The Hero Party Couldn’t Kill Me

Chapter 10: Who’s the bad guy (1)

“The risk is too great. When Edmund is caught, he’ll still be tied up with ropes. Obviously with a rope that blocks the use of magic. How will you use magic in that state?”

“It’s not that there is no way. It’s enough if you secretly untie the rope.”

After Mina returned, I explained my plan. At first, it wasn’t like she was frightened when I said I would die, but Rafaela still viewed my plan negatively.

“Wouldn’t it be too difficult to untie the rope? The wizard of the Noir Magic Tower who is escorting the princess now is the one who saved me. If it’s necessary, you can sneak up on Magnus.”

“However, how do you know how they will execute Lord Edmund? So, are you saying that we need to prepare several dummy corresponding to it?”

“Not necessarily. After all, the capital punishment in the Empire is beheading, hanging, and burning at the stake. And among them, those sentenced to death for heresy are usually burned at the stake. Of course, I can’t be 100% sure.”

“… And since there’s a high chance that Magnus will inspect the corpse, it can be done properly. Changing outfits can be done quickly with magic.”

“Well, then, do you think we will leave Edmund alone in the Etoile Church until he is executed? I’m sure you’ll get sick! Is it necessary to hurt yourself that much?”

“If you can defeat the saintess, you should be willing to do it.”

I said calmly.

Nonetheless, Rafaela continued to find something to rebut her, but before she could open her mouth further, I stepped in front of her and said,

“The opponent is a saint. She is said to be the agent of the Goddess. She fights a character like that, and I didn’t think she would be fine.”

“… Shouldn’t we be content with simply killing the saintess?”

“I emphasize again, but that’s not okay. If that happens, the saintess will just become a martyr. As she fights against the demons of the other world, she becomes a heroic dead knight. All I want is for her to lose her honor and all her power and die as her villain.”

“But… I do not know. Do I really have to do this? No, before that. The chances of success are not high! At worst, you die in vain.”

“I will try my best not to do that. If it still doesn’t make any waves… I must have been wrong. Or maybe the goddess has abandoned me.”

Rafaela said no more. Instead, he just looked at me with devastated eyes.

“Don’t worry. I emphasize again, I’m just trying to fake death, because I really have no intention of dying. I want to live to see the saintess fall.”

After I reassured her, I handed the absolute mask to Mina.

“What do you think?”

“You are the most alive I have ever seen.”

“… I’m not sure if it’s a compliment or a curse.”

“It’s a compliment.”

Mina smiled slightly. And she disappeared into the shadows.

From noble mtl dot com

***

After a while. Mina returned her absolute mask to her princess and returned to her lair.

Edmund was thinking in his room to review his plan once again, and Raphaella was waiting for Mina in the living room reading his magic book.

“What conversation did you have with Her Highness?”

“… You still don’t believe me? After exchanging simple greetings, I answered why I was on Edmund’s side. And he asked what he was going to do next.”

“So what did you say?”

“I replied that it would be difficult to work only for Her Highness from now on. Because she will become the master of the Mage Tower.”

“… Things seem to be working out.”

“If you are as skilled as I am, you can become the owner of the Mage Tower.”

Mina shrugged her head.

Rafaela rolled her eyes.

“Mina. Do you really like Edmund’s plan?”

Then, before Mina entered her room, she asked a question in a clear voice.

Mina turned around and said.

“The specter says he will reach Buddhahood, is there a need to stop it?”

“What are you talking about again? Then, are you saying that it doesn’t matter if Edmund-sama goes wrong?”

“I would rather ask. Do you still have feelings for him?”

Rafaela’s cheeks turned slightly red. Mina smiled at her and moved closer to her.

“I said it back then, but it might be better to just fold it? You know what I mean by faking death. Edmund, when his vendetta is over, he intends to leave the Empire. Maybe he goes to speth?”

“That is also the story of when the operation went well. Still, I think there are many loopholes in this plan.”

“Well, you know that best. I’m not too worried though. Didn’t Edmund himself say that earlier? He’s not really trying to die.”

“… ….”

“If you’re that worried, think about it too. How to save Edmund. Oh, are you already preparing?”

Mina said as she gently touched her spellbook. Before she could see the contents of her spellbook, Raphaella closed her spellbook.

“… That’s what I’m thinking too.”

Rafaela left her words and went back to her room.

Mina thought for a split second about the contents of her magic book she had seen.

She seemed to be able to clearly see at least the pattern related to her soul that she told me about before.

***

The next morning.

There were dark clouds in the sky. Maybe it will rain in a little while.

It was rather ominous weather, but the saintess went to see her princess again with Magnus escorting her.

“So, how did it go? Where is the absolute mask?”

“It seems that I didn’t record properly while moving the location of the treasure. In the end, I found the absolute mask safely.”

The princess said, showing her absolute mask. The saintess’ expression slightly distorted. Her best chance at putting pressure on her princess was thus blown away.

“Can I check if it’s real first?”

Magnus asked.

“You don’t trust me right now?”

“I just wanted to check. It is possible that Edmund may have swapped it for an imitation.”

“… Then I will show you myself.”

The princess put on her mask and said. She changed into the image of Magnus standing right in front of her.

“… It looks genuine.”

Magnus whispered to the saintess. Even without saying that, she already knew the saintess.

‘I should have pressured you yesterday.’

The saintess regretted it belatedly. After all, yesterday’s incident was nothing more than buying Edmund time to return the absolute mask.

But then, even now, it was ambiguous to argue like that. She stopped saying that the princess was just stolen or that there was something wrong with the storage system in the imperial palace. Once she produces the necessary paperwork or evidence for that, she stops.

Above all, the saintess had no physical proof that Edmund never wore a mask.

“And the absolute mask will continue to remain in the imperial palace, right?”

“Of course. With this happening, we decided to store it in a higher security level warehouse. Certainly, it would be a big deal if Edmund steals.”

“… Instead, allow us to make sure that the absolute mask is intact every day. I want to be sure.”

Considering the princess’ reaction yesterday, I could have refused right away….

“Don’t worry. I will check every day.”

“No, simply having the princess confirm is not enough. I want to check too.”

“… I think it is unnecessary, but if it puts your mind at ease, do it.”

The princess surprisingly accepted. I was suspicious of her attitude contrary to yesterday, but her mind might have changed because of yesterday’s events.

“But, you know? You can’t enter the imperial warehouse, so the manager will show you in front of the warehouse. And you can’t bring other wizards or escorts with you.”

Above all, the princess was still wary of her saint. At her princess-like reply, the saintess could no longer press and turned around.

Shoot aaa…….

Kukuku kung….

After coming out of the imperial palace, rain began to pour heavily. The distant sound of thunder could also be heard sparsely.

Magnus built a shield around him and his saintess to block the rain.

“Then Edmund never wore a mask.”

“… I still can’t believe it. Yesterday’s incident could also have been to buy Edmund time to return the absolute mask.”

“Anyway, now that Edmund never wears a mask, isn’t that one less thing to worry about?”

“Well… ….”

The saintess took out her crystal ball and said. The saintess, who checked the unread message, froze on the spot.

– Someone wrote a letter insulting the saintess with magic near the temple of Etoile.

‘It was Edmund’s fault.’

It was obvious. Who else but Edmund would do this?

“Magnus, I need to go back to the Great Crusade right now. Use teleportation.”

“Okay.”

I hurried back to the Great Hall. Upon arrival, her priests approached the saint and said,

“Holy Lady, someone scribbled on the floor in front of the Great Hall… ….”

“I know. Did you catch the culprit?”

“That… We are also quickly gathering witnesses, but no one who has seen the graffiti has come out yet.”

“I want to see graffiti first.”

The other priests hesitated at the saintess’ words, but in the end, one of them tied her arms and led the saintess to the place where her graffiti was.

Even though it was raining heavily, there were numerous citizens gathered around it, and Paladins were controlling them from all over.

When the saintess appeared, her crowd moved aside. The saintess read the words written on her floor with a nonchalant expression.

– Saint Lucy is a fake Saint

‘Dare… ….’

Saint Lucy’s body trembled. The biggest problem is, that statement may be true.

Her Revelations About Her Edmund Lastly, the Goddess had no further revelations to her.

No matter how much she prayed, she didn’t respond.

“… So, no witnesses?”

The saintess asked quietly. The priest next to her sweated.

“I’m sorry.”

“Do you think that makes sense? How many people are gathered here now! How is it that no one has ever seen this graffiti being drawn?”

Even though there were many people watching, the saintess could not maintain her composure. The other crowd started to gossip when they saw her unusually angry saintess.

And that moment.

Kwajijik!!!

Lightning struck the highest tower of the Great Crusade.

The saintess’ eyes darkened.