Lord of Disease (JP-GL) 254

254: A Special Mission Based on a Special Setting

I had summoned Rebecca to my room. We sat facing each other at my desk.

“Rebecca. The time has come for you to receive your ‘prize.’”

“Ah… the kind Master’s generous offer to spare a full day of a supreme commander’s precious time.” Rebecca’s expression was one of exasperation.

While she was often blunt and sarcastic with me, she was, at her core, a model soldier who respected protocol and was well-versed in polite language. Her ability to weaponize that politeness and praise was a testament to her skill.

I usually just took it, since I was usually in the wrong, but today, I shook my head.

“I’m sorry, but this is a mission.”

“A mission?”

“Tomorrow, you will be accompanying me on a special operation.”

“Understood. And the details?”

“First, change into these clothes.” I stood up, walked around the desk, and handed her the clothes I had prepared.

“Hmm. The ones from the other day.” Rebecca took the folded clothes. She unfolded them and held them up to herself, then tilted her head.

“…What are these? They’re… normal.”

A white blouse and skirt, a stark contrast to the black, gothic, frilly outfit she was wearing.

“And this.” I took out a white, wide-brimmed hat with a blue ribbon from a cylindrical hatbox and offered it to her.

“Like a young lady from a good family… is this really what you ordered?”

“It is. Elisha-san took my requests and made it even better.”

“Understood. Then, please give me the mission briefing.” Rebecca nodded and folded the clothes.

“For this mission, you will need to remember the following setting.”

“Hmm.”

“I am Rebecca’s older sister.”

“…Oh.” Rebecca narrowed her eyes.

“And Rebecca is my beloved younger sister.”

“I see. I’ll be in my laboratory.”

Rebecca said, her voice flat, but I shook my head again.

“Rebecca, you don’t understand. This is an important mission.”

“…It didn’t sound like it.”

“No. The two of us will be leaving this safe mansion… this heavily guarded area… a dangerous mission.”

“What’s the point of our enhanced security? —And what’s the meaning of this?”

“I have already informed His Majesty of our plans for tomorrow. It is information that can be accessed with the proper authority.” I tapped the desk with my finger. And I smiled.

“—We’re hunting the enemies of Listrea, who are hiding in the capital.”

I was the Lord of Disease. A ‘decoy’… with many enemies, both within and without. And I was here to crush the ‘hostile forces’ that were not yet so foolish as to be caught, but were also not so insignificant as to be ignored.

While it was no longer my main purpose, this, too, was one of the roles given to the Lord of Disease.

“You remember what His Majesty said, when he summoned us to the royal castle?”

“Yes. …You think the Wenfield family will make a move?”

If so, then the enemy was the Wenfield family. A family that controlled thirty percent of the Dark Knights of the Dark Knight Order. We might have to face them.

“I don’t know. But… we must be prepared.”

The anti-Lord of Disease faction was diverse. Their level of animosity varied. And whether they wanted to eliminate me completely, or just to reduce my influence, was also different. And the means they would take were also different.

If they fought in the conference room, that was fine. And to pull strings behind the scenes was a part of domestic politics.

But if they were to target my life, a supreme commander of the Demon King’s army, with military force. Then they were traitors, ‘enemies of Listrea.’

“Understood.” Rebecca’s expression turned serious, and she nodded. Then she tilted her head.

“…And is this setting really necessary?”

“Mainly for my mental well-being.”

“Can I still refuse?”

“In that case, I’ll refuse this mission, too. It’s a mission with the Royal Guard, but I suppose I can just slack off.”

“You can’t do that. …Fine.”

“Yes, I’m glad to have such an understanding subordinate.” I smiled brightly.

“A picnic with Rebecca♪ I’m so looking forward to it.”

“Wait, isn’t this a mission?”

“It is.”

“Then you should go with Liz…”

“—Rebecca. You do not understand the importance, and the essence, of this mission.”

“What…?”

“Liz is an assassin. For this mission, her job is to protect us from the shadows. You, who are a valuable asset and have a disarmingly unassuming appearance, are the most suitable for this mission. We must eliminate the fools who would disrespect your history, or underestimate you based on your appearance. Hence the costume and the setting. It is only natural that you would find it foolish. It is a trap, to lure out those who do not think so.”

“And what if they are so desperate to eliminate you—the Lord of Disease—that they would walk into a trap they can see?”

“That is precisely why we must draw them out now. That is the purpose of the Lord of Disease.”

Lately, I had been so active, so successful, that I tended to forget. The name Lord of Disease had originally been given to me as a decoy. And my role had not changed.

“—I see.” Rebecca sighed.

“I’m sorry. I suspected that you were once again using a mission to satisfy your personal desires.”

I shook my head.

“You don’t have to apologize. That’s also true.”

“…This is an important mission, with the Royal Guard involved, right?”

“It is an important mission. But that doesn’t mean a picnic with Rebecca won’t be fun.”

“If I make a mistake, I’ll be killed.”

“I’m counting on Liz and the assassins from the Royal Guard for that.”

“Well, yes…”

“I’ll have the Barghests with me, and I’ll ‘bring’ Harken, but I’m counting on you, too, Rebecca.”

“…Do you know what the phrase ‘mixing business with pleasure’ means?”

“I do.”

Rebecca sighed, a look of resignation on her face.

“Then it’s fine…”