"...So, you're telling me that you didn't even know there was a proposal from Princess Penelope, and that you only found out after Nox returned? Also, that Nox is out of town on an urgent matter right now...."
"I see."
Robert asks in disbelief, and Theo replies in a nonchalant manner.
Sandwiched between them, Talia had been silent for what seemed like days after her outburst earlier.
No one could blame her, of course.
But ever since she'd recently learned to read auras, Talia had realized that she sometimes got a little too much of them.
Her egocentric tendencies had been stripped away.
Anyway, she was rolling her eyes now.
'What if you two end up fighting…?'
Of course, the fight here would be a real sword-for-sword battle.
Talia knew that such a thing could not happen.
If her father were to fall, she would have to....
Thalia couldn't picture Robert winning.
"After…. Talia, go outside for a moment."
It was then that she heard her father's voice.
She shook her head, unable to understand, but she was soon on her feet.
She realized that now was the time to listen quickly.
"Okay...."
I made sure to say it with a little sympathy in my voice. Wouldn't that make them fight a little less?
That's what I thought.
"Huh… please be okay...."
It was when she went outside and said that while sweeping her hand across her chest.
I could hear a few conversations going on inside.
It was quite loud with all the voices, but I couldn't hear what was being said.
Security magic.
Basically, when you're a Duke, your parlor is going to be equipped with a spell like this.
It also made Talia even more uneasy.
So much so.
She was about to bite a nail she hadn't bitten since she was four.
Boom!
(beolkeog!)
Suddenly, the door flew open.
The voice that came back was enough to shock her.
"The conversation has ended well. It seems that both of you have come to a satisfactory conclusion. It has been decided that the marriage between the families will take place as planned."
"…What?"
Deacon Rodwell said.
It was shocking to say the least.
It seems like just yesterday they were glaring at each other like they were going to kill each other....
He'd left himself out of it, had a little chat, and things had been resolved so easily?
And then to have it decided so easily, without Nox present, without his input?
'The last time I took knighting lessons, it was just a promise....'
This time, both Robert and Theo must have driven a wedge.
Talia clenched her fists tightly together.
Then she exclaimed.
'Dad's… the best...!!!'
Dad was the best.
* * *
In a world where there are countless curse-type magics, dispel is one of the lesser-known ones.
This is also true of Inner Lunatic.
I, for one, would be lost if I didn't have a deep familiarity with the spell beforehand, so I don't need to say more.
For reference, Professor Lars von Celestia once explained this in depth.
This was back in the days of nighttime self-study.
-To put it simply, it's a process of untangling a tangle of threads by reversing the equations that make up the magic. However, if you think it's easy, you're wrong.
-Basically, the equations that make up a spell are the equivalent of submitting dozens of papers, and no wizard can deny that it's difficult to do the math and untangle them in an instant. I can vouch for that.
-In fact, to be honest, it's probably best not to do it yourself.
-Simply put, it's best to seek out a specialist when breaking a curse, such as… the recently decimated race of elves.
-Haha, that is, if you can find one of those snooty, hiding-away types.
Because of the teachings of such a master....
I am currently blackmailing a woman.
Her name is Liese.
There are many words to describe her.
Imprinter, elementalist with many spirits, and now a reclusive mage who keeps her identity a secret.
In addition, she was a member of the Astel, one of the rarest of the elven races.
'The Astel are an outcast among the Elves for their friendship with humans. They now live outside their circle. Individuals of great power, but never able to belong to a pack, never able to swarm.'
I said, raising my hand lightly.
"Enough, everyone sheath your swords."
"But she was the one who tried to attack you."
Christopher said firmly, but I shook my head.
Even if she came at me again, I could just activate [Time of Genius] and quickly parry her attack.
Furthermore, Liese isn't very good at martial arts according to the game's setting. Her only skills are in Elementalism and Harmonization.
Those are the only two disciplines she's good at.
Also, Elementalism basically has an absolute time limit on how long it takes to summon your spirit. A sword is not the fastest weapon to get someone to talk for nothing.
"I'd like to speak with you alone, so please excuse me."
"The master wishes to speak with you in private, all four of you, please leave the room...."
Christopher said in a heavy voice, so I interrupted him.
"Same goes for you. Christopher."
"…Yes, but I'm an escort, charged with protecting you...."
"Elena, you'll be joining us. If anything happens, you'll protect me."
"Huh! Okay! Yes, I'll do that!"
Elena responded with exaggerated gestures.
Christopher's back looks a little lonely.
But he had no choice but to listen to me, so he decided to wait outside.
As he bites, Liese's eyes begin to turn amber.
She asks.
"Do you know who I am?"
"Of course."
You reply nonchalantly.
[Talent 'Master of Acting' is activating].
"A formerly practiced elf. A member of the Astel clan, Archon Liese."
Liese's eyes widen.
Her expression softens, and the black hair we saw when we first met begins to turn blonde.
I knew Elena would let out an exclamation, so I had already used Silence to muffle the sound.
"Huh eh eh!?"
("heueeees!?")
A voice bursts out after one beat. Hesitantly, I crossed my arms.
I looked at Liese, who had returned to her elf form with a curious expression. Liese untied her hair and spoke.
"You already know who I am. I figured there's no point in going through the motions."
"A wise decision."
"That hair and those eyes… you must be Young Master Nox von Reinhafer, the youngest of the Reinhafer family."
"Yes."
She recognized me after all.
I cut straight to the chase.
"We already know that you are organizing a resistance to revive Tahalin, and that your headquarters are in the basement of this inn."
Liese's expression hardened for a moment, but then, as if in anticipation, she returned to her usual bluntness.
"What do you want me to do for you?"
"Will you lift this child's curse?"
I asked bluntly, but her expression was subtly crumpled.
Liese shook her head.
"I'm sorry, but I'm in the position of rebelling against the state, and to save the princess of the kingdom… don't you think that's a ridiculous thing to do?"
"A rebellion… If you stage it, Tahalin will fall. Whether it succeeds or not, the country will be lost to the Empire, but I can stop it."
"And why would you do that?"
Liese asked, sounding genuinely curious.
Hagiya, of course.
Even if the Reinhafer family was a dark family, and even if they were being treated as a divine family these days, they were still dukes of great power, weren't they?
What's more, Liese doesn't even know yet that the Lunatic and Dark Houses are working together to revolt.
So it's strange that questions don't arise.
Why would the youngest member of House Reinhafer want to do something so dangerous?
Why does he want to save Tahalin?
In the past, it was none other than the Blackblade Knights of House Reinhafer who killed the majority of them.
But rather than give her an answer, I choose to change the subject.
"I know what this country of Tahalin means to you."
"...What do you mean?"
Liese tried to sound nonchalant, but it fell flat.
I already know all of her backstory.
I began to remember why Liese, the High Priestess of the game, was tied up in this backwater, and why.
* * *
Side Story – [Serin the Desert Thief].
Archoness Liese.
She was a prodigy elementalist, one of the most talented among the elves with excellent mana sensitivity.
From a young age, she communed with many spirits, and at the age of only sixteen, she made a pact with a supreme spirit, earning her the title of High Elementalist.
This proved to be a curse for her.
An immense talent.
This could be seen as a blessing in disguise, as talent without a fence to protect it can sometimes be a disaster.
Born a member of the Astel, an ethnic minority.
She was swept from place to place for years as a wanderer, unprotected by her people.
It's no wonder she's been attacked by countless people who've tried to take advantage of her.
In terms of brute force alone, Liese wasn't very strong.
However, elementalism had a higher monetary value than other magic and was coveted by many nations. This made her a fugitive.
There were many who hired knights or used mages to attack her.
Every day she suffered, and her mind grew duller and duller.
After much deliberation.
Eventually, she suffered for so long that she decided to hide her identity.
She decided to hide her name, disguise her identity, and infiltrate another country.
But here's the catch.
After traveling through countless countries, Liese finally landed in Tahalin.
Tahalin.
Liese had arrived in Tahalin two years earlier, just before the war with the Reinhafers.
Even here, she evaded the Empire's search, and was attacked by a mage and defeated.
She stood between life and death.
It was here that she was discovered by a woman, and her true identity was revealed: her name was Serin. A small, skinny girl from the outskirts of Tahalin.
She became Liese's savior.
-Hide here. I'll tell the others you escaped.
Serin knew who she was, but she didn't tell anyone, and she helped Liese hide.
It was not the kind of mercy she would have extended to a non-human elf of her own kind, but she did so without expecting anything in return.
After overcoming such an urgent situation, Serin spoke to Liese, who was about to run away still wounded.
You don't have to run.
I won't hurt you.
Liese didn't believe her, but her wounds prevented her from getting far, and she blacked out.
When she woke up. Liese realized.
She realized that Serin had nursed her back to health day and night, and that she was alive because of her efforts.
Afterward, the two stayed together for a while.
It wasn't all bad.
Liese and Serin's personalities were well matched.
Serin was a natural leader, and a vagabond's idol.
She was a natural leader and the idol of the bums. Even though she knew that stealing was what Serin had to do to survive.
She believed that Serin's actions could be justified to some extent.
Before we get into the morality of the individual, the collapse of the system would hurt each other in many ways.
At the same time, Liese couldn't help but worry.
-Serin, do you really have to keep stealing? Is there any other way?
Stealing.
It was the only way to share what belonged to overfed nobles with their children. However, it was also true that it was not a very legal method.
If there was no choice, it was the best she could do.
At least, that's what Serin thought.
She stammered.
– I can't help it. If we don't do this, the children of this shanty town won't be able to survive… … I'll have to take some risks
Liese felt her chest tighten and locked eyes with her.
-Why don't you just leave this place?
-I'm sorry, but without me, all those sick kids in the shantytowns of Tahalin will die, and I don't want that.
Serin had been stealing to feed all the children in the neighborhood who were her age or younger. Despite committing a crime, I don't know if this expression is reasonable.
But at least to them, she was a girl pretender.
Liese felt a pang of sadness as she watched her.
Even if she was an accomplished Elementalist, even if she could use magic. She didn't have the power to create something out of nothing. The same was true for healing magic.
So all she could do was ration clean drinking water.
Some might ask.
Why didn't the Archoness bring any money with her?
Well, no fool would flee and bring Imperial gold coins.
Imperial gold and silver coins were the only currency that could be used anywhere, and they were enchanted.
It was meant to prevent counterfeiting and illegal activity, but the coins she received for her salary were also enchanted to track her location.
A sort of shackle.
As a result, Liese, who was penniless herself, found herself in a position where she was constantly indebted to her. She began to wonder what she could do to help her.
And so, using magic, he secretly developed this shanty town. A small inn, ramshackle but with a decent place to sleep.
But the plan was never completed.
Before I could see the finished product,
Serin was hanged from the gallows.
Dead.
One winter, a girl who steals to save the family she doesn't share her blood with. She hung like a felon on the gallows, thin as a dry branch.
Liese echoed the last words Serin had said.
-Won't Tahalin be a beautiful city one day? If the right king is crowned, and the boys and girls who are dying of hunger are taken care of!
-Till then, I don't want to leave this place.