Ch.150Both the Older Sister and the Younger One, They’re Equally Creepy.

Lena’s confusion was understandable.

After all, I had taken her along on every dispatch mission until now.

But this letter wasn’t that kind of request.

Not a bright, hopeful monster subjugation suitable for an innocent child… but a cruel and sinister murder play.

“It’s not really a difficult task. Lena… I think I’ve been working you too hard lately, so take this opportunity to rest well. If you need anything, ask Nigel or Frider.”

“Okay! Be careful, sis!”

I turned my gaze away from Lena, who nodded with a smile, and read the letter again.

There was no sender’s name on the outside.

Only a strand of vivid red hair tied decoratively to the paper.

Ophelia’s letter.

– Get ready.

The firm first words announced that the time had come to begin what we had postponed.

—-

Ophelia.

A genius among geniuses who would reach High Mage before turning twenty, once she defeated her older sister Claire, who thoroughly checked and envied her.

Considering that Floheta, the High Mage of the tower, was in her late thirties… one could guess how extraordinary her talent was.

For our team, focused entirely on physical attacks, she was a talent we absolutely needed to recruit.

There was no class better than a mage for taking down enemies that swarmed in large numbers.

That’s why I was willing to put up with this trouble to help her.

I adjusted the hood of the robe I was wearing.

The robe that came in the package with the letter. It was a familiar garment.

Though it had been tailored to fit my build… it was clearly the robe worn by the Werebeast warriors of the militia who had attacked the island.

I heard they had collected and destroyed all of them because of their potential for misuse, but how did she get this?

Thanks to it, I was able to leave the island without being noticed by anyone.

Lately, I’d been active in various ways, so my movements were being watched wherever I went.

But even so, the surveillance hadn’t reached inside the academy.

I arrived at the meeting place written in the letter after a full day had passed.

As soon as I left the special building, I pulled up my hood and moved carefully, avoiding people’s gazes.

After leaving the island and reaching a place with no signs of people, I ran straight ahead.

A field in the dead of night. Everything around was dim and dark.

Even the moon, which should have been high and bright, had hidden itself away today, silently sleeping.

Only the gentle sound of reeds brushing against the night breeze spread around.

Maybe I should take off the robe now.

It had been a great help when leaving the island, but now it was just hot and cumbersome.

I took off the robe, folded it roughly, and stuffed it into my bag.

It should be fine since I made it here safely. It’s not particularly useful anymore anyway.

The mana that Ophelia had charged into the robe had long since depleted, and the effect of concealing my presence had disappeared long ago.

After pushing through the reed field for about twenty more minutes,

I could see a single old building standing alone in the distance.

It was a structure built with bricks in an old architectural style, then deliberately broken and corroded to make it look aged.

Like the entrance to an underground ruin or dungeon.

They did a good job making this.

Though I’m not sure if it will be effective.

“I’m here to repay my debt-“

I muttered casually as I entered the building.

The inside was almost empty.

Half-broken torch holders were attached to the walls, and at the far end of the floor, stairs leading underground gaped open.

It’s quite convincing…

Though I’m still not sure if this will fool Claire.

Perhaps hearing my voice, a robed woman walked up the stairs from below.

“You’re here? Earlier than expected.”

As the woman lowered her hood, red hair cascaded down like a waterfall.

“I came, but… are you sure this vague plan will actually work?”

A fake dungeon—well-made, but…

If Claire doesn’t come, it’s all meaningless effort.

“My sister will come. I can tell from watching her. She might think she’s methodical and meticulous… but in reality, she’s neither wise nor cautious. Pathetically so.”

Ophelia chuckled.

“Well, you’d know better than me about that. So, when do we start?”

“My subordinates should arrive by this evening. The execution day will probably be the day after.”

======[Claire]======

One day before Haschal arrived at the fake ruins.

Since it was already past bedtime, the Sigmillus mansion was quiet as always.

Except for the bedroom of Claire van Sigmillus, who exercised authority practically equivalent to the family head.

“Mmm… Ahh! Hnngh, haah, haaaang…!”

Erotic moans echoed beyond the door.

Anyone unaware of the circumstances might have thought the Sigmillus lady had brought in a man and was rolling around lustfully.

Except for one detail, that wouldn’t have been far from the truth.

The moans weren’t Claire’s voice.

Jayden, one of Claire’s trusted subordinates, stood in front of the door, composing himself.

Just hearing the sounds made his face flush and blood rush somewhere, but he couldn’t show it openly.

He had come with important news, but his master—Claire van Sigmillus—extremely disliked being disturbed while enjoying herself.

Well, who wouldn’t?

If he showed signs of excitement on top of that… he might be dragged to her laboratory and turned into an experimental subject.

Jayden took a deep breath and quietly knocked on the door.

The shrill moans stopped abruptly, and only the sound of someone catching their breath could be heard.

“…Who is it.”

A low female voice.

Irritation and anger permeated the heightened heat.

“It’s Jayden, my lady. I’ve come to bring you the news you’ve been waiting for… despite the late hour, I’ve taken the liberty of disturbing you.”

“Jayden…? Ah, yes. Wait a moment.”

A faint magical light seeped through the door crack.

She must have cast a sleep spell on the woman she was with.

After all, this wasn’t a conversation for a mere plaything to hear.

Following that, rustling sounds came from inside the room.

Probably… putting back on clothes that had been removed.

This was fortunate for Jayden as well.

It gave him time to compose himself.

After a while.

The door swung open halfway with a thud.

Through the gap, Claire van Sigmillus revealed her face.

Her hair, usually tied up, was let down, and she wore only a thin slip with a coat over it.

Red hair clung to her face and shoulders, and the slightly damp slip was so thin it was almost see-through.

Her cheeks were flushed with excitement, and her breath carried the sweet scent of wine.

Inside the room, visible through the door crack, a young woman lay naked and asleep on the soaked bed.

A woman with dark brown hair so deep it almost looked black.

She was the woman Claire had been frequently entertaining lately.

It was a scene that would instantly seduce any man, but Jayden broke into a cold sweat rather than feeling excited.

Cold eyes were staring at him piercingly.

“I was just getting to the good part… So, what is it?”

“Lady Ophelia has finally made her move. An hour ago, she left the academy by carriage. We believe she’s heading there.”

“Hmm… that fake dungeon? Does she really think that counts as a trap?”

Claire let out a cold sneer.

She already knew about Ophelia’s plan.

A fake dungeon decorated with all sorts of magic formulas to look like an ancient magical ruin.

Such a straightforward idea.

Other mages might have fallen for it.

The desire mages harbor for new magic and higher realms borders on madness.

In fact, Claire herself would have been deceived had she not known in advance.

She had received samples of the magic formulas inscribed there, and they certainly contained theories several steps beyond commonly known concepts.

Anyone would mistake them for traces left by a high mage from ancient times.

It was hard to believe these theories were created in the current era, where fewer than ten people had reached the level of High Mage.

But it was possible for Ophelia.

She had a genius talent for magic.

Though she hadn’t shown that talent since coming of age, Claire hadn’t forgotten.

‘Still, she’s my sister, so I was going to leave her alone if she lived quietly with her head down… but in the end, you’re baring your teeth, our Ophelia.’

Claire’s eyes gleamed with killing intent.

She had specially spared her life out of mercy because she looked cute with her tail tucked like a dog, but now she was grown and didn’t know her place, daring to challenge her.

Relying only on her meager magic and her subordinates.

“What will you do?”

“Well, since she’s gone to such trouble to call for her sister, shouldn’t I visit her as family? Three days should be enough. Get everyone ready.”

“Yes. Then I shall take my leave. Rest well, Lady Claire.”

After sending Jayden away and closing the door, Claire let out another chuckle.

‘Ophelia, stupid Ophelia. Do you even know who your subordinates are?’

She couldn’t stop laughing at the thought of Ophelia appearing before her with her subordinates, boldly challenging her.

How would she know that the dungeon was Ophelia’s trap?

The subordinates who built the fake dungeon on Ophelia’s orders, reported Claire’s movements, and would finally gather to kill Claire—

They were actually all spies that Claire had secretly placed to monitor Ophelia.

Claire threw the coat she was wearing onto a chair and removed her slip.

Now that business was concluded, it was time to enjoy pleasure again.

Her excitement, which had cooled briefly, was heating up again.

What expression would her foolish sister make when she discovered that the subordinates she trusted completely were all Claire’s spies?

Just imagining it made her lower regions tingle.

Claire climbed back onto the bed, released the sleep spell on her plaything, and embraced her.

The moans that began didn’t stop until dawn.

================

“But those subordinates of yours… are they really trustworthy?”

“How could they be?”

Ophelia chuckled as she dusted off the ashes of her mana herb.