Chapter 9: The Unreliable Ally and the Grand Steward’s Cleanup

–“No, no, no, how—how could this be? Did he… did they fail? Impossible!”

In a secluded corner of the Snow Lotus Palace, Rose, Xiamiya’s maid, crouched before a scroll covered in intricate magical script. Her expression was a mix of terror and frantic worry.

Ever since her communication with Weidel had been abruptly severed, Rose’s unease had steadily intensified.

The reason for her anxiety was simple enough: she was the mole, collaborating with Weidel to disable the detection barrier surrounding the Snow Lotus Palace. The original plan had been for Weidel’s people to eliminate Xiamiya, then make a servant disappear and pin the blame for the betrayal on them. However, it now seemed Weidel’s forces hadn’t even managed to step foot inside the palace, let alone deal with Xiamiya.

“A bunch of useless failures!”

Rose bit down hard on her lip, her voice a venomous whisper.

She had made extensive preparations within the Snow Lotus Palace, all to ensure that Xiamiya, that vile mongrel, would meet her end on the very first day of her return to the Holy Royal Palace. How could she have imagined Weidel would prove so utterly unreliable? Even with the Heavy Combat Puppets her master had provided him, he had still failed!

‘This is absolutely preposterous!’

‘As expected, those barbarians from the north are utterly untrustworthy.’

****

Muttering curses under her breath, Rose frantically destroyed the scroll and the tools she had used to dismantle the barrier. With Weidel’s failure, these items had to be eliminated to prevent her exposure. After all, they were direct evidence of her collusion with Weidel and his accomplices. If discovered, even as a count’s daughter, she would not escape the gallows.

“Faster, I need to be faster… The barrier’s deactivation will surely be noticed soon… I must dispose of these before the Star Cross Knights arrive to search!”

Yet, even as Rose remained entirely focused on obliterating the evidence, a strange, chilling sensation suddenly assailed her from behind, causing her heart to leap into her throat.

–“What’s the point of disposing of them now?”–

“What?!”

‘Huh?! Who?! Who’s speaking?!’

As the words registered, Rose’s expression dramatically shifted, and a wave of panic instantly flooded her features.

Following the sound, Rose whirled around to look behind her.

The moment she turned, her eyes widened with sheer terror and disbelief. What greeted her gaze was a young boy, his entire form composed of an eerie, shimmering silver energy. The instant she perceived that silver power, Rose’s very soul felt as though it were being ripped apart.

“Wh-what is that?!”

Driven by an innate fear of the unknown, Rose almost instinctively began to chant a spell. Her voice was trembling and rapid. As the incantation intensified, visible energy fluctuations gathered in the air, coalescing into a crimson magic circle that shimmered into existence, poised to strike You.

Observing Rose’s frantic efforts to gather her power, You spoke with polite gratitude.

“Thank you for your assistance, Miss Rose. You’ve helped me conduct a small test.”

“Hm?”

At his words, Rose froze, not only astonished that this energy being could speak, but also bewildered by the content of his statement.

‘Assistance? Wh-what could he mean?’

****

Alas, Rose would never have the chance to find an answer to that question.

For no sooner had he finished speaking than You subtly twitched a finger composed of silver energy, manipulating nearly invisible silver threads in the surrounding air.

“As a reward, I shall grant you a quick death.”

Immediately, accompanied by a soul-freezing chill, these hair-thin silver threads rapidly unfurled in the air, forming an inescapable net. With astonishing speed and force, they surged towards Rose. Then, as if an inevitability, before Rose could even comprehend what was happening, the sharp silver threads silently pierced her body, meticulously carving her into countless fragments of flesh.

The magic circle shattered abruptly, and the young countess’s thoughts ceased in an instant.

In a single horrifying moment, the scene became grotesquely bloody. Rose’s body disintegrated into innumerable fragments in the air, blood splattering like a fountain, and mangled flesh scattering across the floor. The air grew thick with the metallic scent of blood, yet You’s expression remained utterly unchanged. He simply floated in place, serene and still, with only the occasional flicker of silver threads in his hand serving as proof of the recent carnage.

Unlike others from the Starfall Palace, You did not harbor an overwhelming animosity towards humans or other intelligent beings; rather, he regarded them with profound indifference, utterly devoid of interest. However, for any entity audacious enough to betray and endanger his master, the Evil God, he would show absolutely no mercy.

“Do not waste.”

After delivering the bland instruction, You turned and proceeded towards Xiamiya’s private chambers.

As You departed, the shadows beneath a nearby wall rippled, and two hideous monsters slowly crawled out from the gloom. Like fiends from the abyss, they ravenously scuttled towards Rose’s remains.

****

Meanwhile, upon his return to the Snow Lotus Palace’s core area, You immediately set about another crucial task: cleaning.

As the Grand Steward of Starfall Palace, and the one responsible for overseeing the daily life of his master, the Evil God, You could not tolerate a messy environment for them.

Therefore, having dealt with the internal threat, You commenced a thorough cleanup.

Amidst a surge of silver light, the threads danced, rapidly merging and reshaping. In an instant, they transmuted into a feather duster and a broom.

Gripping both cleaning implements, You began his work. Enveloped by shimmering silver light, he swiftly restored the Snow Lotus Palace to order, wiping away the bloodstains from the walls and floors that had resulted from the black-clad intruders’ invasion.

Ordinarily, as the Grand Steward of Starfall Palace, You had no need to personally attend to such menial tasks as cleaning.

His reasons for doing so, beyond his own habits, were twofold.

Firstly, the cleaning capabilities of the Starfall Palace residents were akin to a tornado tearing through a parking lot, utterly failing to meet You’s exacting standards for a living environment.

Secondly, given the residents’ unusual obsession with Xiamiya—their constant desire to cling to her side for blessings—You intended to temporarily maintain a certain distance between Xiamiya and the denizens of Starfall Palace.

After all, the Evil God they currently served was, in many respects, rather… complicated. To say nothing else, just the master’s reaction to the assassins tonight would likely be enough to shatter the faith of many within Starfall Palace.

Even setting aside tonight’s events, even now, Xiamiya’s antics left You utterly speechless.

She lay sprawled in her bedding, a tiny head peeking out, secretly observing him. This behavior hardly befitted a magnificent Evil God.

Moreover, the gaze from behind made You, who was diligently cleaning the lingering bloodstains from the room, distinctly uncomfortable.

With a sigh, You slowly turned his head to look at Xiamiya.

“Mmph?!”

Seeing You turn, Xiamiya immediately squeezed her eyes shut, feigning sleep.

This time, however, You did not play along with Xiamiya’s act. Instead, he spoke calmly.

“Master, are you still awake?”

Her feigned sleep exposed, Xiamiya slowly opened her rainbow-hued eyes and nodded.

“Mm.”

“Are you unable to rest peacefully because of the assassins?”

“Mm…”

Xiamiya nodded instinctively. But in the very next moment, as if realizing something, she anxiously shook her head like a rattle-drum.

“No, no, no! How could that be! I—I was merely thinking about who… who exactly would want to kill me, sending assassins the moment I returned…”

Though Xiamiya tried to argue, she inadvertently revealed her true feelings.

Regardless, this was her home. After more than a year away, returning only to be met not with a welcome, but an assassin’s attack—how could Xiamiya not feel a chill in her heart?

Taking in Xiamiya’s slightly melancholic gaze, You spoke blandly.

“Master, you need not worry about such things.”

“But, but…”

“We will eliminate any threats to you, Master. For now, you simply need to rest well and recover your body as quickly as possible. Night is approaching, which is the optimal time for mending your meridians.”

“But, I…”

“Say no more, Master. Go to sleep. We can discuss other matters in the morning.”

“You, you’re truly inflexible… Can you stop fixating on that schedule?”

“No.”

You replied with an unyielding tone.

“This is all so that, one day, you may become a qualified Evil God and fully command Starfall Palace.”

“Mmph…”

As You’s words reached her ears, Xiamiya narrowed her eyes, her expression a complex mix of emotions.

“An Evil God, huh…”

‘Yet, my mission was to be a Saintess…’