Tilea's Worries

I’ll kill her!!

Elizabeth seethed with rage as she rubbed her broken finger. The finger had been crushed and was in terrible shape. It was such a severe injury that ordinary healing magic couldn’t fix it. It had taken a special potion and the healing magic of her family's dedicated priest to mend the bone. However, the pain was still etched into her mind, and according to the priest, it would linger for some time.

I’ll kill her! I’ll kill her!

She would make her crawl on the ground and suffer the torments of hell! No matter how much she screamed and cried, there would be no mercy. She would make her pay for daring to defy Elizabeth. She would savor the moment, sucking the marrow from her bones.

Elizabeth was consumed by dark, vengeful thoughts.

That silver-haired brat!

The one who dared to call herself Camilla was a pain, but her strength was genuine. Despite being surrounded by dozens of upperclassmen, she had remained calm and composed. And, despite Elizabeth's initial underestimation, she had used magic to win their duel. As much as it pained Elizabeth to admit it, this girl possessed talent on par with her own—if not greater. She was even stronger than the Student Council President, Muvoderi.

It’s infuriating! A mere country bumpkin, a commoner, had broken the finger of Elizabeth, who stood at the pinnacle of society. Elizabeth had never tolerated anyone defying her. Those who dared to speak to her with even a hint of disrespect had been dealt with mercilessly. Even members of the royal family had bowed before her, though she couldn't publicly reveal that just yet.

And yet, this commoner girl had dared to trample on Elizabeth's dignity.

Unforgivable.

Elizabeth gnawed on her nails in frustration. The tension in the air was so thick that none of her entourage dared to speak. They were pitiful, spineless creatures who could do nothing but watch Elizabeth’s every move.

The battle squadron, the Batta, had been entirely defeated. Those left around her were nothing more than noble sycophants, drawn to Elizabeth's power, but completely useless in a fight. These people stood no chance against that silver-haired brat.

Among the combat team, only Anasie had emerged unscathed. Perhaps it was time to rethink her strategy, focusing on Anasie as the key...

But wait—where was Anasie? She had never missed one of Elizabeth’s meetings before. And come to think of it, why was she the only one who hadn’t been hurt?

In her anger at the silver-haired girl, Elizabeth hadn’t given it much thought at the time. But now that she was calmer, it was clear: Anasie had betrayed her.

"Where is Anasie right now?"

"Uh, well, we’re not sure..."

"Speak clearly!"

"Y-yes! It seems she’s been spending a lot of time with the silver-haired girl. It’s likely she’s betrayed you, Elizabeth-sama—ahh!"

The servant who delivered the report collapsed in terror at Elizabeth’s furious expression.

So, that’s your answer. You’re choosing her side.

Foolish. Anasie had been a useful tool, but she would pay dearly for her betrayal.

"Betrayal will be punished accordingly. But first, we deal with that silver-haired girl."

"Y-yes, of course! That uppity little commoner needs to be taught a lesson!"

"Yes, indeed! Such insolence cannot go unpunished!"

"Elizabeth-sama cannot be disrespected like this! She must be made to suffer!"

Her sycophants scrambled to gain her favor with their empty proclamations.

How shallow.

They were so weak in both mind and spirit that their words sounded hollow to Elizabeth.

"I appreciate your loyalty. But tell me, what exactly do you plan to do? Even if you all combined your efforts, you wouldn’t be worth one Batta."

"Uh, well, um, I have an idea! We could use my family's personal bodyguard! He’s a B-rank adventurer. A professional like him would easily handle a mere girl with some skill."

"That’s a good idea. I can call in some favors from the Adventurer's Guild and hire a few skilled fighters."

"My family has connections in the Evil District. I can mobilize a whole gang of thugs to make sure the silver-haired girl and her whole family are destroyed."

"Kihyahahaha! That’s great! It reminds me of the time we raided that merchant's house. It was so much fun, killing those filthy commoners as they screamed."

"Hehehe, exactly! She may have some skill, but a commoner is still a commoner. With our power, we can do whatever we want."

"Kufufu, you’re right. I can’t wait to see how much fun we can have with that silver-haired girl—ugh!"

The men who had been speaking so gleefully were suddenly engulfed in flames, writhing in agony.

"Fun? You think she’s just a girl with some skill? Then what does that make me, who was defeated by her?!"

"Eek! N-no, that’s not what I meant—aaaaah! It burns! It burns!!"

The two noblemen who had bragged about their previous exploits were now lying on the ground, charred black. The others, shocked into silence, dared not speak.

"Anyone who offers opinions for their amusement will meet the same fate."

The remaining sycophants nodded vigorously, their faces twisted in fear.

"I suffered unbearable pain and humiliation at the hands of that silver-haired girl. Do you think I want to hear you talk about hunting her for sport? Understand?"

"Y-yes, we understand! We completely understand. Those two were fools!"

"Exactly. Now, give me something constructive. Of course, I’ve already considered their suggestions. With my power, I could gather the world’s finest talents. I don’t need your connections. Killing a commoner girl is easy if I wish it."

"Y-yes, Elizabeth-sama’s power surpasses even that of the royal family!"

"Indeed, anyone who opposes Elizabeth-sama will be wiped out."

"So, Elizabeth-sama, will you be gathering skilled fighters to deal with the silver-haired girl?"

"Of course, I can gather the best. But..."

"B-but?"

"Just killing her quickly won’t satisfy the rage boiling in my gut! Do you understand?!"

In her fury, Elizabeth blasted the nearby table with a magic missile, reducing the sturdy furniture to splinters. The group nodded again, trembling as the table vanished.

"We understand! We understand how deeply you’ve been hurt, Elizabeth-sama."

"Y-yes, we’ll do whatever it takes to soothe your pain."

"A-actually, I’ve learned something interesting..."

One of the sycophants, nervously but with a smirk on his face, hesitantly spoke up.

"What is it? If it’s a useless idea, I’ll make you end up like those two."

"Eek! N-no, I promise it will please Elizabeth-sama!"

"Then speak."

"Y-yes. It seems that the silver-haired girl has an older sister who runs a restaurant on West Street."

"A restaurant? Does this sister attend the academy?"

"No, she’s just a typical commoner with no magical abilities. She’s too weak to even consider attending the academy."

"And you suggest we kill her in front of the silver-haired girl?"

"Hehe, that could be fun. Elizabeth-sama, we should torture her thoroughly first!"

The sycophant’s voice was filled with malicious glee.

Torturing the sister... That might have some effect. But no, that cocky silver-haired girl wouldn’t be phased by her sister’s death. She’d probably just discard the loss without a second thought.

"Your idea is off the mark. That arrogant silver-haired brat wouldn’t care what happens to her sister."

"But that’s not true! That haughty silver-haired girl apparently adores her sister. They’re known to be very close, even in the West Street area."

"Hehe, Elizabeth-sama, it seems she could be a valuable hostage. We could have a lot of fun with this!"

"No, there’s an even more entertaining way."

The sycophant who had brought up the sister twisted his face into an even more wicked smile.

"And what might that be?"

"Hehe, the silver-haired girl may love her sister, but does her sister feel the same? I think not. Deep down, I’m sure she resents her. One is just a lowly restaurant owner, while the other attends our prestigious magic academy. There’s no way she doesn’t feel conflicted. I bet she’s only pretending to be close because she fears her sister’s power. But if we were to offer her our assistance..."

As she listened to the sycophant’s suggestion, Elizabeth couldn’t help but smile.

How delightful. The silver-haired girl, betrayed by the one person she trusted most. I’ll make her taste despair!

------

**Hmm, what should I do?**

Tilea clutched her head, deep in thought.

Opening the Belm Royal Capital branch of the restaurant had been a success, thanks in large part to the financial backing of a high-ranking noble associated with the Evil God Army. They hadn’t even needed to save up for startup costs.

But after that, things took a downturn… The business was quickly running into the red.

**Why is this happening?** My cooking was praised by everyone in the Evil God Army, so why are we losing money? We even have repeat customers, so it’s not like the food is bad. In fact, it’s delicious.

**Why? Why?** Tilea lamented the dire state of her restaurant’s finances, when a group of young men and women entered the establishment.

"Welcome!" she greeted them with a smile, calling out to the customers.

A blonde girl with striking blue eyes looked her up and down, without the slightest hint of reservation.

"And your name is?" the girl asked, her tone dismissive.

"Tilea," she replied.

"Hmm, so you’re the one…"

The girl scrutinized Tilea from head to toe, making her feel like she was being evaluated. It was an unpleasant feeling.

**What’s with this girl?** She must be a student at the magic academy, judging by her uniform. She was a beautiful girl, with long blonde hair and slightly sharp eyes, but her demeanor was harsh, and she carried herself with an air of arrogance.

**Wait, what am I thinking? It’s rude to judge a customer!**

The sharp-eyed girl stood there with her arms crossed, her friends gathered behind her. Tilea realized she needed to show them to a table quickly.

"Uh, a table for five? Please follow me to this table with the best view."

She tried to guide them to a sunny, prime table, but they didn’t move. They stood there, ignoring her, just standing in place.

**Maybe they don’t like the table?**

"Uh, feel free to choose any table you like," Tilea offered.

"Heh heh…"

Even with the freedom to choose their table, they still didn’t move. They just stood there with unsettling smiles on their faces.

**Hmm, they seem to be indecisive about where to sit.** They’re hesitating. They must be really indecisive people. **Just pick a table already!**

**Oh well, it’s not like the place is busy. They can take their time. Let’s at least get their orders started.**

"Um, what would you like to order?"

"Heh, I’ve got good news for you, as Timu’s sister."

"Oh! So you’re friends of Timu!" Tilea exclaimed, suddenly brightening up.

Of course! If students from the magic academy are here, it must be because of Timu’s connection. **How nice!**

"I’m so happy! As Timu’s friends, you don’t need to pay anything. This meal is on me!"

"We’re not here to eat."

"Oh, really? Well, come back anytime you’re hungry. I’ll whip up something special for you."

"Heh, you seem to care a lot about your sister."

"Do I? I think it’s just normal…"

"Consider yourself lucky. I, Elizabeth, the queen of the academy, will help you."

"Well, thank you very much."

**What a nice person!** Tilea thought. **I thought she’d be harsh, but she’s actually quite kind. Maybe she’s being friendly to me because I’m Timu’s sister.**

"I’ve heard rumors that you two are very close as sisters."

"Oh, so that’s going around? Heh, that’s spot on!"

"Enough with the pretense! You must feel resentment for all the times you were overshadowed. You were too scared of your sister’s power to say anything, weren’t you?"

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

"Heh, your sister is a talented student at the magic academy, while you’re just a simple restaurant owner’s daughter. You must have some feelings about that."

"Well, yes, I’m proud of my talented sister."

"…Stop lying."

"I’m not lying."

"Hmph, you didn’t attend the academy, so you have no magic power, no talent. You’re just a commoner."

**Ancient martial arts?** Oh, she must mean judo. **She made it sound so grand, I didn’t get it at first.**

"That’s true. Timu is far above me. I don’t have the magic power or talent to attend the academy."

"Then you understand, don’t you?"

"Understand what?"

"…Put your hand on your heart and think about it. Or are you still too scared of your sister to speak up? Don’t worry, I’ll lend you my strength."

"What are you talking about?"

"…You’re frustrating me. You’re being far too slow to catch on."

"And you’re not making any sense."

"Stop playing dumb! You’re really just bitter, aren’t you? Bitter that your bratty little sister has surpassed you! She may call you ‘onee-sama’ now, but deep down, she’s mocking you! She’ll keep looking down on you forever! Are you okay with that?!"

The girl’s refined speech abruptly turned into a harsh, raging tone as she flailed her arms, spitting with anger. **It seems this is her true self.**

"Timu, mocking me? That’s impossible. Timu is a good girl who cares deeply about her sister. Stop making baseless accusations."

"Pant, pant… Y-you’re still saying that?! Are you so scared of your sister that you’ve completely given up?! I control the academy, and I’m offering you my help. Take off that false mask and admit how you really feel!"

The sharp-eyed girl was practically screaming for Tilea to spill her true feelings, her expression terrifying. Her friends were also causing a commotion, egging her on.

As the situation heated up, the sharp-eyed girl began shouting more and more insults about Timu, each more vicious than the last.

The tirade of abuse was unbearable. **These people aren’t Timu’s friends after all.**

"Are you an idiot?" Tilea sighed.

"What!? Did you just call me an idiot!? How dare a mere commoner talk back to me! No wonder, you’re just like your sister, that silver-haired brat!"

"Elizabeth-sama, it seems she’s just as rude as the silver-haired girl. She doesn’t know her place when dealing with nobles."

"Indeed. Elizabeth-sama, we should change our approach. Let’s show this foolish girl the power of Elizabeth-sama’s authority."

The sharp-eyed girl and her friends surrounded Tilea.

From their conversation, it seemed they had some sort of conflict with Timu and were now here to take revenge on her sister.

**How foolish.**

"Stop this. No violence. This is a restaurant. You’ll disturb the other customers."

"Heh. What other customers? This place is dead!"

"Ugh. Well… customers will come soon enough. Anyway, you’re students of a prestigious magic academy, aren’t you? Stop acting like thugs."

"Hmph, it’s your fault for defying nobles, you filthy commoner!"

"Exactly! You need to learn the pain of Elizabeth-sama’s wrath!"

"Aren’t you ashamed of yourselves? If you’re nobles, then set an example with your behavior!"

"Shut up! You’re just a mouthy commoner!"

The men lunged at Tilea in a fit of rage…

"Miu, take care of them."

"Got it."

The men were swiftly taken down, one by one, by Miu, who had been waiting in the back room.

**Amazing. Miu’s swordsmanship is as sharp as ever.**

The men were swiftly and effortlessly cut down, all by Miu's blade.

Of course, she only used the flat side of the sword.

And just like that… all the students who had attacked were now lying on the ground, subdued by Miu's swordsmanship. The only one left standing was the sharp-eyed girl, frozen in shock.

"W-What is going on here?!"

"Heh, didn’t you see the sign outside? This is the favorite restaurant of Miu, a top-tier adventurer. We’ve dealt with plenty of punks like you who come here looking for trouble."

"Miu…? Never heard of them."

"Well, you will soon enough. Miu has the skill to reach S-rank."

"S-rank? Stop bluffing!"

"Are you blind? Didn’t you see Miu’s swordsmanship just now? And that was her holding back. Relax, everyone just got knocked out; no one’s dead."

"I-I must admit, her sword skills were impressive. But why would such a top-tier adventurer associate with a mere commoner?!"

With her entire entourage defeated, the sharp-eyed girl was trembling. She muttered curses about "commoners" under her breath, her pride wounded. Miu gave Tilea a look as if asking if she should finish the job, but Tilea motioned for her to stand down. After all, this sharp-eyed girl seemed to be the leader of the group, and it was important to make her understand the gravity of her actions and reflect on them.

"Now you see that violence won’t get you anywhere. It’s time for you to reflect on your actions."

"This humiliation… I won’t forgive this! A mere commoner humiliating me, the queen of the academy…"

"You keep going on and on about ‘commoners’… Does it bother you that much that Timu, a commoner, was able to get into the academy? How pathetic. People shouldn’t be judged by their status but by their abilities and actions."

"Hmph, such a commoner way of thinking. The truth is different. It’s because of their superior abilities that those with high status are where they are. And I, Elizabeth, am at the very top!"

**Sigh… she’s the perfect example of a villainous noblewoman.** Looking down on commoners like Timu, bullying those with talent and drive, and using her status to justify her arrogance. She has no idea where this kind of behavior leads.

"That’s exactly why you lost to Timu."

"W-What?! I lost?! Did that silver-haired brat spread that rumor?!"

"Timu would never stoop to something so vulgar. But it’s pretty clear to me. You’re jealous of Timu’s magical skills and academic success, so you’re lashing out like this, aren’t you?"

"N-No way! I-I was just caught off guard. I’m still the most talented and capable!"

"Turning a blind eye to reality won’t help you."

"Shut up! Shut up!!"

The villainous noblewoman screamed, her eyes bloodshot with rage. She couldn’t bear having her insecurities pointed out and was now intent on silencing Tilea with force. A wave of magical energy gathered in her hand, and she unleashed a magic missile.

"Don’t use magic in my restaurant!!"

Tilea shouted, trying to stop her, but the magic missile fizzled out halfway, disappearing into thin air.

"Im-Impossible… You… You nullified my magic missile with just your voice…?"

The noblewoman seemed astonished, but…

**Idiot! There’s no way yelling can cancel out magic!**

The truth was likely much simpler: Tilea’s loud outburst disrupted the girl’s focus, causing her spell to fail. **How pathetic, getting thrown off by just a little noise.**

"One word: inexperienced."

"W-Who are you?!"

"You should already know."

"I’ve never heard of anyone like you!"

"I introduced myself at the start. Tilea, remember? It’s basic manners to remember someone’s name."

"That’s not what I meant! I know your name, but what kind of fool are you?!"

"Fool? What do you mean by that? And why does it even matter? Are you or your sister noblewomen?"

"Huh? Are you assuming Timu’s a noble because she’s so talented? Sorry to disappoint you, but Timu’s a commoner. But she’s got talent and works hard, which makes her far more respectable than any noble who relies on their status."

"Hah! Respectable commoner? Don’t make me laugh. So, you’re commoners, huh? Then I’ll never forgive you. Commoners who get above themselves must be crushed!"

"That’s absurd. You’re wasting your time with such pointless efforts. You should focus on improving yourself. No wonder you can’t even cast a decent magic missile."

"S-Shut up! I’ll crush you and that silver-haired brat with all the power at my disposal. I’ll drag you both to hell!"

The villainous noblewoman then proceeded to declare all sorts of vile intentions, hurling insults at Tilea, Timu, and even their parents.

**That’s it. I’ve had enough.**

There was no way this girl would reflect on her actions. Tilea wasn’t about to stand by while someone insulted her family.

The noblewoman kept ranting, calling them "whores," "filthy blood," and other vile names. **That does it, you villainous noble! My patience has run out.**

"Nielsen! Nielsen, are you here?!"

"Yes, here I am!"

"Get me some salt!"

"At once!"

Nielsen hurried off to the kitchen to fetch the salt.

"W-What are you doing?!"

The villainous noblewoman was startled by Tilea’s sudden command. But it was already too late.

"Tilea-sama, here is the salt!"

Nielsen’s voice rang out from behind.

"Nielsen, sprinkle the salt on her! It’s tradition to throw salt on unwelcome guests!"

"Understood!"

With a loud and enthusiastic response, Nielsen dumped the entire bag of salt—half as tall as he was—right onto the villainous noblewoman.

The noblewoman choked and sputtered as she found herself drowning in a sea of salt.

**I don’t want her to die, but if she ever tries to bully Timu again, I won’t show any mercy.**