The Futile Collar and Crossroads Farewell
-Clink.
A cold metallic sound rang out as a shackle was fastened around my neck.
Shackle? It was more like a necklace, really. The silver one Esilla had put on me looked like a finely crafted piece of jewelry. A red gem embedded in the center gleamed ominously.
"What's this?"
I fiddled with the necklace and asked. Adrian explained with a satisfied smile.
"It's a mana-responsive restraint collar. That necklace reacts in real-time to Lilliana's and my positions."
He wiggled his finger.
"If you try to approach within a 10-meter radius of us, it'll emit a warning sound along with a mild electric shock. And if you attempt to use magic without permission..."
Adrian snapped his fingers.
-Crackle.
The red gem on the collar flashed.
"It'll send a current through you while simultaneously tightening around your neck."
Adrian was explaining the collar's functions.
But I felt nothing.
Why am I totally fine?
Electric shock? Neck tightening? I didn't feel a thing.
All I sensed was a faint vibration from the collar.
Ah.
Suddenly, the puzzle pieces clicked in my head.
All magic tools in this world operate on mana.
The restraint collar's principle is simple: it interferes with the wearer's mana core to inflict pain on the nervous system.
But me?
Life Circuit (Passive): No mana core exists.
No mana core.
Even with the restraint collar on, there's no core for it to interfere with.
In other words, this thing is just a shiny necklace to me.
These idiots.
"Hm, is the restraint faulty? If so, we'll use another..."
At Adrian's mutter, I made a snap decision.
"Gah, ack—!"
I clutched my neck, screaming and rolling on the floor.
"It hurts too much... take it off quick...!"
Pretending to sweat coldly, I gripped the collar.
Adrian nodded in satisfaction at my Oscar-worthy performance.
"Good. You need to feel that level of pain to straighten up. It'll cause extreme agony and forcibly cancel any magic."
He smiled down at me sprawled on the floor.
"This concludes all verdicts. Escort the criminals."
-Bang, bang, bang.
The gavel fell, ending the trial.
The knights dragged Leoness and me out. I glanced back at Adrian.
He was basking in some weird sense of victory watching me.
What an idiot.
The silver necklace dangled around my neck.
Hey, free pretty necklace. The design's not bad anyway.
Stepping out of the courtroom, blinding sunlight poured down.
But we were loaded into a prepared carriage before we could enjoy it.
A barred prison wagon.
Inside the rattling carriage rode me, Leoness, and Esilla as our overseer.
The wagon left the academy and headed toward the capital's outskirts.
Our destinations differed—mine was northeast to the Bellaph Duchy, hers north to the wall—but we'd travel together until the fork.
"..."
A heavy silence filled the carriage.
Esilla sat across from us, arms crossed, watching Leoness and me.
Her gaze especially stung on the collar around my neck.
I slumped against the window, feigning weakness.
"You there... are you in much pain...?"
Leoness beside me asked cautiously.
She held my hand, kneading it worriedly.
"Your face is so pale... that collar must be..."
"..."
Instead of answering, I cracked my eyes open and side-eyed Esilla.
She was glaring daggers.
I couldn't spill the truth here.
I wrote on Leoness's palm with my finger.
"Hee hee... that tickles..."
[Fake.]
Leoness's eyes widened.
"Fa...?"
I clamped her mouth shut before she could blurt it out.
Leoness blinked at me.
I gave the faintest smirk.
Then pointed to my chest and shook my head.
No mana core, so it doesn't work.
A signal through our eyes.
We knew each other well enough for hand signs to suffice.
Leoness blanked out for a second, then got it.
"Your chest is too big, so it doesn't...?"
"..."
She totally misunderstood.
Esilla shot us a suspicious look at what sounded like Leoness's mutter.
"What scheme now?"
"Scheme?"
I replied in a weak voice.
"The trial's over. Why would I bother?"
"..."
Esilla clicked her tongue and looked away.
The carriage rattled down the barren road.
After a long silence, Leoness whispered to me, glancing at Esilla.
"You there."
"Yeah."
"What is the north... like?"
Her voice trembled.
Makes sense. She'd only lived in the eastern kingdom lands.
Prison was tough enough; now to the empire's front lines.
"The frozen bulwark."
I whispered back.
"Blizzards rage year-round, ground frozen like steel."
"Eek..."
"And the monsters. Snowfield wolves, yetis, ice golems. All sorts crawling around."
Leoness paled.
"H-how am I supposed to survive three months there...? Why can't you come north with me...?"
She clutched my clothes, face crumpling.
The north was harsh, sure. High difficulty in the game.
But three months? With her strength, she'd thrive.
"Don't worry. I've got your back."
"R-really? You'll come too?"
"Nah, can't go in person, but I can share knowledge."
I lowered my voice more.
"Listen up. First thing when you arrive: find the supply officer."
"Supply officer?"
"Yeah. Fierce-looking woman named Merilda. Tell her, 'Wine tastes sweet on nights when the blue moon rises.'"
"What does that mean?"
"Password. Say it, and she'll hand over hidden special cold-weather gear and top-grade weapons from the warehouse corner."
Leoness's eyes sparkled.
"Ooh... there's stuff like that?!"
"In combat, watch for this: snowfield wolves fear fire, so always carry torches. Yetis have bad eyesight—stay quiet to avoid fights."
I spilled game strategy info like candy.
Hidden supplies, monster weaknesses, commander personalities.
Leoness perked her ears, absorbing every word.
"And the most important."
I stared into her eyes.
"Don't die. Ever."
"..."
"Run if it's too tough, hide if you must. Survive by any means."
My voice hardened.
"You get what I'm saying, right?"
Leoness stared back, then chuckled.
"Worry not. Does this lady seem like she'd fall to mere cold?"
She gripped my hand tight.
"And... you've given me all this. This lady will definitely return alive."
I squeezed back.
"Yeah. I believe you."
Then the carriage halted.
"We're here."
Esilla stood.
The crossroads.
Paths split here.
Me to the Bellaph Duchy northeast, Leoness to the northern wall.
The door opened, cold wind rushing in.
Getting closer to the north—I could feel it.
As we disembarked, someone saluted Esilla.
"Captain! Northern escort ready. Per schedule, you should personally deliver this criminal to the northern commander. Are you prepared?"
Esilla's original duty was escorting Leoness north herself.
I sighed inwardly in relief.
Good. With Esilla gone north, my ride home'll be peaceful.
No her, smoother trip. A small comfort.
But.
"No."
Unexpected words from Esilla.
"Change of plans. I'm not going north."
"Pardon? But His Highness's orders clearly..."
"Northern escort's now the vice-captain's. As for me..."
Esilla slowly turned, fixing on me.
"I'll take this one. I'll personally escort Lady Elise de Bellaph to the duchy."
At the same time, in the academy's grand hall witness waiting room.
"Saintess? Saintess!"
The knight pounded urgently on the door.
"The trial's over! Are you inside?"
"..."
No reply.
A bad feeling hit; the knight flung the door open.
Thankfully, the saintess was there.
"...If you're truly the goddess..."
She kept muttering to herself.
Didn't notice the knight until he approached.
"Saintess, the trial's already..."
"She's gone."
Lilliana suddenly murmured.
"Pardon?"
"Why... didn't she wait for me?"
She tilted her head.
"She said she would... why?"
Her eyes were vacant.
Cold sweat trickled down the knight's neck for barging in so rudely.