Chapter 6 | The Assassin Receives a Secret Mission
Tying for first with Naoise had garnered me quite the reputation.
“The headmaster suddenly summoning us like this must mean he thinks rather highly of we four,” Naoise remarked.
“Yeah, probably. He did single us out instead of calling all of Class S,” I responded.
Our other classmates went straight to the classroom, but Naoise, Dia, and I—the students with the three highest grades—had been called to the headmaster’s office. Tarte’s presence had also been requested.
“Your little sister and your retainer are both very skilled, Lugh. When you come to serve me, you’ll bring them along, too, right?” Naoise asked.
“Once again, I haven’t said a word about helping you.”
“Ha-ha-ha, relax. I’ll make sure you change your mind,” Naoise answered with a laugh. He was starting to trouble me. As the son of a duke, he wouldn’t be incapable of forcing me to join up with him.
The only ones who could oppose a duke were the royal family and the archduke. If this became a serious problem, there was a duke with a strong connection to House Tuatha Dé who could help out. That duke’s clan was the only house other than the royal family that knew of the secret profession of House Tuatha Dé.
“I know that face. You’re thinking about your family, aren’t you? Well, you have nothing to worry about. I’ll take care of them,” Naoise declared flippantly.
“Do you know what you’re saying?” I asked.
“Of course. If I can’t manage that much, how will I ever change this country? But we can discuss this later. We’ve arrived at the headmaster’s office.”
After giving the word to his own servant, Naoise knocked on the door.
“Enter,” called out a deep voice. We opened the door and walked inside.
The headmaster was a middle-aged man with white hair. Despite that, he was a powerful-looking man. His physique didn’t betray a single hint of weakness. His white hair looked like the mane of a lion, and he had a special kind of presence about him.
His strength was well-documented. He had been the Royal Order commander until his retirement five years ago and was said to be the strongest and best instructor in the organization’s history. Even now, many thought him to be more capable than the current commander.
“Naoise, Lugh, Claudia, and Tarte. I am very thankful to the four of you for attending this school. Especially in a time such as this,” the headmaster began.
“Are you talking about the hero, sir?” I asked.
“That is correct. Epona is powerful. But he is raw, and he needs people to support him. The four of you are more than fit to be his friends and companions. Before long, I will have the four of you tour the country at his side.”
For a moment, Naoise looked like he was going to reject the headmaster’s proposal outright, but he restrained himself.
“Headmaster, those are very kind words, but we, too, are still untrained. There are plenty of knights and mages more capable than us. Even if our skill is as great as you say, we lack true combat experience and will surely fail to deal with any unforeseen circumstances that may arise. We are not worthy of being the hero’s companions. Please reconsider.”
That was unexpected. As obsessed as Naoise was with success and the limelight, I didn’t think he would refuse. Traveling with the hero was the greatest honor imaginable. If all went well, it was an opportunity to win the rare privilege of having helped to save the world.
“Cease this humility. On the entrance exam, you and Lugh proved you are already stronger than a vice-commander of the Royal Alvanian Order… There aren’t many people who can boast that kind of strength,” the headmaster stated.
“But as I said, we lack experience and will not be able to deal with unexpected circumstances,” Naoise insisted.
“Then become stronger. That’s what this academy is for.”
“I cannot accept such a great responsibility.”
“Hmph, you’re still resisting? Quit this dog and pony show, Naoise Gephis. I guarantee you, being a companion of the hero will not be a detour for what you want to accomplish. Do you understand me?”
“…Very perceptive, Headmaster. Okay, I promise to devote my strength to the hero.”
Naoise bowed in a manner befitting one of his stature. He probably realized it would be a waste to argue any more. This speed of ascertainment was one of his strengths.
I understood the situation, but there was one thing that was bothering me.
“Headmaster, why didn’t you call the hero here? What do you have planned for us? If all you wanted was for us to be his companions, then it would have made more sense to have him here, too,” I said.
“How astute, Lugh Tuatha Dé. You are strong, but your intelligence is even more impressive,” praised the headmaster.
I had a feeling the older man wasn’t only going by the exams when he said that. The headmaster’s saying he wanted us to be the hero’s companions meant he’d used every means at his disposal to look into our backgrounds. That being the case, this wasn’t the time for me to play dumb.
“What I think you want from us is to be Epona Rhiannon’s chains. You aren’t telling us to follow him out of a sense of duty, but as friends. That’s why it needs to be us. There are plenty of people more skilled, but only we can fulfill that sort of role. Honestly, though, I feel a little reluctant,” I said.
“Hoh-hoh-hoh, you are correct. I would expect no less from a Tuatha Dé. You really are his son,” the headmaster complimented.
“I would expect no less from a Tuatha Dé…” How much does he know? Maybe the royal family shared information to help the headmaster keep the hero in check.
“Uh, Lugh. I’m not really following this. Can you tell me what’s happening?” Dia asked.
“The hero is the strongest living thing in the world. His power defies all norms. No one can hope to restrain the hero with strength alone. If the hero decided to destroy the Alvanian Kingdom, the country would be finished. Do you get it now?” I asked.
“Yeah, I understand. That strength could be a problem,” Dia replied.
“Right. An unfettered hero is scarier than even the monsters and their master, the Demon King. That’s why we need to reach his heart. To put it simply, if Epona has good friends, that will make him want to protect the country. The hero doesn’t need support. Companions would only slow him down in a fight. What we are being asked to do is observe him and become the chains binding his heart.”
“No way…”
The hero was so strong that drugs wouldn’t have any effect on him. Brainwashing was unlikely to work, either. That’s why we needed to become his friends and appeal to his emotions. It was cruel, but it made sense.
“Hmm, I have nothing to add. It is all as Lugh said. Whether you think you can do it or not, I want you to try. In a way, you’ll be offering a service to Alvan greater than even the hero himself. You can expect a suitable reward,” the headmaster assured us.
Tarte’s shoulders had begun to shake. She looked like she was going to say something, though she remained quiet. I met her eyes and urged her to speak, and she timidly raised a hand.
“U-um, what would happen if this conversation were to leak outside of this room?”
“It would be treason against the kingdom—treason of the highest order. Failing at this task would end in the same result,” the headmaster responded coolly.
He was saying that the four of us and all others involved would receive capital punishment. If Tarte were to be accused of sedition, my parents and I would also be executed.
Naoise and I made eye contact, and we both forced a smile. This was quite a responsibility to heap upon a group of fourteen-year-olds.
“Understood. Let’s become Epona’s dearest friends,” Naoise declared.
“I will do my best to make that happen,” I said.
“Looks like we don’t have a choice. Count me in, too,” added Dia.
“I’ll do my best! I follow Lord Lugh wherever he goes!” Tarte vowed.
And so the four of us were given the duty of becoming the hero’s companions. Thankfully, the academy seemed prepared to assist us to some extent.
The school was using me, and I was using the school. In a way, it was the best form of cooperation I could’ve hoped for.
We left the headmaster’s office to find a large, kind-looking male professor waiting for us with a smile.
“Hey, it looks like the headmaster is finally finished with you. Come to the dining hall; there’s a welcome party being held there for the new students. You don’t want to miss out on the feast! Naoise and Lugh, I would like you two to give a speech greeting the new students. Think it over for me.”
In an instant, the gloomy mood of the previous conversation had been wiped away.
“I’m not particularly good at that kind of thing,” said Naoise.
“Oh, get out of here, Naoise. There’s no way you’re bad at public speaking,” I shot back.
“You got me… Back to the previous topic. You and I should be able to accomplish anything together. All we have to do is manipulate a kid who’s scared of other people and lacks confidence. That should be nothing for us.”
“For sure. Looking at it like that, it doesn’t sound too hard.”
“Ha-ha-ha, and suddenly we’re working together. This isn’t so bad. I’m looking forward to seeing what you can do.”
We walked to the welcome party without another word.
I couldn’t help but worry about that future the goddess had told me about, though.
Once the hero defeats the Demon King, they will go insane and bring the world to ruin.
…What exactly is going to cause that future to come about?
If Naoise and I become the hero’s friends and he goes mad anyway, then we might be the cause of that instability. Perhaps he’s destined to lash out at the world after discovering our betrayal.
I was likely overthinking things, but it was undeniable that our little quartet was a group of traitors. Naoise had his own goals he was working toward, and I was only ingratiating myself with the hero so I could kill him one day.
We owed it to Epona to at least try to make him happy, even if our friendship was a sham. If we could succeed in doing that, maybe we could find a future where he didn’t lose his mind. That way, I wouldn’t have to kill him.
When we reached the feast hall, I spotted Epona, clearly alone despite the flock of people surrounding him.
Time to introduce myself to him. I need to make sure I leave a good impression.
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