That library [3]

Lying on my bed, I was holding a wooden face mask in my hand. It was the mask I bought to give as a gift to Carol, but in the end, I never had a chance to do it.

It was almost morning as the sun rays were coming inside the room through the windows.

I was still thinking about what happened last night.

That library!

What was it?

It sure exists, it was not a dream or illusion. What I saw, felt, and experienced was real. There's no denying it.

After Alicia told me that she gave me the wrong path and the library is on the third floor not the second, at first I was a little scared because at that time I had just come out of that place. It was like a scene from a third-rate horror movie.

When Alicia left, I went to that room to check but what I found was nothing but a regular guest room.

It was not even a library, just a normal room.

Then I went to the library on the third floor, the real one. I cross-checked the information I got from the books in that library and it was the same. The maps, the name of countries, everything I read there was here as well, though the books were different.

I was also thinking about that spirit girl, when I first saw her, I had my doubts but this was the last thing I expected. After that, I came straight to my room.

For the moment I decided to not tell anyone about it, I will investigate this but not now. I got what I wanted from there and for now, it's enough.

It's almost morning, I will pretty soon get the answer on whether the plan I suggested will be used or not.

I'm confident that it will be a green flag but if by any chance it got rejected I'll have to shift to plan B.

Though I don't want to go that way since Aki said to not use violence as much as possible but…If everything fails I'll have to do it anyway.

And he said to use violence as less as possible; he never said I can't use violence.

—Knock —Knock

Someone knocked on the door, maybe it's time.

I used dimensional magic and put the mask I was holding in a pocket dimension through a small portal.

I stood up and walked towards the door, on opening the door I saw a maid was there. She told me that Zen has called me and then left.

I was called to the same room I discussed my plan with Zen, the one which looked like a meeting room.

I wore my dark blue cloak and left my room.

I reached where I was called and there were guards outside, there was a total of ten of them, with metal armor and spear.

I opened the door and stepped in; Zen and Mary were there, as well as some unknown faces also.

Some of them were ministers I saw in the throne room, there was one other person who was not sitting on the chairs but was standing on the right side of the room.

Black hair and brown eyes, his body is slightly on the skinny side, from the looks he was a boy in his teens. That is if you ignore the armor he was wearing and a long red spear he had on his back.

I quietly entered the room and stopped a few steps before the table.

'It looks like they have made a decision, huh,' I thought to myself.

"Haruto, after all the discussion, we all have come to the decision that we will not engage in a war with the demon kingdom," said Zen, he was speaking just like a king should.

"Knowing that the whole world will be dragged into a great war just because of our country's affairs is too much of a burden to bear," one of the ministers said.

It went just as I wanted! But there's something odd about this…I don't know but this kind of feels unreal.

I mean, won't the ministers object to this? Technically I'm saying them to not attack the country whose citizen killed their king!

Well, maybe I manipulated Zen too much?

For the moment I decided to not question this because things were going in my favor.

"What about the assassination plan?" I asked.

"About that, well for that reason I have summoned him, he will be the part of the team we will send for the mission," Zen said while looking towards the boy who was standing.

"His name is Ard, he's an S rank adventurer," a minister who was sitting near me said.

S rank! This kid is S rank?

No seriously, he looks like he is 14 or 15 years old!

"YOU ARE THINKING HOW A KID LIKE ME CAN BE S RANK RIGHT!!" he shouted at me.

"Calm down Ard! Haruto, despite his age, he's a very skilled adventurer. We can count on him," said Zen.

"So, you mentioned a team, right? Who else is in this team?" I asked.

"Just you and Ard, since this is an assassination mission we are not sending a big team."

"Me? I'm also going for it?"

"You said you also wanted revenge right? And you are skilled enough to go on this mission," said Zen with a smile on his face.

"Zen…Thank you very much for allowing me to do this," I thanked him by bowing.

Of course, this was an act; I knew from the start that if he accepts my plan he will be sending me. To confirm it, I told him my fake sad story to gain his sympathy, and the fight with Alicia also came in handy because even the ministers got a glimpse of my power from it.

"So what about the plan we'll use?" I asked.

"Ard, if you would."

"Yes, your majesty."

He (Ard) came near the table and placed a map on it, it was a world map. After that, he explained the strategy.

I was listening quietly because I already had a plan of my own but I decided to listen anyway.

After listening to his explanation, I concluded that his strategy was almost similar to mine.

It was like this: we use one of the trade routes to sneak inside the kingdom as traveling traders, secure a temporary business as traders for a few days, sneak into the demon lord's castle after that and assassinate Hanako.

It was a good plan but it was not good enough. There was a need for some changes.

I pointed toward a certain region on the map and said, "Won't it be better if we use this route which goes within the mountain valley? The chances of us getting caught will be low and since the village, this route connects to is not much popular for trade so we will have a reason why we came to the demon kingdom to settle a business."

"Hmm, you are certainly right about that. But there will be a risk of local thugs and criminals in the valley," Ard objected while scratching his head.

"We are going to assassinate a demon lord! Will local thugs be much of a threat?" I said, slightly mocking Ard.

"Yeah you are right; we can deal with them easily."

"Then it's decided, we'll use this route. Haruto, are you alright with this plan?" said Zen, looking toward me.

"Yes! It's totally fine by me, you are allowing me to go on this mission, I can't ask for more."

Okay, everything is in place.

The main difference between the plan I made and the one I suggested was that in my plan I will be the only one going inside the demon kingdom.

I suggest using the mountain valley route because it's important for what I'm going to do.

I'll go with Ard for this mission but in the mountain valley, I will create an artificial landslide and knock him unconscious. I'll put him to sleep with drugs and then sneak into the kingdom by myself.

Demon kingdom doesn't allow humans inside but that doesn't apply to me. Since I'm a demon, going inside will be a piece of cake. After that, it's just a day's work.

No need to waste a week to secure a business.

"Okay, Haruto, Ard, you can take your leave. You both will be leaving for the mission the day after tomorrow," said Zen.

My eyes meet Ard, but I ignored him and left the room.

"Why day after tomorrow!" I mumbled to myself as I walked into the hallway.

Come to think of it, I haven't seen Jessica since I arrived here.