#Chapter 88
—
The underground city.
As they left behind the black full moon and headed toward Arcane Station, Kassel broke the silence.
“Donn.”
“Yes?”
“…What are you going to do from here on out?”
Arthur turned his head at the question and replied.
“What do you mean, what am I going to do?”
“The mission. Don’t you think we should set up some kind of plan?”
At that, Arthur stroked his chin.
*A plan, huh… but is there really a plan to make?*
Being a bodyguard wasn’t anything complicated.
All one had to do was stick to the client’s side twenty-four hours a day and ensure their safety.
*In other words, no matter what happens, the client’s safety must be guaranteed…*
But this current mission was full of holes. Arthur couldn’t even figure out how to provide protection.
Aside from the fact that the opponent was pirates, there were no clear leads, and no telling when an attack might come.
Because of that, Arthur tossed the question back to Kassel.
“Kassel, do you have some plan in mind?”
“Hmm… what I see as the most important is this.”
“And what would that be?”
Kassel’s eyes gleamed as he answered.
“Who’s going to shadow that young lady closely.”
“…?”
“That’s the very basics of bodyguarding. Attending to the client, keeping an eye on them. To be honest… when it comes to that, I’m not confident.”
At Kassel’s candid reply, Arthur let out a laugh.
“Kassel, you’ve never dated before, have you?”
“…!”
Kassel gaped in shock.
“D-did it show that much?”
“You can tell at a glance.”
“…Then you, do you have plenty of experience?”
Arthur smirked.
“I’ll leave that to your imagination.”
That self-assured smile left Kassel’s expression unreadable.
*This guy, Donn… is he really experienced in romance?*
After glancing at Arthur’s face for a moment, Kassel unwillingly admitted to himself.
*…Damn it! He does look good!*
Aside from that crooked smile he sometimes wore, Arthur’s face was, objectively speaking, very handsome.
*His swordsmanship is almost on par with mine, and now he’s good-looking too? What kind of unfair…*
While Kassel was stewing in an inexplicable sense of defeat, Arthur’s gaze flicked sideways.
There was Shuga Highbin, who had stayed silent ever since her first appearance.
After some hesitation, Arthur addressed her.
“Um… Miss Shuga?”
“…Yes?”
“I was wondering if I could carry your bag for you. Would that be all right?”
Shuga shook her head.
“No, it’s fine.”
“Ah, it would be a little troublesome if you refused.”
“…?”
“The train leaves any minute now. We’ll have to run, and can you really sprint with that bag?”
Shuga blinked, then quietly held out the bag she’d been carrying.
Arthur took it and gestured.
“We’ve got ten minutes to board. If not, we’ll have to wait for the next train. And I doubt any of us wants to sit around at a station at this hour of the night.”
The three of them broke into a run and managed to board just in time.
“Oh… VIP room, is it?”
Kassel muttered, lips curling into a grin.
Arthur nodded with satisfaction.
“At least Mr. Balans has a shred of decency, giving us such fine accommodations.”
Dropping into the plush chair of the VIP room, Arthur snapped his fingers.
“First off, Miss Shuga, you can take one of the private rooms to yourself, and Kassel and I will use the lounge. You should rest now. You look quite exhausted.”
Shuga nodded.
“Thank you. Then I’ll…”
Trailing off, she disappeared into her room.
Watching her go, Kassel clicked his tongue.
“This is tricky. Our client’s a woman, and I’m hopeless at this sort of thing.”
“Why is that a problem?”
“Shouldn’t we at least ask some questions, gather information? Right now, we know nothing.”
Arthur chuckled.
“From what I can tell, she’d probably answer if we asked. But since Kassel’s hopeless at dealing with women, you can’t do it.”
Kassel fell silent.
At his sulky expression, Arthur changed the subject.
“Anyway, what should we do about night watch?”
“…And what would you prefer?”
“I’ll leave it entirely to your judgment. You seem more experienced than I am.”
Kassel puffed out his chest with a grin.
“Very well, then. We’ll take turns. I’ll start, you rest for now, and out of the twenty-four hours, six will be—”
Arthur thought as he watched him.
*This man is so easy.*
And so the day passed. Thanks to Kassel’s eagerness, Arthur was able to sleep comfortably.
—
—
The next morning, Arthur woke refreshed.
“Undine… cleanse me a bit.”
\[Of course, Arthur.]
Undine extended a hand.
A cool current swept over him, washing away not just the drowsiness but the usual heaviness that lingered after waking.
Arthur smiled.
“Thanks, Undine.”
\[Think nothing of it, Arthur.]
“I should get some breakfast. Hmm… Kassel will be asleep, but should I bring Miss Shuga along?”
After a moment’s thought, he decided to. He knocked on her door.
“Miss Shuga, I’m heading to breakfast. Would you like to join me?”
A slightly delayed reply came.
“I’ll be right out. Please wait.”
The door opened, and Arthur gestured lightly.
“Shall we?”
“Yes, let’s.”
They headed to the train’s dining car. Several people were already there, sipping coffee and nibbling toast.
Arthur and Shuga found a seat by the window.
A waiter approached promptly.
“What will you have?”
“Coffee and toast for me. And you, Miss Shuga?”
“I’ll have the same.”
As quickly as he’d arrived, the waiter vanished.
Silence settled between them. Neither Arthur nor Shuga seemed intent on breaking it.
Arthur gazed out the window, Shuga at her hands.
The waiter soon returned.
“Two orders of toast, two coffees.”
Arthur took his coffee first. The cheap blend carried that typical bitter-sweetness.
Then Shuga broke the silence.
“May I ask you something?”
Arthur set his cup down.
“Of course. Anything.”
“If it’s not urgent, I’d prefer you not open my door. Could you promise me that?”
“My… your door?”
“Yes.”
Arthur stroked his chin.
“Hmm… that’s difficult.”
“And why is that?”
“Well, first of all, you’re our client. And pirates are after you.”
“…”
“In that situation, it wouldn’t make sense for us to be unable to open your door as we see fit, would it?”
After a pause, Shuga dropped her words.
“I’m a married woman, you know.”
“I know. You’re the Crown Princess Consort, aren’t you?”
“And you’d open the door of someone like that at will?”
Arthur chuckled.
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“…?”
“I accepted a commission, and I’ll fulfill it. The fact that you’re the Crown Princess Consort isn’t a relevant issue.”
Shuga blinked, then let out a soft laugh.
“You make dangerous statements so casually.”
“It’s one of my specialties. Now, may I ask you something in return?”
“Go ahead.”
Arthur snapped his fingers.
“Why are pirates after you, Miss Shuga?”
“…”
“Even pirates would be reckless to touch royalty from another nation. So why are you their target?”
Shuga sighed.
“…That’s an awfully blunt and sharp question.”
After a pause, she murmured.
“…Do you know the current circumstances of the Prime Kingdom?”
“Circumstances?”
“Yes. Right now, the Prime Kingdom is in utter turmoil over the succession.”
Arthur rubbed his chin.
“So there’s civil strife?”
“Yes. There is.”
“…?”
“The second prince started a rebellion to seize the throne. Thanks to that, the entire royal family—and the kingdom itself—has fallen into chaos.”
Arthur blinked, then let out an exclamation.
“Huh… and the pirates are backing him, aren’t they?”
“…That’s right. Which is why they’re after me.”
Arthur’s lips curled.
*Now this is interesting…*
The two great powers of Arcane’s underworld—pirates and the Seven Sovereigns—were apparently each backing different factions in Prime Kingdom’s succession war.
*Not surprising, given their size… So that’s why Balans spoke of war.*
Arthur stroked his chin, finally grasping the broader picture of this mission.
*But even so, why…?*
He still couldn’t understand. Someone like Balans—one of the Seven Sovereigns—should have plenty of capable subordinates. Why complicate things by hiring mercenaries?
As he pondered, Arthur suddenly asked,
“Forgive me for being blunt, but… Miss Shuga, are you truly Lord Balans’ daughter?”
“…What?”
“You don’t resemble him at all. Are you really his daughter?”
Shuga’s eyes widened.
Arthur was about to speak again, having caught the flicker of dismay on her face.
“…You’re being rude. Excuse me.”
She rose and left the dining area.
Arthur scratched his head.
“Hm… what’s the deal here?”
He downed the rest of his coffee.
“No matter how I look at it, she doesn’t seem like Balans’ daughter.”
—
—
Evening came.
Kassel awoke groggy and slumped into a chair.
“…Nothing happened while I slept, right, Donn?”
Pulled from his thoughts, Arthur replied.
“Nothing. Did you sleep well?”
“…Like a rock. I like the rhythm of a moving train.”
Arthur smirked, then pointed at Shuga’s door.
“Then why don’t you wake Miss Shuga for dinner?”
Rubbing his eyes, Kassel jerked in surprise.
“M-me? Weren’t you supposed to handle the client?”
“Well… we kind of argued earlier. So, just this once, I’ll leave it to you.”
Kassel blinked.
*But he just said nothing happened…*
At that moment, the door opened.
Both men turned. Shuga, hair braided and still in her nightclothes, approached.
“Let’s eat.”
“….”
Kassel was speechless. Arthur smirked.
“Weren’t you sulking, Miss Shuga?”
“…I wasn’t sulking. I just figured skipping dinner would only hurt me.”
Arthur nodded.
“A wise choice. Dinner’s steak, I hear.”
Shuga didn’t reply. Kassel, uneasy, glanced between her and Arthur.
Arthur opened the door for the waiting server.
“Dinner for three, please.”
“Understood.”
The server bowed and left.
Arthur shut the door and returned to his seat. Silence weighed heavy in the room.
“….”
Kassel glanced about nervously.
*What on earth happened while I was asleep?*
He burned with curiosity but didn’t dare ask.
Then—knock knock. The food arrived.
Suppressing a cheer, Kassel exclaimed,
“Smells wonderful! Looks delicious!”
“….”
With neither Arthur nor Shuga responding, he gave an awkward smile.
The chef began setting out the dishes.
When Shuga reached for a wine glass, Arthur suddenly smacked her hand.
*Clang!*
The glass shattered. Kassel’s jaw dropped in shock.
Shuga furrowed her brow and shouted.
“What on earth are you—”
But Arthur was already on his feet, drawing his Beast and aiming at the chef’s forehead.
“…Son of a bitch.”
The chef cursed and reached for his own gun, but it was far too late.
*Bang!*
The gunshot rang out. The chef collapsed, his head blown away.
Shuga and Kassel gaped. Arthur stretched and muttered,
“So it begins. Of all times, they had to come at bedtime, these pirates.”
—
