I took it as a joke and gave a small chuckle.

But Idria continued seriously.

“Surely you don’t think of yourself as human?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“So you’re not even aware. Well, I suppose it doesn’t matter.”

“……”

“What brings you here? If you have got something to say, go on.”

Behind the rock, all traces of Offense’s presence vanished.

And in the shadow behind Hyran, a hand slowly rose just a few centimeters.

In it was a very specialized tool used by assassins.

Shaped like a thin, pointed needle, it was designed to pierce the skin and draw blood. Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs novel~fire~net

It looked painful just to glance at, yet the target didn’t notice a thing, what a strange tool.

Offense carefully cut the edge of Hyran’s trousers.

I opened my mouth to keep Idria’s gaze fixed on me.

“Why did you send Hyran to this territory? What is he to you?”

“The same as with Teranaim. My fourth finger.”

“His name?”

“Sabach.”

“What does that mean in the spirit language?”

Idria giggled.

“It doesn’t mean anything. Giving Teranaim a meaningful name was an exception.”

“Friend…”

“Yes. ‘Friend’ in the spirit tongue. Ophelia was desperately resisting my authority. I got a bit annoyed. But like I said earlier, the others don’t reject me.”

I gave a dry laugh.

“Your limbs have poor judgment.”

“Do not insult my children. They only sincerely wish to witness the world I will create.”

“And what kind of world is that supposed to be?”

“Hm. I don’t feel like telling you.”

She crossed her arms playfully.

“But if you come under me, I will tell you.”

“You’re good at jokes too, huh.”

“Out of things to stall with? Can we get started now?”

The moment she said that, Offense had just finished drawing blood from Hyran.

Just as he began to slip back into the shadows—

Swoosh.

Idria raised her foot.

And in the blink of an eye, that foot came crashing down on Offense’s head.

I shouted, nearly screaming.

‘Trail!’

<Current level of the Eye of Omniscience: 4. Secret access level: A.>

<Selected criteria: ‘Secret between Arald Mohan and Dianne Mohan.’>

Time freezes.

That was close.

Idria’s foot hovered just one centimeter above Offense’s head.

‘Damn. She noticed long ago.’

[Whew. That was a close one.]

‘Thanks. If it weren’t for you, I would have lost a party member today.’

[Save the thanks for later. What now? If you cancel the Eye, Offense’s head is still getting crushed.]

‘I will use the skill. Time-lock slash.’

Trail sighed deeply.

[I said this before, but that skill…]

‘I know. If Idria notices it manipulates time, she might figure it out, right?’

[Yeah. And if she does, that Demon King will absolutely find a countermeasure.]

‘Then I will just have to invent a new skill.’

Trail let out a dry chuckle.

[Like that’s easy.]

‘You have seen me do it before.’

[Hah.]

‘Sure, revealing this skill is dangerous. But losing a party member isn’t just dangerous…’

[Then what is it?]

I paused, then answered.

‘It’s horrific.’

[…]

‘Luckily, I’m within ten steps. Let’s begin.’

[Why not just chop off Hyran’s head? Sure, you will break your no kill vow, but…]

I gave a bitter chuckle.

‘It’s not about the no kill rule. Even if I cut off his head, that descending kick will still follow through with the same angle and force.’

[…]

‘Saving Offense is more important than killing the fourth finger of Lies.’

[Got it.]

‘I need to cut the leg. Judging by the speed earlier…’

Somewhere around the knee should do.

I took a slow step forward.

“Grrk.”

Lately, my body had gotten abnormally strong, but this part hadn’t changed since I first created the skill.

Still just as painful. Still wrecked my body.

Drip, drip.

Blood began dripping from my nose.

My arms and legs creaked, refusing to move.

Dragging myself forward, I stood in front of Hyran.

And with all the strength I had, I swung my sword.

Whoosh!

The blade sliced clean through the target’s leg.

My vision blurred, consciousness slipping.

[I’m canceling the Eye! You will die at this rate!]

‘Hold on. Time it right. Three, two, one… now!’

Pop.

The Eye of Omniscience vanished.

I shouted the phrase I had prepared with all my might.

“Tilt your head!”

Offense tilted his head slightly without thinking.

Hyran’s severed leg, which had been descending onto his skull, skewed off course

It grazed Offense’s ear and embedded into the ground.

Though the force and angle were completely off now, it was still strong enough to tear his ear clean off.

“Hey. Let’s bail.”

I said, then collapsed forward.

Without a word, Offense disappeared into the shadows with me.

At the very end, I thought I heard Offense’s voice.

It came through a bit muffled.

“I have seen many people try to kill me. But you’re the first who tried to save me. Thanks… Hero.”

Meanwhile, Idria was deep in thought.

‘That skill…’

She had intentionally allowed him to get within ten steps.

Just to confirm once more that remarkable ability of Mide’s.

For now, she put that issue on hold and focused on the present.

Should she summon Hyran back?

Or let him buy more time out there?

Kaeld spoke.

“You alright?”

“Mide cut off Sabach’s leg.”

“What?”

“The leg’s already been reattached, so it’s no big deal. But it’s clear Sabach alone isn’t enough.”

“That’s… troubling.”

“Why do I keep hearing a dog barking? Did anyone ask for your opinion?”

Kaeld didn’t respond.

With a sigh, Idria reconnected herself to Sabach.

Then she spoke in a low voice.

“Sabach.”

–Lady Idria.

“Are you alright?”

–Thanks to your care, I’m fine.

“……”

–If you were about to tell me to return, please reconsider. I haven’t bought enough time yet.

He’s right.

If Sabach returned now, the townspeople would go mad without the drug.

Suicides would likely start breaking out.

Seeing that horror, Mide might abandon the Atrium territory entirely and rush to receive the oracle.

Even if it cost him some fame, the oracle was his top priority now.

“…Sorry.”

–Please don’t apologize. I was uncomfortable returning like this anyway.

“Because of that man, Offense Dake?”

Sabach’s voice hardened slightly.

–Yes. The one who killed me and turned my daughter into what she is now.

“……”

–But thanks to that, I met you, Lady Idria. Life truly is full of surprises.

“I understand how you feel. But don’t act rashly. Offense is with Mide.”

Sabach’s voice grew exceedingly polite.

–You misunderstood me.

“Hm?”

–My personal desire for revenge is insignificant compared to your great cause, Lady Idria. Please think of it merely as a convenient overlap of goals.

Idria gave a small smirk.

One of the reasons she made such a clear distinction between Ophelia and the other four Fingers was because the effort she put into creating the other four was far greater.

But there was another reason too.

‘Ophelia rejected me, while the other four accept me.’

That made her feel far more attached to them.

Idria spoke.

“As I said before, your top priority is to keep Mide Mohan tied down here.”

–I will do my utmost.

“I don’t mean to belittle you, but Mide is no easy foe. So, I have come up with a strategy… Will you follow it?”

Sabach bowed deeply to the invisible Idria.

–To think you would personally devise a strategy for me. I am honored, Lady Idria.

“Hmph. Quite the contrast from that insect.”

–Ah. You mean that one?

“Yes. Still, even that bug has its uses. Watching it makes me realize just how rare talents like you are.”

Kaeld, who had been listening, frowned.

Sabach asked,

—May I hear the plan?

Idria didn’t answer right away.

She paused for so long that Kaeld, watching from the side, began to expect something grand.

But what she said next was surprisingly anticlimactic.

“Hide.”

* * *

When I woke up, the first thing I saw was Neril.

Then I saw the rest of my party surrounding me.

“Feels like I’m looking up from a coffin at my own funeral.”

Whack.

Neril’s small fist struck me in the stomach.

Didn’t hurt at all.

“Don’t say unlucky things.”

“Sorry.”

“You used that skill again, didn’t you? You know you end up wrecked every time.”

“Yeah. I know. But I didn’t have much choice this time.”

“Sigh. Fine. Just… please take care of yourself.”

I noticed her eyes were red.

Xenia chimed in.

“Playing it cool, aren’t you, Neril?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I mean, earlier, you were stroking Mide’s face…”

“Huh? Say that again?”

“…Never mind. Maybe I imagined it.”

What did she do?

Just then, Offense spoke up.

Thankfully, his ear was still intact.

“You alright?”

“Yeah. But why is your ear fine?”

“Should it not be?”

“Even in that mess, you managed to save your ear, huh?”

“Yep. Saved it before I saved you.”

He chuckled and flopped down onto a chair.

“Honestly, I didn’t think my trick would be discovered. Maybe it’s time for a new profession.”

Serein asked,

“Mr. Offense, are you good with money?”

“…Where did that come from?”

“When you change careers, join my business. I will make sure you are well compensated.”

“Let’s start by defining what ‘well’ means.”

He turned to me.

“By the way, Mide.”

“Yeah?”

“While stalling Idria, you mentioned a name I had never heard before.”

Ah.

Right, Idria did mention Bion.

Now that I think about it, maybe it’s time I told them?

[No!]

‘You always get so formal when you panic.’

[Don’t talk about me.]

‘Why not? Everyone already knows there’s a soul attached to me. Adwin said it when we first met.’

[I just… don’t know how to fit in with your party. I have spent an eternity alone, you know.]

Just do what you always do with me.

I gave a small laugh and said,

“I will tell you about that soon.”

“Hmm. Well, that’s not the urgent matter anyway.”

“Right. What matters now is resolving today’s issue.”

I got up from the bed and stretched.

Then asked Offense,

“What time is it?”

“Morning’s long gone. The green mist will roll in soon.”

I slept a lot.

Xenia and Serein must have treated my wounds early on. Guess I was just really exhausted.

I scratched my head.

“Think Idria left Hyran behind?”

Knowing her, she might have picked up on the blood loss clue and gotten suspicious.

She might think it’s too dangerous to leave Hyran here.

Sure, her goal is to keep me tied to this territory, but not at the cost of losing a Finger.

Adwin spoke up.

“Maybe it’s better to assume she did leave him. That way we will be prepared.”

“True. Then assuming that, the green mist will return in a few minutes. Maybe we should abandon today’s plan.”

Offense said,

“Why give up?”

“There’s no way you made the antidote overnight.”

“I did.”

Thunk.

He tossed a small vial.

My eyes widened.

“Already? How?”

“Thanks to Adwin pushing my focus to the limit. I was injured too, but he worked me like a mule.”

Lisel added,

“As I recall, Mr. Offense was the one who asked for Adwin’s help first.”

“I don’t remember that.”

“Hehe. Don’t be shy.”

“Anyway, mix this in the rainwater, and all the townsfolk will be cured. And over there is the poison that will kill Hyran.”

I spotted a sack the size of a backpack in the corner.

That’s the poison?

Making the antidote and the poison is one thing, but how did they gather the materials so fast?

As if reading my mind, Neril spoke.

“Before you left, Offense asked me to prepare the ingredients.”

“I see. Thank you all. You bought us a ton of time.”

“This is nothing.”

“Still, I feel bad being the only one lying around.”

“Then don’t come back injured again.”

“Heh. I will try.”

Now, everything was ready.

I stood up and stretched deeply.

Then asked Offense,

“Is it okay if I kill Hyran?”

“Not just okay, I will be delighted. But don’t do it yourself.”

“Huh?”

“I don’t want to be the first one to make you break your no kill vow. I mean… someday you will probably break it, but not now.”

“…”

“I will be the one to kill Hyran.”

His expression was deadly serious.

I nodded, then said to Trail:

‘Show me the secret between Idria and Hyran.’

[Huh?]

‘I need to know whether she kept Hyran or took him back. If she did, I want to know what plan she has.’

[Got it. One sec.]

<You have used the Eye of Omniscience.>

<Current level: 4. Viewable secret grade: A.>

<Selected criteria: “Secret between Idriya and Hyran Gois.”>

<Secret grade: B. Accessing…>

I could now see and hear the conversation between Idria and Hyran.

The Eye of Omniscience was disturbingly efficient, it even let me spy on conversations between a Demon King and their minions.

[If it couldn’t, it wouldn’t live up to its name. It’s meant to uncover secrets, so it can’t just blank out during secret conversations.]

‘Fair point.’

Somehow, that explanation makes it sound obvious.

As expected, Idria decided to leave Hyran in the territory a while longer.

If she had taken him back, that would have been troublesome, but she didn’t. Good.

[If Hyran disappears, the townsfolk will go mad from withdrawal and possibly suicide.]

‘Yeah.’

[If it gets that bad, she figures you will give up and leave to pursue the oracle.]

I smiled faintly.

Nothing too surprising so far.

Now for the most important part: the plan.

Idria said,

“Hide.”

Cut.

That’s where the vision ended.

…

“Hide,” huh?

Clever move, Idria.

[Huh? That’s clever?]

‘…’

[No matter how well he hides, Xenia’s shared vision can find him. That’s how you got his blood, remember?]

‘True. So maybe “clever” isn’t the right word…’

Diabolical.

Still, that diabolical little plan had one fatal flaw.

I found out about it.

TL : Hmm. I am considering resuming the 2 chapter a day schedule. What do you guys think? Of course, you guys would be happy with it. And honestly, I think I have enough chapters stacked to keep it going for 2 weeks straight. After that, though, we might need to slow things down to one chapter every three days. So LMK

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