The difference between awareness and illusion (5)
Rahon swore when he found out that Luther had been kidnapped by those guys.
"You crazy bastards! No matter how crazy you are with money, you kidnap a child? You really are dirty bastards."
Rahon, who had become acquainted with Luther in the blockade area, could not control his anger. He asked in a slightly calmer voice after cursing for a while.
"What should I do?"
"They told Vivian to poison me if she wanted to save Luther."
Rahon's purple eyes landed again on the teacup rolling on the floor and then returned.
"Fortunately, it seems like that failed."
"They're probably watching us. But if nothing happens to me, they'll think it's a failure. They'll deal with Luther immediately and hide."
"So you're going to pretend that you got hurt?"
"But Luther is still in danger. If I die, Vivian's value will disappear."
"Oh, I see."
"We need to make them believe that Vivian tried to poison me. But then she fails due to the actions of an unexpected entity. Then they will try to use Vivian again."
Rahon nodded and suddenly pointed at himself.
"An unexpected presence is it me?"
"Yes. thank you for saving me when I was about to die."
Rahon raised his eyebrows crookedly, then quickly chuckled.
"So you're trying to fool them."
"Yes. I won't be leaving my bedroom starting tomorrow. You need to let them know that naturally, Rahon."
"You're saying that if we make a lot of noise, we'll make them suspicious, so let them notice? I understand."
Rahon lowered his voice with an excited look on his face.
"But we can't fool them for long. You know that, right?"
"Vivian will meet them again tomorrow afternoon. She just has to lie to them until then."
"How do you find Luther?"
"The little Duke and Baba are currently looking for a specific location."
"Hmm. I don't know about Baba, but Ian is trustworthy. Yes. I'll just ask the Duke to place two knights in front of your bedroom."
"Oh, that's a good idea."
"Now lie down in bed. Why are you still wide awake when you were almost poisoned?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot that I almost died because Rahon's power was so strong."
Rahon and I looked at each other and laughed like villains.
***
A gloomy dawn.
Ian and Baba were already monitoring an abandoned brewery near the outer wall.
Those who had been holding out in the brewery and not budging a muscle until now began to show up frequently today.
The mood among the men eased in the afternoon when Ian withdrew the knights.
There are only twenty confirmed windcatchers so far. There was a reason they occupied a four-story abandoned building rather than a regular farmhouse.
Baba, who was hiding in a nearby barn, was staring at the crack in the wooden wall, his lips moving.
"It looks like everyone has been mobilized."
"I guess you received quite a lot of commission."
"Well, that might be true, but the biggest reason is probably you."
Ian, who had been staring at the crack in the wall next to Baba, turned his head.
"It's because of me."
"Rumors spread that our guild failed the request because of you. This world is really small."
So it was natural that they, who were less skilled than Baba's Guild, put all their efforts into it.
"I'm the best in this business. That means I charge the highest commissions, so... What if they succeed in the mission that I failed at? What would happen then?"
"Do you get any honor?"
"What good does an assassin get from fame? He'll just boast that he's surpassed me and then ask for a higher fee next time."
A deep contempt flashed across Ian's golden eyes.
Baba laughed heartily.
"Why are you looking at me like looking at garbage? Do you think those human slaughter bastards know how to act righteously?"
Ian furrowed his eyebrows and turned his head.
"Where is the child?"
"I don't know."
"...Are you kidding me?"
"I haven't even seen the inside of the building, so how do I know where the child is? I'm an assassin, not a wizard."
Ian sighed.
Just as the windcatchers were kept inside, conscious of the knights' surveillance, Baba was also unable to approach the brewery because of the knights.
If he had more time, he would have tried something, but he had to find Luther before dawn.
"So let's think about it together. Now, if you were a kidnapper, what would be the most important thing to consider when taking hostages?"
"It's probably to block the escape route."
"That's right. That's why the kidnappers' favorite place is the basement. But from what I've found out, there's no basement in that building."
"Then..."
Baba and Ian's gaze was focused on the top floor of the abandoned building.
"It must be the 4th floor."
"The problem is the method of access. While someone infiltrates the fourth floor, someone else has to distract them."
No matter how skilled Baba was, he was still an assassin. He was stronger than anyone else at ambush attacks, but it was difficult to deal with enemies swarming in large numbers.
"I'll get their attention. You save the child in the meantime."
As he said this, Baba caught Ian taking off his coat.
"I am truly touched by the heart of the little Duke who is willing to take on dangerous tasks for me. Do you think they would be fooled? They can tell who you are just by looking at your eyes."
Golden eyes were a characteristic of the Eldern family.
If little Duke Eldern suddenly appeared and caused a ruckus, they would definitely notice right away.
"I'll buy you time. You rescue the child."
"How are you going to deal with them all?"
"Fighting isn't the only way. I have a method that our innocent little Duke can't even imagine."
Baba giggled and took off his mask.
After messing up his gently falling platinum hair, he took off his outerwear and pulled the front of the shirt he was wearing underneath to both sides.
With a violent force, the button was ripped off, revealing the white flesh inside. The small scars carved into the skin were obscured by darkness.
"What are you doing now?"
"Why would I wear a mask? They don't know my face."
"Why are you tearing your clothes?"
"Their leader is a blue-haired man(gay)."
"...What?"
Ian's eyes widened. He grabbed Baba's arm.
"Are you trying to buy time with your body?"
"As you can see?"
"It's crazy?"
"I've been on a mission since I was fifteen. How could I kill someone with my inexperience? I've already done it before."
"Does familiarity make you like something you don't like? Don't do it. I'll find a way."
Baba burst out laughing.
It was when he received his first mission.
The mission was to assassinate a Baron whose name he can't even remember now, but the security was tight, making infiltration difficult.
The method chosen at that time was to seduce the Baron, who was like prostitute. After entering the Baron's bedroom, he successfully completed his mission and escaped.
Baba didn't even realize that his ribs were broken when he got beaten by the sadistic Baron while he was running away in a frenzy.
Baba, unable to bear the pain, sat down on the street. No one helped him as he groaned and gasped for breath. Anyone could tell that he had been assaulted, so they didn't want to get involved in an incident by stepping in.
At that time, the only person who reached out was Ian.
The boy, who appeared with his back to the sunlight, wiped Baba's bleeding face with a pure white handkerchief.
"Who does this?"
Unlike his own fingernails, which were dirty and covered in dried blood, the boy's fingernails were neat and clean.
Bana could tell he was a nobleman without even having to ask.
It wasn't because of the fancy clothes and fragrant body odor, it was just because he was raised preciously.
"... What would you do if you knew?"
"I can help you only if I know."
"What's the big deal about a commoner getting beat up by a nobleman?"
"Then you must not go any further. I will find a way."
It felt strange to see the boy's serious expression.
Everyone else is afraid of getting involved in trouble, so they don't even bother to look at him, but why is this kid doing this?
If I had grown up in a good home like this child, wouldn't my life have been different from what it is now?
But Baba knew his subject too well to imagine the impossible.
"If you want to show pity, give me something to eat. I haven't had a single piece of bread all day.
"...Wait."
Baba watched Ian heading to the bakery, then left, dragging his shabby body.
A place where there was a guild leader disguised as a father and a bunch of kids similar to him. That was his home.
When he met Ian in the mountains recently, almost ten years later, Baba was secretly surprised.
Even though he was innocent when he was young, as he got older he tended to follow what was advantageous to him, but Ian chose just one person without any hesitation.
Maybe it was because Ian was so consistent.
'It's still fun.'
At that moment, footsteps were heard outside.
It was the sound of the guys who had gone out into the city in the evening coming back. They were holding bottles of alcohol in both hands.
Since he had been forced to abstain from drinking to keep an eye on the reporters, it seemed like he was going to have a drinking party.
'That's good.'
The corners of Baba's mouth went up crookedly.
"If you don't want to see me get hurt, move quickly."
"Baba!"
Baba ignored Ian's voice and moved to the back of the barn.
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