Chapter 5
The light was so intense it made Mity squint tightly.
Bang! Crash! Clang!
Loud, jarring sounds of something collapsing and breaking scraped against her eardrums. Her ears felt almost deafened. The crashing of heavy objects hitting the floor merged with the shattering of glass.
A faint vibration ran through the hand that held the sword.
When Mity finally managed to open her eyes, the hallway was thick with dust.
“What… on earth…?”
She stared blankly, blinking as the smoke settled.
A wind swept through the hallway, which should have been sealed on all sides. Debris from the walls and shattered construction materials clattered haphazardly at her feet.
Panicked, Mity lowered her head and glanced at the sword in her hands. It looked as calm and orderly as when it had been displayed on the wall.
She lifted her head again. Beyond the breached wall, the meticulously maintained garden of the Kirhoff estate stretched out before her.
If her memory was correct, there had never been a window here. Normally, a heavy display cabinet and priceless treasures would have taken up this space. But now, the wall was gone.
What is happening right now?
She swallowed hard. The taste of dust and sand lingered in her throat.
Like a stiff, lifeless doll, Mity crept forward and peeked past the ruined wall. The display cabinet that had stood in the hallway now lay smashed on the floor.
Should she feel relieved that no one had been crushed beneath it? She couldn’t tell.
[Break into pieces.]
Where did I hear that line before?
Mity hoped desperately that her intuition was wrong and drew back her upper body. She forced her stiffened spine to twist.
Baron Kirhoff remained frozen in the same pose he had assumed when offering her the sword, as if stunned.
Her ominous premonition was beginning to take shape.
“Uh… Your Excellency…?”
“….”
“I—I’ll return your sword.”
Mity hesitantly handed the baron the sword. His hand was still rigid, and she had to carefully close his fingers around the hilt herself.
Completely dazed, the baron simply stared at the sword now back in his hand. His gaze shifted from the collapsed wall to the sword to Mity’s face in turn.
“What… just…?”
“Your Excellency! What was that sound…? My goodness!”
“Ugh…”
“What happened here?”
Before anyone could answer, people poured into the hallway.
At the forefront, the butler of the Kirhoff estate collapsed sideways at the sight of the ruined corridor.
“Ah! Mister!”
Had a nearby attendant not caught him, he would have hit his head on the floor and suffered a concussion.
“Was it an attack?”
Through the crowd, Errel pushed forward, her voice sharp.
“An attack? Who did it? Bring the culprit immediately!”
One of the knights growled as if ready to declare war.
I’m doomed… truly doomed.
Mity pursed her lips and hunched her neck like a turtle. Her throat had turned to stone; no sound came out.
It no longer mattered whether the baron liked her or not. The pressing concern was whether he would seize her and lock her in the estate’s underground cells.
Then… what will happen to this world?
Errel’s delicate face twisted with worry.
“Lady Sestol? What exactly happened?”
“Yes?”
Errel’s rose-colored eyes fixed firmly on Mity’s face.
“I said, what happened? You were here too, weren’t you?”
Her voice carried the same sharpness as her expression, almost accusing Mity.
But I was the one who did it.
Mity opened and closed her lips, searching for words, but eventually fell silent. Her throat was parched, and a cold sweat ran down her spine.
“Come on, Miss Sestol. Answer me. Someone didn’t just show off their strength, did they?”
I did. I was showing off my strength.
Confusion churned in her mind. Why could she still use magic?
“Mity!”
At that moment, Mirhel appeared abruptly from the crowd. He pushed his way through the packed hallway and grabbed Mity’s shoulder.
“Are you hurt?”
“N-no, I’m fine.”
She replied quietly, trying to twist away from his grasp. Mirhel’s gaze scanned her, the gaping wall, and Baron Kirhoff in turn.
“Tell me exactly what happened.”
“I… I don’t really know…”
“What do you mean you don’t know? You were with me, weren’t you?”
Mirhel’s eyes trembled with concern.
Mity bit her lip tightly. How could she explain? That the baron had let her handle the sword, she had swung it, and her magic had triggered, demolishing the wall?
In other words, she was the one who had destroyed it.
Would he even believe me?
Magic coming from incompetent Minachelty… And she had obliterated a display cabinet filled with the baron’s priceless treasures.
Her gaze shifted to the still-stunned baron. He looked as if he could not comprehend what had just happened. Understandably so. Even Mity herself had wondered if this might be a dream.
Maybe I should just knock everyone out.
She thought that if she claimed some malicious force had destroyed the estate and rendered everyone unconscious, she might escape this crisis.
Better than dying immediately.
Even a swordmaster like Kirhoff couldn’t respond to sudden magic without his weapon.
Steeling herself, she bit down on her thumb.
Alright. On one… two… three, strike. Use blood to channel a spell…!
At that moment, a large hand suddenly appeared before her eyes.
“She is telling the truth. Miss Sestol is also a victim in this incident.”
The baron’s arm wrapped around Mity’s shoulder.
“Are you all right, Miss Sestol?”
He even wore a seemingly concerned expression.
“Are you hurt?”
“Huh…? Ah? Yes?”
Startled by his unexpected reaction, Mity could only open and close her mouth.
Kirhoff frowned as he inspected her hands.
“My. You’re bleeding.”
He pulled out a handkerchief and wrapped her fingers carefully, then spoke to the gathering crowd.
“Someone attacked us with magic from outside. Take your men and search the nearby area.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Unfortunately, the party cannot continue, so everyone should return. Errel, would you escort them in my place?”
“But, Your Excellency…”
“Please. I insist.”
Errel, who looked ready to complain, closed her mouth. The baron’s tone was gentle but firm, like when giving orders to subordinates.
“…Understood.”
She nodded reluctantly and quickly led the people away.
“It seems Miss Sestol has been slightly injured. Since this happened while with me, I intend to take full responsibility. May I escort her to the resting area?”
“Ah. Then I’ll come too…”
“Yes. After we handle things here, we’ll take her there.”
“Excuse me?”
“Escort Lady Sestol properly.”
Kirhoff gave a short command to a nearby servant while keeping his arm around Mity’s shoulder.
“Shall we go, Miss Sestol?”
“Eh? N-no, I’m… fine…”
Mity glanced at Mirhel, her last hope, flustered.
“Do not attempt to run.”
Her weak resistance was halted by Kirhoff’s threat. His voice was tiny and low, frighteningly gentle.
“You still have things to discuss with me, don’t you?”
A chill ran down her spine.
Romance? Forget it.
Love aside, she was on the verge of owing the baron far too much.
“This way.”
The pressure of his arm around her was firm, as if to prevent her escape.
I’m truly doomed…
She forced her stiff legs to move, feeling like livestock being dragged to slaughter.
As she followed Kirhoff, she considered whether explaining the situation might earn his cooperation.
What should I say?
“If you and I don’t fall in love, the world will end?”
Better hope he doesn’t think I’m crazy.
She reached a quick conclusion, simple and decisive.
I’ll knock him out. Strong enough that he’ll forget everything.
An uppercut would suffice. She clenched her fist tightly.
Kirhoff’s sharp gaze fell upon her.
“I trust you’re not planning to throw that cute little fist at me.”
“….”
“My goodness.”
Mity slowly relaxed her hand.
“Now you even threaten violence?”
The baron’s mouth curled into a menacing smile. She instinctively shrank her neck.
“…I haven’t even hit yet…”
Her feeble protest swallowed by the back of her throat.
