Alexei Guberg steps onto the royal castle’s premises.
His destination is a short distance away from the main castle: the royal annex.
Queen Gizelotte, who’s possessed by the Devil Lord, had summoned him out of the blue.
He’s aware that meeting with the woman who had tried to kill him is dangerous. But he also knows that if someone is trying to eliminate him, they wouldn’t be so upfront about summoning him.
If anything, it’s a perfect chance to investigate what her next move is.
He decides to be optimistic.
Once inside the annex, a servant leads him into the queen’s chamber.
“So you came. I knew you would.”
The Devil Lord─in the form of the queen─invites Alexei to take a seat on the sofa. Gizelotte is in her own chair a good distance away from him, swirling her glass of wine around.
“Are you trying to welcome me as your ally after you’ve attempted to erase me?” Alexei provokes.
“I am.” Her answer is straightforward. “The circumstances have changed. One of the devils I’d sent left me an intriguing piece of information.”
“I thought she was annihilated by Shiva without even being given a chance to demonstrate her powers.”
“I warn you to watch your tongue. I’ll let it go this time, but only because we’re alone right now.”
I have no intention of seeing you out in public.
Alexei shrugs to himself and asks, “And? What is this intriguing piece of information?”
Lucifyra sips her wine, taking a dramatic pause before revealing the big news.
“That man called Shiva the Black Knight─he’s a devil birthed by another Devil Lord.”
Alexei raises his brow with curiosity.
Pleased with his reaction, Lucifyra continues, “This lord transferred most of its powers to Shiva and took the form of a human themself. They’re watching from very close. And that human is…”
Lucifyra thunders:
“Charlotte Zenfis, that wretched little girl!”
Alexei furrows his brows in distress.
“Simmer down,” he says.
The Devil Lord responds, “Oh? I wasn’t that worked up, was I?”
“Huh? Oh, uh… May I ask how you came to that conclusion?”
Alexei’s gaze shifted by a hair, but Lucifyra takes no notice.
“That was the report from the devil who fought Shiva directly. Her specialty was magic detection. She was also exceptional with her analysis ability, although not as good as Melcuemenes. If this was the conclusion she came to, it’s highly likely to be correct.”
Is it, though? It seems far from the truth. Alexei thinks to himself, trying to ignore all the obnoxious whining and yelling going on in his ear.
But I see. I suppose we could take advantage of her misjudgment.
The voice in his ear seems to calm down.
Alexei nods slightly and says, “Transferring most of their powers to Shiva and disguising themself as a human is likely a tactic to steer clear of the God Killer’s keen eye. Your reasoning is logical,” agrees the young man.
“Yes, I knew you’d see it.”
“Furthermore, if we defeat that Devil Lord─Charlotte Zenfis─its devil Shiva will also be vanquished.”
“You’ve been close with that girl these days, haven’t you?” Lucifyra hints.
“Are you suggesting I assassinate her?”
“If you refuse, I’ll have to kill you.”
Alexei heeds no mind to the Devil Lord’s chilling glare and thinks deeply─or at least pretends to.
He takes his time to collect his words.
“Eliminating Shiva is favorable to me, too. However, assassinating Charlotte would be impossible.”
“Let’s hear why.”
“Charlotte is under the protection of Shiva. Not only is she being personally guarded by Shiva, but she is also protected by an indestructible defensive barrier. Not even you, my Lord, would be able to penetrate it.”
“Don’t belittle me.”
The queen’s eyes glow a deep red hue.
Her icy glower feels like a dagger to the throat, but Alexei explains calmly.
“I apologize. What I meant was you, in your current form, wouldn’t be able to destroy the barrier.”
Lucifyra’s eyes remain red as she speaks: “I suppose Shiva wouldn’t let it slide if I act on the assassination myself.” She clenches her teeth in vexation.
“There is a way,” Alexei offers composedly.
“Really?!”
She leans into him in anticipation, but Alexei ignores her and wrinkles his brows sorely.
I can’t believe the moronic line that’s about to come out of my mouth, his face seems to say.
He finally squeezes out:
“You must collect the seven secret cards scattered across the world.”
A chilling breeze drifts across the room. Or at least that’s what the long pause feels like.
“…Secret cards?” The queen squints.
Her dubious look stings.
But what’s said is said. There’s no taking it back now.
“That’s right,” continues Alexei. “The cards to tear down the girl’s indestructible defensive barriers, one by one. You must collect all seven cards, and then strip Charlotte naked─huh? Oh, no, she’s wearing clothes, of course. Don’t get any ideas.”
“What the hell are you saying?” the queen scowls.
My sanity is being questioned; I can see the contempt in her eyes. Never did I, a born-and-bred elite, imagine I’d be looked down on with such disdain.
“AHERM!” Alexei clears his throat loudly to change the topic. “Anyway, collecting all the cards is the most efficient solution. Yes.”
“That’s hard to believe. Why would someone cast a magic spell that strips them of their defense into a physical object that could easily be snatched…?”
I wonder the same, Alexei thinks to himself. Despite what he thinks, he recites his argument:
“That’s precisely the reason why her defense is indestructible. Preparing a physical ‘key’ is what amplifies her magic.”
“Conditional fortification… Normally, the caster would bear the burden on their body in exchange for such power, but I’ve never heard of converting it into a magical item.”
“But the logic is sound.”
“I suppose,” says the queen. “It’s still hard to believe, though. Anyway, first things first. We’ll need to verify whether those secret cards are real. Where are they?”
“Not even Charlotte herself knows the whereabouts of the cards. She’s searching for them as we speak.”
“Ah, right, you did say they were ‘scattered across the world.’ But they’re valuable keys to maintain her defense. Why doesn’t she know where they are? Is she stupid?”
Alexei grimaces.
“Please, watch your tongue. Charlotte is a lord like yourself. I do wish you’d refrain from speaking of her vilely.”
He rubs one of his earlobes before clearing his throat again.
“I have a theory regarding your concern. There’s a possibility that Charlotte may have experienced some sort of trouble while reviving as a human, and her memory is disoriented. Hence why she cannot recall the whereabouts of her cards. She is, however, slowly regaining her memory, and I am assisting in her search.”
“So you’ll be my informant.”
“That’s right. I shall interfere while pretending to accompany them in their search for the cards. Meanwhile, you will go to the cards’ locations and retrieve them before she and her comrades do. But I don’t recommend you personally going to the locations. Shiva is keeping a vigilant watch over you more than anything.”
“Which means I can distract Shiva’s attention while sending one of my devils to claim the card.”
Alexei nods firmly and rises to his feet.
“Shiva is probably aware that I am here today. However, I doubt he could know what we’ve been discussing. It’s impossible even for him to break through the layers of barriers protecting this annex. If he pries, I’ll make up something about what we spoke of today.”
“See that you do. And if you gain any intel, relay it to me as quickly as possible.”
“I will try. But it’ll be difficult for us to act if Charlotte can’t remember where the cards could be. I ask you to please keep a low profile.”
Lucifyra agrees, albeit reluctantly.
Once Alexei leaves the royal annex, he returns to his dorm room.
A man dressed in black from head to toe is waiting for him.
“Was that how you wanted it, Shiva? I don’t mind you giving me instructions, but there’s no need to yell into my ear.”
“Sorry about that,” says the man in black. “You were quite the thespian, though.”
The conversation earlier with Lucifyra was exchanged while lending one ear to Shiva. Needless to say, the Black Knight was listening in the whole time.
“Never mind that,” Alexei says. “You suggested collecting cards? What sort of joke is this?”
The man in black answers, “Just stonewalling, in a way. Besides─”
His face is concealed under his jet-black helmet, but he seems to be grinning.
“Competing in a treasure hunt sounds fun, doesn’t it?”
Alexei blinks dumbfoundedly for a moment. “What a surprise. You and I might have more in common than I imagined.” He can’t help but let out a little smile.