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“Then please take a good rest, dear.”

With that brief sentence, Maria left the room and closed the door.

I had been squeezing my eyes shut, on the brink of falling asleep, but once Maria’s presence completely vanished, I quietly opened my eyes. The clock’s hands pointed to midnight, and I quickly got out of bed.

My family had finished their preparations and left the house around 11 o’clock. The only ones left in the mansion were the servants, and I had instructed Maria to not let anyone enter my room until I called for them first.

‘They said the terrorists would start acting around 1 o’clock… I need to hurry.’

I swiftly got up and pulled out a box that had been hidden under my bed. It took me no time at all to toss aside the clothes I was wearing and change into Mir’s outfit.

‘Voice modulation ring. Communication magic tool. Invisibility magic tool. Smoke bombs. Six daggers.’

I gradually checked the items in the box that I had thoroughly prepared while waiting for the National Founding Day.

I inserted the communication magic tool in the form of earrings that Tina had given me, and put on the necklace-shaped invisibility magic tool. I tucked the smoke bombs and daggers into my dimensional pocket.

After finishing my preparations, I took a moment to gaze out the window.

The streets of the capital were overflowing with people celebrating the festival.

Children holding their parents’ hands. Street vendors looking excited at the prospect of selling lots of goods. It resembled a beautiful painting with the theme of ‘peace.’

I couldn’t let this moment turn into a tragedy.

With a deep sigh, I pressed the pendant hanging from my necklace. My body became invisible in an instant.

I swung the window open and jumped down without hesitation.

Today was the long-awaited National Founding Day.

‘I should be around here.’

I blended into the crowd and scanned my surroundings. Silently sneaking out of the mansion while in an invisible state, I began searching for Reiner in the bustling streets of the capital.

‘Damn it. If I can’t find a single person here, how am I supposed to find the bomb?’

The central square was crowded with people, and with that came a mix of countless energies.

‘Even though the energy of dark magic is unique… can I really read it?’

I bit my lip slightly, lost in thought.

According to Tina, the bomb had been created using dark magic. Dark magic and regular magic are so different that they cannot usually be detected by regular dangerous magic detection devices, which is why terrorists primarily used dark magic bombs.

There were no dark magic detection devices. I had to rely solely on my instincts to find the bomb in this vast and complex square.

‘…I can do this.’

Even though I knew I had to and wanted to do it, faced with the reality of the day, I felt increasingly small. I didn’t want to feel a messiah complex, but the weight of the responsibility pressing down on me kept growing heavier.

‘Am I feeling a bit tired?’

Before the moment of decision, my resolve wavered again.

Sometimes ignorance brings wisdom, and power brings safety. Knowing what others don’t, and having a power others lack, means life can be hard.

‘Damn it. Stop being so weak.’

I quickly shook my head to clear my thoughts. There would be time to think about that after stopping the terror.

‘But… where the hell is Reiner?’

Lost in thought, as I walked with the crowd, I noticed the time was nearing and frantically searched for Reiner.

Thank goodness I was familiar with the geography of the capital; otherwise, I surely would have become lost.

“Mir! It’s over here!”

And then, a gentle hand seized me as I wandered.

“Ah.”

Surging through the crowd, I naturally closed the distance with the owner of the hand. The familiar scent of rosewood wafted in the air.

I looked up to find an impressively tall figure casting a shadow over my face.

Maybe it was because it was an official event, but he was dressed in the full regalia of the royal knights’ order. The uniform, adorned with gold thread on white fabric, shone brightly under the sun.

And more radiant than anything else were his beautifully shining golden eyes.

“I found you. I’m glad to see you safe.”

The owner of the hand was, as expected, Reiner.

“Sir Einhart. With the square being so crowded… I was late finding you. Have you been waiting long?”

“No, I also took my time making excuses to slip away. You don’t have to worry about it.”

His gaze averted slightly as he made excuses, but Reiner answered with a faint smile. Seeing him look cheerier than usual made my heart lighten as well, and I smiled back warmly.

“Are you accustomed to the energy of dark magic from what I previously gave you?”

Since the terrorists hadn’t really begun to act yet, I asked Reiner as we walked through the square.

‘Reiner’s experience with dark magic was mostly from facing the Basilisk.’

To trace dark magic in this wide square, he had to become familiar with its energy. I had previously handed him the pouch containing the heart of the Basilisk, urging him to adapt to the dark magic energy.

The energy of dark magic emanating from the Basilisk’s heart was quite strong, so the pouch was filled with its dark energy.

“Yes. I think I can feel anything with dark magic energy at least 100 meters away.”

Reiner spoke confidently, and it seemed he had been diligently practicing how to read dark magic energy.

“Well done. But… how did you slip away from your duties?”

Having briefly complimented Reiner, I decided to ask him something I had been curious about since I had asked him to join me, but I wasn’t entirely sure if the captain would be able to escape from the security duties of the festival.

Seeing him determined to find a way out made me somewhat worried, but I also wondered what excuse he had used to manage this.

“Ah…”

At my question, Reiner exhaled softly. The golden border framing his black pupils seemed to flicker momentarily before he subtly avoided my gaze. His expression remained the usual blankness, but I could tell he felt somewhat embarrassed.

“It seemed difficult to leave with just any excuse… so I added a little lie to get away.”

Reiner’s hesitant manner was reminiscent of someone dropping hints before a big reveal. I furrowed my brows, sensing his hesitation.

‘What… did he say his parents were sick? Or that an arch-nemesis had joined the festival to attempt an assassination?’

As I pondered these silly thoughts, waiting for Reiner’s answer, he merely flicked his lips and then turned his head slightly, covering his mouth with his hand. His long eyelashes cast a shadow over his eyes.

“I went to… meet a woman I’m dating…”

His low voice murmured softly. I blinked for a moment, processing his words, and my cheeks felt a little hot.

“W-was that… why they let you go?”

“…Yes. Everyone seemed keenly interested in my love life. They said they’d take care of my business themselves while letting me go.”

“Ah… it seems you’ve earned quite a bit of goodwill.”

I awkwardly remarked, and he replied with a slight chuckle. For some reason, I recalled when Reiner had first asked if it was a date when I mentioned this incident, making me feel a bit more flustered.

As my pace slowed slightly, so did his, who walked alongside me at the same speed.

“Mir.”

How long had we walked in silence? Finally, he called out to me.

I turned my head to face him.

“Isn’t the National Founding Day festival beautiful?”

I nodded in agreement.

Having lived in the capital since birth, I knew well that the festival was magnificent. Though I was always too busy to really enjoy it, I still would go out to see it with Aria when it was taking place.

‘But… I can’t enjoy this festival.’

A bitter taste filled my mouth as if I had medicine in it.

The festival would last for a week after National Founding Day, but today being the first day, I would be too busy preventing the terror, and after that, there was a high chance the festival itself would hastily come to an end due to the aftermath of the terror incident.

“Perhaps the festival will be hard to continue due to the terror events, but I think they might still release lanterns on the lake in the capital.”

On the last day of the Founding Day festival, lanterns are released on the lake near the center of the capital.

It is said that a dragon sleeps in that lake, and on the last day of the Founding Day festival, it will awaken and rise, hence the tradition of lighting the way for the dragon.

‘No matter how chaotic the terrorism gets, they would likely still do that.’

Releasing lanterns on the capital’s lake is a deeply rooted tradition; even if the festival is closed, it is highly probable they would still carry out that part.

“If we successfully prevent this terror… would you go with me to see the last night’s lake?”

A rare, bright smile appeared on Reiner’s face.

With his softly curved eyes and lips drawing up in a perfect arc, his smile shone brighter than the noon sun. I momentarily stared at his beautiful smile, mesmerized.

‘How could I possibly refuse that face?’

At least, I couldn’t. I didn’t want Reiner’s smile to fade into disappointment.

I liked his smile.

“If that’s what you desire, absolutely.”

They say laughter is contagious. I briefly connected my worries and thoughts about the terror with a smile aimed at Reiner. His golden eyes looking at me softened slightly. His gentle gaze tickled my face like a feather.

“Mir…”

As Reiner began to speak, opening his lips, the communication magic tool I had in my ear lightly trembled. Both Reiner and I stiffened at the sensation.

‘It’s the Empress contacting me.’

Tina had given me this tool.

The fact that I was being contacted meant that the terrorism was about to begin.

“…Please excuse me for a moment.”

I sought Reiner’s permission and touched the earring once. For a moment, the magical energy spread to my ears, and I heard a strangely distorted voice.

[Mir. I was introduced by Princess Kashmir. Is that correct?]

“That’s right, Your Excellency. What is the matter?”

I responded courteously in the same distorted voice.

Tina currently thought I was one of the people on-site. Since I had told Tina I wouldn’t divulge the identity of the whistleblower to anyone, I had to pretend not to know who she was as Mir.

I could hear Tina’s deep sigh through the earring.

[I’ve just received an urgent message.]

Tina’s voice trembled with anxiety. Sensing that something was amiss, I immediately focused in.

[Today, two magical bombs will be set up.]

I grimaced immediately.

 

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