Episode 56: The Keen Observation of the Same Kind
“Damn it…! They just keep coming!”
The attacking pack of black wolves was the same type we fought in the forest.
While their individual combat power wasn’t much, their sheer numbers and coordinated attacks made them troublesome.
“Hey, you bratty prince!”
“What is it, you old hag?!”
Eline called out loudly, which was rare for her. She wouldn’t be just yelling insults at a time like this. While shooting to keep the black wolves at bay, I moved back towards Charl and the others.
“Listen closely. These aren’t just regular [Ragment]. They seem to be familiars summoned by the power of a magic ring.”
“What makes you say that?!”
“Look closely. Despite their numbers, the beasts only move within a certain range. They never venture deep into the town. This is likely a restriction placed by the spell inscribed on the magic ring. Unless we eliminate the source, killing them will be futile.”
I see. If Eline, who is praised as a legendary goldsmith, says so, it must be true.
“Also, Nenel wandering off like that was probably caused by a magic ring that induces hallucinations.”
“So, it’s Lucille’s trap after all…?”
“No, it’s not.”
I denied the words of Makina, who seemed to feel responsible.
“If Lucille had the power to summon so many familiars, it would be more effective to use them in a confined space rather than an open area like this. Lucille’s traps aren’t this sloppy… Besides, she never uses mind control.”
When Lucille deceived Leo and trapped Charl, she never used magic to brainwash or create illusions. she even went to the trouble of disguising as Charl.
This was likely her policy… or perhaps her hobby.
“Someone in that building Nenel entered is preventing us from approaching.”
They must not want to be disturbed. In that case, we have no choice but to interfere.
“If they can only operate within a certain range, we don’t need to worry about them going deep into the town. Let’s rush into that ruin!”
We needed to chase Nenel, and since there’s no end to them unless we eliminate the source, staying here is pointless. We’d have to take Charl and the others with us, but we have no other choice in this situation.
“[Arsène]!”
First, I dispelled [Alvida] and then immediately donned [Arsène].
But that wasn’t the end. I unleashed the magic entrusted to me by Eline, magic born from the life of a certain girl!
“[Ascension]!”
With the chant, the [spirit armor] covering my body began to shine with power like blooming petals.
Arsène – Ascension.
It was an enhanced form of [Arsène], brought forth by the magic-enhancing spell [Ascension].
“I’ll clear the way. Everyone, follow me!”
The speed, which is the hallmark of Arsène, was drastically enhanced.
Now, even without using [Acceleration], I could move at speeds beyond that.
“Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh!”
I exploded the concentrated magic power in my legs, kicking the ground with such force that it gouged the earth.
Without any intention of dodging, I dashed through the pack of fangs and claws before me.
With a flurry of blades wielded by my arms, the miasma scattered like blood splatter, and the remains of the black wolves dissipated like mist.
“A-amazing…! It was so fast, it looked like a flash of light!”
“Did he just cut down that many in an instant… What an incredible kid.”
Even with Charl’s eyesight, the ultra-speed movement appeared as a mere flash of light.
While [Arsène] was originally a form excelling in speed, it was the power of [Ascension] that made this possible.
“Now!”
At my signal, Charl and the others started moving, dashing through the small opening created by my attack.
While I fended off the attacking claws and fangs, everyone managed to reach the ruins.
Following Nenel, we opened the door and stormed inside.
“Close the door! Quickly!”
Once we shut the old, worn-out door, the movements of the black wolves stopped abruptly.
And they did not follow us inside.
“Looks like their orders were to attack anyone approaching the ruins, but not inside. They can create an unlimited number of them, but their commands are simple.”
“So, once we’re inside, we’re safe… for now.”
Though we couldn’t let our guard down completely, we could at least catch our breath.
I calmed my breathing and dispelled [Ascension].
“Third Prince, what was that magic just now? I’ve never seen anything like it…”
“[Ascension]. Simply put, it’s [magic that enhances other magic]. I used its power to enhance my [Royal Armor Ring].”
Noel’s eyes widened in surprise as he stared at the [Ascension] magic ring on my finger.
“The magic stone used must be of the highest rank… It’s like using two [Royal Armor Rings] simultaneously? And you mastered it so well.”
“It takes a bit of practice, but you get used to it… Maybe each magic ring has its own compatibility. It felt more stable when I used it with [Alvida]. Also, it might have something to do with me being contracted to two spirits.”
“Wait. You’re contracted to two spirits? Do you have two [Royal Armor Rings]? No one in the kingdom of Ivelpe has ever had a double spirit contract before…”
Noel seemed frustrated, biting his lip, but I felt a bit complicated too.
In retrospect, this double spirit contract might have been one of the reasons Leo’s hatred towards me grew.
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“Seems you’ve got some skill, Third Prince.”
“Thank you very much.”
“Hmph… So, what do we do from here? The source of those [Ragment] must be in here, right?”
Looking around, I couldn’t see Nenel.
All that was here were old, broken tables and chairs, remnants that someone once lived here.
“The map Lucille gave us didn’t include details about the inside.”
“Then we have to find it ourselves…”
“Without any clues? That’s going to be tough.”
“Well, wandering aimlessly won’t help. It’d just waste time.”
“Third Prince, do you have any ideas?”
“In times like this, you think like a villain.”
As I explained, I observed the ceiling, walls, and surroundings.
The brick interior had cracks, moss, and overall looked worn out. There were many damaged spots, and it wouldn’t be surprising if it crumbled at any moment.
“If you had something incriminating, where would you hide it? You’d choose a place where it couldn’t be easily found if someone accidentally wandered in. Since Nenel’s father came out of this ruin, the entrance is likely hidden. Given the structure of this ruin, there don’t seem to be any other rooms. So, the suspicious spot is the floor… which means there’s a basement.”
“A hidden basement? They could have teleported to a distant place with transfer magic.”
“No. The [Forbidden Magic Ring] interference indicates the caster is nearby. If the magic line is cut, the rest must be a physical trick.”
“Hmm…”
Noel seemed to agree with my logic and fell silent. While observing, my eyes fell on a bookshelf by the wall.
“That shelf looks oddly new.”
“Does it? It looks faded and quite damaged to me…”
I touched the shelf and inspected it closely.
“…This is a fake. The faded look is just paint. The damage marks are too new. They were added by someone later… And, placing such a well-crafted fake means…”
Upon examining the floor, I found slight traces of rails.
With some effort, I slid the shelf sideways.
“Bingo.”
Grabbing the handle on the floor where the shelf had been, I lifted it. With a clunk, a hidden staircase leading underground appeared.
“A staircase to the basement… Al, you’re amazing! You found it so quickly!”
“Impressive observation skills.”
“Just thinking like a fellow villain.”
“……”
Usually, Makina would interrupt with a sarcastic comment, but for some reason, she remained silent.
“Makina? What’s up with you? You’ve been awfully quiet.”
My unease probably stemmed from Makina’s recent odd behavior.
“No, no. I was just thinking of words of praise for Al’s rare, decent performance. It’s not something I’m used to, so I ended up silent. But! I’ve crafted the perfect compliment!”
“Alright, let’s hear it.”
“I think your remarkable deduction comes from your daily efforts to hide naughty books. By the way, I sold all the books in the ceiling hideout! Thanks for the extra cash!”
“You sold my treasures?!”
This maid has no heart or soul! Do you know how much effort I put into getting those…!
“……”
Ouch. Charl’s gaze is painful.
“……Ridiculous. I was a fool to acknowledge you even a little.”
And it felt like Noel’s opinion of me, which had just improved, had plummeted.
“Stop fooling around and let’s chase Nenel.”
“Y-yeah. We can’t let our guard down.”
Taking advantage of Eline’s suggestion, I led the way down the stairs to the basement.
☆
Watching Al descend, I let out a quiet sigh of relief, making sure no one noticed.
…Did I manage to act [like usual]?
A noisy, troublesome, foolish maid.
Was I able to be [Makina]?
It’s strange. Normally, I would have teased Al right after he found the stairs, without even thinking about it.
I had been silent until she spoke. My mind was filled with nothing but unpleasant thoughts. Only jealousy towards Lady Charl and my own powerlessness were swirling inside me.
It’s strange… Before, I should have been able to play the role of a ‘noisy, boisterous, stupid maid’ without even thinking about it.
(How did I use to act… as my ‘usual self’?)
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