I Became a Civil Servant Who Can Use Magic

Executions and purges must always be accompanied by justification.
This is because one must be mindful of surrounding gazes.
Actions without justification only result in strong backlash.

But assassination is different.
There’s no need for justification.
If a reason to eliminate someone arises, you just kill them.

You don’t worry about the aftermath.
This is because assassination is only decided when it’s judged that eliminating the target is more beneficial even considering all the consequences.

So now,
All that’s left is to put it into action.

“Do you understand?”

Clank.
As the sound of passing over tracks was heard through the compartment window, Gilbert, who finished his explanation, composed himself.

“Yes. But I have a question. Among the assassination principles you mentioned on the rooftop, why is ‘don’t get caught’ specifically the second principle? Isn’t secrecy the most important thing in an assassination mission?”

Loen took the opportunity to ask a question.

“While it may not be the most important, secrecy is indeed the core of assassination. But Loen, there are two types of that.”

Gilbert raised his right index finger.

“First, secrecy of the plan. Making sure the assassination target doesn’t notice they’re being targeted from the planning stage until right before execution.”

Then he raised his middle finger.

“Second, secrecy of the act. The assassination act itself being carried out quietly without anyone noticing. There are these two types in total. Which do you think is more important?”
“…. The first one.”
“Correct answer.”

Gilbert continued.

“To answer your initial question, ‘leave no witnesses’ naturally includes the assassination target. That’s why it’s the first principle.”

“And if the process itself has been well hidden, it doesn’t matter if the assassination act itself is discovered. After all, the purpose of assassination has been achieved anyway. That’s why it’s the second principle.”

An exclamation mark appeared in Loen’s mind.
So that’s how it was.

This wasn’t the kind of assassination that’s carried out without anyone knowing.

It was closer to an execution without justification.
After all, there’s no need for justification when eliminating a person from an enemy country.

It just borrowed the form of assassination with the intention of increasing the success rate by being thorough and secretive, so that the target couldn’t make any preparations at all.

‘No, come to think of it, in my previous life, even targeting with missiles or drones was considered assassination.’

Looking at it that way, this seems to be correct as assassination too…

As Loen was lost in thought, Gilbert’s voice was heard.

“Loen. You may forget everything else, but remember this one thing.”

His eyes flashed coldly.

“No matter what situation arises, the target must be eliminated without fail.”

Loen answered briefly with a stern expression.

“Understood.”

Sigvalt, who had been listening with his eyes closed, finally opened them.

“Ahem.”

Soon after, he cleared his throat to draw attention, and opened his mouth.

“Inspector Loen, this is a belated remark, but the actions you showed in the Barrier. They were quite impressive.”

Loen was taken aback.
Suddenly?

“The decisiveness to boldly carry out a purge despite your young age. And the flawless follow-up afterwards. It’s certainly not something just anyone could do.”
“I agree.”

Gilbert quietly concurred.
And Sigvalt’s final words followed.

“I’ll be expecting your active performance this time as well.”
“..”

With those words, the compartment fell silent.
Because all necessary conversations were over.
The train that had been running non-stop finally came to a halt at its final destination.

Afterwards, the group continued towards the Holy Country in a provided car.

Border city of the Holy Country.
A strategic geographical location bordering the Empire and Allied forces, it’s also a place where official talks and negotiations between the two forces frequently take place.

Because of this, it was a somewhat famous city, also known as a symbol of neutrality and peace.

The assassination was planned to take place here.

“Contrary to expectations, it’s completely packed with people?”
“That’s because it’s festival season.”
“Ah, I see.”

The moment she first entered the city, Loen was greatly surprised.
She had expected a solemn and quiet atmosphere since it was a city of the Holy Country, but the reality was completely different.

‘This is so different from what I imagined?’

The streets of the city lined with white buildings were bustling with people.
It was overflowing with vitality. So much so that it was overwhelming.

It was no different from a marketplace.
But since it was a festival, the current scene made sense.

“Loen, follow me closely and don’t get lost.”
“Yes.”

They had split from the Intelligence Agency people since crossing the border.
They had separate tasks to do.

For now, only I and Senior Gilbert had infiltrated this city.

We had changed into inconspicuous clothing before entering the city, so we didn’t draw attention from the surroundings.
Nevertheless, it wasn’t easy to cross the street due to the sheer number of people.

While diligently making our way through the crowd, I bumped shoulders with a knight.
Thud.

“How dare you.”

The knight who turned around with a frown immediately relaxed his expression,
and showed a bright smile.

“Who dares.. Oh, are you alright?”
“Ah, yes.”

Loen’s gaze fell on the red banner hanging on the knight’s shoulder.

Red banner…
So he’s from the Allied Nations’ Suicide Squad.

She wasn’t particularly surprised.
The fact that the Suicide Squad was in charge of guarding the assassination target was already confirmed.
So it wasn’t strange for the Suicide Squad to be in the border city.

“Since we’ve met like this, how about having a meal togetherㅡ”
“No, thank you.”

Loen, taking her eyes off the shoulder, quickly left the place.
And followed Gilbert again.

Eventually, the two arrived at the city square.

The square was packed with people.
Incomparably more than the street they just passed through.

In the center of the square, a middle-aged nobleman was giving a speech to the crowd with an excited voice.

“Do you see this paper?!”

He shouted, holding up a paper high.

“Here are written the names of those trying to sell the Holy Country to the Empire!”

Right after, people who seemed to be instigators shouted.

“To think they’d try to hand over the sacred Holy Country to the Empire! The Holy Country isn’t on anyone’s side!”
“That’s right!”

A nobleman from the Allied Nations giving an anti-Empire speech within a neutral country? So openly?
Loen lost her composure.

What was even more absurd was that despite a foreign nobleman giving a speech bordering on instigation in the middle of the square, the soldiers were just watching without stopping it.

Meanwhile, knights wearing red banners were guarding the nobleman’s side.
Their faces weren’t visible as they were fully armored from head to toe.

At that moment, one knight’s gaze lingered on Loen’s face for a moment.
Then quickly returned to its original position as her gaze swept the surroundings.

‘Did they just look at me? Is it my imagination?’

Loen tilted her head for a moment but soon dismissed the thought.
I’m mixed in with the crowd, so no way. They probably just glanced over.

More importantly, that nobleman.
Loen’s gaze returned to the nobleman giving the speech.
And she was certain.

‘He’s the assassination target.’

To make sure, she also asked Senior Gilbert.

“Is that nobleman Count Arta?”
“You saw correctly. That bastard is the assassination target.”
“By the way, seeing how a foreign nobleman is openly inciting without any restraint..”
“Your thoughts are probably correct.”

The Pope and seven Archbishops ruling the Holy Country.
It’s reasonable to assume that most of them have already sided with the Allied forces.
Otherwise, they wouldn’t allow such behavior.

Loen, closing her mouth, surveyed the surroundings.
The number of Suicide Squad members was about twenty.

Among them, two 5-star knights to be wary of.
The rest are 3 or 4-star, so not much to worry about.

There were more soldiers assisting the Suicide Squad, but likewise, no need to worry about them.

When the sun was high in the sky.

Loen said to Gilbert.

“Shall we go now?”
“Let’s do that.”

The two left the square and headed towards the assassination location.

“The evil hand of the Empire… For freedom and justice, what?”

Just as Count Arta’s speech was reaching its climax.

Kwaaa-ang!
A thunderous roar echoed from the other side of the city.

Pu-eong.
Flames erupted and a huge cloud of smoke spread into the sky.

The square was instantly thrown into chaos.
The roar didn’t stop at once but continued repeatedly.

The crowd scattered in all directions in panic.
At the same time, the guard captain who had been watching the speech urgently approached the count and spoke.

“Count. I think we need to urgently go and assess the situation.”
“Surely it’s not the work of those imperial bastards?”
“I’m not sure about that… Just in case, it would be better for you to return to the mansion, Count.”
“Alright.”

The Holy Country’s forces disappeared instantly in the direction of the roar.

The count, who had been watching their backs for a moment, gave an order to the guard captain.

“Let’s go now.”
“Yes. Everyone, form a guard formation!”

Chak chak.
The guard forces took their positions, surrounding the count in an oval shape.
They maintained a tight formation as they moved towards the mansion.

As they approached the mansion, the crowd gradually thinned.
People feeling uneasy due to the continuous roars had hidden inside.

The count, also feeling uneasy, increased his speed.
The mansion was now visible ahead.
Only then did the count’s face brighten.

The mansion guards seemed to be fine.
The count inwardly let out a sigh of relief.

“Has everything been alright?”
“Yes!”
“Good. You’ve worked hard.”

The count, patting the guard’s shoulder, crossed the garden and entered the mansion.
And quickly looked around.

Indeed, nothing was amiss.

The count, crossing the hall inside the mansion, gave an order.

“Deploy the soldiers around the mansion without any gaps. And all Suicide Squad membersㅡ”
“Count Arta.”

His words were cut off.
Because an unfamiliar man’s voice was heard from the mansion entrance he had just passed through.

The sound of swords being drawn rang out from all directions.

The highly tensed guard forces quickly turned their bodies.
Their gaze caught two intruders.

Just two?
A question arose in their minds.

“All Suicide Squad members behind me!”

The guard captain who stepped forward shouted at the intruders.
His sword was engulfed in flames, burning fiercely.

Behind him, Suicide Squad members fully armored from head to toe took their positions in a line.
The soldiers formed a human wall further behind.

“……”
“……”

A standoff continued for a moment.
The guard captain hesitated to attack, sensing that the intruders’ aura was not ordinary.

The two groups silently locked gazes.

The woman standing behind the man scanned them with red glowing eyes.
The Suicide Squad members at the front swallowed hard at her chilling gaze.
They instinctively gripped their swords more tightly.

In the increasingly heavy silence,

The man stretched both arms forward.

And as if drawing an invisible sword, he slowly spread his two fists apart.

Between them, a dark gray sword that seemed to contain darkness gradually revealed itself.

The moment the Suicide Squad members recognized it as a sword.
The woman raised her hand upwards and shouted.

Judgment.

As soon as he heard that word, the guard captain urgently shouted.

“Protect the Count!!”

A gray spear materialized in mid-air and instantly flew towards the count.

At the same time, two knights threw themselves to block the spear.