Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Cluster of Stars (3)
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The second day of the social gathering.
Starting today, there would be mock battles.
This schedule, running through the evening of the second and third days, required all nobles to be in attendance.
Participation was optional, but they had to at least fill their seats.
Mock battles.
The reason nobles dueled at these gatherings was to pit their martial prowess against one another, flaunting their skills and earning recognition from their peers.
Officially, it was for the sake of learning from each other, of course.
Most dueled opponents of similar age and skill.
It was only natural. Beating someone overwhelmingly weaker wouldn't impress anyone—it would just invite mockery.
Some weaker fighters even challenged the strong.
Victory there would earn them resounding praise.
But no strong fighter ever challenged the weak.
Not in front of all the watching nobles.
That kind of petty stunt would make them the laughingstock, fodder for endless gossip.
In that sense, my position was rather unique.
'Beating Jack last time has been a huge help.'
My age put me on the younger side at this Cluster of Stars.
Even accounting for freshly ten-year-old nobles being too young for mock battles anyway.
I was among the youngest eligible to participate.
That meant I'd either have to challenge my seniors first or duel kids my own age.
The former was out of the question for me. Absolutely.
Too much hassle.
The latter? No other noble would agree to it.
Who'd want to face off against the kid who beat a White Wing Knight?
So, in a way, I might just skate through without dueling anyone.
Music to my ears.
Of course, being from the Leonhart Ducal Family probably made people too intimidated to challenge me anyway.
Ah, no. Not that guy.
'That one might be different.'
He'd been making a show of wanting to beat me, after all.
Hard to imagine, but even if he did challenge me, it'd hurt him far more.
A noble challenging someone so much younger?
Even victory wouldn't earn him any respect.
Anyway, with evening schedules packed from today onward,
I was chatting with Ariel via magical letter.
Now was the time—nights would be too busy for talk.
Otherwise, my little sister would throw a fit.
In my room in the Lotus Pavilion, I scribbled away at the letter.
The view outside the window was mostly empty of people.
My quarters were at the farthest edge of the palace.
Rumor had it the guardian magic formations were concentrated here.
Probably because I was an honored guest—they'd put me in the most secure spot.
[What did you do today? Anything fun?]
I wrote the line and waited.
The reply came almost instantly, as if she'd been poised for it.
[Yeah. Today I practiced with the sword a bit.]
[What's gotten into you? I thought you weren't interested in swordsmanship.]
[If I want to protect you later, I'll need it. So I'm practicing a little.]
She still hadn't given up on that adorable notion of protecting me.
[Your desire to protect me is sweet. But I'm not your property, okay?]
[Yeah. I know.]
[Good. That's all I needed to hear.]
[So promise me the same, big brother.]
[Huh? Promise what?]
[You acknowledged my free will. So you owe me something in return.]
Some kind of recompense, huh.
What could she possibly want from me?
[Just to be sure, it's nothing weird, right?]
[No. Just don't make any girls yours.]
[......I'm really worried about where my little sister keeps picking up this strange knowledge. You're still so innocent—don't learn the wrong things.]
[No, that's what the book said. Men go to social gatherings to meet ladies. You won't do that, right?]
Ariel's tone made it clear: if I so much as announced a fiancée, she'd go berserk.
The prophet had said her inhuman nature bloomed through my love.
Moments like this made me wonder if I'd made a grave mistake.
Of course, I'd take responsibility. I would.
......But her catching a sister-in-law like a rat would be a problem. I wanted her to be a good one.
[They say you dance at social gatherings. Dancing brings people closer. Closeness leads to love. Right? You won't dance with anyone, will you? Right? Right? Right?]
[Of course not. Why would I, with my beautiful little sister waiting?]
[Yeah. I believe you.]
I fed her a white lie.
She was still pure—that was all.
Definitely not because she felt possessive or anything.
......Probably not. Right?
[Gotta go. Social gathering starts soon.]
[Already? Don't go so soon.]
[Sorry, sorry. We'll have time later. Talk then.]
[Okay. Got it.]
I wrapped up the chat quickly and set down the pen.
Something about it...
The longer I was away from the duchy, the worse Ariel seemed to get.
Her fixation on me was growing stronger, maybe.
I wanted to indulge her as much as possible, but if it spilled over to others, that'd be trouble.
"Phew."
Guess I'd have to wrap up the Cluster of Stars fast and head back to the duchy.
I approached the window and gazed outside.
Far beyond the horizon lay the Leonhart Ducal Family lands.
Ariel was there, reading alone, waiting for me.
Just thinking about it made me want to rush back—but I had to hold out.
Participating in the gathering tied my actions to the Leonhart name.
I couldn't afford to act carelessly. That's what it meant to be a noble.
"......Huh?"
As I stared out the window to soothe my longing,
I spotted a woman wandering below.
Strange. Nobles never came this way.
No need to. No venues for the gathering, no spots to mingle.
Yet there she was, circling suspiciously.
"......?"
I focused my eyes.
It was Blodded, leader of the Red Mask Merchant Group, peering through her glasses with blue eyes darting about the wall.
Guardian magic formations were there, no doubt.
"-."
Something felt off.
I could ignore it, but my instincts said otherwise.
I hopped into the elevator and descended.
Toward where Blodded was.
Down to the first floor, toward the outskirts.
A place untouched by footsteps.
Protected by magic formations—and there was Blodded, circling alone.
"......Is this about it?"
Up close, she looked even more suspicious.
She was waving her hands near the wall.
Nothing visible to my eyes.
Just flailing around, you might say.
But.
Trusting my eyes a bit more,
it looked purposeful.
"What are you doing?"
"Ah!"
Blodded's body jolted slightly at my voice.
Startled? Maybe not.
She'd composed herself quickly—or wasn't that fazed.
She turned to me with a seductive, "Ufufu," smile.
"Oh my. You're that boy from before? Ah, no. Meeting here means you're a noble. My apologies."
"Yes. Though I knew you were the Red Mask Merchant Group's leader."
"Ufufu. Too bad. Ah, right. Um...... Might you be Young Master Kline Leonhart?"
"That's me."
"What a relief. As a sponsor of the gathering, I make it a point to know the attending nobles' names."
Her words and demeanor were so natural, it was hard to doubt her.
I met her gaze silently.
Focusing my eyes found no awkwardness in her flow.
If it didn't read as flow, odds were there was truly nothing amiss.
Unless.
She was stronger than me and hiding it well.
"Our group is gifting accessories to the nobles. Glasses are especially popular...... Ah, would you like to try a pair, Young Master Kline?"
"No thanks. Not my style. Pass."
"Such a shame. If you change your mind, just let me know?"
"Will do. But to ask again—what were you doing here?"
"Hm? Is there a problem?"
"No. Just that hardly anyone comes here. You seemed to have business way out here."
"Ahh. Nothing much. I was just admiring the incredible magic formations engraved here."
Surprisingly candid admission.
She had been scoping out the guardian formations.
But she claimed no malice—just awe.
"How did you know I was here, Young Master Kline? Most wouldn't notice."
"My room overlooks this area. I was enjoying the view and spotted you. Got curious."
"Oh dear. That explains your interest. I wondered."
"......"
A chill ran down my spine.
My fingertips stiffened.
Something was wrong.
Just a casual remark.
Yet I couldn't shake the feeling she'd held my life in her hand and released it.
"Well, I'll be off. Seen all there is to see."
"Take care."
"Enjoy the gathering. As a sponsor, I hope you do. Ufufu."
A perfectly ordinary exchange, no issues raised.
Blodded brushed past me and vanished.
"......"
I stared at where she'd been.
Magic was beyond me, so I couldn't tell.
If her words were true or not.
But instincts exist for a reason.
Everything from my encounters with Blodded so far.
The odd glasses. Suspicious behavior.
I made my call.
"Time to investigate."
No point dragging it out.
This was enough suspicion to warrant digging.
I resolved to look into Blodded.
Blodded's room.
A secluded corner of the Lotus Pavilion.
Unlike the nobles, she'd gotten it as a sponsor and shut the door behind her.
Darkness all around.
In the pitch-black chamber, Blodded traced her finger.
Drip- drip-
Blood drops fell, forming a circle.
A transparent membrane like a mirror appeared, and Blodded cooed sweetly into it.
"Cult Leader. It's me. You there?"
[......What is it, Deputy Leader?]
"I figured you still weren't sold on my plan. You didn't like the idea of terrorism at this gathering."
[Naturally. I said to wound the imperial family deeply—not that the Third Imperial Princess's face was the target.]
"Don't be like that. Can't you indulge a subordinate's personal goal just a little?"
[......]
The Cult Leader said nothing.
Fine.
Blodded, leader of the Red Mask Merchant Group.
Her true identity: Deputy Leader of the Crimson Blood Cult, soon to reveal itself to the world.
She'd received one command from the Cult Leader.
'Infiltrate this Cluster of Stars and inflict a grievous wound on the imperial family.'
Method didn't matter. Leave a massive scar.
Make them fear the Crimson Blood Cult's might.
Her personal twist on that: the Red Mask Merchant Group.
Posing as human while a vampire wasn't ideal.
Risk of exposure.
But Blodded trusted.
Her magic.
And even more, her burning desire to defile the nobles she loathed.
That conviction birthed the merchant group.
The accessories.
And sold her blood-laced trinkets to most nobles at the gathering.
[Do as you will. My words won't matter anyway. All events follow the guidance of the hidden world.]
"That again? You love that hidden world. I know your power comes from there, but what does it matter to us?"
[Foolish talk. You who received my power are no different. Mind your conduct—the hidden world's power leaves traces.]
"Got it. So you're not stopping my plan?"
[Just handle it properly. Don't botch it with personal whims.]
"As if."
That was it.
The blood mirror dissolved.
Blodded stared into the dark, imagining.
The girl called the empire's most cherished flower.
Adelheit von Baldrion.
How blissful to tear her face apart.
"Haa...... Can't wait."
Not yet.
Not until she fully hijacked the guardian formations, blocking communication for the knights mid-'Eight Wings' operation.
Not until she sealed the palace in a blood prison, thwarting any late arrivals.
Not yet.
So she endured.
Her blood was already in the nobles' glasses, scattered far and wide.
When terror struck, they'd suffer first—hideously.
Blodded awaited that day.
Convinced no one could stop her.
Oblivious to the boy who'd begun tailing her.