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IBP 87
The screen within the image sphere was soon replaced by footage showing the activities of others.
Scenes of my sister and Gillen talking were hardly captured on screen.
Although there were several visual magic tools inside, there were certainly blind spots. My sister and Gillen had held their conversation in one of those blind spots.
‘Is my sister hurt?’
She might not seem like it, but she's actually quite fragile.
After that, my sister was nowhere to be seen until the bell rang to announce the break for lunch.
‘I hope she's doing okay.’
To think I followed her all the way here and yet I can't do anything for her.
I let out a deep sigh and left the viewing room.
‘I wonder if she's eating her lunch properly.’
When we were at the dog star, she would never eat unless someone took care of her.
I'll have to look after her meticulously.
‘Honestly, humans are hopeless without dogs.’
They get upset if you don't play hunt with them. They get so disappointed if you don't take them for a walk.
Just then, Caligo, who had switched positions from participant to observer, chattered beside me.
“They say children can't watch the hunting competition starting from the afternoon.”
It was like a bolt from the blue.
“What! Why?”
“They say there isn't much difference between the magical beasts that come out in the morning and those at night... but they are still somewhat aggressive. His Majesty the Emperor says he doesn't want fragile children to get hurt.”
As I looked at Caligo shrugging his shoulders, despair clouded my vision.
‘No. What if those bad guys attack my sister during the hunting competition?’
As if reading my mind, Caligo spoke.
“Are you worried about Lady Chloe?”
“Yeah...”
“Don't worry too much. Lady Chloe won't be in danger, at least during the hunting competition.”
“Huh?”
“That Dark Forest is actually protected by a barrier. While some petty tricks might happen inside, they won't be able to attack her openly.”
I don't know how on earth he read my mind, but...
“What does that have to do with a barrier?”
“If someone attacks a noble inside, the attacker is forcibly bounced out of the barrier. It's a barrier created by the dragon divine beast who manifested here personally, so you can trust it.”
If that's the case, is my sister really okay?
“Now, let's go for a walk. You're being too much of a worrywart right now.”
* * *
As afternoon arrived, the hunting competition grew more intense.
However, Chloe was still unable to capture any secret movements of the spirit creature hunters.
But just now.
When she approached the Dragon's Lake, right next to the Dark Forest.
She instinctively felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.
‘As I thought, something is strange. The magical beasts are excessively aggressive starting from the afternoon.’
The current Emperor was a pacifist.
Yet, contrary to his nature, aggressive magical beasts continued to appear.
Chloe walked again, indifferently wiping the blood that had splattered on the back of her hand while dealing with the beasts.
And then...
In the center of the lake, she discovered more than five people with their hands gathered together, eyes closed as if in prayer.
One of them sensed her presence and snapped their eyes open.
‘...Praying at the Dragon's Lake.’
If Chloe had known nothing, she would have passed by without a second thought.
It was common for those with faith in divine beasts to gather and pray to them.
Since it was a lake imbued with the power of a dragon, she would have assumed they were praying to the dragon.
Even setting aside the fact that spirit creature hunters were active, the situation was somewhat bizarre given that one of the five people there was Dahlia.
She wondered if they were trying to obtain something from the Dragon's Lake.
But...
‘...This lake is already completely sealed by the power of the dragon.’
It was as she walked closer to the lake, still harboring doubts.
“Hello, Chloe.”
The people naturally dispersed, and only Dahlia stood before her.
“Where did your perfect knight, His Highness Grand Duke Rivera, go?”
“I wouldn't know. Unlike you, I don't rely on men by calling them ‘knights.’”
“...Is that so? I saw quite clearly how you were wagging your tail at my fiancé earlier.”
Chloe stared intently at Dahlia and whispered warningly.
“I have no interest in a cheating fiancé.”
Chloe whispered as she indifferently passed her by.
“The reason I haven't spread any rumors in society yet, Dahlia.”
“...”
“Is because it's a hassle. So don't cross the line. Before I decide to spill everything.”
“Chloe Ardos! The one crossing the line is you, carelessly encountering my fiancé!”
Perhaps because there were no people around and the magic tools installed in the morning had disappeared.
‘She's finally showing her true colors.’
Chloe looked at Dahlia with an expression that wasn't uncomfortable. In fact, she almost felt pleased.
“Don't scream. I wonder what I'll say about you, and how I'll tear down the sandcastle you've built.”
“...”
“I want to keep you anticipating it.”
And those words from Chloe were enough to drive Dahlia completely mad.
“Shut. Your. Mouth.”
With a cold shout, Dahlia raised her hand.
It was the manifestation of her supernatural ability, <Distortion>.
Dahlia's hand boldly drew a formula in the air.
It was an attack launched with the expectation of being bounced out of the barrier.
Bluish smoke spread over the formula, attempting to block Chloe's breath.
It was a trick to distort Chloe's entire mana circuit.
“Ah, there was a magical beast behind you. My mistake.”
Dahlia smiled sneakily, hoping Chloe would be terrified, but Chloe's expression remained unchanged.
And soon, Dahlia realized why Chloe could feign such indifference.
Because the bluish smoke Dahlia had created vanished with a single glance from Chloe.
What covered the space where the smoke had been was a deep darkness.
“Why, did you think I'd be terrified like you?”
In an instant, Chloe's darkness stained Dahlia's entire body.
Dahlia's body flinched as her vision was cut off.
“...You. If you attack a fellow noble instead of a magical beast, you'll be disqualified.”
At that moment, the pitch-black darkness dominating Dahlia's vision slowly faded away.
“Dahlia. The reason I'm letting you off right now isn't because I can't kill you.”
It's because you're serving as a wonderful bait.
Look, even now.
Over there, walking near the Dragon's Lake...
Gillen Amadeus is looking at my supernatural ability as if it's enchanting.
“Oh my, were Dahlia and Chloe having a conversation?”
Gillen, walking from afar, looked at Dahlia with a gentle smile.
Ignoring the resentful gaze Dahlia cast toward him.
She passed by the trashy couple without a word.
The sound of the two bickering reached Chloe's ears.
Hearing their conversation reminded her of her past, foolish self.
“Dahlia, why on earth were the two of you meeting?”
“Ah, Chloe. Why are you so sensitive? Hmm?”
Dahlia must be anxious right now.
She must be seized by a formless anxiety that what she had stolen would be taken away again.
But.
‘Those who are anxious always leave evidence, Dahlia.’
How about it, Dahlia?
So now, what trace will you leave behind?
What are you going to do from now on?
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