My Wife Waited in the Wheat Fields

Chapter 52: The Banquet (6)

PR: Ford 53 & Alive Sigh

Dalton Nimrud didnt like what he was seeing.

Where had it all gone wrong?

As he racked his brain for an answer, he realized the answer was fairly obvious.

-The plans have changed. The assassination will take place on the day of the banquet.

The Moonlings.

It was all because those stupid assassins had pushed back the date of Elric Portmans assassination.

Daltons plan had been to get rid of the troublesome Elric Portman before the banquet and kill Elvus Grayman on the spot.

He had no intention of getting involved in the process himself.

But now that he had to assassinate both of them at once, he had no choice but to be part of the process himself.

He came out just in time to hear that the Moonlings had lured them out to the same spot.

It seemed that the heavens hadnt abandoned him just yet.

What a wonderful coincidence.

He walked out into the garden and saw Elvus Grayman and Elric Portman talking.

How did they know each other?

He wondered briefly, but not for long.

Dalton knew.

Well, its no secret that the Graymans dont associate with people based on their titles, though I never realized it extended to even barons.

He remembered hearing that Elric Portman had been a wanderer for ten years.

It was possible that the two had met during that time.

It seemed like a plausible connection, and Dalton began to believe it.

Whatever it was, it didnt change his plan, so hed make it quick and then go home.

Dalton smiled, feeling a little better.

The two men began to speak among themselves.

Elvus began.

Whos that?

Count Nimrud.

I dont know all the nobles of other countries by heart, so dont look at me like that.

Would you understand if I tell you that hes the one who has been targeting you?

Oh?

They were being too generous.

Dalton clicked his tongue.

Youre both like worms, not knowing whats going to happen to you. A man whos Half-dead and one whos crippled, thats quite the combination.

I suppose so?

At least Ill be better soon, unlike you.

Youre speaking rudely.

Dalton frowned.

Did he know someone?

Did he have a powerful bodyguard nearby?

Surely that bodyguard couldnt have been so stupid as to not know what was going on.

Dalton patted the small crystal ball in his pocket.

Ding

Judging by its reaction, the Moonlings had already arrived here.

So was their confidence just a bluff?

Yes, it was surely all just a bluff.

Dalton spoke in an angry voice.

Im done playing around.

Dalton glared at Elvus Grayman.

Young Master Graham, youre going to die right here.

You mean me?

Yes, Sir. It is nothing personal, but your sacrifice will be for the greater good I suppose thats the way Ill put it.

If he stayed away too long, he might arouse suspicion.

Dalton sprang into action.

Its for the glory of the East, Sir, so dont be too sad.

Dalton deepened his crooked smile and envisioned his bright future.

Assassinating Elvus Grayman at a royal banquet would surely give him a cause for war.

Daltons goal was to gain power by stopping the war with his own hands while the country was still reeling.

If he could oust the king in the process, establishing a new Nimrud dynasty would not be far off.

In fact, he was confident of it already.

Hed already made a deal with that man after all.

Let me introduce you to

Dalton felt a little giddy at the thought of his hand pulling the trigger on such a grand plan.

The Moonlings! The Reapers of the West!

Gleam!

He raised the crystal ball high, and a grayish-white light emanated from it.

It was a signal of sorts.

Now, kill them!

He excitedly shouted and then started a count to five.

Daltons heart leapt to his throat in anticipation of the sight of them being beaten to death before his eyes.

?

Nothing happened.

Panic rose in Daltons gut.

He looked around, but there was nothing but silence.

What is this?

There were three things Dalton didnt know.

Firstly, that they both had already known about his plan.

Secondly, that the Moonlings had already tried to assassinate Elric once, and failed.

And thirdly,

Thats enough.

The failed assassination attempt had been used by Elric as justification for the Moonlings to do a job under him.

Deal with him.

You son of a bitch!

Bam!

Danal, the leader of the Moonlings, emerged from the bushes, his eyes glossy, as he kicked Dalton in the head.

Even though this wasnt his first assassination,

Danals kicks were as furious as his rage.

Pak! Pak! Pak!

Ugh!

Youre going to kill me!

Dalton was busy moaning as he fell to the ground in a heap.

Danal didnt feel the slightest bit pleased that he was trampling Dalton.

No, he could only be relieved that he had survived hell and come back.

What the hell was Elvus Grayman supposed to be assassinated for in the first place?

It hadnt mattered whether Elric had shown up or not.

In that future, he would have had to kill Elvus Grayman since it was an order from above after all, but then he would have been tortured by an angered Kasha after finding out later.

In a word, he knew.

Ive been turned into a scapegoat!

Hed been used as a disposable pawn.

And so, very thoroughly.

Akk!

Fuck you!

Daltons knee broke, and Danal grunted and spun around.

There stood Kasha, expressionless, and Elvus Grayman, grinning in amusement.

Danal lowered his eyes.

The missions failed, Kasha found out, and I cant go back to the Moonlings now.

Danal, an assassin of the Moonlings, was a person whose survival instincts had propelled him to the position of branch leader.

Therein, he knew there was only one option.

This is the only way to survive!

Thud!

Danal fell to his knees and touched his head to the ground.

Sir, I did as you asked!

Hed rather be on Kashas side than anywhere else!

Danal prepared to greet his new master.

Elric looked at the stunned Count Nimrud and Danal with a serene expression on his face.

Elvus asked.

Did you bribe him?

I wouldnt call it bribery, since I didnt use any money.

So you forced him to submit through your strength?

They came at me first.

He sighed heavily.

And you, you have no fear of them? You came here knowing there would be assassins

Because I trust you.

Elvus smirked and waved away Elrics words.

Elric felt a slap to the back of his head.

It was a shame that it had ended so well, but it had almost cost him dearly.

You have no right to go see your wife.

Elric said, and Elvus replied.

Is that so? Then I would like to have a deep conversation with your wife, for example, about Kasha the Sword Demon

Id hate for us to not be friends anymore.

Oh well.

Elvus shrugged.

Elric frowned.

His gaze drifted back to Danal.

What to do with him.

As he thought, Elric turned to Elvus.

Can you think of a way to deal with him?

A way?

Whatever it is, its becoming clear that there is a force targeting the East. Im

I understand. You dont want your hometown to be drawn into the war.

Elvus stated, patting Elric on the shoulder.

Do you remember the offer I made you earlier?

Elvus voice was now serious again.

I didnt mean it as a joke. Of course, whatever you choose to do, I will respect your wishes. So Ill ask again.

His face was determined, as if he expected an answer he had never heard before.

Do you ever intend to return to the battlefield?

Elric hesitated for a moment.

His lips curled at the edges, and a confused answer came out of his mouth.

Give me some time to think about it.

Elric couldnt immediately answer affirmatively.

He wasnt sure why hed said it, even to himself.

It was a true statement after all.

That, as soon as his knee healed, hed be back on the battlefield.

Thats what hed always told himself, but when given the choice, he couldnt bring himself to give an affirmative answer.

-Well, Ill take care of the repercussions for now, you can head back.

Elvus didnt seem to mind it and let Elric go.

Elric picked up his cane impatiently and headed for the ballroom.

A feeling he couldnt quite put his finger on made his stride lurch severely to one side.

His knee was throbbing, but the pain didnt seem to bother him.

There was just a gnawing question in him that has now turned into an unquenchable thirst, and there was only one person who could satisfy it.

Milady.

Elric turned to Tyria.

It was the woman who had been sitting alone in a corner of the ballroom, watching the ball, a person he now made eye contact with.

Ah, you have come.

She said in a low voice.

Elrics lips tightened, then curled into a thin line.

Im sorry Im late, I got lost.

Thats understandable, the hall is quite large after all.

He finally relaxed.

It wasnt until he saw her that he realized the answer to two questions hed always put off.

What have you been doing alone?

He realized he wasnt looking forward to the possibility of leaving her behind.

I was waiting for you.

Elric wanted to know more about Tyria.

More than he knew now deeper.

What she was thinking, what she liked, what she didnt like.

Beyond that, he wanted to know everything.

For some reason, he didnt feel like he could leave Tyria Portmans side until he died.

Why dont you sit?

The moment she gestured to the seat beside her, Elric felt that the battlefield was erased from his mind.

Next