Lord of Disease (JP-GL) 366

366: A Wedding-Style Trap to Annihilate the Unstable Elements

“I’m glad you’re making tea for me, Liz. Thank you.”

“Hehe… to hear you say that makes it all worthwhile.” Liz’s eyes narrowed.

“It tastes like a maid.”

“Haha.” Liz’s eyes narrowed further, and she let out a dry laugh.

“…So? What did you mean by ‘let’s make them target us’?”

Liz didn’t pursue my delusion any further—she was used to it—and she confirmed the true meaning of my words.

“We’ll use the wedding as a trap.”

“Yes, a trap. …Why go to such lengths to set a trap?”

“We’ve won the war. And for the most part, the country is united. But there are still ‘unstable elements’ that we haven’t been able to eliminate. The Lord of Disease is a perfect bait. But the security is tight. If we deliberately loosen it, it will be suspicious. So, what about a wedding?”

“It’s only natural that the guest list would be a little lax. Even if she’s a war hero. And it wouldn’t be strange to invite a lot of people you don’t know very well.”

This was what it meant to be on the same wavelength.

“That’s right.”

Liz looked down.

“…Are we having a wedding… for work?”

Ah.

Realizing my mistake, I hugged Liz, who was beside me, to atone for it.

“I’m sorry, Liz. I was being insensitive.”

“Huh, um…”

“I’m sorry. A wedding is special.”

“Well, I’m not really the type.”

“Wait, so that sullen look was…?”

“I wasn’t being sullen.” As she said, she showed no particular emotion.

“If anything, I was just thinking that this person is so dedicated to her work, she’d even use her own wedding.”

“Ah, so…?” She was so nonchalant.

“Liz… you don’t… want to have a wedding?”

“Well, I think it’s fine. The one-year anniversary ceremony was a quiet affair, and the unstable elements seem to be waiting for an opportunity, so a clear break is probably necessary.”

“No, um… that’s not what I meant.”

Liz smiled. And she placed her hand on mine.

“A glamorous wedding, a special dress, a ring—even without any of that. I am your consort, Lord of Disease.”

I could feel my cheeks flush. As a Greater Wraith, I was just simulating and reproducing a physical body—or so I had thought.

My face was hot.

“…W-why are you saying such cute things? I mean, your pickup lines are sweeter than mine.”

“Huh, are they?” She didn’t seem to be aware of it. What a natural femme fatale. I had to keep her close.

“Well, I understand that we’re using the wedding to lure them out. …Since your usual attire is your formal wear, you might need a wedding dress to make it look like a wedding.”

Then Liz’s expression turned a little troubled.

“Do you think… it would suit me?”

“I don’t think there’s any way it wouldn’t.” I declared, my voice firm.

“But, um… I don’t really suit feminine clothes… and I’m an assassin.”

“What are you talking about, Liz? Your assassin’s garb and your hunter-style clothes suit you, but your maid uniform and your date outfit also look great on you. …And besides. No one would speak ill of a bride.”

“…You think so?”

“If they do, I’ll feed them to the poisonous insects.”

“…To hear you say that, you really do sound like the Lord of Disease.”

Incidentally, I didn’t actually keep any poisonous insects. The poison that Liz and the other assassins used was primarily plant-based, and it was the kind that was usually treated as a medicinal herb. Poison and medicine were two sides of the same coin—or rather, there was no boundary. There was only the concoction and the concentration, tailored to the purpose, and the result that was produced.

The name I had taken was also such a thing.

“Since it’s about clothes, shall we ask Elisha-san? Let’s go all out, and make it as flashy as possible!”

“No, I don’t really like flashy designs.”

“That’s right. A more simple, elegant style would suit you better than a full-on princess-style. But it’s fine. Elisha-san will be able to find something, and I’ll do my best to make it a cute dress.”

“Wait, no. That’s not what I meant.”

“—I’m looking forward to it.”

I said, with a smile, and I silenced any further objections.

“And you can wear it in private, too, the wedding dress.”

“Um, what kind of a private occasion would require a wedding dress?”

I changed the type of my smile and traced her cheek with my finger.

“Do you want me to say it?”

“W-what are you, an idiot, Master?!”

Knock, knock, the open door was knocked. Liz’s gaze snapped to it, and I, too, looked over to see Rebecca, her expression one of exasperation.

“…Hey, I don’t think this is a conversation for the middle of the day.”