A Mastermind? No, I'm just the Live-In Son-in-Law-Chapter 43: Entering the Plan

“...Still, no smoking. Parsha’s here, remember?”

“Ah, my bad. Been running with rough company for so long, it's become a habit.”

Sure, it might’ve been fine if it were the saintess or Lunelle, but lighting up in front of someone like Parsha, who’s the same age as my sister? Unforgivable. I gave him a pointed look as he fumbled with his cigarette pack, prompting his sheepish excuse.

“Anyway, this’ll help me find my daughter, right?”

“...Of course, Bergen.”

Suddenly looking serious, he locked eyes with me. I responded with a soft smile and a quiet promise.

“Once this is all over, the saintess—and the entire Holy Kingdom—will be backing us.”

“Hmph.”

“And I’ll commit all my resources and contacts to locating the black mages’ hideouts.”

“...That so.”

Still, Bergen’s expression remained grim.

Well, of course. From his perspective, while his daughter was out there suffering, he was busy playing dress-up. He had every right to feel uneasy.

“Oh, and this is a secret—but I’ve already made a black mage into a pawn.”

“...What?”

“I don’t know if I can keep the connection going after this mission, but if I can... we might be able to find your daughter soon.”

As I lowered my voice and shared that small victory from the midterm incident, Bergen’s pupils widened dramatically.

“So please, hang in there just a little longer.”

“......”

“I promise—those bastards who brought you that tragedy will pay, down to the last.”

After a long, blank stare, Bergen gave a hollow chuckle and slumped into a chair in the corner.

“Honestly, while I was doing that girl’s makeup, I couldn’t help but wonder what the hell I was doing with my life. But I guess now’s not the time to be complaining.”

“Ahaha...”

“If someone like you has a plan, it’s probably too complex for someone like me to understand anyway.”

It felt a little overwhelming being overestimated like that, but I was relieved that he understood.

“All right. Let’s go over the plan now.”

Now it was time to focus on the operation we’d be executing tomorrow.

“Our ultimate objective is to sneak the saintess into the academy and have her encounter the hero during the tournament.”

“......”

“We’ll know the plan’s succeeded the moment they make contact and resonate. At that point, her body will begin to glow.”

As I began explaining, everyone fell silent and paid close attention, and for some reason, I started feeling weirdly sentimental.

With a lineup this stacked, failure wouldn’t just be shameful—it’d be disgraceful. I had to stay sharp.

“All right, let me briefly walk you through the details. Parsha, please pass out the schematics.”

“Yes!”

Parsha, who’d been lazily sprawled out in her seat, perked up and handed out the maps to the gathered group, a gleam of excitement in her eyes.

“Tomorrow morning, the saintess will blend naturally into the procession of Holy Knights entering the academy.”

“Um...”

“Let’s save questions for the end.”

“Ah... okay.”

As she accepted the map, Hestia raised her hand with a puzzled look, but when I cut her off, she slumped in her seat and began chewing on a cookie from the table.

Guess she’s going for a final indulgence before returning to the Holy Kingdom, huh?

Not that I care, but I’ll have to watch her. If she drinks, it might throw the whole plan off.

“Anyway, once inside, the saintess will switch to a maid disguise and meet up with me.”

“......”

“Then we’ll monitor the situation, and if nothing unexpected occurs, she’ll approach the tournament victors naturally. That’s all.”

As I gave Hestia a sidelong glance, I turned back to the room and concluded my explanation.

“Any questions?”

“...I do. Mmph.”

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Hestia, cheeks stuffed like a hamster, swallowed hard and raised a hand, her face full of nervous doubt.

“Will it really be that easy for me to blend into the Holy Knight procession?”

Hard to believe this was the same ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) woman who used to tremble just looking at me, but it was a reasonable question—she wasn’t an idiot, after all.

“I admit, it’s a valid concern. At the academy I trained at, they did head counts and roll calls constantly.”

As expected, Lunelle, who’d quietly approached and stood next to me, voiced her concerns in a low, cautious tone.

“I understand the worry, but there won’t be a problem.”

Come on—if I didn’t prepare for something this basic, I wouldn’t be worthy of the title ‘mastermind.’

“...Because the inn where the Holy Knights will be staying upon arrival in the Empire tomorrow morning... is right here.”

Naturally, I’d secured the location in advance.

“In fact, one of the knights will be placed in this very room.”

“Then...”

“We’ve already spoken with the innkeeper. Luckily, he’s very close with Alfred. What are the odds, huh? Haha...”

But as I laughed, I realized the room had gone a little too quiet. I tilted my head and looked around in confusion.

“Well, with your godfather’s influence, even the Holy Kingdom wouldn’t dare say no.”

“Exactly! Heresy trials might only convict the accused, but in the underworld, they go after families too...”

“Ha, for a brat, you know a lot. Who taught you that?”

“My grandpa!”

“...Come again?”

Hestia’s pale face aside, I couldn’t help but sense something grim and ominous in Bergen and Parsha’s exchange—even if I didn’t understand every nuance of it.

“I think you’re misunderstanding something—no one’s going to get hurt.”

“...Really?”

“The innkeeper’s going to drug their dinner. Once the Holy Knight falls into a deep sleep, we’ll just put his armor and weapons on the saintess.”

Since I was being unfairly judged, I went ahead and explained the plan in detail. Finally, the tension in the room began to ease as Bergen nodded quietly in understanding.

“I see... so he's the fall guy if something goes wrong. Still, I was taught to clean up evidence thoroughly.”

“Kid, seriously—what does your grandpa do?”

Parsha alone still looked dissatisfied, muttering under her breath. But with time running short, I decided to let it slide.

“For reference, Holy Knights—including paladins—are required to be in full gear during official duties. That includes their helmets.”

“Ah...”

“And since the saintess hasn’t awakened yet, her divine power level is no different from a standard knight. She’ll blend into the formation perfectly.”

As I finished my explanation, Lunelle—who’d been listening attentively—gave a firm nod of understanding.

“So, Lunelle. Your role is crucial.”

“Yes.”

“You’ll stay in the room with the saintess, help her change, and respond swiftly if anything goes wrong. You can handle that, right?”

“Of course.”

After encouraging her and pausing for a moment, Bergen—who had been sneaking glances at Parsha—spoke up with a question.

“There’s one thing I don’t get. Once the saintess gets inside, who helps her change into a maid?”

“That’s obviously your job, Mr. Bergen.”

I replied with a bright smile. Bergen grimaced, clearly displeased, and began to complain.

“Hey, do you even understand how tight security is at the academy? I need to mentally prepare myself if I’m gonna sneak in...”

“...So you’re saying you can’t do it?”

“Well, it’s not impossible, but still...”

“Great. I’m counting on you, then.”

Knowing full well that Bergen’s skills hadn’t dulled a bit, I dismissed his grumbling and shifted my attention to Parsha, who had her hand raised high.

“You said if nothing happens, it means success. But does that mean you expect something to happen during the tournament, master?”

As expected from the final questioner—Parsha had zeroed in on the biggest blind spot.

“...Yes, there’s a high possibility.”

“Then we need countermeasures—”

“Of course. I’ve prepared contingency plans for that as well.”

That was what I said. But truthfully, the specifics of those measures couldn’t be shared with this group.

This chapt𝒆r is updated by frёewebηovel.cѳm.

Because if I did explain, they’d all undoubtedly try to stop me. It was a reckless plan, even by my standards.

“So if anything seems off, report it to me immediately.”

“But still...”

“There’s no need to worry about me. Really.”

Thankfully, aside from Parsha, everyone seemed willing to trust that I had something up my sleeve.

“...This still feels sketchy...”

“Now then, let’s end the briefing here.”

With the plan reviewed and understood, it finally felt like we were truly ready to dive into the colossal arc that was the Prodigy Selection Tournament.

Whether we cleared this episode smoothly or not would likely determine the future of the entire world.

And of course, the future of Lady Meredia... and myself.

“All right, let’s move out, everyone.”

Either way, it was no longer the time to sit around worrying.

“It’s time to save the world.”

Now, it was time to jump into the grand tide and reap the rewards of everything I’d worked for.

***

“...Ah.”

With those rousing words, I stepped lightly out of the room, carried by a sense of rising determination.

“...What the?”

And just like that, all that stirring emotion froze to ice in an instant.

“Who... are you people, and what are you doing in my room?”

Standing before the door I had just opened, looking bewildered, was a female knight in gleaming white Holy Knight armor—definitely one of the unit expected later to arrive.

“...Master, who exactly told you what time the Holy Knights were arriving?”

“That was... I’m pretty sure it was Prince Kendrick—oh.”

Parsha’s quiet voice reached me from behind, and in that moment, I understood everything.

‘...Don’t tell me she mixed up 9 a.m. with 9 p.m.?’

Now I was face-to-face with the pure and chaotic malice of Princess Katarina—a person who, once on your side, gives generously, but half of what she gives turns out to be a landmine.

“Whoever you are, I need you to leave this room immediately.”

“......”

“My comrades will be coming up soon, and things might get complicated if they see you. Please use the back exit if you—”

As she smiled kindly at us, her innocent eyes filled with confusion, I found myself wordlessly staring at her for a long moment.

“...Lunelle. Bergen.”

“...Yes.”

“Sigh...”

With a deep sigh, I gave the command to Lunelle, who was already limbering up, and Bergen, who was sighing with a knowing dread.

“...Tie her up.”

And then... there was a small commotion.