Chapter 50

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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: The Onion Test
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“…And what did you say your friend’s name was? My goodness, I send out the invitations myself and still manage to be this forgetful.”

“Her name is Hazel Vischet. She is the second daughter of Viscount Vischet.”

“Vischet…”

Penelope seemed to be trying to place the name.

This diligent warlock probably had her finger on the pulse of the entire empire’s social scene.

But the name Hazel Vischet would likely be unfamiliar to her.

“She doesn’t usually make appearances in high society, so you’ve probably never heard of her. She hasn’t been in the country for the past three years, either.”

“Oh, is that so? To be away for three years. She must have been studying abroad.”

“Studying abroad… something like that.”

The carriage had arrived in front of us.

The door opened, and Hazel, dressed as usual in a shirt and trousers, strode out without waiting for an escort.

Feigning ignorance, I added with a bright smile.

“She was ordained as a Holy Knight by the Holy See and has only recently returned after completing her three years of mandatory service.”

“……”

I caught a glimpse of Penelope’s fingertips trembling.

I had just brought a Holy Knight before a warlock. She must be boiling with rage inside.

Glancing at her, I subtly took a step back.

My own stomach was churning, but this was bearable. Perhaps I’d built up some tolerance from seeing the Saint every day.

*Shall I sit back and watch the show?*

“A pleasure to meet you. I am Hazel Vischet.”

Hazel extended her hand to Penelope first. It wasn’t the kind of greeting where one lifts the hem of their skirt, but a formal handshake one might exchange in an official setting.

Penelope hesitated for a moment before firmly grasping her hand.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I hear you’re a dear friend of Natalie and Emily’s.”

She was a good actress, pretending to be perfectly fine when she must have been in turmoil.

“I do hope you enjoy yourselves.”

“Thank you for the invitation.”

After Hazel’s curt reply, Penelope discreetly backed away.

“Oh, my. It seems the host has been away for too long. I should be getting back inside. You two, please take your time and chat on your way in.”

Then she scurried away and vanished. It seemed Penelope recognized Hazel, but I wondered if Hazel recognized her too.

“What do you think?”

I whispered quietly.

“Something feel off?”

“…I’ll have to watch a little longer.”

So she wasn’t certain yet.

*To properly see her magic, I suppose the only way is to witness the brainwashing firsthand.*

Hazel was a Holy Knight, not a cleric, so she probably wasn’t as sensitive to detecting magic.

“I have a bad feeling about this. I’ll report it as ‘pending’ before I head in, so you go on ahead.”

“Okay. Be careful. This is still the Swanson estate, after all.”

After reminding her that we were in the heart of enemy territory, I followed Penelope.

*Swoosh.*

As I opened the door and stepped inside, a cloyingly sweet scent immediately struck my nose.

*Was this the perfume I smelled on Penelope earlier?*

The fragrance was so strong it made my head ache. Furthermore, every window was covered with blackout curtains to block the light, and ornate lamps were hung here and there for decoration.

It was a scene rarely witnessed at a typical party. As a result, my entire field of vision was tinged with red.

*Did they cover the lights with red cloth?*

On top of that, a white mist rose from various places, creating an incredibly surreal atmosphere.

It looked less like a noble’s party and more like a den of debauchery for dangerous people from the back alleys.

A terrible cacophony assaulted my ears. The sheer volume of the noise made my head spin, and I was jostled about by the dense crowd.

*What in the world is this?*

Suddenly, it occurred to me that walking in here on my own might have been a huge mistake.

Just then, a hand shot out from the crowd and grabbed me.

“!”

Startled, I tried to pull away, but then I heard Natalie’s voice.

“Emily!”

“…Natalie?”

“You came too?!”

Natalie was already caught up in the atmosphere, thoroughly excited. Her face was flushed, but I couldn’t tell if it was from the lighting or if she was drunk.

“Where’s Hazel?!”

“She’s outside. Have you been drinking a lot?”

“Drinking? Just a little champagne!”

“Just a little champagne?”

Natalie could handle at least two bottles of strong whiskey. A little champagne wouldn’t even faze her if she drank it by the crate.

But her behavior was strange in many ways. She kept stumbling, and her eyes were unfocused.

She looked for all the world like someone who was completely intoxicated, which made me suspicious of that so-called champagne.

“Let me see that.”

“You want some too, Emily? Here!”

I took the champagne flute Natalie was holding. A pale yellow, transparent liquid filled the glass.

I sniffed it and caught a sweet scent. Taking a careful sip, I found it tasted like juice.

*The alcohol content doesn’t seem very high.*

It had almost none of the characteristic aftertaste of alcohol. Wondering what it could be, I was fiddling with the glass when Penelope appeared beside me.

“We meet again!”

“Ah, Penelope.”

“How are you finding the party?”

Her lips twisted into a smile, but her eyes remained cold.

“…It’s wonderful. The novel atmosphere was quite a surprise.”

“Right? Just drinking tea and eating cookies is so predictable and boring. I tried to recreate a mood I often enjoy!”

Then, Penelope held out the champagne flute she was carrying toward me.

“Shall we have a drink together?”

“Ah, I…”

I was about to refuse, feeling uneasy about drinking an unknown beverage, but Penelope continued with a sly grin.

“Why don’t you drink it? While I’m still asking nicely.”

“……”

When I hesitated again, Penelope tilted her head, her smile vanishing completely.

“*Drink.*”

I could see the aura of magic flowing from her lips.

*This… the principle is similar to what I did before.*

The method I used to calm my brothers. The difference was that my ability was limited to my thralls, while Penelope could likely use hers on anyone under her influence.

*Should I pretend to fall for it for now?*

Watching Penelope out of the corner of my eye, I tilted the champagne flute.

A sickly sweet taste coated my tongue. It was an unpleasantly thick sensation.

“Drink.”

*Gulp.*

Only after she saw me open my mouth and drain the glass did Penelope beam.

“Good girl.”

Her tone was light, as if praising a puppy. She patted my head and then swept past me.

*What on earth was in that?*

My stomach churned with unease. Or was that because of Hazel?

Penelope climbed onto a platform in the center of the hall. Then, she tapped a fork against an empty champagne flute, producing a clear, ringing sound.

The loud music immediately stopped, and everyone turned to look at her.

“Now, I’d like to thank everyone who has gathered here today. I had planned for tonight’s party to last for a long, long time… but it seems we’ll have to wrap things up a bit early, as a little rat has crawled in.”

Something momentous was clearly about to happen.

I glanced anxiously toward the door. When was Hazel coming in?

“Let’s see. First~ I need to check if everyone heard me correctly. Alright, everyone, please take one of these!”

As soon as Penelope finished speaking, servants came out and began handing something out. My turn came quickly.

*…An onion?*

It was a peeled, raw onion. Why an onion, all of a sudden?

“This is an apple!”

Penelope declared the bold-faced lie.

Then, with a fresh smile, she added.

“So please, rest assured and enjoy! It’s a token of my affection for all of you~.”

What?

While I stood there, bewildered, the people around me had already begun to chew on the onions in unison.

*Crunch, crunch, crunch!*

“Ah, it’s so sweet and delicious!”

“I’ve never had such a sweet apple before!”

The smell of onions was sharp enough to sting my nose, yet everyone was devouring them, exclaiming how delicious they were.

“Ugh?! What, what is this? This isn’t an apple…!”

Just then, a man in the row in front of me spat out the onion. Penelope snapped her fingers and pointed at him.

“W-What? Who are you! What are you doing…! Urgh!”

The servants who had distributed the onions approached the man and forced more champagne down his throat. They were so rough that the overflowing liquid soaked the front of his shirt, but they paid it no mind.

“*Gasp!*”

When the man was finally released, his face was dazed.

Another onion was pressed into his hand.

*Crunch.*

“D-Delicious.”

A strange light filled the man’s eyes. He held an onion in each hand and began to eat them ravenously.

“Sweet, so sweet!”

Watching from the side, it was a horrifying spectacle.

*Does that drink amplify the effects of the brainwashing?*

That must have been why she was so insistent that I drink it.

*To think she’d resort to this just to find those who are only weakly brainwashed. I don’t know whether to call her cunning or cruel.*

The bizarre scene left me at a slight loss for words.

*…Should I eat this, or not?*

I stared down at the onion, caught in the dilemma of a lifetime.