“I’ve received a request from the Imperial Family.”
“Oh…!?”
At Sylvia’s blunt announcement, the entire Vermont Security training hall buzzed with excitement.
Just recently, they had only gone through a few training sessions and had experienced a real mission only once, during the Ariente Territory evacuation operation.
And now, they had not only received a request but from the Imperial Court no less? The staff felt their hearts race with excitement and anticipation.
“This is a small-scale escort mission. The participants will be Charlotte and Julia. You both understand?”
“Yes!”
These were names that couldn’t be unknown.
During the desperate situation just before the Ariente Castle was breached, they appeared like heroes and were the key figures who ended the crisis.
Initially, there were some complaints from those who had their names listed as Vermont Security employees but did not participate in the training.
However, after witnessing the heroics of that day, all dissatisfaction had faded.
If you had talents as a necromancer or dark knight, it was better to hone your skills than to spend time building physical strength through mindless training.
So, this mission would indeed become their stage for a solo performance.
The fervor that had been high slightly subsided as the staff calmed their excitement.
“And I will also be participating in the mission, so I will be absent. During that period, the second-ranked trainee will act as the instructor.”
“Why the second? Shouldn’t the top trainee be the instructor?”
“Good question. The top trainee will be deployed on the mission and thus will be unable to serve as the instructor.”
“…!”
The previously subdued atmosphere heated up again.
Finally, they would have the chance to participate in a mission!
Of course, they were receiving their salaries even if they couldn’t participate, but separate from that, everyone had a desire to show off their skills they had honed so far.
“Then, who will be the top trainee, Instructor?”
“You all probably anticipated this, but the top trainee is Yuria.”
Ah, that figures.
When the name everyone had in mind was mentioned, everyone nodded in agreement.
Although young, there was no doubt that Yuri was the one with the best skills.
He was said to be an orphan.
At the Imperial Magic Academy, he achieved top scores and performed outstandingly in training as well.
Everyone was astonished by his dedication that seemed to burn through his very body.
“Ah…!”
Clang.
Yuri, who was in a daze, belatedly reacted and dropped his spoon.
Soon after, applause poured out to congratulate Yuri.
‘Finally… I can meet Charlotte and Julia…!?’
Thump-Thump.
Yuri’s heart began to race uncontrollably fast.
He could finally meet them.
Not from a distance.
This time, really up close.
He would be able to make eye contact and have a conversation.
He could reunite with friends separated by fate.
Just the thought of it brought tears to Yuri’s eyes.
Ah! He wanted to see them so badly!
Even after leaving the training hall and arriving at the academy dormitory.
Even after lying down in the pretty pajamas with frills bought with the pocket money from Mr. Black.
Yuri couldn’t calm his excitement and found it difficult to fall asleep.
“I have to tell Mr. Black about the good things.”
It was a good opportunity.
Yuri threw off the blanket and got up, lighting a candle.
He thought he could quickly write a letter and then go to sleep.
He wrote about the events of the past week, whether he had done well on his exams, and the fact that he had been selected for the mission today, among other things.
As Yuri’s lips curled into a smile, he was just about to finish.
“Wait? I mustn’t let them find out that I know Charlotte and Julia…?”
The important realization came too late.
The pen stopped.
Yuri had been so excited about the possibility of a true reunion with Charlotte and Julia that he had forgotten to consider this.
The moment they met and recognized each other, Aslan Vermont would surely figure out his identity.
Then Aslan Vermont would heighten his vigilance.
The chance of a surprise attack would become a dream, and rescuing Charlotte and Julia would become nearly impossible.
All the effort put into infiltrating Vermont Security while hiding his identity would go to waste.
“Ahhhhh…!”
Yuri groaned in agony.
This was a chance to meet his friends again.
Just by wishing for it, he could reunite with Charlotte and Julia.
But if he couldn’t overcome this desire, the moment of reunion would become the last.
After that day, he would never meet them again.
As Yuri wept, the sound of angry footsteps echoed down the hallway.
“Who is being so noisy at this hour?”
“Oh. Sorry. It was me.”
“Oh my. It’s Yuri. I’m sorry. There must have been a reason for it.”
Peeking in from the attic, Yuri saw his senior quickly leave as if escaping.
Yuri snorted, wiped his nose, and sat back at his desk.
His expression was resolute, as if he had made a firm decision.
“Haah… There’s no choice. I have to endure. I must endure to save Charlotte and Julia…”
Yuri gripped his pen and let tears fall like chicken droppings.
He really wanted to see them so badly.
He wanted to hug them and cry while telling them how much he missed them and unburden his heart of everything he had been holding in.
But he couldn’t.
It was all because of Aslan Vermont.
Because of that vicious noble…! If only Aslan Vermont were actually a kind and benevolent person who took good care of Charlotte and Julia and, even if he discovered that he was close to Charlotte and Julia, he would just look at them with satisfaction and not try to separate them.
But that’s not going to happen…
Just looking at how Charlotte and Julia transformed into a necromancer and a dark knight right after falling into Vermont’s hands made it clear.
Even if they were to reunite, there was no guarantee that Charlotte and Julia would be sane.
They might already be brainwashed and might not even recognize him.
So, yeah. It’s definitely better to hide his identity and approach them.
He’ll endure and wait until he has the strength to escape with Charlotte and Julia.
Yuri wiped his reddened eyes and made that resolution.
“I can endure… I can do it…”
Clunk.
Yuri’s hand reached for the locker. The mask he had made as part of a magic arts assignment was trembling in Yuri’s quivering hands.
This was the only method available to him.
***
“Haah…”
Crunch.
The letter in my hand was crumpled beyond recognition.
I couldn’t help but grip it tightly.
The ridiculous content written on the letter was driving me to the brink of madness.
– To Mr. Black
– Mister, I’ve been chosen to be dispatched for Vermont Security’s first mission! I was selected because I’m the top trainee. I want to hear your praise. By the time this letter arrives, I will probably have already left.
– And this is a secret only for you… Please do not tell Instructor Sylvia or Count Vermont. Actually, the two sl*ves of Count Vermont are friends I knew from the orphanage. After I escaped alone, we parted ways, and this will be our first meeting now… If Count Vermont finds out, he might try to make me a sl*ve too or prevent me from meeting my friends. So, I plan to wear a mask and hide my identity during this mission.
Wow. Wow. Wow. This son of a…
I can’t even speak properly.
It’s so frustrating that it wouldn’t be strange if I exploded with rage right now.
I set everything up for an emotional reunion, and now what?
Yuri plans to hide his relationship with Charlotte and Julia from Aslan Vermont?
Is this kid out of his mind?
“…!”
As I finished reading the letter and was grinding my teeth in anger.
Yuri flinched and looked at me with a scared expression.
“…Huh.”
As I moved to touch Yuri’s mask, he stepped back with a startled, almost girlish squeal.
That was quite a reaction.
It looks like I won’t be able to forcibly remove the mask with my hands.
“What’s with the mask? I don’t think there was a directive to cover your face.”
“I wore it on my own initiative. The ones who should stand out in this mission are indeed the necromancer and the dark knight. So I decided it would be better for me to take a step back and illuminate the two of them by hiding my face.”
“Who said that? I also have high expectations for the performance of Vermont Security’s top trainee.”
“…That’s too much praise. My skills are still insufficient compared to the two of them. I will continue to improve and strive to meet your expectations as soon as possible.”
This kid, really.
Making up such bizarre excuses to avoid removing the mask.
I swallowed my frustration internally as Yuri trembled and stood his ground again.
“Even if that’s the case, isn’t it unnecessary to wear a mask right now? Take it off. It must be cumbersome.”
“It’s fine. I am dispatched not as an individual but as a machine focused solely on completing the mission. So I am blocking anything that might reveal emotions.”
“…Are you planning to keep wearing it throughout the mission?”
“Yes. That’s correct.”
“It’s irritating to my eyes. Take it off. That’s an order.”
“I cannot.”
“Even if you cannot participate in the mission unless you take it off?”
“Yes.”
“…”
What a stubborn kid.
Not even listening to an adult.
I felt my temples throbbing intensely and turned away.
It was a stubbornness that couldn’t be easily broken.
“My lord, where are you going?”
“I’m delaying the departure by 30 minutes. I have some things to do.”
Ah, this infuriating kid.
I should write a letter or something.
I gritted my teeth and headed towards my office.
So, this is how it’s going to be.
Fine. Do as you please.
I’ll make sure to get that mask off somehow.
