episode_0093

It took quite some time to find Clavel.

Collect traces of mana.

Luke’s main tracking method is to identify with spatial magic and then follow it.

First of all, collecting traces of mana was not easy.

In the first place, the peacock doesn’t leave any traces of mana.

Compress your mana to the limit to hide your presence.

Because it’s a test that uses aura.

Eventually, Luke physically collected the traces.

The hallway floor was damaged yesterday because the Duke walked around in anger.

Although the users did restore it.

It wasn’t completely clean.

Luke uses spatial magic to perceive his surroundings.

I detected where the peacock came from.

“… Found it.”

Surprisingly, I easily found the place where the footprints were cut off.

It was also proof that it had suddenly popped up yesterday.

A room I’ve never been in before.

Squeak-

As you open the door, you see a forest of books densely filling the interior.

“Was it a study?”

Step by step.

The faintest trace of the peacock remains.

Here the traces are lost.

Exactly.

Luke snapped his fingers.

A book that was on the bookshelf is randomly picked out and flies in.

A book about ordinary magic.

Luke, who was about to put it back in, felt something strange.

“… … ?”

A faint mana is felt from beyond the bookshelf.

I took out all the books in that row.

And I was sure.

“It’s been magically processed.”

Beyond the bookshelf covered with dense books, a magic circle is set up.

“It’s a bit of a crude method, but… .”

Woof-

I squeezed out all the mana and pulled out all the books from the bookshelf.

Gulp.

A stream of coffee dripping down.

In addition to being in poor physical condition.

It was even harder for her because she didn’t have as much mana as Elin.

“… Is this it?”

Fortunately, I quickly found the other part.

After wiping the blood with a handkerchief.

I put all the books back in their places.

Let’s just take out the part of the book where the magic power feels the strongest.

Rattling-

I heard the sound of something coming loose from somewhere.

Outwardly, nothing has changed.

Shu-

I turned my mana and re-scanned the room’s structure.

“!”

The appearance hasn’t changed, but there’s a void left.

A fantasy magic was cast on it.

A place where bookshelves still appear to exist.

Let’s put our bodies in.

Swish.

The wall ripples, revealing a new space.

“… Basement.”

The space beyond the wall is a staircase leading down.

If it gets out that you’ve found out the secret space, things will get worse.

Thinking that I should go and come back soon.

I headed down carefully.

A circular staircase, lit by soft torches.

With a sweet scent that lingers gently.

Tingle-

I felt like electricity was running down my spine.

“!”

He immediately blocked his nose and cast a barrier.

Paralyzing magic.

It was such a powerful magic that if I had smelled it just a little more, my body would have frozen.

It seems like the concentration has exceeded the level allowed by the empire.

…what on earth are you doing here?

The doubt deepens.

I went down the stairs a little faster.

The paralyzing magic spread throughout the air grows thicker.

Crack-!

A sharp sound echoed down the stairs.

When the stairs come to an end.

“Less than a week left. Are you going to disappoint me?”

I hear a voice that seems to freeze the blood in my veins.

I carefully poked my head out.

As expected.

The Duke, the Duchess, and Clavel were together.

Crack-!

Before I could even grasp the situation.

The duke’s large hand slapped Clavel’s cheek.

A speed that is difficult to follow with the eyes.

dump.

Clavel fell helplessly to the other side.

It wasn’t just a loss of strength.

He fainted due to the strong impact.

“You’re weak.”

The duke took a potion out of his bosom.

It was poured directly onto Clavel’s head.

Suddenly.

Clavel, who had come to his senses, jumped up like a water spring.

Is it a modified healing potion?

The swollen cheeks also subsided in an instant.

“… I’m sorry.”

Clavel apologizes as soon as she wakes up.

For a moment I thought it wasn’t Clavel.

That’s because it wasn’t at all the flirtatious tone she used when she was flirting with Luke.

“How much disappointment do you have to have before you are satisfied?”

“… … I’m sorry.”

“The apology is done.”

The peacock, with his eyes tightly shut, turned around.

“Yesterday, Elin floated the entire Bertain mansion.”

“… … Yes?”

“It looks like the curse has been completely lifted.”

“How is that possible… .”

“That’s not important.”

Flash-

The peacock’s blue eyes, raised with his eyelids, gleamed menacingly.

“The important thing is that the next Bertain will be entrusted to Elin, who has lifted the curse.”

“… … ”

“Do you think that makes sense?”

“No. Absolutely… You can’t leave it like that.”

Clavel answered reflexively.

“Knowing this, you’re still at this level. It’s really disappointing.”

A voice that has become even lower.

Clavel’s cheek, with all the swelling gone.

It meant one thing.

Crack-!

Clavel’s cheek flew away without any sign of recovery.

Natia, unable to stand watching, grabbed the Duke’s hand tightly.

“Okay, wait a minute. No matter what, this… This seems too much.”

When Ellen was being abused, she was neglected.

Natiada, on the other hand, encouraged it.

But Clavel was her second daughter whom she cherished.

Because you are repeating the horrible act of being hit and treated.

I couldn’t bear to just watch it.

“Let go.”

“I’ve almost mastered the paralysis magic.”

“Almost everything. Doesn’t that mean I haven’t gotten used to it yet?”

“It’s a magic forbidden in the empire, so I’m still immature… … .”

“Imperfect Bertha is a sin.”

The duke clicked his tongue and muttered.

“… If only Leo had stayed.”

Shudder.

Clavel’s body trembled at the stark comparison.

“Are you just going to lie around lazily?”

“… I’ll practice again.”

Clavel raised his head and stood up straight.

“You know what will happen if you don’t become the next head of the family.”

Clavel nods.

I didn’t have time to pay attention to the discoloration of my bruised cheek.

“… Of course. I know, Father.”

“You only get one chance.”

Step by step.

A peacock walking towards the stairs.

Luke, who had been watching with a frown, quickly opened a portal.

The study is back again.

I restored the book to its original condition by putting it back in its original place.

I thought about it as I naturally left the study.

The expression on Clavel’s face that I saw last.

The face that looked like a doll with its strings cut off was just like… .

Before meeting Luke.

It was like Elin being abused.

* * * * *

It was an unpleasant training scene.

It wasn’t that Clavel felt sorry for me or anything.

It’s true that she also harassed Elin terribly.

However, I felt like I had been robbed of my chance to get revenge on Clavel.

I imagined myself being taught a lesson by Elin, who I had ignored.

I mean, I never imagined myself rolling around under the weight of a duke.

But no matter what Luke thought, time passed honestly.

The day of the next house selection competition has arrived.

There was tension in the mansion from the morning.

It was natural.

Clavel, who was considered a legitimate candidate to be the next head of the household after Leo’s escape.

Elin, who was nothing special, showed incredible growth after meeting her tutor.

The fact that the candidates are divided means that the power of the mansion is also divided.

A suffocating choice where standing in the wrong line can darken your future.

The employees greeted the morning with a fierce battle of wits.

“Hwaaam… .”

In that situation, the only one who woke up leisurely was Elin.

With the strict rest order in place until today, Elin has been spending her time like a slime.

After lying down and resting,

It’s delicious and filling.

Rolling around.

Because I went to bed early and woke up early.

He was in really great condition.

Anne quickly helped Ellen get ready.

Make a simple meal that isn’t too filling.

I finished bathing her more thoroughly than usual.

“Long live your majesty.”

“It’s been a while since I’ve worn this.”

Dressed in full uniform, including the everyday clothes worn during training.

“Are you ready?”

“Yeah.”

Holding Elin’s hand, I went down to the training ground where the magic duel was to be held.

There weren’t many people gathered.

There is no senate in Berthain.

Duke of Berthain, Carlchad.

Duchess, Natia.

Second son, Gerald.

With several servants, including the butler and the chef.

Luke and Anne were the only observers.

“Are you here?”

The peacock sitting on the highest seat snapped his fingers.

“Elin’s seat is over there.”

“Are we starting right now?”

“Is there any reason to delay?”

There isn’t really anything.

Luke bent his knees to get down to Ellen’s eye level.

“Your Majesty.”

“Okay, I’ll blow it up and come back.”

“No. Don’t try too hard.”

“Huh?”

“You may not know this because you have never fought against anyone, but your majesty is a very, very strong wizard.”

If you’re not careful and end up sending Clavel to another dimension, things will be a little difficult.

“But don’t let your guard down too much. In particular, put a barrier around your respiratory system.”

The scent of paralyzing magic I felt on the stairs.

It was an unusual concentration.

It is so powerful that even Luke could be struck if he lets his guard down.

As much as the Duke trained Clavel by holding him.

I had to think of it as a dangerous magic.

“Okay.”

Ellen nodded.

I went up to the smoke bomb site.

On the other side, Clavel, who had arrived first, was warming up.

“Oh my, your complexion has improved so much. Have you been playing around instead of practicing?”

Clavel, who has a fox-like smile like Natia.

Luke noticed because he had entered the secret space under the study.

Now Clavel was wearing a mask.

A cracked mask that looks like it could collapse at any moment.

“… … ?”

Elin also felt something strange.

It was clearly a tone of voice that was gently teasing Elin, just like Clavel usually does.

There was something missing somewhere.

“You could have just given up, but why did you come all the way here? I’m worried you’ll end up crying because you lost?”

Clavel kept trying to scratch Elin.

“… … Sister, are you okay?”

When Ellen showed serious concern, he suddenly stopped.

Shudder.

The corners of Clavel’s lips, which had been raised as if fixed, were about to go down.

“Are you both ready?”

At exquisite timing, the peacock interjected in a nonchalant voice.

Clavel and Elin nodded at the same time.

“This duel is to choose Bertain’s successor. Everyone here will be a witness… … ”

The Duke looked around the room with cold, hard eyes.

It was a gaze that would make the viewer feel creepy.

“I don’t impose any restrictions. I won’t ask you to take responsibility for the results. Just focus on taking down your opponent, no matter what.”

The winner becomes the next head of the household and inherits Bertain.

A battle of destruction where the loser cannot even guarantee his life.

“Then from now on… survive.”

The next family selection competition that will determine fate has begun.