The sun was shining kindly. The breeze was blowing delicately on the grass. The day was good...

And since the day was good, somehow, the whole gang decided to go on a picnic. It's something about Maya's lifetime wish to have a wholesome picnic with her family or something, so there we were.

I wasn't even kidding when I said the whole gang was there. From the problematic twins and even to my stiff grandparents, everyone was there.

The theme was a picnic, but it was more like a small party at this rate. Still, since Maya, the one who ran the show, said it was a picnic, then it is what it is.

Following Adam's endless requests, Helena then proceeded to showcase a small-scale fireworks show to entertain us. By fireworks, I meant the Kareya magic spells she learned from Maya.

Then Alyson also took the stage, and their duel began soon before long.

They start by doing a cute-looking magic show of punching shockwaves and splitting the air with their kicks.

Alyson, true to her style, appeared more refined and elegant at completing a series of movements Maya taught her. Meanwhile, Helena was more ferocious and raw, just like a beast that moved by instinct.

Both were good, but Alyson was the winner by a huge margin in this case. Then again, considering the time frame of how short it was since Maya taught Helena, it showed just how terrifying her talent was.

They named her genius for a good reason, after all...

Alyson seemed to share the same sentiment, judging by the troubled look she had on her face. Helena, on the other hand, also didn't seem satisfied with the result. Peeking at Alyson's precise and sharp display, Helena clicked her tongue in displeasure before grumbling beneath her breath.

Moving on to Howard, he was spending his time frolicking with Adam. They played chase, with Adam staying as the undisputed winner while Howard deliberately let the jolly boy win each time.

The gap between him, known as the Blood Crazed Prince in the future, and him running around acting like a doofus around Adam was strange yet entertaining, in all honesty.

Seeing him interacting with more people rather than having Helena hogging his attention day and night brought me more relief than cleaning up unredeemable degenerates night after night.

"Your Father told me you're getting better, but there's still a leak. Tell your parents whenever you feel something wrong with your body, you understand, Alexander?" Rygor's stoic voice cut sharp from the left.

'Man, and here I thought I wouldn't get caught...'

I know what Rygor was talking about.

It ain't flash news that I spent my time grinding. Even now, while watching the others silently, I was increasing the size and density of my mana pool. Obviously, I tried to be careful not to increase them by a large margin as I usually did when limit testing.

And while doing that, I was also training to hide the flow of the used mana. The problem was that using them both simultaneously to the degree I wanted was still quite hard at the time.

And now, Rygor was telling me that he could feel that faint leak when I was using magic. He was impressive because he was the first to catch me red-handed while I was training like this.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Although, for better or for worse, Rygor seemed to think that the mana leak was due to my condition since birth.

"I will, Grandfather. I'm feeling great today."

Well, since he assumed that way, I decided to leave him be. It worked for me just as fine...

"That girl. She is useful. Dangerous, but useful." Rygor spoke, studying Helena, who was arguing with Alyson in the distance.

I could tell the implication of the man's words. I knew what Rygor was saying was about Helena's potential in the future.

'...I think this is the time to play fool, isn't it?' I didn't know what answer he expected from me, so I merely stared at him quietly.

Catching the empty expression on my face, Rygor then threw his gaze away in return.

It remained a mystery what the old Lion was cooking up inside that head of his, and I wasn't in any rush to try to figure him out either.

'Well, let's just train, I guess...'

And thus, the day burned.

----------------------------------------

Basking in the ethereal glow of the forlorn moon that pierced the mansion's windows, I asked the robe-covered Renata in her jet-black mask.

"How is the situation?"

"Everything is ready, my Lord. I've prepared several handpicked Elite Shadows to handle the aftermath. Paladin has also received the news and is ready to welcome the first batch of the slaves when we're finished. And above all, I've confirmed the location of our target..." Reported Renata.

"Where are they?"

"They're going to hold a massive slave auction beneath an armory shop called the Twain in the fief of Rotemia. They are selling battle slaves and pleasure slaves alike, ranging from Dwarf into Demon's kin-"

"Spare the details for when we're on the way, Assassin."

"Apologies, my Lord...But is this really fine? What if...?"

So I told Renata about the whole thing with how Rygor caught me today. She was worried that by some unlucky turn of events, Rygor would suddenly come into my room in the middle of the night and catch me red-handed.

But I guess Renata's worries were not without reason...

'Well, if he catches it, worse came to worst, I'll just think of something later.'

In short, it might be troublesome, but that was it.

"It doesn't matter. Let us move. I want this to be over before dusk."

"By your will, my Lord!"

'Fly.'

With my command, both Renata and I flew high from the opened window ceiling of the House's mansion. And we shot in the direction Renata pointed us, with speed near enough to almost shatter the sound barrier.

I have to say, though, I felt like Superman flying out into the world.

"Continue where you left off."

"Yes, my Lord. The auction will take place after midnight. Various nobles from the factions of aristocratic circles will be there. There will be an influx of auction participants, according to the report from the shadows."

'...Whether in this world or that world, slaves exist in many kinds of ways...The powerful will set the rules, and the powerless don't get to choose.'

"Now, about the target. Are you sure killing him and leaving no trace behind is our best move? Won't it be better for us to make them find us? Since our goal is to be found anyway?"

"The intent is different, my Lord. We need the guise to mask our intent if we want to catch them. The more obvious we are, the more meticulous they'll hide. Stealing the slaves and giving them to Paladin will also work in our favor."

"Okay, but if we don't see any result out of this, let's just wipe the whole board clean. Sooner or later, they'll slip up, and we'll catch them."

"Certainly, my Lord." Voiced Renata cordially.

"Hm...are we still far, Assassin?"

Renata studied the passing landscapes, and after careful analysis, she gave her answer.

"I believe we're not even halfway there yet, my lord."

'Fly faster.'

BOOM!!!

And there went the barrier of sound, shattered in pieces behind our figures that trailblazed through the evening sky.