Chapter 59

In fact, while being shown to my bedroom, I almost habitually entered Lu's room as well.

It was a lingering effect of using the same room every day at the Noble's Association.

"Daisy, do you want to sleep with me? Well, I did plan to go over there at night. It would be more convenient to put you to sleep in the same bedroom."

I quickly fled before the situation turned into a hellish tease.

Lu was a vicious devil who, once he got a hold of something, would milk it for at least ten times. I need to be careful.

That evening was quiet.

It became even quieter after finishing dinner a bit early without the landlord.

'I've arrived, but I didn't get to ask about Sir Weatherwood, and I didn't deliver the steward's letter either.'

Who would have thought the old man would recognize Lu?

'And the design for the royal report. This house seems to have a lot of unusual items...'

At least there's no need to be a thief tonight. I might as well do some snooping to help digest.

Thinking of it, I immediately put it into action. If I'm caught, I might be dragged to the royal palace, but a little snooping is just a formality.

First, I checked the overall structure of the second floor. Then, I planned to methodically check the rooms starting from the innermost one... or so I thought.

As soon as I opened the first door, I ran into Linya, who was busy with housework in the corner.

"Ah! Miss Daisy! Do you need anything? Just say the word, and I'll bring it to you."

Failure. I pretended I had never intended to snoop and asked while looking at the bedding and clothes piled on the table.

"Ironing?"

Linya blushed, embarrassed to be caught working, and nodded.

"Hep!"

Hmm.

A maid knows the struggles of a maid best.

Ironing isn't a particularly satisfying task, but it's one of the most time-consuming household chores.

With the old master bedridden, it's too much to ask her to spend time ironing.

I started laying out the fabrics that were waiting to be ironed on the floor.

Fortunately, the floor of this room was so clean it shone, allowing me to spread the fabrics without any trouble.

"Miss, Miss Daisy? What are you doing..."

"Wait. I'll show you heaven."

After laying everything out, I took the iron from Linya. It was an old model, so it was very heavy.

Hoooo.

Slow, deep breath. And focus.

I imagine this.

This is the enemy camp where over thirty devils have gathered. I have to cut through these devils and rescue my friends in danger.

'Vend.'

With all my might!

Swoosh.

The iron, thrust forward like a sword, drew a horizontal line and returned.

At the same time, a white mist rose from the fabric. The damp sensation on my skin wasn't bad.

Is it done?

I opened my eyes. All the wrinkles in the fabric had disappeared in the blink of an eye.

This is the technique of ironing dozens of fabrics at once. It's called the Devil's Ironing Technique.

Clap, clap, clap!

Linya, who recognized the value of the Devil's Ironing Technique, applauded me.

"Wow, amazing! It would have taken at least an hour... What's the secret?"

"Perseverance."

"Perseverance?"

"And stamina. With perseverance and stamina, there's nothing you can't do. Want to learn how to build stamina? First, to build basic stamina, do 200 push-ups every day and..."

"Wait! Please wait here! I'll go get a pen and paper! I want to take notes!"

The excited Linya carefully left the room without stepping on the fabrics.

Actually, this ironing technique can't be used in Weatherwood. The steward would object.

"Miss Daisy. If you burn even a single thread of the bedding, I'll deduct the value of the bedding from your salary. Please, please, work normally."

The steward, who doesn't understand the beauty of the Devil's Ironing Technique. You're pitiful.

It's good to have a friend in the same industry who understands me.

A friend.

"Friend."

Hmm. The word rolling around in my mouth gives me a strange feeling.

Reflecting on it, I've already been living as Daisy for over three months.

During that time, I've met many people as Daisy. The steward, Lu, the butler assassin, the potato old man, the market vendors, Yeger and Volkwin...

'No matter how much you struggle, life and connections continue.'

I was folding the laid-out fabrics one by one, waiting for Linya.

I sensed unfamiliar footsteps stop in front of the mansion. I confirmed the owners of the footsteps through the window.

Two men.

"Miss Daisy! I'm ready to take notes. S, so, let's continue..."

"Linya."

"Yes?"

But the energy from those two was not good.

More precisely, it wasn't friendly.

"Is Grandpa Malicops a criminal?"

"Wh-what? No, no. We've been settled in the empire for 15 years and are legitimate citizens..."

"Or do you have enemies?"

The answer was cut off. I looked out the window again and asked.

"Do you?"

"Um, the master gets along well with the neighbors and often plays with the neighborhood children. He only has a grudge against Mephisto's army."

"Is that so? Then are they just friends?"

Linya, who had approached the window, cautiously checked outside. The two unwelcome visitors were pressing the bell and waiting quietly.

"No. I've never seen them before. Wait, I'll go down and..."

"Don't go."

I grabbed Linya's arm and clearly conveyed my intention.

"It doesn't feel right. Let them go."

"But..."

"The old man is already bedridden. If they have business, they'll come back."

Linya, who had been looking at me with a puzzled expression, slowly nodded.

'Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't have cared.'

After confirming the design for the royal report. Linya's testimony, too. Something feels off.

The two men stood in front of the mansion for a while before turning back.

They reappeared at midnight.

* * *

The assassin's steps were silent.

Silencing one's presence is the most basic skill of an assassin.

When climbing over the wall, it should be lighter than a butterfly's wings. When scaling the wall, it should rise with the flowing wind.

When taking a life, it should be as peaceful as falling asleep.

It's the most basic of basics, but his abilities went beyond that.

"You search the first floor. I'll go to the second floor."

"Understood."

He prided himself on controlling even his breathing and the speed of his heartbeat.

He had always completed his assigned tasks perfectly. Today's target would be no different.

'This is the place that funds the Weatherwood family.'

His mission was to kidnap the 70-year-old owner of this house.

Actually, the assassin was not enthusiastic about today's mission.

The Weatherwood family had been the target of their guild's detailed investigation for nearly four years.

As a member of the Noble's Association, this family had a very secretive treasure. The guild had been investigating both the treasure and its owner at the request of the client.

The investigation. No more than that. The guild had been sending people in the usual way.

Of course, the frequent change of staff and the periodic installation of magical traps inside the mansion made it difficult to control. But the mission had been proceeding without major issues.

However, things started to go wrong three months ago.

'Two... no, three assassins have disappeared...'

After the new maid and cook were hired.

The assassins sent to investigate Weatherwood began to disappear without a trace.

One of the three missing was an excellent assassin with a 100% success rate.

The guild had thoroughly searched Midwinter but found no trace of the missing assassins.

'The Weatherwood family is really suspicious.'

Not just a little suspicious.

The 'Gray Weatherwood Baron,' who was believed to not exist, appeared out of nowhere and then vanished like a ghost.

A baroness from the Northern Continental Union appeared.

Moreover, according to the information provided by the client, the maid was a survivor from Queen's Island, and the cook's identity was unclear.

A family where even the staff are not ordinary.

'I should request to be excluded from Weatherwood-related missions after completing this one.'

In the midst of this, a new request came from the client. To kidnap the Malicops group in Westwinter.

The close connection between Malicops and the Weatherwood family had been revealed in the four years of investigation.

And it seemed there were only the old man and a young maid in this old red-roofed mansion.

However, the fact that the maid didn't come out even after ringing the bell in the afternoon suggested a high level of suspicion towards outsiders.

The assassin checked the left corridor of the second floor, pressing himself against the wall.

Now, it was time to complete the mission.