NOVEL SIMPLE Chapter 62: Staking
"Alright, same as always, I want you to scout the castle's surroundings."
"Why?" I blurted out, sounding foolish even to my own ears.
"The higher-ups are questioning the prince's loyalty. If they find proof of his betrayal, like discreet communication with a Western country, it could fetch a handsome price."
"I see," I mused, impressed by the efficiency of Reaper's intelligence system. Could they already be aware of our discussions during the tea party?
"Why would they care about a children's tea party, anyway?" I muttered to myself.
"Hm? 'children'? Despite your petite stature, you're fourteen, right? Or is it thirteen? In any case, you're considered an adult at fifteen, so you are almost there. Prince Heracles is two years above you, which means Prince Heracles is already seen as an adult. He holds some rank and has official duties, which is why we're being cautious. If there's a way to gather intelligence, we'll pursue it, and you're the perfect candidate. This task, although it seems menial, is worth 100 points! It's rare for a lower-level Reaper to receive such a mission just for scouting. Ah, but you'll have to split it with R661. He took the afternoon shift."
"I see."
"What a dull reaction. Show some enthusiasm! You're moving up the ranks here; you're no longer a novice. What a boring child."
"I'm not a child, remember?" I sulked but went about the task anyway. I met up with Leon, who was lounging near a tree, his beauty illuminated by my magic lamp as if he were a servant skiving off his duties.
"Hello, R661," I greeted.
"Greetings, R666. How's everything looking?"
"So far, so quiet. There are a few entrances around, but no one suspicious has come or gone."
"Hmm… Watching from the outside seems ineffective. We can't be certain that those exiting aren't spies, can we?"
"We'll know for sure. Officials wear uniforms and must have an ID. Magiphones require permission and are thus monitored directly by intelligence officers. The only means of external communication would be through spies or using animals, like birds. With this telescope, we can check if birds are carrying any letters or unusual attachments."
"Really? That's valuable information, thank you."
"Sure, take these binoculars. I need to take a break now. I've got errands at home, or Alicia will have my head. Hahaha. We need to maintain the facade that I'm your servant, after all."
"Understood." R661 then departed, leaving me to quickly succumb to the dullness of the task.
"Hey, R25B, are you certain this task is meant only for me?"
"The surveillance? Certainly not. It's about what follows. Should Prince Heracles or Claire be found leaking information, you'll need to determine the nature of the leaked or incoming information. It seems we might have to resort to wiretapping within the castle walls this time."
"But you said months ago that wiretapping inside the castle was impossible!"
"Just focus on your task. If not us, someone else would be assigned. We should be grateful for this opportunity; it translates to more earnings for us."
"Alright then..."
As the boredom intensified, I attempted to engage R25B in some shiritori or word games, but he was having none of it, even going as far as to scold me. It turned out he was juggling support for at least ten other operators who required his attention. It dawned on me that I wasn't in this alone; he was likely coordinating with other Reapers in the vicinity to keep tabs on the prince and princess.
Indeed, the first day passed without incident. Not a single bird stirred in the night sky of this fantasy city, adding to the tedium. The thought of enduring this for an entire week, with my sleep at stake, was downright torturous.
The next morning, I found myself asleep in my classroom. The teacher, rather negligent, paid me no mind, especially since I had topped the last test. This year was different from the last; my classmates now held me in high esteem, offering praise even as I dozed off during lessons.
"Wow, you must have been studying hard! The teacher's lessons are probably too simple for you. As expected from a Level 8 mage! By the way, have you been working on mastering your second element?" says someone who was obviously bootlicking me because I have a connection to the prince and the top of my class. However, I indulge in the odd and exquisite taste of praise.
"Yes! Watch this. 'May the light of fire gather here!'" Focusing my mana, I sifted through it, separating the darkness mana and channeling my fire affinity mana to my fingertip. A small flame, akin to a candle's, flickered to life.
"And look! I can also manipulate water!" Eager to show off in the wake of their rare compliments, I invoked another spell, and a water ball about the size of a ping-pong ball formed at my fingertips.
"Wow! Amazing. Soon, you'll be able to perform melded magic!" Safira exclaimed. Her affinities lay in both water and light, though her proficiency with light was a modest level 3, barely enough to execute light magic.
"I'm already capable of melded magic!" Ludwin, the arro...I mean, the prideful prince, boasted. "Behold! This is a fusion of earth and water—clay magic!"
From his fingertips, mud oozed out, which he shaped into a small and austere earthenware basin. "The royal mage believes I'll manage cement magic without a catalyst if I keep at it. Mastering it would make any conflict with Elderan or on the Western front much more manageable!"
"Incredible! I have dual elements, yet I struggle to even produce firefly magic. Meanwhile, you both are mastering your second and third elements!" Safira mused, a hint of envy in her voice.
"Well, we are the chosen ones, after all. But don't fret, Lady Safira. Your talents, especially in water and healing magic, are likewise exceptional!" He might have been boasting, but no one seemed to mind. In fact, his skills and flair were met with admiration rather than resentment. Even the knights in the cafeteria showed no signs of disdain, with some even applauding as if they were spectators at a captivating performance.
I found their reactions curious and somewhat off-script compared to the novels. In those stories, commoners and the manaless regarded Prince Ludwin with hidden contempt, their silent disapproval born of fear. Yet here he was, his arrogance unchanged, looking down on the common folk and the manaless, but now met with admiration rather than animosity. What had changed? Why did they view his prideful demeanor with enthusiasm instead of hate?
"R666, we have a lead. The manager reported that another reaper had identified a contact. Your mission is to infiltrate the castle and determine the sender and recipient of the code. You'll be coordinating with four other reapers, including R661."
"Roger," I responded.
"What does 'roger' mean? Never mind. We'll regroup in three hours. The suspect has just received something. It's your job to investigate."
"Okay."
The mission commenced after my school day ended. I slipped out of my dorm and into the well, avoiding the main entrance since I didn't have an invitation to another tea party. I utilized a secret passage I had discovered years ago. R25B chose me for this task, believing I could bluff my way past the guards if necessary. While other reapers might be executed upon detection, R25B was confident in my ability to evade or concoct a plausible excuse should a guard spot me.
I adjusted my glasses, and a minimap appeared in the corner of my vision, revealing many unexplored areas of the castle. Thanks to my stealth skill, I navigated the castle freely and made my way to the western section and into the garden, where R25B indicated the contacts had been spotted. There, I observed Claire meeting with a hooded figure.
She was dressed in leather armor and had her rapier at her side. I kept my distance, watching their interaction. After a brief exchange, they parted ways. Claire's behavior struck me as odd—why did she carry her rapier? Was she anticipating trouble? She also seemed cautious, constantly looking over her shoulder.
Despite her peculiar actions, my focus was on the hooded man, especially after witnessing Claire hand him something. Pursuing him was my priority, setting aside my curiosity about Claire for the moment.
"R25B?" I whispered, tracking the man. Now that we left the castle's proximity, I could use my earclip again.
"What have you found?"
"I'm tailing a suspect. Claire passed something to him."
"Interesting. See if you can intercept him. Using force is permissible."
"Really? What if it's something innocuous? Just a report to say hi to her parent, maybe?"
"I highly doubt it. She would use official channels for such mundane tasks. This must be confidential."
Suddenly, a knife whizzed towards me, which I deflected with my dagger, inadvertently revealing myself. My darkly cloaked form was now visible.
"I see. Lady Claire was right; I am being followed. Remarkable foresight."
Claire knew I was on her trail? Unlikely.
"Not talking, huh? Lady Claire warned me about your strength. Escaping might be my only option." The man deployed a smoke bomb, vanishing into a cloud of white. I responded with a volley of dark bolts to tag him with a mana marker and pursued him into the slums.
In the slums, I found myself encircled by five of his allies. It seemed I was about to engage in combat once again. The thrill of the hunt surged through me, a dangerous allure. Eli's bloodlust was becoming more pronounced, her grip on sanity loosening. I need to control her somehow, or I will suffer the consequences.