"Ara? What about His Highness Maximilian?"

While I was absentmindedly walking through the Royal Palace after separating from that person, I was called out to.

There aren't many who'd strike up a conversation with me.

I turned my gaze to the person who called out to me, and having confirmed who it is, I answered.

"The King is dead, so he's busy with various things. He told me to stand by until I'm called."

"I see. Okay."

Who nodded was a member of Black. And same as me, an existence on that person's side.

And also a colleague who worked with me on the job just before.

She's a woman whose natural s.e.x appeal shows through despite being dressed all in black.

She's in charge of seduction - honey trapping and doesn't work with me much. She makes full use of being a woman and excels at extracting information from men.

Irritated by the woman walking next to me despite being done with my business, I came to a stop.

"Hey. I wish you wouldn't follow me."

"I also have business this way. Or is this an order from the new guild master? Then I will do as I'm told."

"…"

I could tell my eyebrows scrunched.

The woman laughed amusedly.

"After all the next guild master is you, huh. Isn't it fine? I'd be furious if somebody incompetent was at the top."

―― Like the woman before.

The woman's profile was awfully cold as she said that. It's natural, she'd been dissatisfied with the previous guild master since long ago. That person skillfully used that and brought her to this side.

She went to Wilhelm on that person's orders to become a friend of the princess, however she found a person who acted as we wanted. I'm just a little dissatisfied with her strength, however her ability is the real deal.

"Hey, did Lord Andre die?"

As the woman asked as though she remembered, I told her what I'd seen.

"Who knows? But, won't he be killed soon? They wouldn't let him live for betraying their country, right? He's still royalty after all."

"What? You didn't kill him? Weren't you ordered to?"

Asked again in a light tone, I calmly shook my head.

"I was told I could kill him. But see, I was hindered by their prince."

"Eh? You were? You're kidding."

"What would I gain by lying? He stopped my attacks. Since I'd been ordered to not push myself, I withdrew."

"Oh… Ooh. The Nightmarish Crown Prince is amazing."

The woman blinked her eyes in surprise. Then as though she reconsidered, she said.

"Well, it doesn't matter as long as he dies. However, Lord Andre was truly annoying. He was persistent at s.e.x, even with three people he didn't lose strength at all. I'd heard rumors about Wilhelm's royalty's matchlessness, and they were true. It lasted until morning every night, it was truly the worst."

I should've specialized in a.s.sa.s.sination work instead, the woman spat out.

"Seduction is your strong area, right?"

"No matter how good I'm at it, spare me such s.e.x every day."

The woman's face distorted and she sighed.

"Thinking about it, that princess is pitiful. If I remember correctly, their Crown Prince declared he won't take concubines, right? That means she has to deal with that matchlessness on her own. No matter how beautiful he is, I don't want to deal with that. No thanks."

"I think he'd refuse though. He seemed to love the princess more than the rumors say. I think he'd take no notice of you."

"Then isn't the princess pitiful after all? I wonder if she wouldn't be happier if she married our His Highness."

"Who knows? It doesn't matter. If that person needs her, he'll simply marry her."

Although I responded adequately, I thought.

Princess loves that prince. Seeing him come pick her up, she looked very happy. Although she'd looked somewhat tense, she completely relaxed the moment she saw him. It was perfectly obvious how relieved she was. She must trust him very much.

But, however. What about it?

It has no significance for me.

Love? So what? It doesn't resound in my heart.

For me, that person's orders are everything.

"Hmph. You're your usual self. Hey, how about it? If you like, I can entertain you."

"Don't want it."

I brushed off the hand the woman jokingly extended.

"As long as I have mom, I'm fine. Could you not do anything unnecessary?"

When I glared at her with displeasure, the woman laughed, fufun.

"… You really aren't tempted one bit. Are you not interested in women?"

"At least I'm not interested in you."

"A shame. I was thinking of servicing the guild master. I excel at weakening men."

"… Do it at work. I don't care about it."

Irritating. I want to kill her, but I have a rule to not kill outside of work.

This woman understands that. That's why she's teasing me.

Only at such times I'm envious of Cain from the bottom of my heart.

I'm sure he'd kill her after losing patience in the middle of the conversation.

"Hey, have you ever been told you have a bad personality?"

"Yeah. I'm often told that when doing stuff like a.s.sa.s.sinating."

"I thought so."

You understand well, laughed the woman. I thought of leaving her behind and getting out of the Royal Palace, but as though she recalled something, the woman said.

"Come to think of it, I saw Red s.h.i.+nigami some time ago. It was the first time I saw him, but he was a fine man. He was strong at a glance, speaking of my preferences, s.h.i.+nigami is more to my liking than you."

"Cain isn't particularly opposed to killing, so if you make a move on him, you'll be killed. If you're okay with that, do as you want. However, recovering corpses is troublesome, so be careful about him."

"… He's indiscriminate? He's more dangerous than you. Are the rumors that he retired after crus.h.i.+ng Red lies?"

"He doesn't belong to a guild, but he's still his usual self. s.h.i.+nigami is s.h.i.+nigami no matter where he goes. I'd be troubled if he wasn't."

I sense the same aura as mine from Cain. I feel alive whenever I face him.

It's fun. That's why I don't want to lose him. If he died, I'm sure I'd lose entertainment.

Listening to my words, the woman showed an unpleasant smile.

"Hmph. Well, fine. I've received your advice. Then, guild master. Regardless of Lord Maximilian's next order, come to Black's hideout. I'll gather people."

"… I don't really want that."

"You have no intention of doing inauguration greetings as the guild master either, right?  You may be okay with it, but we'll be troubled. Anyway, I'll make preparations, so show up at the hideout. Laters."

"Ah――."

Waving her hand, the woman easily left.

"Whoa, what a bother."

My eyebrows spontaneously scrunched.

That person told me to, so I intend to take up the post of guild master, but I don't want to do any greetings.

In the first place, there aren't many people who think positively of me becoming the guild master.

I often act alone, and it's what I'm allowed to do.

I know there are many people who find me unpleasant.

In that respect, I'm the same as Cain.

I think it'd be okay to skip greetings that wouldn't be fun for either side.

"I want to go back to mom…"

At this rate, I won't be able to show my face to mom for a while.

"Aaah… Cain went home too, it's the worst."

I wanted to say goodbye, and yet I couldn't even do that.

That person will be busy preparing to become the King. I'll have to help him. That's why I can't go to Wilhelm for a while, and he won't come here either.

I can't meet Cain.

"After all, I wish we had eaten together when we met before…"

While sighing, I slowly stroked the inverted cross rosary that's so important to me.

I forgot to add Maximilian/Apostate ill.u.s.tration in the last chapter for a while, it's fixed now.