...2 hours ago.
At 6 PM, when all the guests had entered.
"Hall 1A clear."
I was patrolling from the guest rooms of the castle to the balcony, the roof, and so on, a little off from the main floor where the classic orchestra melody was flowing. The route was received in advance, and I followed the order memorized in the 「Notepad」.
"...."
Walking down the corridor, I glanced at the rooms of Jade and Senator Amota. I had manipulated the invitations to switch their locations, and fortunately, neither of them had any suspicions.
─Make sure everyone follows their routes without overlapping. If anyone shows even a slight suspicious behavior, report it immediately.
The plan of the 「Monster Association」 was probably to kidnap Senator Amota, malfunction the castle's barrier, and plunge this charity party into chaos. In reality, the attendees would be trapped in this barrier for quite a long time.
"Is it not time yet?"
I checked the clock. The rooms were still as they were. Of course, there was also a way for me to evacuate Senator Amota alone.
The reason why I packed Jade instead of her was....
It's a gift. The second son of Libra would be a much more valuable hostage than Senator Amota.
If only I could kidnap him.
"Room corridor 1A clear"
─The charity party will start soon. Exactly 10 minutes after Senator Amota's speech.
That's when it happened.
──!
A small ripple of mana spiked. It was a fairly quiet formula manifestation. I briefly looked back at that place.
One room was missing. It was originally Senator Amota's room, but it was [107A], which I had switched with Jade.
"Perfect."
Only the floor tiles remained in the place where the room was neatly cut out. As if it had always been this way.
I turned around with a smirk.
Gulp-
Just then, the door of room [108 B] opened. At the last moment, Senator Amota came out with a script in her hand.
"Hmm? It's that guard at the entrance."
She gave me a small smile.
"Yes. That's correct."
"...I see. Did you really think I was in my 30s?
"I can't lie."
"True. You're a smooth talker."
I don't know much about Senator Amota. Because she dies at this point before my regression.
But I do know about the 'Amota Special Law'. I've heard the rumors about it.
A Senator who was infinitely merciful to the lower classes of society, but mercilessly charged like a bullet at criminal groups including the cartel, and sadly oxidized.
"My speech will start soon. Will you be able to listen?"
She asked me.
"I'll watch from afar."
"Hmm. Okay. Actually, it doesn't matter if you don't listen. It's just a talk about money."
Senator Amota headed across the corridor to the main hall, and I brushed my hair back and smiled quietly.
"I wonder if they received the gift well."
* * *
In the main hall of the castle.
Elise and Layla were observing the faces attending [Blue DeLuneman].
"That person is the CEO of 'Pine'."
"Oh wow..."
At Elise's words, Layla gasped in admiration.
"That person is the largest shareholder of 'Ruslion'."
"Gosh. That person is the 30th richest person in Edsilla?"
As Elise, who was well-versed in current affairs, there were many familiar faces. The CEO of 'Pine', the smartphone manufacturer she uses, the chief researcher of 'Villonde' who develops, invents, and exhibits various Magic Spells…
"Layla. Did you think Shion was here?"
What bothered Elise more were the bodyguards.
She was sure there was a bodyguard who resembled Shion. Was it a mistake due to the mask?
"Why would Shion be here? He didn't get an invitation."
Layla had a beaming face. It was a party after a long time, and it seemed exciting as it was a social event held in Trick City.
──Ladies and gentlemen enjoying the party, could you spare a moment?
Then a microphone sound echoed in the party hall.
Everyone turned to look at the stage.
──Senator Amota would like to say a few words to the guests.
Somewhere, the spotlight fell. Many eyes were focused there.
─Hello. I'm Amota, holding a small seat in the Edsilla Parliament.
It was Senator Amota. She, a three-term senator, was a person worthy of particular respect and trust at this party.
Elise also looked up at her.
─Actually, what I'm going to talk about today may not be very pleasant. Because of the way I normally speak. Perhaps, the corporate representatives here know better?
Small laughter flowed. Elise slightly mimicked the relaxed looks of the adults.
"Hehe."
"Elly. What's so funny?"
"...Be quiet."
─Today, I want to talk about 'charity' using this platform.
Elise suddenly scanned the edge of the main hall. There were many bodyguards.
Among those bodyguards, someone similar to Shion… was not there.
─This high-walled place is Trick City's Section C-01. It's about halfway between the very stable B-Section and D-Section. It might be a very dangerous space for you?
Then the adults laughed. Elise also covered her mouth and followed.
"Hehe."
"Elly. What's so funny?"
─I was burdened to call you here. But it was the most appropriate place. If you go up one block from here, there is B-Section full of mysterious magic buildings, cutting-edge companies, and luxury homes.
Senator Amota projected photos from the stage. It was a familiar scenery of B-Section for Layla.
─But if you go down one more block, in Trick City's D-Section…
The pictures flipped like a film.
─A lot of children are still losing their lives.
The sight of children sprawled out, dying in D-Section.
Layla's face turned pale in an instant. Elise just stared at it quietly.
"Simply because they have nothing to eat, no water, and above all… they are consumed as tools by criminals."
"Right. The villains."
Layla gritted her teeth. Elise took a sip of her champagne.
"It's not just Trick City's D-Section. The outskirts of Edsilla. Those places we simply call the 'slums' and ignore and despise…"
Senator Amota flipped through several photos.
"These social phenomena are not enough with just laws. Your sponsorship and donations, and above all, attention. With these, we can protect the children from crime. We can brighten their future. At the same time."
As if it was the most important part.
Senator Amota raised her finger.
"All of this process will be transparent. How your donations and sponsorships are used, every detail will be disclosed."
Then it happened.
Suddenly, it got dark outside the window. Most didn't pay much attention. It was about time for the sun to set.
"…Well. I've taken too much time. I hope you all enjoy the party and have a safe journey home."
Applause echoed.
Elise and Layla also clapped. Layla was particularly enthusiastic.
"Elly. I'm going to donate all my allowance."
"Then I'll donate the same amount."
At that moment, celebrities also approached Layla and Elly. They were CEOs of various companies.
Charity parties, where networking is built through charity, proceed in this way.
Some engage in conversation, some say they have something to talk about and quickly leave their seats.
"…Why is it so dark outside?"
At some point, the one who noticed the strangeness was a researcher from a magic company with particularly excellent intuition.
Elise also looked around. Then she suddenly looked up at the ceiling.
"…Wait."
Her eyes widened.
"Elly. What?"
Layla also looked up and shivered.
"…What? Was it always that high…?"
The ceiling was dizzyingly high.
Of course, the ceiling was originally high, but now it was abnormally high, so high that the end was not visible.
"Elly. What's happening?"
"I've seen it before. In magic textbooks."
Elise quickly diagnosed the situation.
"It's a Boundary Error."
"An error?"
Then the businessmen around her gathered. They had detected something unusual.
"Yeah. Sometimes this happens when an expansion boundary malfunctions…."
The space itself distorts and expands, akin to a strand of stretchy taffy, indicating a peculiar distortion.
"Don't worry. It's not an incident that could cause casualties."
Elise said, looking around at them. The bodyguards also moved. They were about to go out to the corridor-
"Don't go out!"
Elise stopped them with her 「Telekinesis」.
"Stay in a wide open space. If you go into a long space like a corridor, you could get trapped."
The orchestra stopped. Elise focused her magic on her retina. She was trying to observe the circuit of the barrier to find the error─
─Kwaaaa!
A flying object appeared from outside the window and collided. It was a strangely shaped pile of rocks.
Really, it looked like rocks were randomly clumped together and flying around.
Layla asked.
"What, what is that?"
"…It's a derivative effect of a Boundary Error. When magic leaks out, it settles in natural or man-made objects."
This is why most of the cursed mansions and phantom-infested one-room apartments that occasionally appear in movies are due to this 「Boundary Error」.
From the beginning, due to the poor design of the Barrier, or the Barrier being attacked at its weak points, errors occur, magic runs wild, and magical incidents occur within the Barrier.
"Kyaaaaa!"
The scream of a businessman's wife was the signal.
Even Elise, who casually turned around, felt her stomach churn.
There, a golem made of flesh, intestines, muscles, skin, and bones that were presumed to be human was haphazardly stuck together.
* * *
At the same time.
Zia was alone in a room. But, it was not her room. It was 'someone else's' room.
[INSTALLING]
[◆◆◆◇◇]
She wanted to attend this social event too. She had deliberately asked Jade for an invitation.
Tododododo-
Nevertheless, she was not interested in the party itself or networking.
She was just tapping on the laptop keyboard.
Tododododo-
[INSTALLING]
[◆◆◆◆◇]
She was installing spyware. Zia herself had set it up very densely and cleverly, and currently, it was almost impossible to detect. The downside is that 'it has to be installed by directly manipulating the device'.
"...."
This was her goal from the beginning.
Some 'workaholics' tend to bring work to party venues, and businessmen who value privacy dislike CCTV.
It's the optimal condition for planting hacking programs.
Tadadadak- Tadadadak-
[COMPLETE]
Hacking complete. Now, all the information coming into this laptop is transmitted through a backdoor.
'Pine', 'Ruslion', and 'Villonde'. She installed the program on the laptops of important figures from three major companies.
Even the scraps are worth at least ten million Elne. If she's lucky, she could steal core technologies worth a billion Elne.
In this way, Zia occasionally takes risks. She moves directly to aim for high returns. No one would think that Zia would do such a thing.
"...."
She put the laptop back in the owner's bag. After erasing all traces, she went outside.
Stealthily- stealthily- she walked down the corridor.
"...?"
But, something was strange.
It was too dark.
There was no light coming through the window, and the end of the corridor seemed to be swallowed by darkness and was not visible.
She looked around.
The corridor had gotten longer.
There was no other way to describe it.
"...."
Zia started walking for now.
She adjusted the strength of her steps, calculated the optimal stride, and took about six steps forward.
"…Error."
She predicted a Boundary Error.
There are drawbacks to moving directly. Although there are returns, one is constantly exposed to risks.
Swoosh…
Suddenly, a strange wind blew in. It didn't feel good.
But there was no way around it. She had to keep moving forward until a gap in the error appeared.
Step. Step.
She kept walking. The more she walked, the less she could see and the less she could hear.
It felt like she was moving into darkness.
───Aaaahhhhh!
Suddenly, a human scream echoed. The sound was distorted like a stretched tape.
The Boundary Error is quite severe. Perhaps it's due to an attack from outsiders, or hacking.
Zia swallowed.
Whoosh-!
Suddenly, a candle lit up in the not-so-distant corridor. The light was clear in the darkness. There was one person in front of the light.
Zia paused for a moment.
Should she be suspicious, or should she ask for help?
But fear is not something she handles well. It's the only thing she fears. She could bear pain, but…
Zia walked towards the light. She reached the candle, trying to control her breathing as much as possible.
"Excuse me…"
She stopped her words.
Immediately, goosebumps rose all over her body.
It wasn't a person.
It was a painting.
A full-length portrait.
In it, a bizarre man made of paint was looking at her…
───Hahahahahahaha!
He laughed. His eyes drew a line as if they were torn. The moment she met his gaze, it felt like her soul was being captured.
She tried to step back. But her legs wouldn't move.
The man in the painting reached out first.
───Hahahahahahaha!
He burst into laughter, placing his hands on his own throat. He slowly began to strangle himself.
Squirm…
Twisting skin. Unending breath.
To get away from him, Zia put all her strength into one step.
One step.
Slowly stepping back…
Thud-
It was the worst-case scenario.
Something solid touched her back.
Zia nearly fainted at that moment.
But then…
Screech─
The sound of steel being scraped.
Like drawing a sword from its sheath, an unfamiliar resonance.
Whoosh──!
A sword swinging through the air. A flash of light in the void.
The man in the painting's hand was severed, and a scream filled Zia's ears.
Aaaargh────!!
It was a much more unbearable shriek. Zia let out an involuntary groan. Then, a thick palm reached out from behind her and covered her ears.
...
The world quieted down.
Soon, someone's sword moved. The sword stroke curved in a diagonal line.
It completely cut through the painting that had tormented her.
"..."
Zia staggered with the overwhelming sense of relief. She leaned her body against the figure behind her.
"...calm down."
A soft voice flowed in.
"Take deep breaths. There's no need to be tense."
Zia took a deep breath. She struggled to maintain her consciousness.
She couldn't let go of her consciousness. She still couldn't trust the person who saved her.
"There's no need to be tense."
There's no need to be tense.
Words spoken while holding her up.
"Haah.... Haah..."
Zia gasped as if she was about to faint.... She looked up above her head.
A blurry figure formed in her somewhat foggy vision.
"...I will protect you."
Eventually, as the focus became clear, one person filled her eyes.
The child she had once seen at the Orphanage.
That tiny figure.
"It's me."
Shion Ascal.