Chapter 150

It was only natural for Rana to have doubts.

After all, she had been taken on every dispatch mission until now.

But this letter wasn’t that kind of request.

It wasn’t going to be a bright, hopeful monster subjugation suitable for an innocent child… but a cruel, sinister murder play.

“It’s not that difficult. Rana, you’ve been through a lot because of me, so take this chance to rest properly. If you need anything, ask Nigel or Freide.”

“Got it! Be careful, unnie!”

Turning her gaze away from Rana, who nodded with a smile, she read the letter again.

The sender’s name wasn’t written on the envelope.

Only a vivid red hair tied around the letter, as if decorating it.

Ophelia’s letter.

– Get ready.

The firm opening words signaled that the time to start what had been postponed had come.

—-

Ophelia.

A genius among geniuses who would reach the rank of a high sorceress before even turning twenty, as long as her thoroughly restrained and jealous older sister, Claire, was taken down.

Considering that Floheta, the high sorceress of the Magic Tower, was in her late thirties… one could guess just how extraordinary her talent was.

For our team, which was entirely focused on physical attacks, she was a must-have talent.

There was no profession better suited for taking down large swarms of enemies than a sorcerer.

So, that’s why I’m putting up with this hassle to help her.

I adjusted the hood of the robe I was wearing.

The robe that came with the letter. It was a familiar piece of clothing.

Although it had been altered to fit my size… it was clearly the same robe worn by the Suin warriors of Militia who had attacked the capital.

I had heard they were all collected and destroyed due to the risk of misuse, so how did she get her hands on this?

Thanks to it, I managed to slip out of the capital without anyone noticing.

Lately, my every move was being watched wherever I went.

Though, thankfully, the surveillance hadn’t reached inside the academy yet.

It took a full day to reach the meeting place written in the letter.

As soon as I left the special quarters, I pulled up the hood and moved cautiously, avoiding people’s gazes.

Once I was out of the capital and away from prying eyes, I ran straight through.

The field at midnight was pitch dark.

Even the moon, which usually shone brightly high in the sky, had disappeared tonight, silently sleeping.

Only the sound of reeds rustling in the night wind spread quietly.

I thought about taking off the robe.

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

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

I made it this far safely, so it shouldn’t matter. It’s not like I need it anymore anyway.

The mana Ophelia had charged into the robe had long since run out, and any effect of masking my presence was gone.

After pushing through the reeds for about twenty minutes, I saw an old building standing alone in the distance.

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

Like the entrance to a ruin or dungeon leading underground.

They really went all out with this.

Not sure if it’ll work, though.

“I’m here to pay my debt—.”

I tossed out a casual remark as I entered the building.

The inside was almost empty.

Half-broken torch holders hung on the walls, and at the far end, a staircase leading underground gaped open.

It’s pretty convincing…

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

Perhaps hearing my voice, a woman in a robe walked up from the stairs.

“You’re here? Faster than I expected.”

When the woman lowered her hood, a cascade of red hair tumbled down.

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

A fake dungeon? It’s well-made, but…

If Claire doesn’t show up, it’s all for nothing.

“She’ll come. You’ll see. My sister thinks she’s meticulous and thorough, but… in reality, she’s not that wise or cautious. Pathetically so.”

Ophelia chuckled.

“Well, you’d know better than me. So, when are we starting?”

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

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

A day before Hasal arrived at the fake ruins.

It was already time for everyone to be asleep, so the Sigmilus mansion was as quiet as always.

Except for the bedroom of Claire van Sigmilus, who effectively wielded the authority of the family head.

“Mmm… Ah…! Huh, hah, haaaah…!”

Lustful moans echoed beyond the door.

To anyone unaware of the situation, it would seem like the young lady of the Sigmilus family was rolling around lustfully with a man.

Except for one detail, it wasn’t entirely wrong.

The moans weren’t Claire’s.

One of Claire’s close aides, Jayden, stood outside the door, catching his breath.

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 Sigmilus—hated being disturbed while she was enjoying herself.

Though, honestly, who wouldn’t?

If he showed any signs of excitement in this situation… he might be dragged to her lab and turned into an experiment subject.

Jayden took a deep breath and…

She knocked on the door quietly.

The sharp scream abruptly stopped, and only the soft sound of someone catching their breath could be heard.

“…Who is it?”

A low, subdued female voice.

Filled with irritation and anger, simmering amidst the heightened tension.

“It’s Jayden, my lady. The news you’ve been waiting for has arrived… I apologize for the late visit, but I thought it necessary to inform you immediately.”

“Jayden…? Ah, right. Wait a moment.”

A faint magical glow seeped through the crack of the door.

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

After all, it wouldn’t be a pleasant conversation for a mere plaything to overhear.

Soon after, rustling sounds came from beyond the door.

Probably… she was putting her clothes back on.

This was fortunate for Jayden as well.

It gave him time to calm his excitement.

A moment later.

The door creaked open halfway.

Through the crack, Claire van Sigmilus revealed her face.

Her usually tied-up hair was now loose, and she wore only a thin slip with a coat draped over it.

Her red hair clung to her face and shoulders, and the slightly damp slip was so thin that it barely concealed what was underneath.

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

Beyond the door, inside the room, a young woman lay naked on the thoroughly soaked bed.

A woman with dark brown hair, almost black at a glance.

She was one of the women Claire had been frequently entertaining lately.

It was a scene that could tempt any man… but Jayden, far from being excited, was instead breaking into a cold sweat.

Claire’s icy-cold eyes were piercing through him like daggers.

“I was in the middle of something… So, what is it?”

“Lady Ophelia has finally made her move. An hour ago, she left the academy in a carriage. It’s likely she’s heading there.”

“Hmm… that fake dungeon? She really thinks she made it into a trap, huh?”

Claire let out a cold chuckle.

She already knew about Ophelia’s plan.

A fake dungeon, meticulously decorated with all sorts of magical inscriptions to mimic an ancient magical ruin.

It was such a naive idea.

Other magicians might have fallen for it.

The desire for new magic, for reaching higher realms, was almost akin to madness among magicians.

In fact, Claire herself might have been fooled if she hadn’t known in advance.

She had seen samples of the magical inscriptions, and they indeed contained theories that went beyond what was commonly known.

Enough to make anyone believe they were traces left by a high-ranking magician of the ancient era.

In this age, where fewer than ten had reached such heights, it was hard to believe such theories could be created now.

But for Ophelia, it was possible.

She had a genius-level talent when it came to magic.

Though she hadn’t shown it much since coming of age, Claire had never forgotten.

‘Still, since she’s my sister, I thought I’d let her live quietly if she kept her head down… But now, she’s finally showing her true colors, our Ophelia.’

A murderous glint flickered in Claire’s eyes.

She had spared her out of pity, thinking her submissive demeanor was cute, but now that she’s grown, she dares to challenge her?

Relying on nothing but petty magic and her so-called subordinates.

“What will you do?”

“Well, if she’s gone through all this trouble to call for her sister, shouldn’t I go as a dutiful sibling? Three days should be enough. Have everyone prepared.”

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

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

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

The thought of Ophelia boldly marching up to her with her subordinates, ready to confront her, made Claire burst into uncontrollable laughter.

How could she have known that the dungeon was Ophelia’s trap?

The subordinates who, under Ophelia’s orders, built the fake dungeon, reported Claire’s movements, and were now gathering to kill Claire…

All of them were actually spies Claire had secretly planted to monitor Ophelia.

Claire tossed the coat she was wearing onto a chair and slipped off her slip.

With all her business settled, it was time to enjoy herself again.

The excitement that had momentarily cooled was now rising once more.

The moment her foolish little sister realizes that all the people she trusted as her loyal subordinates were actually Claire’s spies… What kind of expression would she make?

Just imagining it sent a shiver down her spine.

Claire climbed back onto the bed, released the sleep spell on her plaything, and pulled her into an embrace.

The screams that began didn’t stop until dawn.

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

“By the way, those so-called subordinates of yours… Are they really trustworthy?”

“Of course not.”

Ophelia chuckled as she brushed off the ashes from her magic candle.