episode_0134

“Let’s head to the city for now.”

“W-wait, are you planning to…!”

“What’s with the look? I just want to see the city since it’s been a while.”

“O-okay.”

“Follow me.”

As soon as Estelle finished speaking, she reached out her hand into the empty space.

Watching Estelle effortlessly use spatial teleportation magic, I once again realized that she was a member of the hero party.

The space tore apart, revealing a space filled with black mana that seemed like a gateway to hell. But trusting Estelle, I followed her into the space.

– Wobble wobble.

The teleportation location was an alley in the capital city of Viteum.

Casually walking onto the main street, Estelle scanned her surroundings and entered a shop selling enchanted accessories.

“Welcome~”

Upon entering the shop, Estelle immediately asked the shopkeeper for what she wanted.

“Do you have any accessories enchanted with the Harvest Storage magic?”

“Oh! All the accessories here are enchanted with the Harvest Storage magic. It’s a trend these days for lovers to store their harvests and give them to each other. How did you know about it? If you have any questions, feel free to ask.”

“Thank you.”

Estelle carefully examined the accessories the shopkeeper mentioned.

The accessories they discussed were enchanted with the Harvest Storage magic.

I heard that the Harvest Storage magic was quite rare. However, it was not popular among people as it was considered unpleasant. It wasn’t even a trend.

It was clear to me that the shopkeeper must have lied about the Harvest Storage magic accessories to deceive Estelle, who was visiting for the first time.

Concentrating on informing Estelle about this, I approached her and whispered, “Estelle, what the shopkeeper said was all lies. The Harvest Storage magic is not popular, and those who use or receive it are considered quite eccentric. So, um…!”

“…”

As Estelle turned her head to look at me while examining the enchanted accessory, I felt an instant sense of impending doom in her sharp mana that seemed to pierce through my body and even my heart.

– Swish.

“Ugh… Ugh…”

When Estelle turned her head back to the accessory, I finally managed to catch my breath.

W-why is she angry…?

Estelle’s emotions were clearly that of anger.

Her eyes, half-closed and darkened, exuded an aura that only I could feel.

I realized I had made a mistake.

It was Estelle who first mentioned the Harvest Storage magic, and I had asked the shopkeeper if they had it, indicating that I was considering buying the accessory.

But since I had just told Estelle that the Harvest Storage magic was not favorable, she must have been quite upset.

Was she planning to give the Harvest Storage magic accessory to Lady Amelia? Estelle was married to Lady Amelia, and their daughter was Helena.

Lady Amelia didn’t seem to have such a taste. Estelle might like dark and gloomy styles, but Lady Amelia might not.

Oh.

I misunderstood.

Estelle wasn’t buying the Harvest Storage magic accessory to store her own harvests but to store Lady Amelia’s.

I need to be more careful when I’m with Estelle.

First, Estelle cares a lot for Lady Amelia.

I should think of something that can help ease Estelle’s anger and involve Lady Amelia.

Where should we go?

Since they don’t have wedding rings yet, maybe recommending wedding rings would be a good idea. But shouldn’t they choose them together?

Lily and Amelia seemed to get along really well. Why aren’t they together? Is there a reason?

After pondering over what to choose, Lily, who had enchanted all the accessories with storage magic, smiled and handed me a basket.

“…? Why is this for me?”

“You need to buy these.”

“But I don’t have the money…”

“Why not? You’re from the Estelle family. I left behind a lot of money for the Estelle family.”

“Well…”

Indeed, the Estelle family was a prominent family that produced hero parties, and the money left behind by the hero parties was beyond imagination.

Even artifacts and magical tools of incredible power, enough to make even the royal family envious, were probably accumulated over a lifetime of feeding the Estelle family.

However.

That was the story of when the Estelle family was perfectly leading.

After the engagement of the hero party, Sir Emily and Saint Isabelle, the hero party disappeared.

The most plausible explanation was that the hero party, which possessed unbelievable power, disappeared because if it existed only in the Vitium nation, it would disrupt the balance.

The first few generations were fine.

The family was led by a man named Wesley, the son of Lady Helena. But the problem arose after Wesley died early.

From the time of Wesley’s grandchildren, things started to go awry.

Their power was undoubtedly strong, but it was not enough to handle the wealth of the Estelle family.

As time passed, the Estelle family could not regain its former glory.

Of course, it was not a complete downfall. The Estelle family still held the highest position in the Vitium nation, but their status was so precarious that it could change at any moment.

In such a situation, as the youngest member, I did not have much wealth to begin with, and as someone who had run away from the family, I couldn’t possibly have money…

When I briefly explained this, Lily’s expression was pure annoyance.

“Are you also…?”

“Why would I have money? Let’s go to the Adventurer’s Guild.”

“Yes.”

Contrary to what I thought, upon arriving at the Adventurer’s Guild, no one paid any attention to Lily.

Come to think of it, no one had paid any attention to Lily since we arrived in the capital. It felt as if no one even noticed her. Maybe Lily had used some kind of magic to conceal her appearance to prevent any commotion.

Naturally, Lily, who had arrived at the Adventurer’s Guild, went straight up to the second floor.

I had heard that only the top adventurers or those associated with the guild leader could go up to the second floor of the Adventurer’s Guild.

Moreover, the current guild leader was a High Elf. Did Lily have some connection with the guild leader?

Without any hesitation, Lily opened the door to the guild leader’s office and went in.

As soon as we entered the guild leader’s office, we saw the guild leader, a High Elf with blonde hair and pointed ears, confirming that she was indeed a High Elf.

Despite holding the position of guild leader for a long time, she looked younger than me, probably because she was a High Elf.

The guild leader, who was writing documents, looked up and smiled broadly when she saw us.

“Aunt Lily!”

“Aunt? What did I tell you to call me?”

“Oh! My mistake~ Lily, what brings you here after so long?”

“It’s nothing, I just need some money.”

“You know about it, right?”

Lily shook her head in response to the guild leader’s question and let out a sigh.

“What do you need?”

“Do you remember that place we talked about last time?”

“You mean the place where the gates were opening continuously.”

“Yes, that place. The gates are opening periodically there, and I want you to seal them.”

“Got it. I’ll do it before we go back.”

“You can’t do it right away?”

“I have something to do before that because of this kid.”

“Hmm? Oh, so you’re not alone today?”

Finally noticing me… Was I really that invisible?

“Hello. Who are you?”

“Hello. I am Lisa, the youngest of the Estelle family.”

“Oh, the Lisa who was recently wanted by the police?”

“W-Wanted by the police!?”

“What, were you a wanted criminal?”

“Let me see. It says here that you were involved in the murder of relatives, attempted assassination of the Estelle family head, and abuse of maids and servants?”

“No! I didn’t do any of that!”

This is ridiculous! Killing relatives… Am I really responsible for killing my own mother…? And an assassination attempt on the family head? I have never done such things.

Most of the maids and servants have fled, and the only one left was falsely accused and taken away.

But to think that…

“Snap out of it, Lisa.”

“L-Lady Lily… I, I…”

“It’s okay. I’ll just kill them all~”

As I was about to fall into despair, Lady Lily’s chilling smile snapped me back to reality.

No matter how crazy or powerful they may be sitting in the Estelle family seat, they probably wouldn’t stand a chance against Lady Lily right in front of me.

Because Lady Lily is the one who made the Estelle family what it is.

==

Wesley led the troops of the Estelle family into the mountainous region.

It was none other than the assassin who had been tracking Lisa, suddenly found in the capital, who provided information to Wesley.

He followed Lisa and the mysterious woman into the forbidden zone.

Wesley saw this as a perfect opportunity for an assassination and led his elite troops to pursue Lisa.

The forbidden zone opens periodically, allowing monsters to come out until the gate is completely sealed.

In other words, there are no people around, and it’s a perfect opportunity to kill without anyone noticing.

“Wesley!”

Lisa, who spotted Wesley leading his troops, shouted at him as if she was going to kill him.

Wesley, who seeks revenge on Lisa’s mother and wants to throw her into hell, beyond anger.

Tears of anger flowed from Lisa’s eyes.

“Hello, Lisa. How have you been?”

“And you call that a greeting…!”

“Why won’t you even greet me? Even though your mother is dead, she used to greet me with joy when I played with her.”

“…!”

The information in Wesley’s words was too shocking.

Wesley’s words about raping his dead mother. In other words, he had no respect for the corpse and simply saw it as a toy. Lisa sat down in shock at his words.

Unable to protect her mother in life or death, Lisa was filled with despair.