【That's right... If I think that way, it's a sure thing that the soldiers of Kebab are tracking me.】
【Mother is not all-knowing and all-powerful. If she wants to control me all the time, she can only do it through these means.】
【In that case, I first felt the disturbance, no, the fluctuation of magic power should be...】
【On the way to Crotto City.】
【It's been almost a month since then.】
【I haven't been home in this month, I've been staying outside.】
【In other words, if the soldiers of Kebab are following me closely, she shouldn't have told my mother about my situation yet.】
【No, that's not right...】
【There might be more than one person following me. As long as they arrange it properly, they can change shifts while tracking me and report to mother.】
【They might also use owl messengers.】
【So it seems I'm doomed...】
Turing furrowed his brow, thinking over and over again, seeking a way out.
【If I try to escape, the people of Kebab will expose my whereabouts.】
【The same goes for going home. If the people of Kebab report on me, I won't have a good ending.】
【And even if I go home and apologize, mother will never let Merka off the hook.】
"Dum dum, dum dum dong!" As the black chapter played out, the suppressed climax burst out with the sound of a bass drum.
The nobles laughed and cheered, raising their glasses and praising the skill of the pianist.
Raphael didn't speak at the appropriate time, but still sat in the slightly cramped corner of the banquet hall, waiting for Turing's decision.
"Oh, yes," the glossy texture of the black grand piano in the distance seemed to give Turing some inspiration.
"As long as we kill them all."
The dark circles that had disappeared when Turing was with Merka seemed to reemerge.
【Find the soldiers of Kebab】
【Kill them all】
【Without anyone noticing...】
"What are you saying?" Raphael furrowed his brow and asked.
"Who do you want to kill?"
"Of course, the soldiers of Kebab. Who else?" Turing said casually, as if discussing what to eat at the party.
"You..." Raphael swallowed nervously.
"I don't know why you've been silent for so long and suddenly pulled this off."
"The Kebab Intelligence Bureau shouldn't be on your side, right?" Raphael looked at the unfamiliar Turing, with a slightly creepy feeling.
"I can't explain the details..."
"But I need you to do me this favor. Only you can help me, Raphael."
Turing suddenly leaned towards Raphael, gripping his hand. Raphael was scared by Turing's mad and lonely demeanor and stood up from the sofa, retreating several steps in a row.
Raphael shook off Turing's hand, angrily saying, "Why should I help you do such a thing? Have you forgotten about us..."
"Raphael," Turing's earnest and exhausted gaze, unbeknownst to Raphael himself, penetrated into her innermost being, touching the most hidden mechanism of her body.
"I sincerely ask you for this. I owe you a favor..."
"I already have a specific plan."
—————————————————————
"This is your plan?" After listening to Turing's explanation, Raphael said, "It really has your style."
"But what if there are several of them? This method won't work then."
"That's okay, you don't have to worry about that." Turing lowered his forehead, letting his slightly slanted bangs block some of his vision.
"And about what you said, this favor is effective whenever and wherever, as long as you can do it, right?" Raphael asked.
"Yes." Turing nodded."Alright, I suppose this can be considered a small victory for me." Rafael adjusted his clothes and put his pipe back in the smoking stand.
"I'll do you this favor then."
"Just make sure you don't tell anyone it was me who helped you." Rafael whispered.
Turing nodded.
"Now let me introduce you. This is Ifrit, my personal aide and strategist." Rafael gestured towards the masked boy beside him.
"He will assist you with executing part of the plan, as I need to oversee the banquet and cannot leave."
Rafael walked up to Ifrit and patted his chest.
"Don't be fooled by his quiet demeanor, he is a cursed child, a patient of the demon illness, and his fighting ability is not to be underestimated."
"Hmph, but considering your personality, I doubt you have ever bothered to understand what the demon illness is. Just know that this boy can also use magic." Ifrit stood still with his hands behind his back.
"Ifrit, go make arrangements for the 'actors' who will participate later." Rafael smiled slightly.
"Yes." Ifrit walked towards the center of the venue.
"Well then... let's begin." Rafael said, nodded at Turing, and went straight to the center of the stage.
Turing watched Rafael, who captivated the attention of the nobles, and walked alone to a secluded bar counter that served drinks.
"It is my honor that you could grace us with your presence amidst your busy schedule at my celebration banquet..." As soon as Rafael stepped onto the stage, he seemed to transform into a different person; he became an active, cheerful, and energetic elf, capturing everyone's attention.
Not to mention the bright and warm spotlight on the stage, Rafael's exquisite and beautiful face, and the dazzling dark gold crown on her neck; just her aristocratic aura shown through her every movement was enough to make her the focus of the entire banquet, a gem that the McNew Society was proud of.
"Bartender, I'll have a glass of plain water." Turing said.
Turing sat alone at the bar counter. At this moment, almost all the nobles were attracted by Rafael, and there was no one near the bar counter except for the bartender.
"Plain water... and please add a scoop of ice cream." Turing said.
The bartender looked at Turing strangely, didn't say anything, and did as instructed.
【I sometimes wish】
【That all of this is just a test】
【A test to see if I am loyal to my destiny】
【As long as I endure the hardships of life】
【A deity will suddenly appear, singing praises for my perseverance, consoling my hard work. It will sweep away my exhaustion and grant me a new, happy life.】
While Turing watched the bartender bring the glass of plain water with a snowy top, he listened to Rafael's speech behind him, filled with jokes and compliments, his gaze gradually blurred.
Turing indifferently looked at the scoop of ice cream and opened a capsule he had obtained from Rafael. He pinched a bit of powder and poured it into the cup.
In the end, Turing picked up the glass and took a sip.
【But the essence of life has no end】
【There is no end to the suffering.】
"Someone... can anyone please come over and take a look! This lady has fainted!" The bartender shouted anxiously. For a moment, the people gathered around Rafael turned their heads.
Turing's face turned pale, his lips turned blue, his eyes tightly shut, and he collapsed onto the floor of the bar counter, twitching slightly.
Beside Turing's outstretched left hand, there was a shattered glass. The ice cream inside was scattered on the floor, and it was no longer recognizable.
