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Translator: penny
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: The Sisters' Bond is Truly Special
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Occasionally, Adelin's gaze lingered on me. But it was only for a fleeting moment. Her eyes shone only for Camilla.
"When did you start learning scrolls?"
Rarely, she would direct a question at me. Her tone sounded like it was forced out by a sense of duty. It was the exact same pitch I'd heard from those who pitied me in my past life.
"Ah, that... It's been a little over a year since I started..."
Maybe that's why. My responses grew quieter and quieter, my head naturally bowing. I didn't want to meet Adelin's eyes, which held no real interest in me.
"To reach this level in just a year! Impressive."
With that single compliment, her gaze shifted back to Camilla. A gentle light flickered once more in her blue eyes.
"But what circle has Lady Camilla reached so far?"
Today, the scroll at my waist felt unusually heavy.
Truth be told, this was a familiar situation for me. Adelin was actually treating me with a degree of formality. Compared to those who had openly scorned or mocked me in the past, she was downright polite.
But perhaps because Adelin was one of my favorite characters, I couldn't help feeling hurt.
[Decompose?]
[Decompose?]
An unfamiliar voice echoed in my mind. At the same time, a sharp headache surged through me.
"Ugh...!"
I squeezed my eyes shut and clutched my head. Fortunately, the pain slowly subsided before long.
"Big Sister?"
Camilla's hand immediately rested on my shoulder. Her eyes trembled faintly.
"Y-yeah. Sorry. Maybe because I went to bed late last night."
"..."
Camilla stared at me without a word. Her sharp gaze quickly scanned me from head to toe.
"Are you alright, my lady?"
This time, it was Adelin's voice. I immediately straightened my posture and flashed her a bright smile.
"Yes, I'm fine."
It might feel a bit depressing. But I decided to brush it off. I hadn't been striving for Adelin's approval anyway. I believed these things would come in time, as a result of my efforts.
"Hmm..."
Adelin hesitated for a moment before pulling two document envelopes from her bosom.
"It might be best to wrap this up quickly. Enough with the preamble—let's get to the point."
She handed one sheet to each of us, Camilla and me. When I saw what was written inside, I couldn't believe my eyes.
"The... Azure Guild... application form?"
I blankly repeated the first line of the document.
"We've established a guild. We don't have many members yet, but I stake the honor of my duke family on this. It won't be long before this guild grows into something great."
It might seem like baseless confidence, but it was no exaggeration. In fact, the Azure Guild would later become one of the most renowned guilds in the game.
An elite group so exclusive that unless you were playing on hard mode by choice, you'd have to join. For them to approach us first was extremely rare.
"Join us, and I guarantee you won't regret it."
I stared blankly at the application form in my hand. If this wasn't a dream, this moment was undoubtedly a life-changing opportunity.
Being a member of the Azure Guild might even bring more prestige than graduating from the academy.
"What kind of activities does the guild do?"
Camilla asked. Her vacant eyes fixed on the application form. I wondered if she was considering joining Azure too.
"Subjugating black monsters, mediating interspecies conflicts, handling commissions from various nations... Plenty to do."
Adelin continued, folding her fingers one by one.
"But most importantly, stopping the forces plotting the Demon King's revival."
Camilla's eyes widened. A faint ripple of emotion passed over them.
What Adelin was referring to was surely the 'Black Altar.' And for Camilla, who had once been a sacrifice there, this wouldn't feel like someone else's problem.
"The Demon King's revival?"
Camilla feigned calm as she countered. As if hearing it for the first time.
"There's a group similar to heretics. They lurk in the shadows. Fanatical criminals with a vicious ideology."
Adelin continued kindly, taking Camilla's reaction as natural.
"There's hardly any official record left, but 200 years ago, the Demon King brought half the continent to ruin with plague and madness. Rumors say they're preparing his revival."
"...The Demon King is."
"Nujes. The name the ancient heroes feared most."
It was a strangely unfamiliar and alien name. In the game, he was always just called the Demon King. This was the first time I'd heard his actual name.
"What do you say? Care to fight the forces of evil alongside our Azure Guild?"
Adelin curved her red lips into a confident smile. The arc at the corner of her mouth revealed her self-assurance.
Camilla sat still, showing no particular reaction. In contrast, I gripped the application form tightly and bowed my head.
I knew better than anyone what the Azure Guild was. Even descendants of heroes whom others admired couldn't easily cross its threshold. I wasn't even qualified yet.
I could easily guess why Adelin was offering it even to me.
It was because of Camilla.
My gaze naturally slid sideways. There sat a doll-like, exquisitely beautiful girl.
Hailed as the century's greatest mage, but later the disaster who would turn every mage's nightmares into reality. Adelin's real reason for offering me the form was just a ploy to recruit Camilla.
"..."
I had already decided against joining the guild.
I couldn't accept an opportunity handed to me on a silver platter like this. Even if I joined Azure, it would only mean something if I opened that door with my own strength.
I waited for Camilla's response, steeling myself to firmly decline. If I refused first, it might sway her decision unnecessarily.
If Camilla joined Azure, it would be beneficial in many ways. At least, that's what I thought. So I sincerely hoped she would.
"What about you, Big Sister?"
But unexpectedly, Camilla turned to me.
"Huh?"
"Do you want to join, Big Sister?"
Her tone suggested she would follow my answer, leaving both Adelin and me visibly taken aback.
How should I respond?
I had no intention of joining. But personally, I wanted Camilla to take this chance.
I was certain she could shine brighter than anyone in Azure.
"I-I... I need to think about it. But for you, Camilla, it seems like it would be really good in a lot of ways."
"..."
Camilla gazed at me wordlessly. The longer her stare lasted, the more pressure I felt. In the end, I averted my eyes sideways.
Only then did Camilla look away from me, straighten her posture, and hand the letter back to Adelin.
"I'm sorry, Duchess."
"Hm? You're declining?"
"Yes. Since Big Sister doesn't seem interested."
At those words, Adelin's gaze—which hadn't turned my way since the scroll topic—suddenly fixed on me.
Her unfamiliar, heavy stare inexplicably made me resent Camilla. If you're going to refuse, just say it yourself. Why drag me into it?
"And,"
Camilla continued, her voice firm and clear. Adelin's attention snapped back.
"I'm not really interested in a place that can't recognize true talent."
I was so stunned by the unimaginable words that my mouth hung open, speechless.
Adelin couldn't hide her surprise either. Her confident eyes trembled faintly.
"That talent... you're referring to Lady Bella?"
"Yes."
Camilla nodded. My face flushed red in an instant. I urgently reached under the table and gripped Camilla's hand as hard as I could.
'Why say something so unnecessary...!'
I glared at her, my eyes flashing a warning.
But Camilla didn't waver at all. Instead, she wrapped her hand even tighter around mine. Soon, her fingers slipped between mine, interlocking them.
Then, with her free hand, she covered her mouth toward Adelin and stuck her tongue out at me. It was blatant teasing.
"...The sisters' bond is truly special."
Adelin's voice had sunk a tone lower. The intense aura surrounding her made my shoulders shrink involuntarily.
"Very well! If that's your decision, there's nothing to be done."
But she quickly flashed a hearty smile again, boldly narrowing her eyes as she rose from her seat.
"However, now I'm curious about Lady Bella's skills!"
When that smile turned toward me, I instinctively knew something was wrong.
"Even a short demonstration is fine. Care to show me what you've got?"
This was the moment I truly hated Camilla.
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