“There’s no matching her as long as she throws her reputation as a former member of the party of heroes around.”
After the meeting, Lord Gholn had returned to his residence to drink with the other nobles who’d also attended.
His clap summoned a graceful teenage servant who brought more liquor and platters of food.
“If we could just oust Tallow, we could do as we please, but at this rate…” He shook his head.
The original four directors had died long ago, and their positions passed down to the heads of their noble houses throughout the generations. After becoming his family’s latest director, Lord Gholn realized that his house benefited greatly thanks to the Adventurers Guild.
That stopped when Tallow took over as guild master and realized there was money being held up that should go to adventurers instead.
“I have heard that Lady Serafin was the main social influence in the party of heroes. She must be quite experienced with these types of negotiations,” Lord Gholn said, causing his peers to huff. None of them were pleased.
“I don’t enjoy losing arguments…”
Two others nodded in agreement.
These nobles simply concerned themselves with saving face, and their thoughts only went as far as their coffers. In a way, their minds were incredibly easy to understand.
“His Majesty has kept his hands too clean.”
They were already getting into their regular complaints. Their greed knew no bounds.
“He left governing the land to the aristocracy, so he ought to trust us more…”
“And we pay his taxes. He should leave us be,” Lord Gholn added, and the others agreed immediately.
“Is Tallow proving difficult to handle?” one of the nobles asked.
Lord Gholn recognized immediately that they meant assassination, and he bobbed his head.
“Yes. It’s been difficult. How shall I put this…? He has senses like a wild animal, and my men simply haven’t been able to carry out the act…”
“Don’t you have any better talent?”
“If we act too conspicuously, we’ll become a target of His Majesty’s political purge. I think we should move with due prudence.”
The other aristocrats had come to rely on Lord Gholn after learning he maintained ties to the criminal underworld.
“The last thing we want is for someone to make a blunder and the rest of us to pay the price for it,” one man said.
“It’s exactly as you say.”
Tallow was a challenging opponent to deal with, but Lord Gholn thought it’d be easier if he were still active.
He’d washed his hands of such things, however. So all he could do was lament his subordinates’ gutlessness.
“What about that woman? She didn’t fight at the front lines like Lady Almelia did.”
Lord Gholn’s fresh proposal drew all eyes to him. They all gave their thoughts.
“She shouldn’t have much skill in combat.”
“Without her around, ousting Tallow will be a matter of time.”
“In combat, she hardly seems to stack up to the other members of her old party.”
Lord Gholn let out a small, nearly imperceptible sigh.
These people were only good at using others and protecting themselves.
Lord Gholn, on the other hand, sought to continue enjoying his easy life. He didn’t particularly want to line his own pockets.
“All right… Then I’ll begin things with an investigation.”
Lord Gholn called in one of his people and ordered them to investigate Serafin Mariad.
That seemed to put the other three aristocrats at ease, if the relaxed atmosphere in the room was anything to go on.
He understood why his three compatriots didn’t stand a chance against a maiden who’d stood on the front lines. After his cohorts finished taking their fill of drink and food, Lord Gholn retired to his room to imbibe alone.
“Serafin Mariad.”
He wondered what his reward would have been had he taken her out back in his day.
All the hair on Lord Gholn’s body stood on end. He sensed a presence. His back shuddered, and cold sweat dripped from his forehead down to his neck.
“You realized from that feeling alone? Now I’m sure you’re who I thought.”
The voice came from behind him, but Lord Gholn didn’t want to turn around. Plus, he knew that if he moved, this presence at his back would kill him.
“I haven’t abandoned my memory.”
Lord Gholn recalled this feeling well.
He remembered when the tables were turned on him, the disgraceful feeling of being a target for the first time in his life.
Was this the same person from long ago?
“I never imagined the very assassin King Rubens hired to kill me would be in a place like this.”
He was sure King Rubens had initiated the Friday Purge in the Holy Land of Rubens. Which meant the person behind him was…
“Wh-what are you here for? To kill me?”
“I wouldn’t do anything so boring. I stopped by for a little chat.”
There were footsteps. A man appeared from just out of sight and took a seat across from Lord Gholn.
The man wore a guild employee’s uniform.
Was he on some sort of mission?
“I suggest you cut it out.”
“…”
“I’ll say it again. Don’t do it. This is your only warning.”
The man had a much softer air about him than when he had been dread-inspiring and keen like a blade.
“If you’ve truly given up sullying your hands, then do not stick your nose where it doesn’t belong. Otherwise, I’ll need to tell King Randolf the truth.”
Lord Gholn had been found out.
“I’m like you. I’ve abandoned the trade, and as you can see…”—the man pointed at himself—“I’m a normal guild employee.”
“Y-you sought a peaceful life like me?”
He’d given up despite possessing abilities other assassins could only dream of? It sounded like a joke.
“Am I not allowed to?”
“I…want to thank you for something. You’re the reason I quit that line of work.”
“Really?”
“Back in my heyday, I thought myself invincible… But when I saw you, I realized I’d never match up. Your skills were overwhelming to the point it was presumptuous of me to compare us. You broke me. Easily.”
“Did I now?” the man said quietly. “Do nothing, and you may remain as a noble. And you’ll save me the trouble of spilling blood needlessly. It benefits the both of us. Think it over. Which is most important to you? Money, your honor, or your life?”
Having said all he wished, the man disappeared.
Lord Gholn heard the ice in his glass clink. He nearly believed his terrifying visitor to be a hallucination, but he was certain he felt that presence.
Lord Gholn ordered the underling he’d dispatched to withdraw.
That was enough… He wouldn’t do it anymore. He would quit—all of it.
Lord Gholn stood and packed a bag with all the money he had. His son peeked in, looking worried.
“Father, what’s wrong?”
Lord Gholn met this boy as a young child. Now he was fourteen, and it was time to bid him good-bye.
“From this moment on, you are the head of the house of Gholn.”
“Father? What are you saying?”
“Your real father…Fury Gholn is dead.”
“What are you—?”
Lord Gholn pushed his son aside to leave.
“What’s gotten into you, Father?”
He didn’t answer.
None of this was ever truly his. The name, the status, the money, the mansion, even the child.
The man released his skill.
He felt refreshed, as though bathing for the first time in ages.
“Ahhhh. It’s been so long since I had my own face. How did he know it was me, disguised as I was?”
The impostor Lord Gholn took quite a bit of money with him, enough to live a quiet life in a random country town.
He still put on the affectations of a noble. Well, that would be fine for the time being.
“Seven years, huh… It was a pretty short ride.”
This man had pretended to be Count Fury Gholn, who would have been thirty-nine now.
He’d deceived laymen, but failed when it came to that assassin.
Changing his body, clothes, and face still failed to bury some unnaturalness that came with using his skill.
The one thing he could say for certain was that he’d never have to live as someone else again.
He’d never have to lie.
That man had changed his life twice.
Perhaps he ought to be grateful.