Ernesta Kaif left Duke Rüdiger’s mansion and walked through the town, bathed in the night breeze.
“Lord Jared was like my former older brother.”
This incident allowed Ernesta to get to know Jared. Of course, she couldn’t possibly say that she wished she had thought of the victims, but it was true that she had gained something.
She remembered how her brother, Barnabas, had been on track to become a Court Mage Candidate and had purely aimed to be one.
He and his best friend, Tres, had sought strength while also pursuing justice, contemplating the future of magicians.
“Ever since I lost my brother, only memories have come flooding back.”
Ernesta knew that Jared wasn’t acting out of a sense of justice, but his stance of risking his life to protect the territory residents and their lord was worthy of respect. She thought he might have been the kind of person her brother aspired to be.
Unlike Barnabas who held onto ideals, Ernesta, who had been told by her parents to train as a magician simply because she had magic power and thus joined the Royal Mage Corps, found his actions dazzling.
When she saw the severely injured Jared, her blood ran cold. She feared she would lose him as well, just as she had lost her brother.
The relief she felt when he safely woke up was indescribable.
Before she knew it, the unreasonable resentment she held towards him had vanished. Now, all that remained in Ernesta’s heart was gratitude towards Jared for stopping her brother.
“—Now I can move forward.”
Ernesta, with a clear face as if a burden had been lifted, turned to head back to the mansion when it happened.
“Ernesta Kaif— I’ve come to fetch you.”
“Who?!”
Suddenly called by name in a dark alley, she became wary and searched for the voice’s owner.
Because the existence of the Orthodox Magician Army, an organization of Magician Supremacists, had become known, and it was revealed that a member of the Royal Mage Corps belonged to it, the people she could trust had become limited.
Due to this, she remained focused, ready to cast magic at any moment.
“There’s no need to be vigilant or harbor hostility. I’ve simply come to fetch you.”
“…You are…”
A man emerged from the darkness, and Ernesta’s eyes widened in disbelief.
He had blond hair that reached his ears and ice-blue eyes. Though he looked to be in his mid-thirties, she knew he was a bit older. Clad in a robe befitting a magician, he was someone any member of the Royal Mage Corps would recognize.
Stunned by the appearance of someone who shouldn’t be there, she called out his name with a trembling voice.
“Lord Leonard… Why are you here?”
It was Leonard Gallagher, the Commander of the Royal Mage Corps.
The sudden appearance of her superior threw Ernesta into utter confusion.
“What do you mean by ‘come to fetch me’?”
“As the sister of Barnabas Kaif, you are qualified to become our comrade. Come with me.”
“Don’t tell me… you are involved with the Orthodox Magician Army?”
She asked in a trembling voice, and Leonard nodded without changing his expression.
“I appreciate the offer, but I must refuse.”
“You have no right to refuse.”
“If you raise your voice, your position will only worsen… Are you planning to fight Lord Jared?”
She reasoned that even if she shouted here, Jared in the mansion wouldn’t hear her.
Ernesta’s ability was no match for Leonard. Now that he had revealed himself and his connection to the Orthodox Magician Army, she knew he wouldn’t let things go easily.
Unable to obtain information and only trying to avoid being killed, she thought that by mentioning Jared’s name, she could caution him against any rash actions.
“—He is my brother’s killer. I was surprised to learn he was alive, but I must admit he’s quite capable. The confirmation of that boy’s survival led me to decide to retrieve you quickly, and I have come here myself.”
However, upon hearing Jared’s name, Leonard’s face, which had been calm, contorted with hatred.
“I apologize for the trouble I’ve caused you, but I refuse. I have no intention of siding with rebels. I am a member of the Royal Mage Corps! I serve the kingdom!”
“Hmph— You say the same thing as your brother.”
His expression twisted, then shifted into a wry smile as he spoke. Ernesta was taken aback.
“You knew my brother?”
“Of course. It was I who informed him of Count Brauer’s fraudulent act and showed him the path to revenge.”
“—What?”
She was speechless. She hadn’t known where her brother had learned of Count Brauer’s misdeeds or why he had resorted to revenge. But she had never imagined that it was the work of the Commander of the Royal Mage Corps.
“You! You incited my brother!”
Her vision turned red with anger. Magic power surged from within her, stirring the wind. She kicked off the ground and rushed towards Leonard, attempting to unleash a blast of wind at close range, but—
“It’s useless. Stop it.”
Her arm, imbued with magic power, was easily seized, and her magic was dispersed.
Though she didn’t know how all her initiatiated magic had been nullified, she tried to strike him with her other arm, aiming for at least one blow. However, she was caught again.
With both arms pinned and unable to move, Ernesta was calmly addressed.
“There’s no need to be so angry. You and I are comrades. And we are victims who had our siblings taken by Murphy. I was forced to kill my own brother with my own hands because of him.”
“Shut up! I don’t care about your brother!”
“Then know this. My brother’s name was Jiril Gallagher. Though he didn’t appear on the surface, he was my precious other half, working as my shadow. It was thought he died fighting Jared and being petrified—but unfortunately, he was alive.”
“Your brother attacked Lord Jared and Duke Rüdiger!?”
Ernesta spat out the words, thinking that he was only getting what he deserved. She wouldn’t sympathize with the family of the man who caused her brother’s death. Beyond that, they were criminals.
“Now you understand. If it weren’t for Murphy, we wouldn’t have lost our brothers.”
“Don’t make me laugh! My brother wouldn’t have died if he hadn’t sought revenge! After inciting him, are you going to claim you’re not at fault?! Lord Jared, burdened with guilt over my brother’s death, is still facing me and accepting me without running away! How can you speak as if he alone is to blame!”
As if the circumstances of the Commander no longer mattered, Ernesta yelled emotionally.
Spitting, she struggled to break free, but Leonard’s grip showed no signs of loosening.
“Don’t lump me in with you!”
Unable to do anything, Ernesta rejected him with her loudest possible voice out of frustration.
“Hey, Papa— Isn’t it about time? Isn’t it pointless to keep persuading her?”
At that moment, another person emerged from the darkness. It was a girl with black hair grown out and styled into twin tails, a rare sight on the continent. She looked about fifteen or sixteen years old, with an innocent smile and a cute appearance.
Ernesta tensed up, completely unaware of this third party.
“Don’t interfere— I wanted to say that, but perhaps you’re right.”
“Then let’s finish it quickly, shall we?”
Leonard nodded at the girl, who wore a twisted, sadistic smile.
“However, remain silent for now.”
“Okay.”
“Now then, it seems we’ve been interrupted. Consider this your last chance— Ernesta Kaif, come with us. There are others who resent Murphy who are our comrades. Let’s kill him together, drag down the Court Mages who lack real ability, and then let’s eliminate the King, the nobles, everyone!”
“You’re insane— You can’t possibly do something like that.”
Despite feeling terrified of Leonard, who had a madness in his eyes and was convinced he was doing nothing wrong, Ernesta gathered all her courage and said what she had to say.
“I will never join your group!”
“Is that so… A shame. Proceed.”
“Yes, Papa!”
Ernesta tried to escape, but her arms were still held by Leonard, preventing any movement.
She wished she could at least reveal the enemy’s identity, even if it meant her own demise. But her resistance ended in vain. As she continued to resist, the girl’s fingertips glowed, and magic was unleashed towards Ernesta’s chest.
“If you refuse to become our comrade, we will force you. It is truly unfortunate that it has come to this. Ernesta Kaif.”
Receiving the magical light, Ernesta’s consciousness began to fade.
“Lord Jared… Miss Lily… Onii-chan… help me…”
Though she called for help with her fading consciousness, her voice reached no one and disappeared.
