LIGHT NOVEL Chapter 24
The ladies who had attended the tea party at Countess Lort’s estate exchanged farewells with their host before leaving for home.“The tea today was absolutely delightful. The flavor was exquisite. I’m curious—where did you find such a blend?”“If you liked it, I’ll send some to your home.”“Oh, there’s no need to trouble yourself.”After the ladies departed one by one, the last to remain was the Baroness Hervan.Like the others, she approached Countess Lort to bid her farewell.However, before she could speak, the countess spoke first.“Baroness, is everything all right at home?”“Ah… How did you…?”“You seem burdened with worry. If you’d like, I’d be happy to listen.”The countess guided the baroness into the drawing room of the estate.Soothed by a warm cup of tea and the countess’s kind attention, the baroness began to pour out her story as if she had been waiting for the opportunity.“You know my brother passed away recently, don’t you?”“Yes, it was such a tragic accident. I’m still mourning his death.”“My brother had a daughter—a poor child who lost her mother at a young age.”“Ah, the one engaged to the Duke of Ritenhaus?”“Yes, that’s her. I’ve often visited her out of concern, but I have no idea what’s going through her mind these days.”The baroness sipped her tea with a pained expression and continued.“She’s never managed finances in her life, so I offered to take care of her inheritance until she’s capable of managing it herself… But she accused me of being a swindler!”“Oh, dear.”“She’s always been sensitive and frail, and after losing her father, she’s been struggling so much that I’m worried she’s gone completely astray.”With a compassionate expression, Countess Lort listened to the baroness’s woes and clicked her tongue sympathetically.“Losing both parents suddenly, especially those she relied on so much, must have been devastating.”“……”“When I lost my own parents, even though I was already married and living independently, it felt as though my world had collapsed. The grief and desolation were overwhelming—I remember it vividly to this day.”“It must have been very difficult for you.”“Yes, it was. I wish I’d had someone to lean on during that time, someone to give me comfort as I’m doing for you now…”The countess gazed into the distance, her eyes reflecting a memory of the past. Then, as if struck by an idea, she clasped the baroness’s hands.“I have a suggestion. What if we introduce Miss Loraine to the solace of faith during this challenging time?”“Faith, you say…?”“If she comes to understand that ‘His’ return will render sorrow and wealth meaningless, it might bring her peace.”A gentle smile spread across the countess’s face as she spoke of “Him.”“I’ll invite Miss Loraine to our next gathering and have a chat with her.”“Would you really do that?”“Of course. So please, don’t worry too much, Baroness.”Countess Lort reassured the baroness, her expression warm yet carrying an unsettling undertone. A serene but chilling smile lingered on her lips as she spoke. ***** Elsez struck the final blow against the massive pink slime before her.The overwhelming power of her attack not only defeated Mamarung but also collapsed the surrounding ground, bringing the battle to an end.Jack, who had followed her out of concern, stared blankly at Elsez in awe. Realizing his delay, he quickly snapped out of it and approached her.“I thought so yesterday, but you’re seriously strong. How did you manage to hide that kind of power all this time?”It was only then that Elsez realized she might look suspicious and hastily came up with an excuse.“Well, uh, I knew I was a bit stronger than others since I was young, but I didn’t know it was to this extent. Then, not long ago, I ran into a monster in the forest and had to use my strength. Turns out, I was stronger than I thought.”Initially flustered, the lie came out smoothly once she started. It was so convincing, even she found it impressive.Luckily, Jack seemed to believe her story.“You’ve been extraordinary since birth. I knew my instincts were right.”“Didn’t Perse notice me first?”At Elsez’s pointed remark, Jack flinched and scrambled to defend himself.“Well, actually, I also sensed something unusual about you. But, you know, you looked so delicate, so I wasn’t sure.”Elsez chuckled at his reaction.While she was happy that Perse had recognized her abilities, she didn’t feel upset that Jack hadn’t. Most people would make the same assumption when seeing a small-framed woman.Suddenly, she realized someone was missing and asked, “By the way, where’s Perse? I didn’t see him at the guild earlier. You two are usually together.”“That guy’s off looking for someone, so he disappears sometimes.”“Looking for someone? Family?”“Not family, no. What did he say again? Someone related to a benefactor, I think?”“Ah, I see.”Elsez absentmindedly listened to Jack’s explanation while placing Mamarung’s core against the quest scroll.The scroll opened its mouth and swallowed the core. The absorbed item was stored in the scroll’s inventory, and a message was instantly sent to the quest client.Now, all that was left was to deliver the scroll to the guild to complete the quest.The two divided the slime’s remains equally.Since she had taken the core, Elsez tried to give all the slime residue to Jack, but he declined, saying he had only watched. Eventually, she accepted her share and stored it in her inventory.Though her pouch was only palm-sized, it expanded when she placed an item near it, swallowing the contents effortlessly.As they finished splitting the loot and exited the forest, the sun had begun to set.Elsez climbed into the carriage first and called out to Jack, who was looking back at her.“Get in first, Jack.”“What about you? Aren’t you going to the guild?”“I have somewhere else to stop by.”Jack left, saying they’d meet tomorrow.Afterward, Elsez boarded a rented carriage and gave the coachman her destination.“Take me to the Roby Viscount’s estate.”As the carriage started moving, Reti emerged from her pocket, which had been quiet all day.Since she had been with others from the guild to the battle with Mamarung, Reti hadn’t been able to show herself.Sitting across from Elsez, Reti crossed her arms and looked up at her. Despite her doll-like face being expressionless, her posture radiated discontent.“Why did you decide to help that guy? I don’t like him.”“That guy?”After a pause, Elsez realized that “that guy” referred to Astaire.‘Is it because their attributes clash? She seems to particularly dislike him,’ Elsez thought.Watching Reti’s evident distaste for Astaire, she remembered a question she had been meaning to ask.“By the way, Reti, I wanted to ask you something.”“What is it?”“You heard what they said at the guild earlier, right? That someone’s trying to resurrect you.”“I heard.”“Are they connected to you?”“I don’t even know who they are. I returned to this world without any help from mere humans.”Reti seemed quite offended by the implication that she might have relied on humans.From her reaction, it was clear that this mysterious group wasn’t acting under her orders.Then, as if something occurred to her, Reti spoke up.“But there is one strange thing.”“What is it?”“When we returned to this world, the energy of another dimension became very strong.”“And before that?”“It wasn’t noticeable before. If it hadn’t been for that energy, I might have perished with you.”Hearing this, Elsez narrowed her eyes.A group seeking to resurrect a demon.Dimensional rifts that had begun appearing recently.And her own possession of this world around the same time.The timing was too coincidental to ignore.