.｡.:✧ Chapter 71 ✧:.｡.

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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Having said that, I attempted to dance with Elise, stepping into the rhythm, but as someone who had lived in the forest, mastering a proper dance seemed unlikely.

“Ha-ha.”

“Am I amusing?”

“It would have been more amusing if you danced well.”

“…”

“Come on, try to move in sync with my feet. You have a good sense for this, so you’ll catch on quickly.”

“Let’s not dance and just talk over there.”

“We’re already on stage.”

Indeed, we found ourselves in the middle of the crowd of dancers, and eventually, I started moving my feet to Elise’s steps, finding it easier to follow than expected.

“You’re a quick learner. It seems you’re naturally talented with physical activities.”

“Cut the unnecessary talk.”

Feeling somewhat natural in my movements, I glared at Elise, who wore a swan mask.

“Why did you start this?”

In response to my question, Elise let out a peculiar laugh.

“What do you mean?”

“You have no intention of explaining?”

“Rather, I’d like to ask. Why are you here at this banquet, what incident brings you, and on what grounds do you suspect me?”

As people danced around us, I wrapped my arm around Elise’s waist, our masks nearly touching.

I stared into her eyes hidden behind the mask, affirming my stance.

“Fine, if you continue to evade, I’ll play along till the end.”

Among the aristocrats wearing playful masks, to the backdrop of the band’s classical music, Elise and I began to unravel why I was here.

“It started on a late night returning from Yggdrasil, crossing the border meant we had to stay in Bethel, where a guard recommended a hotel.”

“He seems kind.”

“Yes, if it were an ordinary hotel. But this place was a murderous hotel, attacking its guests.”

Her lack of surprise or concern didn’t faze me, as she likely knew I was aware of the whole situation, sparing any unnecessary display of shock.

“The hotel’s owner was an old lady, implanted with the power of the Devil Spider, capable of becoming invisible to humans at will.”

“Fascinating.”

“Yes, witnessing that, I deduced the hotel’s connection with a group called the Tudogs. The next day, we confronted the guard who had recommended the hotel.”

“…”

I stumbled in my explanation, but Elise smoothly continued the dance.

“But he was uninvolved, merely recommending the hotel out of goodwill, based on its positive reviews from many people.”

I paused, stepping harder as I pointed out the oddity.

“Doesn’t it strike you as strange? ‘Many’ people recommending a murderous hotel? Yet barely anyone survives such a place.”

“That’s one way to see it.”

Elise nodded nonchalantly.

“Next, Sen and Inspector Heini Rosales appeared.”

“…”

“They came for information on the Tudogs. But isn’t it strange? Such secretive figures, yet information leaked from two different sources at the same time?”

Moreover, Sen wasn’t even part of the Chokugen Faction but had independently found out.

Someone intentionally leaked the information to them, I concluded.

“And then Hayun’s uncle, Heaven Len, showed up. At this point, it seemed they weren’t trying to hide anything.”

“That appears to be the case.”

Essentially, Elise was not attempting to conceal the fact that someone was orchestrating these events.

Because that wasn’t the point.

“Everything began to work in our favor. Mikael Portren mistook our actions as being influenced by Heaven Len, and Len wanted to hasten the deal because of Hayun.”

“…”

“Heini’s involvement pressured Mikael, adding urgency. Do you see the significance?”

“Please, enlighten me.”

The music stopped.

As people busied themselves preparing for the next dance, we stood firm, facing each other.

“It felt like we had to wrap this case up before leaving. After all, we could simply leave Bethel if it dragged on.”

Thus, the rush to conclude the deal was orchestrated while we were in Bethel, to put an end to all events.

“Interesting. But it’s merely speculation. Life often presents coincidences upon coincidences.”

“Mikael Portren said the same, ‘So many coincidences.'”

“…”

The music resumed.

Elise extended her hand again, and with a sigh, I took it, rejoining the dance.

“I realized someone was planning something around us.”

Like the play at the academy festival by Professor Veritio.

Someone handed us roles, and we found ourselves living out a script written by that entity.

“And the mastermind orchestrating it all and moving us, is you, Elise. No… Elise de Frisia, the Third Princess.”

Hearing my words, Elise chuckled and shook her head.

“Surely, you can’t be serious?”

“…”

“Alright, I get it. Someone orchestrated the events in Bethel around you, aiming for a desired outcome?”

“Exactly.”

“But you’ve skipped straight to the conclusion without the ‘development.’ There’s a missing link, connecting the ‘development’ to the ‘conclusion.'”

“…”

Elise greedily pressed on.

“How did you know? That I was the mastermind?”

“…”

“Was it because the royal knights arrived before Heini’s reinforcements? Such a reason alone can’t pinpoint me. After all, you didn’t even know I was a princess until before the break.”

“Right.”

I had no idea Elise was the veiled Third Princess, hidden from view.

“Tell me, mere guesses, feelings, coincidences won’t work. How did you come to me? How did you find me?”

“I’ve already told you.”

Amid the dancing crowd, immersed in music, Elise stood tall, staring at me.

“What do you mean?”

She looked at me, utterly perplexed, prompting me to reveal the last key of the case she had dismissed as trivial.

“Devil Spider.”

“…”

A brief silence followed.

But soon, like ripples on a calm lake, Elise’s eyes slowly widened as she opened her mouth, looking at me.

“I thought the mastermind must have planted someone in this city to know all outcomes. It doesn’t make sense for them not to know the ending of their own play.”

Thus, her agents, disguised as ordinary citizens, observed everything and reported back.

“I just returned the favor. Thanks to our capable magician who tamed the old woman with the power of fear, we could surveil your eyes watching us.”

“Ah…”

A sweet exclamation, lost in the music.

I’ve said it many times.

The Devil Spider’s could become invisible to humans at will.

Even for the capable organization Lavender, it was too much to notice an assassin from the Demon Forest trailing them.

“Ha, ha…”

“The rest was easy. Your spy would naturally lead us to you. I even used Rin’s magic to pretend I was heading to the Demon Forest, in case you tried to flee.”

I shrugged, adding,

“Seeing you now, I guess that wasn’t necessary.”

Given Elise’s character, she likely wouldn’t have run.

“Ha ha ha…”

Elise began to laugh, covering her mouth with her hand. Even as the music ended and the dancing around us ceased, she couldn’t stop smiling.

“How about it? Any part you still don’t understand?”

“Ha, ha ha… No, nothing. You’ve found me perfectly.”

“It was quite the effort getting in here.”

Climbing through a window in a suit from the rooftop was quite a task.

As people thanked their partners, Elise gracefully bowed to me.

“Correct, Daniel McLean. I am the mastermind who orchestrated the stage of Bethel for you.”

“…”

“You must know, my goal was the downfall of the Portren and Len families and catching the tail of the Tudogs. They were harmful to the kingdom.”

“But Portren is facing trial, Heaven Len has fled, and the Tudogs slipped away.”

“Right. May I ask one thing? Why did you create such an outcome?”

“I assumed you, being hostile towards the Tudogs, would kill Mikael Portren, lead Heaven Len, who disowned Hayun, to ruin, and catch the tail of the Tudogs.”

“Of course, that would be expected.”

“You understand, then? Why make this choice?”

“Letting Heaven Len go wasn’t my intention. That was Hayun’s choice.”

To completely sever ties with the family, she repaid whatever little she had received during her time with them.

“Hayun made that choice, I see.”

She nodded, seemingly surprised.

“The Tudogs aren’t lost. I still have a clear connection to them.”

“Hm? Really? That’s surprising.”

Rin still had the two Tudogs members who came to burn down the murder hotel as evidence.

“Lastly, about the Portren family… Long ago, I met Michelle Portren.”

“!”

Elise began to laugh intensely after my explanation.

“So, there was another connection I wasn’t aware of.”

Thus, the stage of Bethel was completely twisted.

Due to the relationship between Michelle Portren and Daniel McLean that nobody else knew.

Elise slowly removed her mask and extended her hand to me.

“Daniel McLean, won’t you be mine?”

“What?”

An overbearing smile, almost distorted.

Her words began to spill out rapidly.

“Is this what pleasure feels like? Ah, Daniel McLean. Yes, it’s you! In this tedious life, only you can make me feel this way! You’ve shown me more than I imagined! You can save me from boredom! Ah, Daniel McLean!”

“Are you mad?”

“Can I be anything but? Anyone who crosses me disappears the next day, regardless of my intentions. No one dares speak of that person again. Eventually, everyone fears, avoids, and whispers about me.”

“…”

“A life where everything is attainable, yet so unbearably dull! In such a stable life, you bared your fangs at me, growled fiercely, and shattered all my plans, bringing shame upon me!”

“Sorry, but I have no intention of becoming yours.”

“No, you are mine! Maybe if I cut off a leg, you won’t be able to run.”

“You’re insane.”

“Keep going! Who else in this kingdom could speak to me like that! Bertiaaaaa!”

All eyes turned to us.

She let down her neatly tied hair and called her maid, Bertia, who quickly brought a large case and knelt down.

With a click, the case opened, revealing a longsword inside.

Its twisted appearance resembled a tree branch, but its golden body was so beautiful it could be considered an art piece rather than a weapon.

“This is ‘Branch of Yggdrasil,’ a treasured sword made for my admission to the academy.”

“You’re going to cut off my leg right here?”

“Will you come with me voluntarily?”

“Are you out of your mind?”

“Yes, that’s right! Bertia, play the music!”

Bertia hurried to the band, and upon hearing Elise’s identity, they hastily began to play.

As the intense music played, Elise started activating the magic in her rings.

Numerous spells began enhancing Elise’s body, waiting for their moment.

“Dance with me! Let’s end this night of pleasure and climax with our dance!”

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