# Cecilia Saten's Revenge (1)
No matter how much a knight order is in decline, it's still a knight order.
The fact that they once guarded the Emperor doesn't change, so to infiltrate, I need to prepare perfectly.
For example...
Just like right now.
"Tell me everything you know about the Black Crow Knights."
"Kek- I, I'm retired...! Why are you suddenly showing up and causing a scene...!! Who are you...!!"
A middle-aged man whose neck is caught in my hand.
His name is Bison or Basson or something.
Anyway, he's the vice-commander who belonged to the Cecilia Knights.
I loosened my grip on his neck and spoke.
"You don't need to know my name. Just tell me information about the knight order. If you tell me everything you know, I'll at least spare your life."
"D-do you even know what time it is...? Kek... Ugh... And why are you so damn strong..."
Ptui-
Bison spat on the floor and sat down on a nearby chair.
He rubbed his neck as if it hurt and opened his mouth.
"...How did you know I was here?"
"It's an ordinary house in the capital. Same with the people living around here. The kids in the neighborhood told me you live here."
"Ah shit, shouldn't have given them bread. Why'd they have to go blabbing about unnecessary things."
"Cut the nonsense and tell me the information you have about the knight order."
I glared at Bison to pressure him.
However, he only flinched slightly.
He wasn't feeling fear.
*Did he notice I won't kill him?*
Is he the quick-witted type?
Then he must also know how he should act toward me.
As I expected, Bison seemed to have roughly figured it out and nodded with anxious eyes.
"...You really won't kill me if I tell you the information?"
"Depends on your answer."
"That's harsh. I finally retired from that garbage knight order. I came out with all my money stripped away, so I guess it doesn't matter. Keep it secret that I told you, got it?"
Bison stood up from the chair and slowly approached me.
He seemed to be rolling his eyes looking for an opening, but soon realized his thoughts were foolish and gave up.
Since he was someone who rose to vice-commander of the knights, I couldn't show any openings.
"Stop thinking useless thoughts and speak quickly."
"Ahem, so what information do you want? How can I give it to you if you just ask for information without specifics?"
"Write it down."
I pulled out a sheet of paper from my pocket.
It was a map with the Cecilia family estate drawn on it.
I tossed him an ink pen he could use to write the details.
"Write down the personnel deployment, times, movement routes, and ranks based on recent information. I already know some information, so if you try any tricks, I'll kill you."
Of course, it's a lie.
Actually, I don't know anything about personnel deployment.
Originally, I planned to get information from that guy who had his arm cut off by the Head of Family, but...
*I never thought he'd suddenly die...*
I had no choice but to ask a retired knight.
Bison, wanting to preserve his life, quickly began writing information on the map.
I asked him something I was slightly curious about.
"By the way, why are you so desperate about your life?"
"Is there anyone who isn't desperate about their life? After I finally retired from that beggar-like knight order... I can't die from some evening attack like this, that's what I'm saying. And you don't plan to kill me if I tell the truth anyway, right? In times like these, you have to act wisely."
Wisely, huh.
He didn't become vice-commander for nothing.
Bison's appearance of using his head to preserve his life was quite impressive.
*Still, if he lies, I plan to kill him.*
My plan involves the Hero Party's lives too, so if he tries to be clever unnecessarily, I can't forgive him.
"Can you not glare at me with such scary eyes? I'm so scared my hands won't move."
"..."
"Ah, fine. You don't understand jokes. I'll write it quickly, so spare me. I've retired now. I want to live quietly."
Bison said that and wrote down information while retracing his memories.
I monitored him while lost in thought for a moment.
Bison, who finished all his work, retired, and lives quietly.
Why is he still alive even though he's finished everything he had to do?
"...I don't quite understand."
"What?"
"Nothing."
I couldn't understand his way of thinking.
Perhaps I'd already come too far, unable to return.
Late dawn.
A time when crows are invisible in the darkness and owls are active.
We finished all our preparations and gathered at the entrance.
"You're all prepared, right?"
"Yees, all done! I have my sword here, and the Holy Sword in my heart! Should I show you?"
"...No, there's no need for that."
Luna finished all her preparations.
"Hare and Saten... I won't bother checking you two."
Hare has a meticulous personality to begin with, and Saten must have been waiting only for today.
There's no way they prepared sloppily.
Now the last one remaining is Estia...
I called out to Estia, whose head was swaying in the wind.
"Estia."
"Huh? O-Oppa...?"
"...You're all prepared, right?"
"Of course..."
...Answering with such sleepy eyes.
I can't trust her at all.
I approached Estia and checked her belongings.
In her pocket were emergency holy water and healing tools.
And in her bag...
"A pillow?"
"I'm sleepy... so just in case, I packed one..."
"Leave this behind."
"U-uah...!"
I pulled the pillow out of the bag and tossed it.
Estia was devastated, but I didn't care.
Since there wouldn't be any moments to sleep anyway, that was close to useless garbage at the estate.
"If you finish today's work, I'll let you sleep all day. Sleep later, Estia."
"Mmm... Since it's Oppa saying it, I'll specially do that... Yawn... Let's hurry. I'm sleepy..."
"Alright."
I put Estia on my back to move quickly.
In that state, it seemed like we'd arrive after sunrise.
"..."
"Special treatment... isn't it..."
Luna and Hare made expressions full of complaints.
But since there wasn't even time to ask, I decided to quickly head to the Cecilia estate.
Before morning comes.
We had to finish everything.
"Mister."
On the way to the Cecilia family estate.
Saten suddenly called out to me.
Is she getting nervous now that the moment of revenge is approaching?
"What is it, Saten?"
"The thing I've been looking forward to is about to actually happen. It's a strange feeling."
Heart pounding, body heating up, feeling like floating in the air.
But Saten's expression didn't look very good.
"But you know what? I think I'm anxious."
"Anxious? What part are you anxious about? The plan was perfectly-"
"No, I'm not anxious about the plan. I'm anxious about myself."
Saten moved her feet quickly and let out a sigh.
Rather than being nervous, something seemed to be bothering her.
I opened my mouth to ease Saten's mind.
"Saten, it's okay. Your magic skills have grown a lot, and the magic you've been researching will bear fruit. Don't worry."
"...I appreciate the words. But my heart is still heavy."
So it's not about her skills either.
I couldn't quite understand what kind of feelings Saten currently had.
She's heading to the estate for the revenge she's waited and waited for.
Why is Saten making that expression?
I couldn't understand it at all.
"Wait, everyone stop. Estia, you get down from my back too."
"...Huh?"
"Wipe your drool, Estia. And hurry up and get off Mister's back."
Whoosh-
Hare, not very... carefully, helped Estia down from my back.
Leaning against the wall leading to the estate.
I checked the number of knights at the main gate.
*Four total.*
Just as written on the paper.
Vice-commander Bison gave accurate information.
Though he was in the Black Crow Knights for a long time, his loyalty must have been worn down enough at the end to easily hand over information.
I carefully looked away from the main gate.
"We can't cause a commotion at the main gate, so let's not do Plan A. Any objections?"
Plan A is to carefully enter through the main gate.
But I have no choice but to change the plan.
However, Hare shook her head as if that wasn't necessary.
"N-no. Mister... I don't think we need to go around."
"Then, are you saying we should break through head-on?"
"That's not it. Those knights look weak... So... I'll handle them..."
Shing-
Hare pulled out two daggers from her pocket.
Hare's two red pupils reflected in the daggers flowing with moonlight.
*Confidence is good, but... the risk is high...*
Just as I was debating whether to trust Hare or not.
Minerva's helping hand unfolded before my eyes.
[Hero Party's Thief Hare. The real combat of a thief who grew for 2 years. Will Jun-woo trust the thief?]
[1. Trust her.]
[2. Don't trust her.]
A plan where the first start could determine the end.
In this situation, what choice should I make?
*The risk is high. I need to save the choices for fighting the Demon King too...*
Still.
It would be better to check the answer for trusting her.
*Number 1.*
I decided to check the answer for trusting her once.
"Mister trusted me..."
This is a chance to look good to Mister.
Hare put on her hood and headed to the main gate.
Limp- limp-
Midway, she changed her gait and acted like an injured person.
"Huh, someone's coming?"
"It's a woman. An injured woman at that."
"...Should we radio that we saw someone?"
The lowest rank of the Black Crow Knights.
The sailor on a sinking ship shook his head.
"No way. Let's have her take off her hood and decide then."
"If she's ugly, we radio, and if she's pretty..."
"Don't radio. We'll handle it ourselves."
The Black Crow Knights who lost their dignity.
They weren't on a sinking ship for nothing.
They themselves were the sunken people.
That's why they were still alive as sailors.
Hare walked toward them, limping slowly.
And when she arrived there, she muttered in a fragile, pitiful voice.
"E-excuse me... P-please help me... I was attacked and my leg..."
"Nice voice-"
"No~ Ignore that guy! Just speak comfortably to me~! Haha!"
The low-rank knight with a bright smile.
To him, trying his best to seem like a good person, Hare answered pitifully.
"I-I was going home late at night because I had work to do... B-bad guys attacked me... I hurt my leg... In this state, I can't even go home..."
"...You had work to do late at night?"
"Y-yes... It's my job..."
At Hare's words, the low-rank knight smiled vilely inside.
*An injured woman who works at night... This is good.*
A low social class.
That means no consequences no matter what he does.
The low-rank knight who fell for Hare's lure smiled and asked one last question.
"We want to help you~ But since we're the prestigious Black Crow Knights, we need to verify your identity~ Could you take off your hood and show us your face?"
"...Yes, okay."
Hare naturally removed the hood covering her face.
Even on a dark night where faces aren't clearly visible, the low-rank knights couldn't help but be surprised.
*...High-grade. No, top-grade.*
White skin reflected in the moonlight and a delicate appearance that stimulates protective instincts.
Red eyes shining dangerously in contrast.
Had they ever seen such a beautiful woman before their eyes?
The low-rank knights welcomed Hare with bright smiles.
"Identity verification is complete and your leg is injured, so we'll guide you inside~! Haha!"
One of the low-rank knights escorted Hare and guided her inside.
Hare was instantly surrounded by four men.
The man leading Hare at the front couldn't overcome his desires and tried to slightly grab Hare's waist.
However.
"...Disgusting."
"A-aaah...!!"
His hand that tried to grab Hare rolled on the ground.
An opportunity to gather four people in one place and get close.
Hare endured their disgusting gazes and acted for this very moment.
"A-alert those above-"
"No. Sound can't leak out."
This is the opportunity Mister gave me.
This is the plan Mister carefully prepared.
Everything must flow as Mister wants.
That's the truth I know.
"I can't let you guys stop that."
Hare gripped the daggers in reverse and dealt with them one by one in order.
The man whose hand was cut off got a dagger in his heart.
The man going to radio got a dagger in his head.
The remaining dagger went into the head of the fleeing man.
And with her bare hands, she took the neck of the man who drew his sword.
Crack-
"Disgusting eyes... If it's not Mister, I don't need eyes of desire like that..."
I didn't plan to kill them.
But you guys chose death.
Hare appropriately disposed of those four corpses in a place where Mister's eyes couldn't see.
"It's a blind spot inside... so Mister probably didn't see well...?"
Then, as if nothing happened.
She approached Mister with a smile, who was waiting for the operation to end.
"M-Mister. I handled everything. We can go in now. Hehe..."
Hare said while hiding the blood-soaked daggers behind her back.
Lee Jun-woo saw Hare's correct answer that he'd seen once before again.
But unfortunately, the solution process Hare showed that his eyes saw
was only a very small part.