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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: An Expected Visitor
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When Daphne opened her eyes, she was, as expected, trapped in bed by muscle pain.
Somehow, it felt even harder to move than last time.
‘It must hurt more because I absorbed the black magic directly.’
Of course, she had expected this.
[Daphne Akion]
Mana: 50
[Daphne Akion]
Mana: 50
Although she hadn’t expected her mana to increase this much…
‘Not bad.’
With this much, she could probably use her original magic a couple of times.
As things turned out, she began to wonder if she should just go around looking for black mages from now on.
It seemed she could gather enough mana just by absorbing their power.
But to go looking for them or absorb their power, she first needed to recover from the muscle pain that had taken over her entire body.
“Ughhh.”
Oh, this is killing me.
Daphne groaned, barely managing to move her hand to pick up the mana stone Teiti had given her before.
Then, as if it were candy, she popped it into her mouth and began to crunch on it.
‘This tastes awful.’
But she had no choice but to eat it, as this was the only way to build up mana in her spare time. To return to her former self, she needed to raise her mana much higher than it was now.
“Oh, what a life.”
*Crunch, crunch.* Daphne mumbled as she chewed on the mana stone.
It was then.
“My Lady!”
“Are you awake?”
Ann and Anna entered the room. On the tray Ann was carrying were a thick, hand-sized sandwich and coffee. Daphne's eyes sparkled as she reached out.
“I wash jusht feeling hungry.”
“Yes, I thought you might be, so I brought this. Shall we wash your hands first?”
Ann continued, wiping Daphne's hands with a wet towel.
“How are you feeling?”
“Mufh better.”
“But you look paler than before. I think you've lost the weight you worked so hard to gain.”
Ann's eyes drooped sadly.
“What happened this time was really dangerous. If something terrible had happened to you, my Lady, I would have been so sad.”
Ann recalled the moment Daphne was carried in.
A deathly pale face, traces of coughed-up blood, and a body that wouldn't move.
She looked so much like a corpse that Ann nearly fainted.
The thought of losing Lady Daphne again… It was too horrible to even consider.
“It's good to care for others, but I hope you'll think of yourself first, my Lady.”
“Y-Yesh, I shuppose sho.”
In the moment she found the bomb, she had prioritized herself by absorbing the mana, but she couldn't say that, so Daphne just gave an awkward smile.
“Ann. You shouldn't say that. What the Lady accomplished is incredible.”
Anna interjected with a gentle scolding.
“She saved so many people. Everyone is praising her. Don't you see all those letters piled up? Unlike before, when this place was dead, now everyone is desperate to invite her.”
Then, she pointed to the mountain of letters on the table and continued.
“I like how things are now. It feels like everyone finally understands your heart, my Lady.”
Anna didn't smile as much as Ann usually did. But she was smiling now. As she looked at Daphne.
“You did well, my Lady.”
“…”
Daphne thought something felt strange.
How should she describe it? A ticklish feeling in a corner of her heart.
Was it because she'd never received such praise and concern from humans—no, from any being other than herself?
Because she had never heard the words ‘You did well’…
Daphne suddenly thought that this moment wasn't so bad. Feeling a smile bloom on her lips, she took a deep breath.
“You shaid there were lettersh?”
“Yes. I just gathered them since I thought it might be difficult for you to read right now, but would you like to see them?”
“Bring them to me.”
Ann picked out a few letters from the pile and handed them to Daphne.
The senders' names were those of the nobles who had been at the Marquess of Finch's estate during the terror incident.
The contents of the letters were all similar.
Messages of gratitude: they had saved their lives thanks to Daphne, their child desperately wanted to meet and thank her, they would never forget this debt, please visit their estate sometime…
It felt different from when she received thanks from the merchants before.
She was simply happy.
The very fact that her goodwill could be returned.
The very fact that she was being accepted, not ostracized.
Daphne mumbled to herself, feeling a mix of warm, fuzzy emotions bubbling up inside.
“How strange. To think that cause and effect… could be severed so easily.”
If Seluseu was a ‘disaster,’ then this body of Daphne's was nothing.
In other words, disaster or whatever, it didn't matter, and that's why she could be treated with proper respect.
“How empty.”
Moments when the very people she had saved with all her might had turned around and condemned her flashed through her mind.
But it was okay now.
Because she had received so many letters of thanks that could cover up those memories.
And in the future, even more…
Daphne suppressed the slightly overwhelming emotions and lifted her head.
“Ah, my Lady. Shall we return to the annex now? The physician said you're fine to move.”
Ann asked, handing Daphne the coffee.
This was the main building of the archducal estate. They had decided it would be too difficult to leave the collapsed Daphne in the annex, which had few servants.
“We've warmed up your room. What would you like to do?”
Ann added.
“Hmm.”
Daphne pondered for a moment while nibbling on her sandwich, then shook her head.
“No. I shall shtay here a few more daysh.”
“Pardon? Why?”
“Becaushe…”
Daphne licked the sauce from her fingertips, gazed out the window, and grinned.
“I believe I'm expecting a vishitor.”
***
A quiet night, the hoot of an owl drifting under the moonlight.
A strange shadow seeped into the vast garden of the archducal estate.
The shadow, advancing bit by bit regardless of the light's direction, was steeped in the aura of death.
*Swish, swish.* Past the shadows of the trees, past the shadows cast by the walls, even past the shadows of the knights guarding the manor, the aura of death slowly ascended toward the second floor.
Unlike the annex, which was layered with all sorts of magic circles, the main building of the archducal estate had almost no security measures.
After all, wasn't the mere presence of the empire's greatest Sword Master, Heros Akion, the best security in itself?
He was a man whose senses were so developed he could hear a leaf rustle a hundred meters away.
Thus, there was practically no one who would dare target the Archducal House of Akion. It was no wonder the saying, “Go if you want to die the moment you breathe,” was so widespread.
Today, however, was different. With Heros summoned to the imperial palace to investigate the black magic terror attack and the chimeras, the main building was more vulnerable than ever.
‘I have to kill that brat before she returns to the annex.’
The one who held the aura of death, the black mage targeting Daphne Akion, muttered lowly.
If Daphne returned to the annex, it would be a headache. The annex was protected by a barrier so powerful, it was rumored that not even a dragon could break through. That was why, during the previous assassination attempt, they had targeted the child when she was in the main building.
‘I'm sure I killed her.’
He had confirmed she wasn't breathing, that her heart had stopped, and he had even manipulated everyone's memories.
And yet, they said she was alive.
‘How is that possible?’
Failure in a mission meant death, but the leader had given him another chance. A chance to deal with Daphne Akion properly.
‘This time, for sure!’
If I miss this moment, there won't be another chance!
The black mage, who had slipped into the room by hiding in the shadow of the door crack, expanded his vision. Then he found the bed. Judging by the lump under the covers, it seemed Daphne was lying there.
The black mage quickly wrapped his right hand in the aura of death. The aura, honed sharp as a blade, could make an opponent's flesh fester with a single touch.
“Die!”
He thrust his hand toward the heart of the person lying in bed. At the same time, he unleashed the aura of death.
His plan was to completely tear out her heart.
That way, she wouldn't be able to survive, no matter what tricks she had.
Just as before, he thought the attack would surely work on Daphne, who was naturally frail and possessed no abilities.
But his assumption was spectacularly wrong.
“Bind him.”
“Bind him.”
“Bind him.”
*Swish!*
A shadow shot up from the floor and coiled around the black mage's body.
“You foolish human.”
The shadow gripped his neck tightly and lifted him into the air.
“This is how you use magic.”
*Gak, keok!* The black mage struggled, trying to push the shadow away, but it was no use.
After all, the caster of this magic was Daphne—the Black Dragon.
“H-How…!”
The black mage cried out, his face pale as if he'd seen a ghost, but Daphne was unfazed.
“For I am a great being.”
The cool moonlight reflected in Daphne's eyes.
“Now, let us have a talk.”
