Deception: A Tactician's Card

Initiate Investigation!

"Are you alright, Agony?"

"Mhmm. I'm fine, Yukti. Don't worry about it. How about that girl?"

"She's still recuperating from intense fatigue, says the nurse. It would take awhile before she'll wake up but she's not in danger."

"That's a relief then."

I'm in the infirmary with Snow, who came at the scene after she noticed that blinding light. The two of us were facing Agony, who's seating on the infirmary bed.

•••

"Hey, Yukti! Si— I mean, chairperson! Sir Andrew! What was that just now?"

"Snow? Ah, that light marks the end of the duel. Agony won."

"Where have you been Snow? The duel just ended."

Michaela and I questioned her in a row. She just scratched her head and said that she's studying for the next session.

Talk about being a role model.

As for me, there's no need for that. While taking notes, I tried to familiarize the contents. That technique would suffice, and I'm lazy to study.

"Sir Andrew, could you please continue the documents for now? I need to go somewhere else."

"Sure do. Ah, I'll bring Liz Plasma to the infirmary."

"Thanks for that."

"Ah, don't mention it, chairperson. Anyway, that girl over there... Agony, right? Want me to bring you there too with my [Levitate]?"

After hearing Mister Andrew's question, Agony looked at me and slightly tilted her head. I nodded in response and diverted my attention to Mister Andrew, who's waiting for her response.

Can't you just tell him directly? Sigh...

"Please allow her to be brought to the infirmary, Mister Andrew."

"Well then, excuse me for a moment... [Levitate]."

Agony and Liz were levitated, encased in a bubble-like substance as Mister Andrew went to the infirmary, incognito. I casted my rune card to render them invisible. I don't want to raise a ruckus. Perhaps feeling the same sensation he had felt when I casted it on him, he turned his head at my direction and smiled. I ought to follow him together with Snow but Michaela grabbed my wrist. Confused, I looked at her and she said, "Check your mail", before she lets go of my wrist and used [Teleport].

•••

Oh yeah. How come I forget about that?

"Mmm. Hey Snow, could you stay here and watch her in my stead? I need to do something."

"Huh? Is that so? Be on your way then."

I stood from the stool I'm sitting on and turned my back when I noticed that someone tugged my uniform.

It's Agony.

"Can't you bring me along?"

"Not for now. You better rest."

"Eh, stingy."

I just patted her head and went on my way.

The mail Michaela sent to me is quite alarming, and it's a coincidence that this is connected to that angry ice girl.

To: user slack off

From: Rose Crimson

Yukti, sorry for troubling you once more. This time, I've got some legitimate intel in connection to those scoundrels you fought before. It appears that some members of the Plasma Clan are helping out with some shady operations. We couldn't trust the Bureau this time, and Annie is way too busy to help us out this time. She's also currently under investigation for some reason, making her movements limited.

The more we investigate, the more dangerous secrets we discovered.

This is disappointing.

The Plasma Clan is one of the powerhouse and main defendants of the country.

I hope they're reasonable enough to surrender peacefully.

In the end, it's all but a dream.

Even those guys who's with that stalker s***h kidnapper put up a fight as they faced Annie and the other dude (I forgot the name and it's fine). I once engaged to combat with both the Marshall and Plasma Clans as my allies during that one operation. My old trope, strategizing, helped them suffer less casualties— casualties that shouldn't have happened if it weren't for their stubbornness. They didn't payed attention of my plan and instead barged in the enemy base recklessly.

Sigh, I prefer to sleep instead of thinking about this.

That said...

I'm walking few meters away from the campus when I noticed that someone's been following me.

Is it just a coincidence? Perhaps not. They followed me wherever I go.

I got four stalkers now. Great.

•••

"Hey, Agony."

"Yes, Snow?"

"Is something wrong? You got an anxious look on your face."

Ah. Perhaps I exposed my thoughts with my expression just now. I shook my head and smiled at Agony.

"I'm just worried about Annie."

"Annie? Ah, that one Bureau member that we trust? Don't worry, she's strong enough to protect herself. She's our comrade."

"Yeah, I think I should stop being a worrywart."

Agony just chuckled and we started having idle conversations with one another. It's truly fun to converse with her. She often accompanied Yukti whenever he tutors or trains me. During breaks she's the one who brought the towel for me to wipe off the sweat and talks with me as I rest. She often substitutes as my training partner for combat practice. She's more or less a sister to me.

"So, Snow?"

"Yes?"

"When will you confess to him?"

"I think... I'll wait a bit more."

"Sigh, it can't be helped. Want me to help you out?"

"Ah, no... Please don't. It's fine actually."

"Eh? What do you mean by that?"

"I'm just happy that I'm able to hold a conversation with him, and uh...learn his way of life of sorts."

"Snow, that's not mutual love that you seek. You're just being a simp. I thought that boys are the only ones who do that."

"I-I'm not a s-simp, okay?"

"Oh yeah? Then what's that?"

"I TOLD YOU I'M NOT A SIMP!"

Ah. Did I just screamed?

"Hush down, Miss Lore."

"S-sorry, nurse."

The nurse left the room. I stared at Agony who's trying not to burt into laughter.

"Don't laugh."

"I'm trying...pfft. Ahem. Anyways, it's up to you how to confess. In this country, a girl could confess to a guy and vice versa. It's not that I know how it works but at least I had the knowledge."

Sigh.

"Ughhhhhh..."

Oh? She regained her consciousness now?

"Liz, can you hear me?"

"Huh? Who is it?"

"It's me, Snow Lore. You know, the Student Secretary?"

"Ah. Let me open my eyes first."

She grunted as she tried to get off the bed, but she could only lift her upper body. It seems that her lower body is still numb. She opened her eyes and saw the two of us staring at her.

"How are you faring?"

"Fine."

"Aren't you too cold to Snow?"

"Che."

Eh... Why is she so stingy? I didn't do anything against her.

"It's just how I roll. Don't mind me."

"I-is that so? That's a relief then."

Then silence.

This is kind of awkward.

•••

"What the hell!? Where the heck is he!?"

"I don't know! Don't ask me ya s**t!"

Easy.

The stalkers were dumbfounded to see that I disappeared from their sights. They're wearing those typical clothes you could see from detective movies. You know... Long leather jacket, a pair of black glasses, a tap hat, a pair of gloves, black leather boots, and few more trinkets to complete the set.

Come on guys.

Anyone who could spot you four would be suspicious at you all. So it's a total of three guys and a woman, huh?

Mhmm, that could've happened if it weren't for those clothes you're wearing. They've been casted with [Reduce Presence Recognition].

Smart move, if you ask me.

If it weren't for my experience, I wouldn't be able to know that you guys were following me.

Currently I can't be seen... I'm just in front of them looking at their pissed off expression, trying to keep my snicker in check.

I'm the [Deception] Original rune card user. I can deceive anyone and am immune to any kind of deceit.

These kind of tricks won't be enough to deceive me. Meh, as if there's anything in this world that could deceive me. I won't ever make the same mistake once again.

Those stupid parents who got deceived by their boss to dispose me and my sister...

That won't happen to me.

I won't allow myself to be deceived.

I'll protect my sister no matter what.

She's the only blood-related family member I have. If something happens to her, I won't forgive myself for being a dunce of a brother.

Well then.

It's time to stop this nonsense.

Why am I thinking about those shitty parents anyway? They're already out of the picture. I drove them off.

"Hey."

"Who's there? Wha-? Gahhhhhhh!!! My head!!! M-my head hurts!"

"The f**k is this...?"

"No. Noooo!!! STOP THIS!!"

"GUH!!! D-DAMN... STOP THE SCREAMING!"

If it weren't for your clothes, those screams of yours could be heard meters away.

"Enjoying the [Nightmare Requiem]?"

"You! You're the one...!"

"The one who exactly?"

I lowered the output of my rune card, enough to made them talk.

"Now, tell me. Who sent you?"

"Our protocol is to...not to speak our client's identity. Ugh..."

"Oh my, that's pretty cool of you."

I further increased the intensity of my rune card. The four of them were grunting as they struggle to resist against it.

"You see, I also have a protocol of squeezing the information out of someone being interrogated. That's one of my former jobs. Now tell me, who sent you?"

"Kuh! As if—"

I increased the intensity even further.

"GAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!"

"Tch... Kill us already!"

"You sure? Should I abide your request?"

Ah this ain't good. My bad side is starting to arise again.

"Guh...I-I'll talk..."

"No, why would you!?"

"SILENCE, YOU FOOL."

I literally snapped, and discharged enough output to kill the three. The only one left is that female who said that she'll spill the beans.

"Eh? Guys!? Why are you lying on the ground? Speak to me! B-blood? Why are your ears bleeding!?"

"Don't bother. They're gone. I delayed your sentence, so you better talk."

The woman nodded rapidly after hearing my words. She started singing all of it and what i obtained is quite disturbing. I should notify Michaela about it as soon as possible.

"T-that is all."

"Oh, that's all? Thank you."

"Y-you're not going to kill me, right?"

"Hmm? You want to?"

"A-ah! No! I DIDN'T MEAN TO ANGER YOU OR ANYTHING! I-I'M JUST FOLLOWING ORDERS YOU SEE! PLEASE STAY AWAY! DON'T COME NEAR ME!"

"Don't worry. I won't. I want to ask you something. More like an offer actually."

"A-an offer?"

I crouched down to make my head to be with the same height as this woman who's sitting on the ground, tears shedding from her eyes.

"Would it be possible if you go back to your espionage stuff and serve under a certain person? That's the only one I ask of you. It's up to you if you want to."

"As if I had the choice to say no in the first place."

"Nope. You have. Anyways, it's not a bad deal right? You can come with me and see for yourself."

She gave it some thought and nodded.

"Good. Let's go then."

"Eh?"

I grabbed her hand and used [Nightmare Requiem] to teleport us away from this scene.

•••

"Yo. I'm here."

"Took you long enough. By the way, who is she?"

"An extra hand. Anyway, let's do this. As for you", I turned my head to face the one brought with. "Don't worry about being killed anymore, you're under our protection. As long as you never betray us, we'll save you whatever pinch a situation you're in would be."

"I understand. Don't worry mister."

She did say that, but she's a bit mellow. I definitely know why. After all, I'm the one who killed her companions.

We reached the hidden area Michaela set up. The facility, average in size and two storey tall, is in the middle of a forest. Her property, of course.

This woman is freaking rich.

"What's with those dubious eyes of yours, Yukti? Want me to pluck them out?"

"Nope. Don't. Anyway, she'll help us out. Uh, what's your name again?"

"Ah, I don't have a name actually."

"Eh? Did you discard it?"

"No. I came from a facility that nurtured children to become excellent individuals in espionage and assassination. I probably lost my memories, my name included."

"Uh, sure... Can't you remove that outfit? It's not good for someone to hide her identity to her employer, you know?"

"Eh? How did you—"

"I'm pretty sure Yukti brought you here to become my subordinate. He's lazy enough to shift this matter to me. Well, you can just remove all your outfit. Ah, Yukti go out."

"Why?"

"The hell? You numbskull, just get out!"

"Yeah, yeah... I got it already. Sheesh."

I walked towards the exit and ought to close the door when I heard Michaela screaming.

"What's happened!?"

"Yukti... She's-!" says a shocked Michaela while pointing at our new comrade. Her face is obviously pale.

Fortunately, the woman is still wearing her clothes, except the ones on her head and face. I said fortunate, but why am I feeling disappointed? Weird.

Come on, Michaela... Don't be rude. You have a nice face and all but that form of prejudice is not okay at all.

"Is something wrong with my face?"

"Face Yukti— I mean the one who employed you! Like, right now!"

"Huh? Okay. I don't know what's happening but sure."

She turned around to face me.

My eyes widened.

I can't believe it.

My knees lost its strength and I fell on the ground.

"Cory?"