[TKOSINM] 190 - The Mastermind

I predicted it to take half a year at the earliest.

Never did he once expect her to be able to use magic in less than a month. Also, the range of the shield was quite comprehensive. Seeing the rushing assassins immediately bounced off, it must have also been of the solid-state.

But the most astounding thing about it all.

The ring could adjust the allowable range.

Judging from Ryun’s projected vision, the assassin and the maid were nearby. However, even though the killer was thrown off, not a strand of the maid’s hair was affected.

Except for the maid, was the shield set up immune to the rest?

If the question were to be asked directly to Irene, she would most certainly wave her hands and claim it was a mere coincidence. But Mulliman’s attitude toward this matter was quite serious. Specifying the allowable range of magic was a difficult task for even high-level wizards. Even those training for several decades were not apt enough to determine an acceptable range, including Ryun.

It seems that Ryun didn’t notice.

Looking at his faint smile of interest, it was definite that he did not notice.

If he knew, he would probably hit the ground and weep.

He wondered if she would quit magic if she were to find out she wielded greater power than what she imagined, despite not being a wizard.

Mulliman again focused on the projection. Due to inexperienced skills, the barrier did not last long and gradually decreased. Just as she was about to face the threat again, Noel appeared and sent all the remaining assassins to their early grave. After that, his men rushed in, took her injured maid, and went back, leaving only Irene and Noel behind.

“You have to focus here.”

Ryun reminded him briefly. But Mulliman, who was already concentrating, heard nothing.

After talking to Noel about something, Irene went up to the tree. And the moment she touched it, a miraculous scene unfolded.

This…!

The phenomenon was similar to what Noel said last time. The fog that filled the surroundings was sucked into the tree as if it swallowed nutrients. Subsequently, the tree’s vitality was restored, and Irene collapsed. Ryun’s vision ended with Noel rushing towards her.

“Did you see it? Did you see it? The moment the Duchess touched its surface with her hand, she suddenly lifted the mist, and the dying tree was revived. What in the world was that Master?”

“Well…”

Ryun looked up in surprise at Mulliman’s uncertain answer.

“Is this something Master doesn’t know?!”

“You... I may not know, but could you not say it in such a humiliating way?”

“But I’ve never thought there would be anything that Master doesn’t know….”

“You’ll just have to get used to it gradually. Anyway, it would be nice to visit the Grand Duke’s residence soon and meet with the Duke’s wife. At that time, I will also show her how to control magic more delicately. But is that all you have seen?”

When Mulliman asked, Ryun’s expression darkened. He opened his mouth carefully.

“That…I saw something else, but it was by chance, and it has nothing to do with the Duke’s wife. I think I saw something that I shouldn’t have….”

“What is it that makes your face crumple this much?”

Mulliman’s forehead wrinkled at the unusual appearance of Ryun.

“Once you see it, you will know.”

Then the scene in the flame changed. It was night in the background, and a bonfire was burning in the centre; perhaps it was where they camped.

It was so quiet and peaceful; it did not seem like anything would go wrong. But as soon as Mulliman wondered what the problem was, something started moving in the dark.

“That’s…”

He was used to smoke, and firewood, but it was dark, and he could not see well. He speculated the figure to be a knight, as the moonlight would occasionally reflect from the armour.

Then the questionable figure went into a carriage, and after a while, hurried out of it. The vision ended there.

“What are you trying to say?”

“That… the carriage with the shadow is the carriage where the assassins are imprisoned. At first, I thought it was just that the person could not find their right carriage. Later, when I arrived at the Grand Duke’s residence, both of the assassins were dead. But all night long, I was around that carriage. The only thing that came in and out was that shadow. Above all, I- I know the identity of that shadow. Initially, Master had told me not to get involved in useless things, so I condoned it, but it bothers me.”

“What’s…What is the identity of the shadow?”

“... it’s a knight of the Kristen Duchy.”

“What?! Why would a knight kill the assassins captured by his comrades?”

“That’s what I’m trying to say. Why did the suspect stab his alliance in their back?”

While Ryun frantically fretted over the fact that he must have seen something he should not have, the great wizard fell into deep thought. Soon he found the answer.

“The real killer was over there, in the Grand Duke’s residence.”

“What? But he didn’t commit any part of the assassination, did he?”

“He must have been aware that it was impossible, judging by his position. Instead, he was arranged to deal with the pawns so that no remnants were left behind. By now, he must have reported the result to the person behind it.”

“Do you know who the mastermind is?”

“You rascal, if I knew that, I would have been a fortune teller; why would I be a wizard?”

When Mulliman rebuked bitterly, Ryun pouted his lips.

“But there is one thing for sure. That this is an influential enough figure to be able to plant an assassin into the army of the Kristen Grand Duchy.”

♔♔♔