Chapter 126 - Eliminate the threat
Translator: Yonnee
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Seeing Seo-yoon again after the coming-of-age ceremony, she didn't seem any different from before. No, she seemed exactly the same as she was in the past.
Her eyes, filled with venom. The corners of her lips, carrying that subtle twist. It was easy for me to be transported back to the past.
[ What does a mere B-rank know? ]
[ Ciel loves me. If only it weren't for that damn matching rate! He was meant to be my exclusive Esper! ]
[ Do you even know the depth of our relationship, me and Ciel? ]
The reason I couldn't help but misunderstand was all because of Seo-yoon. She seemed to know exactly when Ciel wasn't around and came to me with such malicious gossip.
I thought Ciel knew about it.
That's why, at first, I felt a sense of guilt. It felt like I was separating these two people who were sincerely in love.
"Irene."
Ciel's voice calling my name finally pulled me back from my reverie. I blinked my eyes slowly, and Crown Prince Jace, who had been holding Seo-yoon, said to me.
"Lady Closch, you seem quite surprised."
As Crown Prince Jace had lifted the collapsed Seo-yoon into his arms, he called for the chief attendant as he passed by me.
"Now that we've found the Saintess, we should hurry to the temple."
"Yes, Your Highness. I will prepare for our departure immediately."
"...The temple?"
Simultaneously with Seo-yoon's surprised voice, someone grabbed my shoulder. When I turned my head in surprise, I saw Ciel looking at me with a worried expression.
"Irene, are you okay?"
A significant portion of his question was left unsaid, but I could understand what he meant.
He looked at me with a concerned expression, then glanced around as if scanning the empty space.
I followed his gaze and examined the space that had returned to its original state. The hole through which Seo-yoon had come out was nowhere to be found anymore. It felt very suspicious.
Dad had clearly said that the traces would linger for about a month. That information was not only based on what Dad had personally witnessed but also based on the records passed down through generations in our family.
For a very long time, our predecessors have been guarding the outskirts. They meticulously recorded details about the weather, environmental changes, and information about monsters. So, Dad's knowledge wasn't just based on recent data-it was based on data that went back several centuries.
I cast suspicious glances around me, but I couldn't find anything unusual. So, I looked at Ciel.
Being an Esper, he might see something different from the rest of us.
"...Tsk."
But even he didn't seem to have spotted anything significant. Frustration was mixed with his sigh, and I couldn't help but feel disappointed too.
"Duke! What are you doing?"
At the crown prince's urging, Ciel reluctantly started moving.
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Using your abilities, we need to go to the location of the portal."
"Is it necessary to hurry like this?"
"Duke!"
The prince's scolding made Ciel use his abilities. Given their friendship, they had been able to joke around and exchange banter so far, but one must not forget that this was a strictly hierarchical society.
Ciel used his wind abilities to lift the crown prince and Seo-yoon together. They ascended into the air, and I watched them go.
Before they got too far, Seo-yoon clung to the crown prince and looked down at me.
Her twisted lips caught my attention first, and then her disapproving black eyes came into.
The look in her eyes-that same one that she always gave me whenever there wasn't anyone else around.
And...
"Laughing when you think someone is beneath you."
"Huh? What did you say, my dear?"
"Oh, it's nothing, Dad."
"Then, let's head back now. It's fortunate that the Saintess has returned, but..."
Dad was about to take me back but stopped when he looked at the empty space. The cleanly vanished rift seemed to bother him, and he furrowed his brows.
"I've never encountered something like this before..."
"Let's go back, Dad."
"Yes, yes."
I grabbed Dad's hand and urged him. We couldn't find anything, but what lingered was an uneasy feeling that couldn't be shaken off.
Why did Seo-yoon emerge from the origin of the monster wave?
...What if Seo-yoon was somehow connected to the monster wave?
Anxiety crept in as I suddenly thought of a scenario. If our family were to suffer because of Seo-yoon, unlike how I did in the past, I wouldn't foolishly stand by.
I held my dad's hand and climbed into the carriage. While looking at my dad's kind expression, I made a solemn promise.
If such a moment ever comes...
This time, there would be no choice but to eliminate the threat. If it would come down to the ultimate decision of taking a life, I would no longer hesitate.
