Chapter 58
Chapter 58
====
No wonder Dielo's rest was so long.
'Master!'
I wondered how Dielo had gotten out of the office so quickly, but it seemed she had snuck out.
It must have been urgent, as she led Dielo out of the water with a pale face.
'Excuse me, Madam.'
In the end, Dielo was taken away(?) by Pielle like that.
"Shall I go back too?"
I had enough rest, so it would be better to wash up and relax.
Of course, there was something to do before falling asleep. My head, cleared by being in the water for so long, clearly told me what I had to do.
"Sir Nirua."
As soon as I washed up and went to my room, I called Nirua.
If he could also prove that his abilities increased near water, I would have a clear basis for my words.
But a problem arose.
"That is..."
Nirua, after hearing my story, answered with a troubled expression from behind the curtain that Pielle, who had appeared unnoticed, had drawn.
"My Water Manipulation Ability has disappeared, so I don't think I can help you."
"What?"
His Water Manipulation Ability disappeared?
"...Ah."
Come to think of it, Nirua must have sworn allegiance to the head of the family and made a contract of power.
It might be different from the contract used in Argenta, but given the nature of the Shadow Swordsmen Clan, there was a high possibility that they had a separate contract.
The current Duke Alloze was still the head of the family.
He hadn't been loyal and had even faked his death to deceive the Duke, so it was clear that the contract of power had been severed.
"I'm sorry I can't help you."
Nirua bowed deeply. I shook my head.
"No."
There was no need to be sorry.
After all, I didn't bring Nirua because of his Water Manipulation Ability.
But Nirua seemed a little dejected.
Nirua was organized into an independent unit under Pielle, the cleaner, for convenience.
He didn't need to do anything special until I gave an order.
That might have made him think he was unnecessary.
That wasn't the case at all. I needed to comfort him.
"I have the Water Manipulation Ability, so it doesn't matter. Besides, Sir Nirua is already a great help to me, isn't he?"
He would know without me having to add anything.
His disguise skills were definitely unique.
Nirua slightly raised his head at my words.
"...My disguise skills are still intact, so don't worry. I will serve you with my life as much as you have taken me in."
I stared at Nirua as he said that.
This person had gone through a lot as well.
Besides. Why were there so many people here and there who were willing to give their lives?
I knew it meant loyalty, but maybe it was because I had a modern mindset, but I couldn't help but hesitate every time I heard such words.
It was then.
"And, I've organized this..."
Nirua handed me something. Looking at the item that had been passed through Pielle's hand.
"Huh?"
What he gave me was.
[Current Trends of the Alloze Family]
It was the trends of the Alloze family that he had seen before he came out.
It was a collection of information from the assassin group Nirua belonged to, information received from Duke Alloze, and the current situation of Alloze.
"I organized it in case it would be helpful."
Nirua was sincerely following me as he said that.
Duke Alloze had lost a true loyalist.
I looked at him and said.
"Sir Nirua."
"Yes."
I said to him, my voice unknowingly lowered.
"I'm going to destroy Alloze. And since this poisoning incident is related to Kartiel, I'll have to defeat Kartiel someday as well."
Nirua bowed his head without answering my words.
"I made a contract to borrow your abilities on the condition that I protect you from Alloze. But."
I spread out my hand.
"If Alloze disappears, that contract will end. What will you do then?"
This was a problem that needed to be clarified.
While asking the question, I once again reminded myself of the relationship between Dielo and me.
I was also in a contractual relationship with Dielo, where I would have to disappear if Pero appeared.
"..."
But considering that I was also uncomfortable with my feelings for Sir Nirua, Dielo might be feeling this way every time she saw me.
It was sad that someone would leave my side for whatever reason at some point.
"To me, Alloze is already only Krua."
Then Nirua answered. I opened my mouth slightly at those words.
While expecting him to say that, and knowing that he had nowhere to go.
So, even though I knew the answer.
The relief that his voice, saying he wouldn't leave, gave me was great.
It felt strange that someone was blindly following me.
"...Thank you."
Would Dielo feel this way if I said I wouldn't leave?
But I couldn't promise, even for the future.
I looked at Nirua and continued.
"But don't say you'll give your life."
I didn't want a loyal subject to die.
Nirua, his eyes widened at my words, bowed his head.
"...Thank you."
I dismissed him, who had become even more polite.
"Then..."
After he left, I reviewed the data he had given me.
Nirua had prepared the data at a really opportune time. The situation was as expected.
Duke Alloze was just waiting for the right time.
The time when I would erase all of Dielo's Lilies.
And he was convinced that Dielo and I had fallen in love.
Then the war with Alloze would start soon, and since we had been attacked, there was a good excuse.
Now was the right time, with Kartiel quiet due to the intelligence department's work.
"Call the informant."
At my words, Pielle bowed her head.
―Tak.
She pulled the string with a rather peculiar rhythm.
Then a maid appeared.
Was she the person to convey the message to the intelligence department? I tilted my head slightly and ordered again.
"Call the front-line informant."
At my words, the maid bowed her head.
"As you command."
...Was she the informant herself?
Ah, could it be that an informant could come depending on how Pielle pulled the string?
"Is there a separate signal to call the informant?"
At my words, the maid bowed her head.
"Yes. You knock somewhere three times quickly, and then twice slowly."
Then she demonstrated.
―Tatatatak, tak, tak.
I watched her knock on the door and followed suit on the table.
―Tatatatak, tak, tak.
"Like this?"
"Yes."
The maid, who was about to continue her answer, closed her mouth. Instead, a black shadow popped out behind her.
"!"
Rick smiled and greeted me, surprising me.
"Did you call?"
Was this Rick's direct line(?).
"Oh, I didn't expect Sir Rick to come."
"It's the signal to call me."
Taktaktak, tak, tak. That was it?
"Each informant has a different signal to call them."
"Oh..."
That was really new information.
Still, I asked how to call an informant, and she immediately told me the direct signal to the head of the intelligence department.
I thought about it last time too, but Argenta was treating me like an insider, as if I wasn't going to leave soon.
No, beyond that.
[Although this is Argenta, I hope it becomes comfortable water for Madam to rest in.]
I thought of the notes attached to the items in the swimming pool.
The people of Argenta were also getting used to me.
Even the people on the 4th floor of Argenta, who already knew the situation, were treating me with more trust and closeness.
Like a family. My heart tickled.
I shouldn't be like this, I shouldn't get used to it.
I couldn't help but feel good.
I shook my head at the new feeling and gestured to him.
"Come in."
"That."
Rick hesitated at my words. He seemed more cautious for some reason and slipped in.
Even though the curtains were already drawn, he drew another curtain between me and himself.
"?"
While I was wondering, Rick bowed his head.
"As you command."
The door closed, and I looked at Rick's figure visible through the thin curtain and said.
"There are many spies among the servants on the 3rd floor and below of Argenta, right?"
Rick answered without hesitation at my words.
"Yes."
As expected, they knew but weren't catching them. To further spread the image of Dielo pretending to be weak.
But was this also Dielo's order?
It wasn't the time to expand on the sudden question.
"As you know, Alloze is waiting for Dielo's Lilies to disappear."
"That's definitely the case. Their behavior patterns have also changed from before."
According to Rick, Alloze was accumulating military supplies.
They were definitely preparing for war as well.
Then I had to hurry even more.
"I'm going to weed out all the spies on the 3rd floor and below before the war starts."
Rick hesitated at my words. Of course, it would be a sensitive matter.
The reason they had left the spies on the 3rd floor and below alone until now was probably a plan to make Dielo look weak.
"Of course, I have to discuss it with Dielo―"
If there was someone he was fond of, I had to approach carefully.
That was when. Rick's shadow pulled something out of his chest from beyond the thin curtain.
"Here, is the list of spies."
As if he had already prepared it.
