Chapter 120-2
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
So, the face… what about it?
If she’s had an encounter with Iris before, then I’d know, but let’s save that for another time to ask about.
Right now, we’ve got to prioritize Ms. Alicia’s case.
With that settled, it looks like we can finally get down to business.
* * *
It seems there’s no new information about Iris’s sister, Ms. Alicia, so let’s consult with Ms. Casa about how to break her curse.
Of course, I plan to do it through Seria’s “Commercial Recovery,” but the issue is that I need someone to tell Ms. Alicia’s story, and I must keep Seria’s abilities a secret.
As for the former… Seria’s mother was cursed too and she shared the same goal as Iris, and it’s possible that it was a test to curse Ms. Alicia.
Just because I know this doesn’t mean I’d refuse to lift the curse on Ms. Alicia… but her ability is extremely useful, and it’s better to keep a good relationship, so I don’t want to upset her.
For now, let’s pretend that Seria heard about Ms. Alicia’s case from Ms. Casa.
* * *
As for the latter, I’ll make a slight change to the original plan and have Ms. Alicia sleep with the help of a potion.
If I’m to hide Seria’s ability, I can’t let Ms. Alicia see us using “Commercial Recovery,” and it’ll be easier to execute with her asleep.
So, we’ll put Ms. Alicia to sleep and keep the use of the Ring of Binding to Iris’s testimony.
However… at least until Iris leaves the mansion, there were guards inside and outside Ms. Alicia’s room.
That means we need Iris to enter her room normally and take care of the guards.
Seria and I will don our Magic Armor, turn invisible, and follow Iris into the room.
It was originally to hide Iris, but since Seria knows about the invisibility, we might as well make use of it without hesitation.
Normally, we’d have to send Iris back home as if nothing happened, but if she takes the Ring of Binding with her, she’ll likely use it right away.
And if we can’t show her using it, then we need to make it seem like the Ring of Binding never fell into our hands in the first place.
Just as I was considering this, Ms. Casa approached us.
”Um, by the way, about the dispelling magic item…?”
”Ah… this is it.”
The letter to Ms. Casa only mentioned something “like” the Ring of Binding, and she herself wanted to judge its authenticity, which is why she guided us here.
So, I decided to create an “Imitation” of the supposed Ring of Binding and show it to her.
”This looks a lot like the picture I showed Lady Iris…”
”It might not be the real one. So, keep this a secret until we’ve tested it.”
With that, Ms. Casa accepted it, and for the time being, our course of action was set.
Up until now, things had gone well… but after this, as we made our way to Iris’s house, we found ourselves having to drastically alter the plan we’d just decided on.
* * *
We met up with Seria inside the “Amiras Merchant Guild,” and after being seen off by Ms. Marisa, we headed towards Iris’s house.
On the way, Seria and I made ourselves invisible, blending into the background until we arrived at the Gavrett residence.
A few soldiers stood at the gate, and Iris, armed to the teeth, approached in a carriage, naturally drawing their guard.
”Who goes there!?”
One of the soldiers demanded, and Iris pulled out something that served as identification, replying as she showed it to them.
”I am Iris. I’ve just returned from Dungeon City.”
””Wha──!?””
The soldiers were taken aback and, with looks of surprise, several of them rushed off to make a report.
Iris led us onto the property after entrusting her carriage to the servants, and Seria and I stealthily made our way into the mansion without anyone noticing us.
It’s a fairly large mansion, probably because it’s in the countryside and they were able to secure such a spacious lot.
It’s not overly adorned; it has a simple and sturdy feel to it.
At the entrance of such a grand manor, several servants greeted Iris, a mixture of relief and a strange complexity clouding their faces.
Was there something else going on besides Iris’s return?
Thinking so, I hovered a bit higher and heard the sound of several footsteps approaching.
Pat-pat-pat-pat…
Cluck-cluck-cluck-cluck…
Soon, the source of the footsteps came into view, 4 people – 2 men and 2 women – arriving in the courtyard.
Two of them were servants, but the other 2 were clearly not. They must be Iris’s parents.
The man, though slender, had a solidly built frame and looked to be in his mid-forties. The woman resembled Iris’s older self, a beautiful woman who seemed to have aged only to her mid-thirties.
””Siera!””
Saying this, the two approached Iris, the woman enveloping her in a warm embrace.
Thud!
”Whoa! Mother…”
”Where have you been! I was so worried when I heard…”
”I’m, I’m sorry. But…”
”I understand. But, you didn’t have to go alone yourself, did you?”
”That’s right.”
Cutting in was the presumed father, a man with a stern expression.
Iris apologized to him.
”I’m, I’m sorry. But about my sister…”
”I know. But, as Elina said, the family cannot let you become a victim too.”
”I… I understand. I’m sorry.”
Anyone could tell from his expression that his words weren’t just about the family, but also about his concern for Iris.
Iris seemed to understand, bowing her head sincerely.
”Haa…Well, as long as you’re safe. Change your clothes and rest until dinner.”
”Yes”
In response to her father’s words, Iris was released from the embrace of her mother, who was apparently Elina, but… the words she let out immediately afterwards suddenly felt the atmosphere in the moment heavy.
”Ah, I need to let my sister know that I’ve come back…”
””…””
Snap!
In that moment, everyone except Iris and us froze.
Of course, they quickly started moving again, but Iris, noticing their strange behavior, asked her parents:
”Did something happen to my sister? Could it be that someone… again?”
”No, it’s not like that… um, you know?”
Trying to answer, Iris’s mother, Elina, shifted her gaze to her husband, as if the words were stuck in her throat.
In response, Iris’s father replied about Alicia’s current condition.
”In a fit of desperation, she broke both of her arms by striking them.”
”Wha──!?”
Iris’s eyes widened in shock at those words.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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