Chapter 67
Chapter 67
====
"You're freezing the swamp with a magical artifact to cross it?"
Nirua's method of Alloze's movement was truly creative.
"Well, since they're a family that uses water, it makes sense they'd be interested in ice magic."
I nodded. It was surprising, but not incomprehensible.
Rick, who had come up sometime during the conversation, was also listening to Nirua's story with an intrigued expression.
"But does Alloze really have an artifact that can freeze a swamp this size enough for an army to cross?"
Nirua shook her head at my words.
"It's not originally an artifact with such a strong ability. But by using Water Manipulation, it can be used with greater power over a wider area."
Dielo added to that.
"If you use Water Manipulation properly, you can minimize slipping even if the surface melts a little."
I nodded at that. They can even make dragons with water, there's no way they couldn't do that.
"That's really creative..."
Indeed, this was something we wouldn't have noticed without an insider.
"Yes. And after everyone has crossed, they deactivate the artifact and melt the ice instantly."
They'd be doing that with Water Manipulation too, I guess. I nodded slightly.
"Then the answer is simple."
I turned to Dielo. He seemed to be thinking the same thing as me.
"While they're crossing the swamp, can you melt the swamp?"
So they'll fall into the swamp.
Dielo and I locked eyes.
He stared at me for a moment, then asked.
"...Krua, what would you do if I couldn't do it?"
It was an unexpected question. I answered without even realizing it.
"I've never thought about that."
Oops, did I sound too confident?
Dielo, who had been blinking at my words, let out a soft laugh.
"Then I'll have to do it even if it costs me my life."
I can't disappoint the priest, can I?
He kissed the tip of my hand holding the glass.
Even here, in Argenta's fourth floor, he was a sweet husband.
Suspiciously so.
* * *
Argenta's secretly run merchant group, 'Kin,' hastily moved as if preparing to resupply.
"Move it, move it!"
It was even larger in scale than last time. As if it were very urgent.
And the enemy took the bait.
"There's been movement on the Alloze side."
Rick reported as soon as he noticed the signs.
Dielo and I, who were in the office, exchanged glances.
"What should we do?"
Rick already had a face that was more than bright, it was radiant. It was as if another sun had risen over there.
He only smiled so brightly when he smelled blood.
"Prepare to take care of it."
Dielo answered. Then he smiled at me.
Did I do well? As if asking.
We can't hesitate when dealing with enemies. I nodded to him.
"Understood!"
Rick, his voice unusually excited, burst out of the office.
There was a reason why he had such a particularly bright expression this time.
Rick believed in Argenta almost as a religion, so he was very sensitive to tradition.
There was no way he would look kindly on those who had touched Argenta's Shadow Supply.
No, there was no way he would want to let them live.
"The Executioner is moving again."
"I heard he's 'executing' this time because of the merchant group raid."
In Argenta, the word 'execution' meant a summary execution ordered by the head of the family.
It was a newly brutal word.
"How about the preparation for the expedition?"
After Rick left, রেডিয়া entered the office.
As it was an official setting, Dielo's words fell in a cold, commanding tone.
It was a voice that suited his sculpted face well.
I was staring blankly at his face, feeling strangely unfamiliar yet harmonious, when রেডিয়া cautiously asked.
"Are you really both planning to go on the expedition together?"
I nodded.
"Yeah."
A wide range of ice frozen with the power of the artifact.
To neutralize magic of an unfavorable attribute, a powerful flame was needed.
Of course, that wasn't the only reason.
It was a perfect opportunity for Dielo to directly avenge Argenta, thereby letting those still inside Argenta know that he was still a gentle head of the family.
And my participation was for a similar reason.
Even if the opponent was Alloze, I wanted to make it clear that I would never side with them.
I thought there might be someone who would oppose it because I was from Alloze, but surprisingly, there was no opposition.
'If the Lady goes on the expedition, we can definitely respond to any variables that might occur in the swamp.'
'I'd be grateful if the Lady would go on the expedition!'
Perhaps it was because Pielle and Rick actively defended me.
'Thank you.'
When I expressed my gratitude for their belief, they replied with a matter-of-course expression.
'We're just showing the Lady of the house the respect she deserves.'
'The Lady is Argenta too, after all.'
...They didn't seem to be thinking that I was about to leave Argenta.
Rick even said this.
'You're not really going to leave us behind, are you?'
That was the content of the contract, though?
Of course, Pielle grabbed him by the back of the neck and dragged him out before I could answer.
'I apologize for the rudeness, Lady.'
'...They seem closer than I thought.'
At my words, Pielle, with a face that seemed to find it humiliating to be grouped with such a person, said something unexpected.
'We are... friends.'
'Wow, really?'
One is strict and cold, while the other is someone who doesn't know where he'll bounce, it was a combination that was unexpectedly mismatched yet well-matched.
Smiling as I recalled what had happened a while ago, I gestured.
"Just make sure the escort issue is resolved."
"Of course."
রেডিয়া bowed.
"As the Executioner is directly involved, plans are being discussed to cover their faces."
"Hmm..."
Well, the merchant group isn't in Argenta's name, so it shouldn't look like Argenta people.
It would be good to not only match the clothing like mercenaries but also cover their faces.
The problem is.
"You mean cover them with cloth?"
At my words, রেডিয়া bowed politely.
"Yes."
It wouldn't be easy to cover their faces while disguising them as mercenaries.
If they were moving as assassins, they could just wrap themselves in black cloth.
"How about another method besides that?"
At my words, not only রেডিয়া but even Dielo turned to me.
"Another method?"
At those words, I subtly pointed to Dielo's collarbone area.
Because the distance had become close before I knew it, it ended up poking his body, so I was startled and took my hand away.
Dielo's cheeks, who had been purely blinking, were slightly tinged.
"Ahem."
I could see রেডিয়া turning his head away as well.
That's not what I meant!
"Like when you covered it here."
That's what I was going to say, that's what!
At my words, the expectation that had briefly appeared on Dielo's face faded.
...What were you expecting, Dielo?
I was thinking that this person had changed quite a bit from when I first met him.
"You mean to use Nirua's ability?"
At his words, I nodded.
"Instead of having to cover their faces, we can just disguise them as completely different people."
If it was Nirua of the Shadow Swordsmen Clan, who uses special makeup imbued with Magical Power, not a regular makeup artist, it was definitely possible.
রেডিয়া's face lit up at my words.
"I'll prepare it right away."
He seemed worried that Rick and his subordinates wouldn't be able to move properly either.
After রেডিয়া left, Dielo leaned slightly towards me in the office where only the two of us were left.
From the edge of my vision, where I was looking at the door, he slyly poked his head out.
A troubled smile was on his lips.
"...Dielo?"
He kissed my forehead as I blinked.
And he whispered softly in a voice that was barely audible.
"Don't keep doing that."
"Doing what?"
When I asked back, Dielo whispered with his lips on my forehead instead of meeting my gaze.
"I want you even more."
What? As I was about to speak, he got up from his seat.
As if nothing had happened.
"Just in case, I'll go check the border of the Endless Sea one more time."
And he disappeared from the office in a flash.
"......"
Left alone, I blinked blankly.
"Why......"
...Why are you walking so fast, Dielo, as if you're running away?
Of course, there was no Dielo to answer even if I asked.
