Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute! (The Eminence in Shadow)

(4) Claire Nee-san Kidnapped

Author: Aizawa Daisuke

　It's been about 3 years since Shadow Garden was established. Alpha and I turned 13, and my sister Claire turned 15... Being 13 doesn't really mean anything but being 15 does mean something. Yeah, when a noble reaches the age of 15, he or she will attend school in the royal capital for 3 years. My sister was the hope of the Baron Kagenou family.

　That's fine, that's fine, but on the day I left for the royal capital, my sister disappeared. So, the Baron Kagenou family is currently in a big fuss.

"When I entered the room, it was already in this state."

　My father says in a dandy voice. He doesn't look bad.

"There are no traces of a fight, but the window has been forced open from the outside.

　Father Dandy puts his hand on the window frame and looks at the distant sky. He looks good with whiskey in one hand.

　If only I had hair...

"And?..."

　A chilling voice called out.

"It can't be helped since I'm quite skilled, is that what you mean?"

　Mom.

"That's not what I meant, I was just stating the facts..."

　Father answers with cold sweat running down his cheeks.

　The next moment,

"This STUPID BALDYYYYY!!!"

"Hi, I, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!!"

　By the way, I wasn't expected, but I maintained a position that didn't bother me. However, it's a shame because Nee-san was a good girl. The crime happened at night, and I was training in an abandoned village, so there's nothing I can do about it.

　I watched my father and mother play with a solemn expression, saw an opening and returned to my room.

　And...

"You can come out"

"Yes"

　The curtain shook without a sound at the same time as a voice, and a girl in a black slime body suit entered.

"Beta, huh?"

"Yes, Shadow-sama"

　An elf girl like Alpha. Alpha had blonde hair, but Beta had silver hair.

　With cat-like blue eyes and crying eyes, she is the 3rd Shadow Garden member after me and Alpha. She said in moderation, but it kept getting more and more because Alpha picked up her abandoned cats.

"What about Alpha?"

"I'm looking for traces of Claire-sama."

"You act fast. You think Nee-san is still alive?"

"Probably"

"Can she be saved?"

"It's possible, but we need Shadow-sama's help."

　Oh, they're calling me Shadow. Yeah, I'm the master of the Shadow Garden, fufufu.

"Is that what Alpha said?"

"Yes, Shadow-sama. Alpha said that since they have hostages, it would be best to bring our full strength."

"Heeeh...."

　Alpha is pretty strong, to be honest. The fact that Alpha asked for help meant that there were some influential people.

"Don't let your blood boil..."

　I momentarily release the magical power compressed in my palm, causing the atmosphere to tremble. I don't really care, but I love this kind of performance.

　Even Beta was surprised and mumbled something like "As expected".

　Lately, there's Alpha, Beta, and Delta, and I'm never short of training partners, but sometimes I want freshness... more than anything, I want to play with my strengths behind the scenes, so it's just the right opportunity.

"Are you going to get serious for the first time in a while..."

　I'm used to giving off the aura of a strong person behind the scenes like this. And recently, Alpha and Beta have streamlined the settings, so it's interesting.

"The culprit is, as expected, part of the Order of Diablos. Even more he is one of their upper echelons."

"Hmmm, executive class huh... So, why did they kidnap Nee-san?"

"They suspect Claire-sama of being a descendant of the Hero."

"Hmph, those guys have good intuition..."

　So, yeah, like this.

　In addition, I collected materials such as 'There is no mistake in your words...', 'Child of Diablos a thousand years ago', 'From the monument, there are traces of the cult of Diablos'. I can't read ancient characters, so I don't know. I guess Alpha doesn't really understand either, and I want to feel like I'm getting closer to the truth of the Order of the Diablos and I think that might be the case, right?

"Please take a look at this document. Among the latest investigations we gathered, there is the hideout where Claire-sama was kidnapped."

　Beta started arranging a huge amount of materials like that, but no, I don't know. More than half of them are ancient characters, and absurd numbers, no, you guys are very good at making such materials. Damn,  I'll admit, you were really ahead of me in that area. After hearing Beta's explanation, I took out a throwing knife and threw it at the map on the wall.

　With a bang.

　Make a sound and pierce the point where the knife is.

"There"

"That place? What's in there?"

"Nee-san is there."

"But there's nothing here... no, wait, could it be....!"

　Feeling like she just realized it, Beta hurriedly started digging for materials.

　Umm, yeah, I just randomly threw that knife properly. You're really good at acting, Beta. That's right, so there's a hidden hideout where I pointed, right?

"As a result of comparing it to the materials, it seems that there is a hidden hiding place that Shadow-sama has pointed out."

　Here we come.

"But still, to read this huge amount of material in an instant, and to decipher even the hidden points, ah... as expected."

"You haven't trained enough, Beta."

"I will do my best"

　Nice, even if you know it's acting, it's a good feeling. Beta-chan, you're holding the key.

"I will tell Alpha-sama as soon as possible."

"Oh"

　Beta bows and then leaves. His eyes lit up, and I could feel that he respected me. Cheers to Academy level performance.