Chapter : 56
When Noel pointed at my hand, I finally noticed the gem I was holding.
“Oh, I completely forgot about this.”
I must have still been holding it from when I rushed over earlier.
“This is the mana stone… I heard.”
“I’ve never seen one this big before…”
Noel was staring at the mana stone as if entranced.
Well, it wasn’t every day you saw a gem the size of a palm.
“May I hold it for a moment?”
Noel extended a hand toward me. I nodded obediently and was about to hand the mana stone over.
Then, Eloi’s sharp voice rang out.
“Me too! I want one too!”
“This isn’t for Miss Eloi.”
Viviana staggered forward as she approached.
Why are they fighting over it?
I asked, bewildered.
“Can’t you just share the ones over there?”
“Where are they?”
The three—Viviana, Eloi, and Noel—instantly turned their heads to where I was pointing.
All three of them frowned simultaneously.
“Where?”
“Where is it?”
They acted as if they couldn’t see the mana stone at all.
I couldn’t hide my confusion and pointed toward the mana stone, saying,
“It’s right over there.”
“There?”
Even as I moved closer to a place where it should have been clearly visible, their gazes still wandered through the air.
I spoke cautiously.
“You’re not joking… right?”
“Miss Selene, surely you must be joking. We really can’t see it.”
Noel looked embarrassed, his expression showing he wasn’t joking.
I walked up to where the mana stone had fallen, bent down, and picked up a piece.
“Isn’t this it?”
When I held it out in exasperation, their eyes widened.
“Where did that come from?”
“How strange.”
Eloi reached out to me desperately.
“Can I have one too?”
I looked around the floor. Nearby, there were other mana stones of similar size. I picked one up and said,
“Is this really that valuable? I’ve heard it’s supposed to be…”
I remembered what the Demon Lord had said.
‘You need to be able to trust it.’
Noel nodded at my question.
“It is indeed a rare item.”
“Since there’s one for each person, shall we each take one?”
Eloi seemed to be glancing at the mana stones others had taken. Seeing that, Noel said quietly,
“Do not challenge Miss Selene’s decision.”
“….”
At that moment, Sirinyu turned toward us and approached.
I held out a mana stone to her, but she only glanced at it and didn’t take it. I awkwardly withdrew my hand.
Noel gave Sirinyu a look, and she closed her eyes briefly before speaking.
“It seems to be sealed.”
“If the Grand Duke confirmed it, then that settles it.”
Sirinyu left the clearing without looking back. Watching her retreat, Noel smiled and summarized the situation.
“Miss Selene handled that splendidly. We can return now.”
Finally… it’s over.
My shoulders, tense for so long, relaxed, and I collapsed onto the spot.
“All of you, the meeting room is waiting.”
“Let’s go immediately.”
Arriving at the imperial palace, Noel moved straight to the meeting room without a moment’s rest.
Inside, high-ranking nobles had already taken their seats around the Emperor.
“We have returned after completing the mission.”
Noel sat next to the Emperor, who looked toward the door and asked,
“And Grand Duke Reprix?”
Noel lifted his brow in slight embarrassment.
“He said he had nothing to say or hear and returned.”
The Emperor frowned. At the same time, the nobles who heard Noel murmured among themselves.
“He made such a bold claim to kill the Demon Lord.”
“Surely he couldn’t show his face.”
After glancing around, the Emperor said in a solemn voice,
“Let us proceed with the report without further delay.”
The nobles fell silent and turned to Noel.
Noel stood and addressed the assembly.
“First of all, the Demon Lord has been sealed.”
“Are you certain?”
Marquis Erileon asked softly.
“Yes.”
“Did you witness the sealing? How was it done?”
Count Heidel asked. Noel shook his head with a solemn expression.
“The sealed territory was affected by chaotic magic. By the time we regained consciousness, the sealing had already been completed.”
Marquis Tyrion cleared his throat before speaking.
“Between us… wasn’t a sacrifice necessary?”
All the people in the hall fell silent as if holding their breath.
Tyrion continued as if he didn’t care.
“How can we believe the sealing succeeded if Miss Weden returned unharmed?”
Noel glanced around the room. All the seated nobles looked skeptical.
He gave a small smile and said firmly,
“On the way back, we sent people to inspect the demon’s base. There were no traces of monsters.”
The nobles’ eyes widened, impressed by the foresight in checking the demon’s base to avoid any doubts.
“Also, we brought back mana stones.”
At the mention of “mana stones,” the room stirred.
“They are quite large. The participants distributed them fairly among themselves.”
Some heads of noble families who had not participated looked displeased.
One of them, Duke Foil, asked gruffly,
“The Weden family had two members participate. Did both take one?”
“The shares of Count Weden and Grand Duke Reprix were offered to the Empire.”
When Duke Foil fell silent, Marquis Tyrion spoke.
“My earlier question remains. What about Miss Weden?”
“The sealing succeeded, did it not? Only Miss Weden knows what was sacrificed.”
Marquis Erileon spoke protectively, and the two marquises’ gazes met in midair.
This ignited a commotion in the meeting room. Opinions split between those suspicious of Selene and those thinking, if not Selene, then who else could have sealed it?
Noel raised a hand lightly, and all the nobles turned their attention to him.
“Any unusual occurrences or sacrifices will be reported through Count Weden. I will personally oversee it, so do not worry.”
The nobles had no words against Noel’s tidy resolution.
Satisfied, the Emperor smiled.
“First… we should hold a celebration.”
Not more, not less… just like this lately…
I was rolling around with all my might, literally turning from one side to the other.
People really should live doing work suited to them.
During the unwanted journey, I had felt listless and had no appetite. But doing work that suited me and used my skills made me feel full and happy even without food.
I was so happy that, even after returning home and rolling around endlessly, my back didn’t ache, and I never felt bored.
Honestly, I could probably do this for a month.
To prevent my legs from weakening and forgetting how to walk, I planned to later walk to the window for ventilation and stroll through the courtyard.
“I wonder what today’s snack will be…”
After a snack, I could read a bit and then roll around again until dinner.
It felt like a day fully lived, and I was satisfied.
Stretching and elongating my body, I rolled over again. Then, there was a knock.
Huh? Is it snack time already?
Lying around had dulled my sense of time. I glanced at the curtained window and spoke.
“Come in.”
Hearing my voice, the door opened, and Yuri and Luri appeared.
“…Why?”
I cleared my hoarse throat and asked carefully.
Yuri moved to the window and spoke gently toward me.
“You need to get up.”
“…Why?”
I asked, confused. I thought I could rest freely.
Clutching the blanket instinctively, Luri approached and lifted me up, saying,
“Guests will be arriving soon. You need to prepare.”
My eyes widened at the unexpected news.
“Guests?”
Who? Why? Who invited them?
Blinking in confusion, I tried to resist as Luri gently pushed me toward the bathroom.
“I didn’t invite any guests.”
Luri smiled without losing her cheerful expression as she lightly nudged me.
I was pushed forward and looked at her.
“The invitations arrived a few days ago. The Count sent them.”
“Then they aren’t my guests…”
Yuri, who had opened the window for ventilation, was now preparing a foamy bath in the bathroom and replied,
“They are coming to see you, Miss.”
“Well, they should’ve told me beforehand.”
“I mentioned it when I brought your snack yesterday.”
“…Yesterday…?”
I tried to recall.
Yesterday…?
