Chapter 47:

Somewhere Between Misunderstanding and the Truth

As soon as the spar ended, the Lady made her announcement.

“Settling the wager immediately after the match feels inappropriate. We’ll do it tomorrow.”

Vlad thought everything had ended fairly well.

Mina clearly disagreed.

“Then… may we take our leave?”

“You may.”

The moment permission was granted, Mina grabbed Vlad by the ear.

“…Come with me, you idiot.”

Grumbling all the way, she dragged him to the private alchemy workshop the Lady had prepared for her.

Even though there was hardly anyone nearby, she locked the door before finally exploding.

“You fool! You moron! Do you have a death wish? Do you think the Lady is someone you can mess with?! Why would you do something so stupid? Who gave you the right to gamble with my freedom?!”

Rubbing his aching ear, Vlad replied simply,

“Sorry.”

“SORRY?! That’s all?! You don’t look sorry at all!”

“Making fun of someone because their apology isn’t sincere is mean, Mina.”

“Aaaagh!”

Cat ears sprang up on top of Mina’s head again.

Her tail nearly emerged as well, making her skirt twitch.

Unable to contain her anger, she stomped the floor.

“You promised no assassinations! No stabbing people! If you were going to do this anyway, why did you run away with me in the first place?!”

“Sorry.”

“Stop just saying sorry—!”

Unable to calm herself, Mina pulled a potion from the bag hanging at her side and drank it.

“Haaa… Okay… I’m calm now.”

Vlad blinked.

“Isn’t that not actually a calming potion?”

“Quiet!”

She pointed a finger at him.

“Tell me exactly what happened between you and the Lady. Everything.”

Unable to resist, Vlad honestly explained everything that had happened a few days earlier.

“So…

If you won, she’d overlook breaking into her room and demanding an assassination request…

But then you lost?”

“Yeah.”

Silence.

Mina suddenly wanted to abandon everything and run away.

But… escaping won’t be easy…

Her eyes wandered around the workshop.

It had been completed only a day after they arrived.

Yet it looked like a fully equipped alchemy laboratory.

It even contained advanced equipment that only an alchemist capable of creating miracle elixirs using the Philosopher’s Stone would need.

Why would equipment like this be here?

The Lady… no…

She’s certain I possess the Philosopher’s Stone.

Mina had stolen it from her master while escaping.

She had never once used it.

She hadn’t even told Vlad about it.

Yet the Lady had prepared an entire workshop designed specifically for someone who owned one.

To Mina…

There was only one possible interpretation.

She’s warning me.

“I know everything.”

“Don’t even think about trying anything.”

If Camellia had heard that conclusion, she would have desperately protested,

“No! I just wanted to be nice…”

Unfortunately…

Mina was intelligent.

And intelligent people often built terrifying misunderstandings all by themselves.

She sighed.

“What if the Lady demands something terrible as payment for the wager? Why would you do something so stupid…? Honestly…”

She looked at Vlad with deep concern.

He only knew how to kill people.

How was someone this innocent supposed to survive?

Meanwhile…

Vlad remained perfectly calm.

“It’s okay, Sister. She said she doesn’t need someone like me.”

Mina stared in disbelief.

“And hearing that somehow makes you feel better?! Think! You’re useless, you picked a fight with her, and now you expect her to let you live?!”

She shook him repeatedly.

It accomplished absolutely nothing.

If anything, she became even more frightened because she had no idea what the Lady intended to demand.

The following morning…

After spending the entire night worrying…

A familiar maid arrived.

“His Lordship requests the presence of both of you.”

Terrified, Mina punched Vlad—who was calmly chewing boiled pig liver for breakfast because he hadn’t even bothered responding—

before tightly squeezing his hand.

If the worst happens…

If it truly comes to that…

I’ll hand over my Philosopher’s Stone to save this idiot.

The Punishment

Camellia looked at the two of them.

“Soon, Mina Alkes will be entering the Tower.”

“Vlad, you’ll accompany her.”

She finished speaking.

Mina waited.

Surely the real punishment would come after that.

“And as for your crimes…”

But…

That was all.

Camellia looked at them curiously.

“Don’t tell me you dislike the idea? After causing trouble, the least you can do is accept this much.”

Mina hesitated.

“…You’re… really forgiving us with just that?”

Camellia shrugged.

“A single little bat sneaking into my room isn’t such a big deal.”

Then she looked toward Vlad.

“Vlad de Ville.”

“This is both your punishment…”

“…and your opportunity.”

Vlad frowned.

“…You said someone like me wasn’t necessary.”

“I still believe that.”

Her answer came without hesitation.

“But after telling you not to live like your parents…”

“It didn’t seem right to leave you without another path.”

Vlad quietly looked at her.

“What if I don’t want your opportunity?”

Camellia answered immediately.

“You’ll regret it.”

She wasn’t smiling.

Nor was she angry.

She simply stated it like an obvious fact.

“If that’s the choice you make…”

“Then make it.”

“It’s your decision.”

Silence filled the room.

Both Vlad and Mina instinctively understood.

If they rejected her offer…

They would regret it for the rest of their lives.

Mina’s Thoughts

If Vlad accepts this opportunity…

Does that mean he’ll become one of the Lady’s people?

The thought terrified her.

And yet…

It also reassured her.

The beautiful woman before her wore the appearance of a noble lady.

But beneath that shell…

Was a monster who had lived for a thousand years.

A being who had protected the Tower alone for centuries—

Holding back greedy kings…

Power-hungry magicians…

And religious orders seeking to destroy the Tower.

If anyone could stand against her former master…

Or even the terrifying leader of the assassin guild…

Perhaps it was this woman.

Swallowing nervously, Mina bowed.

“I-I’ll work hard, My Lady.”

“I’ll work hard enough for both myself… and this idiot—I mean, Vlad.”

“So please…”

Perhaps moved by her earnestness…

Or perhaps for reasons of his own…

Vlad finally lowered his stubborn guard.

“…Fine.”

“I’ll go.”

“I’ll follow you and do my best.”

System Notifications

[Mina Alkes’ Loyalty has increased.]

[Vlad de Ville’s Loyalty has increased.]

[Vlad de Ville’s Affection has increased.]

Camellia blinked in confusion as one notification after another appeared.

…What?

Did what I said sound like a threat?

She had only wanted to test the system’s leveling effect through Vlad.

It had seemed like a perfectly ordinary proposal.

Yet both of them had reacted far more strongly than expected.

Even when she opened the detailed explanation for the loyalty increase, all it said was:

“They wish to repay the opportunity granted by their Lady!”

…What does that even mean?

Do Mina and Vlad also have Rohengrin’s weird preference for strict, dignified lords? That’s… intense.

Still…

One problem had now been solved.

Only one thing remained.

Forming the party.

Fortunately, this decision was easy.

The more party members she brought…

The better the gold farming.

So she intended to take everyone.

Then she suddenly remembered.

Oh, right.

Except Jehar.

His reputation in the city was too terrible.

Sorry…

Actually… not sorry enough to change my mind, Jehar.