Quit The Hero Party

EP.86 Crazy Dog and Crazy Maid (1)

First Prince’s court mage, Nekelt.

“······.”

He squinted his eyes. Closing the magic book he was reading, he stretched out his arms. He pulled the crystal ball resting in the corner of the desk closer.

The crystal ball that should reflect the appearance of the Royal Quarters was stained black. A sign that the circuit was cut.

‘···Was there a sign?’

There were no signs. No one disturbed the circuit either. This meant the circuit was dismantled before the familiar even had the chance to react.

“That’s strange.”

“Is yours the same?”

The other court mages beside him added their comments. It’s not just Nekelt’s familiar. The connections between all the familiars planted in the Royal Quarters were severed.

“···Was there any sign?”

“None.”

“There was no reaction at all.”

Hmm, exhaling, Nekelt stroked his chin.

The time it takes for a familiar to react is about five seconds. The fact that no one felt any anomaly means that the circuit was disrupted within those five seconds.

‘That’s impossible.’

Nekelt declared.

These are circuits engraved by court mages.

‘And they’re hidden between the gaps of the circuitry, you expect me to believe they were dismantled in under five seconds?’

No way.

It’s a monitoring circuit mixed into the protective circuit that guards the Royal Quarters. Mistake it, and the protective circuit would go up in flames too.

Only targeting the monitoring circuit without triggering the protective circuit is a task even master mages would struggle to accomplish.

‘Unless a master of the dark tower specializing in circuit engraving and dismantling comes here… it’s a tough job.’

Furthermore, as far as Nekelt remembered, there has never been an incident where a master of the dark tower came into contact with a princess. He had never seen a master of the dark tower step into the royal family.

Then there’s only one possibility left.

“···I guess there was a mana experiment in the Royal Quarters.”

“Isn’t it a place where rabid beasts live? It figures that something bizarre happened again.”

“Looks like they’re conducting an anti-mana experiment; what a useless endeavor.”

An anti-mana experiment that blows up circuits is what they were trying to pull off, along with taking down the protective circuit guarding the Royal Quarters.

The reason they would do something so reckless was clear.

“Did they really think that a spell that gnaws away at their body would just fall off?”

“Only the useless monitoring circuits flew away.”

The First Princess Lruiel must have noticed too.

The abnormality occurring in her body, the fact that it was linked to some magical means.

‘So this is the mess they’ve created?’

The court mages couldn’t hold back their laughter. They scoffed at the princess.

“It’s like a last-ditch struggle before death. How many days until that circuit activates?”

“About three days left, I think. By now, it must be slowly gnawing at the princess’s body. The circuit was personally brought by the First Prince, so you can be sure about its performance.”

A circuit whose source was unknown.

However, its performance was guaranteed.

‘Destroying the circuit without leaving any signs or traces of magic is impossible.’

That is the most terrifying part.

Once the circuit is activated, any spell entering its preliminary stages cannot be sensed by any means.

A spell that cannot be observed.

A spell that leaves no magical trace.

It slowly, steadily squeezes the life out of its target. Slowly, but surely leading the target to death. There is no way to escape it.

The court mages chuckled sinisterly.

“Looks like they’re dying slowly.”

“Seeing that arrogant girl squirm helplessly before death after barking like a mad dog will be quite a sight.”

The court mages knew well who their lord was.

The First Prince, Izak.

He would never let those who reveal anything against him go unpunished. Even if they share the same blood.

‘Indeed, she should have lived like a mouse.’

The First Princess, Lruiel has crossed the line that should not be crossed. The price for obstructing Izak’s plans is death.

“So, what shall we do about the monitoring circuit? If possible, I’d love to watch that arrogant princess gasp for breath as she dies up close.”

In response to that question, Nekelt shrugged.

“I can just sneak in at night and carve it quickly.”

In his view, it wasn’t too hard a task.

2.

“Ah, this is the circuit from the Ancient Kingdom.”

“What?”

“It’s quite tricky. I don’t think we can handle it immediately. The activation date seems to be in three days…”

The First Princess, Lruiel blinked.

Right now, what was the professor in front of her saying? Although she rarely gets flustered, she felt like surprising events have been happening more often lately.

Lruiel stared blankly at the professor.

The professor blinked and tilted his head.

‘···What did I just hear?’

Her mind couldn’t catch up with the situation.

Lruiel slowly retraced the previous conversation in her head. She closed her eyes, mentally replaying the dialogue she had with the professor just moments ago.

It all started with the professor’s question.

-Why three days?

Why is the escort period three days?

Assuming the professor asked, Lruiel understood it was finally time to explain. She laid down her quill, lifted her long hair, and revealed the nape of her neck to the professor.

-Do you see this pattern?

Hidden beneath her platinum hair, a black pattern was engraved on her nape. As this pattern appeared, Lruiel had sensed her own death.

‘It appeared on my sisters as well.’

The same pattern had emerged on the Second and Third Princess a week before their deaths. As the pattern darkened, they grew weaker.

After suffering for seven days, they met their demise.

-I’m experiencing it too. My energy is waning as well. Since it’s been about four days since the pattern appeared, I estimate I have about three to four days left.

While the two princesses were dying, no one had uncovered the meaning of this pattern. Therefore, Lruiel didn’t bother revealing its appearance on her.

She figured that causing a commotion would definitely put restrictions on her actions.

Lruiel decided to seek the answer externally. And called upon the professor before her. With her back exposed, she smiled bitterly.

‘There’s no way I can easily find an answer.’

She thought as she lowered her hair back down, covering her neck.

-I’m not expecting an easy answer. You have three days. If you can find an answer within that time…

Just as she was muttering and turned around.

-Ah, that’s it.

The professor casually stated.

-It’s a circuit from the Ancient Kingdom.

As if it were no big deal.

‘···What the hell?’

Having finished her recollection, Lruiel slowly opened her eyes. The professor was there, tilting his head at her. Looking at him, Lruiel spoke.

“···What did you just say, professor?”

“I said it’s a circuit from the old kingdom.”

“Does that mean I can interpret it that you know what this is? Where did you learn about it?”

“From mages who have experienced the battlefield… no, from mages who have experienced the battlefield.”

The professor stumbled over his words as he diverted his gaze. Lruiel frowned, sensing deceit in those eyes.

‘···Not the whole sentence is a lie.’

It only smelled fishy when he mentioned the source. Lruiel took a step closer to the professor.

“···Why are you avoiding my gaze? Look at me, professor.”

“Yes?”

“If the source was troubling, I won’t ask. After all, that’s not a critical issue.”

“·····.”

“Do you know what this pattern means?”

The professor nodded slowly.

“It’s a circuit used in the now-destroyed old kingdom, and on the battlefield, it’s a circuit used by sorcery units. Though it seems they put in a bit more effort into concealment…”

“Explain in detail.”

“To put it simply, it goes like this.”

She lightly tapped her nape.

“The circuit that parasitizes the cervical vertebra uses the life force of the host to activate the circuit. In fact, calling this a spell circuit is more accurate to say it’s closer to a summoning circuit.”

“···Summoning circuit?”

“When the two princesses passed, didn’t some kind of beasts appear?”

“…About two days after their passing, a few beasts we were raising in the outskirts of the royal family were let loose and there was an incident where they were killed.”

“Those weren’t beasts bred by the royal family.”

The professor said.

She so easily gave the answer. There was no air of deceit in her words, just assuredness.

“It’s a circuit that summons beasts using life force as a medium. I’ve never seen it used for assassination… so it must be summoning a type of ghost.”

“···What you’re saying, professor.”

Lruiel frowned.

“Does this mean that my sisters were drained of their life force because of the summoning of mere beasts?”

“Precisely. It seems it shifts all the burden of the circuit onto the host.”

Lruiel gritted her teeth.

If that is the case, then it feels plausible that she is right. Lruiel didn’t just sit idly by. She investigated a lot to uncover the truth behind her sisters’ deaths.

Broken traces like puzzle pieces.

Assuming the professor’s guess is correct, she begins to fit those pieces together. The puzzle starts to complete itself. Information connects easily.

“Ah.”

Lruiel chuckled ironically.

So, that’s how it was. Muttering that, she fixed her gaze on the professor.

“Can this be dealt with?”

“I can do so right now, but since you mentioned that the pattern has been present for four days now?”

“That’s right.”

“Then your life force is already drained. I can dismantle the circuit, but the life force that has been drained won’t come back.”

“Even so, it doesn’t matter. Right now…”

“Princess.”

The professor offered a wry smile.

“Draining life force isn’t something to take lightly. It leaves aftereffects for a lifetime. Putting one’s life onto a balance is not something to be considered lightly.”

“···You speak as if you’ve experienced it.”

“Well…”

The professor skirted the answer.

Just smiled bitterly while looking at Lruiel. Lruiel gazed into the professor’s blue eyes.

“Princess.”

The professor slowly opened his mouth.

“You can wait for three days. It’s not a problem. The circuit will summon the beasts, and just before the beasts sever their connection with you… if you kill the beasts, it will all be fine. Then the drained lifespan will return.”

“···So it’s finally three days.”

Lruiel narrowed her eyes, looking at the professor before her. This was someone who had identified the identity of the circuit in an instant. Someone who unveiled what no one else could.

The professor’s eyes held certainty.

That certainty was unwavering.

‘···At the very least, not just an ordinary teacher.’

Rania van Trias.

Lruiel felt intrigued by her. She exuded a vibe similar to those who hide much.

However, Lruiel did not pry further.

‘No need to dig deeper.’

There is no need to unravel what she is unwilling to reveal. Lruiel nodded.

“···You are more competent than I expected.”

Just grateful for her capabilities.

The lingering issue in her mind resolved so simply that Lruiel even felt a bit of letdown.

“Do you have an idea of who inscribed the circuit?”

“No need to guess.”

Lruiel said while tapping her temples.

“It’s probably the court mages who sided with my brother. It’s obvious even without looking.”

“Hmm···.”

“Now I have to figure out what to do with those filthy bastards. Killing them outright would be perfect, but… without decisive evidence, it’s evident my brother will interfere if I do.”

“You said they’re court mages?”

“···That’s right?”

The professor blinked.

“Then just let them be, they’ll crawl back on their own.”

“···What do you mean by that?”

“Just wait until nightfall?”

She said.

“I think I could catch one or two.”

3.

The darkness enveloped the Royal Quarters.

The court mage, Nekelt, had cast a concealment spell and was heading down the corridor.

‘I’ll just engrave it quickly and be out of here.’

He planned to re-engrave the broken monitoring circuit. Hiding in the Royal Quarters, he halted in front of the hallway.

“·····.”

He blinked.

As a court mage, he was skilled. His ability to read hidden circuits was superb.

To his eyes, the protective circuits of the Royal Quarters were visible.

He thought they would have been damaged along with the monitoring circuit, but they were intact. Nekelt felt something was off about this.

‘···Why are those intact?’

Does this mean only the monitoring circuit was broken? Can that even make sense? Those questions filled his mind for a moment. But that hesitation didn’t last long.

‘···In any case, it shouldn’t be a problem.’

He didn’t know how it happened, but he could just re-engrave them. Without hesitation, Nekelt moved forward.

While there were protective circuits guarding the Royal Quarters, those circuits were designed by himself and the other court mages. They were exceptions for only him.

Even as he passed through the hallway, no circuits were activated. Maintaining his concealment, Nekelt approached the hallway of the Royal Quarters.

Thud.

Just then, footsteps echoed.

Turning his head, he spotted a maid entering his line of sight. She seemed to be coming to change the candle.

Naturally, the maid appeared to not notice Nekelt.

“·····.”

Nekelt drew his finger to the hallway.

He began to draw out mana and inscribe the circuit. The mana flowed like water, settling in the gaps between the circuits.

Scratch.

Just as he was about to hide the monitoring circuit in the gap.

“Ah, you shouldn’t do it like that.”

He froze.

At the sudden voice, Nekelt’s fingers stopped. He turned to the source of the voice.

It was the maid who was changing the candle.

She wasn’t looking at Nekelt. While putting down the candle, she mumbled that.

“You shouldn’t do it like that…”

As if she wanted Nekelt to hear.

‘···What is this?’

Can she see me?

‘No, there’s no way she can see me.’

She must be a mad maid.

Thinking that, Nekelt reached out his fingers again.

Thud.

This time, he felt something tap on his shoulder. Nekelt whipped around and gasped.

“Oh damn, this is frustrating.”

A maid he hadn’t noticed had come up close, looking down at him. She seemed to be exhaling heavily with frustration.

“Hey, you shouldn’t engrave it like that.”

And then she began to give him unsolicited advice.

“W-What…!”

“Ugh, come on. Get out of the way.”

“W-What are you doing?! How can I…?”

“Shut up and watch closely. Look, if you’re going to hide it, you should pull from the existing circuit lines. If you engrave it like this, damn, who won’t recognize it?”

She grabbed Nekelt’s wrist.

Then, with a swift motion, she yanked it.

“Like this.”

Crack, crackle!

A sound of a wrist twisting echoed. It’s incomprehensible how such a slender hand could have such force. That was not what was important.

The pain of his wrist being crushed.

Nekelt felt he was going to scream but,

“Ugh, uuuuuh!”

“Shh.”

That too wouldn’t work out as intended.

The maid’s white-gloved hand clutched Nekelt’s cheek, covering his mouth.

“Hey.”

Then slowly, she turned his wrist, forcing his head to face her.

“Shall we talk for a moment?”

She smiled sweetly.

The candlelight within the darkness flickered. Through the red shadows, the maid’s face appeared.

It looked like the smile of a devil.

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