'... Sylvia?'
Masked Randall opened his eyes wide as he spotted a woman linking arms with a figure that looked like David beyond the crowd. Randall had originally intended to attend the ball with Sylvia, but he was worried that they might cross paths, and he had come here right away because the other nobles were holding him back, making it difficult for him to escape. So he had no idea what Sylvia was wearing or what kind of makeup she had on.
'Could it be that you're wearing a wig?'
The woman with David had her brown hair tied low. However, her golden eyes, visible through the mask, were clear even from a distance. Randall’s instincts told him, ‘That woman is not Sylvia.’ However, he was bothered by the fact that David kept glancing in this direction with a strange smile on his lips behind the mask.
'No, of course not.'
Randall tried hard to look away from David, but it wasn't easy because of accumulated fatigue and complicated feelings due to Sylvia. Meanwhile, David met eyes with Randall, twisted the corners of his mouth, and whispered something close to the woman's ear. At that moment, Randall reflexively clenched his fist at the action that seemed like lovers sharing a secret. David glanced at him as if provoking him, hugged the woman's waist, and disappeared outside.
"For a moment...!"
During the confusion, when David and the woman disappeared, he suddenly felt uneasy. In the end, Randall followed the two out into the garden. The backs of their figure, which kept disappearing from his sight and then appearing again, resembled his own anxiety, so he couldn’t stop walking.
'I think I just saw Randall.'
Sylvia tilted her head as if she had seen the golden-brown hair disappearing outside a moment ago. However, she unconsciously stopped walking in the direction where the golden-brown hair had disappeared. Suddenly, a corner of her heart felt cold.
'Would Randall want to... meet me?'
Sylvia felt a brief shock at her own thoughts. It was understandable, for she had never thought of this kind of trouble before. Knowing Randall's affection for her, she had never even thought of the possibility that he might not want to see her. How arrogant and selfish she was. And how strong was Randall, who had given her the confidence of affection.
“...”
Sylvia hesitated in her seat, wondering if it would be shameless for her to go out and find Randall. Just then, someone wearing a mask lightly brushed her shoulder as she passed by.
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
"Fine..."
Sylvia was about to respond that she was okay with the other person’s apology, but she stopped talking when she felt something being put into her hand. Before she could grab it, the unidentified figure disappeared into the crowd.
'What?'
Sylvia looked down at the note in her hand with wary eyes. Only after she was sure that it didn't look dangerous did she open it. And then.
“...!”
Sylvia froze as she checked the contents of the note.
“What is this...”
She let out a hurried muttering without realizing it.
Auston, who let go of Sylvia's arm, had a rare expression of anxiety. It was understandable. It would take at least three or four wizards of considerable skill to destroy the protective magic stone he had created. Randall also knew how to use swordsmanship, but there was a clear limit to blocking magic with swordsmanship specialized only for attack. At his words, the remaining color left on Sylvia's face completely drained. She tried her best to regain her senses and barely managed to answer.
"...Yes."
Sylvia thought the man was talking nonsense and her face distorted. But the very next moment, she felt a familiar aura from the man, and then a shadow rose from under his feet and spread out behind him like black wings. Sylvia's eyes widened in shock at the sight.
'How.'
It can't happen. It shouldn't happen. But her mouth betrayed her master's will and let out a blank call.
“...Basis?”
The man who let out a sigh raised his hand and pushed the mask back over his forehead. Crown Prince David's face was smiling affectionately at Sylvia.
“It’s been a while... Alyssa.”
So much affection that it felt like she was going to choke.
Masked Randall opened his eyes wide as he spotted a woman linking arms with a figure that looked like David beyond the crowd. Randall had originally intended to attend the ball with Sylvia, but he was worried that they might cross paths, and he had come here right away because the other nobles were holding him back, making it difficult for him to escape. So he had no idea what Sylvia was wearing or what kind of makeup she had on.
'Could it be that you're wearing a wig?'
The woman with David had her brown hair tied low. However, her golden eyes, visible through the mask, were clear even from a distance. Randall’s instincts told him, ‘That woman is not Sylvia.’ However, he was bothered by the fact that David kept glancing in this direction with a strange smile on his lips behind the mask.
'No, of course not.'
Randall tried hard to look away from David, but it wasn't easy because of accumulated fatigue and complicated feelings due to Sylvia. Meanwhile, David met eyes with Randall, twisted the corners of his mouth, and whispered something close to the woman's ear. At that moment, Randall reflexively clenched his fist at the action that seemed like lovers sharing a secret. David glanced at him as if provoking him, hugged the woman's waist, and disappeared outside.
"For a moment...!"
During the confusion, when David and the woman disappeared, he suddenly felt uneasy. In the end, Randall followed the two out into the garden. The backs of their figure, which kept disappearing from his sight and then appearing again, resembled his own anxiety, so he couldn’t stop walking.
How long did he walk like that?
Suddenly, David and the woman disappeared from his sight.
“...!”
Randall walked as if he was possessed by something, and then suddenly came to his senses and stopped in place. He took a deep breath and looked around, and everything was quiet. He realized belatedly that he was in the middle of a dark place with no sign of people, and sensed danger.
'I have to get out of here.'
As he made that decision and turned around, an invisible pressure hit him like a huge wave pouring down from the air. His knees buckled reflexively and his legs buckled.
“...!”
Randall walked as if he was possessed by something, and then suddenly came to his senses and stopped in place. He took a deep breath and looked around, and everything was quiet. He realized belatedly that he was in the middle of a dark place with no sign of people, and sensed danger.
'I have to get out of here.'
As he made that decision and turned around, an invisible pressure hit him like a huge wave pouring down from the air. His knees buckled reflexively and his legs buckled.
Crunch!
He heard the sound of the defensive magic stone that Auston had made shattering in his arms. Randall gritted his teeth as he watched the wizards slowly approaching him through his hazy vision.
'David...!'
At that moment, a strong shock struck the back of his neck. That was the extent of Randall's memory.
'David...!'
At that moment, a strong shock struck the back of his neck. That was the extent of Randall's memory.
***
'I think I just saw Randall.'
Sylvia tilted her head as if she had seen the golden-brown hair disappearing outside a moment ago. However, she unconsciously stopped walking in the direction where the golden-brown hair had disappeared. Suddenly, a corner of her heart felt cold.
'Would Randall want to... meet me?'
Sylvia felt a brief shock at her own thoughts. It was understandable, for she had never thought of this kind of trouble before. Knowing Randall's affection for her, she had never even thought of the possibility that he might not want to see her. How arrogant and selfish she was. And how strong was Randall, who had given her the confidence of affection.
“...”
Sylvia hesitated in her seat, wondering if it would be shameless for her to go out and find Randall. Just then, someone wearing a mask lightly brushed her shoulder as she passed by.
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
"Fine..."
Sylvia was about to respond that she was okay with the other person’s apology, but she stopped talking when she felt something being put into her hand. Before she could grab it, the unidentified figure disappeared into the crowd.
'What?'
Sylvia looked down at the note in her hand with wary eyes. Only after she was sure that it didn't look dangerous did she open it. And then.
“...!”
Sylvia froze as she checked the contents of the note.
“What is this...”
She let out a hurried muttering without realizing it.
[44 Diabolos Street. Quietly, alone.]
The note contained a short phrase that was hard to call a sentence, and... rustle.
When her trembling fingertips touched the note, there was a rustling sound. There was blood on the short, golden-brown hair. It was obvious whose hair it was.
'Randall.'
The moment she thought of that name, her frozen body magically relaxed. Sylvia immediately turned around and ran out of the ballroom. As she stepped out of the door and onto the stairs, someone grabbed her arm.
"Lady!"
Sylvia, who was about to use a teleportation spell, stopped moving. When she turned around at the sound of a familiar voice, she saw Auston with his mask removed.
“...Auston?”
“I apologize for touching your body without permission. However, I feel like the protective magic stone I gave His Grace earlier has been destroyed... Do you happen to know where His Grace is?”
The moment she thought of that name, her frozen body magically relaxed. Sylvia immediately turned around and ran out of the ballroom. As she stepped out of the door and onto the stairs, someone grabbed her arm.
"Lady!"
Sylvia, who was about to use a teleportation spell, stopped moving. When she turned around at the sound of a familiar voice, she saw Auston with his mask removed.
“...Auston?”
“I apologize for touching your body without permission. However, I feel like the protective magic stone I gave His Grace earlier has been destroyed... Do you happen to know where His Grace is?”
Auston, who let go of Sylvia's arm, had a rare expression of anxiety. It was understandable. It would take at least three or four wizards of considerable skill to destroy the protective magic stone he had created. Randall also knew how to use swordsmanship, but there was a clear limit to blocking magic with swordsmanship specialized only for attack. At his words, the remaining color left on Sylvia's face completely drained. She tried her best to regain her senses and barely managed to answer.
"...Yes."
“That’s great. Then I’ll come with you...”
“No, you stay here.”
“Huh? What is that!”
Auston shouted in amazement, but Sylvia was one step faster. She didn't even pretend to listen to Auston and used teleportation magic.
“Madam, wait a minute...!”
When she closed her eyes for the last time, seeing Auston's bewildered face, and opened them, the scenery had changed. Sylvia raised her head and took in the sight of a familiar building. The auction house she had visited earlier to get her hands on the staff. This was the closest place to 44 Diabolos Street that Sylvia knew.
'Number 44...'
Sylvia slowly walked down the alley, counting the number of buildings. It was the night of the founding of the nation, so she would expect to see people excitedly participating in the auction, but the surroundings were eerily quiet.
“No, you stay here.”
“Huh? What is that!”
Auston shouted in amazement, but Sylvia was one step faster. She didn't even pretend to listen to Auston and used teleportation magic.
“Madam, wait a minute...!”
When she closed her eyes for the last time, seeing Auston's bewildered face, and opened them, the scenery had changed. Sylvia raised her head and took in the sight of a familiar building. The auction house she had visited earlier to get her hands on the staff. This was the closest place to 44 Diabolos Street that Sylvia knew.
'Number 44...'
Sylvia slowly walked down the alley, counting the number of buildings. It was the night of the founding of the nation, so she would expect to see people excitedly participating in the auction, but the surroundings were eerily quiet.
Sylvia, who was moving her feet quickly, sensed something and stopped. Her golden eyes grew cold and her steps slowed, and soon she completely stopped in place. Sylvia twisted her lips as she glared coldly at the other side of the alley.
“Did they come out to greet me?”
At the intersection leading to number 44. Those who covered their entire bodies with pitch-black cloaks were standing, each holding a weapon. The air became even heavier at Sylvia’s words. The masked men remained silent and adjusted their weapons. Sylvia, who was staring at the sight fiercely, furrowed her brows at the sudden sense of discomfort.
‘...But why are you wary of me?’
The masked men had clearly summoned 'Sylvia Florette Belfort' here. Whatever their purpose, Sylvia was nothing more than an ordinary noblewoman who was extremely weak to the outside world. But their attitude right now is... Doesn't it seem like people who are nervous about a great disaster?
"Ah."
A gasp escaped Sylvia's lips as she realized that fact. She laughed in vain and ran one hand through her hair.
"Yes."
The masked men flinched at the movement and voice. Their reaction confirmed Sylvia's guess. Golden eyes flashed like a beast through the gaps in her thin, white hands.
“If you really need to check, there’s no reason I can’t do it.”
They knew that Sylvia was a magician and a very skilled one at that. She didn’t know where that information leaked out, but they had gone too far. Sylvia, who had no more hesitation, moved her magic. She quietly opened her lips as she held the staff that had appeared in the air and had a new magic stone inserted into it.
“You’d better think about it carefully.”
Even the familiar feeling of the palm of her hand was unpleasant. It was the first time she had been this angry since the last time Bella had touched Randall.
“The price you paid for daring to test me and threaten my husband is...”
A thick fog-like murderous aura slowly enveloped the masked men. They instinctively held their breath and prepared to use their swords and magic. However, even that was meaningless in the face of magical powers that were like natural disasters.
“I will accept it only with your life.”
After kindly foreshadowing death, Sylvia swung her staff without hesitation.
“Did they come out to greet me?”
At the intersection leading to number 44. Those who covered their entire bodies with pitch-black cloaks were standing, each holding a weapon. The air became even heavier at Sylvia’s words. The masked men remained silent and adjusted their weapons. Sylvia, who was staring at the sight fiercely, furrowed her brows at the sudden sense of discomfort.
‘...But why are you wary of me?’
The masked men had clearly summoned 'Sylvia Florette Belfort' here. Whatever their purpose, Sylvia was nothing more than an ordinary noblewoman who was extremely weak to the outside world. But their attitude right now is... Doesn't it seem like people who are nervous about a great disaster?
"Ah."
A gasp escaped Sylvia's lips as she realized that fact. She laughed in vain and ran one hand through her hair.
"Yes."
The masked men flinched at the movement and voice. Their reaction confirmed Sylvia's guess. Golden eyes flashed like a beast through the gaps in her thin, white hands.
“If you really need to check, there’s no reason I can’t do it.”
They knew that Sylvia was a magician and a very skilled one at that. She didn’t know where that information leaked out, but they had gone too far. Sylvia, who had no more hesitation, moved her magic. She quietly opened her lips as she held the staff that had appeared in the air and had a new magic stone inserted into it.
“You’d better think about it carefully.”
Even the familiar feeling of the palm of her hand was unpleasant. It was the first time she had been this angry since the last time Bella had touched Randall.
“The price you paid for daring to test me and threaten my husband is...”
A thick fog-like murderous aura slowly enveloped the masked men. They instinctively held their breath and prepared to use their swords and magic. However, even that was meaningless in the face of magical powers that were like natural disasters.
“I will accept it only with your life.”
After kindly foreshadowing death, Sylvia swung her staff without hesitation.
***
Crackle, crackle.
A violent noise cut through the alley. The sight of the hand taking a life in one blow without even giving them a chance to scream was even more terrifying.
'Number 34.'
The masked men tried their best to attack Sylvia, but it was no use.
'Number 40.'
She pushed away the masked men who rushed at her with their magic power as if they were not worth fighting, and they were slammed into the wall or the floor, their necks broken and they died instantly. There was no life left in the place where Sylvia passed. She walked forward, leaving behind the bodies of the masked men who were lying around like dolls with their limbs broken. And finally.
'...44th street.'
Sylvia stopped walking in front of the place written on the note. No. 44 was a small warehouse-like building in a very remote place. Sylvia took a moment to catch her breath and check the inside of the building. However, in contrast to the way she came, there were only two people inside the building. One was probably Randall. The other was...
'The person who planned this.'
Sylvia fixed her staff with an emotionless face. Whoever planned this, she just had to make them die like the ones she had cleaned up. Then she wouldn’t have to worry about her powers leaking out.
'Number 34.'
The masked men tried their best to attack Sylvia, but it was no use.
'Number 40.'
She pushed away the masked men who rushed at her with their magic power as if they were not worth fighting, and they were slammed into the wall or the floor, their necks broken and they died instantly. There was no life left in the place where Sylvia passed. She walked forward, leaving behind the bodies of the masked men who were lying around like dolls with their limbs broken. And finally.
'...44th street.'
Sylvia stopped walking in front of the place written on the note. No. 44 was a small warehouse-like building in a very remote place. Sylvia took a moment to catch her breath and check the inside of the building. However, in contrast to the way she came, there were only two people inside the building. One was probably Randall. The other was...
'The person who planned this.'
Sylvia fixed her staff with an emotionless face. Whoever planned this, she just had to make them die like the ones she had cleaned up. Then she wouldn’t have to worry about her powers leaking out.
Sylvia gathered her thoughts and reached for the doorknob. The cold metal felt like snake scales, giving her goosebumps. The doorknob turned smoothly without even a creaking sound. When the door opened, the inside of the building was revealed. There was nothing that could be called furniture in the simple one-story building. The only thing that existed was Randall, who had lost consciousness and collapsed on the other side.
"...Haha."
There was only a man, who was sitting on his body and bursting into laughter. As soon as Sylvia stepped into the building, she checked if Randall was breathing properly. Fortunately, Randall didn’t show any particular injuries, except for a little blood flowing from his head. However, that was enough to blow Sylvia’s mind. She gritted her teeth and raised her gaze intending to kill him as soon as she saw the face of the mastermind. However, the moment she raised her eyes.
"...You."
Sylvia opened her eyes wide as she discovered a completely unexpected face. The mastermind of this incident sitting on top of Randall. He was definitely the 41st contestant who had fought with Sylvia over the staff at the auction house. He wore the same clothes back then, and although the shape was slightly different, he had the same animal skull mask. Sylvia was so surprised that she even forgot that she had to pull him off Randall’s body. In the meantime, the man buried his face in one hand and laughed like a madman, shaking his shoulders.
“Ah, as expected, it’s you...”
The voice flowing out between the gaps in his hands was filled with mad joy. The man who had been muttering something and laughing suddenly got up and strode towards Sylvia.
"Do not come."
Sylvia reflexively used her magic to blast the man with a blade-like wind. However, the man did not stop approaching her even though his shoulders and legs were torn by the wind and bleeding. Before Sylvia could be flustered, the man stood right before her. He leaned in close as if he was going to kiss her and whispered secretly.
“You really don’t recognize me?”
“What are you talking about...”
"...Haha."
There was only a man, who was sitting on his body and bursting into laughter. As soon as Sylvia stepped into the building, she checked if Randall was breathing properly. Fortunately, Randall didn’t show any particular injuries, except for a little blood flowing from his head. However, that was enough to blow Sylvia’s mind. She gritted her teeth and raised her gaze intending to kill him as soon as she saw the face of the mastermind. However, the moment she raised her eyes.
"...You."
Sylvia opened her eyes wide as she discovered a completely unexpected face. The mastermind of this incident sitting on top of Randall. He was definitely the 41st contestant who had fought with Sylvia over the staff at the auction house. He wore the same clothes back then, and although the shape was slightly different, he had the same animal skull mask. Sylvia was so surprised that she even forgot that she had to pull him off Randall’s body. In the meantime, the man buried his face in one hand and laughed like a madman, shaking his shoulders.
“Ah, as expected, it’s you...”
The voice flowing out between the gaps in his hands was filled with mad joy. The man who had been muttering something and laughing suddenly got up and strode towards Sylvia.
"Do not come."
Sylvia reflexively used her magic to blast the man with a blade-like wind. However, the man did not stop approaching her even though his shoulders and legs were torn by the wind and bleeding. Before Sylvia could be flustered, the man stood right before her. He leaned in close as if he was going to kiss her and whispered secretly.
“You really don’t recognize me?”
“What are you talking about...”
Sylvia thought the man was talking nonsense and her face distorted. But the very next moment, she felt a familiar aura from the man, and then a shadow rose from under his feet and spread out behind him like black wings. Sylvia's eyes widened in shock at the sight.
'How.'
It can't happen. It shouldn't happen. But her mouth betrayed her master's will and let out a blank call.
“...Basis?”
The man who let out a sigh raised his hand and pushed the mask back over his forehead. Crown Prince David's face was smiling affectionately at Sylvia.
“It’s been a while... Alyssa.”
So much affection that it felt like she was going to choke.
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