Chapter 48 —
What is this? A new kind of suicide suggestion?
“No, that can’t be.”
After all, Shion didn’t even know that I was a dark mage.
I tried to shake off the stray thoughts. Then, carefully organizing what I had just heard, I cautiously began to speak.
“So…”
I continued while looking at Shion, who wore a gentle smile.
“You mean… you want me to lure Lady Swanson, right?”
“In a manner of speaking, yes. We can’t just suddenly visit the Swanson estate, after all. I thought it would be better if Emily, who already has some familiarity with them, could help.”
He put it so politely, asking me to act as bait.
“You’re thinking of dragging me into this while suspecting I might be a dark mage?”
I expected him to ask for help with tracking a dark mage at most. That face, which looked like it couldn’t even kill an ant, was hiding a surprisingly sly nature.
“And we just shared skewers together not long ago…!”
We were good, weren’t we? Why this?
“If it were some naïve noble lady, she’d probably fall for it.”
I was at a bit of a loss. Seeing my hesitation, Shion added another line.
“Sir Hazel will be accompanying you, so there’s no danger.”
Glancing to the side, Hazel nodded. It was reasonable enough—if Natalie and I invited her, it would be easy to include Hazel.
Seems he has at least some conscience.
“Please, Emily.”
Shion made a beseeching expression once more. I thought it was about time he realized that look wouldn’t work on me.
“…I’ll help willingly.”
I also wanted to get rid of Penelope as soon as possible, so I decided to go along with his scheme for now.
“Actually, we just received another party invitation recently. I’ll ask Natalie if Hazel can come along too.”
Shion’s face lit up at my words.
“May the Lord’s blessing be with you.”
That was probably his highest form of praise. Unfortunately, to me, it sounded closer to a curse.
“May the Lord’s blessing be with you.”
I replied brazenly. I wasn’t sure if a blessing from a dark mage would even work.
“Natalie will be happy. She always nags Hazel to attend parties.”
“Ha ha. I hope this will be a chance for Sir Hazel to enjoy some time with friends.”
Then Shion confessed that he rarely saw peers at the temple and had always envied that. His shy smile made him look just his age.
“He said he’s around my age.”
His face made it hard to judge his age. Perhaps his unreal beauty, as if shaped by God’s hands, made it so.
“Wearing civilian clothes, he might even have looked younger…”
But now, his aura was completely different.
I even had a foolish thought—maybe even dust couldn’t settle on that pure white hair.
“Sir Hazel will enter first to check for anything suspicious and report back within ten minutes. If there’s no word after ten minutes, I’ll assume he’s been compromised and will act directly.”
The plan was simple.
“The moment Lady Swanson is confirmed as a dark mage, the top priority is to eliminate the dark mage. Secondary is rescuing any nobles the dark mage has harmed.”
I widened my eyes and stared at Shion.
“If the dark mage takes hostages inside…”
He continued with an extremely noble expression.
“Then we focus solely on eliminating the dark mage.”
“….”
Shion’s face was calm, as if what he said was perfectly normal.
“Why is he saying something like that?”
I had clearly told him that my friend Natalie might fall for Penelope’s schemes. And Natalie was supposed to attend the party that day.
“Even if Hazel wouldn’t let Natalie get hurt, pretending to go along with words like that would look strange.”
For an ordinary noblewoman, this would be quite shocking.
I feigned trying to hide my trembling eyes, then finally spoke.
“But… my friend will be there.”
“Exceptions cannot be made due to personal feelings.”
“Isn’t the goal of eliminating the dark mage ultimately to save people? If people are harmed in the process…”
“Emily.”
Shion called my name in a calm voice. It almost sounded kind, but in truth, it was just his way of suppressing emotion.
“Do you know how many people a single dark mage could kill?”
From my perspective? Probably zero.
“….”
I considered it seriously, and yes, zero seemed right.
Seeing me hesitate, Shion continued.
“If we leave the dark mage unchecked, imagine the chaos it would bring to the world.”
It could mess up my desk, maybe even Julia’s…
“That’s why cutting it off early is the best course.”
He ran his fingertip across his forehead, revealing a small scar hidden beneath his hair.
It was the only flaw on Shion’s otherwise unreal perfection—his sole human mark.
“Of course, I hope there will be no innocent casualties. But if there are, I would gladly tell their families that their loss saved hundreds, even thousands of lives.”
Shion spoke with absolute conviction, firmly believing his choice was right.
“Arrogantly so.”
I commented briefly.
“I admit my method is rough. But this is non-negotiable. My goal has always been the destruction of the dark mage.”
Shion smiled calmly, as if he had never had fiery eyes, a master at concealing true feelings.
“….”
I tapped my forearm lightly with my fingers. Honestly…
“He’s right, but it’s annoying.”
Yes, fine. But still, it seems unfair for a dark mage who hasn’t harmed anyone yet.
“Who chooses to be born a dark mage?!”
I wanted to be human too. Perhaps more than anyone.
“When you wear that… you seem like a completely different person.”
The words slipped out sharper than intended. Shion flinched and looked at me.
I knew it was a petty complaint, not meant seriously.
“It suits you. The cleric robes.”
I smiled faintly, leaving it ambiguous.
“As expected of a saint, this is better than street clothes.”
Shion seemed to be trying to understand the intent behind my words.
I glanced between Shion and Hazel, then nodded. After all, I would need Shion’s help to deal with Penelope.
“Alright. If Hazel comes along, even the worst-case scenario… won’t happen.”
I spoke as if rationalizing to myself. Shion smiled, satisfied.
“Then take the invitation and give it to Sir Hazel. Thank you for your cooperation. This will surely help maintain peace on the continent.”
He added that last bit almost as if to comfort me.
“A dark mage maintaining continental peace… sounds like the temple opening and closing simultaneously.”
I muttered the thought to myself, but didn’t refuse.
And so, I willingly plunged into the heart of enemy territory.
“Welcome back, Lady Emily!”
Penelope came out to greet me, holding a champagne glass. The hem of her dress, a mix of red and black, fluttered in the wind.
The rose corsage in her hair suited her astonishingly well.
She radiated a dangerous beauty, alluring like a predator with hidden poison.
“I’ve been waiting for you.”
Penelope’s smile widened, but there was something slightly off in her tone.
“How have you been, Lady Swanson?”
“Just call me Penelope. I want to call you Emily too. Is that alright?”
She was insistent. Penelope acted as if her calm request alone could make anyone comply.
And somewhat, it was true—making it even more troublesome.
“Then, Penelope.”
“Good!”
“Is Natalie inside?”
“She came early and is waiting. There are many other ladies inside too.”
Penelope looked much happier than before. She seemed somewhat detached from reality.
Had she been drinking? I couldn’t tell—everywhere was filled with the scent of flowers.
“Oh, and your other friend is coming too, right?”
“Thanks for inviting her. She doesn’t usually attend such gatherings, but after hearing about you, she wanted to meet you too.”
“If she’s a friend of Natalie and Emily, she’s always welcome.”
I wondered if that was really true.
From a distance, I spotted the silverbell emblem on an approaching carriage.
“There, it’s coming in. Since it’s your first meeting, may I introduce them?”
“By all means.”
As the carriage drew closer, my stomach churned. I pretended otherwise, but Penelope seemed to sense a sacred presence too.
Her face twisted in sudden alarm.
