‘Professor, just use your account. What would a priest even spend money on?’

Rebecca whispered. She had decided to give me the winnings. And come to think of it, I’d saved her life more than once—so this seemed like fair compensation.

▷ Goldenfield Casino Deposit

– 1,215,864,520 Ħ

And just like that, an absurd amount of money landed in my hands. Even after taxes, it was 1.2 billion Hika.

That made me a 3.3 billion Hika asset holder. Equivalent to roughly 330 billion won in the real world. And now, all of it in liquid cash.

Cash-rich Dante Hiakapo.

“Then, darling, shall we go now? Baby’s tired...”

“Shall we, baby? Let’s go get some rest with big brother.”

After collecting the winnings, we turned to leave.

“Hey! You bastard, where do you think you’re going?! You’re just gonna run off after winning?!”

“Get over here, now!”

The other players freaked out, but this was a fully casino-run underground gambling den. The manager frantically soothed them, and Rebecca and I walked out.

I brought her back to the hotel.

“You’ll stay here for now. Lord Layme is strong enough, and your detox is nearly complete—so you should be safe.”

“There’s nothing more I can do?”

“Not for now. I’ll come visit you at the Order later, and we’ll talk about your future.”

“My future?”

Rebecca furrowed her brow.

“...Are you telling me to become a gambler?”

“No. Not that kind of job. You’ve got another path laid out.”

“Who laid it out?”

“I did.”

“And who the hell are you?”

“Darling.”

“God, you’re insane. Ugh...”

She dry-heaved.

“You’re better at acting than I thought. I never expected that from you.”

“I spent fifteen years pretending to be a saint—think I can’t fake a little coquetry? Life itself is acting. Anyway, forget it. Don’t you dare bring that up again...”

Honestly, I want to forget too.

I’m afraid it’ll show up in my dreams.

Ugh!

PIRORORORONG– PIRORORORONG–

At that moment, a loud alarm rang from the casino’s direction.

The VIP manager Balmung and Gray had knocked out had finally been discovered. Since such an important person was found unconscious, the casino scrambled into emergency response.

“What’s all that noise?”

“Did someone set off a bomb?”

“Evacuate!”

The crowd fell into chaos.

Security would tighten even more now—but they still didn’t know our real target was the underground vault.

This meant the heist was truly beginning.

Right then—

< Elize: Professor. >

< Elize: I’m gonna die. >

As I rushed back toward the casino, a <Transmission> came through from Elize.

< Dante: No, you’re not. >

< Elize: Why not? >

< Dante: If you die, I can’t play with your bones. >

Despite the urgency, I activated the 『Glass Butterfly』 I had previously attached to her. Her surroundings projected clearly into my mind.

That emblem...

I didn’t recognize the face, but I knew the outfit, the black insignia on the chest, and the thread unraveling from her left hand.

Heliope.

Daughter of the Nibelung Matriarch—raised under the protection of the entire Nibelung Family, heir to their power.

Shit.

The moment I identified her, a lightning bolt struck in my mind.

The Matriarch had been more concerned with internal security than I’d anticipated. The number of elite guards was likely far higher than I had estimated.

We need a diversion.

Someone had to go wild to draw attention away, so my team and I could slip into the underground vault.

Right now, the only person I had at hand was Rebecca. But she lacked the means to create chaos, and even if she did, she’d almost certainly die. Too fragile.

Then who...

My thoughts landed on a single point.

I had someone strong and unhinged who could go berserk in my place.

Where is he right now?

Prison.

***

The club had the usual hallmark—drunken patrons. Even with security shouting orders, the crowd didn’t comply. The louder the guests got, the louder the guards had to yell.

Amidst the noise, Heliope’s voice was quiet—but piercingly clear.

“Assassins always exist to torment someone. To kill. To spy. To steal.”

Elize caught the scent—and knew instantly. This opponent outclassed her.

The matchup was also terrible. Elize specialized in [Stealth] and [Combat], while Heliope’s specialties were [Sniping] and [Throwing].

Against a [Sniper]-type with keen eyes, [Stealth]-types falter.

At long range, [Throwing]-types dominate over [Combat]-types.

And the moment the gun was raised, Elize felt it—six, maybe more, curses and debuffs had latched onto her body.

Her limbs felt heavy. Her head was swimming.

“Who did you come to torment?”

“...I just came to hang out.”

“If you lie again, I’ll kill you. Say it. Who did you come to torment?”

Ah.

Guess I’ll die without ever seeing Dad again.

That’s when it happened.

< Dante: Repeat exactly what I say. >

Professor sent something... fascinating.

Elize followed his instructions—lowered her head slightly. Smiled. And whispered softly:

“Don’t be like this, Heliope.”

“......??”

The gun-wielder’s eyes twitched. The shock of hearing her name and identity all at once.

“I was just out for a walk.”

“...What?”

“Being locked up as an assassin is stifling, you know? So I just wanted to walk around. I was curious how people have fun... Everyone in the club is around my age, right? ...Don’t you like walks, Heliope?”

“......”

And Heliope’s eyes began to waver.

“......”

No matter what words are used, a skilled assassin like Heliope never flinches.

Except for one thing.

The Doberman instinct inherited from the Nibelung bloodline.

When something precious is taken. When they’re caged in darkness. When they’re raised in oppressive control...

That’s why the Nibelung heirs romanticize walks.

And because that dream is so vague, so innocent, Heliope never learned how to respond.

Dante had struck the exact nerve.

“...Walks? I... I don’t...”

That few seconds of hesitation was all Elize needed to slap away her arm and activate [Stealth].

Whap!

Her body melded into the air—vanishing like mist.

“Why you little—!!”

Bang! Ratatatatata!

Heliope fired in a frenzy. Mana-charged bullets stormed forth like a monsoon.

Sring–!

Elize’s 『Shapeless Sword○』 deflected two shots and avoided over ten more. She twisted her body in a sharp lunge.

『Dawn Wilds Walkway』

—— .

Elize shot forward like a bullet.

Her sword grazed Heliope’s cheek. Tch! But Heliope countered—bang bang!! She dodged the blade’s path using bullet recoil, then twisted mid-air to land a kick.

She sprang off the wall, drew twin pistols, and opened fire.

Crackle, ratatatatatata!!

Elize’s stealth was top-tier. But Heliope could see faint traces—just enough to follow.

Her bullets, enhanced by supernatural abilities, flew twice as fast as normal.

Elize narrowly evaded and bolted away.

“Requesting backup from the Matriarch’s Guard!”

Heliope clenched her jaw after losing her.

“That bitch... That fucking bitch...”

Of all the words in the world, why did it have to be “walk”?

To have her deepest scar touched without warning—rage boiled up inside her.

Meanwhile, Elize ran with everything she had.

< Dante: Still alive? >

< Elize: Yup. >

< Dante: Good job. When this is over, let’s go on a walk. You, me, and Balmung. >

Elize almost answered That sounds so fun! but stopped herself.

Thud!

She tripped and fell mid-run—scraping both knees on the asphalt.

‘...Ouch.’

Something had felt off for a while. When she touched her abdomen, her hand came away wet.

She pulled off her vest—and saw her crisp white waiter shirt, soaked red around her stomach.

“......”

A bullet was lodged in her lower abdomen. A [Paralysis Round].

“There she is!”

“That way! Blood trail on the floor!”

By then, security guards and the Matriarch’s Guard had caught up.

Elize forced her mana through her body, driving out the creeping paralysis, then ejected the bullet.

Legs stiffening, she rose to her feet—and ran.

...I can’t die like this.

I still have to go on that walk.

With Professor.

***

< Balmung: Kendreik! What the hell are you doing, you dumbass?! Move your ass already! >

They were supposed to bring him—but he wouldn’t come.

So Balmung shouted—

< Kendreik: U-uuurgh...! >

KWAANG!!

The side of the building exploded, and Kendreik leapt out.

< Balmung: Hey! What the hell are you doing, man?! >

< Gray: Are you stupid?! We told you to come out through the ventilation shaft! Now you’ve got everyone’s eyes on us...! >

At that moment, Kendreik felt like screaming on the inside. How the hell was I supposed to squeeze through that ant-sized vent?! It was unjust. But the only word he knew how to say was “Uuurgh,” which just made it worse.

“Hey! The wall exploded over there!”

“It’s them! There’s a terrorist group here!”

“Get them!!”

A dozen security and enforcement officers charged toward them.

“You idiots haven’t forgotten the plan, right?”

Since he was surrounded by nothing but hopeless morons, Balmung—who basically considered himself the de facto leader of Dante’s assassination squad—reminded the others of the operation mid-sprint.

“You two head underground through Point B-1 with the master card key. Once the [Magic Transmitter] goes up, I’ll snipe Grand Magus Hirion to delay the response. Then I’ll regroup with Elize and Professor Dante and proceed through Point B-2. Got it?”

“We got it, dickhead. Stop showing off.”

“Uuurgh 🙄”

Once Gray and Kendreik took off—

KWA-KWA-KWAAANG!!!

A thunderous explosion rang out from afar. Elize had just detonated the [Magic Transmitter] using her pre-planted charge.

“Huh?!”

“The building’s mana supply just dropped!”

Lights across the casino flickered off. Game machines blinked out mid-play, and automatic doors froze halfway open.

“Emergency power! Switch to emergency mana grid!”

“Shit, even the comms are dead!”

Balmung clenched his jaw. Everything was going exactly according to the professor’s plan. He just had to avoid screwing up now.

He climbed to the rooftop of a nearby tower, hidden in the shadows of the night. Before long, a burst of light flashed as a mage arrived via 『Teleport』 to restore emergency power.

Grand Magus Hirion.

He appeared alongside three knight-guards. Balmung raised his rifle.

He had recently mastered a Level 8 supernatural skill. All he needed was one shot. It would blast through every barrier spell and neutralize Hirion.

Prone sniper position.

Stock secured.

Reticle aligned.

Breath controlled.

And then—

...Huh?

Balmung paused. He recognized an old man standing beside Grand Magus Hirion. Long white beard. Closed eyes. He’d seen that face somewhere before...

But now wasn’t the time to hesitate.

『Dark Wave Divine Bullet』

CRACK!! KRAAAAAAAAAAANG—!!

A bolt of black lightning surged down the barrel. A dark bullet fired like a cannon blast. It exposed his location—but Balmung trusted its speed and destructive force.

And yet, a moment later, his blood ran cold.

Shit!

『Supreme Ultimate』

It was the old man.

The one holding the cane beside Hirion.

Reflexively, the man raised his hand—

『Boundary』

He occupied the entire surrounding space—

『Extreme Reversal』

Without opening his eyes, he extended his palm toward the incoming bullet.

A giant spectral hand burst forth—like pushing back a sponge, it swatted Balmung’s bullet aside.

Balmung dove off the opposite side of the building in shock—right as the deflected shot blasted the rooftop apart.

KRAAANG!!

Balmung recognized the ability. He had seen it in the Kahla estate.

The Fist King... Moong!

As he called Dante over comms, one thought raced through his mind:

What the hell is that old bastard doing here?!

***

Almost had her.

Heliope flew through the darkness, merging with the air. A power granted by her Black Star⚉ [Stigma]. She targeted the glittering flicker where the bouncer’s stealth was faltering.

Bang! Tatatatat!

Rounds slammed into walls and the air.

Blood sprayed with each impact.

Ratlike bitch...

Her opponent had an incredible step technique, even dodging bullets by eye. But she was slowing. Shots were beginning to graze her—then land.

She had to finish it now.

Had to—but...

< What the hell? Where’s backup?! >

She called desperately for reinforcement. No answer. A faint, broken comm signal came through, and even that was a mess.

< S-sorry...! There’s some kind of intruder here...! >

< What kind of intruder?! >

< Some ragged swordsman... S-super strong... No idea who he—kzzzt >

The Matriarch’s Guard had been halted—by a lone swordsman?

Something was happening. Something big. All at once.

Heliope’s pulse raced. This mission had been given to her personally by her mother—the Matriarch. Failure wasn’t an option.

Still, she was cornering the target into an isolated spot. That was fine.

“Keep running, sweetie. That’s exactly what I want.”

RATATATATATATATAT!!

She kept firing. And finally—the bouncer’s stealth broke.

Blood oozed from multiple limbs. Her stomach was bleeding badly.

She collapsed in the middle of an ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ empty street. Seeing this, Heliope swooped down fast. Killing was one thing—but she had a question to ask first.

How.

How the hell.

Did this woman know about her and “walks”?

She had to know.

“Sweetie... all done running now?”

Her gun barrel was searing hot from overuse as she approached the bouncer.

A pink wig had fallen to the ground, revealing real pink hair beneath.

“......”

The bouncer—Elize—rose to her feet. Still bleeding. Seemed she had no intention of running anymore.

“It’s pointless. You’re cornered now.”

“......”

And sure enough, the [Paralysis] seemed to be kicking in. Elize, trembling, backed away and fell flat on her rear.

Leaning against a roadside tree.

“Not just [Paralysis]. By now, [Poison] will be circulating too. You ran hard. Your blood’s flowing fast. It’s spreading. There’s an antidote, of course.”

Heliope smiled. This was the Nibelung style—tightening the noose slowly.

That’s why she hadn’t forced a showdown earlier. This moment was the real trap.

“Come on. Have a little chat with me.”

She approached, gun raised—

And froze.

A blade was pointed directly between her eyes.

From the tree.

No—it wasn’t a tree.

...What?

The “tree” began to shift—revealing two people standing where it had been.

A pink-eyed man.

And a woman in clerical garb, bearing a cross mark (†) on her cheek—clearly from Kreutz.

An illusion?

But how had they fooled her—a sniper—so thoroughly...?

“Adèle Mouin. Heal Elize with holy magic.”

“Don’t order me around. Goddamn it, why the hell should I listen to a Hiaka bastard?”

“Then crawl back to prison.”

After muttering to each other, the man stepped forward.

“Heliope Nibelung. You now have a choice.”

Those unsettling pink eyes met hers as he spoke.

“Leave—or die.”