On My First Day Undercover, the Organization Collapsed - Chapter 44

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Organization Collapsed on My First Day of Infiltration Episode 044

 

 

You Guys Win

 

 

“What’s going on?”

“They say he cheated?”

“Cheated? What kind of cheating?”

“Something about throwing and hitting targets, but he cheated so people couldn’t hit the target?”

“Isn’t that guy Draco?”

 

While every food stall had crowds flocking to them like clouds, Draco’s stall drew crowds for a different reason.

 

‘We’re screwed.’

 

The Security Guards came and issued a forced shutdown order.

 

“Confirmed. There’s magic on the target.”

“Hmm. Definitely.”

 

There were two spells on the target.

A spell that made it momentarily blurry, causing people to lose sight of the target.

And a spell that reduced friction on contact, making things slide off rather than bounce off.

It was even an item that could be controlled remotely.

 

“Contact Arcane School. It looks like additional investigation will be needed.”

“Understood.”

 

The stall was ruined.

And quite miserably at that.

The money lost was a whopping 800 cel.

It wasn’t money confiscated by the Security Guards.

It was money that Ziel had taken by hitting the target with his dagger before the Security Guards arrived.

The stall they had opened with the mindset that this would be the last time, trying to recover from their previous losses!

That petty scheme had now been completely exposed.

 

“Tsk tsk. To think such guys are from Sword School… What will become of this country’s future.”

 

Darren Rihart clicked his tongue.

It was absolutely, absolutely not because he was angry that he hadn’t noticed the trick.

 

‘Wait.’

 

Come to think of it, this is strange.

 

“How did you know?”

 

What exactly is this guy who knew about it but still threw daggers and hit everything?

 

“What do you mean?”

“That it was enchanted with magic.”

“I just saw it.”

“…You just saw it? No, more than that. You knew it was enchanted with magic and still… you just did it anyway?”

“It doesn’t matter whether it’s enchanted or not.”

“Doesn’t matter?”

“Because I can hit it even if it’s enchanted with magic.”

 

Darren frowned at The Man’s answer.

That face that looked even more handsome in the sunlight outside the stall.

Was that indifferent expression real or fake?

 

‘I didn’t notice it either.’

 

As the head of Rihart, his skills went without saying.

Of course, visually detecting magic enchantments is extremely difficult, so it wasn’t that Darren lacked skill, but…

 

“Are you perhaps a mage?”

“No.”

“But wait a minute.”

 

Darren tilted his head.

 

“Why do you keep speaking informally?”

 

There were very few people in the world who could speak informally to Darren.

That detestable Aimerus Kundel bastard and his own brothers, perhaps?

Since he never met the Emperor in private settings, it was truly a handful of people.

 

“You spoke informally first, so should I speak formally?”

“Of course! I’m…”

“Captain!”

 

Ah.

He was in disguise.

But why was he disguised again?

 

“Ahem. Anyway. You’re not a mage either… I’m just curious.”

“I just saw it. That’s all.”

 

Just as Darren was about to ask again in disbelief.

 

“No, so how exactly did you…”

“Oh my, well well. Isn’t this our Teacher Darren?”

 

The voice of the person he least wanted to see reached his ears.

When he turned his head, he saw that face as expected.

 

“Aimerus.”

“Oh my, weren’t you in disguise? That’s what it looks like?”

 

This damn bastard.

 

“Bringing four guards with you. What is this place, are you under some assassination threat or something?”

“If you’re going to pick a fight, then leave, Eimerus. And assassination threat? To assassinate me, they’d need at least a Specter.”

“Do you think you’d even match up against a Specter? Anyway, a friend was just passing by and greeted you out of joy, was there a need to react so sharply?”

 

That smugly smiling face!

I’ve hated that face since long ago.

 

‘Because of that bastard, I had to come all the way to the Capital.’

 

If only Eimerus hadn’t attended this Exchange Tournament, there would have been no need to come.

 

“What’s this. Target Shooting? Were you watching kids play around?”

“And you, did you grace us with your presence at the Exchange Tournament just to watch kids play around?”

“Do you really think I came here just to watch one Exchange Tournament, friend?”

 

Snicker, Eimerus’s lips curled upward.

Eimerus took a step forward and whispered.

 

“I’m on my way back from an audience with His Majesty the Emperor.”

“…!”

 

When did this bastard so cunningly….

 

“I hear the Empress’s condition has also stabilized considerably recently. Did you find the right medicine?”

 

The guy bragging as if showing off.

 

“Ah, by any chance, didn’t you go?”

“Ahem, ahem. His Majesty will surely summon me soon!”

“Tsk tsk. You should have sent a letter in advance. How can anything come of just waiting like that?”

 

His form of gentle provocation was quite familiar, and Rihart’s Guard Knights behind him let out sighs.

 

‘Today we’ll suffer alone again.’

‘Why does he provoke him like that every time they meet?’

‘This is really driving me crazy….’

 

The old grudge between the two.

No one knows why their relationship is so bad.

According to rumors, they fought over a woman, and that woman is now the wife of one of the two, or so they say.

 

“And that aside, when my precious youngest is participating in the Exchange Tournament, how could I not come?”

“That’s the same for our youngest too.”

“Ah. You mean Celia. Thank heavens she’s pretty since she doesn’t take after her father.”

“What did you say?”

 

Bickering.

Two nobles.

So while a war of words between two Great Family heads was unfolding.

 

‘I made money.’

 

Ziel roughly finished his statement to the Security Guards and counted his money.

Exactly 800 Cel profit.

He had known from their first meeting that they were using trickery.

It wasn’t an action taken for justice.

He just answered because the man next to him was fuming and asked.

Then suddenly, Ziel realized a bit belatedly.

 

‘The scent is similar.’

 

Those two men bickering over there.

Their scent was similar to two students he knew.

Just like Berhal and Locus.

 

‘They were parents.’

 

It wasn’t particularly important.

Anyway, once the Exchange Tournament began in earnest, he’d encounter them again.

More than that….

 

“Over there.”

 

It seemed he should follow this fragrant scent.

He had made money too.

Today he should try enjoying something called gourmet food.

 

“Ahem. So, is your son safe?”

“He’s safe. Why, were you hoping something went wrong?”

“I’m showing concern!”

“When did you ever show concern.”

“You might not know, but Delev is smart.”

“Whose son would that Delev be?”

“Even when I give a compliment….”

“Don’t worry. As soon as I heard the news, I assigned guards to him. I’ve even thought about how to catch and kill whoever it is if they get caught.”

“Hmm. It is a serious matter. No, wait. What was that story from earlier? The Empress’s condition… improved?”

“From what I hear, the Second Prince put in some effort. He even went to the Black Market. Isn’t he the current Empress’s only child?”

“Hmm. That’s good news. His Majesty cherishes the current Empress greatly….”

“Thanks to that, the Second Prince’s side has gained a voice too. The opposing side must be getting a bit anxious.”

 

Among the countless crowds.

Serious and secretive talk that didn’t fit this festive atmosphere at all.

Perhaps it’s precisely because it’s a place like this that they can speak so casually.

The two, as if they had never bickered, seriously exchanging conversation.

Now they finally seemed like heads of Great Families.

 

“So, Eimerus, what do you think?”

“I need to observe for now. It’s not time to choose sides yet. I should move between both sides, listen to their stories, and play my cards right. The moment of choice will come eventually.”

“Hmm.”

 

Then the atmosphere changed again.

 

“By the way, what was up with that person earlier?”

“Who?”

“That young man you were arguing with.”

“Ah.”

 

Daren turned his head.

He wasn’t there.

That handsome fellow was nowhere to be seen.

 

“He was right here.”

“What’s the big deal?”

“Well…”

 

He couldn’t bring himself to say that the guy had hit all the targets he couldn’t hit by himself.

Never to Aimers!

 

“I just asked him something.”

“I see. Oh, right. Do you happen to know Teacher Ziel?”

“Teacher Ziel? Ah. I think my daughter mentioned him.”

“That teacher protected my son. I was on my way to see his face, but there are so many people in this crowd.”

“What’s so great about this teacher?”

“I don’t know. I’ll find out when I meet him. You should hurry and go see your daughter. But what are those guys carrying?”

“Obviously gifts for my daughter! Have you heard of jelly?”

“What’s that. Give me one too.”

“No way.”

 

Rihart’s knights sighed at the sight of the two.

 

‘When will they ever mature.’

 

The people enjoying the festival naturally had no idea.

That around them, the heads of two great families representing the Empire were childishly fighting over jelly.

 

 

The day of the Exchange Tournament dawned.

The Sword School campus looked quite different from yesterday.

The food stalls were operating normally today as well.

But there were less than half the customers compared to yesterday.

This was because the first match of the Exchange Tournament was being held at ‘Black Peak’, not far from Edelwein Academy.

Black Peak.

Part of the ‘Blade Mountain Range’, which could be called a natural fortress that crosses the Empire’s center and defends the capital.

It got its name because the peak appears blacker than other places when viewed from afar.

In reality, it’s used as a traditional exchange tournament venue, and it looks that way because all the trees and grass were cleared for various installations at the summit.

Anyway, the competition was simple.

Six starting points surrounding the peak.

Before the match, the leaders of each team come out and draw lots fairly to determine the starting points.

Once starting points are decided by grade level, they all start simultaneously, and rankings are determined by which grade level gets the majority to the summit first.

 

“All participating students please gather here, and parents who will be going to the summit in advance, please come this way!”

 

The method for spectators to watch this competition was simple.

Go to the summit beforehand in a comfortable way.

Namely, the mountain auto stairs created through magical engineering.

 

Whirrrr…

 

A device that was very wide and stable, automatically taking you to the mountain summit!

Of course, the enormous maintenance costs and frequent breakdowns if not carefully maintained were problems.

 

“Hehe, it’s nice because it’s comfortable.”

“I heard magical engineering is advancing these days, so things like this are possible.”

“Oh, didn’t you know? This was already developed 7 years ago. The Eastern Region is a bit slow with news, isn’t it?”

“Huh, and the person saying that is still wearing strange fur clothing in the Northern Region? That fashion went out of style ages ago.”

 

Nobles engaging in a battle of wits even while going up.

This device was also maintained thanks to these nobles generously pouring in donations.

 

“All spectators have arrived at the summit. I think you can make the opening declaration now.”

 

Berhal nodded and received the torch.

The sword-shaped brazier symbolizing the Sword School’s Exchange Tournament.

A brazier made in the likeness of the sword of Elbat Ansen, the Empire’s guardian knight and the first to receive the title of Imperial Knight—

 

Whoosh!

 

It caught fire.

The students gathered together.

All were filled with tension and determination.

The Exchange Tournament held only once a year.

But an opportunity that doesn’t come to everyone every year.

 

“I wish you all good fortune. Please pour out everything you’ve prepared without reservation, and show us how you work together to overcome difficulties in front of all these people.”

 

Whoosh!

 

Just as the lit brazier began to burn even more fiercely.

 

“I declare this year’s Exchange Tournament open.”

 

The Exchange Tournament had begun.

 

“Representatives from each grade level, step forward.”

 

Professor Elcanto, who was overseeing the proceedings, gathered the leaders with an unusually solemn expression rarely seen from him.

Leaders from first through fifth years drew lots in order to receive their assigned starting points.

 

“We got Point B.”

“That’s not bad, right? I heard it’s a bit rough, but the actual distance to the summit is the second shortest.”

 

The leaders returned with their assigned points.

The atmosphere wasn’t bad.

Except for the First Years.

 

“…We got Point D?”

“That’s what happened!”

“Damn it, of all the lots to draw…”

 

Point D.

The point that leads to the so-called ‘Death Course.’

Quantus was grinning cheerfully, oblivious to the situation.

Of all courses to draw, it had to be the most difficult one!

 

‘We’re screwed.’

‘We’re just First Years…’

 

Someone thought this way.

 

‘Maybe this is actually good? Even if we come in last, we can just say we lost because the course was difficult…’

 

But then.

 

“Point D, I see.”

 

Ziel approached.

 

“Teacher.”

“I heard it’s a difficult course.”

 

The First Years fell silent.

Ziel asked Quantus.

 

“What do you think, ‘Leader’?”

 

Quantus’s head shot up at the word ‘Leader.’

His heart was pounding!

 

“I think it actually worked out well. No one will bother keeping us in check!”

 

What was happening here.

Quantus was saying something unexpectedly insightful.

 

“Most importantly, if we overcome the difficult course and make it up, we’ll earn even more recognition!”

 

Simple-mindedness sometimes makes one face situations head-on.

And another thing.

 

“And the D Course comes with bonus points too!”

 

Bonus points!

The more difficult courses are given some bonus points.

If the records are similar, those who passed the D Course would get higher scores.

 

“You’re right, student Quantus Hopel.”

 

Ziel looked at the First Years.

 

“Do as you’ve learned, as you’ve trained.”

 

Quantus suddenly pounded his chest.

 

“Just trust me!”

 

Would it be okay.

Celia looked at Ziel with a hint of anxiety.

Ziel responded calmly as if answering her concern.

 

“When the match begins, don’t hesitate. A moment’s hesitation determines success or failure.”

 

Replace ‘operation’ with match.

Replace ‘life and death’ with success and failure.

These are words that assassins always keep in their hearts.

The students who heard these words nodded inwardly.

 

‘As expected, don’t doubt the leader!’

‘Let’s trust Quantus. Though trusting his muscles might be better…’

 

Amid all this, Ziel made another declaration.

 

“You will win.”

 

The atmosphere that had grown gloomy from drawing the difficult course suddenly began to ignite.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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