Chapter 94
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: The Young Lady's Panic
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Silbeia bit her right thumbnail.
"Caught? How? I thought it wouldn't be detected...."
"Professor Aiden is a Master. Lady Philia was confident it wouldn't be found, but I was a bit skeptical."
The aide let out a deep sigh and averted his gaze.
It was obvious who was there without asking.
Philia stood there, arms crossed, glaring at the now-silent eavesdropping device with darkened eyes.
"It was a listening device I asked the president of the Imperial Magic Society for, thanks to my connections in the Magic Knights Division. The chance of detection was extremely low."
"That's not the point right now! What are we going to do!"
"Stop whining. You're being noisy."
For someone who had snapped sharply out of irritation, Philia wore an equally troubled expression.
'We're not that different, are we?'
Aiden had always been disinterested in worldly affairs, so she hadn't paid much mind to him, but the higher-ups grouped Aiden and Philia at roughly the same level.
Philia was the top graduate of the Imperial Training Corps, where the empire had gathered geniuses of the ages to deliberately produce Masters.
More precisely, she might have been the greatest graduate in history.
She had graduated with the highest score since the Corps' founding and gone on to rack up numerous achievements and military honors, rising steadily to become a protector of the imperial family.
That was Philia.
'Damn it.'
Philia twisted her face.
It wasn't just the unexpected turn—it was the sprouting feeling that she might fall short of Aiden that truly unsettled her.
If Aiden was twenty-seven, she had reached the cusp of Master at thirty-three.
Once she overcame this plateau, the empire's Three Swords would rightfully become Four.
Oshua, who arrogantly bore the title of Magic Emperor and was treated as a grand master of magic, had ascended to Master at an advanced age. At thirty-three, she stood right below that realm, so the higher-ups' prediction that she would become the fourth wasn't far off.
No, Philia intended to make sure their prediction held true.
She was certain she would claim that position.
But the youngest Master—that alone pricked at her pride.
It was the title she had set her sights on, only for some blond rice-for-brains to snatch it away.
Because of that, Philia had harbored a strange competitive spirit, placing herself and Aiden on equal footing.
The eavesdropping device's discovery wasn't just about the gadget being found—it had chipped away at her confidence.
"Even I wouldn't have detected it if I didn't know it was there...."
It wasn't thick with defeat, but considerable doubt laced her tone.
As Philia fell silent, Silbeia, having been warned once, kicked back her chair and shouted.
"What are we going to do now! He's a Master! That monster who single-handedly slaughtered the ones who turned the academy into that mess! What if Professor Aiden targets us? No, he already knows we're conspiring...."
"Silbeia, calm down. You heard Professor Aiden. He's demanding something from us, so he won't act immediately."
"Don't make me laugh! I never threatened Lily at all! Do I have to worry about being framed for something I didn't do?"
"...."
"I can't understand why I'd be suspected of betrayal when Lily and I are so close! I didn't know about the assassination attempt at the palace either! I was worried too, so why...."
Everyone present knew that while the empire revered Masters as guardians, they really weren't.
Those beings were stars in the heavens, companions to sun and moon.
Bound too tightly by mortal laws, they had all touched realms beyond comprehension for common folk.
One certain thing: their violence always gleamed sharply, and their blades spared no direction.
That was why a Middle Eastern Master's rebellion had toppled an ancient dynasty and birthed a cult; why beastkin, oppressed as slaves, had revolted to found their beastkin nation.
Dawn eras by Masters existed, but the rebellions and revolutions beneath them were far more brutal.
Silbeia laughed maniacally, disheveling her beautiful hair with her hands like a madwoman.
"We'll all die if we're not careful! All of us!"
The Sword Duke was such a special case; a Master without imperial blood wouldn't loyally serve any group.
That was why the imperial family stubbornly showered them with riches.
"Even Master Aiden wouldn't...."
"Think the law will protect us? Do you really believe that?"
The aide shut his mouth at her eerie demeanor.
"I wasn't involved originally. Even now, I could go to Lily and...."
Philia lost her patience and snapped.
"You think that clears your name?"
"What?"
"Princess Lilian might understand if you explain. But that professor—haven't you heard the Young Duke of Pisvolt's assessment? Once he's involved, proving innocence is the only solution."
"No, I... they say they use gray elements too. Once the culprit's caught...."
"They will, as bait. From that professor's view, who cares if we die? As long as he gets the traitor."
"...."
Heavy silence descended.
"Don't forget why we're bound together. We trust each other's innocence, but it's also because none of us alone could handle that professor if pinned as the culprit."
"...."
"And you've benefited the most from our alliance so far. Even if no traitor emerges among us, think you can bolt alone and be fine?"
Philia glared at them with fierce eyes.
It was a warning—and a threat that she wouldn't hesitate to strike if they bungled things.
"We pin the first one who tries to flee as the culprit."
They fell silent like dummies with mouths full of honey under her menacing threat.
With her head cooler, Philia squeezed her eyes shut.
"The princess is ruthless too, appointing that guy."
Our innocence should be enough, but if she doesn't believe us, what then?—her stance had flipped in an instant.
No overt moves yet, but given Aiden's personality, undercurrents were surely flowing.
Letting the full conversation play out despite knowing about the device was deviously cunning.
When Aiden casually addressed them—clearly having overheard what he shouldn't have—every hair on her body had stood on end.
'I said I'd tear them apart.'
—In case any traitors are listening. You especially—I will tear you apart without fail. Know that.
His calm, plain tone had been utterly chilling.
Hearing it, Philia had momentarily shelved her rivalry. At the same time, she began considering the humiliating what-if from their clash: "If Princess Lilian hadn't intervened."
"At first, I thought it was just a threat, but when I opposed pulling knights from the mansion, he really tried to kill me."
"...."
"A guy who kills over mere opposition—what makes you think he'd spare you?"
Silbeia shuddered, hunching her shoulders.
"Th-then?"
"...Shut up and let me think."
As the mood sank irreparably, the aide spoke up.
"For now, as Professor Aiden said, we have no choice but to prove our innocence at the public memorial."
"Probably."
Philia's calm response prompted the aide to ask.
"Have you thought of something?"
"What?"
Philia snapped irritably, as if interrupted.
But the aide's gaze stayed fixed until she answered.
Philia scowled fiercely, then dramatically wiped her face.
"I'll think of a way to survive from now on."
Rivalry could wait until their necks were secure.
At least, for Philia, it could.
* * *
With the academy in ruins, Princess Lilian had taken over the official duties Silbeia was supposed to handle.
The air was humid, occasional rain showers wetting clothes, but the princess didn't seem to mind much.
If anything, escaping the stifling mansion—where another assassination attempt could strike anytime—seemed to leave her refreshed, flashing bright smiles nonstop.
Thanks to that, volunteers clearing rubble just to see her radiant smiles kept pouring in, and laborers built foundations atop the cleared debris one by one.
"She's so cheerful."
"They say her sincerity is praiseworthy, but smiling like that while volunteering...."
Of course, most volunteers were male students.
The obvious reason needed no explanation.
I stood there in full disguise, hands clasped behind my back.
It was the work of the technician who had initially made the princess look like a black-haired young lord.
Whether she truly had back then, I wasn't sure—but by estimated height, I'd seen through it, and she seemed offended by that.
A middle-aged woman trembling in fury was quite the sight.
'And she's a Master too.'
That spoke to the perfection of her disguise craft.
Such artisan pride could take a hit.
Had she not unleashed that artisan spirit on me, our first impression might have been better.
She'd started by grilling me on concepts for the disguise, and eventually even Princess Lilian joined in transforming me.
'What did she call it again.'
Deep thought felt bothersome, so I'd spaced out, only realizing later they were indulging their whims.
I twirled the silver wig reaching my shoulders around my finger.
'Didn't expect much anyway.'
I didn't think devil worshippers or traitors, who knew the situation intimately, would fall for it.
But showing my real face meant endless reporters and onlookers swarming.
Remembering being surrounded by journalists a week ago, the disguise had already served its purpose.
It might not fool the key players, but it dodged the public eye.
'And that's enough.'
Thanks to it, I could stroll outside without crowds trailing.
"Um...."
"What?"
A female student approached with a fresh-faced look and held out a letter.
As I moved to refuse, my eyes narrowed at the subtle bulge only visible up close.
Something was inside the letter.
Recalling that volume, I smirked—more mocking than friendly.
"Could you... take this?"
'A shadow from the Drake family.'
The delivery method was ambiguous, but enemies would find it hard to suspect.
"Reply will be tough."
The shadow, disguised as a student, nodded and departed.
The bulky item inside: a magic stone.
'From Radia, huh.'
Her handling was impeccable.
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