I Became the Servant of the Blind Wicked Woman

To read over 200 fully translated episodes, patreon.com/Denji02

Niobe felt a sense of reassurance from the firm order given by L13.

It had been less than a year since she graduated from the Blasphemia training school. Although she had shed some of her newbie status, making decisions on the spot in such a large-scale operation still felt burdensome.

In this situation, a reliable superior had appeared.

Whether it was in the fight with the Nardanit branch head or the swift takedown of the crazed Elysion guard, the secret inspector's skills were indeed impressive.

'If I'm with this person, even if I fail the mission… I won't die!'

Niobe's mind, free of burden, became peaceful.

Orthes felt a significant burden from Niobe's bright-eyed gaze as she looked at him.

'What to do.'

He had just dealt with an apocalyptic fanatic causing a ruckus on the road in front of the Musaeion admission office, and now Niobe had shown up.

'Considering the surveillance cameras spread throughout Elysion… no, that's not it. Argyrion and the Ten Towers have been fighting over the broadcast line. It's safe to assume that half of Elysion's electronic systems are down.'

The easiest way for the Ten Towers to track down Argyrion agents who had infiltrated the city would be through CCTV footage.

Elysion is one of the most tightly surveilled cities in this world.

Even if they used an alternate route to enter instead of the main gate, once they set foot in Elysion, their traces would inevitably be captured on video. Since the key figures of Argyrion were once Blasphemia agents, the Ten Towers would have all their personal details, including their appearances.

It wouldn't be difficult to find clues by searching the footage with spirit intelligence. If Argyrion had any foresight, they would have prepared at least minimal measures to hinder the Ten Towers' tracking.

And that preparation would likely involve a hacker targeting the Ether Space. Considering they had already hijacked the broadcast line to announce their terrorist declaration, it was certain they had brought a hacker along.

'If my deduction is correct, no footage is being recorded by Elysion's surveillance network right now.'

What to do with the newbie Blasphemia agent who had unintentionally encountered him twice now? Orthes pondered over how to handle the situation.

***

Weighing the risks and returns of dealing with the rookie who believes I'm an ally.

'Elimination must be ruled out as an option,'

The risk is too great.

The city's surveillance cameras might not be functioning properly.

However, when Ten Towers agents undertake joint operations, they usually carry life signal detectors. If someone's life signal disappears, it means there's a dangerous entity there.

The place where the life signal is cut off immediately becomes a site for additional troop deployment.

'I can use the excuse that, as a secret inspector, my position shouldn't be revealed, hence I don't have such a detector. But there's no way to neutralize the detector Niobe carries.'

It's not just the detector. There might be invisible witnesses in the blind spots.

No matter how unremarkable my face is, if I kill someone in broad daylight, someone will remember my features and report it. It's best to avoid any actions that might draw the Ten Towers' attention.

'…That's ideal, but of all people, I meet this girl again at the scene where I was impersonating a secret inspector.'

This mess happened because an apocalyptic fanatic was blocking the road to the Musaeion admission office. If there were no one around, I could have quietly gone in and brought Kine out long ago.

I need to think of another way.

'Utilize?'

There's no sign of her being wary of me. This means Niobe still believes I'm a secret inspector.

'If I speak well, I might be able to bring Kine out without arousing suspicion from others inside the admission office.'

"Excuse me."

As I was contemplating what to say to Niobe, she spoke up.

"Should I use honorifics… since you're my senior?"

"Oh, no need for that. Just speak comfortably. It's better for me to be seen as a returning, playful agent, rather than a secret inspector. It makes things easier."

It really does make things easier.

If another Blasphemia agent besides you shows up, the situation will become uncontrollably complicated.

***

Inside the Musaeion admission office, about a dozen kids were gathered under the admission officer.

'No support from the professors….'

The main building of Musaeion and the admission examination hall were located separately. The design aimed to prevent the admission exam hall from interfering with the students' education in the main building.

However, now this design resulted in a lack of personnel to protect the students. The communication said that the main building had been fortified, making it difficult for the professors to leave recklessly.

'Can we survive this terror with just me and the applicants?'

The admission officer brushed off the rising ominous thoughts. The Ten Towers would soon suppress the situation.

Knock, knock.

At that moment, there was a knocking sound on the barricaded door. The admission officer's whole body tensed up.

The admission officer looked around. He saw the children trembling with anxiety.

He wasn't a combat mage, but with a sense of duty to protect the students, he gripped his staff and stepped forward.

"Is anyone there?"

A strangely cool voice. He tightened his grip on the staff.

"Oh dear. You're not supposed to do it like that!"

Then, a girl's voice, easing the tension, was heard.

"This is the emergency rescue team dispatched by the Ten Towers. We'll provide the password, so please tell us the code word."

"Ah. The code word is Turtle, Turtle!"

"Resurrection. Please open the door!"

The admission officer sighed in relief. They were saved.

***

As soon as I entered the Musaeion admission office, I looked for Kine. Seeing her bewildered expression, trying to figure out the situation after I introduced myself as part of the Ten Towers' emergency rescue team.

Niobe explained that the emergency rescue team was the cover identity for Blasphemia agents dispatched to Elysion. They were also ordered to engage in actual rescue efforts if possible, so it wasn't entirely a lie.

It's difficult to tell Kine, who's looking at me with confused eyes, something like 'Ha ha, I'm just playing along with a friend who's a Blasphemia agent, and that's why this is happening.'

I need to keep it simple. Detailed explanations can wait until we return to Etna City. I send a brief message via the communicator embedded in my gauntlet.

'This is just a temporary cover identity. We will escape soon, so please avoid any actions that might cause suspicion.'

"Astraphe──!!"

From behind me, I heard a voice calling a familiar yet unwelcome name. I turned around hastily.

The person running towards us was my old friend, Lampades.

'Wait. Astraphe?'

Could it really be that Astraphe? I hadn't been worried, thinking she hadn't been captured by the Torres Tower!

I saw golden hair in a corner near Kine. The name and appearance I thought I'd never hear again. Without a doubt, it was the lightning mage who would become the protagonist's companion in the future.

'Where on earth did Lampades meet Astraphe?'

At least it's a relief she wasn't sold as a slave in Etna City. There wouldn't be any talk of the protagonist invading Etna City because of its slave-trading group, causing the Mage King to attack the city.

***

Lampades, who had run through the silver thread infestation and past the few mad mages to the Musaeion admission office, felt relieved. The road in front of the admission office showed unusual signs of a fierce fire, but the building seemed intact.

But that relief disappeared the moment he entered the admission office building, calling out for Astraphe.

That man standing there with his back turned.

A back too familiar to Lampades, and one he wished he didn't recognize.

At the end of that gaze was Astraphe.

With a spin, the man turned his body. Thin, oddly shining eyes, and a smile that didn't disappear even in this situation.

No. Perhaps it was because of this situation that the smile didn't disappear. Everything might be going according to his plan.

Orthes was there.

"Hello, Lampades. I'm glad you came."

"Why are you here…!"

"I was worried about my scholarship student. Aren't you here for a similar reason?"

Lampades didn't bother asking why he was looking at Astraphe instead of his own scholarship student.

Orthes would have recognized Astraphe's overflowing talent. Even if the other applicants weren't quite on Astraphe's level, they were undoubtedly prodigies.

In such a critical situation, being the adult who saved them was a perfect way to earn their trust.

'If I hadn't come…!'

Astraphe and the children might have been completely deceived by him. Even now, since he hadn't exposed Orthes's truth, the good impression given to the children hadn't vanished.

'I can't guess what you intended to do with the children, but I won't let it go according to your plan…!'

"Orthes. Let's protect the children together. We've set up a defense line at the Magic Tower's examination hall, so we can move there."

Upon hearing that, Orthes gestured to someone. It was a girl who still seemed like a novice mage.

Orthes whispered a few words to her.

"…Yes! Everyone, please pay attention! I'm from the Ten Towers' emergency rescue team. We will now move to a safer location under the guidance of Master Lampades!"

Using even such innocent-looking mages as his pawns…?!

Lampades was secretly horrified.

***

Phew. Thank goodness.

As expected, my friend has a sense of responsibility. Even in such a dangerous situation, he's a model adult trying to protect the kids.

I've already roughly explained to Niobe that this face belongs to a mage who has ties with me. There shouldn't be any problems.

Now we just need to wait for the Ten Towers to sort out the chaos and then leave Elysion!

To read over 200 fully translated episodes, patreon.com/Denji02