Gerrard had seen his share of darkness, but the underground tunnels beneath the forest carried an eeriness he couldn't explain. The air was damp, and the flickering torchlight cast ominous shadows on the moss-covered walls.
As he ventured deeper, the sounds of the city's festival above grew clearer. The tunnel's end appeared to lead somewhere near the city square.
A sudden movement—a faint whisper of a blade—drew Gerrard's attention. Before he could react, a dagger materialized from the darkness, gleaming as it arced toward him.
With a deft flick of his wrist, Gerrard's sword met the dagger mid-flight, sending it clattering to the ground.
"Show yourself."
A hooded silhouette, clad in black, emerged from the shadows.
"You are not welcomed here."
"I go where duty demands, even into the depths where cowards and killers hide."
Was the thief luring him here to be killed?
But why choose a place so close to the Viscountess's mansion? There were countless better locations.
If worse came to worst, then… the assassin wasn't sent for him but—
"Who hired you?" Gerrard's grip tightened on his sword.
There was no mistaking it—the man's target was none other than—
"Does it matter? You won't live to find out."
As he spoke, another dagger hurtled toward Gerrard. This time, the blade exploded on impact, unleashing a billowing cloud of thick, choking smoke that engulfed the tunnel.
"Tch, puny tricks!" Coughing and blinking against the acrid haze, Gerrard raised his sword defensively.
I can't see anything. A prolonged fight would be tedious.
Through the swirling smoke, the assassin lunged with unnatural speed, his blade aimed directly at Gerrard's throat.
Then I'll have to end the fight now!
Gerrard parried the strike, twisting his sword swiftly until its edge was poised against the assassin.
Die!
In an instant, the assassin's body ignited in searing flames. The fire engulfed Gerrard's sword and raced toward his body.
"Tch—Shockwave!"
Just before the flames could reach his skin, a surge of arcane energy exploded from Gerrard, dispersing the fire and smoke in a single, forceful pulse.
Where?
Scanning the area for his opponent. But the assassin was nowhere in sight.
The figure had vanished into the shadows, before Gerrard caught a flicker of black fabric out of the corner of his eye.
Clang.
Their weapons collided. Gerrard's eyes widened as he tried to anticipate every of his opponent's next moves, knowing he couldn't afford to miss a single moment.
Deflecting it could be troublesome.
It might have another effect as "annoying" as the last. Avoiding direct contact was the only option.
Taking a swift step back, Gerrard created distance. His eyes tracked the dagger's path in slow motion, watching as it missed him by mere inches.
When he refocused, the assassin flicked his wrist, producing a vial from his sleeve.
"With this, you die!"
Tch, poison? Acid? Whatever it was, Gerrard couldn't afford to be hit.
But he was too late. The momentary distraction had given the assassin the opening he needed.
So this is his real aim! I have no time to cast a spell!
His only choice was to minimize the damage.
Splash.
Kghhh—!!
A sizzling sound filled the air as the corrosive liquid burned through Gerrard's steel handguard, searing into his flesh. The bone of his left arm was nearly visible through the scorched skin.
The damage was worse than expected, but at least it was his non-dominant arm.
Shhhhhh.
The assassin tugged on a nearly invisible string from his sleeve, and the previously thrown dagger flew back toward Gerrard.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The dagger clattered to the ground as Gerrard's sword sliced through the string in an instant.
"Huff… huff…" Trying to catch his breath, Gerrard didn't take his eyes off the assassin for a second.
If this continues, I'll die.
"Is that it? The extent of your tricks?" His left arm throbbed in pain, but he needed to buy time.
The assassin squinted behind his mask, studying Gerrard intently.
He's lasted longer than I expected. Who is this man?
The Rosemount guard captain's background had shown nothing remarkable during investigation, and yet—
"So, my old age has finally caught up with me. What a tragedy."
The assassin readied his dagger once more and prepared to lunge. The murderous intent radiating from him was so potent it felt suffocating.
"Things could have been painless if only your skills were less honed, captain."
Looks like buying more time is useless. He's dead set on killing me now.
Gerrard poured a healing potion from his pouch over his wounded arm. It closed the wound but didn't restore the missing flesh.
As expected, it's not enough, he thought, grimacing.
"Allow me to apologize for underestimating you. Do you have any last words?"
"Well, aren't you the sympathetic type? Despite your gloomy appearance..."
Both men readied their weapons, each analyzing the other, waiting to see who would make the first move.
Midnight will arrive soon. I have to finish this quickly and kill the girl.
A defensive fight would mean death. There's too much unpredictability in his attacks.
Which meant...
I'll extinguish this man's life before time's up!
I must strike and kill him before he kills me!
---
"Hahhh... I thought they caught me sneaking around and following them for the past ten minutes!"
I was very surprised when Margarret approached me, but it turned out she was just saying hi.
Long story short, I was finally able to locate Lucia.
She is set to be assassinated in her mansion at midnight. So, you ask what I should do?
I have a perfect plan.
Nothing.
There's nothing to worry about since Gerrard has already taken care of the assassin.
He will succeed... won't he?
My next target is Benjamin's subordinate, the spy.
In the main storyline, the Viscountess becomes a tyrant after Lucia's death. Paranoia consumes her, and she executes anyone who even slightly appears suspicious.
But instead of strengthening the city's security, her actions render her state vulnerable to manipulation. Agents of the Demonic Order easily infiltrate and rule the city from the shadows, using the Viscountess as their puppet.
The City of Rosemount, which is the trading center of the Kingdom, turns into a black market filled with criminals. Honest guards are disposed of, while the cunning rise to power.
Whether Leticia realizes she is being manipulated or simply doesn't care about the city that allowed her daughter's death is unclear. After losing her husband in the war for the throne led by the current King fifteen years ago, her daughter was perhaps the only thing keeping her sane.
Her reign continues for a few years until the Hero notices the corruption in the city and ends up slaying Leticia herself.
If I can change that outcome, why shouldn't I?
Anyway, enough with the lore. Let's get to the plan.
All the preparations have been completed.
---
"Soon enough, my lady," Margarret said softly, her breath visible in the freezing night air.
"Yes... though it is a shame Mother is not here with me."
Margarret held Lucia's hand firmly, feeling how cold it was from the biting wind.
"It's alright, Lady Lucia! You and your mother can be together again after you graduate from the Academy!"
"Haha, perhaps you're right."
Honestly, Lucia wasn't feeling particularly saddened—just a little disappointed.
From the moment she was born, her father had been nothing but a ghostly figure in stories. Her mother painted a picture of an extraordinary man, but that's all they were—stories and a lifeless portrait.
Was it cruel for her to think that way?
Silver hair from her mother, ice-blue eyes from her father—Lucia carried the appearance of both parents. Those around her regarded her with pride, envy, or distant admiration. She was used to the pedestal she had been placed on, a symbol of the Rosemount legacy.
There was nothing wrong with that.
Yet, she couldn't help but feel lonely.
To Lucia, her mother was not "one of the most powerful knights in the kingdom," but simply "Mother."
Ruling the estate alone was hard. Lucia knew how much her mother had sacrificed—sleep, effort, and time—to ensure the Rosemount name remained respected, a legacy tied to her late father. It was selfish to think of her own wants after being blessed with such a family.
So, this much was fine.
It was supposed to be.
Margaret was right; it wasn't like she was going far away. She just had to move to another city for three years.
When she returned, she would prove herself ready to continue the Rosemount's name.
Everyone had their responsibilities, and hers was to bear this burden.
No one else was more worthy.
When she was strong enough to take care of herself, her mother could finally retire and have the rest she deserved.
And maybe, just maybe, they could spend time together—not as the proud family of Rosemount, but simply as mother and daughter.
---
"Mom, I'm sleepy," a child murmured, rubbing his eyes as he fought off the haze of sleep.
"Is that so? Should we go home then?"
"No~, I wanna see the fireworks!"
Margarret smiled at the familiar scene. Every year, it was the same—children complaining about being tired but too stubborn to leave.
Some things never change, she thought.
After her conversation with Lady Lucia, Margarret noticed a lift in her lady's spirits. In a month, a maid would accompany Lady Lucia to the Arcane Academy.
She was determined to work harder so the Viscountess would choose her for the position. Though the maids' quarters were separate from the students' dorms, at least she could still attend to her lady.
Still, I'm more tired than I expected...
"Hoaamm~~" Margarret yawned widely.
"Margarret, mind your manners when you're beside the lady," Erwyn said firmly, like a parent scolding a child.
"I'm sorry, m'lady. It's because I ate too much food that I'm so sleepy now."
Lucia smiled, gently patting Margarret's head like she was petting a kitten.
"It's fine, Erwyn. She must be tired after working since morning."
Margarret's eyes lit up as she leapt toward her beloved lady.
"My lady~, I will follow you until the end of time!"
"Margarret! You shouldn't jump and hug Lady Lucia like—"
"It's a once-a-year occasion; no one should blame her for enjoying it."
Erwyn rubbed the bridge of his nose, questioning how Margarret had ever been chosen as the lady's personal maid.
"Hehe, I love you, Lady Lucia~."
Ignoring the giggles from the people around them, Erwyn sighed heavily, wondering if the night's events were making him sleepy, too.
---
As the clock struck twelve, the countdown to the main event began. The square buzzed with excitement. Vendors and houses turned off their lamps, leaving only a few torches lighting the streets.
Everyone gathered to look up at the sky, where the velvet moon shone bright.
"TEN!!"
The spectacle everyone was waiting for.
"NINE!!"
The countdown of death.
"EIGHT!!"
Thud.
A noise—someone fell to the ground, clutching a whiskey bottle.
"SEVEN!!"
Thud.
Another person collapsed, this time more slowly.
"SIX!!"
Thud. Thud. Thud.
"...!?"
"What's happening?"
People began to notice.
"FIVE!!"
Yet the city's countdown continued loudly.
"Erwyn..."
"Lady Lucia, we must get out of here now!"
"B-but, we need to check the—"
"FOUR!!"
It seemed the people collapsing were only near Lucia. Elsewhere, the festivities continued, oblivious to the panic.
"We need to call—"
"Lady Lucia, your safety is our priority!"
"THREE!!"
Thud.
The maid's body hit the cobblestones.
"M-Margarret?"
"Lady Lucia, we have no time! This place is—ugh?!"
Erwyn's eyes rolled back as he, too, fell in front of her.
"TWO!!"
What should have been her last festival turned to chaos, with dozens of people collapsing one by one. Panic erupted. Children cried. Parents scrambled to carry their fallen young ones to safety.
"ONE!!"
Lucia's vision blurred, darkness overtaking her. Her head felt light yet unbearably heavy as she lost control of her body.
Everyone—please be safe.
"ZERO!!"
The night sky exploded in radiant colors. A brilliant burst of gold blossomed like a celestial flower, drawing gasps from the crowd. Streaks of blue and red followed, intertwining to create a mesmerizing dance of light.
Cheers erupted from every corner of the city—except for one, where cries of people were drowned out by the loudness. Fireworks shot into the sky one after another, the cheers grew louder and louder from one end of Rosemount to the other.
As Lucia fell, the last sight she saw wasn't the lit-up night sky, but a figure with a silver mask and a dark hood, obscuring their appearance.