Chapter 70
Chapter 70
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Mastermind
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Clink.
Mikael Potren's wrists were being locked in handcuffs.
The standby knights and Haini Rosaless, who until yesterday had been acting like they were ready to charge at him any second, now stared at me as if I'd pulled off some kind of magic trick upon seeing Mikael submit to arrest without resistance.
"Thank you. It looks like this will all work out thanks to you."
Haini bowed deeply, expressing her sincere gratitude, but I replied with a wry smile.
"He's undoubtedly a villain, but he's also a father to one child. For that child's sake, please show him at least a little consideration."
I added that it was for Michelle Potren's sake, not Mikael's, and she nodded in understanding.
Since she was the one making the arrest herself, she could probably pull some strings.
"By the way, there are more knights here than I expected. Didn't trust me and call for backup right away?"
Judging by the numbers, there had to be nearly fifty of them—enough to suggest they'd come prepared for an all-out fight with Mikael.
But Haini gave an awkward smile and glanced at the knights.
"No, somehow the royal knights showed up even before we put in the request for support."
"......"
"I thought I was done for from the awkwardness. If you hadn't sorted things out beforehand, Mikael Potren would've been dead today."
With that, Haini headed back to the mansion to wrap up the scene.
I stretched slowly and gazed up at the sky.
As dawn's darkness began to fade, the sunrise slowly illuminated the city, and three female students approached from their respective directions.
Rin looked exactly as she'd been when I'd left her at the hotel—no issues there. It was almost like no attack had come at all.
Hayun had some wounds, but she returned with a relieved expression, as if she'd completely shed the name "Ren."
The one in the worst shape was undoubtedly Sen.
Though she'd successfully driven off the extermination squad that had come to kidnap Michelle, the blood flowing from her wounds—evidence of the fierce battle—soaked her clothes.
Of course, Rin had rushed over and started treating Sen, but even before that, Sen hadn't looked too down despite her injuries.
Both of them succeeded in their own ways.
Hayun and Sen.
Both had declared their independence from the families and parents that had bound them.
And now, the finale.
It was the turn of the gray-haired girl emerging hand-in-hand with Sen.
"D-Dad?"
"Michelle..."
Mikael couldn't lift his head at the sound of Michelle calling him. He'd wanted to see her at least once before leaving, but now that she was in his sight, guilt overwhelmed him.
"Dad..."
Michelle's eyes had been brimming with tears at first, but she slowly clenched her fists and struck Mikael's thigh.
"You're an idiot! You told me to be a good kid, but what am I supposed to do if you're a bad person?!"
"Ahh, Michelle. I'm sorry... Dad's so sorry."
Mikael knelt before Michelle. The knights who had restrained him tried to drag him away, warning against any funny business, but Haini stopped them.
The father and daughter embraced, shedding endless tears.
Even as she sobbed, Michelle made sure to tell her father clearly.
"I'm sorry, Dad. It's because of me, right? Those bad people brought my medicine, so you sided with them because of that?"
"No, no, Michelle."
Mikael didn't want her to know he'd ended up like this because of her, but Michelle spoke even more firmly.
"That's why I'll live a good life. I'll help and save way more people than the ones you hurt or harmed."
"......!"
"Then maybe Mom will smile a little from heaven? Maybe God will lighten your punishment a bit?"
"Ah, ahh..."
Mikael gazed at his daughter through his tears.
"Dad, you have to pay for your crimes properly. I don't know if we'll meet again, but I'll... I'll live strong."
"How did you grow up so big so fast?"
Being together all the time had blinded him to it.
It was her change—her growth.
Watching the little girl he'd only thought of as someone to protect now stand tall on her own with pride.
Mikael slowly kissed her forehead.
"Thank you for growing up like this, for being born as this worthless dad's daughter."
"Me too. I'm really, really glad to be your daughter."
This dawn, the girl left her father's arms and began to spread her wings.
*
"Haa, do I really have to go to a party like this?"
Elise—no, her real name was Elis de Freesia—tapped the ridiculous mask with her finger.
The Third Princess of the Freesia Kingdom was preparing to attend a party hosted by the Selmon family during Aios Academy's break.
A neat maid by her side chuckled softly and fixed her hair.
"You have to show up to parties like this. The Selmon family went out of their way to hold a grand masquerade just to invite you, Your Highness."
"Haa, what a hassle."
Aside from her very early childhood, Elis had never engaged in public activities.
She had no interest in power struggles, and as the Third Princess, her rank was low anyway.
She'd long grown disgusted with power watching her elder brothers fight it out.
The veiled Third Princess.
To invite her, the Selmon family had specially held a masquerade, creating an environment where Elis could move freely.
"Give me something more elegant for the mask."
"How about the swan one?"
"That works. For the necklace... this one."
"Isn't it a bit long?"
The necklace did hang down to her cleavage, looking a tad long on her, but Elis had already taken a liking to it and didn't change it.
She'd always been like this.
Once Elis fixated on something, she tended to obsess over it intensely.
Just look at this time.
She'd suddenly become fixated on a commoner boy and created that bizarre play.
"By the way, we got the final report from Lavender."
"Hm?"
Lavender was Elis's personal spy network.
She'd gathered people with poor combat skills but exceptional talents in information gathering and manipulation.
The First and Second Princes and Princesses knew of it but dismissed it as the youngest's idle amusement, not paying much attention. However, Elis's eye for talent was remarkably sharp, so it had grown into a group far beyond mere playthings.
Just a week ago, Elis would perk up noticeably at Lavender's intel, but now she responded with bland disinterest, as if it had all gone stale.
"Daniel McClain seems to have headed into the Demon Realm Forest. Probably to get herbs for Michelle Potren's medicine."
"Classes are starting soon, and he goes that far? Even if he's skilled, the Demon Realm Forest is a place unrelated to skill... I'm as disappointed as I was hopeful."
Elis sighed as she put on the necklace.
"I thought he'd wipe out the Ren and Potren families in one go and even catch the fighting dog. The Rens escaped without a trace, Mikael Potren was captured alive instead of killed, and while there was evidence on the dog..."
"Those guys are so elusive; it'd be hard to catch them."
"Haa, nothing but disappointment. I believed Daniel McClain would rampage even more spectacularly on the stage I prepared."
The maid cautiously asked Elis, who muttered as if she'd completely lost interest.
"But, Your Highness, why Daniel McClain? Wasn't it originally Ares Helias?"
"Hm, Ares isn't bad. But how to put it—Daniel has a rough edge. Wild and untamed?"
"......"
"I was even thinking of scouting him if he passed this exam, but what a letdown."
The moment Elis took interest in Daniel was comically during play rehearsal.
'Cut it out. Is this playtime? It's a play. You all read the script and joined.'
'You wouldn't like it. Some weird boy touching you girls? I feel the same. Hate having two weird girls clinging to me. Disgusting. But we're doing it.'
'Hah, not getting horny over brats like you.'
'I'm saying keep it moderate.'
During the play, as Elis recoiled at the thought of a lowly commoner touching her, Daniel openly exuded killing intent toward her.
It was a first in her life.
For Elis, who had always reigned above all and could make people vanish with a flick of her finger, no one had ever given her such fear and pressure.
From then on, she'd started paying attention to Daniel.
After learning he'd taken down the powerful insect beast at the festival, her interest had spiked even more.
That's why she'd prepared this Bethel incident.
Leaking info, summoning players, calculating the return from Yggdrasil.
Not a soul involved in the Bethel play knew they were dancing in the palm of a single girl named Elis.
"Well, it's all the same anyway. Business as usual. Get hopeful, then disappointed."
"......"
"Ares too. Following a commoner boy around and acting smitten was a unique experience—kinda fun—but his recent actions mean it's time to end that."
"Good. I was honestly worried he'd do something to you."
"That dimwit? Heh, funny. If he did, I'd actually reconsider him."
Just as Daniel McClain was special, so was Ares Helias.
He had the looks, grace, and charm that didn't repulse her—a commoner toward royalty.
That's how she could tail him and play the lovesick girl; a normal commoner, she'd barely even talk to.
"I hope this masquerade has something fun."
With that, Elis headed to the venue, leaving the maid's escort behind.
But of course, it was nothing but disappointment in the end.
She'd hoped a masquerade might be different since it was her first, but aside from the masks, it was just like any ordinary social party.
Mingling freely among people unaware she was the Third Princess was decent enough, but only decent.
Men who sensed her unmistakable poise even through the mask asked her to dance, but Elis firmly refused.
Boring.
There was no fun.
No fun at all.
As the ball reached its climax, the musicians and conductor sped up, but Elis's steps led her out of the hall.
If one man hadn't asked her to dance.
A black-haired man in a black mask.
Unlike the nobles, a feral aura overflowed from him. Ignoring basic etiquette for invitations, he simply extended his hand like for a handshake and said,
"Feels shitty thinking I'm the only one who's danced. Don't you think you should at least once?"
She knew from his voice.
Daniel McClain stood before her.
Her heart pounded like it would burst as her mind raced.
How?
Wasn't he wrapping up the Bethel incident and heading to the Demon Realm Forest for Michelle's medicine?
Why the hell was he standing here now?
What had he figured out?
Had he realized she was the mastermind behind Bethel?
In that brief moment, Elis's exceptional mind spun furiously, but no matter how she thought, there was no evidence Daniel McClain could pinpoint her as the black curtain.
Slowly, very slowly, a smile crept onto Elis's lips.
How exactly are you standing before me?
She was dying to know.
Her mind, drowsy from boredom just seconds ago, sharpened as electric thrills surged through her body.
"Ahh, so the ball is just beginning."
Elis accepted Daniel's invitation.