As Cornelia began to lose her composure and Kaito started to show concern for her ntal state, their break at Nifty progressed peacefully.
They sipped tea said to help with stomachaches, enjoyed refined sweets, and chatted idly. After finishing their al, they briefly reunited with Tre and the others for a quick greeting before parting ways, then Cornelia returned to the Sharon County estate.
(……It was only supposed to be a few hours, yet it feels as though I’ve been away for days. I have much to report, such as eting the special advisors, but if I could, I would like nothing more than to rest right away. Truly, even though Eris-sama warned to stay on guard, I can see now how naive my awareness still was.)
She was quite exhausted, and with many pending matters yet to handle, discussions with her parents were necessary. However, since Anne had likely already sent word ahead about what happened in the comrcial city, it was probable that her parents and her older brother, the heir, had already begun discussions on how to respond.
Though her position in the family might shift sowhat after this, Cornelia was simply relieved that she had managed to get through the day. Just then, Anne, who had returned ahead of her, approached.
[Welco ho, Lady Cornelia.]
[I’ve just returned. Thank you for reporting ahead, Anne…… I’d really like to rest, but I suppose we should discuss a few things first.]
[Yes, Master is waiting for you…… but before that, there’s sothing you must check, Lady Cornelia……]
[Check? ?]
Cornelia tilted her head curiously at Anne’s words. Within the Sharon County, Cornelia’s authority was limited, and there were few matters for which she had decision-making power.
With her father, the head of the household, and her brother already in talks, she couldn’t think of anything that would require her confirmation before joining them.
[……Just now, a ssenger from Dragon King-sama brought this for you, Lady Cornelia……]
[……A disposable magic box and a letter?]
What Anne handed her was a disposable magic box made of enchanted paper, like those used for random boxes, and a single letter. Cornelia accepted them and first unfolded the letter.
Inside was a ssage from Magnawell: "Today’s exchange, including that with my subordinates, was quite aningful. As a token of appreciation, I grant you a small reward. Use it as you see fit."
[I see, it seems Magnawell-sama wishes to gift so kind of valuables as a nto of today’s eting.]
[That’s a great honor. To receive a gift from Dragon King-sama himself, your reputation will surely rise, Lady Cornelia.]
[Indeed. We’ll have to think of an appropriate return gift, but truly, this is most generous.]
In noble society, it was common to exchange gifts under the pretense of "commorating a eting", and Cornelia had given and received such tokens many tis before.
Assuming this was a similar gesture, and since she happened to be standing in the wide foyer near the entrance hall, she decided to open the disposable magic box and inspect its contents…… and in the next instant, an enormous fragnt of a scale, several ters long, appeared before Cornelia and Anne.
[………………….]
[………………….]
Both Cornelia and Anne froze in silence, wearing the very picture of speechlessness as they stared at the massive scale. Its dazzling brilliance was one thing, but more than that, the overwhelming magic power emanating from it made its identity all too clear.
[……Ah…… A- A- Anne…… u- u- u- umm, w- what is this……?]
[……I- I believe it's a fragnt of Dragon King-sama’s scale……]
To Magnawell, this was sothing no different from what he would casually hand to Kaito…… sent off with the sa nonchalance as giving pocket money. However, the value of Magnawell’s scales was nothing short of extraordinary. After all, unless he deliberately shed them himself, his scales would never naturally molt or fall off, not unless he fought an opponent of Six Kings caliber.
In other words, aside from receiving one directly from Magnawell, there was virtually no other way to obtain such a thing. Its worth was easily on the level of building an entire castle……
Upon realizing this, Cornelia’s legs gave out and she dropped onto the floor, her face twitching.
[……A fragnt of D- Dragon King-sama’s scale…… ababa…… N- No…… No more…… I just can’t handle this…… ahhyuu……]
[Lady Cornelia!? Please, compose yourself!!!]
She had just thought her exhausting duties as guide were finally over, that even if there were still matters left to address, at least nothing more shocking would happen today. And yet, here ca this, an impact so trendous it defied comprehension.
Already exhausted beyond her limits, Cornelia simply couldn’t withstand the shock. Her capacity long exceeded, her eyes rolled back, and she fainted dead away.
Stomachache Devil : [The mont you let your guard down again, just like I said….. I’ve been waiting for this!!! This exact mont!!!]
≣≣≣≣≣≣≣≣≣≣≣≣≣≣≣≣≣≣【K.O.】≣≣≣≣≣≣≣≣≣≣≣≣≣≣≣≣≣≣≣≣
? ? ? : [……Well, even if you’re in a position where people worry about your stomachaches, that doesn’t an you can avoid them. If it could be avoided that easily, Lilia-san wouldn’t have ended up like that……]
Serious-senpai : [The Stomachache Devil is way too terrifying.]
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