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Translator: penny
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: I'll Succeed Showily
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The Marchioness left in a hurry, leaving only her venom-laced parting words and icy glare behind.
Roselia's coolly gleaming eyes lingered on the spot where the Marchioness had vanished.
Camilla fell silent as well. A chill quiet settled around the Rahel Tani tent.
"Countess."
I was the one who broke the silence. At the sound of my voice, Roselia and Camilla both turned to me. From the unusual glint in Roselia's eyes, it was clear she hadn't taken kindly to the Marchioness's attitude.
"I'm really fine. Please don't worry about it."
"My daughter."
Even with my reassurance, the chill in Roselia's gaze didn't fade easily.
It couldn't be helped. Roselia's discomfort likely stemmed not from a personal insult to me, but from the outrage of our entire house being disregarded.
Belittling me, who bore the Rahel Tani name, was tantamount to trampling the family's honor.
"...Big Sis, you're not mad after getting treated like that?"
Camilla scowled, looking frustrated as she stared at my face.
"A little, but it's okay."
Her brows furrowed even deeper at my response.
"Being too nice all the time isn't always a good thing, Big Sis."
Roselia gave a faint smile and gently stroked my head.
"Camilla's right, dear. I'll handle this myself. Bella, you don't need to worry about a thing."
"No."
Roselia's eyes widened at my firm refusal.
I always went along with Roselia's wishes, but not this time. I couldn't let her take responsibility for something that started because of me.
"I promised I wouldn't bring shame to the family."
"Daughter, I told you not to worry about that. Just let it go."
"That's not what I mean by letting it go."
This was one reason I hadn't wanted to reveal the Rahel Tani name to the world. Claiming noble power meant shouldering its weight too.
"Let me handle what I've caused myself."
Roselia's eyes went wide as saucers.
If it had been just about me, I would've brushed off the contempt and disdain. I'd faced such gazes countless times; they barely registered anymore.
But if it affected the Rahel Tani name because of me, that changed everything. Causing harm to others was the last thing I wanted in this world.
Woooooooo—
A powerful trumpet blast echoed across the vast plain.
It was the signal for the subjugation force to begin. Those who had finished preparing mounted their horses one by one.
"Trust me, Countess."
I tightened the circuit storage pouch around my waist and slung the pre-packed backpack over my shoulders.
"...Alright."
Roselia nodded with a complicated expression. Camilla still eyed me coldly.
"Believe in me. I won't let it shame the family, Camilla."
"...Do whatever you want, Big Sis."
Her response came in a petulant tone.
※
Darkfiends.
Ferocious, omnivorous monsters that devoured everything in sight.
They were one of the main antagonistic forces in Kairen Chronicles, a threat that formed an entire worldview by their mere existence.
And now, I stood on land where I could face those darkfiends for real.
In the forest where dense trees blocked the sunlight, casting deep shadows. I pulled a vial from my backpack and carefully uncorked it.
I scooped out the thick, earthy-smelling liquid and slathered it generously over my body. I handed the rest to Sierra.
"Put this on too. It masks your scent from the darkfiends."
Sierra took the vial with a bewildered look.
Some monsters had keen senses of smell, so masking scents was essential—even in the game.
It guaranteed first strike against nearly all enemies, except boss monsters.
"The texture isn't great."
Sierra, having applied it, gave me a queasy expression.
"What now, miss?"
"I'm going to lure the darkfiends."
"Lure them?"
"Yes."
Leaving Sierra's puzzled face behind, I rummaged in my backpack.
"Most darkfiends have low intelligence. Unless it's a high-rank one, traps lure them easily."
I attached scrolls to spots on the ground, then pulled out a spool of transparent thread and meticulously connected each circuit.
"You know a lot about darkfiends."
"I studied hard from books."
In truth, I knew from the game's lore, but I couldn't say that, so I lied smoothly.
I tied the connected thread to my wrist. Finally, I took a jar of brownish clay from the backpack and spread it evenly on the ground.
"What's that?"
"Lure scent for darkfiends. Now hide, Sierra."
Before the scent spread, Sierra and I crouched in the nearby bushes.
"...You can even make a scent that attracts darkfiends?"
Sierra stared at me in shock. I nodded silently and pressed a finger to my lips.
Understanding, she fell quiet, holding her breath and waiting. She seemed skeptical, but her doubt didn't last.
Soon, small darkfiends with green skin appeared.
"They really came, miss."
Sierra whispered breathlessly. Sadly, I couldn't respond.
I was too stunned facing my first real darkfiend.
"Goblins..."
Wrinked faces over green skin. Broad, flat noses, empty eyes without pupils. Perfect match to the game's description.
They hunted in packs, targeting small groups. Their lore said captives endured horrific torture before death.
[Kikigik! Kick! Gigik!]
They conversed in shrill, childlike cries. Sniffing high with their snouts, they caught the scent from my bait.
Four in total.
I waited quietly until all entered the trap zone I'd marked.
The moment the last one stepped in, I pulled a magic scroll and lit the thread around my wrist without hesitation.
The faint ember raced along the thread, igniting the scrolls one by one.
The goblins sensed something from the flowing current, but it was too late to flee.
Krzzzzzzt—!
Lightning erupted from the ground. Arcs leaped like flames, linking and slicing the air.
[Kieeeek!!!]
Caught in the vortex, the goblins shrieked horrifically as they burned.
Before the current faded, they collapsed lifelessly. Silence and acrid smoke were all that remained.
I scanned around quickly, then cautiously emerged from the bushes.
I nudged their bodies with my toe. No movement. I gave Sierra a satisfied smile.
"See? Not bad, right?"
Sierra, who had been staring blankly, smiled softly and nodded.
"Excellent work, miss."
Her eyes held earnest respect, no playfulness. Meeting that gaze warmed my heart, though it embarrassed me.
"Ahem. And this isn't the end."
I set more scrolls, rebuilding the trap. This time, I smeared lure on the goblin corpses instead of bare ground.
Like attracting like, rotting flesh drew stronger darkfiends. Add the goblins' charred smoke, and it'd work faster.
Sure enough, beastly footsteps approached soon after Sierra and I hid again.
I peeked cautiously from the bushes to identify it.
A wolf-like darkfiend. Crimson eyes gleamed through fur as dark as Camilla's hair.
Marang.
Unlike goblins, no cruel corpse play, but voracious and aggressive—charging at anything weaker.
Not overwhelmingly powerful, but fast movements made them wary foes. At least in early levels.
Three this time.
The marangs sniffed the ground, approaching the goblin bodies slowly. Soon, baring fangs, they ravenously tore into the bait.
Like with the goblins, I lit the thread. The flame shot along, triggering the scrolls at once.
A deafening boom, lightning spread again. Two were engulfed, foaming and convulsing.
But the sharp one leaped back just before the bolt hit.
Its keen eyes spotted the ember on the transparent thread. Following it led to our bushes.
The marang fixed its gaze on us with a sharp roar.
"Stay behind me, miss."
Sierra drew her dagger and stepped forward. But I grabbed her hem hard, blocking her path.
"No, I'll do it."
"...Miss?"
I met her startled eyes squarely.
"I can handle it with my own strength. Just watch."
"But..."
"No matter what, don't help?"
Sierra looked like she wanted to argue, but she held back. With a short nod, she yielded to my stubbornness.
"Grrr..."
The marang snarled, lips curling viciously.
Drool dripped from its gaping fangs. It had already forgotten its fallen comrades. Only primal hunger for me remained.
I pulled two scrolls from my waist pouch, tore them, and attached to my body. Soon, a double transparent barrier formed around me.
The Marchioness's sneering gaze flashed in my mind. Eyes full of scorn: What can a wretch like you do?
Just watch.
"I'll succeed showily."
As my words ended, the marang kicked off and charged. Fangs gleamed menacingly between its jaws.
I activated a scroll without hesitation.
Fwoosh—!
In a blinding flash.
Towering ice pillars erupted explosively, raining down on the marang.
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