NOVEL NEXT chapter 31
31. The Night Before the Operation
Wide and Aira returned to the inn and relayed the day’s events to Gora.
“I see…”
Gora pondered for a moment, as if realizing something.
“Hey, could that brainwashed magician be the Great Sage?”
Aira nodded in agreement.
“That’s right. My foresight clearly indicates an increased chance of reaching Elg.”
Wide seemed to have a thought as well.
“Most likely… given the timing of this…”
They both spoke in unison.
“If it’s the Great Sage, then it’s worth 100 million gold.”
Gora looked up to the heavens as he said this.
“Indeed… I understand.”
After a moment, Gora speaks up.
Having made up his mind, he voices his thoughts.
“Alright, the entire resistance will take on this mission.”
Wide and Ayla nod in agreement.
“That’s right; this mission is our only lead, so we have no choice but to see it through.”
“I, too, have no leads regarding the magical tools, so I suppose I have no choice but to bet on this mission.”
“Okay, got it. Gather everyone. We’ll prepare for tomorrow.”
◇◇◇
In a tavern,
Gildia and Rainer face each other.
“Well, for now, I think we’ve managed to gather about fifty decoys.”
Rainer, as usual, is dressed casually, sipping his drink as he speaks.
“I see. Then it seems we can buy some time as planned.”
Gildia chuckles derisively.
“Still, I can’t believe you have a hundred million gold saved up, considering how much you pour into your pleasures.”
Rainer feigns surprise, exclaiming, “Ahh!”
“That’s a lie; it doesn’t matter since they’re all going to die anyway.”
Gildia looks down at him with a contemptuous gaze.
“You scoundrel, that’s why you end up in prison.”
“Ugh, you really hit a sore spot there.”
Rainer squints and scratches his head as he replies.
“Well, if everything you say is true, then even the great hero and sage who defeated the Demon King should be able to buy us thirty minutes, right?”
“Exactly. And during that time, you’ll take care of the brainwashed ones.”
“You can do that, can’t you?”
Gildia says provocatively.
“Of course.”
Rainer grins and agrees.
◇◇◇
In a certain room, Kelt strokes the unconscious, vacant Elg and says,
“Ah, it seems there are those who wish to interrupt our rendezvous.”
“What ungratefulness, considering I went so far as to secure you the position of Chancellor!”
Kelt quickly loses interest in such matters and gazes at Elg.
“Ah—what a sense of security, what fulfillment! Is life truly such a richly colored thing?!”
Yet, in a sudden shift from joy, negative emotions surface.
“Still, I regret it! If only I had been able to use the flight magic just a moment sooner back then! I could have avoided all this hassle! Elg!!! My own!!!”
Breathless with excitement, he continues,
“Haah… haah…
It’s almost time, for you to become mine.”
Kelt peers into Elg’s sticky, black eyes.
—