Does the Assassin Girl Dream of the Mana Doll?

The End of Work

“It’s been nine days since their departure. Surely, they must have reached the deepest part of the ruins by now.”

Ever since the heir set off, he had been trapped in an intangible, surreal unease, like an unsettling emotion without solid ground, constantly tormenting his mind. Despite carrying out his daily duties without revealing his inner turmoil, the weight on his capable shoulders was undeniable.

As night fell, he sought solace in heavy drinking within the confines of his room. “Will everything truly turn out fine? No, I have no choice but to believe…”

Within the dimly lit room, illuminated by a solitary lamp, he shook his head repeatedly.

The information he had received from the trusted steward of a certain Earl’s family troubled his thoughts. If he chose to believe it, success seemed highly probable, regardless of how extraordinary that person might be.

If they appeared otherworldly, then they should be dealt with through extraordinary means. And so, from the day he made that decision, his clandestine schemes began.

“This is for the best. If Lord Gerard becomes the heir, the Endrake Duchy will be secure… That’s the way it should be…”

The steward—the hidden ruler overseeing the management of servants, maids, and even administrative affairs within a noble household.

He had served as a butler under his father, who held the position of steward in the Endrake family, he diligently honed his skills to become the next in line.

During those days, he developed a close bond with Gerard, the second son. Or rather, it would be more accurate to say that he had ingratiated himself with Gerard, as getting too close to Curtis would have been dangerous.

Nevertheless, Gerard and he grew close. Gerard was an incredibly genuine and kind-hearted individual, someone whose every word he unquestioningly believed.

“If I can convince Lord Gerard to appeal to the master, almost anything can be accomplished. If things go according to plan, that person will be gone, and Lord Gerard will assume the mantle, and then it will be my era.”

As he held the trembling glass, he reassured himself as if reciting a mantra.

Through various manipulations and subtle instigations, he had already secured the rewards by swaying Gerard and prompting him to beseech the Duke.

And now…

“It will be fine. I’ve prepared for this, and I’m capable of succeeding…”

Greg, the most significant obstacle, was no longer in the picture. All that remained was to assert control over the girl. With that thought, he smirked and swirled the glass.

Clank.

In the closed room, with the tightly shut windows, the sound of the glass placed on the table resonated ominously.

“Good evening…” A sudden, hushed voice pierced the air.

“Huh? W-What?! Who’s there?!” Panicking, he darted his gaze around, only to spot a dark figure by the window.

Cloaked in black attire, seemingly absorbing the ethereal blue light of the moon, her long black hair concealed by the shadows. Her expression, shrouded within the twilight, remained inscrutable.

“From the assassins’ guild. This is a report of mission accomplishment and a request for payment,” she whispered in a low voice, tossing something onto the table.

Unnoticed, the object glided smoothly until it landed right in front of the man’s eyes.

“This is… the holy seal, Lord Curtis’… which means…”

“Yes, the mission has been completed. That’s the specified proof.”

As she spoke those words, he extended his trembling finger toward the holy seal. With fear and hesitation, he prodded it with his fingertip, slowly confirming the sensation.

Taking it in his hand, he examined the front and back, staring intently at the proof over and over again.

“Hahaha, hahaha!! I did it, I finally did it!”

“Quiet. If you’ve confirmed it, it’s time to discuss the rest of the payment.”

His joyous outburst was met with a cold voice that dampened his spirits. His excitement faded, his face soured, and he waved his hand dismissively.

“Don’t be foolish. Consult Hans for the details.”

“Why Hans?”

“What?” Caught off guard by the unexpected response, he froze in place.

What is this woman talking about? He stared at her face, seeking an answer.

“Our guild master is Greg. You should know that, so why Hans?”

“What?! Wait, hold on, what are you talking about?! You… Aren’t you Ghost?!”

“Oh, so he even told you about me…”

This was completely different from the arrangement with Hans.

“You should be following Hans’ orders!”

“Do you really think it’s that simple?”

With a small sigh, he grasped what he shouldn’t have understood, and cold sweat started pouring.

No way. No way. No way…

“I thought Hans couldn’t have done it alone, so I investigated. And I was right. Thanks for confirming it.”

A rattling sound filled the air as he trembled. He still hadn’t realized that he was the one trembling.

“I don’t know where you met him, and I don’t intend to know… You used Hans, and Hans used you. Each of you prepared a suitable sum to eliminate those who were in the way.”

They gathered thugs and dispatched them to various hideouts. It shouldn’t have been possible to arrange all that in just a few days. Even if they hurriedly prepared after receiving the assassination request, it would have been too late. In other words, it was premeditated.

“N-No, I… I was deceived by him.”

“That’s a lie. Didn’t you know? Lies don’t work on me.”

He was struck with astonishment at her calm words. There was no way to deny it. She declared it as if it were an undeniable truth.

“After Greg was killed, you visited the guild and met with Hans. I know about that too. Most likely, you embezzled the payment together, right? …Silence will be taken as confirmation.”

There was no way to answer. His gaze wandered, then Ghost murmured softly, following his gaze. For a while, only her voice, no longer resembling a voice, echoed, “Confirming the reaction of mithril silver… You’re hiding it inside that pillar.”

“W-What?! How did you know that?!” The astonishment, which he had lost count of, completely exposed him. He felt an icy chill, as if a freezing winter night breeze blew in.

“Now, the confirmation is complete. It’s time for collection. The reward for completing the mission and… the price of betrayal.”

In front of him, who could no longer utter a word, a dull, gleaming dagger was drawn.

The next morning, the butler of the Endrake family was discovered murdered in his own room—a completely sealed room with closed windows and doors. Beside him lay a bloodstained holy seal.

The Duke, understanding everything, covered up the incident.

***

Author’s Note:

So much has been lost. Yet those who remain cannot afford to pause. For tomorrow will come, and hunger persists.

Up next: Each of Them and What Follows…

They must continue to live.

***