Chapter 223: Skull Mask

“Anyway, it’s still amazing. To think that Parnaci, whom I knew, was a contact for the Shadow. And that you two are thieves of the Shadow. That famous Shadow, I mean.”

Oliver knew the general circumstances as he had heard them.

In a way, he was the person who realized the sisters were thieves the fastest.

While performing Reina’s surgery, he had discovered the existence of the face mask in the process of wiping her face, which was stained with saliva and vomit due to poisoning symptoms.

“Hehe. Not yet.”

Reina was currently wearing a spare face mask.

“But won’t it be soon? Since you completed my request quite splendidly.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

Whether she was shy or not, Reina laughed while twisting her short hair.

“So. Who is Skull Mask?”

At Oliver’s sudden change of subject, the two sisters fell silent and looked at each other.

‘Come to think of it, there was that!’

The wide-open eyes of the two were saying exactly that.

The identity of Skull Mask.

It was a more fundamental and long-standing question than even the debates over whether the Shadow were villains or heroes.

Since it was a question that had been raised within the Cult since the time Rachel was infiltrating as a Dark Priest, it could be said to be the beginning and the end.

“……What. Looking at your reactions, I guess you don’t know? Well, I heard it’s a very secretive organization, so it would be strange for them to show their face to kids who aren’t even official members yet.”

Right.

The beginning and the end of the Shadow.

The identity of Skull Mask was a matter as vital as the existence of the Shadow itself.

And Rachel was one of the people, along with Karina, who had been digging into Skull Mask’s identity.

“He must be an incredible person, right?”

“Of course. He’s a man who even caught a demon. Hiding that kind of ability is nearly impossible. It’s certain he’s one of the big shots in Icata, and from what I’ve seen, he’s likely a high-ranking official of the Central Knights Headquarters or the Magic Tower.”

Conviction was contained in Rachel’s voice.

After all, she was the one who had worked on the most tasks with Skull Mask and assisted him by his side.

Though she didn’t know his face, she knew everything else about him better than anyone.

“Habits that naturally mix in through his gaze and behavior are things that cannot be easily acted on.”

“What about the Academy?”

At Reina’s question, Rachel answered firmly.

“It’s not there. How should I put it, there isn’t exactly a person with that kind of personality. The Academy is called one of the three major institutions of Frey, but it’s inferior in many ways compared to the Central Knights or the Special Magic Corps.”

It was then that Oliver cut in.

“Then it might be noble.”

“Oh, right. We should leave that possibility open as well.”

Seeing Oliver, who was now quite actively guessing Skull Mask’s identity, Rachel’s eyes sparkled.

In a way, Oliver was a complete stranger.

A stranger who would be nothing to them once the request was over.

However, as he ended up saving Reina, he had been placed in a position where he semi-forcibly had a foot in the Shadow’s affairs, which was a somewhat awkward situation for both parties.

From the Shadow’s perspective, they had had one secret—that Parnaci was a contact—exposed, and Oliver, for his part, found the situation itself troublesome.

So what Rachel suggested was to first meet Skull Mask together and have a conversation.

They could make a contract for confidentiality, or he could even become a comrade.

‘Just like Mr. Parnaci.’

If Parnaci provides necessary information with his diverse connections, money, and experience, Oliver can provide medical arts and knowledge to the Shadow.

A doctor with outstanding medical skills is a talent desired by any organization.

That was what Rachel was aiming for.

Regardless, Oliver also had no reason to refuse the proposal, so he accepted it.

Anyway, with the use of the Red Forget-me-not, his immediate goal had disappeared, and he was still a person being chased by the Naimus Empire.

“Just who could it be?”

It was while these three were diligently guessing the identity of Skull Mask.

A loud foghorn sounded, and an in-flight announcement rang out saying they would arrive over Icata in 30 minutes.

Hearing the announcement, the two sisters looked at each other with eyes full of expectation.

‘Finally.’

***

Luis and Dayle, who were waiting for the two at the Lunatic, congratulated them as soon as they saw them.

“Ooh, you did it!”

“You two worked hard.”

“Thank you.”

“Thank you, hehe.”

The one who detected the change in the two first was Luis.

Luis, still holding his crutch but looking meaningfully at Reina, who was standing tall, lifted his monocle.

“Hmm. It seems many things happened during the request. Let us go up. I will hear the story there.”

Moving to Gerard’s office-cum-meeting room, they began to talk excitedly.

Literally, excitedly.

In a way, it was a competition of who did better, and naturally, Reina was the most talkative.

“So, what I did there was……!”

“What? Really? That happened?”

Reina laid out her spirit of sacrifice and exploits until the success of the request, without leaving out a single grain.

Each time, Dayle gave a very lively reaction, which made Reina even more excited.

“Oh, I’m telling you the truth!?”

Rachel watched that sight with a gratified face.

“I understand well. Let us share the next part in more detail when the Master comes later. You must be tired, so go in and rest.”

Luis continued immediately.

“The joining oath and the welcoming ceremony will be conducted tonight.”

That meant the result of the qualification exam was a pass.

In an instant, the light of joy surged in the eyes of the two women.

In particular, the sense of happiness and achievement Rachel felt was beyond words; having joined the Shadow she so desired, she felt like she wanted to hug Luis and Dayle and scream.

She barely held back that emotion.

‘The laughing happens when Skull Mask is here too.’

Rachel nodded.

“Thanks. But where is Skull Mask? I haven’t seen him for a while.”

“That is only natural. The Boss has other important work to do elsewhere. The Boss will come later at dawn.”

It’s dawn again this time, after all.

‘Then is he a noble as expected?’

Rachel smiled meaningfully and left the office.

How much time has passed since then?

Rachel, who was reminiscing about past memories with Reina in the basement, felt boredom and stuffiness as time passed slower than expected.

“What’s wrong, Unni?”

“No. Why isn’t time moving? It feels twice as slow as usual.”

“Geez. Are you that happy?”

Reina asked mischievously with a grin.

“You? Do you want to tease your sister?”

“Hehehe. I’m sorry!”

Seeing Reina clinging to her arm while acting cute, Rachel chuckled.

She was right.

Because she was happy, time wasn’t moving.

Since she was excited and waiting anxiously for dawn, she kept checking the clock, which made her feel like time was moving slower than usual.

“If it’s like that, why don’t you have a drink or something.”

“……Eh? Shall I?”

Rachel lifted her head.

It was a good idea.

“Really? I was just saying it as a passing remark.”

“We’re just celebrating among ourselves first. What’s wrong with that?”

There was nothing wrong.

It wasn’t like Luis or Dayle had given any specific warnings.

However.

“Isn’t it still open for business upstairs?”

Reina was right.

The Lunatic was strictly a cover establishment that also served as a bar.

On the first floor, customers—specifically those mostly from the upper class—would surely be drinking.

However, no matter how much Rachel and Reina had changed their impressions and atmosphere, if there was a noble with quick wits or exceptional insight upstairs, there was a risk they might recognize them as the villains wanted in the Royal Dream.

“I feel like we’ll only cause a commotion.”

But Rachel shook her head.

“Don’t you have the face mask Luis gave you?”

“Yes.”

“We can just use that.”

She wondered if they had to go that far, but Reina eventually had to comply.

In fact, she had also been feeling somewhat restless.

After agreeing like that, the two put on their face masks and went up alone.

They naturally sat at the bar pretending to be customers entering through the main entrance, and seeing that, the corner of Luis’s mouth twitched.

[What are you doing?]

[Why. Can’t we? I couldn’t just stay still because I was getting itchy.]

[I do not mean that. I was asking why you are sitting at the bar instead of at a table if you are going to drink.]

[Ah. Because.]

Rachel opened her mouth directly.

“Waiter?”

“?”

“Over here.”

Luis stood before her.

He was shooting a look asking what she was doing, but Rachel didn’t care and spoke in a playful voice.

“We have something to celebrate today, so could you recommend a suitable drink?”

“……How about a Sapphire Gin? It is the most sought-after distilled spirit for anniversaries.”

“Good. Give me that. Her too.”

Luis looked at Reina and asked.

“As for this person, perhaps her age…….”

“It’s rude to ask a woman’s age. I’ll vouch for her, so just give it to us.”

At the prank of the two sisters who were suppressing their laughter, Luis only let out a deep sigh.

Dayle, disguised as a staff member, also burst into a hollow laugh as he passed by, but neither seemed to dislike it.

Tak—

“Then, have a good time.”

“Yes!”

Not long after, the door of the Lunatic creaked open and a person walked inside.

Unlike the customers in luxurious or clean and neat attire, he was wearing a robe so long it dragged on the floor, with a hood covering his entire face.

So he drew attention the moment he entered, but he didn’t seem to care at all as he walked in with steady steps and sat at the bar.

“How is it? Do you want to try something else?”

“Yeah. This is a bit bitter. It doesn’t taste good.”

“Cook-cook. You don’t drink alcohol simply for the taste. It’s for the atmosphere. And for the mood.”

“Aey. What? What’s that.”

And that seat, quite coincidentally, was right next to Rachel.

The two who were drinking and chatting were unaware of the man’s presence until then.

It was more accurate to say they weren’t bothering to pay attention because they were having a good time among themselves.

But.

“…….”

A gaze staring intently at her.

Feeling discomfort and a bit of annoyance from it, Rachel eventually turned her head to the side to look at the man, and at the same time, her face stiffened.

“……!”

“What’s wrong, Unni?”

Reina tilted her head, seeing Rachel suddenly turn her face toward her with a serious expression.

But Rachel had no time to resolve Reina’s doubt.

Because.

‘……Gerard.’

The one wearing the robe was none other than Gerard.

‘How, how can that man be here?’

Rachel’s pupils shook violently.

After all, the face masks they were currently wearing were the same ones they had used during Oliver’s protection request.

In other words, it was certain that Gerard now knew their identities.

‘Did he follow us here by any chance?’

If so, this location, the Shadow’s base, was at risk of being discovered.

‘Damn it…….’

Reina also seemed to have realized the situation after seeing Gerard sitting next to her.

Though she was forcing a smile, she couldn’t perfectly hide her expression stiffened by tension.

Rachel hurriedly looked at Luis.

But for some reason, Luis looked excessively calm.

He was calmly taking Gerard’s order and calmly handing over the drink.

‘Does he not know by any chance?’

There was no way Luis wouldn’t know.

‘Ah. I get it. It’s a plan.’

Don’t get excited and act naturally.

Indeed, it was late and customers were slowly leaving; it was also the time the Lunatic would finish business in a few minutes.

‘He must mean to launch a surprise attack then.’

Rachel guessed Luis’s mind.

Still, a detailed instruction was necessary.

Because the opponent was Gerard.

So Rachel sent a [Whisper].

[Tell me how I should attack. Should I pounce first?]

Immediately after.

A surprising thing happened.

[Are you planning to attack me?]

A voice that shouldn’t be heard.

With wide eyes, Rachel looked at Gerard next to her.

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