Ayanokoji's gaze remained locked on Elsa, his mind already categorizing her potential abilities.
"What kind of reward did your employer offer? Targeting a Royal Candidate carries immense risk; the payout must have been astronomical," Ayanokoji said. He wasn't expecting a straight answer. Direct interrogation often triggered defensive lies. Instead, he was fishing for subtext—small, unconscious details revealed in the margins of her speech.
"It was quite generous~" Elsa purred. "But what truly sold me was the promise of playing with a half-elf's clockwork." Her eyes drifted from Emilia to Ayanokoji, like a wolf scouting a second course. "Though, I must say, I'm becoming much more curious about yours."
Ayanokoji processed this. Elsa wasn't a mercenary motivated by gold; she was an enthusiast. Her obsession with "bowels" was a psychological fixation. He pressed further, but Elsa revealed little else beyond her affiliation with a nameless assassination guild.
An assassination guild... Ayanokoji mused. Which means there are more like her. If the guild sends another monster of her caliber, I need a more permanent solution than a poisoned arrow.
Currently, his only data point for Emilia's faction was Roswaal. If her support was truly this thin, he would eventually need to recruit more assets or, if a better opportunity arose, defect to a more viable candidate. For now, however, Emilia was his primary project. A tool is only useful if it's kept sharp.
"Lady Emilia, freeze her completely," Ayanokoji commanded. He had squeezed all the immediate utility out of Elsa's consciousness and didn't want to risk her revealing any hidden trump cards.
Emilia nodded, her mana surging until Elsa was encased in a seamless block of ice—a macabre statue of a smiling killer.
In the Capital...
Roswaal L. Mathers narrowed his eyes at the sky, a strange glint in his mismatched pupils. "Discarding even the Candidate if necessary? What a delightfully heartless boy." A small, twisted smile touched his lips. "They're entering my territory now. It's almost time for my debut."
The journey to the frontier took a full day and night. Despite the primitive technology, the Groundragons were impressively efficient, maintaining a speed comparable to a modern car.
"We're here!" Emilia announced as they stepped out of the carriage.
Ayanokoji scanned the estate. An expansive, meticulously manicured garden stretched toward a towering, castle-like manor. The flora was entirely foreign to him—exotic shapes and colors that didn't exist on Earth. This was the seat of Roswaal's power.
"Whoa..." Felt's jaw dropped. Having spent her life in the gutter, the sheer opulence was blinding. Old Man Rom remained in the carriage, keeping a heavy-duty watch on the "Elsa-shaped popsicle."
"This place must have cost at least a thousand Holy Gold coins!" Felt whispered in awe.
Ayanokoji ignored her. He was busy calculating the sheer wealth and political capital required to maintain such a structure. According to Emilia, Roswaal was the kingdom's premier magic caster—a man capable of rivaling an entire army. It explained his title of Margrave, the "Shield of the Frontier."
But the contradiction bothered Ayanokoji. If Roswaal was this powerful and wealthy, why was Emilia's personal security so nonexistent? And why would a man of his standing back a Half-Elf with the lowest win-rate in the election?
A rational politician never bets on the weakest horse unless the payout is disproportionately high. Ayanokoji made a mental note to investigate Roswaal's true motives.
"Welcome back, Lady Emilia," two synchronized, melodic voices rang out.
Two petite girls stood before them. They were nearly identical: large, doll-like eyes and soft features. The one on the left had sky-blue hair with bangs covering her right eye; the one on the right was her mirror image in pink, her bangs covering her left. Both wore crisp, black-and-white maid uniforms.
"Rem, Ram!" Emilia greeted them warmly. She turned to Ayanokoji. "These are Roswaal's maids. And girls, this is Ayanokoji Kiyotaka. He saved my life in the capital and is now one of my supporters. Treat him with the highest hospitality."
"I am Ayanokoji Kiyotaka. It's a pleasure," he said tonelessly, his eyes scanning them for data.
"Understood, Lady Emilia," they replied in unison, bowing deeply.
In that split second, Ayanokoji felt it. A spike of pure, unadulterated hostility. It was subtle, but to his trained senses, it was as loud as a gunshot. It came from the blue-haired one—Rem.
I've been flagged as an enemy, he noted. He didn't care about being liked, but the "why" was important. He had only just arrived. He wasn't particularly charismatic, but he hadn't done anything to warrant a "kill-on-sight" gaze. Curiously, Rem seemed indifferent toward Felt. The hostility was directed solely at him.
"Lady Emilia," Rem said, her voice respectful but firm. "One must be cautious of those with unknown origins."
"Lord Kiyotaka is a royal from the Empire of the Rising Sun!" Emilia defended him quickly. "He's a hero."
Ayanokoji watched Rem. The "unknown origins" excuse felt like a surface-level cover. There was something else.
"The assassin who tried to kill me is in the carriage," Emilia continued. "She's frozen, but dangerous. She needs to be secured immediately."
"Unforgivable," Ram said, her red eyes cooling. "She should be executed on the spot." Despite the harsh words, her face remained a mask of porcelain cuteness.
"No, she's an essential witness," Emilia insisted.
"I will take her to the dungeon," Rem said. She walked to the carriage and, with zero effort, hoisted the massive block of ice and chains onto her shoulder. She carried it as if it were a bag of feathers.
Ayanokoji's mental alarm went off. Elsa was light, but the ice and chains added hundreds of pounds. For a girl of Rem's stature to lift that without straining suggested she was—much like Elsa—well beyond the human norm.
If Rem is a combatant, Ram likely is too. Ayanokoji immediately began simulating a confrontation, looking for exits and weaknesses in the manor's layout.
"I'll assist with the transfer," Ayanokoji said, following Rem. He needed to ensure Elsa's restraints remained intact. If she escaped here, his carefully constructed board would collapse.
After securing Elsa in the manor's sub-level with additional reinforced chains, Ram led them back up. "Lord Kiyotaka, Lady Felt, Master Rom—your rooms and fresh attire are prepared. Please, follow me."
Ayanokoji followed her into a lavish guest room. He changed into the provided clothes, his eyes never leaving the doorway. The game had changed. He was no longer in the lawless slums; he was in a gilded cage owned by a clown, guarded by twin demons.