I Thought Your Friend's Sibling Wasn't a Girl? - Chapter 101

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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 101
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Tick, tick, tick.
The rhythmic sound from the Water Clock, crafted by a master artisan, filled the room with metronomic precision. In a world where mechanical timepieces had become commonplace thanks to advances in Magical Engineering, the household of the Page Ducal House still preferred to maintain the old ways.
The ignorant pursued only convenience and ease, but they could not. Those who carried the blood of “Beron Page”—the conqueror of the North and hero of the continent—had to embody nobility and superiority in every moment.
There were things that were complex and inconvenient, yet valuable for that very reason. Not some trifling clock made from cheap Mana Stones, but rather that Water Clock before him, which demanded daily maintenance and calibration to keep its time true.
The servant finished today’s inspection and retreated backward. Behind him, the maintained Water Clock continued its ticking rhythm.
Only after the servant had completely closed the door and departed did the Duke turn his attention to the man prostrated before him.
“So, have those sent by the Imperial Palace returned completely?”
“Yes. There were reports that they were sighted at the palace.”
“What was the Emperor’s reaction?”
“He was said to be greatly displeased and furious. But beyond that, he showed no other response.”
“As it should be. The fool, daring to—”
The Duke of Page chewed over his rage in silence.
Nothing was going right. A Magical Beast had appeared at Veritas Academy, and a damaged Protective Stone was fingered as the cause.
He wanted to say it wasn’t true, but all the circumstances were too plausible to deny.
Yet how could the Imperial Palace dare to meddle in the affairs of a Guardian House?
It was a twisted logic somewhere, but he could not even recognize what was wrong. Because this was a rule and privilege that had been maintained since before he was born.
Crack.
A sinister sound escaped from between the Duke’s teeth.
He was dissatisfied with every aspect of this situation. The Emperor finally seizing his chance to pressure them eagerly, Magical Beasts appearing in the world once more, and yet—
“Have you captured him?”
“No, not yet.”
“Hahaha…”
That this accursed situation should arise precisely now, of all times.
Crash!
A black paperweight streaked past the bowed man’s head. Yet even as he clearly sensed it, he did not so much as flinch, only lowering himself further.
His insides churned like molten fire. He could not believe this reality.
Had his bloodline, which he had taken such pride in until now, truly betrayed him?
He had held the Rentas Marquis House accountable for negligent management, yet the Page Ducal House had itself chosen to bear a considerable share of the costs. It was not an act of responsibility or benevolence.
Because the same thing had happened to them. Or rather, something far more terrible.
“Then he’s probably fleeing merrily right now, is he not? With the Protective Stone in hand?”
“…I am deeply ashamed.”
At his subordinate’s answer, the Duke’s expression twisted grotesquely.
Clang!
This time a flowerpot sailed through the air. Shards that bounced off the wall left shallow cuts on the man’s face. The Duke of Page strode toward his subordinate, breathing heavily.
“Did you think I placed you in that position to hear such excuses?”
“I… I apologize.”
“No, that’s not what I wanted to hear. Find him. Bring him to me at once!”
Tick, tick.
The sound of dripping water rang out ominously. The Duke seized his subordinate by the hair, yanked him upright, and fixed him with a murderous gaze.
Red capillaries bloomed across the whites of his eyes, as though they might kill him on the spot.
“I give you one week. Just one.”
“Y-Your Grace.”
“You’d better have a different answer for me by then.”
The Protective Stone of the Rentas Marquis House was damaged. It was currently being repaired, but the fact that the seal had cracked was undeniable.
But the Protective Stone of the Page Ducal House had been stolen.
“Beron Page—that cursed bastard. Bring him before me at once.”
And stolen by the hand of the Page minor noble himself, no less.
“The price of failure is death.”
The Duke straightened, as though nothing had happened, and regarded the prostrate man with a cold stare.
Beyond the window, the sun was setting.
One week. Yes, just one week. His subordinates were not incompetent; he had absolute faith that they would find and bring back the minor noble within that time.
The Emperor would surely suspect. He would certainly take action. But no matter what the Emperor attempted, he need only hold firm for one week.
The Duke believed so. He had no knowledge that those who would destroy his plans had already arrived, nearly upon his doorstep.
A low rumble echoed from the heavy clouds laden with moisture, followed by an ominous crash of thunder.
* * *
The weather was poor even on the day they set out to investigate. Olivia drew the moisture-laden air deep into her lungs as she surveyed her surroundings.
The Water Source lay somewhere on the mountain peak between the Arle House and the Page Ducal House, which meant they had to climb again, enthusiastically scaling the slopes.
Before they departed, the Arle Count, hesitant and anxious, had warned them. The terrain was far more treacherous than it appeared, he’d said.
“Thank you for the warning. Though I imagine it won’t be too difficult.”
“No, truly it is difficult. Even our Knights had a hard time traversing it.”
“Haha… I understand. Don’t worry yourself.”
“The ground is unstable as well, and with the Miasma, we haven’t been able to maintain the paths—”
She should have listened to that more carefully. Olivia swallowed her belated regret and continued forward with the others.
It wasn’t difficult. Honestly, if difficulty were the measure, the training Aiden had put her through at the Academy was several times harder.
But that wasn’t the problem.
“Watch out there. That’s a pit.”
“…How does such a place exist?”
“They said it wasn’t maintained, and apparently they weren’t lying.”
The mountain was truly treacherous, just as described. It wasn’t merely that there were many rocks and the path was poorly kept—the ground was riddled with holes covered by fallen leaves, making nearly every step a potential trap.
And occasionally, things lurked beneath—
—Shriek!
Thud!
“Look at this. A squirrel, that’s a squirrel.”
“Does that look like a squirrel to you?”
“It’s kind of cute, isn’t it? But Olivia, your tone sounds a bit sharp.”
“…That can’t be right.”
Monsters, even.
Olivia glanced sidelong at Aiden, who was examining the creature he held in his hands, and shook her head.
“Commander, is the Water Source still quite far?”
“We seem to be drawing closer to the source of the Contamination. The concentration of Miasma has grown quite dense.”
“Then the Water Source should be nearby somewhere…”
It was an eerie landscape. The Miasma scattered like fog enveloped them from all sides, reducing every vista to black and white. The forest, robbed of color, greeted them with rustling branches as though welcoming them into its gloom.
Finding direction here was quite simple. One need only advance toward where the Miasma grew thicker, toward the deeper darkness.
“Knight Olivia, are you feeling alright?”
“Pardon?”
“You’ve been practicing perception and movement through force since coming here. Such places might cause you to react more sensitively.”
Was that so? At Yugin’s words, Olivia quietly assessed the energy flowing through her body.
It showed no particular disturbance. The Defensor at her waist was no different. Olivia nodded lightly with a smile.
“I’m fine. Thank you for your concern.”
“Olivia, I told you not to engage with strange people. And you there, Commander—stop your nonsense.”
“…You’re the strangest one here, senior.”
Aiden naturally inserted himself between Olivia and Yugin, and Yugin let out a short laugh at the sight. It resembled watching siblings with a slight age gap, and Olivia found herself smiling a little too.
“What? Why are you smiling?”
“It seems the Commander is quite fond of you, senior.”
“…What?”
“What did you just say?”
At Olivia’s remark, bewildered responses came from both of them. Yugin’s eyes widened with surprise as he stared at Olivia.
“Oh, no. When I saw you just now looking at senior, that’s when—”
“Olivia… that was mockery.”
“For once, I find myself in agreement with the Vice-Commander. It was derision. The fondness was not directed at Knight Aiden, but rather at someone else.”
“Pardon?”
“Did you not say so yourself? What objection do you have?”
I opened my mouth and spoke carelessly. Too late for regret now. The two of them had clearly ignited a new spark between them.
“Someone else? Who were you so fond of, then? Surely not—”
“And what concern is that of yours?”
“What concern? Because that person is—”
“Isn’t that the Water Source over there?”
Sena awkwardly cut short their standoff. With her words, the group’s footsteps faltered as well.
“Wow, what… what is that?”
Where Sena pointed, there lay a very deep darkness.
At the same moment, the Defensor vibrated with an intense, fine tremor.

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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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