Tilea's Worries

TITLE -- "Elizabeth's Counterattack" --

With fury coursing through me, I headed straight to the academy.

The report from my household was infuriating: My cousin had been stripped and hung from the academy’s roof.

At first, it was hard to believe. But knowing that the silver-haired brat was involved, it made sense. That arrogant little girl would definitely do something like this.

Apparently, Girotina had provoked the silver-haired brat and was thoroughly defeated. The damage this brat has caused my faction so far is beyond a joke.

Girotina Montesquieu...

The Montesquieu family is one of the branch families of the Elizabeth household. Girotina is the heir of that branch. Even though it's not the main family, being a branch of the Elizabeth household still makes them high nobility.

More importantly, she carries my blood, which sets her apart from other nobles.

That's why I’ve favored her. It wasn’t her abilities; the fact that she shares blood with a queen like me was more than enough. After my graduation, I had planned for Girotina to inherit the title of Queen of the Academy, but now...

Girotina, despite her prestigious lineage, possesses only average abilities. People feared me, so no one dared to lay a finger on her.

But the silver-haired brat is different. She doesn't care about nobility at all. If you provoke her, she’ll definitely retaliate.

I had warned Girotina not to provoke her!

She’s not just any commoner. She’s an enemy worth my full attention. Girotina would never stand a chance.

As expected, Girotina’s entourage was completely wiped out. Even Girotina herself was hung from the academy’s roof.

This is an absolute disgrace to our family. How much humiliation has she subjected us to in front of everyone?

When I returned to the academy, Girotina was tied up on the roof, wailing pathetically.

Pitiful. Absolutely pitiful. This is not how a noble should behave.

“Why hasn’t she been taken down immediately?!”

I couldn’t allow our family’s disgrace to be on display any longer. I angrily ordered the household staff nearby to bring her down at once.

“Th-there’s a problem…”

“What is it? Speak clearly!”

“Y-yes. There’s a barrier around Lady Girotina, and we can’t approach carelessly.”

“A barrier!? How dare they!”

I examined the area surrounding Girotina.

Indeed, I could sense a fluctuation of magic. As I focused more, I realized that a net-like barrier had been woven around Girotina.

It’s quite a troublesome barrier. I’d say it’s of A-rank difficulty.

Could that silver-haired brat have woven such a complex magical structure?

Is she not only a master of physical combat but also an expert in magic...?

“Did the silver-haired brat use barrier magic?”

“No, it’s the barrier of that traitor Anasie.”

“I’LL KILL THEM!!”

“Eeeek!”

Anasie! I’ll kill, kill, and kill again!!

Even killing her a hundred times wouldn’t be enough!

Haah, haah, haah, my anger is driving me insane!

Calm down, calm down! If I lose my composure now, that silver-haired brat will outmaneuver me again.

I took a deep breath to cool my head.

…

……

…………

Now it all makes sense. I had thought it strange for a commoner to have such advanced magic skills, but Anasie must have helped.

If that’s the case...

I looked closer.

There it was.

A Sapphire Barrigan.

A barrier magic using a glowing blue gem. It’s the pride of Anasie’s family, who specialize in barrier magic.

Anasie didn’t hesitate to use a treasured item for that silver-haired brat. No matter how I look at it, my subordinates won’t be able to break this barrier.

I guess I’ll have to do it myself.

But there’s one problem.

Anasie was exceptionally skilled in barrier magic. If she used a treasure, she must have fortified the barrier even more. Even for a genius like me, barrier magic isn’t my specialty. If I had a tool specifically designed to break barriers, I could handle it quickly, but without one, it’ll take quite some time.

I asked the steward beside me.

“Can you prepare a magic tool to break the barrier?”

“It’s not possible immediately. It would take at least a few days to procure one.”

Well, considering the urgency, that’s to be expected. Even if we hired a specialist in barrier magic, they wouldn’t arrive immediately either.

So there’s only one answer.

“Seal off this area immediately. No students or staff are to enter.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

The steward took my orders and went to instruct the headmaster.

Girotina...

As noble as I am, I can’t afford to climb onto the roof and spend hours struggling to break a barrier.

It’s simply unthinkable.

A noble like me, climbing onto the roof? Sweating for hours to dismantle a barrier?

Impossible.

Girotina, you’ve brought disgrace upon yourself. Reflect on that while you remain there.

…A few days later,

I summoned the barrier-breaking magic tool and a specialist in barrier magic to the academy.

With the tool and the specialist, the barrier was dismantled. I gave the exhausted Girotina a special potion from our household. I also had the priest I brought with me use healing magic on her.

As the potion and healing magic took effect, Girotina’s eyes slowly widened.

“Aah, that silver-haired brat!!”

Girotina shot up and screamed.

Her eyes were bloodshot, and she roared like a beast. How disgraceful.

“...I told you not to provoke her.”

“Haa, haa, haa, Elizabeth-oneesama, I didn’t provoke her. When I approached that silver-haired brat’s servant, she appeared on her own.”

“That’s the same as provoking her. You truly are an idiot.”

“Idiot!? How dare you!”

“There’s no better word to describe you.”

“Grr! I don’t care! Elizabeth-oneesama, that silver-haired brat dared to offend the Elizabeth family! It’s an unforgivable crime! We must kill her at once! I won’t be satisfied until her entire lineage is wiped out!”

“I told you to wait.”

“That’s not like you, Elizabeth-oneesama. Letting the enemy get away with this for so long!”

“...Just wait a moment.”

“Could it be that you’re scared?”

“...What did you say?”

“I said, you’re scared, aren’t you?”

“Girotina, do you know who you’re speaking to?”

“Ugh. B-but I’m a noble, a great noble, and I’ve been humiliated by a mere commoner! And yet, you’re not avenging me, Elizabeth-oneesama. That’s what’s wrong!”

“Girotina, I’ll ask you one more time. Do you know who you’re speaking to?”

“I-I mean… I’m talking to you! To you, Elizabeth! Why are you hesitating? You’re the head of our family—”

Before she could finish, I blasted her with a magic bullet.

“Ow! Oneesama…w-why?”

“...I will not tolerate anyone, no matter who they are, insulting me.”

“B-but that doesn’t mean you can just—”

“You’re just a lowly branch family member! How dare you speak to me with such disrespect! Saying I’m scared? Don’t get cocky!!”

I fired a series of magic bullets, finishing her off.

Girotina’s body was shattered into pieces.

Disgraceful. She was a disgrace to our family. And to think she insulted me, the head of the main family—unforgivable. Despite her mediocre abilities, she’s had the pleasure of basking in my glory until now. She should be satisfied to die here.

After that…

“Elizabeth-sama. The selected members from each faction have arrived.”

“Let them in.”

This was a room in the Elizabeth household. As I gave permission to enter, a group of rough-looking men began to file in.

Beat, Shina, Cass...

They are powerful individuals who will do anything if paid. The Elizabeth family has long donated large sums to various factions to rely on these brutes for dirty work. All of them are high-ranked and capable of carrying out ruthless tasks without hesitation. These are the outcasts from adventurer guilds, security forces, and more—a group known as the “Lawless Gang,” made up entirely of people with a reputation for evil.

As one notorious thug after another entered the room...

Hmm!? A man I didn’t recognize appeared.

I’m familiar with the elite members of each faction.

Since he came after Beat, he must be a newcomer to the adventurer’s guild. His face was ordinary, nothing special.

His plate, indicating his rank, was bronze!

“Why was such an amateur called here?”

“No, no, this guy may be a newbie, but he’s exceptional. I vouch for him.”

Beat, who had long cooperated with the Elizabeth family, interjected. Beat has a track record of completing the Elizabeth family’s dirty work. So, his words carry weight, but...

This guy, a powerhouse?

I could only sense a mediocre level of magic power. His physique was ordinary. Above all, he’s a newcomer. He lacks the essential combat experience. He’ll just end up like the others who’ve been defeated by the silver-haired brat. I know well enough how strong that brat is.

“Beat, I ordered you to gather the best of the best. This half-baked strength will be nothing but a hindrance! Get rid of him at once—what!?”

In the split second I shifted my gaze to Beat, the man had slipped behind me.

His fist was lightly tapping the back of my head, as if to show that he could kill me anytime he wanted.

“How about that? Does that prove my worth? I want to rank up quickly. Keep stalling, and I’ll end you right here.”

Such insolence. From an adventurer, no less!

I gave a discreet signal to one of my bodyguards.

“Hey! That’s no way to treat Elizabeth-sama!”

One of the guards, eager to make up for the earlier blunder, sprang into action. It was a serious blow, one that only a seasoned fighter could deliver. A newbie like this shouldn’t be able to handle it. But...

“Hmph.”

With a single, brutal punch, the man sent the bodyguard flying through the air.

My guards are not weak. The Elizabeth family employs only the best, far surpassing the standard of ordinary bodyguards.

And yet, this man defeated one of them with a single strike...

“You bastard!! How dare you—”

“Hold it.”

“B-but...”

“Just wait!”

I stopped the remaining bodyguards from retaliating.

Heh, this man is quite a find. His arrogance is infuriating, but his strength more than makes up for it. He might be as capable as Myuhen, our top adventurer.

“Impressive. I’ll commend you for that. I’ll even forgive your earlier insolence.”

“Of course. Now, tell me what the job is. I want to get it done and get my reward as soon as possible!”

Such confidence and greed for a newbie. I like that. Myuhen was like a mindless puppet, following orders without revealing his thoughts. But this one, his ambition is written all over his face. He’s easy to understand.

“Very well. It’s a simple job of tormenting a somewhat insolent young girl. Just to be sure, you don’t have any foolish policies about not harming women or children, do you?”

“On the battlefield, women and children are just targets. I’ll crush anyone in my way.”

He answered without hesitation. He really doesn’t flinch at the idea of violence.

This aggression, this latent ambition... He shows great promise. If I can control him properly, he could become a valuable tool for me.

“I reward those who serve me well. I’ll give you a hundred thousand gold in advance.”

“Forget the money. I’m after rank. I was told that taking your job would boost my rank in the guild. So make sure I rank up quickly!”

Not interested in money?

That’s unusual for an adventurer. Ah, he’s a newbie. He must be after a solid reputation first. Even with all this power, what’s making him so impatient? No matter, I’ll use it to my advantage.

“That’s not a problem.”

“You mean it?”

“Yes. The Elizabeth family donates generously to the adventurer’s guild. Your promotion will be immediate.”

At my words, the man grinned. He’s so transparent. Despite being a mercenary, he managed to get behind me and took out a guard with one punch. I’m starting to take a keen interest in this man.

“What’s your name?”

“Ortissio Bach. The man who will soon reach S-rank.”

Ortissio Bach... Interesting. This man might just be the key I need to finally deal with that silver-haired brat.