OBWESB 10

Chapter 10

My eyes raced across the papers in my hand.

The front page was alive with bold headlines, but the hot topics stirring up the press were things I had already grown quite accustomed to seeing lately. Finishing the news, I folded the newspaper and tossed it onto the desk with a heavy thud.

“I want to meet him,” I murmured, resting my chin on my clasped hands atop the desk.

“Can you bring him to me?”

“If it is your wish.”

“What are the chances of you engaging him and coming back in one piece?”

“There will be no issue.”

The reply to my question was brief and concise. The man clad in black, kneeling before my eyes, spoke without a shred of conceit or pretense. I knew he was simply stating a fact.

A gentle smile played on my lips as I gave my orders.

“Then bring him here. However, absolutely do not overdo it. I merely wish to speak with him and have no intention of causing trouble. If he strongly refuses, you may leave it at that.”

“Understood.”

With a brief acknowledgment and a bow, the man vanished.

Pushing the newspaper aside to resume my interrupted work, a stray thought crossed my mind.

…Though knowing him, he’ll probably bring him here by force anyway. Since he’s practically a living manifestation of loyalty.

It was entirely by chance that I picked that man up. It happened about two years ago, when I was visiting our villa for a summer retreat.

Beatrix had dashed off after a fox cub and stumbled upon him. The man was collapsed, slumping heavily against a tree.

“Oh!”

Hearing her faint gasp, we hurriedly rushed over to see what was wrong.

“Um… are you feeling unwell?”

Seeing his limp state, Beatrix must have assumed he was sick, and she timidly reached a hand out toward him.

“Beatrix?!”

I shouted to stop her from carelessly approaching a strange man, but before my voice could even reach her, fresh blood sprayed through the air. The sharp sound of slicing wind, and a glittering trajectory.

Beatrix likely never even saw it. Because in the next instant, she was being shielded and held tight in the man’s arms.

Of the two trespassers who had suddenly ambushed us, the man deflected a dagger swung by one, while using his own body to shield Beatrix from the blade of the other. However, before the lethal blade could touch either of them, my sword was far faster, slashing the arm that dared point a weapon at my beloved little sister.

Since I had no intention of letting them raise a ruckus, I immediately delivered a heavy blow to his stomach, and knocked the other one unconscious by slamming the pommel of my sword into his neck.

“B-Brother…?”

Hearing Beatrix call out in a terribly trembling voice, I hurriedly sheathed my blood-stained sword.

“Everything is fine. But keep your eyes closed for just a little longer.”

I lifted Beatrix out of the stranger’s arms, pulling her close against my chest to block her view, and stroked her hair repeatedly to comfort her. The slight trembling of her body gradually subsided as my fingers ran through her smooth hair over and over again.

As for my actual state of mind at that moment… my blood was absolutely boiling.

I am certain the gaze I directed at the two knocked-out attackers was absolute zero. Daring to frighten my beloved sister and point a blade at her was a crime worthy of ten thousand deaths! However, since scaring Beatrix further was the last thing I wanted, I did my best to suppress the murderous aura bubbling inside me.

“Beatrix! Are you alright?!”

I signaled Garnest with a look as he arrived, successfully getting him to lead Beatrix away for the time being. Once I confirmed that Garnest was supporting her as they walked away, I finally turned my attention back to the man.

In the meantime, the remaining two attackers had already been securely tied up. Wow, you guys just happened to have ropes on hand despite this being a sudden ambush? I really wanted to offer a witty rejoinder, but I figured I probably shouldn’t. And even while binding them up, Rif naturally maintained a position where he could act as a shield for me at any given moment.

My attendant is super competent today as well!!

“Now then, allow me to thank you for shielding my cute little sister. …Are those two your companions?”

That was our first encounter.

As a result, we found out it was a case of infighting among colleagues. By the way, their profession was of the assassin variety.

Rather than mere infighting, it seemed to be a breach of contract on the client’s side. The man had a strict policy of never targeting women or children, and he was the conscientious type of assassin who didn’t condone the slaughter of bystanders.

Yeah, let’s just overlook the contradiction of a “conscientious assassin”!

The client had tried to trick him into the job, but he refused. Furthermore, because he protected a young girl who was one of the targets, pursuers were sent after him. He was injured during the clash but managed to escape and hide, which was when the pursuers caught up to him again.

Because his clothing was entirely practical and black, it hadn’t been obvious at first, but the bleeding from his flank was actually quite severe.

For the time being, we secured all three of them. The two attackers were handed over to the proper authorities. Of course, we framed them for targeting the Ducal House as well, so they definitely wouldn’t be getting off easy.

As for the remaining injured young man. I decided to bring him back to the mansion and treat his wounds.

He did protect Beatrix, after all. Well, technically he was the one being targeted in the first place, though.

After taking care of him, I tried to scout him to see if he wanted to work for our household. To be honest, that had been my goal from the moment I took him in. His response at the time was, “Please let me think about it,” and after a short while, he vanished.

And then, about half a year later. We had a sudden reunion in the Duke’s courtyard.

I just happened to be out in the garden when he suddenly dropped down from a tree. Shwack! Like, he literally dropped out of a tree with a perfect shwack! and knelt right before my eyes. You cannot imagine my surprise.

“A ni—”

The word almost slipped out, and I frantically covered my mouth.

“A NINJA JUST APPEARED!!!”

In my stead, Lilia, who happened to be passing by, screamed at the top of her lungs.

Yes, my thoughts exactly.

The man who had suddenly descended. Agile movements that defied the eye, a full body suit of black garments, and a black cloth covering his lower face as if to hide his actually quite handsome features… that appearance was undeniably…

A N I N J A ☆

No, seriously, ever since I was taking care of him, I kept thinking this guy would fit a traditional Japanese aesthetic perfectly. He has black hair and black eyes, and his personality and speech pattern are totally samurai-like. I mean, the guy literally says things like “Katajinakai” (You have my gratitude). Before this, his clothes were basic black, but they were just normal clothes provided by our estate.

Combined with the effects of the stealth gear and the face mask, this is a total ninja! It’s a ninja, my dear friends!!!

Who am I even talking to…

I was so hyped that my inner monologue was making absolutely no sense.

According to his story afterward… it felt wrong to him to serve while injured and unsure if he could be of use. Furthermore, he had vanished out of concern that the remnants of his old group targeting him might bring harm to our household.

Apparently, while recovering, he had been systematically purging anyone who posed a threat. He might be kind to women, children, and the innocent, but he is utterly ruthless to his enemies.

And now that his health was fully restored and all his worries were cleared, if the offer from back then was still valid, he wished to dedicate his body and soul to my service.

Heck yeah, hired!

“We need to decide on a name for you. Do you have any preferences?”

Apparently, he didn’t have a name. The man himself didn’t feel the need for one, but it’s absolutely necessary! Everyone was struggling to call him anything during his recovery period.

“If I may,”

For some reason, a hand shot up from a third party rather than the man himself. Literally raising her hand with a deadpan, serious face was Lilia.

“How about the name Hanzo?”

My face went completely blank.

Fortunately, no one noticed my internal reaction, and I innocently tilted my head.

“Hanzo… that’s a peculiar-sounding name. Does it have a specific meaning?”

As if I don’t know. That is 100% the “Hanzo” from Hattori Hanzo.

“Yes! It is a name from a certain foreign land, carrying the meaning of ‘one who lives in the darkness, exists in the shadows, and swears absolute loyalty to his master’!”

No, it doesn’t!! Don’t talk as if that’s the literal definition of the word “Hanzo”! Though I totally get what you’re trying to say!!

“I see.”

The two of us carried out this ridiculous exchange with completely straight faces. Currently lacking a straight man to call out the absurdity.

“It is a splendid name. It represents the exact path I wish to walk.”

And the person in question, completely oblivious to our inner thoughts, took a profound liking to the name. Feeling a slight pang of guilt as I watched Hanzo’s shoulders tremble with deep emotion, I chose to look away from that feeling since I had no objections to the naming itself.

“To ensure I never bring shame to this name, I shall eliminate all enemies of my Lord and the young princesses. I dedicate this life to my deeply gracious Lord and swear my eternal loyalty to you.”

Watching Hanzo look up at me while resting on one knee in full ninja fashion, my heart was practically doing backflips of pure excitement. Being able to remain so incredibly hyped on the inside while showing absolutely none of it on my face and maintaining a gentle smile—man, the skin on my face must be incredibly thick. Truly the fruits of many years of practice…!

“I have no intention of using you merely as a tool for assassination, Hanzo. You are already a member of this household. Go on and show yourself to Beatrix and the others soon; they will surely be delighted.”

“I am deeply honored.”

Hearing him call me “My Lord” also sent my excitement through the roof.

By the way, because Beatrix had diligently helped take care of him while he was injured, he looks up to her as the “Princess,” and he respects Garnest as the “Young Master.”