I Thought Your Friend's Sibling Wasn't a Girl? - Chapter 100

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 100
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The chaos of the night was scarcely brought under control by the following afternoon.
“Count, are you all right?”
“All right… I’m fine.”
“You don’t look fine at all. In just one day you’ve become positively gaunt— uh, uh!”
Count Arle regarded Aiden, who was freely working his mouth in his newly emaciated face, before letting his head drop helplessly.
There had certainly been far too much happening in the span of a single day. It wasn’t enough that his son had attacked the Knight who came seeking him here; that very night, the ground itself had caved in.
“There was something like a cellar down below. That’s an Underground Reservoir, isn’t it?”
“When exactly did you see that—”
“Obviously there was such a commotion, so I had to assess the situation. And I’m a Knight, after all.”
Aiden, having quickly brushed off Sena, puffed out his chest proudly and answered with confidence.
Had an uninformed observer witnessed this, they would surely have believed Aiden innocent.
Of course, now that Sirius had torn things apart, the collapse would have been inevitable—but it was Aiden who had pulled the trigger.
…And perhaps I bear some small responsibility myself.
The thought made Olivia grow just a little glum.
“Is this the space the Count was already aware of?”
“Ah, well, that is…”
“Count, you must be honest with us. Only then can we reach a conclusion about what to do next.”
By this point, only the Count and a very small number of servants he trusted remained in the manor. It was what the Count wanted, and truthfully what they wanted as well. There were important matters to discuss.
“A conclusion? What does that mean?”
“Our mission is to transport the Sacred Artifact to the Count’s house and safely return it to the Imperial Palace.”
“…You mean to say…”
“If the problem arose from a facility the Count was unaware of, then we cannot know when such a thing might happen again, yes?”
The implication was clear: if necessary, they could recover the Sacred Artifact and depart to ensure its safety. Understanding this, the Count’s face went pale.
Yugin soothed him with a calm, trustworthy voice, speaking gently.
“However, if this was a problem the Count was already aware of, and if he was preparing to resolve it—”
“I was!”
“Ah, I see. So it was indeed a problem the Count had already recognized?”
At this, the Count hurried to nod. A satisfied smile played at Yugin’s lips.
It felt like seeing a new side of Yugin for the first time.
‘The Captain knows how to handle people like this?’
He seemed so different from his usual composed, principle-minded self. His unexpected approach piqued Olivia’s curiosity.
“Now, now. Look at this girl.”
“…Why are you like this again?”
“That’s my line to give. I specifically told you not to take an interest in strange people.”
What does it matter what brother says.
The retort rose to her throat, but Olivia wisely swallowed it. Of course, the look she gave him was noticeably less than warm, but she couldn’t quite control even that.
“Look at this. Why does her gaze look like that? Are you defying me?”
“Keep quiet, Aiden. You’re making a scene where you shouldn’t.”
“I’m watching. Got it?”
What did it matter what eyes anyone looked at her with? Olivia made one more silent retort before turning her attention back to Yugin and Count Arle.
“It seems disturbing things were discovered inside.”
“Those things were the problem. So we had many worries, and while we were searching for a way to resolve it… you all happened to visit.”
“So the timing was unfortunate, then.”
Once he’d begun speaking, the rest came more easily; Count Arle continued without hesitation, though his face was worn with exhaustion.
“The Water Source became Contaminated. The moment we realized the Contamination, we shut off the water flowing into the Underground Reservoir, and we drained every drop of water that had accumulated there.”
“At least you took initial measures.”
“I truly believed we’d done everything we could…”
A look of deep sorrow crossed his eyes.
“Was this the cause of Sirius’s deterioration?”
It likely was. Though why it had become so contaminated remained unclear, the moment Sirius had already fallen under the influence of Divine Authority, what lay below must certainly have contributed to his worsening condition.
Yugin didn’t answer, but Count Arle seemed to have grasped the truth from his silence. Anger began slowly seeping into the Count’s face.
“I… I…”
“Count, please compose yourself.”
“The Water Source, that cursed Water Source! This entire matter happened because of that Contamination, and I’ve raised this issue with Page House countless times!”
Page House. The name emerged from the Count’s lips for the first time.
The unit members’ gazes tangled briefly in the air before quickly separating. The Count, too caught up in his agitation to notice that fleeting eye contact, continued in an inflamed voice, his face flushed red.
“Do you know what Page House does? The Duke’s the paramount power of the Northern Region, the descendant of the heroes who protect the Guardian Stone… he basks in all that glory while turning a blind eye to the very problem on his own doorstep!”
“The Duke of Page House turned a blind eye to this?”
“He claims to be looking into it. But he’s done nothing beyond that. He even ignored my request to examine Sirius’s condition. Are they truly ‘guardians’ at all?”
Sharp accusations poured from his mouth, but no one refuted him.
If his words were true, then Page House was neglecting its very duties while allowing the situation to fester. And that gave the Imperial Palace justification to intervene in the affairs of the Guardian House.
Olivia’s brow furrowed. The Duke’s negligence had become glaringly obvious to her.
As the Count’s words ended, only his ragged breathing filled the conference room.
Yugin remained lost in thought, absently stroking his chin before opening his mouth very slowly.
“Count Arle, if what you say is true, then I believe there may be another way to resolve this situation.”
“Another way… You mean a way exists?”
“The Sacred Artifact might provide temporary relief, but to truly solve it, you must eliminate the root cause first, wouldn’t you agree?”
His voice had become persuasive, almost seductive.
For the first time, hope flickered in the eyes of Count Arle, who had seemed pale and depleted as if cornered.
* * *
The Captain is remarkable.
Olivia resolved to deepen her respect for Yugin from this day forward, for he had managed to secure an additional commission with an extraordinarily generous bounty written upon it after dangling that sweet bait before Count Arle.
“The Captain truly has every reason to be a Captain.”
“Why, all of a sudden this new admiration?”
“I’ve always admired you.”
At her words, a graceful smile crossed Yugin’s lips.
“Hearing you say that means so much. There’s real satisfaction in raising a disciple.”
“I’m being sincere!”
“Then I’m all the more grateful.”
Yugin smiled gently with softer eyes than usual, lightly patted Olivia on the shoulder, and gestured toward the back.
“Knight Aiden’s gaze is remarkably sharp.”
“Don’t mind him. He’s always like that.”
“Is he, now?”
Yugin went further, even blocking Aiden’s line of sight. In that instant, something came rushing from a distance, sounding urgent.
“What is it?”
“What do you mean what? We were having a conversation.”
“So what conversation was it?”
A warm conversation between master and disciple?
Olivia and Yugin continued their exchange without answering Aiden’s question.
“Knight Olivia, how are you finding your training? Is it bearing fruit?”
“Very much so. It’s been an enormous help. Thanks to it, the Defensor has been responding more actively lately.”
“That blade?”
Olivia nodded obediently and lightly tapped the blade of the Defensor.
“I’m not entirely sure what it’s trying to say… but perhaps with more training, the day will come when I understand.”
Olivia smiled as she habitually touched the groove near the hilt.
‘That day will come soon enough.’
That’s what Olivia thought. But she didn’t know that the day was approaching far faster than she imagined.
And in a form she had never once desired.
A deep, ominous rumble echoed down from the sky.
…The beginning of the additional mission.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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