Don't Want to Be Ordinary Even Though I'm an Extra Character-Chapter 122: [121] Butterfly effect

The operation was a success, but Arkan now faced a new dilemma. He had to ensure that he remained in the shadows, unseen as a third party in the escalating conflict.

A solution quickly came to mind—Aurelia Von Galleas. If he could arrange for the woman to visit Cecilia Arleon, then Cecilia’s attention would be entirely diverted, setting aside any suspicions she might have toward Arkan.

The enemy’s failure in the previous operation was already certain, and he could obtain a more detailed report directly from the scouts Erik had dispatched.

However, a far greater issue now occupied his thoughts—demons. Arkan had considered many scenarios, but this was the first time he had received news that Erik and his team had managed to defeat one.

Demons were magical entities with no ties to the mortal world. Their existence lay in the depths of hell, and to cross over into the human realm, they required a sacrifice to form a physical body.

For that reason, Arkan had initially doubted whether conventional weaponry would be effective against such beings. However, the reality on the battlefield proved that Erik’s strategy had worked—an achievement that shifted Arkan’s perspective on fighting demons.

At the same time, his mind continued to race, analyzing other potential outcomes. If one demon could be summoned, then there was no doubt that more could follow in the future.

"This is driving me insane... Haah," Arkan muttered, rubbing his temples as his thoughts spiraled, trying to piece together the unanswered questions.

Before him, a subordinate stepped forward with a serious expression. "Lord, this region..." He began explaining the latest developments in the area they were monitoring, but Arkan only responded with a faint nod, his mind still entangled in scenarios he had yet to unravel.

###

At the Arleon Mansion.

Crash!

A porcelain vase shattered against the floor, breaking into countless pieces. Cecilia stood with labored breaths, her eyes burning with fury.

"Damn it! How did it come to this?!" she screamed, her hands still trembling after knocking over everything on the table.

In the corner of the room, a terrified servant kept their head down, not daring to utter a single word. The only sound filling the space was the ticking of the clock amidst the scattered glass shards and strewn documents. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

An hour ago, Cecilia had received terrible news—the attacking force sent by the cult had been annihilated. She didn’t know who was responsible for the counterattack, but her instincts told her that someone was pulling the strings from the shadows.

Just as her thoughts reached a conclusion, the door to her room swung open, revealing an unexpected visitor arriving at such a critical moment. From the casual way she spoke to the subtle mockery in her words, everything felt like a carefully orchestrated game.

Cecilia grit her teeth, seething at the situation—especially at the faint smirk that never left Aurelia’s lips. It was as if the woman knew something no one else did, relishing every second of Cecilia’s confusion.

"That damned wench! How does she know about my plan?! If this continues, then the cult—!" Cecilia slammed her fist onto the table, her breath coming in quick, sharp bursts of rage and panic.

"That won’t happen..."

A voice interrupted her, emerging from the shadows near the open window.

Cecilia’s eyes widened, her body tensing as she turned toward the figure now standing before her.

"Y-You..." Her voice trembled, fear creeping into her gaze despite her best efforts to conceal it.

"What? Why do you look at me like I’m a demon?" The man smirked, stepping closer. "Anyway, I’m here to inform you that the cult does not hold you accountable for this incident. Also, we are certain that a third party is pulling the strings from behind the scenes."

"...Something doesn’t add up." The man narrowed his eyes, his expression deep in thought.

Cecilia’s sharp gaze locked onto him. "What do you mean?"

He shrugged, crossing his arms. "How should I put this... Given our current situation, her arrival was too perfectly timed. Did the Duke know in advance, or is there someone else moving the pieces behind the scenes?"

Cecilia furrowed her brows, her mind racing. "This is complicated... Are you saying there’s yet another player in this game?"

The man gave a small smirk and nodded. "It’s just speculation, but it’s a strong possibility. Regardless... Speaking of which, even though the plan to assassinate the envoy failed, the empire will still proceed with war."

Cecilia’s eyes widened, her body stiffening instantly. "What?! What do you mean?"

The man’s smirk widened, a dangerous gleam flickering in his eyes. "It’s true. The cult has already set up another bait—an excuse strong enough to push the empire over the edge."

Cecilia clenched her fists, her mind racing to make sense of the situation. "That..."

"Heh... You really haven’t been keeping up with the news, have you?" The man chuckled darkly. "The Crown Prince has ascended the throne."

Cecilia flinched, an ominous chill creeping down her spine. "You mean... Seron?"

"Exactly!" The man nodded with satisfaction, his gaze sharp as a blade poised to strike. "That fool has finally taken the seat of power. Because of that, war is now inevitable. He hasn’t even realized that our people have already swarmed around him like bees, ready to strike at any moment."

A cold shiver ran down Cecilia’s back, her hands unconsciously tightening into fists. Even her loyal servant, still standing in the corner of the room, couldn’t stop trembling, their face pale as a ghost.

"...Is our agreement still intact?" Her voice held an uncharacteristic hint of hesitation.

"Oh, of course..." The man’s smirk remained, his gaze unreadable. "But first, there’s something I need you to do for me."

Cecilia swallowed hard, an overwhelming sense of unease creeping into her mind. "...What is it?" she asked, her voice barely steady.

The man didn’t answer right away. Instead, he gazed at her with an enigmatic expression before finally breaking into a grin.

"I’m sure you’re going to love it."

###

On the Way to the Capital

After leaving Cecilia’s mansion, Aurelia continued her journey toward the capital. As the Duke’s representative, she was to attend a welcoming banquet for the newly arrived diplomats.

Inside the carriage, her loyal maid, Bel, glanced at her curiously.

"Milady, what are you thinking about?" she asked cautiously.

Aurelia leaned back against the seat, the corners of her lips curling into a small smirk. "That... Heh, watching Cecilia’s face earlier was incredibly satisfying," she replied nonchalantly.

There was no denying it—Arkan’s order to stop by Cecilia’s mansion had left her wondering.

"I didn’t expect him to send me there just to witness her expression... What a strange man," she muttered before narrowing her eyes. "But... I can’t help but wonder—what did Arkan do to make Cecilia react like that when I arrived?"

"Milady, there’s no need to pretend," Bel stated with a flat expression, as if already accustomed to her mistress’s habit of feigning ignorance.

Aurelia scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest in annoyance. "Ugh, Bel, you’re no fun," she grumbled before letting out a deep sigh.

Her gaze shifted to the window, watching the scenery blur past.

"Hah... In the end, I’m just another pawn, aren’t I?" she said bitterly.

Yet, despite her words, a faint smirk lingered on her lips, though her narrowed eyes reflected something sharper.

"What a petty man," she murmured, as if speaking to herself.

(Well, this benefits me too, so it doesn’t really matter... And besides, seeing Cecilia’s expression was absolutely delightful.) She thought to herself, humming a tune.

###

At Castel Grey

Inside Castel Grey, Arkan sat at his desk, his pen moving swiftly, sketching out a blueprint of a railway system with near-obsessive precision.

Standing before him was Florence—his personal maid and a former member of the infamous Sarasota assassin group. Her voice remained calm, yet tension lingered in the air as she delivered the latest report.

Arkan paused mid-stroke, his brow furrowing slightly. "What?" he asked without lifting his head.

"It’s true..." Florence confirmed, her gaze as cold as ever. "The Crown Prince of the Northern Empire, Soren Vale Zagon... has ascended the throne."

The moment those words reached his ears, Arkan rose from his desk and walked toward his main workstation. His movements were swift yet composed—like someone who had just realized a crucial part of their plan had gone astray.

He pulled a thick book from the drawer, flipping through its pages with practiced ease. This wasn’t just any journal—it was a personal record of the events he remembered, a guide to this world, a world that was supposed to follow the storyline of the novel he knew.

Arkan’s eyes scanned the words he had written, carefully verifying the timeline. His fingers tapped rhythmically against the desk, his expression growing more severe.

(There were supposed to be two more years before that foolish prince took the throne... Is this the butterfly effect?) He mused, realizing that this world was slowly diverging from its original script.

"There’s more," Florence continued, though a hint of hesitation crept into her voice.

Arkan remained focused on his book, but he was sharp enough to notice his maid’s uncertainty.

"Just say it, Florence," he said, his eyes never leaving the pages.

Florence took a shallow breath before speaking in a more serious tone.

"This concerns the Empire’s unusual movements."

At that, Arkan finally shut his book, his gaze locking onto Florence with a sharp glint.

"Go on."

Florence wasted no time in delivering her report. "Recently, the Empire has allocated a significant portion of its annual budget to the military sector. But what’s even more suspicious is how overly eager the people around the Prince seem to be about this decision."

"Hm..." Arkan crossed his arms, his gaze sharpening as he considered the implications.

(In the original story, most of the people surrounding the Prince were rotten... Some of them were even cult members. Could they be the cause?) He pondered, his mind already running through possible scenarios.