Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 156: The Assassin’s Fate
Cornered at the top of Soraki Tower, the assassin found himself surrounded by Royal Guard knights.
He was a highly skilled member of the Assassins’ Guild, but assassination and open combat were different disciplines. Under the right conditions, he might have killed even a Royal Guard knight with ease; in a direct confrontation against several prepared knights, however, he was at a severe disadvantage.
Tauro had warned them about the poisoned needles and blowpipe, and they had taken precautions.
“Surrender and tell us who hired you,” one knight said. “No one has died yet.”
Those words wounded the assassin’s pride more deeply than any blade.
It was true. He, a man who considered himself a first-rate assassin, had failed to kill even one child.
Worse, the child he had supposedly cornered had escaped from the top of the tower and trapped him instead.
The humiliation was unbearable.
Then a thought occurred to him.
If the trick the child used to jump from the tower was still in place, perhaps he could use it as well.
There was no time to investigate. If he allowed himself to be captured, his career as an assassin was finished in any case.
He would have to gamble everything on the possibility.
Surrounded by the Royal Guard, the assassin stepped onto the edge and carefully imitated Tauro’s every movement. He had no idea what action might activate the supposed mechanism.
Of course, there was no mechanism at all.
“Then I win. Goodbye.”
He even repeated Tauro’s words before jumping backward.
Nothing caught him.
“Waaaaah!”
The assassin plunged headfirst toward the ground and struck the pavement in front of Tauro with a sickening impact. He died instantly.
“I never imagined he’d jump down and kill himself… What a terrifying resolve.”
In reality, the assassin had only copied Tauro in a desperate attempt to save his own life, but Tauro had never imagined anyone would interpret his escape that way.
He offered a brief prayer over the body, then left the cleanup to the guards who had rushed over.
Now that the troublesome assassin was gone, Tauro needed to focus on the larger problem.
They had to find Aeris a trustworthy guardian from a sufficiently powerful noble family, free her from the Marchioness of Van Dyne’s influence, and put an end to the woman’s ambitions.
Although several nobles had agreed to support Aeris, they hadn’t yet secured the guardian she truly needed.
Tauro considered the matter as he walked back to the inn.
No new meeting with Prince Fleue had been scheduled. The prince had schoolwork and royal duties, so his free time was limited. Fleue had apparently wanted to discuss something important, but Tauro wouldn’t learn what it was until they could meet again.
Nearly a month had also passed since Tauro and Aeris left Dansas.
Tauro had written to Shin and Rumeya and explained their situation. He was worried about them, though he knew they must be equally worried about Aeris.
He had no idea how much longer the situation would take to resolve, but for now he had to concentrate on protecting her.
When he reached the inn, a nobleman’s carriage was parked outside.
They had no appointment that day. Had a noble come to visit them instead?
Tauro hurried upstairs and found a noble family’s messenger standing outside Aeris’s room, inviting her to his master’s residence.
“Tauro, welcome back! You’re early today. This gentleman is Count Ayanshi’s messenger.”
Aeris looked relieved to see him.
“Count Ayanshi?”
The messenger apparently decided that persuading Tauro would be easier than persuading Aeris.
“My master, Count Ayanshi, wishes to meet you immediately. I’ve come to escort you both to his residence.”
It was unusual for a noble concerned with appearances to summon them so abruptly.
Has he decided that Aeris is likely to win and wants to join her side?
Count Ayanshi was reputedly an influential member of Marquis Haragoura’s faction.
Marquis Haragoura led an old and powerful high-aristocratic faction locked in political conflict with Prime Minister Duke Barriera. Of the kingdom’s several noble factions, Haragoura’s was the strongest, but it was also notorious for aristocratic supremacism.
Tauro wanted as little involvement with that faction as possible.
Even so, Count Ayanshi had sent a carriage and messenger personally. Refusing the invitation might later damage Aeris’s position.
After considering the matter, Tauro nodded to Aeris and urged her to prepare to leave.