Extra's Path To No Harem-Chapter 200: Mission Impossible [3]

The infiltration itself went far more smoothly than I’d expected.

No alarms. No suspicious glances. No sudden interruptions.

Even the main gate—easily the biggest risk and most obvious obstacle—was cleared without incident. Wrapped in invisibility magic, I slipped past the guards and entered the imperial palace as if I belonged there.

So far, so good.

Confidence swelling, I headed straight toward my destination, footsteps light against the marble floor.

Then—

"Huh...?"

Without warning, the sensation vanished.

The familiar distortion around my body dissolved, and my form snapped back into view.

I stopped dead.

Panicking, I immediately reactivated the spell. My body turned transparent for barely a second before—

It shattered again.

"What—?"

I tried once more. Same result. The moment the magic took hold, it was forcefully undone, like something was rejecting it outright.

Cold sweat broke out along my spine.

I ducked behind the nearest pillar, pressing myself against the stone as my heart began to race.

What’s going on?

My shoes were fine. The enchantment on them hadn’t failed. My mana flow was stable, too—no signs of backlash or miscasting.

Then...

A realization struck me.

"...Don’t tell me."

I peeked out carefully, scanning the corridor. The air felt wrong—subtly dense, like invisible threads were woven through it.

Magic.

No—anti-magic. Or something close to it.

Only then did I fully grasp what I’d failed to account for.

This was the imperial palace.

Of course it wouldn’t rely solely on guards and walls. The place was undoubtedly layered with countless defensive spells—detection fields, suppression zones, enchantments designed specifically to counter stealth and infiltration magic.

An area that automatically dispelled illusion-type spells.

That explained everything.

"Tch..."

I clicked my tongue quietly, irritation bubbling up inside me.

I’d been careless—too confident, just because everything had gone smoothly up until now.

I had anticipated some kind of countermeasure, sure. I wasn’t naïve enough to believe I could rely on invisibility magic forever.

But this?

I never imagined they would possess magic capable of interfering with invisibility itself—especially a technique that was supposed to be unknown to the world.

That realization sent a chill crawling up my spine.

If they could disrupt my concealment, then it was only a matter of time before my identity was exposed. And once that happened... there would be no undoing it.

My heartbeat quickened as I scanned my surroundings, my mind racing for a way out.

Then—

At the far end of the long corridor, something caught my eye.

Several suits of armor were lined neatly along the wall, polished steel reflecting the dim torchlight. Decorative at first glance—but I recognized them instantly.

They were identical to the armor worn by the knights patrolling this area.

My eyes lit up.

...That’s it.

Without wasting another second, I broke into a sprint, my footsteps echoing faintly as I rushed toward them.

The magic field brushing against my skin intensified for a brief moment, sending a sharp prickle through my body—confirmation that lingering here was dangerous.

I reached the armor stands and immediately grabbed the nearest set, pulling it free with practiced efficiency. The metal was heavier than it looked, but adrenaline drowned out the strain.

"Sorry," I muttered under my breath to no one in particular as I stripped off the outer layers of my coat.

Piece by piece, I fitted the armor onto myself—breastplate, gauntlets, greaves. The cold steel pressed against my skin, grounding me, anchoring my presence in a way invisibility never could.

*

Clad in armor, I walked through the imperial palace with steady, unhurried steps.

The weight of the metal resting on my shoulders felt unfamiliar, but not uncomfortable. Confidence came easily when no one questioned your presence. After all, I was wearing the same armor as the imperial knights stationed throughout the palace.

No one suspected a thing.

There was no helmet attached to the armor I’d taken—apparently it had been hung separately—but I had no choice but to keep wearing the one I’d brought with me from the start. Fortunately, it didn’t matter.

If anything, it helped.

Although the imperial knights were required to wear identical armor, helmets were a different story. That seemed to be the one place individuality was tolerated. Some had crests, others horns, plumes, or strange engravings. Compared to them, my helmet didn’t stand out at all.

Thanks to that small mercy, I was able to move freely through the palace corridors without drawing attention.

Three bombs.

That was how many had been hidden within the imperial palace.

I quickened my pace, heading for the nearest location—the banquet hall.

As I approached, music drifted through the halls, soft and sweet, weaving through the air like honey. The sound alone made it obvious: a party was in full swing.

The moment I stepped inside, the atmosphere shifted completely.

Warm light poured from crystal chandeliers overhead. Laughter echoed across the hall. Nobles dressed in extravagant attire mingled effortlessly, wine glasses in hand, their faces relaxed, carefree, untouched by worry.

It was a stark contrast to where I had been just moments ago.

The back alleys.

The slums.

Dark, damp places where sunlight rarely reached. Where hunger was a constant companion, and people numbed themselves with strange pills just to endure another day.

Here, excess was treated as normal. Luxury was expected.

The gap was painfully clear.

As I walked through the banquet hall, my gaze swept over the scene while my thoughts drifted elsewhere.

Isn’t this how people like Bane are born?

When the difference between those who have everything and those who have nothing grows too wide, resentment festers. Desperation twists into hatred. And hatred, given enough time, becomes revolution.

I couldn’t deny it—seeing this made even me understand the urge to burn it all down.

Tables overflowed with food, each dish more elaborate than the last. Roasted meats glazed to perfection. Fresh fruit imported from distant lands. Cakes decorated like works of art.

Enough food to feed an entire block of the slums for days.

I nearly drooled inside my helmet as I hurried along the corridor.

No.

Focus.

I mustn’t be tempted.

Once everything is over, I can eat all of it—every last dish. Until then, patience.

With what I considered truly heroic self-control, I tore myself away from the banquet hall and continued on my way. The scent of roasted meat and sweet pastries still clung to me like a curse, but I forced my feet forward.

The bomb came first.

Food came later.

Just as I was about to turn toward the location where the explosive was supposedly hidden—information obtained after a very serious and definitely not terrifying conversation—

"Excuse me..."

A quiet voice called out from behind.

I stopped.

Given my current appearance, they probably thought I was just another knight on duty. Maybe someone needed directions. Maybe they were lost. Maybe they wanted to complain about security being too tight.

I turned around without much concern.

And froze.

’...Anna?’

Standing there was the very last person I expected to see.

Even with my helmet on, she seemed to recognize me instantly—and that realization alone made my stomach twist.

Why is Anna here?

No—more importantly—why is she here, of all places?

When I turned around, the sight that greeted me made me freeze in place.

Anna.

She was standing there in a glamorous dress, elegant yet striking, as if she didn’t belong to the chaos surrounding us. The soft fabric shimmered under the lights, and for a brief moment, I forgot how to breathe.

She looked straight at me—no, into me—and spoke softly, her voice certain.

"Louis... right?"

"...?"

My mind went completely blank.

How did she know?

I was covered head to toe in armor. Every inch of my body concealed. My face hidden behind a helmet, my voice distorted, my presence no different from any other armored figure. There shouldn’t have been any way for her to recognize me.

And yet—she did.

Confusion washed over me, but along with it came a strange sense of relief.

Before I could stop myself, I reached out, took her hand, and led her away from the crowd. We slipped through narrow corridors and shadowed passages until we reached a quiet corner, far from prying eyes and noise.

Once we were alone, I yanked off the suffocating helmet and sucked in a deep breath.

"Phew...!" 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Cool air rushed over my sweat-drenched face. My hair clung to my forehead, my heart still pounding from everything that had happened.

The moment Anna saw my face, her expression lit up.

"You’re safe, Louis!"

Before I could react, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around me.

"Uh—um...?"

My body stiffened. I hadn’t expected that.

For a second, I just stood there, unsure what to do, my arms hovering awkwardly in the air. Then, carefully, I pulled back, clearing my throat as I created a bit of distance between us.

"Ahem... How did you know it was me?"

I genuinely didn’t understand. No matter how I thought about it, there was no logical explanation.

I scratched my cheek, feeling strangely embarrassed. Anna, on the other hand, just smiled—playful, almost teasing.

"Hm~? Just a feeling," she said lightly.

...So she wasn’t going to tell me.

I let out a small, helpless laugh. "That’s not an answer, you know."

She only smiled wider, hands clasped behind her back, clearly enjoying my reaction.

For a moment, silence settled between us. Not uncomfortable—just quiet.

Then it hit me.

Despite everything—the danger, the confusion, the masks and armor—she had found me. Not because of logic, or proof, or appearances... but simply because she knew.

That realization left a faint, unfamiliar warmth lingering in my chest.