let’s hear it.”

After a brief pause, she began to speak.

“…It was an incredibly good dream.”

“Fired.”

I need to hire a new maid—a maid who can serve as my human shield.

“Huh⁉️ Wh-why…”

“That’s obvious!”

When our master was getting battered and nearly dying, you were sound asleep⁉️ I’m jealous!

Take my place!

Nanashi moved closer, trying to calm my seething anger. Her body pressed against mine through her epron dress, but damn, she’s so skinny. I’m not the type to get aroused by physical contact, yet this won’t even get me worked up.

It’s stiff.

“Come on, come on. Look, now I can control the front side of the noble council—and the back side, which is the largest assassination organization.”

You bastard! Do you really think I’m going to be soothed by that?!

I’m not going to be soothed!

“Shut it! …Hey, what did you just say?”

Before I could shout in anger, I suddenly noticed something off about Nanashi’s words.

Control? What the hell is that supposed to mean…?

I only have the Apophis domain under my control.

Noble council? Assassination organization? Front? Back?

None of it makes any sense—I can only tilt my head in confusion.

“…Ah, that was something I shouldn’t have said. Well then…”

“Hey, wait a minute! There’s nothing you shouldn’t say! Tell me everything! What the hell is going on? Explain it in detail!”