CH 84

Chapter 84: And then it appeared

Despite her confused expression, Michelia pressed her lips together and sat down for a while.

But she’s not collapsed. I think she just took a deep breath and got a little numb.

I also sat down and pretended to be the same.

At that moment, Elena laughed loudly at Michelia and me.

Then, a strange sound was heard.

It sounds like a very heavy object is being dragged.

At the same time, the surroundings suddenly became cold.

The ground around them also looked white, as if it had been sprinkled with powdered sugar. It looks like frost is falling and the green leaves of the trees are somehow white.

Such a thing cannot be done unless it is magic or a skill.

—Goaaah.

Eventually, a low beast-like groan was heard and the owner of the voice appeared behind Elena.

“…A snake?”

The raised head is out of the tree. Every time it moves sluggishly, it makes the same sound as the ground just heard.

“Hiih…”

Michelia was speechless with her eyes wide open.

I feel my face crumpling.

This is…a demon beast.

A creature that uses powers like magic and is not ordinary.

But why is it so close to the capital city?

The answer is that Elena, who was pleased that her wish had come true, told Michelia.

“Don’t worry. I’ll tell Albert-sama that you were eaten by this demon beast. After all, it was Albert-sama’s father who hid it here. And if I reveal that I know the secret, he’ll be obedient enough to lick my shoes.”

“Ah…”

The story I heard at the palace is connected here.

Michelia’s father was hiding and raising demon beasts.

Count Herkuvis knew about it and approached him to take it in, and engaged Albert and Michelia.

But the Count Allerid family was about to be destroyed, so Count Herkuvis captured the demon beasts.

Could it be that his father approached the unpopular Count Elvasti for a loan because he sensed that he also knew about it?

Is that why Count Elvasti lent him money and Count Herkuvis is still not crushed?

But maybe Count Herkuvis also demanded the engagement because he was afraid of being abandoned someday.

But before I think about that, I’ve got to do something about that!

While I was trying to think of a way to escape without letting as many people know about my skill, Elena said to Michelia, “But it was originally your father who raised demon beasts, wasn’t it? Pretending to be virtuous and raising demon beasts, what were you trying to do?”

“No, no. Father didn’t raise any demon beasts!”

“Unfortunately, that’s the truth. But it’s ironic that his daughter became the bait, isn’t it?”

As Elena tried to leave, she turned and ordered the two servants.

“Ah, leave some evidence that Linea and that commoner girl are dead. A finger or something is fine. If they’re completely eaten, Albert-sama won’t believe that they’re dead. After that, when the time comes, I’ll send you back deep into the woods, and you guys go ahead and escape.”

Laughing, Elena gets on the carriage nearby and leaves.

The other men who were following her, unlike Miss Elena, were afraid of being attacked at any moment and chased after the carriage at an incredible speed.

What was left behind were me, Michelia, who was shaking and couldn’t move, and two of Elena’s servants.

These servants must know some way to avoid being attacked by some kind of demon beast. If not, Miss Elena would not have ordered such a thing.

Probably, Michelia’s father was able to keep them because he knew this method, and Albert’s father should also be using it to move the demon beasts here.

I think if I knew that method… but I don’t think the blond servant with a dead expression or the black-haired servant who quickly took out a knife to try to follow Miss Elena’s instructions would answer even if I asked normally.

While I was thinking about what to do, the black-haired servant quickly aimed at us.

“… Wall.”

I imagine a large wall covering my surroundings.

The black-haired servant hits an invisible wall and falls spectacularly on the spot. The knife is also dropped, and looks at in disbelief.

The blond servant and Michelia also have their eyes wide open.

It was a necessary choice to protect myself, but I feel like sighing.

After this, I have to think about how to shut up these three before Miss Elena finds out…

“Oh… um.”

While I was feeling dizzy, the demon beast snake had finally approached us closely.

The servants seemed to think that this was the end, and quickly left us.

The snake does not pursue the servants, but approaches me and Michelia.

It took a deep breath and blew on a white breath of ice.

Michelia is paralyzed and can’t move.

“Block!”

I activate the skill to avoid the ice breath while advancing towards the snake. As a result, only an area of about five meters radius centered on me remained the color of earth, and the surrounding area became a fantastic landscape with ice crystals.