Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Midnight Circus (2)
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Bam-para-bam~!
Inside the circus tent, an exciting trumpet fanfare echoed.
Sh riffle riffle!
A pint-sized clown danced about comically, shuffling the cards in his hand wildly.
"Kee-hee! Finally starting to get the picture, huh? That smug look's all gone! Ki-hi-hit! This is fun, so much fun!"
In an instant, one card shot out from the clown's frantically moving hands at blinding speed.
Ssssh!
The card flying straight at Estelle reeked of ominous energy.
It began devouring its surroundings, swelling with power, and soon took on a definite form.
By the time it closed the distance to Estelle, it was no longer an ordinary card but a pitch-black demonic beast oozing dark aura.
Boom!
"Kee-hee, that magic you bragged about is looking pretty weak now! Getting done in by a crappy card like this!"
Splat!
Having fulfilled its role, the monster melted away and reverted to a card, returning to the clown's hand.
"You came at me like you wanted to kill me at first, all wild and savage. Now you're running out of steam! Ki-hi-hit, taming a fierce beast is part of the circus fun!"
His words rang true—scattered around were torn-up cards.
Spades, hearts, clubs, diamonds.
From low numbers to high, all sorts of cards littered the ground, testament to the battle's ferocity.
Some even bore face cards like kings and queens.
Drip, drop.
At the edge of the stage, shrouded in dust from the impact's aftermath.
Estelle staggered to her feet, unable to fully dodge the creature's attack.
"Hngh... grh..."
She seemed to have avoided serious injury by throwing up a barrier at the last second.
But she hadn't dissipated all the shock—her condition was a mess.
...Too... strong.
Every attack was unpredictably erratic.
There was no standard to the cards hurtling her way.
Normally, a spell's power should depend on the mana infused in it.
Yet this clown's cards toyed around, as if such outdated rules didn't apply.
Thud, drip drop.
A deep gash ran along Estelle's side, blood trickling out.
...Mana's... running low.
One card had felt devoid of energy, seeming harmless.
But the soldier that emerged from it shredded her spell and pierced her barrier, leaving that nasty wound.
"Ki-hi-hit, confused yet? You with your stuffy old magic could never understand my tricks!"
After that, she couldn't ignore a single one of his attacks.
Pouring all her mana into countering the incoming cards had drained her reserves dry.
It felt like he manipulated every situation from the palm of his hand.
Deception. Yeah, that word fit perfectly.
"...But that look on your face. I don't like it. It's really getting on my nerves."
Suddenly dropping his grin, he scowled and jabbed a finger at Estelle's face.
Glare growing murderous as he powered up, then—as if struck by a brilliant idea—he started dancing excitedly, chattering in high spirits.
"Kee-hee, yeah, that's perfect! Let's see how long you can keep up that poker face!"
Sizzle!
From the twenty or so cards left in his hand.
He pulled out one that stood out ominously and tore it in half himself.
A card emanating sinister energy, depicting a clown.
...Gotta block that...!
She didn't know what he was planning, but instinct screamed she couldn't let it happen.
"Kee-hee! Too late! Shall we take a peek at the wounds under that mask?"
Clunk, rrrroll!
Without giving her time to cast, dark energy swallowed the stage.
Gears ground, and the stage flipped upside down.
Swoosh...
In a sunlit garden, warmed by gentle rays.
Estelle opened her eyes amid the scent of beautiful flowers and birdsong.
"...Where is this?"
The back garden of the Lumeria ducal estate.
No way she wouldn't recognize the garden where she'd grown up since childhood.
"I was definitely just..."
Fighting that clown demon.
Yet here she was, in the family garden.
Throb!
"Hah...!"
Pain shot through her side—the wound from the fight was still there.
So it hadn't been an illusion.
Leaning against a tree, she forced herself up to assess the situation and began walking slowly around.
Rustle, rustle.
...The old flower bed.
The flowers she'd planted for her two caretaking maids as a child.
Blooming small in one corner of the garden.
"Sigh... Why am I stuck like this? I used to serve Young Master Emer, and now suddenly I'm babysitting the youngest lady?"
"Right? The duke dotes on his late-born daughter like crazy. Lucky her, good parents and all, but why's she such a bitch?"
"Did you see her face today? Looked at people like bugs. After serving kind, perfect Young Master Emer, this is a disaster. Why'd that bitch Estelle even get born?"
Then, unforgettable voices drifted from the opposite side.
"..."
The two maids assigned to her, gossiping.
Badmouthing the lady they served.
...Yeah. That was when it started.
When Estelle, who rarely showed it but would shyly express her feelings,
Began closing her heart off to people, turning cold.
Rustle, rustle.
Estelle cautiously followed the voices.
Soon, two maids in Lumeria uniforms came into view.
"Ah! Lady, you're here? Ehehe, you should've told us if you were coming to the garden!"
"Wait right here~ We'll fetch tea and snacks."
"..."
The moment the girl they'd just trashed appeared,
Their displeased expressions flipped to innocent smiles.
But the faint contempt in their eyes lingered.
More than enough to scar a mere child like Estelle.
"...Why? Why would you...?"
She'd always been grateful to the maids who looked after her clumsy self.
The young, awkward lady didn't know how to express it,
And felt sorry toward the two who always cared for her.
Squeeze...!
A soft lilac flower clutched in her hand.
Gripping until her knuckles whitened, the vibrant petals began falling to the ground.
"Pardon? What do you mean...?"
"If we've done something wrong, please tell us?"
Acting oblivious,
As if they'd always been devoted, donning their masks.
"Just... just tell me. That you hate me. That I'm loathsome. That you can't stand the sight of me."
When the lilac—holding her clumsy feelings—had bloomed beautifully.
The little girl had meant to give it to the two maids.
But unable to convey her heart, she'd turned and fled.
"Kee-hee, ki-hi-hit! Such a pitiful story! How'd it feel having your precious feelings trampled?"
"...You."
"Kee-hee! Don't look at me like that! I didn't do it! Ah! You're dying to know why, right?"
In a flash, the mask peeled away, revealing the demon's face.
Grinning ear-to-ear in utter delight.
Thrilled at the chance to spill the truth, barely containing his excitement.
"Lady~ We're so sorry, that wasn't sincere~ But the faces we showed you? Those were real~"
"..."
Kuhuhu!
Clutching his belly like it might split, forcing back laughter.
Bent over wheezing for a while, then looked up at Estelle and continued.
"...That's what you thought I'd say? Kee-hee! Love that look!"
"I'll kill you...!"
"Kee-hee! You knew better than anyone it was false hope! That all those words were lies, that the maids who fussed over you actually despised you!"
Unable to hold it anymore, he burst into roaring laughter.
Wiping tears from laughing so hard, he opened his cursed mouth again.
"Why? 'Cause it was fun! We knew you adored us, you naive little thing!"
"...Don't lie."
"Kee-hee! Think we didn't know you were in the garden? Wrong! We knew best. Even that you'd prepared flowers for us! Kee-hee!"
The demon spoke in the guise of one of the maids she cherished.
...No way.
The rest had to be his fabrications...
Yet the buried scars resurfaced.
"We busted our asses but knew we'd never be like you! Hated how you looked down on us just for being born the duke's daughter! Kee-hee!"
"...Stop. Just stop."
"That's why! Trampling your precious feelings made us feel a bit better! We knew your soft heart wouldn't let you retaliate!"
Innocently raising both hands, as if he'd only spoken truth.
...No, impossible... no way...
This was all his illusion...
Slap!
Suddenly, the sound of Estelle striking her own cheek filled the garden.
"...You. I'm really going to kill you."
"Kee-hee! Close! You almost fell for it!"
...This bitter taste must be from the cheek wound.
Snapping back to her senses, Estelle vowed not to waver again and raised her staff, unleashing magic.
Fwoosh!
Bright magic engulfed him, landing solidly—or so she thought.
"Kee-hee, no can do! The show's not over yet!"
"Haa..."
Rrrroll!
Space warped in an instant, and the clown reappeared in his ridiculous form.
Pulling a mask from his pocket and slapping it on.
"Oh my, the Lumeria duke's youngest daughter? Overflowing talent but mentally unstable, I hear. Still, she's the duke's kin—better to get friendly."
Daughters from other houses at socials, first.
"Hahaha! The Lumeria youngest? Personality's crap despite the looks. Bet she'd fall easy with a little sweet talk. Know what I mean?"
Sons from families Father visited, blabbing.
"...Master. About Estelle. Do you think she's contracted a demon? No way that idiot bitch achieved this much."
"...Quiet. She's still the duke's favorite. I don't want to teach her either, but no choice."
Even busy Father, Mother, and the teachers who taught her in their stead.
He dragged out memories buried deep.
KABOOM!
"Kee-hee, not enough?"
Dodging the magic she'd fired after calming her aching heart with ease,
He exuded even darker aura and drew a new mask.
"Father, about Estelle. It's time to give up. No matter how nice we are, she shows no sign of improving."
Her brother discussing her with Father.
"Dear, enough already... We've tried plenty, haven't we?"
Mother gazing at her quietly tending flowers in the garden.
"...Understood. I'm getting tired too. How long will she isolate herself? Talented, sure, so let her graduate the academy and ship her to the front lines."
Father continuing coldly, warmth gone from his eyes.
"My family never said anything like that..."
"Kee-hee! Really? You sure?"
"...Shut up. Before I rip that mouth."
She knew it was the demon's lies.
Knew it was mere illusion, yet it stung bitterly.
Step, step.
Even as he approached step by step, Estelle couldn't cast.
Each mask change turned him into her family.
She just gripped her staff till it might snap.
"...Estelle. Why are you like this? You make me uncomfortable."
"...Huh?"
"Friends? You're the one throwing tantrums, so this commoner had no choice but play along. But I'm sick of it now."
The final mask bore Rowen's face.
Weary, contemptuous gaze locking on her.
Her fragile grip on sanity shattered.
"Ah, haha... Lies, right? N-no way...?"
The one person outside family who didn't hate her, now condemning her.
Estelle's unbreakable mask finally cracked.
"Hah, knew it. I've endured you all this time, but one word from me and you wanna kill?"
"N-no, Rowen, it's the demon..."
"Demon? Where's this demon you keep yapping about? Sigh... Fine, Estelle. Guess this is your true self."
Drip, plop.
Once cracked, the mask crumbled uncontrollably.
Crash!
In the demon's thorough deception, Estelle's mask fully shattered.
"N-no, Rowen, mistake, it was a mistake. Ehehe, see? Staff's down already. Must've lost it for a sec..."
"...Really? Phew... Okay, Estelle. You won't do it again, right?"
"Of course...! You're my precious friend...!"
Guh... kuh-huh...! Kee-hee-hit!
Step, step.
Not bothering to hide anymore, the demon approached in true form.
But Estelle's mind lay in ruins, her gaze chasing faint hope.
"Haa... Boring now. Thought you'd last longer."
Reaching the slumped Estelle, he prepared the finale.
Ssshh,
Dark energy gathered at his fingertips, forming a sharp blade.
Swoooosh!
As it sliced air toward her heart.
Clang—!
"...Estelle."
"Ro...wen?"
A boy appeared from nowhere, batting away the demon's claw with a sword brimming with fierce aura.
"You're... safe now, Estelle."
"Is it... really you, Rowen...?"
Hugging her close in a flash, putting distance between them, then gently setting her down.
"Guh... grh... It's really you... Rowen?"
"...Yeah. Not an illusion. Really... you can believe it."
"Eung, uh.... Waaah!"
Touching him everywhere, confirming he was real, Estelle burst into pent-up tears.
"Kee, ki-hi-hit. Think you're some hero now?"
"Shut up."
Comforting her with pats on the back, Rowen whispered softly, then stood.
"I'll... show you true hell."
Crack, craaack.
Just a freshman, no less.
Clearly far weaker than the girl collapsed there.
Yet.
"Kee, ki-hit..."
The demon, ever the deceiver, had lost his composure.