Chapter 69

When Shuu suddenly started writing something, Ruto and the others tilted their heads in confusion.

After that, a small, folded note was handed to Ruto. As Ruto tried to open and read it, Shuu stopped him.

"You should give this to a subordinate who is mentally ill."

"Should I not read it?"

"It's fine for the second one to read it."

"Ah..."

A mysterious note received from an unknown man.

Ruto, Misra, and Sadina couldn't help but be curious. They wondered if something strange was written in it, or if it contained a dramatic solution to the situation. They wanted to check.

"Why can't I see it?"

Misra couldn't help but ask.

In response, Shuu closed his right eye and tilted his head slightly, indicating that he had no intention of explaining. Realizing this, Misra became quiet.

Ruto touched the folded note and sensed the magic.

(There are no traces of magic or magical equipment... It really is just a note, I suppose. It doesn't seem to be cursed...)

Suddenly handing over a note was like asking for suspicion. To be honest, Ruto wanted to check the contents. However, he felt guilty about opening the note immediately after being told not to. Since he needed to be cautious about assassination, he intended to check it later.

However, he decided not to open it there.

"Mr. Shuu, I've finished eating!"

"Is that so? Then let's go."

While thinking, Shuu and Ailis stood up.

The serious Sadina also stood up and thanked them.

"Thank you!"

A noble should always be graceful, no matter when, where, or with whom. This was the image of a noble that Sadina had been taught. Although she was of noble birth, she was flexible enough to thank the commoners as a soldier.

"Thank you."

"I will also express my gratitude."

Following Ruto and Misra, they conveyed their thanks.

Shuu and Ailis.

The unknown citizens of the imperial capital disappeared from before the three of them.

◆◆◆

"Captain, hey."

"I know, Misra."

After a while, Ruto, Misra, and Sadina walked down the main street. However, it would be troublesome to open and read the note in such a crowded place.

"Let's head to the Raven Squad's operations room. We'll read it there. If it's useful, I'll show it to Ike."

"I'm curious."

"Be patient, Misra."

"Ugh... I'm not a child."

Sadina, who patted Misra's head to calm her, received a complaint in return. To Sadina, Misra's attitude seemed more like that of a younger sister, and she couldn't help but treat her this way.

In any case, the three of them headed to the operations room to find out the contents of the mysterious note. Their pace quickened naturally.

They passed the main street and walked near the castle where the emperor resided, entering the base nearby. They walked through familiar corridors and entered a familiar room. Their minds were preoccupied with the note, and they didn't even notice the scenery around them.

They reached their destination out of habit.

"Captain, hurry up."

"Take it easy."

In response to Misra's urging, Ruto walked to his desk.

He sat in his usual chair and opened the note. Misra and Sadina, curious about the contents, gathered around his desk.

The three of them peered at the note.

---

Ten days later, wait at Glen Rock

From 'The Reaper' to 'The Flame Dragon'

---

The three of them couldn't help but gasp.

They thought it might be a mistake and read it again, but the words didn't change.

"Huh..."

"Uh..."

"Wha!?"

Their voices of surprise overlapped.

At first, they thought it might be a prank or a joke, but Ruto quickly reconsidered.

"I haven't talked about 'The Reaper.' How did they know our problem is 'The Reaper'?"

"Oh! That's right!"

Sadina agreed.

Since it was a confidential matter, they hadn't talked about the Raven Squad or 'The Reaper' in detail. Despite this, the note pinpointed their problem.

This led to one conclusion.

"That man is 'The Reaper'... Is it safe to assume that?"

"But, Captain, that man, Shuu, might just be an acquaintance of 'The Reaper.'"

"No, that's impossible. An ordinary acquaintance wouldn't have the authority to make such a promise."

Ruto said this while waving the note.

'The Reaper,' an assassin, was declaring a frontal battle. Moreover, the time setting was flexible enough to allow for manipulation. It was unusual for an assassin to set such a disadvantageous condition. Furthermore, it was impossible for someone other than 'The Reaper' to make such a promise. From this, they concluded that Shuu was 'The Reaper.'

"Hey, then who is that Ailis girl?"

"That's a good point..."

Misra's question was valid.

However, with the current knowledge, it was impossible to guess. At best, they could speculate that she might be 'The Reaper's girlfriend. In any case, the important thing was that 'The Reaper's identity had been revealed.

It was too eerie.

"I'm not sure if I should take this note at face value."

"What should we do, Captain?"

"Is it about whether to believe this note or whether to show it to Ike?"

"Both."

Ruto thought.

If this was true, it was a chance to defeat 'The Reaper.' The Raven Squad was formed to kill 'The Reaper,' and this was the best opportunity to confront the target that they couldn't even capture a shadow of.

The main issue was whether to show the note to Ike.

However, there was no need to hesitate from the beginning.

"We have to show it."

This note was like a potent drug.

It could be a special remedy for Ike, who was mentally ill, but it also carried the risk of driving him further into madness. However, if he was going to fall anyway, it was best to administer this potent drug.

Ruto, Misra, and Sadina made up their minds.

"We should call Ike. And we should report to His Majesty the Emperor."

Ruto opened the drawer of her desk and took out the golden lion emblem, a symbol of her position as a general in the Subarokia Imperial Army, given to her by Emperor Gias.

With this in hand, she had a responsibility to her duties.

The Raven Squad, formed to deal with 'The Reaper,' had failed to complete their assigned tasks. Now, they saw a glimmer of hope to achieve their mission. Reporting this to the emperor was a natural duty.

"Then, should we request an audience immediately?"

"Wait, Misra. First, we need to prepare. We'll recall the features of the man named Shuu and the woman named Ailis and have the court painter draw them. Then we'll issue a wanted notice."

"But, Captain, what if it's just a prank?"

"We can charge them with the crime of disrupting the military, so it's not a problem."

They intended to take all necessary actions.

Ruto wasn't naive enough to wait ten days for the appointed time. She would consider using her authority to capture them beforehand.

"First, we'll plan our strategy. Then we'll report to His Majesty. We need a budget to start."

The military couldn't be moved by force alone.

The most important thing in the initial stages was... money.

◆◆◆

In the end, Emperor Gias made a decision that day.

The features of the man believed to be 'The Reaper,' Shuu, were to be included in a wanted notice and widely distributed throughout the capital, Aldar.

Furthermore, preparations were made to defeat 'The Reaper' ten days later, in case he couldn't be found. Multiple magical equipment users, court magicians, 200 regular soldiers, and numerous magical devices were to be deployed.

A force sufficient to kill the assassin.

Of course, the Raven Squad was also scheduled to participate.

"That's slow."

Ruto and the others were waiting in the Raven Squad's operations room. Of course, they were waiting for Ike.

They had decided to show him the note from 'The Reaper.'

Tension ran through the three of them.

"I hope Ike doesn't go berserk when he sees this..."

"He'll run out. Definitely."

"Don't worry, both of you. If that happens, I'll stop him with my magical equipment. Hehe."

Ruto was a domain-type magical equipment user who could manipulate gravity. She was also an awakened magical equipment user.

Naturally, she was stronger than Ike.

If necessary, it would be easy to pin him down.

"He's here."

The approaching footsteps and the massive, unhidden magical power could only belong to Ike.

The door opened without a knock.

They thought he might be in a bad mood because he was called out of his day off, but something seemed different. He was wearing training clothes, dirty in places, indicating that he had been training. He looked tired.

"What's the matter, Captain Ruto?"

"Completely... unfriendly."

"I was training. If that's all, I'll go back."

"Oh, do you want to miss out on some special information? About 'The Reaper's location."

At those words, Ike's demeanor changed dramatically. The air became sharp, like a sword that could cut through rock.

However, contrary to Ruto's expectations, Ike remained calm.

"Where is he?"

"You're calmer than I thought. I was considering using gravity to pin you down if you got too agitated."

"I'm not that foolish. The target I've decided to kill isn't easy."

"If you can think that far, I can tell you with peace of mind."

Ike's killing intent was real. Ruto could feel it even from a distance.

However, Ike listened calmly without losing his composure. This was unexpected and also beyond their expectations.

With this, they could hand over the note with peace of mind.

"Read this."

Ruto handed over the note.

Ike took it and read it. It was a simple challenge letter from his arch-nemesis, 'The Reaper,' who had killed his comrades. He couldn't just wait, but he wouldn't run around looking for 'The Reaper' or rush to Glen Rock early.

(What can I do...)

Glen Rock, where 'The Reaper' was waiting, was a desolate area about three days' walk north of the capital. It was the site of a former battlefield, and the result of the activation of the Earth's Tenth Tier, "The Great Meteorite." It was named after the court magician who activated "The Great Meteorite."

It would take three days to walk there normally, but a magical equipment user could reach it in less than a day with enhanced speed.

If he believed 'The Reaper's words, he still had time.

He needed to use the given time to develop a surefire way to kill 'The Reaper.'

"...I'll go back to the training ground."

"I thought you might want to take a break today?"

"I don't have time for that. I need to hone my magical equipment to kill him..."

Ike hadn't just focused on the annihilation of the revolutionary army. Whenever he had free time, he went to the military's archives to research the dark organization, Black Cat, and 'The Reaper.'

It was known that 'The Reaper' could cause sudden deaths and freeze the surroundings instantly. He suspected that one or both of these abilities were magical equipment. Perhaps one was 'The Reaper's magical equipment, and the other belonged to an accomplice.

Understanding the abilities and developing countermeasures were essential.

On that basis, he would develop a surefire way to kill 'The Reaper.'

"I'll go too."

"Then I'll help too!"

"...Do as you please."

Inspired by Ike's sharp demeanor, Misra and Sadina were also eager to help.

To them, 'The Reaper' was the one who had killed their comrades, Elina and Yuri. It was only natural.

(Hehe. Thanks to 'The Reaper,' the Raven Squad is becoming more united.)

Ruto smiled, thinking of this irony.