I’m In Trouble Because The Darkened Heroes Are Obsessed With Me

30 Minutes Ago, Mansion Basement.Astaire was shocked by Elsez’s plan and asked in disbelief,“Set a fire?”“The annex only has the count, his subordinates, and that ‘guest.’ No civilians will get hurt.”Astaire had to admit that the chance of innocent people getting involved was very low, just as Elsez said.But even so, setting a fire was an extreme plan.It was a method far too destructive for him to even consider.Still, seeing how confident she was, Astaire decided to hear her out.“What happens next?”“If your house caught fire, what’s the first thing you’d think of?”“Hmm… the temple people?”For Astaire, who had cut ties with his family, the temple was his home.Valentin, who had been listening to their conversation, suddenly spoke up.“My mother.”“Exactly. People think of what’s most precious to them.”For some, that was family. For others, it was their wealth.Elsez asked her next question.“So, out of everything in the annex, what do you think is most valuable to the Count?”If it were about family, it would be his wife—but she was in the main building, so she wouldn’t be his first concern.And while the annex was part of his property, most of his wealth was stored in the main building.Astaire quickly realized what Elsez was getting at.“…He’ll take the fragment with him.”Instead of answering, Elsez grinned and stood up.“Let’s go play with fire.”  ****  Elsez and Astaire donned stolen black robes, leaving Valentin hidden in the bushes near the mansion’s outer wall.During the process, Elsez had overpowered a knight, stripped off her dress, and taken his uniform.However, since she couldn’t reveal her face, she couldn’t fully impersonate a knight.Sneaking into the mansion where the Count was, Elsez and Astaire set fire to the third floor. Then, disguising themselves as black magicians, they made their way toward the reception room on the first floor, where the Count and his guest were.Everything had gone according to plan—until the Count ordered Astaire to fetch Valentin.Not wanting to raise suspicion, Astaire had no choice but to leave, pretending to follow orders.Then came another unexpected turn.The masked man Elsez had encountered earlier turned out to be the Count’s guest.And he was trying to kill the Count.I have to save him.Elsez lunged at the man with that single thought in mind.“It won’t go your way.”She didn’t care for the Count. He had sacrificed children and brainwashed countless people.But if he died here, it would put Astaire in a difficult position.The masked man flinched at Elsez’s sudden attack but quickly conjured a magical barrier to block her strike.CRASH!The impact between her powerful punch and the barrier sent shockwaves through the air.A jolt of pain shot through Elsez’s arm, and she frowned.His magic is fast. He must be highly skilled.Casting magic required precise calculations to manifest the spell in the right location.Usually, magic took longer to execute than physical attacks.Yet, even at close range, this man blocked her blow without so much as blinking.But because he focused on defending against her, the magic restraining the Count was released.Gasping for breath, the count collapsed onto the floor.“Hah… haah…”Blocking another wave of magic, Elsez shouted at the count.“If you don’t want to die, snap out of it and run!”As the Count staggered to his feet, a magic projectile struck Elsez, slamming her into the wall.Pain exploded through her body, stealing her breath.“Ugh…!”The masked man’s magic wrapped around her again, but this time, it was far stronger than before.So he was holding back earlier.Restrained, she could only watch as the man redirected his magic toward the fleeing Count.But just before it reached him, Elsez broke free and stepped between them once again.The man’s red eyes flickered with surprise behind the mask.Only for a moment.His gaze quickly sharpened with unmistakable bloodlust.For the first time, he spoke to her.“That man ordered me to kill you. You heard him, didn’t you?”“I did.”“Yet you still want to save him?”“I’d love to tear him apart myself.” Elsez smirked. “But he has too many sins left to answer for.”“……”“I need him alive. The world needs to know what you people are planning.”Her answer made the man pause, his killing intent fading as he studied her with an unreadable gaze.Elsez didn’t back down, staring right back at him.Then, she noticed something.His eye color… changed?Outside, his eyes had been a mysterious shade of violet.Is it possible to change eye color while casting attack magic?Magic required intense concentration, and even skilled mages struggled to maintain multiple spells at once.Yet, this man wielded powerful attack magic while seemingly altering his eye color.And those red eyes…Red eyes symbolized royalty and an immense reserve of mana.Only one royal in this generation was known to have them—Crown Prince Cedric.Then, this man is…?Before she could finish her thought, the man asked,“Is that really worth risking your life for?”“I don’t know. But I do know it’s the best way to save more people.” Elsez smirked. “Besides… I have no intention of dying by your hands.”With that, she launched another attack.The man blocked her strike with a magic barrier, just as she expected.Using the distraction, she swiftly maneuvered past him—And grabbed the black dimensional fragment that had fallen behind him.Realizing too late that her attack had been a diversion, the man narrowed his eyes.Multiple magic projectiles flew at Elsez.She dodged them with ease. Unlike before, when she had taken a hit to protect the count, she was now free to move as she pleased.But the moment she closed in for another strike, the man caught her fist.Despite the force behind it, his hand remained unscathed.At the last moment, he had conjured a barrier over his palm.Yet, something about his grip felt eerily familiar.This hand… why does it feel…?A strange sense of déjà vu swept over her.Time seemed to slow as she instinctively tried to pull away.The man’s red eyes locked onto hers.“You…”Before he could say more, a golden barrier suddenly formed between them.“Lady Elsez!”Both turned to see Astaire entering the mansion’s entrance.Seeing him, the masked man quickly distanced himself and activated a teleportation spell.Elsez watched his vanishing figure, her mind still reeling from the moment before.‘That look in his eyes…’As the magic circle faded, his crimson gaze lingered on her until the very last moment.Astaire’s voice snapped her back to reality.“Are you okay? Are you hurt?”“I’m fine.”“…I’m sorry. I should have come sooner.”Seeing the signs of battle on her robe, Astaire hurriedly cast a healing spell.Elsez suddenly remembered something important and grabbed his hand.“The Count—where is he?”“Outside. He’s still out of it from the shock.”Elsez pulled her hood back up.The Count had been too busy running to see her face earlier, but she couldn’t risk him recognizing her now.With Astaire at her side, she stepped outside.But waiting for them—were knights with swords drawn.At their center stood Count Lort.“Hand over the fragment, and I’ll pretend none of this happened.”Elsez scoffed at his betrayal.I knew it. You should never help a beast with black hair.Wait.The Count was bald.So maybe I should say ‘a beast with no hair’ instead.Astaire tilted his head slightly, meeting the Count’s gaze with a cold voice.“Killing a cardinal of the Holy Nation would cause trouble for you.”“I’d die either way if I get caught!”The moment he finished speaking, four knights lunged at them.Using the distraction, the count turned and fled.He never expected to win—But he hoped to buy enough time to escape.They were strong enough to fight on equal ground with that man. These knights won’t stand a chance.But that didn’t matter.As long as he could get away.That bastard…!Elsez snatched a sword from an attacking knight and struck back.Astaire did the same, easily disarming another knight.Ruel had trained them all in swordsmanship.Even the mage Astaire and the close-combat-weak Rashiel had been forced to learn.That training remained in their bodies, even three years later.Just then, another knight appeared at Elsez’s side.“Die!”But he was no match for her.She easily dodged his attack and cut him down.With no one left to stop her, she lifted her gaze—And saw Count Lort fleeing in the distance.Elsez smirked.“Body Enhancement.”In a flash, she appeared in front of him.“Ughh!”He trembled as she pressed a bloodstained sword to his thick neck.“Looks like you’ve come to your senses.”Her crimson lips curved under the moonlight.“Come quietly.”