Does the Assassin Girl Dream of the Mana Doll?

The Hidden Side of the Villain’s Smile

The following day arrived.

The news of the count’s death had created quite a commotion in a particular part of the capital. Consequently, the contented client who had confirmed the news arrived with the promised reward. Shortly thereafter, the new potential client mentioned by Greg the day before made his appearance.

“Welcome, esteemed customer. I apologize for the rather somber atmosphere, but please bear with it for a moment,” Greg greeted, exaggerating his gestures as if he were an actor on a stage.

On the other hand, the escorted man seemed visibly uneasy. He looked to be in his mid-thirties to early forties, approximately the same age as Greg.

Oddly enough, he was dressed in a coat that didn’t match the cheerful late spring weather. The design was simple, lacking any decorative elements, yet the fabric used was of exceptional quality. The meticulous craftsmanship was evident to anyone who laid eyes on it, immediately suggesting its association with the upper class or those belonging to it.

In a dimly lit room with sparse lighting, surrounded by grimy walls and worn-out furniture, the nervous man faced a stern-looking individual who emanated an air of underworld authority. It was understandable that he became visibly anxious in such circumstances.

In an effort to ease the tension, Greg mustered a polite smile. However, instead of soothing the man, that smile, which could also be interpreted as menacing, seemed to make the man even more apprehensive.

“Do you have an introductory letter, as I was informed previously?” Greg broached the subject, realizing that further familiarity was unlikely.

Upon hearing this, the man’s expression abruptly changed, and he reached into his pocket.

Greg’s gaze narrowed at the action.

Sensing Greg’s scrutiny, the man halted his movement. He seemed to realize that any sudden action could be misinterpreted as reaching for a weapon.

He took a deep breath, once, twice, as if carefully considering each step. With deliberate and meticulous movements, he extracted the letter from his pocket, unwrapping the cloth that protected it.

Pausing for a brief moment, the man cast a glance at Greg, who subtly nodded upon seeing the embroidered emblem on the fabric. With that confirmation, he extended his hand and presented the introduction letter.

“I’ve brought it here,” he announced, offering the letter.

With a gracious nod, Greg accepted it and deftly opened the letter to verify its contents. In truth, the letter didn’t hold much substance. It was merely a formality, affirming one’s willingness to follow established procedures and confirming their standing.

As Greg followed the prescribed steps, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief and joy upon discovering the revealed status.

“A member of the House of Endrake, huh?” he murmured those words to himself, deep in thought.

The House of Endrake, one of the three ducal houses in the Jurastin Kingdom, wielded significant power, second only to the royal family. Renowned for their martial expertise, they boasted a long-standing heritage of producing generals and occupying pivotal military positions.

Their influence was vast, and tales of their immense wealth circulated widely. In other words, they were a force to be reckoned with when it came to matters of power.

Receiving a request from such a prestigious family… It’s bound to come with its share of challenges. But what can be gained from it?

With a smile on his face, concealing his inner thoughts and calculations, Greg initiated the conversation. “Well, well, this is truly an honor. You see, with works of this nature, one must exercise extreme diligence and leave no room for error.”

That signaled as confirmation. Upon hearing that, the man visibly relaxed, letting out a sigh of relief.

“Now then… Before we proceed, let me clarify the rules. You may have already heard them, but it’s important to reiterate. First and foremost, we strictly decline any requests that target members of the royal family. Additionally, if our verification process uncovers false information or an attempt to deceive us, we will immediately reject the request or terminate it midway.

“As a standard practice, we require half of the agreed-upon reward as an upfront payment, with the remaining amount to be settled upon completion. Once we accept a request, we are committed to seeing it through, regardless of the circumstances. Do these terms align with your agreement?”

Greg smoothly delivered the lengthy monologue, which he had likely recited countless times, while carefully observing the man’s expression.

Noticing a slight nod from the man, he continued. “Very well… Let’s get into the details of the request. Who’s the target? What’s the reason for wanting them eliminated? If there are any other relevant details, please do share them. And as for the payment, what amount are you considering?”

With that said, he patiently awaited the man’s response.

After a brief moment of silence, the man finally spoke up. “The target is Lord Curtis von Endrake, the eldest son of Duke Endrake and the presumed successor to the ducal title.”

Upon hearing those words, Greg couldn’t help but flinch. Out of all the possibilities, it had to be a family dispute rather than a political rival. His aversion to getting entangled in family conflicts was the very reason he hesitated to accept requests involving the royal family.

Assassinating the crown prince for example, would ignite a major crisis, shaking the very foundation of the kingdom. The motive behind such an act would be relentlessly pursued, potentially turning the entire nation upside down. In such a scenario, it was easy to envision that, no matter how influential one might be in the underworld, they would eventually be swept away.

However, there was one exception that Greg would consider. He would entertain a request if it involved eliminating an obstructive member of the royal family to secure the next in line for the throne. Of course, a guarantee of safety afterward was an essential condition.

But in this particular case… they were treading on dangerous ground.

The target was not a member of the royal family but rather a spark within the influential Endrake ducal house, holding significant power just below the royal family. Under normal circumstances, Greg would prefer to steer clear.

However…

He had already heard the name of the target. Now, it was a matter of gathering information, finding a resolution that wouldn’t create unnecessary enemies, and determining if the reward would be worth the effort.

“Hmm, I’ve heard the name before. So what’s the reason behind this request?” Greg inquired.

The man hesitated for a moment before responding, “Well… Where should I start… Have you heard any rumors about Lord Curtis?”

Shaking his head, Greg replied, “Just that he’s quite mischievous, I suppose.”

“Then what you’ve heard must be a heavily diluted version. It’s not as innocent as mere mischief. It’s actually…” the man paused, his gaze shifting towards the ceiling as he let out a deep sigh. “Lord Curtis was raised as the heir of the Endrake Ducal family from a young age, taught to carry himself with utmost propriety. But even so… No, in a way, that’s precisely why, I suppose. He understands the worth of his position and what he will eventually inherit, perhaps a little too well.

“It began with childish whims, but as he matured and became more cunning, it escalated. He started indulging his own desires while carefully evading any public scandal.”

Still with his gaze fixed on the ceiling, the man closed his eyes and continued. “There isn’t a maid who hasn’t fallen prey to his advances, and the count of male servants who have either vanished or been dismissed after enduring his violent outbursts is far too numerous to tally on just one hand…”

“That’s… quite something,” Greg muttered, his voice filled with a mix of astonishment.

Indeed, it went far beyond mere mischief. What was even more terrifying was the methodical way in which he carried out his misdeeds, amassing a series of wrongdoings that even the shrewd Duke Endrake couldn’t handle him. How he achieved such feats remained beyond the grasp, even to Greg, who regarded himself as a villain.

“On the surface, Lord Curtis presents himself as an exceptional young man, excelling in both academics and martial arts. His prowess with the sword, in particular, is extraordinary, surpassing even that of the Royal Guard. He’s also well-versed in magic to the extent that he’s deemed invincible. He’s earned the favor of His Majesty the King, and there’s no doubt he’ll inherit the ducal title in due course. What’s even more troublesome… it appears that he’s on track to be honored officially as a hero.”

“A hero? Like the ones in fairy tales?” Greg’s eyes widened in surprise, and the man responded with a wry smile, shrugging his shoulders.

“You see… Recently, ancient ruins from a magical civilization have been discovered. It is believed to have multiple levels, but the knights who were sent to explore it exhausted their strength and had to retreat from the first level. If we can secure the ‘living’ relic inside for our kingdom, it could serve as a means to balance the power of Valandia in the west. Therefore, we cannot abandon the exploration.

“And that’s why Lord Curtis was tasked with leading the expedition. If the expedition proves successful, he will be bestowed with the esteemed title of a hero.

“If that were to happen, not only would he become the heir of the ducal family, but in the unfortunate event of something happening to the princes, he could potentially marry into the royal family and ascend to the throne. The consequences would spread throughout the entire country… We must find a way to prevent such an outcome.” As the man finished speaking, he lowered his head with a gloomy expression.

Observing his demeanor, Greg began to calculate in his mind. “Hmm, I understand the situation. So after the job’s done, the second son will assume the role of the successor? If I’m not mistaken, there are three sons, correct?”

The man nodded affirmatively. “Yes, that’s likely to be the case. Fortunately, the second son, Lord Gerard, has both intelligence and a kind-hearted nature. While he may not match Lord Curtis in terms of martial prowess, he’s a capable knight in his own right. He’d be more than qualified to hold a crucial military position as the successor of the Endrake family.”

Greg pondered to himself, if that’s the case, the family dispute should be minimal. In fact, it might even provide an opportunity to establish a connection with the ducal family… Now, the crucial point remains: the reward.

“Well then, in order to accomplish the desired outcome you mentioned, what kind of reward do you have in mind?” Greg asked, his curiosity piqued.

The man hesitated briefly before replying, “With the approval of the master… I’ve prepared a reward of 500 mithril silver coins.”

“What?!” Greg exclaimed, unable to contain his surprise.

In this country, they use different denominations of currency: copper coins, silver coins, gold coins, large gold coins, and mithril silver coins. To put it in perspective, a copper coin is roughly equivalent to 100 yen. A silver coin is worth 1,000 yen, gold coins are valued at 10,000 yen, and large gold coins are equivalent to 100,000 yen.

Now, mithril silver coins… They hold an incredible value of around 1 million yen each. In other words, the reward being offered amounts to a staggering 500 million yen.

Even for someone like Greg, who had executed numerous high-profile assassinations, the mentioned amount was extraordinary. From the moment the request came from a member of a ducal house, it was clear that this job was beyond the ordinary.

If he could successfully carry out this task, it would provide him with the means to retire and live a life of peace and security. He could even take a big gamble with that amount as his starting capital. All of this from just one job.

With the calculations running through his mind, Greg nodded firmly and made his decision. “Very well, I accept this request.”

“Oh, thank you so much!” The man instinctively stood up and looked at Greg with a mix of relief and joy evident on his face.

“It’s my pleasure to offer my assistance after hearing such a story. You can count on us,” Greg affirmed, maintaining a composed smile while making sure not to reveal any hint of a grin or smirk.

As the man settled back down, a flicker of surprise crossed his face. “Oh, I apologize, I forgot to mention one condition. It pertains to the timing of the operation. I would prefer if it’s done in the ruins, in the deepest part of it.”

Intrigued, Greg’s curiosity shone in his eyes as he inquired, “Oh? That’s feasible, but… may I ask why?”

The man’s apologetic tone continued as he explained, “I’m sorry for the inconvenience. If a member of the Endrake family were to be slain by an assassin along the way, it would bring shame upon our warrior lineage. However, if Lord Curtis were to reach the deepest part of the ruins unharmed, it would preserve the honor and reputation of our family.

“We can utilize magic to monitor their progress, but determining the cause of death would be impossible, allowing us to conceal the truth. Of course, this plan assumes that the expeditionary force even manages to penetrate the first level of the ruins.”

Understanding the complexity of the noble’s concerns, Greg nodded in acknowledgment. “I see… Nobles certainly have their fair share of challenges, huh?”

While honors and reputation were not Greg’s primary concerns, he recognized that for aristocratic families, they could be vital to their survival and influence. With a serious expression, he nodded and continued the conversation, “What if, during the journey, he were to meet his demise due to exhaustion or any other unforeseen circumstances?”

The man hesitated for a moment, “If so, please ensure that you confirm it beyond any doubt. I don’t wish to say it, but… I believe the chances of that happening are extremely low. That person, he’s beyond human,” the man muttered under his breath. “In either scenario, if you can retrieve the holy seal Lord Curtis wears around his neck as proof of his demise, it will be sufficient.”

“Very well, I have no issue with that condition. But it’d be much appreciated if you could sweeten the deal a bit in terms of the final payment.” Greg proposed, hinting at the desire for a higher reward.

Adding an additional upfront payment will likely be impossible. Given the substantial amount involved, it seems unlikely that the man has extra funds readily available. And asking him to retrieve more money can potentially complicate the arrangement if they were to reconsider the agreement.

The man nodded in response, “Understood, I will discuss the matter with my master.”

“Yes, thank you very much,” Greg replied, extending his hand for a handshake. The man reciprocated the gesture, sealing their agreement.

***

Author’s Note:

80% preparation, 20% execution. That’s what defines a good job.

To overcome risky requests, adequate preparation is necessary.

The groundwork has been meticulously laid, now it’s time to see the finishing touches.

Up next: Start of the Mission

The girl, going about her usual preparations, is unaware of what lies ahead.