The Final Desperation

Genji had to push back his assassination plans due to the banquet. It wasn't because he didn't want to do it, but because his target had already left when he returned to the estate. Now, they would only meet at the castle tonight. Genji looked at the empty manor one last time before summoning Bruce and galloping to the castle.

He took an unconventional route and arrived just as the banquet doors opened. Leading his group through a back entrance, Genji handed Astros to Bruce and told them to enjoy the event. Astros raised his left paw to say "okay," and eagerly pointed Bruce toward some tasty-looking desserts.

The servants were weirded out by the animal duo, but the royal badge around Bruce's neck informed them of their high status. The servants could not afford to stop them. On the bright side, Astros and Bruce appeared to be highly intelligent and knew how to behave, making their jobs a lot easier.

Although the staff had to spend some time serving the hungry duo, it wasn't a big deal compared to the alternative where they had animals snagging food in the main hall, where the guests were situated.

At least this way, the staff didn't have to deal with the troubles associated with that mess. Plus, their interactions with Bruce and Astros were rather cordial since they knew how to ask for permission before eating something.

Bruce also helped them with the constant stream of dishes now and then, alleviating their workload between the snacks. Due to this, the staff developed a sort of symbiotic friendship with Bruce, which extended to Astros, who cheerfully waved at any passing staff. Like this, the service rush quickly passed for the staff, their experience more pleasant than usual.

Meanwhile, Genji grabbed an unopened bottle of wine from the serving table, popped off the cork, and began sipping away in a corner. He didn't have any goals tonight, so he settled for observing the guests.

'This wine's kind of sour,' he thought, 'They didn't seal it properly when fermenting it.'

Minutes later, the main star of the show, the prince, entered. Genji could tell he was the prince because he was dressed in the most eye-catching and expensive outfit, consisting of a red suit and a large swab of fur on his right shoulder. Everyone also swarmed him at his entrance, seeking to catch his fancy and form some connections.

However, the politics of the royal family had worn him down, making him indifferent to their advances. Not even the most beautiful girls elicited a reaction from him. At most, he gave a few polite nods to the people talking to him, but Genji could tell he was rather unfocused on the conversation.

'Life must be hard as a prince. Not only does he need to deal with a murderous step-mom, but he also needs to juggle interpersonal relationships with the nobles.'

As Genji was halfway finished with his wine, Edwin, the steward knight, sat down across from him and scolded him for his vices. "You shouldn't drink when we're on duty. It'll dampen your senses."

"Does it matter?" Genji asked back. "At our levels, our bodies can easily get rid of this little bit. Plus, it's a royal banquet here. You would have to be crazy to cause a commotion."

Edwin fell silent with no retort, but his disapproving stare conveyed his thoughts.

"Anyway, where's the archer?" Genji asked to change the topic.

"Her name is Kathleen."

"Sure, I'll remember that when it matters."

Edwin frowned at Genji's dismissive tone, but his knightly values compelled him to answer. "She's up high watching for conflicts."

Genji looked around at the possible spots and found her near a ledge on the second floor, scanning the crowd. Their gazes met, and Genji raised his bottle at her before taking a sip. This also ticked off the huntress, and she considered putting an arrow through the container. However, she quickly shelved this idea as the ensuing commotion would only make her job more difficult.

Edwin, discontent with Genji's mannerisms, left after this, not wanting to associate with Genji anymore.

'Finally some peace and quiet,' Genji thought, leaning back on the chair. 'Don't they realize they're the distracting ones when behaving like that? I was perfectly inconspicuous here until a knight in bulking armor came along.'

Genji resumed drinking and maintained his facade until all the prying gazes looked away. Then he picked a new spot, grabbing another bottle along the way. However, if one paid close attention to his position, they would realize Genji was in the optimal location to intercept any unwanted guests, both from inside and outside.

An hour into the banquet, Genji sensed a massive mana signature approaching the castle. The other masters stationed here also picked up on it moments after him and warily glared at the entrance.

Between the large castle doors, down the side of the hill, Genji saw a pristine crystal carriage steered by human-sized mice. Musical birds also accompanied the entourage, singing their songs and brightening the mood. It was a phenomenon conjured from magic and powered by immense mana. With such an overbearing display, it was hard to believe the owner came with good intentions.

All the guards clenched their weapons with strong tension, readying for a fight that never came. When the carriage came to a stop, a beautiful girl stepped out, bedazzling everyone's eyes. The guests had never seen such a captivating being that radiated purity.

Genji narrowed his eyes and pressed his thumb into his ribs, using the pain to divert his attention. Although it wasn't on the level of a charm ability, the girl's appearance contained some traces of magical enhancement.

"Is this the prince's banquet?" Cinderella asked softly.

"It is. May I know who you are?" a guard cautiously asked.

"An attendee."

The guards exchanged confused glances but escorted her up like she was just another guest, albeit with more respect and vigilance. Like this, Cinderella entered the hall and evoked the envy of all the girls. The most prominent ones were her abusive stepsisters, who gnashed their teeth in thick jealousy.

Many male attendees around Cinderella's age asked for a dance, but she tactfully rejected them. This lasted until the prince's turn, in which Cinderella's eyes widened with shock before she readily agreed. Genji averted his gaze at this moment, having concluded that the immense fluctuation of magic was not from the girl, but another party.

'But why does she give off a familiar feeling? Have I met her before?' Genji wondered to himself, taking another swig from his bottle. Cinderella's transformation was so drastic that not even Genji recognized the assassination target before him.

The next few hours of the banquet passed uneventfully. Other than Genji grabbing another bottle of wine, the main focus was on the prince and Cinderella's dance. They had been going at it nonstop, having the time of their lives without any regard for the people around them.

This lasted until the clock bell rang 12 times, denoting the change of midnight. Cinderella's face distorted with anxiety, and she rushed for the exit. The prince chased after her and asked for her name, but Cinderella ignored him and shuffled down the stairs with the hem of her dress in hand. In her hurry, her foot got caught on a step, and her slipper fell off.

The prince called out to remind her, but Cinderella only increased her pace. Left with no choice, the prince intended to pick up the slipper and race down to her carriage. But right as he crouched down, Genji suddenly appeared beside him and grabbed his outstretched arm, halting his motion in place.

Genji pulled the prince to his feet and watched as Cinderella slipped into her carriage. The prince struggled defiantly against his grip, yelling, "Hey! What's the meaning of this?! How dare you grab me!" This outburst attracted a few spectators from inside the hall.

Genji ignored all this and slowly dragged the prince back, waiting for Cinderella's carriage to vanish from his sight before pouring his half-finished wine bottle over the slipper. Upon contact, black fumes erupted from the immaculate footwear, evaporating the fluid with loud sizzling sounds.

A foul odor also accompanied this scene, making the prince nauseous upon inhalation. The smoke was clearly poisonous and created with ill intent.

Sharp hisses and gasps sounded from the crowd while the nearby guards rushed forward to protect the prince. Genji released his hold and asked, "Well? Do you still want to touch it now?"

"N-no, thank you for stopping me." The prince's face was pale as he imagined the consequences of the alternative.

"Mages! Get the court mages!" the guards hollered, confirming the slipper was a product of magic. While this happened, the other guards scattered the crowd and asked them to keep silent about the issue. Minutes later, a few robed men ran into the scene, carefully collected the weapon with a magic tool, and brought it away for analysis.

Genji returned to the hall, signaled to his colleagues that he would be clocking out now, and headed to the kitchen to pick up his companions.

 

---

 

The following morning, the queen summoned Genji to the throne room. Upon entering, Genji noticed the security in the room had become stricter, with everyone on edge. A group of mages stood on the side, holding the results of their examinations. The prince and the queen could also be seen, their appearance hectic from being awake the whole night.

"You called for me?" Genji asked, stopping in front of the throne.

"Mages, explain your findings," the queen said in a dignified tone.

"Yes, Your Majesty." The head mage took the sheets of paper and began his presentation. "After several tests, we have confirmed the slipper is laced with a vicious curse. Anyone who touches it will become a puppet, incapable of controlling their body. Fortunately, most of the energy has dissipated already, making it safe to the touch."

Although the guards had expected such a result, many of them still gulped with fear. The prince broke out in a cold sweat while the queen's frown worsened.

"You heard him," the queen said. "Without your help, the prince would have experienced a gruesome fate. You've helped us avoid calamity. For this, you deserve an adequate reward. What do you desire?"

"A trusty weapon," Genji answered. "It doesn't matter if it's a hammer or a sword, as long as it's of good quality."

"Very well. Your wish shall be granted." The queen waved her hand, ordering a trusty guard to handle this matter. Then she asked the mage to continue his talk.

"We've also developed a method to find the culprit. Using the remnant mana signature and initiating a compatibility test, we can determine who the energy originated from. However, this requires direct contact with the slipper, so I'm afraid it won't be very efficient. It's borderline useless unless we want to go from door to door."

"That's fine. It'll only take a few days to go around the capital. That's a small price to pay for catching such an audacious mage," the queen responded.

"Might I suggest an optimization?" One of the queen's advisors asked. "Why don't we make an announcement to see if we can lure out the culprit?"

"That sounds good. What do you propose?"

"The announcement needs to be tempting, but subtle enough to not trigger any suspicions. How about marriage? Let's say the prince is deeply in love with the girl he met at the banquet, but he never got her name or who she is. The only lead he has is this slipper that she accidentally left behind in her rush to leave. So to find her, he will go around the capital and let every girl try it. The person who perfectly fits the slipper and is recognized by the prince will become his partner."

"Excellent! We'll go with that. Although it's somewhat far-fetched, it's believable enough and also explains our actions."

In a few minutes, the queen and her advisors decided on their next course of action. But the main subject of this conversation, the prince, was in pain. They didn't even ask his opinion on the matter and forced him into it.

"Can I not?" the prince asked.

"No. This has gone beyond just you. It's a national matter now. If we don't catch the culprit, do you think you will have an easy time? They failed once, but that doesn't mean they won't try again," the queen rebutted his appeal.

This silenced the prince, and he resigned himself to his fate.

"Gather the troops. I'll also send the newly formed specialist division to protect you."

Everyone scattered after that. Some people went to inform Edwin and the huntress about the arrangement while others went to make the announcement. The subordinate in charge of Genji's matter gestured for Genji to follow him.

They left the throne room, walked down an empty hallway, and stopped outside a room guarded by two powerful knights. This was the royal treasury, where the best treasures were kept. The man explained their purpose, and the two guards undid several complicated security measures to open the door.

As the heavy metal gate swung open, a flash of gold illuminated Genji's view. The man led Genji to the weapon area and allowed him to make his pick. Genji scanned the equipment stats and eventually settled on a thick broadsword with a snaked edge. It was epic in quality, had some decent bonuses, and would fetch a good price.

Genji returned to his room afterward and stored the weapon in his storage. Then he gathered with the entourage and set off with the prince. Edwin and Kathleen shot annoyed looks his way, complaining about his early departure the previous night. First, he gets drunk on duty, and then he slacks off. Was he even taking the job seriously?

It irked them to no end to have such an unreliable teammate, yet he was still getting paid for his mediocre efforts. Even now, Genji was snacking on food and playing with Astros.

"Did you have to bring your cat as well?" Edwin finally asked after a while.

"Of course," Genji replied. "He gets lonely without me."

"Also, can you stop eating? We're supposed to be guarding the prince, not having a picnic."

"I don't see how that affects things. I'm being quite alert right now and also keeping my energy levels up. You never know when you might enter a fight."

Edwin clenched his fist and considered bashing in his face when Genji's demeanor suddenly shifted, startling him. Genji's head snapped toward a dark alleyway, and he sniffed the air. Edwin was about to ask what he was doing when a piercing scream sounded from that direction.

"Take care of the prince. I'm going to check that out," Genji said and dashed toward the source.

Edwin wanted to ask how Genji detected this when Kathleen spoke up to clear his confusion. "There's blood in the air. We smelled it around the same time, but he pinpointed the direction before me. His senses are truly sharp." For context, Edwin was wearing a full-face helmet, so the faint metallic smell didn't reach him.

A few guards followed Genji. When they arrived at the scene, they saw Genji kneeling by a mangled corpse and examining the wounds. Large chunks of flesh were crudely gouged out, inflicting immense pain before the victim died. From the wounds, Genji speculated the murder weapon had a curved, but short edge.

"It's the Mutilating Killer," one guard murmured.

"Mutilating Killer?" Genji perked up with interest. "They've done this before?"

"We've been trying to catch this guy for a while now, but he always manages to slip away at the last moment. He's one of the reasons why the queen wanted to build a special division. She was hoping some of you might have the skills to solve these cases. This is already the fifth victim in the past week."

"Sounds like your capital is more dangerous than I thought."

"Can't help it. These creatures always pop up like spring mushrooms, no matter how much we kill. Most of them don't have a big impact, but every now and then, we get these troublesome monsters that know how to avoid us."

The guards sealed off the scene and waited for the local patrol to arrive. They handed off the duty and returned to the main group.

"How is it?" Kathleen asked Genji.

"It's okay. Just your normal serial killer that the authorities struggle to catch. Apparently, it's our job now."

"So did you get any clues?"

"Some, but I don't care enough right now." Genji's response irritated them and made them gnash their teeth in frustration. Why did he have to be like this?

"Why not? Aren't you being paid to do this?" Kathleen asked, suppressing her tumultuous emotions.

"But not yet. It might as well be volunteer work right now," Genji replied. "I see no benefit in exerting myself."

Later that night, after the prince made his rounds, the queen called for him. "I heard you can solve the case?"

"If I really want to, I can track down the killer right now." Genji had a lazy look on his face, resting his chin on his hand as if none of this was his problem

The queen observed him for a few moments before saying, "Get to the point. What do you want?"

Genji looked up, smiled, and said, "You know what I want. Pay me in weapons and I'll get to work right away."

"Fine, we'll do it your way!" She threw her arms into the air, exasperated by how far Genji would go for some measly conveniences. However, this was only from her view, where she expected Genji to stay longer than a month.

"I did tell you this at the start. You just didn't want to accept it." Genji stood up from his seat, took out his compass, and dropped a metal splinter he collected from the corpse on top. The splinter burned up, and the pointer spun around like a tornado before settling in a certain direction. "There we go. Now let's get this hunt started, shall we?"