The Shadow Organization Members Raised Through Pay-To-Win Are Too Strong

As with all kingdoms, the capital’s central streets bustled with crowds.

Merchants were busy attracting customers, each touting their wares, while onlookers wandered here and there seeking wares.

A carriage slowly traversed those crowded streets.

Inside sat Ariel and Walter.

They were currently en route to attend the Supreme Council meeting.

“My body aches from the long journey… It’s been a while. Why did they have to hold the meeting in the Ruby Kingdom of all places?”

Walter groaned while rubbing his shoulders. Fatigue was evident on his face.

“Sir Walter, why don’t you rest and rejuvenate for a bit? The craftsmanship in the Ruby Kingdom is always splendid, there should be enjoyment in sightseeing.”

Their destination, the Ruby Kingdom situated at the southernmost tip of the Eluncia continent, was renowned for its jewels and handicrafts.

As Ariel suggested, enjoying the various attractions would be nice, but Walter shook his head.

“No, even if I can’t attend the meeting, I must fulfill my duties.”

As Walter wasn’t part of the Supreme Council, he couldn’t participate in this meeting.

Nevertheless, as a member of Black Raven, he had no intention of neglecting his responsibilities.

Ariel, who knew Walter well, didn’t press further.

Soon, the carriage left the bustling streets and entered a secluded alley.

The atmosphere differed from the cleanly paved streets moments ago.

This was a back alley, reeking of foul odors with heaps of garbage piled up.

Right then, a few vagrants in shabby attire blocked the carriage’s path.

They skillfully assessed the carriage’s occupants.

“From here, only the Vice Leader belonging to the Supreme Council may enter.”

Though their appearance was wretched, the strength felt in their voices was by no means trivial.

Walter clicked his tongue and rose from his seat.

“Tsk, then this old man will wait here. Have a safe trip.”

Waving his hand, Walter saw Ariel off.

From here on, it was a place Ariel had to attend alone.

Ariel’s carriage traversed the alley.

Eventually, it halted before a dilapidated building in the heart of the slum.

A crumbling structure that seemed no one would visit.

However, this was a facade cleverly concealed by a barrier.

As Ariel stepped out of the carriage, the decrepit building vanished in the blink of an eye.

Instead, a majestic and ornate palace revealed itself, welcoming her.

It was the meeting venue for this Supreme Council gathering.

* * *

Entering the building, a figure wearing a white mask approached Ariel.

“We welcome the Vice Leader’s visit. Please wear this mask for the duration of the meeting.”

Ariel donned the white mask the other handed her. Then she opened the door.

Beyond the door, a grand sight of the meeting hall unfolded.

Enormous white marble pillars supported the ceiling in a magnificent view.

Intricate wooden panels and gold leaf decorations adorning the walls exuded a noble atmosphere.

Inside, everyone wore white masks, as they were referred to by their positions rather than their names. Thus, all concealed their faces.

“……”

One could ask if merely wearing a mask hid their identity, but this was no ordinary mask.

It was an artifact.

‘Identity obfuscation and magic nullification….’

Wearing the mask, one’s identity was not revealed to others.

In reality, it only half-concealed Ariel’s face, but it caused others who saw her to not remember her features.

The Supreme Council meeting was where important decisions for future matters were made.

It signified a firm will that no one could disrupt the meeting.

‘Where did the Leader even obtain this?’

The mask was also an artifact the Leader personally prepared. If released to the world, a single mask could buy a noble’s territory and still have leftovers.

‘Not that anyone could touch the Supreme Council anyway.’

In truth, the mask held symbolic meaning.

Even without the artifact, no being could interfere with the meeting.

However, there was the advantage of conducting anonymous voting about policies.

Ariel adeptly proceeded to find her seat.

At the front of the meeting hall were three spire-shaped windows. Before them was a raised platform.

Atop the platform were ten seats, the grandest and most ornate being the Leader’s seat.

But currently vacant.

To the right of the Leader’s seat was the High Chairman’s, and to the left was the Vice Chairman’s.

The Vice Chairman’s seat was Ariel’s.

The remaining seven seats belonged to the Standing Committee members.

Opposite the seats, a wide semi-circular stepped seating arrangement was visible.

Those were the seats for the Councilors. They could attend the Supreme Council meeting but held no right to speak.

As Ariel took her seat, the hulking man in the High Chairman’s seat began.

“As everyone has arrived, we shall now commence the emergency meeting of the Supreme Council. I express gratitude to the Vice Leader and Standing Committee members for their attendance.”

With the High Chairman’s declaration, the meeting promptly began.

It proceeded swiftly.

“First, dark mages have resurfaced. Not long ago, the Eighth Elder secured three dark mages.”

The High Chairman’s words continued.

“The dark mages were each interrogated by the Third Elder, Eighth Elder, and Mist, respectively. The issue is that the dark mage ‘Simon’ questioned by Mist, uttered the word ‘Crow.'”

At those words, the Councilors displayed shocked expressions.

The filthy dark mages dared to speak the name Black Raven.

“This is by no means a trivial matter. In this regard, the Vice Leader has proposed mobilizing Purge. We will now hold a vote on this matter.”

As soon as the High Chairman finished speaking, the vote was rapidly conducted.

Anyhow, as the masks effectively obfuscated identity, they only needed to decide their stance then and there.

However, this vote lost meaning as everyone was in favor.

It contained the will that no one would forgive the dark mages impersonating Black Raven.

The High Chairman nodded at the expected outcome.

“Hmph, there’s no need to let those who dared impersonate Black Raven live. In the name of the Supreme Council, Purge shall be mobilized.”

He raised a wooden gavel and lightly tapped it.

Then, we promptly moved on to the next topic.

“The next agenda item was proposed by one of the Standing Committee members.”

As the subject changed, Ariel’s expression grew tense.

She had already anticipated the motion to utilize Purge would pass.

But the next agenda differed.

“It concerns the Vice Leader taking responsibility for single-handedly releasing the seal on the Succubus Empress, Celestia. As you know, the Leader personally carried out Celestia’s seal. Regardless of the reason, it was all the Leader’s will. In this regard, I request the Vice Leader to speak.”

It was Ariel’s turn.

She fell silent for a moment, then slowly began.

“All of this was done in an attempt to carry out the Leader’s orders. Please understand that releasing Celestia’s seal was absolutely not to defy the Leader’s will.”

However, one of the Standing Committee members raised a hand, refuting Ariel’s opinion.

“But I believe the Leader’s orders could have been carried out even without Celestia, no? In the end, doesn’t it mean the Leader’s will was defied?”

The slender voice penetrated Ariel’s argument.

Of course, Ariel wasn’t one to back down here.

“It can be viewed that way. But High Chairman, you are well aware that the Leader has currently returned, and the Phantoms, the Leader’s direct guard, are active. If the Leader was displeased by my actions, an order would have been issued through some channel.”

Ariel’s point was this.

If her choice had been wrong, the Leader would have long acted. But that wasn’t the case.

The High Chairman sympathized with Ariel’s opinion.

“Indeed, that’s true. If it had been against the Leader’s will, the Phantoms wouldn’t have stayed still.”

The Phantoms were part of Black Raven, but beings that followed only the Leader’s commands.

If they began to move in earnest, the High Chairman knew well that not only the Supreme Council but even Vice Leader Ariel would be unable to preserve their lives.

The Phantoms overlooking it was akin to saying Ariel hadn’t crossed the line.

“As this agenda item is also the Leader’s will, I shall reject it by the authority of the High Chairman, not a vote.”

The High Chairman tapped the wooden gavel once, reaching a conclusion.

With this, both Ariel’s independent actions and the matter of Celestia’s residence were resolved.

As Ariel wasn’t separately punished, it meant Celestia need not be sealed again either.

“Additionally, the matter of Celestia’s residence shall be personally decided by the concerned party in the presence of the Supreme Council.”

Celestia, who had taken up residence in a deep dungeon.

From now on, she could ascend to the surface.

* * *

I was summoned by the Count early in the morning.

Entering the office, Count Benedict asked with a warm smile.

“So, are you experiencing any inconveniences?”

His eyes held a sincere concern and warmth. Even his manner of speech felt subtly different.

I politely bowed my head and replied.

“Rather, I am receiving undeserved treatment thanks to the Count’s accommodations. You have my gratitude.”

“When it’s just the two of us, you may call me father. Are you not also my son?”

At those words, I slightly raised the corners of my mouth, holding back a smile.

I couldn’t fail to grasp the Count’s intentions in suddenly acting familiar.

‘He’s completely given up hope on Bastel.’

Bastel, the second son, had become a reclusive loner, not leaving his room.

The Count sent the head butler and knights, but apparently, Bastel caused a scene by shouting, “The monster will kill me!”

Now, even the Count’s expectations for Bastel had vanished.

What about me in this situation?

Every tutor unanimously praised me, and on top of that, he likely heard from Erin that I had talent in magic.

He must have thought raising me was more advantageous to the family than Bastel.

“Thank you, Father!”

I displayed a moved expression and this time deeply bowed at the waist.

The Count nodded.

Amidst the briefly heartwarming atmosphere, the main conversation now began.

“I hear Mage Erin wishes to recommend you to the academy. What are your thoughts on this matter?”

Erin, my magic tutor.

It seemed he told the Count she wanted to write me a recommendation letter for the academy.

But I refused without a moment’s hesitation.

“Father, I will not go to the academy. I believe the most important thing for me right now is working for the Hartwell family.”

“Is that so? Not bad.”

The Count’s expression was nonchalant, but joy was evident in his voice.

In the first place, choosing to attend the academy here wasn’t a good decision.

‘Albert is already studying at the Imperial Academy.’

In the Count’s eyes, there was one commonality between his first son Albert and me.

Magic.

But if I were to go to the academy here, another point of contact would form.

No matter how favorably the Count viewed me, he had already chosen Albert as his successor.

So would he empower me, who could threaten that position?

To the Count, I was in a position to merely assist my older brother.

Here, I only needed to be willing to humble myself and work for the family.

‘And the academy is a waste of time.’

The squad members just need to catch the dark mages and I’ll absorb their abilities on my own, so why bother with the headache of attending the academy?

I had no such need.

“If that is your will, it can’t be helped. And one more thing.”

The Count changed the subject.

“Do you remember Inquisitor Lorenzo who visited our territory last time?”

Remember him?

Who could forget that?

The Count then relayed shocking news.

“That Inquisitor Lorenzo died on his way back to the Holy Kingdom.”

“What?”

What is this about?

The inquisitor died?

I couldn’t hide my surprise at the sudden news.

The Holy Kingdom should be raising its voice even now, yet it was too quiet.

However, the Count continued as if to reassure me.

“Yes, it must be a shock. I also didn’t expect the inquisitor to die like that. But you need not worry. The Holy Kingdom directly informed us that this incident was a monster attack.”

“Oh… I see…”

A monster attacking the inquisitor? Nonsense.

If the Holy Kingdom’s story is true, it’s one of two things.

Either the inquisitor was weak enough to be attacked by a monster, or the Holy Kingdom’s claim is false.

If the latter, it meant there was something they wanted to hide.

‘I don’t know which is true, but it’s not bad.’

It wouldn’t be strange for them to use the inquisitor’s death to place responsibility on Hartwell Territory.

Yet it wasn’t bad that they let this matter slide.

“So Ethan, I have one request for you.”

Before long, the Count got to the point.

“I’d like you to lead the family’s knights and subjugate a dungeon. A monster capable of attacking the inquisitor would pose a threat to the people as well.”

He used the word request, but it was an order that couldn’t be refused.

I immediately bowed my head.

“I will follow the Count’s will. I shall elevate the family’s prestige!”

I could protect myself using magic anyway.

Plus, the family’s knights would escort me, so this was merely the Count’s consideration for me to gain experience.

‘And I have Emilia.’

It was a matter of just going and returning comfortably.