A Mastermind? No, I'm just the Live-In Son-in-Law-Chapter 144: The Shadow Assembly (2)

"Why is everyone acting like this?"

"......"

"Is there some kind of problem?"

As the sudden chill settled over the assembly hall, I scratched my head awkwardly, throwing out a question.

"Ah, well, it's just that..."

"You see..."

Yet those gathered only glanced at me, hesitant and silent, each carefully measuring their words.

...Did I say something wrong?

I might have understood if I’d been rude or made a slip of the tongue from the start—but all I did was ask them to take off those stifling masks.

After all, every person here—aside from the Shadow Witch—was concealing their face in some way.

To be specific: among the executives, the Death Knight wore a heavy, black helmet, the Jester had full clown makeup, and the Puppeteer donned a spotted eye mask. And the others, presumably high-ranking black mages or guest members, were similarly hidden.

For someone like me, eager to get a proper read on the black mages’ upper echelon, this was more than a little frustrating.

"Uh... excuse me a moment."

"...?"

"...Umm, you're aware of the 'taboo' in these meetings, aren't you?"

While I stood there, tilting my head in the awkward tension, the Shadow Witch suddenly whispered to me in a hushed, urgent tone.

"Showing one's face during the Assembly is one of the greatest taboos, you know?"

That’s when it hit me.

But of course, what’s been said can’t be unsaid.

Most of the room, including the executives, were now staring at me with wary or outright hostile eyes.

"Pardon me, but..."

Just as I was anxiously gauging the atmosphere, wondering how to fix this, one of the high-ranking ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ black mages finally spoke in a trembling voice.

"O Great Shadow... how could you command such a thing...?"

...Huh?

The words only threw me deeper into confusion, already overwhelmed as I was.

"What the hell is going on?"

"What are you talking about?"

"They’re calling me the Great Shadow. You didn’t pull something, did you?"

I whispered suspiciously to the Shadow Witch beside me, wondering if this was her doing—but she merely blinked at me with wide eyes and shook her head.

"To be clear, there is a recognition interference spell cast on you. But I didn’t do it."

"...What?"

"I assumed you were pretending to be the Great Shadow on purpose. The real one always conceals themselves with recognition interference at these meetings."

So... there is a recognition interference spell on me right now? But I can barely manage a basic soundproofing spell. I’ve never had much magic talent.

"Then how did the executives recognize me right away?"

"...I told you, I don’t know. It must have already been in effect when you entered the hall."

I wondered for a moment if she was lying again—but her bewildered tone sounded genuine.

...Hmm?

And right when my mind was about to spiral from all the confusion, I suddenly made eye contact with Alfred, who had been quietly standing at the entrance.

"...Ahem."

Alfred gave me a long, unreadable look, then gave a soft cough and turned his gaze aside.

No way... Alfred?

Now that I think about it, Alfred has always been highly adept at various forms of magic. He was the one who tutored me in it, after all.

Could it be that he cast the recognition interference spell?

...I still don’t know why he’s here, but yep, Alfred is Alfred.

I had been worried that maybe he’d betrayed me and joined the black mages—but clearly that wasn’t the case.

Still, that didn’t change the fact that I had to do something about the dumb thing I just said.

...Alright. So everyone except the executives thinks I’m the Great Shadow, huh?

Lucky for me, I’d gotten used to crises like this by now. I was adapting fast.

Then all I need to do is bluff a little and act imposing, right?

Sure, I was adapting quickly—but that didn’t mean I had any kind of actual plan.

***

"That’s an excellent point."

At the head of the table between the executives, seated in the only chair reserved for the leader of the black mages, sat the Great Shadow.

As he finally opened his mouth, those who had been too tense to even breathe let out sighs of relief, one by one.

Everyone knew—through painful experience—what happened when someone angered the Great Shadow.

"Yes, it’s true. Revealing one's face at the Assembly is a taboo."

So everyone, conveniently forgetting how strange the Great Shadow sounded today, quietly thanked their stars that the black mage who had raised their hand hadn’t been incinerated on the spot.

"But tell me—who decided on that taboo?"

At that question, the room instantly froze again.

The Great Shadow is... asking a question?

...What’s going on today?

Usually, the Great Shadow gave off an indescribable, oppressive aura and issued orders with no room for response.

No one ever questioned it—that was just the way things were.

That’s why no one had ever even imagined the Great Shadow would ask them anything.

"Uhm... Well, that would be..."

"......"

"...It was Your Greatness who set that taboo."

No one else dared to respond, so the black mage who had spoken earlier had no choice but to shoulder the burden and reply.

"Then since I created the taboo, it should be fine if I abolish it. Don’t you agree?"

Technically speaking, that was entirely logical.

Even if their hierarchy had been more democratic, no one would have objected.

"W-Wait a minute."

But just then, one of the executives abruptly stood up, raising his voice.

"Who do you think you are, making that call—!"

It was none other than the Death Knight, usually silent during these meetings.

His sudden outburst sent another icy chill through the hall.

"You've gone too far. Who gave you the right to—"

But just as he was unleashing a terrifying killing aura, his voice faltered.

"Now, now. What’s wrong?"

"......"

"Do you have a problem with the Great Shadow’s decree?"

The Shadow Witch, who had been smiling oddly for some time, slid smoothly into the opening.

"N-No, that’s not it. It's just that this person is not our real—"

"...You do realize that would be treason?"

The Death Knight grit his teeth and sat down again at her chilling smile.

"...Forgive me."

"Yes, the Death Knight has been under a lot of stress lately. Probably just nodded off for a second, right?"

"...Yes."

And with that final act of rebellion crushed, no one dared oppose the Great Shadow’s new policy.

"Alright then. I take it you all understand."

Having watched it all unfold in silence, the Great Shadow—or more accurately, Whitney pretending to be him—spoke again.

"Still, if everyone suddenly revealed their faces, it might cause discomfort. So our esteemed executives should set an example first, don’t you think?"

He locked eyes with the Death Knight, whose gaze was sharp with murderous intent.

"Death Knight. Remove your helmet."

"...What?"

Whitney’s voice turned icy, and the Death Knight blinked in disbelief.

"Is that cumbersome helmet affecting your hearing? The Great Shadow told you to take it off."

"......Tch."

"You know very well—absolute obedience to the Great Shadow is our most basic rule, isn’t it?"

With the Shadow Witch’s cold smile pressing him further, the Death Knight trembled and finally muttered,

"...I will remove it."

As his hand moved to his helmet, all eyes turned toward him.

None of the executives had ever revealed their faces—not even to the other high-ranking black mages—so curiosity was inevitable.

"...Huh?"

"Ah."

"Mmngh..."

As the helmet came off, reactions of stunned confusion spread around the room.

"......"

Though the upper half of the face was still obscured by a masquerade mask, that wasn’t the issue.

"My, my. Who would’ve guessed such a face was hidden under that helm."

"...Silence."

Despite the mask and the short dark-blue hair, it was obvious to everyone that the Death Knight was, in fact, a young woman.

"Damn you..."

Amid the growing murmurs, the Death Knight grit her teeth and glared daggers at Whitney.

"Death Knight."

"...Yes."

"Now remove the mask as well."

But Whitney’s order came down again, mercilessly.

"...I’d rather die."

This time, however, she didn’t fold so easily.

"Look, I get what you’re trying to do here, but if you keep pushing, it’s going to backfire."

"......"

"You got a glimpse inside the helmet, and that’s more than enough, isn’t it?"

As the room froze again, the Shadow Witch whispered to Whitney.

"The Jester and the Puppeteer? If you tell them to show their faces, they'll either commit suicide or rebel."

"......"

"But since the precedent’s been set, you can probably at least get the non-executives to show theirs."

Still silent, Whitney didn’t respond—just spaced out, muttering to himself.

"...This is familiar somehow."

"Sorry?"

"Never mind. It’s nothing."

Snapping out of it, Whitney raised his voice again.

"Since the Death Knight has shown such courage—now it’s your turn."

"......"

"Remove your masks and reveal your identities—or, well, just... please."

Sure, the Death Knight still wore her mask, and the other executives hadn’t budged, but no one dared resist.

Refusing might mean getting killed by the Death Knight herself, who now radiated a far more terrifying aura than even the Great Shadow.

***

Minutes later, for the first time since its inception, the Shadow Assembly was stripped of its anonymity.

"Is... is this really okay?"

"W-We had no choice..."

"Mmm..."

Everyone, now able to distinguish each other, offered the Great Shadow a mix of sheepish and anxious glances.

"Alright, then. Let’s officially begin the Shadow Assembly."

Whitney, now even sounding a bit cocky, declared the start of the real meeting.

"First agenda item."

Holding a sheet of paper and looking like the color had drained from his face, Alfred stepped forward.

"A white mage, recently appointed as a hero by the Holy Theocracy. And likely our greatest threat... Whitney Ringaarden."

As he read the name aloud, murderous energy began to thicken on every black mage's face.

"So, everyone... please feel free to share your ideas on how we might best execute him."

Whitney, now pale and trembling, looked as if he wanted to disappear.

...Hic.

Thankfully, thanks to someone’s top-tier recognition interference spell, no one—not even the executives—caught a glimpse of that pathetic expression.