10 Infiltrating the Noble's Manor

I threw the body of the guard inside the door before closing it again.

When I opened the door to look at his state, the body became of holes, and a stinking burnt smell wafted from him.

That's too nasty. If I went in earlier, that's the fate I would have.

Ah. I didn't even think about how I used a dead guy's body that I killed as a tool. Hopefully Yuko won't think badly of me because of this.

Gulping down my saliva. I tested and closed the door again.

It's better to make sure that it will only happen once. Well, it's my enhanced clarity that was making me more cautious than normal. I guess this is good too. I might make a risky decision if not for my higher than normal intelligence. I should thank the Principal exposing me to that Pocket Dimension.

Opening the door for the 3rd time, the body of the guard I threw was still in the same condition. No added holes nor further burns.

Slowly stepping inside. I made sure not to step on that corpse. I feel sorry for him but yeah, he's an enemy. The way he brandished his sword towards me earlier was intended to kill me, an unknown outsider.

I walked in and hid on some tall hedge to observe the full view of this noble manor.

Comparing this Manor Grounds to those I've seen back on Earth. This one is much more luxurious. And this is just a Noble House's manor near the border of the Kingdom.

There's a huge ass fountain in the middle and 4 flower fields surrounding it, housing different types of flowers. Then surrounding those fields were a line of identical trees making the scenery have some sort of symmetry.

Past that fountain and fields was the main manor. And then there were two auxiliary manors on its side.

Where would I search for Reinys and the other two?

Ah. Reinys is a princess. But if this whole House already betrayed the Kingdom, they won't give her special treatment, right?

I have nothing on me. Damn. I can only boast about my enhanced clarity but tools to look for them, I have none.

Will I have to check each room one by one? There will surely be Knights inside the manor patrolling it.

And where could Yuko be? She said she was in a room that can be considered a prison. It's already a wonder why she didn't resist. Does she have a plan? Maybe. She has 3 years of experience, the same thing probably happened before already. Let's hope it's like that.

Ah. No use thinking about it and wasting time here. I'll think on the way.

I quietly moved and avoided that fountain. There were servant houses at the side. Maybe I'll start there.

Being a noble manor, servant houses are even bigger than those houses outside. What made me determine they're for servants was because of how different the roofs were compared to the other structures attached next to the main and auxiliary manors.

Let's see. If they separated them from each other. Noelle will be the most helpless, but because of that, at least Caila will protest to let them be together. Reinys, I don't really have a good impression of her but seeing how the others acted towards her, there's more to her than what I knew. Maybe she's with them.

Arriving next to a servant house, I quietly went into the window to take a peek inside.

Like those from outside the manor, the servants that're supposed to be inside were nowhere to be seen.

I then moved to the next houses and it's the same.

Finally, I arrived next to the auxiliary manor. And for the first time, I heard activity inside.

There's someone talking but the voice was hoarse.

Where did I hear this kind of voice before? It's familiar.

Ah. Those Dark Soldiers. From those grunts chasing me.

Something really happened and it's not just a House betraying the Kingdom. It could be more than that.

"The human citizens apart from those not influenced by us were gathered at the square. You, send a squad and capture those staying at the inn."

This time, the voice is quite clear. It could be someone like that Dark Soldier Leader. A Great-class Dark Soldier.

I should be careful now. I won't be able to run if that Great-class discovered me. I'm still a weak monkey. 

"What about the Hero and her party?"

Another hoarse voice belonging to a Dark Soldier.

I need to hear this one. To know where to look for Reinys and company.

I slowed my breathing and stuck close to the wall.

"The Hero vanished from her room. The other three, they were detained by the Priest and the Lady."

"Shouldn't we kill them now?"

"We can't yet. We're here to solidify our hold on this region. Those assigned to the other countries are doing the same. This is all according to the Great One's instructions. We only obey, not question."

"Y-yes!"

After their discussion, they dispersed and some even left the manor, heading towards the Manor Gate.

I see. So they're gonna attack those at the inn. It's a good thing that we alerted them. The mercenaries won't be a problem as well, with promised reward from the Hero, they'll obey the soldiers' instructions.

Ah. They'll see that corpse at the side door! I better move before they become alerted.

That guy said Reinys and company were detained by the Priest and the Lady. The latter was talking about yhe acting head right now but who's the former? In any case, they were surely detained at the main manor.

As long as I don't meet someone at the Great-class, I will be fine. Hopefully. With only 2 usable skills. I must be some brave guy to think of storming that manor alone.

That guy said that Yuko vanished. That doesn't mean she's really gone. She told me she will handle the strange occurrence. She always had the means to escape so most possibly she will head to that City Square. 

I should wait until she shows up and causes a stir before infiltrating the main manor. The Hero is a bigger threat than a Support Character like me after all.

It will be a few minutes from now before those who went to the gate see the corpse and run back to report a possible infiltration. So yeah, I need to be somewhere they won't see.

And there's no better place than the place they were just in.

Making sure first that the Great-class already left. I quietly opened the door.

This is the auxiliary manor. I was greeted by a large hall and there were stairs leading towards the 2nd floor. If this was not placed at the side of the main manor, people will think that this is the main one just looking at how extravagant looking the design is.

But tonight. This huge hall was desolate. Apart from some damage here and there along the walls and floors and also splattered bloods that dried up all over this hall, there's nothing else to see.

There was a door leading to the main manor at the other end of this auxiliary manor. I should hide near that so when the commotion started, I will only need to traverse a short walk before I could infiltrate the main hall.

Slowly again and making sure that my steps wouldn't be heard, I moved to the corridor at the right. This way will lead me to the main manor. After passing 3 doors, I was met with a crossroad. The left one will lead me further inside this manor while continuing straight will lead to that door to the main manor.

The Great-class probably went to the main manor. I'll have to hide somewhere so I guess I should explore this manor first.

Turning to the left, I could hear activity further in. There were four doors before I reached a wide area where the activity I heard was.

From where I was, I could see that the area looked like a kitchen.

I tried to open the door to my left but it's locked.

If someone suddenly decided to walk out of that area, I will be in his full view. Looks like my decision to make the turn is backfiring on me.

I turned to the door on my right.

With a sound of something like a click, the door opened. The interior was dark because of lack of lighting. Ah. I'm not afraid of the dark but not knowing what's inside is making me think twice.

Suddenly, sounds of footsteps rang from the wide area.

Welp, now I don't have a choice.

There's no disturbance yet, so hiding here is probably the best for now.

Plunging myself into the dark room, I quietly closed the door behind me.

Why didn't I choose a torch spell?

This is an oversight. I thought too much about choosing my spells. I shouldn't have held myself back.

I was sighing in frustration when a chill ran from my spine.

Then a cold feeling of something touched my neck.

"Who are you? Why are you here?"

Ah. So this cold thing is a sharp weapon aimed at my throat. How unlucky.

But the voice isn't the same hoarse voice. Is the owner of this voice also hiding here? Probably.

Thoughts continued running inside my head despite the danger I'm currently facing. This Adaptability. I'm more scared of my ability now than this dangerous feeling.

Concentrating my mind to the intention sent along with that questioning voice, I noticed a hint of anxiety from it.

"Someone not from this world. I noticed something strange in this city so I took a look."

The thing on my neck is still there but it somehow loosened a bit. The hand holding was shaking.

"Why are you this calm? Aren't you afraid I will slit your throat?"

"Lady, I don't know who you are but you're more afraid than me."

Right, I couldn't be wrong with that voice. It belonged to someone young, maybe at the same age as me and Yuko. Plus her slender arm that I could somehow see the silhouette by being accustomed to this darkness.

"You're not influenced by them?"

"I wouldn't be hiding myself in this dark room if I was."

She's probably a part of this Noble House. By influence, it looks like some sort of brainwashing. I could be wrong but that's the closest theory I could come up right now.

"Can I trust you?"

"You can't. And I also can't trust you with this thing on my neck."

Her trembling visibly increased but she didn't remove it.

"I'm…"

"You don't need to say it. I could guess. If you want to live, what about working together?"

"Who are you, really?"

"Me? I'm just a Support Character."