The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 133
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The garden, now empty of party attendees, was quiet.
Most of the patrolling security forces were concentrated around the Count’s Manor.
Still, I moved as carefully as possible to avoid being caught, when Tesagh, who was leading me behind the bushes, suddenly spoke up.
“…Actually, we might not need to dig up the entire tomb.”
I paused and looked up at Tesagh.
His face, shrouded in the shadows of night, was hard to see clearly.
‘Could he be guessing about my ability?’
Perhaps Tesagh had noticed that I could see divine power.
I had instantly appraised the sacred tiara from a distance right before his eyes, and more importantly.
“Something extraordinary enough to make your heart race at first sight, or an extraordinary person. You’ve seen it before, what was it?”
He had asked me that on the festival day.
Right after I mentioned his eye color that had been hidden all along by the clip’s magic.
‘Wait, then can I see through things concealed by magic power?’
Setting that aside for now.
‘Even if he doesn’t know exactly that I can see divine power, he probably asked because he thinks I have some kind of special ability.’
Considering Tesagh’s quick situational judgment and perceptiveness, I was half-convinced.
I was anxiously waiting for his words when.
“Because I can track Rugenote through this clip.”
However, what came back was unexpected.
“This isn’t just a disguise magical tool, but also a device that can specifically track only Rugenote’s divine power. The clip glows according to the signal strength.”
Tesagh rolled up his sleeve to show me the clip.
Two of the five gems embedded in the clip were glowing.
I wondered what level two gems indicated, then I was startled.
The clip glowing now meant?
‘It detected Rugenote’s aura!’
But seeing my expression, Tesagh shook his head.
“That doesn’t necessarily mean there’s a Rugenote nearby. This is the aura detected from you.”
“From me? But I’ve never even seen a Rugenote…!”
“I know.”
Tesagh, who had cut off my words, took a breath and said once more with emphasis.
“I know.”
The bushes rustled and moonlight fell on his face.
Tesagh’s expression was calm.
“If you had seen one directly, this indicator wouldn’t stop at just two gems. So it means you’ve been indirectly affected.”
“Then…”
“So I thought you must have contacted the person with the most Rugenote aura on them, that is, the culprit or the culprit’s accomplice.”
As if he was finally voicing words he’d been pondering all along.
I could sense his intention.
It wasn’t suspicion or interrogation.
“Without you knowing.”
It was an explanation.
A straightforward explanation containing the basis for why he had no choice but to think that way.
‘So he thought Grandfather was an accomplice.’
Even so, it wasn’t a tone asking for understanding because it was an unavoidable situation.
Those words, delivered carefully while lowering his posture in a situation where he chose to use formal speech lest I feel threatened, were exactly like.
“So, don’t feel too burdened. If there’s a Rugenote in that tomb, I can find out through changes in this clip.”
“You didn’t believe anything I said though…”
It seemed like a roundabout answer to my question.
Surely Tesagh would be curious about who I had contacted.
Furthermore, he’d be curious about how I knew his identity, and what the secret was to instantly appraising sacred objects.
However, he didn’t ask for details.
“I trust you, Elisha.”
As if proving the words he had said to me.
I barely managed to nod.
“…Right. I hope there will be changes.”
Tesagh, who had been watching me intently, nodded.
Additionally, he extended the hand wearing the clip.
“If you’re curious, you can check it directly yourself.”
When Tesagh removed the clip, I saw his eyes instantly turn red, and suddenly I had a question.
The clip could simply be removed like this.
That would immediately expose his identity, so wouldn’t it have been better to use transformation magic instead of a magical tool?
I stopped him from handing me the clip and asked.
“But isn’t disguising through magical tools quite risky? If it breaks or gets lost, your identity would be revealed.”
“Hmm.”
Tesagh, who seemed to think for a moment while putting the clip back on, said quietly.
“There’s the method of transformation magic, but it needs to be cast regularly, and there’s the risk of it being dispelled when encountering people with strong divine power like Knights or Priestesses.”
True, magic isn’t refined like magic stones, so it could be more greatly affected by divine power.
However, Tesagh’s words didn’t end there.
“Magic wasn’t a consideration to begin with. Casting magic on me is impossible.”
“…Huh?”
“Exactly as I said. General magic doesn’t work on me. That’s why I use indirect mediums like magical tools.”
‘My goodness.’
I had read about this in Grandfather’s study when I was young.
Magic power is like water, floating throughout this world.
So just as fertile land holds water well, there are often people who have magic power even though they’re not mages.
But there are also substances like glass that repel all water.
The term for such people was…
‘Magic immunity.’
It was a special talent that only appeared in legends. It was also a talent perfectly suited to this situation.
It meant Eivor couldn’t torment him.
That was fortunate, but Tesagh’s previous words came to mind.
“…There are circumstances.”
His answer when I asked why he didn’t just use teleportation.
‘So that’s why he didn’t use the teleportation magic circle even though it was available.’
Recalling Tesagh’s strangely stiff expression, I gently took his hand.
“That’s amazing.”
“It’s something I was born with, so what’s amazing about it.”
“No, you deserve to be called amazing.”
Tesagh quietly looked at me. I could feel the intensity in that gaze.
He clearly didn’t regard his magic immunity as proudly as the world’s perception that called it a special talent.
‘He probably never told anyone else about it.’
Magic immunity means that useful magic like healing spells, teleportation magic, or magical potions don’t work either.
Perhaps Tesagh thought of it as a weakness.
‘Because he’s a Duke. Because he’s someone who must appear stronger than anyone else.’
But.
‘Isn’t that what makes it amazing?’
Despite having limited means of recovery and restrictions on movement, he’s still managing state affairs while also carrying out the task of retrieving sacred relics.
“I’m talking about Your Grace’s efforts that others couldn’t know about.”
It means he’s filling all those gaps with his sense of responsibility and effort.
To an extent that people who vaguely think the Duke is strong because of magic cast by the mages at the Duke’s Residence could never imagine.
“Amazing.”
“…”
“But is it okay for me to hear such stories?”
Of course, there was no need to speak too seriously about it.
Since he had also spoken calmly.
I was about to ask lightly and withdraw my hand when Tesagh suddenly grabbed it.
“Because it’s you.”
As if it was an impulsive action, the strength in Tesagh’s hand gradually loosened.
But his words still carried conviction.
“Because with you… it felt like it would be okay to tell.”
Just as I was about to respond, we arrived in front of the graveyard.
Only after arriving did Tesagh release my hand and clear his throat.
“There are still two markers.”
Though it meant Rougenote wasn’t here, I narrowed my eyes.
“Over there, at that particularly large tombstone…”
Something was faintly shimmering in the middle of the dim graveyard.
Rather than light…
‘It looks like a heat haze?’
Can only I see it?
“Tombstone? I don’t see anything particular.”
From Tesagh’s reaction, it seemed the heat haze was indeed visible only to me.
I slowly approached the tombstone to examine it.
‘Ah, this is the grave of Count Delphia. But seeing something strange like this…’
If it’s not Rougenote, then what is it?
‘There’s definitely something here.’
It surely can’t be an actual ghost.
As I felt around various parts of the tombstone, I discovered a small groove.
It was a groove that could fit about one gemstone. Just as I was about to touch it.
“Wait…!”
Tesagh pulled me into his arms and hid me.
At the same time, someone’s voice was heard.
“Wh-what are you doing there!”
Peeking out, I saw the gravekeeper looking at us in shock.
He was holding a shovel, as if doubting whether what he was seeing were actually people.
With a momentum that suggested he might swing it at any moment, I barely managed to lift my head from Tesagh’s embrace and said.
“We were just taking a walk and took a wrong turn…!”
But the gravekeeper, gripped by fear, cut me off without even listening to my continuing words.
“How could you possibly take a wrong turn!”
“Wait, just a moment!”
“Th-this is obviously a graveyard! To say you’re taking a walk in such a gloomy place, this is definitely suspicious…!”
Just as the gravekeeper was looking around and raising his voice to call for guards.
“Wait.”
Then, Tesagh, who had been facing away from the gravekeeper the whole time, turned around.
The gravekeeper hiccupped upon seeing Tesagh’s face.
“As you can see.”
As you can see?
I was waiting to provide supporting fire if needed, but at his words, I pressed my forehead.
“Due to my profession, I see many graves, so I’m familiar with them.”
…What kind of profession is that supposed to be…
But.
“Ah? Oh? …Ah, I-I see…”
‘That actually worked?’
…Why are you accepting that explanation…
I never knew I’d benefit from Tesagh’s intimidating appearance like this.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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