"Professor Noah."
"Professor."
"Professor Noah, there's something I'd like to report."
After entering the Science Department's underground facility, Chelsea was stunned by everything before her.
And also by the way everyone here addressed that man.
Noah.
Different from the Lamur she knew.
Was this the name he used here, or was this his real name?
After turning a corner and noticing that there was no one else nearby, Chelsea could no longer hold back.
She asked in a low voice, "Hey, aren't you called Lamur?"
"That was a fake name." Noah walked ahead without turning around, answering calmly just like that.
He had no intention of hiding it at all.
"Hah?" Chelsea looked utterly confused. "Then what was the point of using a fake name if you're just going to reveal your real one now?"
Hearing that question, Noah felt a little helpless.
This girl really had too many questions. He was almost beginning to regret bringing her back!
A Teigu actively calling out to its user was a rare case.
Of the examples he had personally encountered, Chelsea was the only one, which was why he had been unwilling to let her go.
It would have been even better if this sample could be a little quieter.
"I don't know what you've misunderstood, but that fake name was for those children. As for you, I never intended to hide my identity from the start," Noah explained, his words carrying an implied meaning.
What was this supposed to be?
Using a false identity with his allies, but his real face with his enemy?
She really could not understand him.
Besides, he never intended to hide his identity from her?
Wasn't he afraid she would leak his information…
At that thought, Chelsea's steps stopped, and realization suddenly dawned on her.
So that was it.
He was not afraid that she and Taeko would leak information at all.
Because neither their lives nor their memories were under their own control anymore.
In fact, if he wanted to, he could alter their memories at any time.
Once she figured that out, a few drops of cold sweat formed on Chelsea's forehead.
Tch.
What a disgusting feeling.
After first calling over the person who wanted to report something, Noah learned that there was another piece of good news.
"Prime Minister Honest sent someone with a message for you, Professor. He says he has collected multiple Teigu."
"Oh?" Noah's eyes lit up.
As expected of Prime Minister Honest.
He really was efficient!
"I understand. Sorry for the trouble."
"No, Professor. The knowledge you explained to me before helped me greatly. I'm the one who should thank you. Ah, then I'll take my leave."
"Ah… help me with one more thing." Noah suddenly stopped him, then pointed at Taeko and Chelsea beside him.
"Arrange some free positions for these two. Also, choose a nearby apartment for them to use."
"Yes. I'll handle it immediately."
Chelsea watched as the Science Department staff member left completely, then turned toward Noah and asked.
"You're just going to casually let me, an assassin from the Revolutionary Army, join an Imperial department?"
This time, she had already given up on saying "us."
Clearly, in the current Taeko's mind, the two of them were not on the same side at all.
"Didn't I already say this is an official employment contract? I won't restrict what you do in the Imperial Capital, nor am I interested. But if you do something here and get caught, causing my research to be unable to proceed normally, then you'll be the one violating the contract. When that happens, you'd better be prepared."
Gulp.
Chelsea looked at Noah's serious expression and imagined all the things that might be done to her. Her throat suddenly felt dry.
This man was definitely a demon.
What if he altered her personality into that of some strange animal?
Would she have to live the rest of her life with an animal's identity and mind?
Too terrifying!
As he spoke, Noah casually approved a slip.
"I'll advance you this month's salary first. Go collect it from the finance department yourself. Taeko's too. Go together."
Chelsea took the salary slip and blinked dryly.
She lowered her head and looked at the amount written on it.
Then she could not help muttering, "This is way higher than what I earned working at the governor's office…"
Back when she had entered the governor's office through her outstanding ability, she had once been proud of herself for it.
Compared to ordinary people, she could completely be called part of the petty bourgeoisie back then.
Her income alone was enough to cover the expenses of several households.
But the number in front of her now was more than three times what she had earned then.
"Isn't that obvious? Our Science Department is one of the top-ranked formal institutions in the Imperial Capital."
"I see. So this is what they call an iron rice bowl."
"Wait, isn't this an abuse of authority? Who gets paid the moment they start work?" Chelsea, despite being part of the Revolutionary Army, actually began worrying about the finances of her enemy, the Empire.
It showed just how shaken she really was.
Compared to her, Noah, as the superior officer, showed no such awareness.
"It's fine. It's the Empire's money anyway."
"Hmph. How corrupt!"
Chelsea snorted, then turned and left with Taeko.
At first, walking through this facility—which clearly looked highly classified—made her uneasy.
After all, the place was practically filled with intelligence the Revolutionary Army would fight desperately to obtain.
And yet, as an assassin of the Revolutionary Army, she was walking through it openly like this!
Even a random person's glance made her feel as if needles were pricking her back.
Even knowing none of these people recognized her, she was still afraid that she would suddenly be surrounded and arrested.
After collecting her salary, Chelsea also received the apartment key and work permits from the finance department.
Both she and Taeko were assigned as interns.
Obtaining an official Imperial identity so easily felt like a dream to the two who had spent years living as assassins.
Had Chelsea ever regretted walking this path?
If asked, then yes, she had secretly regretted it before.
After all, she had not been forced into becoming an assassin. She had done it out of passion and conviction.
Though she was a girl, she had a grand ambition to change the Empire.
But she had not always been like that.
She had once longed to rely on her own ability to obtain a respectable job.
Not by selling her body, but by earning money through skill, becoming someone independent who could support herself and live a good life.
In a sense, everything she had inexplicably obtained now was almost exactly what she had once dreamed of.
Especially after arriving at the apartment, that feeling was completely dug back up from the depths of her heart.
"No way…"
Was this really for the two of them?
Looking at the spacious, bright room before her, the luxurious decorations, and the extravagant furniture, Chelsea was left speechless.
The bed in the bedroom was so big she could practice forward rolls on it.
The huge bathtub in the bathroom would not feel cramped even if four or five people used it together.
Although she usually did not care what hardships she had to endure for a mission, deep down, as a refined beautiful girl, she actually cared a lot about quality of life.
As for what kind of life she wanted to live after successfully changing the Empire, she had already imagined it a long time ago.
That was right.
It was exactly this kind of life!
As a major contributor who had assassinated countless important figures, it was not too much for her to enjoy life after retiring, was it?
As assassins, people like them who devoted themselves from the shadows could not become the new leaders.
They could not hold office, nor would their deeds be sung by the people.
That was why the Revolutionary Army had promised to let them live their ideal lives.
But judging by the current situation, they were still far from successfully changing the Empire.
Yet she had somehow started enjoying her dream life ahead of schedule!
Flop.
Chelsea fell backward onto the huge, soft bed and felt as though her whole body had been swallowed up by it.
This comfort, this ease—it was a pleasure she had not felt in years.
Her body and mind were both being healed!
"Ah, what a terrifying man. To tempt me with such sugar-coated bullets… he really is a demon!"
While stretching lazily, Chelsea noticed the fruit placed beside the bed.
She casually picked a grape, put it into her mouth, and tasted its sweetness with a faint trace of tartness.
"Sinful…"
Taeko looked at Chelsea, who was enjoying herself while calling Noah a demon, and deep disdain appeared in her eyes.
However, for some reason, a thought suddenly flashed through Taeko's mind.
'If that person were here, that would be nice.'
That thought passed through her mind in an instant.
That person—
Who was that again?
...
The next day.
Noah came to the palace.
He was not there to meet the Emperor, but to find Prime Minister Honest.
Walking straight to the treasure hall, Noah sensed a familiar presence before even entering.
"She came back this quickly…"
Standing at the entrance, Noah muttered, and a hint of helplessness appeared between his brows.
"Ohohoho, Professor Noah, you're here."
When the Prime Minister saw him arrive, he immediately came forward with great enthusiasm.
Aside from the Emperor, the only two people who could make him greet them with a smiling face had actually gathered in the same place today.
"Allow me to introduce you. Ahem. This is one of the Empire's generals, General Esdeath."
"And this is…"
"Heh."
"That won't be necessary, Prime Minister. I've been dealing with this man for years."
"Ah?"
Honest was stunned for less than a second before he reacted and said happily, "So the two of you already know each other."
"Something like that."
Noah nodded, then looked at Esdeath.
"In any case, welcome back?"
"You don't look very happy about it."
"The war with the foreign tribes ended quickly?"
"They were all trash. There wasn't even the slightest joy in fighting them."
Sensing that the atmosphere between the two of them was not quite right, the Prime Minister hurriedly stepped in.
"Right. General Esdeath has been rewarded with a Teigu this time, which is why I called both of you here together today."
Noah raised an eyebrow after hearing that.
Oh—so it was a Teigu.
Putting everything else aside, this troublesome woman's strength was unquestionably terrifying.
Even Noah did not want to face her. Now she was about to obtain an even more troublesome power.
He could only hope she would not come looking for him once she became stronger.
The two followed the Prime Minister deeper into the treasure hall.
"In truth, the deepest part of this treasure hall hides another space. It is where the Empire stores its superweapons. The number of people who have entered, including emperors throughout history, can be counted on one hand."
Whether it was the gold and jewels along the way or the paintings and works of art, neither of them showed any interest.
They did not even glance at them.
The Prime Minister could only continue talking about Teigu.
"Here we are."
In front of an ornate door carved with the Empire's crest, the Prime Minister stopped.
He unlocked the door with a key and led the two inside.
Here, there were not as many varieties of treasures as outside.
Only precious weapons such as famous swords and blades were stored here.
Shingu.
And… Teigu.
Several Teigu had been placed on a long table, clearly arranged in advance.
Noah swept his gaze over those Teigu and had already obtained information about them through appraisal.
Esdeath also examined each Teigu displayed before her one by one, but not the slightest hint of satisfaction appeared on her face.
From that alone, it was clear that her wavelength compatibility with these Teigu was not high.
In most cases, a person's first impression could reflect their compatibility with a Teigu to a certain degree.
Feelings like "beautiful" or "cool" were very important.
Yet none of the Teigu here gave Esdeath any special feeling.
In fact, she seemed faintly disgusted.
"Speaking of which, I've been curious since I entered. What is that pot?"
Suddenly, Esdeath completely moved her gaze away from the Teigu before her and looked toward a pot sealed in chains.
Hearing her question, Noah also looked over.
He used appraisal on the pot, and his eyes widened slightly.
A Teigu.
That pot was also a Teigu.
Demon God Manifestation: Demon's Extract.
An ice-type Teigu.
Forged from the blood of a legendary Super-Class Danger Beast said to have lived in the far north.
Drinking the Danger Beast blood within the pot would cause the user to lose their sanity, go mad, and be eroded by the Danger Beast's frenzy.
If the user successfully overcame the Danger Beast blood, they would gain the supernatural ability to freely control ice.
So there was this type of Teigu too.
A consumable.
After being drunk, it merged with the body and produced a supernatural ability.
This was not in the field of alchemy.
Alchemy only handled preservation and storage.
The process that allowed the Danger Beast's blood to be used as one's own power was probably the work of a secret art.
The enormous risk involved also suited the characteristics of secret arts very well.
After all, compared to alchemy, secret arts were more like witchcraft, and their methods of inheritance were all over the place.
"I can feel it calling to me," Esdeath said softly as she walked toward the pot containing the blood.
Noah immediately became interested.
This was an active call from a Teigu.
The same as Chelsea's case.
It seemed Esdeath's compatibility with this Teigu was extremely high.
Looking at her ice-blue hair and eyes, as well as her snow-white skin, then thinking about her nature and birth among the northern tribes…
This Teigu did indeed seem very suited to her.
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