“Even I didn’t realize it until I heard it from Alberto. To think they were hiding the aura of the holy relic with the Mana of countless mages....... Who could possibly imagine that?”

Archmage Amiald was as much of a headache as Mars, who used to rampage around wielding the Guardian’s Sword.

He destroyed the holy relics one by one—the source of the Order’s power—and anything he couldn’t destroy with his own ability, he sealed one way or another.

The holy relic they found this time was one of the ones sealed back then. And it was a bizarre relic that wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call the root of all holy relics.

To retrieve it—this truly couldn’t be anything but sheer luck from heaven.

“In the end, I have to kneel before Alberto’s discerning eye, but that brain of his really is extraordinary.”

At the mockery aimed at Amiald, he agreed in silence.

After the matter with Rania, who they’d infiltrated into House Sorpel, ended so futilely, they redirected all the manpower from that side into finding the holy relic—only to get such a good result.

“Now we don’t have to be anxious, saying there’s no time left. The faithful will be extremely pleased.”

“They will.”

The red stone split into several pieces in an instant.

“Take it.”

Daniel shot out like an arrow, received one of them, and returned to his spot. His expression was deeply moved.

“You know what you must do.”

“Do not worry.”

The source of the Order’s power is Immortality. But without the holy relics, the power they held was only half.

Even if they gained a new life with a fresh, living body, once a certain amount of time passed, the body would visibly age, and they could no longer use that body.

A sudden fracture formed in the union between body and soul.

But if they borrowed the power of the holy relic, they could slow the speed of aging—so now this problem was essentially solved.

“As expected, it’s certain that the god Eva is protecting Alberto. And even if not, it’s almost that time, isn’t it?”

At Daniel’s words, a faint sound of laughter flowed out from within the darkness.

“So we’ve been given a little more time for the choice.”

“It seems you still haven’t decided who it will be.”

“The faction the second child has would be much more convenient to use, but.”

“That’s right. There’s already a point of contact with the Order as well.”

“But the power the first child has....... Hmm.......”

“I earnestly ask you to decide carefully. Alberto’s choice is the Order’s future.”

As if agreeing with that, the hand gripping the red stone tightened on its own.

“Fine. I’ll have to decide soon.”

His laughter deepened. After Daniel said a few more pleasant things to hear, he changed the subject.

“However, while we were cleaning up Guardian’s Tower, the work on the other side was delayed a bit.”

“The Guardian’s Sword.”

“Yes. It seems we must hurry with that as well.”

“Above all, it’s an object that irritates the eye.”

“That’s right.”

Each time he crooked a finger, the red stone split into smaller pieces and rained down to the floor. Daniel’s eyes, watching the sight, gleamed with greed.

“They say the ability it had before is gone, but you never know.”

“I’ll deal with it as quickly as possible.”

At Daniel’s words, a satisfied laugh once again faintly drifted out of the darkness.

“What happened with the Black Mages of the Turu region?”

“They want to join the Order, but.......”

“But?”

Daniel, glancing at his mood, continued cautiously.

“A problem came up.”

“A problem?”

“House Sephra is tracking them.”

“Did their tail get stepped on?”

The other’s voice instantly turned cold.

Daniel wiped the cold sweat running down his hand and took the most respectful posture he could.

“Recently, there have been so many who died at their hands....... In the process, it seems it finally reached Duke Sephra’s ears. What should we do?”

“Ducal House of Sephra.”

“If they share our aims, they could be used quite usefully, but.......”

“Hmm.”

After a brief consideration, his decision finally dropped.

“Discard them.”

“...Pardon?”

“There’s no need to create pointless friction with a ducal house at a critical time like this.”

“I understand.”

*****

“Welcome.”

The moment she entered the dining room, the Duke of Sorpel greeted her first with a warm voice.

Seeing him show a light smile, Camilla answered with a smile as well.

Ludville, too, sent a silent greeting when their eyes met.

Still sparkling.

Was it because his jawline got sharper? Father’s looks had leveled up even more.

Come to think of it, everyone looks like they lost some weight. Did they all go on a diet together or something?

“You’re here? Crybaby.”

That voice, in that instant!

CREAK CREAK—she turned her head, and at Ravi’s mouth, too, there was a deep smile.

Yeah. A deep smile.

“.......”

Is it my imagination that that smile looks like a sneer? It doesn’t seem like it is, does it?

“Effective immediately, our Ghost Trading House hereby declares a complete suspension of all dealings with the Magic Tower.”

“W-what? Hey!”

“If you insist on trading, then we shall resume transactions at a price increased by fifty percent from the current amount.”

“Okay, okay! I get it! I was wrong!”

You punk. Yeah, why did you lunge at me?

I’m embarrassed too.

I’ve lost it, I’ve lost it!

Why did I even cry then?

When I lived as Sia Lee in that world, I almost never shed tears properly. Except when acting.

Even when Mom died, even when Dad beat me or yanked my hair and dragged me along the street, I didn’t let out a single sob.

So he hit me even more, ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) saying I was tough.

But what was I supposed to do about tears not coming out?

But why, seriously?!

Why is it that here, I turn into a hurricane of tears at the slightest thing?! When I think about how I plopped down in front of Guardian’s Tower and bawled like a child—

Ah! Aaaagh! Don’t think about it! Don’t think about it!

Cringing for a year still wouldn’t be enough. On the street, at that—and in front of all those people—what in the world did I do?

Could it be that as the soul finds its proper place, something went wrong with my emotional line?

That bastard Dorman!

Is he hiding something again?

“Camilla.”

“Yes?”

Fighting her embarrassment inside and tearing at her hair as hard as she could, Camilla froze at the Duke of Sorpel’s call.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

At his question, her eyes, which had widened for a moment, curved beautifully. Hearing the question he asked every time through the communication—now face to face—felt new.

“No, not at all.”

“Good.”

“.......”

“.......”

Excuse me? Is that the end?

Just as before, no further questions came flying.

It was the same with Ludville and Ravi. Instead, throughout the meal, they took turns staring at her in silence.

They look like they have an enormous amount they want to say, but everyone kept their mouths tightly shut.

What is this, seriously?

Watching the three of them, Camilla tilted her head.

The atmosphere in the house is weird, too.

Even Butler Rube’s reaction the moment she stepped into the house was unusual.

He kept letting out sighs of relief, then made a strange smile.

***** 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

If you were just a little later, everyone would’ve practically submitted resignation letters.

Resignation letters? What are you talking about?

It felt like we were sitting on a bed of nails.

A bed of nails?

Because everyone has quite the temper.

What are you even saying?

*****

The other employees also seemed unusually welcoming. Since when did they like me that much?

She’d lightly brushed it off as them being happy to see her after a long time, but now it seemed like there was something she didn’t know.

“I, over there—”

Camilla tried to tell them about what happened in the Gracia Empire, both to break the quiet silence and because she had so much to say.

There was the part where King dealt with the monsters, and she figured everyone would be interested in what the Gracia Empire looked like after the weather suddenly turned warm.

And the contract.

Come to think of it, I came back after making that huge contract, but not even one word of praise? Aren’t you genuinely curious how I landed that contract?

“Camilla, this is what you like, right?”

“Huh? Ah, yes.......”

“This too, this too! Eat more.”

But Camilla couldn’t finish her sentence to the end. The Duke of Sorpel and Ravi put food onto her plate at the same time.

Huh?

Even Ludville—when his eyes met hers—subtly avoided her gaze.

Look at this? You’re changing the subject to shut my mouth right now?

“Over there in the Gracia Empire. Something really good—”

“Bring more drinks here.”

“Me too!”

“Camilla’s water glass is empty as well.”

...What is it, seriously?

Can I at least know the reason?

After that, too, whenever Camilla tried to bring up the Gracia Empire, everyone got busy blocking her mouth.

Watching the three of them, Camilla could only make a baffled expression.

*****

“Guardian’s Tower collapsed, they say?”

“They say it was a total mess.”

“They say the number of dead mages is huge—!”

“Huh?”

Early in the morning, two female students walking into the Academy stopped mid-conversation, their steps freezing.

Because they’d spotted one person walking ahead of them.

There’s almost no one going to school at this hour. Who... huh?!

“That person......!”

“That’s Arsian, right?”

Just from his back, they could immediately tell who it was.

A tall height and broad shoulders. An outfit that looked so comfortable you’d wonder if he was really the heir of a ducal house. His back alone was enough to recognize him.

The two girls’ eyes began to sparkle as they looked at Arsian.

Recently, the number of people in the Academy quietly admiring him had overflowed.

He was scary enough that you couldn’t even look at him, then and now, but you could say a small change happened.

Watching how noticeably gentler he became in front of Camilla Sorpel, everyone had been re-evaluating Arsian.

“Did you see it? Back then, he was on his knees and put the ankle bracelet on Lady Camilla.”

“I saw.”

“Did you see him smile too?”

“Everyone went crazy.”

Seeing Arsian talk to Camilla with a faint smile, everyone screamed inside.

That was when they learned for the first time. That even on that prickly, cold face, a smile suited him extremely well.

Not long ago, something like this happened. As Arsian, like usual, was about to beat someone half to death because something irritated him, Petro tossed out a single line.

“Camilla said not to cause trouble while she’s gone.”

Everyone stared at Petro like he was absurd. That guy would react to just—

“.......”

TAP.

...He does.

With just that one line—Camilla saying not to cause trouble—Arsian released the person he was holding and quietly backed off.

Everyone was dumbfounded, but for some reason, more and more people found their eyes drifting toward Arsian.

“At this hour, what’s he doing?”

“Yeah, and—huh?”

It was then that Arsian, walking ahead, came to an abrupt halt.