Otherworldly Warriors Volume 11, Chapter 16

Chapter 16 - The Mask of Substitution

　Mare, a member of the Black Cat of the Wind party, is a archer.

　She fired an arrow at the King of Grandsword.

　Of course, the king would understand that I had nothing to do with the assassination.

　But that's only if he's still alive.

"Fuuh, block it!"

　The soldiers who had been holding their ground were dismayed by Mare's sudden action. All of them took a stand and tried to stop her, but they couldn't reach the arrow one step.

"Guh, what the hell are you doing?"

　Perhaps because the King of Grandsword was not expecting it, his movements were too slow to avoid it.

　However, he covered it with his left arm and avoided the blow to the heart.

"Hmm."

"Mare!"

"Do you know each other? Alec. No, I don't care. That girl is guilty of treason. Kill her!"

　The king, frowning, gives the order.

　Mare had her bow at the ready again.

　I――I drew my sword and jumped in front of the king. I was in Mare's line of fire.

　Probably every soldier in the room thought that I had taken a stand to block the arrow.

　They were not alarmed when I approached the king.

　I thrust my sword forward.

"Kkuhh! What are you doing, Alec!?"

　The king catches my sword with his own.

"Why don't you stop playing the little game? I've got an [Appraisal], you know?"

"...... What are you talking about?"

"Gareth, can you defeat the king will your skills?"

　I ask my knight in shining armor.

"No, it's impossible ......"

"If that's the case, there's no need to hold back. Just go ahead and slay that thing."

"Yes, sir."

　Gareth also slashed at the king.

"Kkuhh! You're insane!"

"Come on, what's wrong? Do your signature Matrix dodge!"

"Damn you!"

　The king clenched his teeth and dodged with perfect balance. He dodged my horizontal sword.

"This move, it's not the king! Everyone, do not let this man escape! He's an enemy in disguise!"

　Gareth declares and orders.

"Damn straight! You've only just found out, you idiots!"

　The assassin, in the form of the king, wields a broadsword, but it doesn't seem to be his best weapon. He discarded the sword midway and brought out a dagger from his pocket.

　It seems that he can mimic appearance and voice, but not the rest.

"Jajajajaja!"

　When I showered him with ice javelin, the mask popped off the assassin and he returned to his original form.

　It seems that he was using this magic tool to disguise his appearance.

"Get out of the way! You small fry!"

　The assassin jumped over the soldiers who were trying to surround him and tried to escape. Then Mare's arrow struck him in the neck from behind, and he collapsed.

　One of the arrows tumbled out from under the assassin's clothes, but that completely cleared Mare of suspicion.

"Investigate the identity of the corpse. And find His Majesty! He's got to be here somewhere."

　The new captain, Gareth, is ordering his troops to find him, but I guess that's all taken care of now.

"Alec!"

　Murphy's here.

"Looks like you're safe too."

"Yeah, but give me a break. I thought you were the one who slashed the king."

"I found out who he was on the way. Well, you gave me a scare too, Mare."

"Hmm."

　She still has the same poker face, but she's proud of it. Damn.

　She even gave me thumbs up.

"Gareth, Alec, you've done well."

　The real king is coming out.

"Your Majesty! We haven't been able to secure the castle yet. We can't let you come out."

　It's not easy being Guard Captain, Gareth.

"But the assassin must have been taken care of by now. He was impersonating me, wasn't he?"

"Yes, sir. I apologize for the delay in noticing."

　Gareth apologizes, but it's impossible to notice that thing right away.

"I don't care. I'm fine and the assassin has been taken care of. I wish I could have seen the transformation with my own eyes."

　I picked up the mask that had fallen off, but it was cracked and there was no change when I put it to my face.

　It looks like it's broken and useless.

　I guess it's impossible to carry out the mission to the women's bath. Too bad.

"Oh, yes, Your Majesty."

"What is it, Alec?"

"You'll have to walk out with an escort."

"What, such a boring story? You don't have to tell me, but I'm sure my vassals will tell me anyway."

"Even more so, then. It's no use telling you now that Dasim is dead, but your guards are too sloppy."

"You're right. Let's change that. When I saw the ball of smoke, it made my blood boil, but I didn't want any unnecessary casualties."

　It seems that the king is not worried about his own life, although he seems to be reflecting on the fact that several soldiers died.

　Well, as long as they're revamping the security system, I'm okay with it.

　A week later, Murphy, Mare, and I each received a reward of 100,000 gold from the king.

　It seems that the reason Mare was in the castle at that time was because Saki was worried about me and asked her to follow me.

　The reason why Mare was temporarily missing in the dungeon was because she had gone to the bathroom.

"Hmm."

"Alright, two pair. I win! Three of a kind."

　I tried to play poker with Murphy, but Mare doesn't play games, so she wasn't very strong.

"So, three hundred. I'm done."

"Come on, let's have some more fun."

"Go play with someone else. That's enough, Mare."

"What the hell? ...... Hey, Mare, let's do it again."

"Hmm."

　If that's what Mare wants to do, I'm happy to play against her again. She's back in her room, though, so she doesn't seem too interested in poker.

"Still, it's hard to believe they're after the king, too."

　Serina said.

"Yeah. Well, the assassination attempt ended in failure, and there aren't many assassins of that caliber, so I don't think they'll try anything for a while."

　I say.

"If you're willing to pay me up front for the job, you're welcome to come back anytime."

　Murphy says in carefree manner.

"Oh, well, I guess I'll just tell the castle that Murphy's welcoming the king's assassination plot."

　Saki said.

"N-no, no, wait, Saki, I said this on the premise that it would fail."

"That's dangerous, too. Isn't it a felony to attempt to do so?"

　Serina said.

"...... Hey, I've been helping you catch the killer all along, haven't I?"

"Is that so? From what Alec said, it sounds like you were believe in assassin's story."

"No, I didn't know he was an assassin! I'm sorry about that. I'll be careful next time."

"I hope so."

"Murphy, I have a visitor for you."

"Oh, there you are. ....... Let's talk over here."

　Murphy took the suspicious-looking man to his room, but I'm sure his party mates will take care of the rest.

　I can't take care of him.

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