Book 5: Volume 4 Chapter 16, Final Stage

Translator: Kazumi

Editor: Silavin

 

Having captured the royal capital and Mount Gabont, Peach and her companions quietly slipped into their next target town as planned.

 

They entered as ordinary adventurers, traveling under the cover of a merchant caravan that had departed the royal capital days prior. The town they now found themselves in was the headquarters the dark guild.

 

But the moment they arrived, something felt wrong.

 

The dark guild’s vigilance had sharpened considerably. Unlike in the capital, where underhanded tactics had gradually lulled the enemy into complacency, this place lacked such openings. The usual methods were simply not available here.

 

Naturally, the plan had never been to tear through every member of the guild. Including its lower-ranking members.

 

They could manage it but it would consume far too much time. And if the leaders slipped away while they were occupied with foot soldiers, everything would unravel.

 

Peach sat in her room at the inn, tilting her head with a quiet thoughtful expression.

 

“Well… what should we do?”

 

The room held four other members of her Family. Mitsuki was also present, making six in total.

 

Another member had arrived in town as a liaison, though she was operating separately for now. Iris had come along as well, but had stepped away to contact other members of her organization.

 

In truth, the actual operational force consisted only of these six people. Iris’s absence during the planning stage was not a problem.

 

The work of monitoring the enemy organization’s movements belonged to members of the Royal Family’s shadow network and their liaison officers. Until the attack was launched, Peach and her companions simply lived as adventurers. They would actually take quests at the guild, keeping their routines to be as expected. They had only been in town a few days, so their quest count was little, but that was not at all unusual. Adventurers rested between jobs all the time.

 

Peach turned her gaze to one of her companions.

 

“How are things going on their end?”

 

The Royal Family’s shadows were moving on a separate front, and the Succubuses had been assigned to accompany them. They also carried one of Kousuke’s communication devices, which allowed for near-instantaneous exchanges with almost no delay.

 

“No problems reported. Preparations appear to be progressing smoothly.”

 

Peach nodded slowly.

 

“Then I suppose Plan C is our best option after all.”

 

They had prepared for several contingencies before departing, including responses to heightened enemy vigilance. Peach weighed the current situation against each contingency, then made her decision. The others listened and, one by one, inclined their heads in agreement.

 

Every person in this room carried the experience to lead a mission independently. That level of shared understanding made the decision easy to settle.

 

They were on the verge of disbanding to their respective preparations when Mitsuki, unusually, spoke up to hold them back.

 

“I trust you all understand this already but Peach is not to be counted as a combatant here.”

 

Peach allowed herself a small, rueful smile. The warning had come a little late, and they all already knew. Still, the thought still mattered.

 

The others nodded, their expressions quiet and solemn.

 

For them, this mission mattered. However, out of everything, Peach’s child mattered much more.

 

In the future, the Succubus Family would expand. When that happened, a child carrying Kousuke’s Bloodline would hold a significance that went beyond any single operation. Furthermore, no one wished to place a burden on an unborn child.

 

Peach knew that they were thinking. That was why she only smiled.

 

“I’ll do my best, but will not go too hard.”

 

“That’s for the best.” Mitsuki’s voice carried a faint warmth beneath its calm. “I’ll provide support if needed. But all of you, keep an eye on her. Peach has a habit of overextending herself the moment no one is watching.”

 

A soft ripple of laughter passed through the room. After all, they had all been trained to work unseen in the shadows. Mitsuki’s observation had truly landed, spot on.

 

“It’s okay. We already know how she does things.”

 

One of them lightly said with a smile. Peach’s brow furrowed slightly.

 

“Hey… that’s awful. It feels like I’m being watched at all times.”

 

“Oh?” Mitsuki replied, her tone unhurried and perfectly composed. “But that is my intention, you know?”

 

Peach opened her mouth, then closed it again. There wasn’t much else to say to that.

 

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After receiving word of Peach’s decision from her comrades, Succubus conveyed it to the shadow leader of the Royal Family accompanying their group.

 

“I see. Tell them we’ll proceed as planned.”

 

“Yes.”

 

The one addressed nodded and moved a short distance away to use the communication device. Another member of the group watched them go, their expression carrying a trace of open envy.

 

“It really is convenient, isn’t it? This device.”

 

Unlike the fixed communication tools they were accustomed to, this one could be carried anywhere and used freely, and unlike disposable models, this device could be used again and again.

 

“Convenient, yeah. But it’s really difficult to obtain.”

 

Kousuke’s communication devices had been entrusted to them specifically for this mission. It was a special arrangement. They had not been made available to the public, and for good reason.

 

The discussion about the device was still alive when the Defrayer Family member returned from sending out the messengers. Once he returned, he found several sets of eyes turned toward him the moment he entered. He inwardly tilted his head, confused, but set the feeling aside and delivered his report.

 

“They said they’re ready to begin at any moment. They ask that we contact them just before we start, as planned.”

 

“Understood.”

 

The leader nodded. Then, without pause, turned the same quiet attention on him.

 

“About that communication device…”

 

At those words, the Defrayer Family member understood immediately why everyone had been watching him. He gave a small head shake. He began to explain and the leader’s expression shifted. There was disappointment, but only for a moment.

 

“I see. A Family treasure. In that case, it would explain it.”

 

“No, that’s not quite what I meant.”

 

“Hmm? What do you mean?”

 

The Defrayer Family member paused, choosing his words carefully.

 

“I only heard this secondhand, so I can’t say for certain. Is that alright?”

 

The leader nodded, willing to accept even imperfect information.

 

“The device is apparently made from Dragon materials.”

 

Even the leader could not conceal his surprise at that. A beat passed before understanding settled in. If that was true, of course such tools would not be widely known. Of course no one would speak openly about materials like that.

 

His interest in acquiring the device quietly faded.

 

“I see. Regardless, let’s keep our focus on the task at hand. We’ll move in three days, as scheduled. Make sure you’re all in good condition before then.”

 

The gathered members answered with silent nods.

 

No one raised their voice. They were all fully aware of where they were, and what they were doing.

 

And so, the plan to bring down the dark guild that had long plagued Smit reached its final stage.