Chương 45: A Perfect Lie — Manipulating the Truth

The sun had barely crossed Ithrya's horizon when I opened my eyes. The inn room was still immersed in the silence of dawn. Aurélia and Lyra were fast asleep; both needed to remain completely in the dark about the gears currently in motion. I stood up without making a single sound beneath my boots and approached Myreia, lightly tapping her shoulder. — Myreia, I need to talk to you — I whispered, without a trace of sleep. She blinked rapidly, adjusting the round glasses that had almost slipped off her face.

I glanced to the side before she could question me. — Selene. Wake up. You're coming too. We left the inn surgically, without waking the others, and walked to a damp, isolated cave in the forest surrounding the city. Total privacy was required. In the shadows of the cave, Akari was waiting next to the heavy materials and gathered supplies. I slid my hands into my pants pockets, keeping my face completely expressionless before the cat-girl. — Myreia, straight to the point.

With your knowledge and molecular manipulation... can you make gold coins? Myreia's eyes widened. Her cat ears instantly dropped in shock, and her trembling fingers adjusted her glasses. — K-Kuro... I can alter the atomic bonds of base metals to create gold, but it wouldn't be perfect. The molecular density and purity standard would require too much precision. If we try to circulate that, we'll be hunted down and killed for counterfeiting by the kingdom. It's an absurd risk! My face remained icy.

That was merely a tactical test to map out her current scientific capability. — Fine. Forget about the gold for now. Let's focus on what actually matters. Selene, Myreia... we're going to start making the Eclipse Runed Arcane Musket today. Since we'll spend a lot of mana on molecular casting and engraving the runes, we'll need mana potions in large quantities. Let's begin. The mana crystals, recovery herbs, and empty vials were organized on the cave's stone bench.

I initiated the molecular alchemy, first analyzing the structure of each material. The first step was purification. I separated the impurities from the mana crystals, removing elements that diminished the efficiency of the magical energy. The second step was reorganization. The molecules of the herbs were carefully adjusted to retain only their mana recovery properties. The third step was molecular fusion. The purified components began to bond, forming a stable new composition.

Unlike traditional alchemy, the process did not rely on fire or cauldrons. Molecular alchemy allowed for the direct alteration of material structures using precise mana control. Any mistake would destroy the ingredients or cause an unstable reaction. I controlled every movement with precision, adjusting the composition until a perfect balance was achieved. Little by little, the liquid inside the container took on a blue-violet glow. With the process finished, I filled the glass vials.

[Medium Mana Potion ×8 obtained] Myreia watched the finished vials while organizing the remaining materials. Even after seeing it multiple times, the surprise on her face made it clear how simple such a complex transmutation appeared under my command. Akari approached the bench, pointing at the containers. — These blue liquids... are they liquid mana? — No. Mana cannot be bottled. The potion merely helps the body recover and control its own mana faster. — So it doesn't create mana? — No.

It accelerates the natural recovery process. If it were possible to create mana out of nothing, anyone could become an absolute mage without limits. Selene leaned forward, absorbing the logic. — So the secret lies in the composition of the potion? — Exactly. Molecular alchemy allows us to alter the structure of the ingredients, remove impurities, and increase the efficiency of the final result. Akari furrowed her brow, analyzing the materials. — Can you two do that just by looking at the materials? — No.

It requires understanding the structure of each component, controlling mana with precision, and knowing exactly what needs to be changed. Myreia let out a low chuckle, adjusting the lenses over her eyes. — He really has the patience to explain these things. — Patience? — Akari repeated. — Yes. Kuro usually looks like someone who only thinks about strategies and battles, but when it comes to knowledge... he explains it until the person understands. — Useless information serves no purpose.

If someone in the group doesn't understand something important, it could become a problem in the future. — See? That's exactly what I'm talking about — Myreia began to laugh. — He talks like he's a machine, but deep down, he likes to teach. — Do not twist my words. The vials were aligned on the bench. The amount of mana required to create the Eclipse Musket would be far greater than that of an ordinary weapon. Every detail needed to be perfect.

The black pieces of the rifle were separated before us: the main body, the mana core, and the plates where the runes would be engraved. Myreia ran her fingers over the dark metal, analyzing each component intently. — The structure is unlike anything that exists in Ithrya. A normal weapon relies on physical strength and durable materials. This one depends on the harmony between technology and mana. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

Selene approached curiously. — So if a single rune is wrong... — The weapon could fail. Or worse. It could release all the accumulated mana at once. Akari looked at the Eclipse Musket with a serious expression. — You two are creating something that could change this world, aren't you? Silence was my answer. She was right. During the practical beginning of the creation, Myreia fixed her eyes on the matte molecular barrel. — It's strange to think that something like this exists here — she commented, her voice low.

— Because it shouldn't. — In our old world, this would just be technology. Here... it feels like something impossible. Myreia understands. She doesn't view this weapon as a magical tool. She sees the concept behind it. That is why she is different from the other people of this world. Adjusting the energy-conducting plates, she continued her milimetric check. — The mana distribution needs to be balanced. If the flow passes too quickly through the core, the structure will shatter. — I've already thought of that.

— I know. I'm just confirming. She remains the same. Even after reincarnating, she still has this habit of double-checking everything. Selene stood a bit further back, observing our synchronicity with the components and potions. — Sometimes it feels like you two are talking without speaking. — Because we understand the same logic — Myreia replied with a slight smile. — There's no need to explain something the other person has already comprehended. Few people can keep up with my reasoning. Myreia is one of them.

The cat-girl paused her movements for a moment, observing the adjustments I was making to the dark metal conducting circuits. — It's strange... — she murmured. — What is? — In the other world, I never imagined you would be someone capable of creating something like this. — You barely knew me. — True. I was just the class representative. I had my own responsibilities and never really paid attention to you. She's right. In the old world, our lives practically never crossed.

The person standing beside me now isn't someone who knew my past. It's someone who has come to know my actions in this world. Continuing the assembly of the runic lines, her ears twitched slightly. — Most people in this world would call this forbidden magic. — Because they don't understand it. — And you've never cared about being understood, have you? — As long as the result works, it doesn't matter. Akari took a step backward, analyzing the complexity of the pieces that emanated a dense aura. — It's strange...

it looks like a weapon, but it doesn't look like any I've ever seen. Myreia answered immediately, without thinking: — Because it doesn't belong to this world. I kept my expression neutral, but logged the security breach instantly. I slid my hands deeper into my jacket pockets. Myreia has grown attached to Akari... that's good in a way, but why is she telling her things she shouldn't? Akari still hasn't handed over the information regarding what Myreia is actually planning.

I don't know what her intentions are, but I will help Akari recover her memories. That way, she can fulfill her debt to me and keep playing on my chessboard. As the work continued, Liora approached carrying the remaining heavy materials. She called me over to a more distant corner, where the gloom of the rock isolated us from the others. The weight on her countenance was unusual. Liora remained silent for a few seconds before speaking. She had always hidden her emotions behind a cold expression.

But at that moment, it was different. For the first time, she didn't look like an assassin waiting for a mission. She just looked like a girl carrying a past far too heavy. — Kuro... — she called in a low voice. — There is something I have never told anyone. Her voice trembled slightly as she looked down, the memories clearly resurfacing. — When I was only twelve years old, my home, the Village of Crows, was invaded by the kingdom's army. My father and mother fought desperately to protect me.

My father threw himself in front of me like a shield, taking every single blow and sacrificing his life, while my mother was murdered right before my eyes. My older sister was dragged away to be sold as a slave. My parents told me to run, and I ran for three straight hours until I collapsed exhausted in the dense woods. A woman dressed in black found me, saw my clan's mark, and decided to raise and train me. By the time I turned fourteen, I searched for my sister, only to find out she was already dead.

She took a step forward, fixing her dark eyes on mine as she recalled the turning point of her path. — After accepting countless contracts and killing so many people, I found you, Kuro... I was fifteen when I joined the group. And right on our very first assassination mission, you did the exact same thing my father and mother did to protect me... You took all the blades in my place. — She swallowed hard, her voice carrying a raw intensity. — I thought to myself: why would this person do this for me?

I don't deserve this. I swear I will repay this with my life. Even if one day the entire world turns against you... I will still choose to stand by your side. I remained silent. Not because I lacked an answer, but because any word at that moment could shatter the resolve it had taken her years to build. I kept my hands in my pants pockets, holding her gaze. She survived because she turned pain into a weapon. But weapons break too when they carry too much weight. She believes she owes me her life...

but this is more than gratitude. It is dependency. Night fell over Ithrya. In the darkness of the inn room, the silence was heavy, but my senses remained fully alert. A subtle movement broke the gloom. I opened my eyes minimally. Liora slipped out of the room stealthily, without making a single sound. I stood up and followed her through the slivers of shadow in the corridor. She pushed open the door to the quarters belonging to Lyra and Aurélia.

I approached in absolute silence and gently nudged the crack open, witnessing the act firsthand. Liora moved like a specter. She advanced toward the bed where Lyra slept alone and, brutally, plunged a dagger coated in paralysis poison into her. In the same breath, she drove her katana straight into Lyra's chest, using her free hand to forcefully cover the girl's mouth. Lyra tried to thrash, but the paralysis and suffocation cut off any chance of defense.

She died right there, swallowing her own blood in the darkness of the shared room. I pushed the door fully open, entering the quarters. Liora startled, her katana still drawn, her eyes wide upon seeing me standing there. I stepped forward, gripped her arm firmly, and pulled her away from the bed. — Liora. Why did you do this? She tried to stabilize her breathing, her chest rising and falling rapidly. — I... I have a contract, Kuro — she justified in a tense whisper.

— Hina, the elf sorceress of the kingdom, said that Lyra and Aurélia are traitors and have direct ties to the Silver Kingdom. The bounty on their heads is 50 gold coins. — Killing is the easy part. The hard part is deciding who will carry the blame — I decreed, looking at the corpse on the bed. She blinked, dazed. — I... I didn't think about that. — That's why I thought about it. You were foolish, Liora. You could have just poisoned her. Now, making up an excuse for Aurélia is going to be harder.

Aurélia should be arriving soon. — What do you mean arriving? She wasn't supposed to... — So that's why you told Selene to go talk to Aurélia? — My expression remained completely vacant and indifferent as I deduced her play. — You did that because you couldn't face both of them at once, right? You just killed a person while she slept. I approached the bedroom window and pushed it wide open to the cold night.

I grabbed an ordinary sword within reach and, using tools and precise mana control, engraved the Ithrya Royal Crest onto the guard: the great tree with exposed roots beneath the crown and a vertical sword. I carefully inspected the fresh engraving. Next, I used alchemy to lightly weather the metal, eliminating any recent sheen and erasing the marks left by the tools. A fine layer of dust and minor superficial oxidation spots were scattered across the blade.

To the eyes of any investigator, that sword appeared to have been engraved a long time ago, without a single hint that the symbol had been marked this very night. I drove the tampered weapon into Lyra's chest. — The excuse will be simple: some assassin from the kingdom must have entered through the window and killed her while she slept. And you cannot kill Aurélia, understood? We are going to fake Aurélia's death.

She will have to believe it, because she knows very well that she is a traitor and that people from Ithrya are after her. People do not see the truth. They see the story that makes the most sense. A good lie needs only one convincing piece of evidence. Shortly after, rapid footsteps echoed in the corridor. Aurélia entered the shared room, and the silence was shattered.

Upon seeing Lyra motionless on the bed with the sword of her own kingdom driven into her chest, she collapsed to her knees, her hands covering her face in pure despair. — L-Lyra...? No... wake up... please... don't do this to me... I entered the room, simulating exact alarm on my features. I approached, catching her by the shoulders and lifting her with a comforting firmness. I quickly guided her back to the main room. The noise woke Selene, Myreia, and Akari. — Kuro... what happened?

— Selene asked, her eyes alert. — It seems someone assassinated Lyra. The window was open; someone must have broken in through there. I turned my gaze directly to the inconsolable elf. — Aurélia... did you two do something wrong? The terror of seeing her sister killed by an Ithrya blade broke Aurélia's final barrier. She took a step forward and threw herself against my chest, wrapping her arms around me tightly while sobbing. — Yes... we have ties to the princess of the Silver Kingdom! They found out...

they came to kill us! I wrapped my arms around her, applying a protective hold. I held her face for a moment, forcing her to focus on me. — Look at me. As long as I am alive, no one is going to touch you. Right now, she needs someone to trust. And that someone will be me. — If the kingdom sent assassins, this inn is no longer safe — I commanded, looking at the others. — There might be more of them lurking in the city. We need to get out of here for now. We will leave the city and head into the forest.

We'll take the wagon and spend the night there. Myreia, Selene, Akari... pack the things. Liora, you stay on guard at the rear. Let's move. The group moved quickly, crossing Ithrya's gates under the protective shroud of night. The wagon advanced down the dirt road, leaving the safety of the walls behind. Inside the wagon, no one said a word. Aurélia clutched her own hands, still trying to accept that Lyra wasn't coming back. Selene watched me in silence. She knew something about tonight didn't add up.

Myreia noticed it too. But neither of them asked. Silence is also an answer. Sometimes, people don't ask because they are afraid of what they might find out. Selene averted her eyes to the darkness of the road, the tension evident in her posture. — Do you think they will pursue us? — It doesn't matter if they do — I replied, hands in my jacket pockets as I stared at the tree line. — What matters is that they believe we are running. The wagon plunged into the density of the woods.

The wind slipped silently through the trees. Not even the horses seemed to want to break that icy, oppressive silence that settled over the group. The sound of the world seemed to be completely sucked away. Time slowed down. And, coming from the absolute void of my mind, an imposing and unfamiliar female voice echoed:"What is it you desire?"