Karia’s expression as she searched for one of her former subordinates was filled with a constant grin.
"It was that woman who led the charge against me when I was being hunted out of the kingdom. She was just waiting for a chance to attack."
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Despite her personal feelings, the woman had become a senior officer in the kingdom's intelligence division, which made it difficult to take action against her.
Any misstep could have led to Karia’s carefully built intelligence network being destroyed by the kingdom's forces.
"Now that I have solidified my position and built some backing, I’m ready to strike at any time. It’s just a matter of timing. When and how can I ruin her to make it a perfect revenge?"
The grudge against the person who had once tried to kill her was undoubtedly deep, but Karia's anger seemed to be driven by something larger.
"If you’re the one doing it, boss, it’ll be even better! Make her cry like a little kid!"
Since our goals seemed aligned, I didn't press further on the matter. We arrived in the back alley of the kingdom's capital.
I thought we might need to hide our identities due to the city's prominent status, but Karia shook her head.
"This is the Newman family's territory. Kurrs, that little brat, is good at these things."
At that, my sword asked a question on my behalf.
"Doesn't the kingdom's power allow this?"
"The Newman family’s influence is so wide that it’s somewhat tolerated. We’ve worked out a cooperative arrangement."
This was a crucial location even for the kingdom's intelligence division, Karia explained as she led the way, eventually stopping in front of a building.
"You remember when you gave Kurrs his leash, right? That’s how I made sure that bitch ended up here."
"Didn’t that idiot know you were messing with her?"
"She knew, but what could she do? Kurrs openly pointed her out. What could I do? It’s ridiculous. When I was around, she’d just grin and crawl when I smiled, but now Kurrs is calling the shots."
Maybe it was because Karia was too capable. If you compare her to someone who could guess your thoughts just by watching your movements, anyone would look incompetent.
Bang!
"Galen! You bitch! Come out!"
Before I could even act, Karia kicked open the door, her rage escalating.
"I know you're holed up in there, you old hag!"
Huh? What is this? I thought we were doing a stealth operation here?
Wasn’t this supposed to be about meeting the target after infiltrating, like in a spy game?
"...Karia, I don’t think yelling at them will get them to come out."
"Don’t worry. She has no choice. I have the Newman family on a leash. No matter how heavy her ass is, she has to come out."
As Karia reassured us, those inside the building began to rise from their positions.
Their movements were unusually coordinated, and it seemed that each one of them was likely a member of the kingdom’s intelligence division.
"The former head of the intelligence division. This is not a place for you to be."
An older man frowned and spoke gravely, but Karia responded with a scoff.
"Hey, just because you’re old, do you think you’re someone now?"
"I am."
"Oh really? Then come at me."
Why is Karia so confident? She hasn’t even fully regained her strength yet. Wouldn’t it be troublesome for her to fight head-on?
As I tilted my head in confusion, Karia hastily stepped behind me and raised her voice.
"Do you think you can touch the noble daughter of Allen?"
"You old hag, what are you doing?"
"I’ve done so much for you! I can do this much, at least!"
Well, that’s one thing.
Realizing further discussion would be pointless, I sighed and stepped forward, and the intelligence division members showed signs of hesitation.
What? Aren’t they going to attack?
"Seriously, what a bunch of idiots. Look at them, sweating bullets."
"What are these losers doing?"
"They’re direct subordinates of the 1st Queen! If they harm our boss, who the 1st Queen favors, they’ll disappear without a trace!"
"How dare you! You dare address the 1st Queen in that manner?"
"Fine, I get it. Come at me. Our boss will take care of everything."
"Really? You’re still the same as before. Is that the limit of your backwardness?"
Following the voice, which was full of sneering, a woman appeared who seemed like she was more fit to serve drinks at a tavern.
"Isn't she better off than some poor woman who got discarded because she lost the succession right?"
"Isn’t she better off than an orphan thrown away for the sake of silence?"
"Really? If that’s the case, why is it that both then and now, you’re still crawling under me? You’re a noble worse than an orphan. How incompetent is that?"
"Under me? Are you living your life upside down? I’m above you."
Her face, voice, and actions—all identical.
I hummed a tune as I summoned divine energy and jumped in front of the bitch.
She, who had been focused on arguing with Karia, flinched and stepped back when I appeared right in front of her.
"Long time no see? ♡"
"W-What are you saying?"
"Don’t you remember this pretty face? ♡ Is your mind getting foggy? ♡ You’re probably at that age, huh? ♡"
Seeing her hesitate, it seemed like she, unlike the other fools, couldn't easily touch me.
"How do you fix something that's broken~ ♡"
"Lady Allen, please calm down and listen to my story."
"Ah ♡ I remember now ♡"
I punched her in the abdomen, making her stagger back.
The small punch felt like it reached her gut, and though she pretended to gag, I knew it was all an act.
The hand I felt wasn’t great.
Well, whatever. She threw herself down, so I guess I’ll give her what she wants.
Sitting on her back, I felt the weak tremor from below and chuckled.
"This couch isn’t great~ ♡ It smells weird~ ♡ Maybe it’s the worn-out leather, but it feels terrible~ ♡"
"Is... that so?"
"Not being aware of your place and squirming isn’t great either ♡ If you’re going to be furniture, you should be grateful instead of squawking~ ♡"
Annoyed, I smacked her backside, and the tremor intensified.
Wow, this feels like a massage chair. Maybe I should give it to Benedict as a gift?
"Is your memory coming back now? ♡"
"...I’m truly sorry for what happened back then. It was..."
"How old is this thing? ♡ Why isn’t it fixed even after hitting it? ♡"
Smack! The sound of me hitting her backside echoed through the building, followed by Karia’s laughter.
Perhaps that was the trigger, as the bitch, who had been lying down quietly, suddenly grabbed my ankle.
"Take it easy. Lady Allen..."
I put pressure on my leg to shake her grip off, then stood up, grabbing her by the head and slamming her into the floor.
With a cracking sound, her face smashed into the wooden floor.
"Looks like it’s really broken~ ♡ Do you think you can beat me, you old hag hidden in the back room? ♡"
You’re annoying because of your status.
Don’t you realize that without the shield of the intelligence division, you’re just cannon fodder?
"What could a bitch who can’t even remove a spiderweb do? ♡"
I stomped her head into the floor, causing it to collapse. As I stepped down from the second floor to the first, I saw her bleeding from her nose and chuckled.
"Pathetic dog. If anyone interferes, I’ll neuter them."
Rene and Arthur, who visited the Burrow family’s mansion, were told that Jackal Burrow hadn’t returned to the family in some time.
Apparently, he was learning so much under Karia that he hadn’t even shown his face at the mansion.
The two men lamented but still carried on with their duties.
"If what you’re saying is true, this is a matter we can’t overlook. I understand. We’ll prepare for whatever comes."
Despite how absurd the story sounded, Duke Burrow nodded without hesitation.
"Do you believe what we’ve said?"
"As you can tell, it might sound far-fetched. But I’ve already seen worse and been saved by someone who defies common sense. As long as I know you’re working with that person, I won’t doubt you."
Rene, who didn’t know the full details, and Arthur, who had vaguely heard of the situation, both thought of the same person when they heard Duke Burrow’s words.
They received an assurance that they would work together in case anything happened and then left the mansion.
"Lucy Allen has changed a lot."
"Although it wasn’t what she intended."
"Really?"
Rene still vividly remembered Lucy’s face as she yelled at him with tears in her eyes. She surely valued him as much as anyone else.
Still, the reason she had yelled at him was because she valued others more than her own desire.
Despite her tone, she was a deep person. If she was trying to forget the time she spent with him, he couldn’t help but admire her.
"Brother, I think you’re misunderstanding something."
"And what about you? Haven’t you ever been helped by Lucy Allen?"
Arthur, who wasn’t as thoughtful, recalled the way Lucy had saved him and fell silent.
"Maybe a few times could be coincidence, but there’s no way she’s helped so many people by accident."
"That’s... true."
On the way to the Allen family mansion, Joy, who had coincidentally met them, supported Rene’s side.
"The 3rd Prince is too harsh on Lucy. You’ve received so much help from her!"
"But..."
Arthur wanted to argue that he couldn’t praise someone he had always messed with, but once Joy and Rene teamed up, his argument became meaningless.
"The Patran family has decided to fully cooperate. The Fairy Queen confirmed the truth of the 1st Prince’s words."
"Did the Fairy Queen tell you her love stories?"
"How did you know?!"
"Sorry."
"Huh? Why are you apologizing? I really enjoyed it!"
Joy, blushing from hearing the difference between reading it in writing and hearing it spoken, was as girlish as ever.
With this, most of the major issues were solved, and now all they needed was for Lucy Allen and Karia to return.
"The gloomy prince. Where are you going so stealthily? Someone who lived like a mold in a corner will probably be cleansed by sunlight if they wander around too much."
"Sorry I’m late, but who’s the woman lying under you?"
"She’s the bitch who slandered our boss, a piece of trash who only knows how to attack."
"...What? No. Wait. You don’t mean—"
"You think I’m going to forget about a moldy human so easily?"
When Lucy Allen smiled mischievously, Rene felt both joy and the urge to slap her at the same time.