Chapter 68 - Episode 11: "Everything Blew Up"
I am in high spirits! It is Violia!
Right now, in front of my eyes is Onii-sama! Onii-sama is here!
"Is this... a dream?"
"A dream? You say strange things, Violia."
Onii-sama said that and laughed, then suddenly cast his gaze around.
...Did we draw a little bit of attention?
"Hmm. ...Since we're here, Violia. Let us dance one song."
Immediately, Onii-sama said that and took my hand, then quickly pulled me toward a place with fewer people. In short, it's the common tactic of moving naturally while pretending to dance.
...Or so I thought, but since the next song that started was a slightly short one, I decided to dance one song as we were.
People who are in the middle of dancing often only see their partner's face, so it's a perfect way to hide.
"No arrangements, right?"
"Of course. If we were to dance seriously, we would draw the attention of everyone in this dance hall."
While feeling the presence of Doran and Keeb performing their street-performance-like dance over there again, we dance quite normally.
Once we start dancing, we can move while taking appropriate steps, and we can talk while dancing.
"Onii-sama, why are you here? What have you been doing until now?"
"To explain that, there is somewhat insufficient time. Well, I can only say I've been moving around here and there."
Here and there, is it? ...I suppose one of those places was the port of Elsemarin.
"...To put it simply, I am currently gathering personnel for the Revolutionary Army."
...That is quite a romantic story, isn't it?
"You know that the Fortesia mansion was set on fire, right?"
"Yes. I returned home then."
At that time... I really didn't know what to do at all. I feel like I understood the meaning of the words 'at a loss' for the first time.
"At that time, I, Father, and Mother immediately escaped the mansion. To make it seem like we died in the fire, we waited until the fire had spread sufficiently and then used the mansion's... you know, the secret passage in the back of the fireplace. We used that to go outside."
Ah, so it was that after all. Well, I thought it would be something like that.
"However, after that, it was necessary to let people think we were dead. Father and Mother have already gone abroad. And I have been secretly making preparations to overturn this country from its foundations. ...Because of that, I left you alone. I am sorry."
"No! Not at all! Just being able to meet you again like this is enough!"
I didn't think you were dead anyway! If you died just because the mansion burned, you wouldn't be calling yourself a Fortesia!
"You know, Onii-sama? I am also doing various things right now."
"Yes, I know. When you stood on the execution block, I was watching too."
Oh, you were watching!? ...That is a little embarrassing!
"Also, the mass murder of nobles in Elsemarin was you, wasn't it?"
"Yes. That's right! Also, the uproar over Fruitier's downfall! ...That's right, Onii-sama! Please come to Elsemarin! That place is my town now!"
"As expected of my sister. I am proud of you, Violia."
Ah, I am so happy! To think I would receive words of praise! It was worth living a life of secret revenge until today!
"...And so, Onii-sama."
"What is it?"
Just as the song was nearing its end, I tell Onii-sama what I must convey.
"This venue will be blown away along with our retreat."
"What a coincidence! I have also already planted gunpowder in the venue!"
...Yes.
And so, I am going around the venue while balancing the maximum possible speed with behavior that won't seem suspicious.
Why did I end up having to rush like this!? It is naturally because Onii-sama said things like 'What a coincidence!'
According to Onii-sama's story! Gunpowder is already planted in this venue! And it's going to go boom at Onii-sama's signal!
What a truly well-prepared Onii-sama! He is quite different from me, who thought it would be fine to just set some fires with fire magic and have the muscular wolf break a few pillars!
"Ah, young lady! Where were you!"
"I was dancing for a bit!"
And just in time, it seems Giovan had returned!
"Dancing? With whom? Even though you have me?"
"It was Onii-sama!"
Without even playing hard to get, I told Giovan, who had turned a half-joking, sullen gaze toward me! Instantly, the joke and the smile vanished from Giovan's face, and he was left with nothing but a look of pure surprise!
"...Onii-sama? Eh? The one who was laughing while swinging a steel pipe at the port?"
"Yes! And that Onii-sama! Intends to blow up this venue! In 30 minutes!"
"Wait a minute. I don't understand at all."
Onii-sama said, 'I will give the signal in 30 minutes. Finish your business and escape by then'! Apparently, 30 minutes is the limit for Onii-sama's side! In that case, I cannot get in his way! I shall settle things within exactly 30 minutes and escape quickly!
"Anyway! We are also retreating immediately! There is no time! We shall snatch what we need to snatch and escape!"
There isn't even time for explanations! I am going now!
The target is Princess Scola! The fiancée of Fawn Tart Hornbone! And the perfect bait!
Once it's decided that what happens afterward doesn't matter, and that the place can just blow up and turn to dust, I shall carry out the kidnapping with an emphasis on efficiency, regardless of appearances!
Waiting for the moment when Princess Scola was near the wall with her entourage of noble daughters, Giovan bumped into a waiter and made him drop the glasses from his tray.
The dropped glasses hit the dress of one of the Princess's entourage. Naturally, the drink spilled and stained it.
The entourage girl screamed and was indignant about her dress being stained, and the other young ladies made a fuss around her. Meanwhile, Princess Scola was flustered and alone by the wall.
Naturally, everyone's eyes were on the entourage group making a scene. It was easy to quickly stuff the Princess into the bag!
After stuffing the Princess into the bag, I leave the spot as if nothing had happened. Pickpocketing techniques were useful. Oh, by the way, these pickpocketing techniques were taught to me by Onii-sama. When I was little. Ohohoho.
I put the Princess in the bag, but for everyone who doesn't think a human could possibly fit in a bag, they have no choice but to think the Princess suddenly vanished.
Naturally, the Princess's guards were nearby, but while they were surprised by the Princess's sudden disappearance and immediately began searching for her... I was completely left alone, so I was able to leave the spot quickly.
"I've kept you waiting. I've captured the target."
"Mm. Good work. Well, I've also been doing a bit here and there, so let's check the bag later."
Oh, he's quite capable too, isn't he? ...Likely, the two branch-house Hornbones Giovan ended up talking to, and perhaps Fawn Tart Hornbone as well, are in the bag by now...
"Is there anyone else you want to snatch?"
"Hmm... ah, there's a mark over there."
Just as a bonus, I quickly put a noble who was in an easy-to-snatch position into the bag.
"Ah, over there too."
Furthermore, I also put a couple who were by the wall into the bag.
"I wonder if the balcony is a good spot?"
As expected, there were plenty of masked couples whispering words of love for one night only on the balcony, avoiding public gaze, so I put a few in the bag with the feeling of having a little snack.
"...Young lady, you're quite something."
"This place is going to be blown up anyway. Everyone who was here will be missing, so it's all-you-can-snatch."
If they're going to die, it's better to have them sold. Since it would be a waste, I fill the bag with humans as much as I can without being found out!
...And so, I ended up using quite a bit of time. There are less than 10 minutes left.
"Hmm... in the end, they weren't here."
But I couldn't fulfill one more objective. Well, it can't be helped.
"What?"
"I wanted to snatch the Clarino lot if they were here, but it seems they haven't come today."
"Ah, the part about the branch house young master's disappearance? They seem busy with that."
That's right. If Hornbone and Clarino had both fallen into slavery here at once, it would have been the most fun... well, as expected, it's not that easy.
The Clarino lot are haughty and stiff to begin with. They don't really come to these kinds of vulgar places...
It seems there are many middle and lower-class nobles here. In this case, it's rather strange that the heir of House Hornbone is in a place like this.
So, I'm already thinking about retreating. There's no time. It's down to the wire.
"Well, it's fine. I've captured what I needed to. After that... I'd like to give a retreat signal to Doran and the others once."
"Right. ...But, to get close to them, it's right in the middle of the room."
...Terrifyingly.
It seems their stamina is inexhaustible.
They are still dancing away, both of them. And with that flashy performance, to fulfill their mission of keeping the audience's gaze fixed on them.
Both of them were in high demand from other young ladies and gentlemen midway through, but since both of them are completely hopeless at normal dancing, they naturally ended up back where they started: their two-person street performance...
"If we walk up to that, won't we stand out?"
"Indeed. Then, let's give up on the signal and..."
I was going to say, let's have them deal with it the moment the explosion happens. But.
"No. There's a way to approach naturally, isn't there, young lady? What do you think I'm here for?"
Giovan is looking strangely smirking and happy...
"Actually, I wanted to invite you before your big brother. ...May I have this dance? Young lady."
...
Well, fine.
As soon as we started dancing, I felt a strange sensation.
Giovan's movements didn't seem like those of a commoner unaccustomed to dancing.
The steps were a bit classical, but if I added arrangements, he would handle them, and how should I put it... yes, he was a worthy opponent. Yes. It's a strange feeling.
"Do you have experience with dancing?"
"Well, a bit. ...There, young lady. A bit more that way."
While dancing, we successfully approached Doran and Keeb. Since those two had switched to more modest movements after seeing us approach (though Keeb was still flying through the air), it was easy to get close.
"We are retreating. Onii-sama is going to blow up and burn the venue, so retreat with plenty of time to spare."
"Brother? ...Well, fine. Understood."
Since there isn't enough time or leeway to explain the details, we just move away naturally while dancing again... and the moment the song ends, we beat a hasty retreat!
I made the signal to Onii-sama very simple.
It was 'the destruction of the chandelier.' If the chandelier shattered, that would be the signal that we had retreated.
Doran and Keeb are also subtly heading toward the balcony in a distant spot. They look like they're saying, 'It's getting a bit hot, shall we cool off?' but after this, those two will just jump off the balcony immediately, pick up Chesta who's waiting outside, and make a grand escape. Yes.
"Are you ready? There is no time."
"Do it anytime."
With Giovan's approval, I gently fanned the chandelier with wind magic.
Since it's magic at a level I can use, it's just a weak wind, but I repeat it rhythmically, over and over.
...Then, the swaying of the chandelier gradually grew larger, and a few nobles began to notice the abnormality.
But it is already too late.
The thin metal support holding the chandelier finally couldn't take it anymore and snapped.
...Then, naturally, the chandelier fell... and with a thunderous sound, it shattered on the floor.
There might have been some slowpokes who were crushed under it, but I don't have the leeway to check!
"Let's go!"
"Eh, we're hurrying that much?"
I leave this place at full speed! Giovan seems a bit bewildered, but there's no time for bewilderment!
We quickly leave the dance hall, pass through the reception where they're wondering what happened, and keep running further and further away...
...And then, suddenly.
A hot wind and impact, followed by the sound of an explosion, attacked from behind.
While being knocked down by it, I... finally looked back and saw the masquerade ball venue... no, what 'had been' the masquerade ball venue.
...As expected of Onii-sama! The scale of what he does is indeed different!