14 Popcorn Part 5 (2/2)
The father and daughter collapsed onto their knees and fell forward.
Riley's face began to darken as he saw the bodies grow cold on the ground.
Riley was staring at the two bodies as if contemplatingsomething, then turned his head.
Unlike 5 minutes ago, there were bodies everywhere.
”Haah...”
Riley's face began to worsen as he stabbed the wooden sword in the ground.
Riley pressed his temples as if having a headache, then leaned forward and covered his mouth with his hand.
”Uuub...!”
As if he was feeling nauseated, Riley began to throw up.
It wasn't because of the guilt for his actions.
It was because he released his mana in order to stop all the assassins, Tes and Orelly from moving.
It was the side effect of 'Restraint', which made his ki flow erratically.
”...Ha-ah, ha-ah.”
Riley, who just threw up on the ground all the popcorn he had recently eaten, stopped his hand that was about to wipe his mouth.
He thought he mightgarner some suspicion if he were to leave any strange marks on his clothes.
'I can say these cuts were made from the kitchen, but this is different.'
Other than the cuts on his clothes, he didn't have any blood on him.
In order to not leave any evidence, he made sure to be careful with every strike he made at the assassins.
After all the trouble he had gone through, taking all the most difficult actions, it would be quite unfair if his capabilities were to be found out because of the puke he had produced.
'No, I could say I got sick from eating too fast?'
It's nothing like blood.
As he began to think, he determined this was acceptable enough and began to wipe his mouth with his sleeves.
”Well, this body is different from before. And this body is too young to store anywhere near the amount of power I had before... I guess there's nothing I can do.”
Riley's hands were shaking from the adverse effect of using his power too much.
Riley began to talk to himself again as he clenched and unclenched his hand.
”This was something like a test...but I don't think I can use mana for a while. If I'm moving, I should just use the sword.”
His opponents were assassins this time.
Not just any assassins, but the elites who were masters of escape of which he could not leave any behind in order to keep his secret.
It was quite violent, but Riley's choice now was the most efficient one he could have chosen.
”Then, shall I go back?”
He already had a plan for cleaning the bodies.
So he checked his appearance once more and began to walk.
”Ian would've gone nuts at this point.”
Riley made a bitter smile as he decided an apology was in order.
The cold night's winds began to blow on the corpses in the forest.
***
The incident of Riley's disappearance had finally reached Count Stein's ears.
Sera and Ian who were trying not to anger Stein who had exploded before because of Lady Orelly gasped loudly and then began to make hiccups.
”Tell me again carefully Ian. Riley has disappeared?”
”That is...”
Riley was already being treated like trash in the mansion.
What would happen if the words 'he has likely been kidnapped by the assassins' were said when Count Stein was completely furious already?
”...”
”...”
Ian and Sera who did not want to consider the consequences shut their mouths and looked at each other.
Hypothetically, Count Stein was likely to say these words:
'What? He's been kidnapped by the assassins? Pathetic, there is no need to look for him. The Iphelleta House does not need such a failure.'
...then Riley would be in similar situation to Orelly who had just been banished.
Which meant, they wouldn't be allowed to save the young master.
”That is...”
Ian who had little talent for words began to squeeze his brain for ideas.
How can I get through this crisis?
What excuses do I make?
Just when his dry lips were about to open...
”...Did you call for me?”
”...?!”
A familiar voice sounded behind Ian.