Chapter 36
“So… you’re saying you pulled something off at the Academy?”
“If you want to be precise, it wasn’t me. It was Ingram Phillips.”
Sitting on a bench in the Diamanga estate’s garden, Celia stretched lightly as she answered Julin’s question. At the same time, she quietly opened her mana circuits, recalling the feeling of the anti-affinity dispelling spell she’d learned.
‘I’d better keep the feel of it fresh if I want to show it off properly later.’
There were still a few days left before the research presentation. For her, that one spell was enough. It’d be nice to find something resembling a demonic beast to demonstrate it on, but it wasn’t like she wanted one to actually appear. She’d just make it look flashy enough.
Julin continued in a teasing tone.
“I heard Young Lord Ingram didn’t even have a scratch left on him.”
“That was on purpose.”
Truthfully, she’d wanted to beat him black and blue and fix that arrogant attitude of his. A good tumble across the dueling arena would’ve straightened him right out. His face had already received a bit of “adjustment,” so maybe fixing the rest of him would make him useful for something. Who knows—maybe the Phillips family would’ve even come to thank her for it.
But if she’d gone too far, the Phillips family might’ve made a huge fuss. And that would’ve put the Diaman Count’s house in an awkward position.
‘Right now, everyone knows Ingram was in the wrong first, so they can’t say a word.’
She had agreed to the duel precisely to avoid bringing trouble to Diaman. She couldn’t lose sight of that.
“I just have to make sure I don’t give them any pretext to complain.”
“That’s true.”
“I made it clear to the one who can actually reason, so things should stay quiet for a while. Julin, did the letter get there safely?”
“Yup. You mean the one for Young Lord Alec Phillips, right? I gave it to a messenger who runs errands between the estates—got word it was delivered properly.”
“Good.”
Through Julin, she had sent a letter to the Phillips family’s eldest son, listing all the family’s various misdeeds she’d heard from a certain informant. She’d added a line telling him to keep his younger brother in check.
It also carried another message—I know this much about your family, so treat me well. You never knew when that kind of leverage might come in handy, especially if she needed resources when she eventually disappeared.
No harm in having more options.
“You think Alec Phillips will get the hint?”
“He seemed smarter than his little brother.”
“That’s what people say, but he still got completely crushed by you at the symposium.”
“At least he had some awareness. When Ingram started causing a scene, Alec actually tried to stop him.”
“Hm.”
“Anyway, he has bigger problems right now—trying to clean up this mess.”
“True enough.”
The fact that Ingram had used a binding spell on Celia, that Celia had struck him again, and that they had even fought with real swords—all of that was known only to those present. Everyone had decided it was better to keep quiet; if word spread, both families, and even the Royal Academy for “poor student management,” would face embarrassment.
‘Though with that many witnesses, rumors must already be spreading.’
They were probably busy trying to contain them.
Ingram was given a disciplinary warning. A light punishment, considering what he’d done. Celia, meanwhile, gained a few benefits. Besides mastering the anti-affinity spell—
‘I was granted permission to carry a real sword within the Diaman household.’
It was for self-defense, in case of emergencies. Normally, she’d only have been allowed a practice blade, but since she’d been attacked with her mana sealed and no one was hurt, the family allowed an exception.
Thanks to that, her sword Periot now hung at her waist.
Celia stroked the scabbard with a contented smile, like a well-fed cat. The sword vibrated softly, as if purring. Watching her, Julin added gently,
“Try not to get caught up in anything too reckless. I heard things nearly went out of control this time.”
“Are you worrying about me?”
“Of course, Sister Celia. I’m always worried about you.”
Julin’s eyes curved into a teasing grin. Celia smirked.
“You’re disgusting.”
Getting affection from someone she treated like a younger brother gave her goosebumps. Julin patted his cheeks lightly.
“Guess I’m slacking on skincare.”
“That’s not the problem here.”
“Anyway, I’m not the only one who worries. Oh, look—here comes another one who does.”
“Margaret!”
Celia waved at Margaret as she approached the bench. But as Margaret drew near, Celia’s expression turned odd.
“Hm?”
“Celia? What’s wrong?”
“Oh, nothing. Your earrings are pretty.”
At the sudden compliment, Margaret’s cheeks flushed.
“Young Lord Royhan gave them to me.”
So she hadn’t seen wrong earlier. Those were the same lilac-colored earrings Royhan had picked out the other day—after dragging Celia along to “help choose a gift.” They suited Margaret’s eyes perfectly.
“Seems like you really like them.”
“I do.”
Celia sighed and shook her head. It wasn’t worth feeling weird about now.
“I’ll engrave a spell on them for you later—something good.”
“Thanks.”
As the two spoke, Julin, who had been listening in silence, changed the topic with a sly tone.
“And what about your pendant, the one you got from Young Lord Fleer? What spell are you going to put on it?”
“Hmm. He said it could hold a high-tier spell, so maybe a protection charm.”
“Oh? Protection magic—to give it away again?”
“…”
Celia was struck speechless. Julin fired again.
“You said you lost that tourmaline necklace, right?”
He sounded like he didn’t believe a word of it.
“Well…”
“You act all careful, even afraid of damaging nice clothes, never wear jewelry carelessly—and now you ‘lost’ that necklace and didn’t even blink?”
“That’s…”
“You didn’t lose it. I won’t ask who you gave it to—I’m a loyal guy. I’m sure you gave it to someone you trust.”
Julin winked. Celia shivered inwardly.
‘He’s way too sharp sometimes.’
“Just… keep the pendant from Lord Fleer, okay? If you give away a gift like that, imagine how bad the giver would feel.”
“Even if I give it back to him? Like, after engraving a protection spell on it…”
Actually, that didn’t sound like a bad idea. But Julin whispered, lowering his voice,
“If you’re planning to get engaged to the young lord, you should tell me first.”
“What nonsense are you spouting?”
“If you’re not, then why would you cast a protection spell and return it? That’s basically saying, ‘Please be safe, I’ll protect you.’”
“Oh.”
Now that he said it, she realized how it could look. Depending on how others saw it—more precisely, depending on how he saw it—it could easily be misunderstood.
“Still, there are others who need it more than I do.”
And she meant it. These days, she rarely got hurt at all—at least, not while she still possessed Ilrod’s power.
Later, that might change. But by then, she planned to have earned enough to vanish quietly to a peaceful countryside villa. The ones who’d really need protection were others.
Remembering the brutal fate of Fleer and Krondel from her previous life left a bitter taste in her mouth.
‘I need a guarantee.’
A guarantee that she could save them this time.
A guarantee that she wouldn’t have to lose anyone again.
And then—
BOOM!
A massive, terrifying explosion split the air.
A few minutes earlier.
Bubble, bubble…
A dark liquid, the color of the night sky, boiled violently inside a glass vial. Leman carefully reached out with a pair of tongs.
It was definitely extraordinary—monster blood, supposedly. It didn’t react to any reagent, didn’t evaporate or freeze. He still had no clue what it was meant for. His supplier had only told him to “find out for yourself.” That challenge piqued him.
“Tricky… but interesting.”
If he could just uncover its properties—maybe he’d prove something. Leman wrinkled his nose.
The liquid smelled strange: a sickly-sweet aroma, mixed with the scent of something burning.
“…”
He had been called a prodigy since childhood—a genius destined to lead the Mage Tower someday. Some even said he might be the next Tower Master.
That’s why he couldn’t stand losing. Especially not to that red-haired woman who’d appeared out of nowhere.
The arrogance she carried, the way she ignored every rule and principle—her confident face, the firm grip of her hand, those silver eyes that seemed to pierce through people. Every time they looked at him, something in his chest twisted. His throat would tighten. Unless he said something, anything, he couldn’t breathe.
He didn’t know how to define that feeling, so he labeled it as anger. Irritation. And he took it out on Celia. Though venting it hadn’t helped one bit.
“…I’ll show them. I can do it.”
Maybe if he proved himself better than her—if people recognized that—this feeling would finally go away. Maybe that strange, suffocating sensation would disappear.
Drip.
He moved too fast, spilling a few drops of monster blood. Without thinking, he wiped it with his bare hand. The blood shimmered violently.
“Ah…!”
Leman staggered as all the mana in his body rushed toward his hand. A dizzy spell hit him, and he dropped to his knees. Something whispered inside his mind—
—Yes… Show them…
“What… what is this?”
—Make sure they never forget.
“Ah…”
Leman’s vision turned red.
