Shadow Monarch: Heroines Could Hear My Thoughts?!

Chapter 52- Fragment Of The Shadow Monarch's Dagger (Part 2)

He didn't know why, but he felt a weird connection with that thing. It was as if it was calling for him through his own mind and telling him to get closer, to approach it and touch it. He had no idea why but he was sure it has something to do with his own powers.

"Rin?" Elise called for him again for a second time. Her hand was tapping on his shoulder.

"Ah… My bad. I was just thinking about something." He said with an awkward chuckle.

After that, he shook his head and tried to erase those thoughts before he actually falls for them. As much as he is intrigued to know what kind of thing triggered this reaction from him, the consequences of his actions will be too big for him to risk it.

'Keep your cool, Rin. I almost fucked this party up once. I can't do it twice.'

Coincidentally, as he was having these thoughts, another person was called for and then the butler said something that caught Rin's attention.

"An old black dagger of an unknown origin."

'An old black dagger?' Rin had a killing suspicion that the wrapped-up object was what he just described.

The noble that got that dagger smiled and started explaining.

"My father found it in one of my raids a long time ago and has been sitting there as a family heirloom ever since. So, I decided that it could befit the royal treasury instead of my humble house."

'That sounds so fucking shady! Man, it screams red flags! Are people too stupid not to notice that detail?'

[Not everyone has the same thought process as you, host.] The system commented.

'It doesn't need a massive brain to see that. But, the fact that it's a black dagger is too much of a coincidence. Not only do I use daggers as my main weapon but also my ability is literally to manipulate shadows.'

Meanwhile, the king asked the butler to open up the wrapped-up dagger for them to see it clearly. When it was revealed, Rin froze again.

The dagger looked very unique, it was palpably large compared to normal daggers with a brown hilt and red blade guards that resemble that of a demon's mouth. It looked so intimidating and menacing even though it was a simple and old and rusty sword.

However, that feeling of dread that seeped through every person present didn't apply to Rin. The latter was simply mesmerized by the dagger. Its unique design and beautiful carvings along with the midnight black blade made it look like a piece of old yet beautiful art.

[Quest triggered!]

[Quest section has been updated!]

[Retrieve the fragment of the Shadow Monarch's dagger.]

[Reward: 1000 Action Points.]

'...' Rin couldn't say anything for a good 10 seconds as he read the quest silently.

Then, he looked at Elise and said with a mysterious look.

"Hypothetically speaking, what are my chances of infiltrating the royal treasury?"

"Zero percent," Elise replied without giving any confused looks.

"I bet. Fuck!" Rin cursed under his breath.

"So, that sword is indeed related to your powers as I predicted."

"Sigh, I even got a quest that told me to get it. The reward is 1000 Action Points."

"1000?"

"Yes, It's too big of a number for me to not actually try to get it. However, if I get caught stealing, It's the end for me."

"... I can help you."

"You will?"

"Obviously, we did agree to help each other when we needed it."

"Thank you, Elise. You are really a kind person!" He said as he grabbed her hands instinctively.

Realizing his blunder, he quickly retracted his arms away from hers.

"Oh… My bad, I didn't mean to touch you out of nowhere."

Elise didn't show any reaction at all and merely watched the rest of the party silently. However, in her head, she was thinking about something.

'Why did I feel like that when he touched my hands?'

All of her life, Elise had this deep disgust from any remote skin contact with a person of the opposite sex. The reason for that disgust is something that happened to her when she was young. Ever since that accident, she could not even bear to touch a man even if neither of them meant it.

The moment she does that, her heart starts beating loudly and a strong urge to puke assaults her. Not only that, but any contact would make her mind stop working and a strong, gut-wrenching fear fills her whole being.

It was a trauma that she hid her whole life and didn't tell anyone about and doesn't intend to tell anyone about it anytime soon. It was a scar that she felt so disgusted with and made her hate herself greatly.

However, at this moment, when Rin touched her, she didn't feel the disgust and panic attacks that usually happen to her. In fact, it was far from that. His warm hands actually felt weirdly good to touch.

She did touch Rin before when she found him inside the D-Rank dungeon but his horrible injuries made her forget about that completely. But, now that she was in a calm state of mind, she could think about it. He had somehow made her enjoy his touch to a certain extent even though they were merely acquaintances for the longest time.

'Is it related to the goddess? No… that's not logical. I still have my thoughts and personality intact. That means that it has something to do with him.'

Her feelings were incomprehensible. But, the good thing is that she didn't hate it at all and that was more than enough to change many ideas in her head. One thing for certain, Rin wasn't someone that Elise hated to be next to.

"So, how should we do it?" Rin asked.

Shaking those thoughts away, Elise spoke out with a contemplating look.

"Tonight, after the party. We can use the darkness to stealth our way inside the treasury. There will be some guards but I can deal with them since I'm the princess. The only problem we have is how to not alert my siblings and my father. They can easily notice our auras if we don't be careful."

"Can't we just hide our auras?"

"We can. But, it's still quite risky."

As they were contemplating the possible solutions… Rin's eyes widened as a wide grin appeared on his face.

"I think I have the right solution for that."

Seeing the mischievous smile on his face, Elise tilted her head in confusion.

"However, let me warn you. It will be quite an uncomfortable ride. So bear with it for me." He said.

"Just tell me what are you planning?"

"I can't right now. Tonight, at midnight, just wait for me in your room and at midnight exactly, I will knock 7 knocks on your door. Seven exact knocks, to indicate that it's me. After that, I will tell you the plan."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A few hours passed and the party was finally over, everyone then started leaving the hall after making sure to congratulate the princess for the one-thousandth time.

Rin and his family also left the hall and went back to their house. Rin's mind was occupied with how to infiltrate the castle and reach Elise's room. However, not to raise suspicion, he made sure to leave the planning for later at night.

But, when the time for the family to sleep came, Rin faced the first major problem before he could even start the plan in the first place.

"Rin… can we sleep together?"

"Aria? Why is that?"

"Please, just this once."

"I-I mean, it's fine with me but…"

'My plan is ruined!!' He screamed in his head.

Aria's eyes turned sharp as she glared at Rin.

"Do you have something you want to do?"

'Your precise women intuitions are way too overpowered, big sis.'

"W-Well, I just wanted to train tonight since I couldn't train the whole day. That's what I intended to do. But, for the sake of my lovely big sister, I will postpone my plans for tomorrow. Now, let's sleep."

Pulling Aria inside the bed, he hugged her tightly and closed his eyes with a satisfied smile. Aria was completely frozen at the sudden contact but then quickly calmed down and dozed off in his arms. Her face was fully buried in his neck and her calm breathing kept tickling him from time to time.

When he was sure that she was asleep.

'Sorry for lying to you, Aria. But, I have to do this. Thanks for your understanding.' Kissing her on the forehead lightly, he made his way out of her grasp and covered her with the blanket before walking silently to the window.

Taking a look back, he saw how Aria was murmuring something under her breath.

"Stay here… Rin~," She said with a small smile.

'You are too adorable, sister.'

*Swish*

After that, like a shadow, he vanished into the darkness as if he was never there. The only trace left of him was the half-opened window that let in some of the moonlight that illuminated the whole city.

(A//N: I'm stealth.)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks for reading. Any support you give me is always appreciated no matter how small it was. Let's all keep it up :)