Late at night. A girl crosses the campus in quick strides.
With a face that no one would ever believe belonged to that Camilla, she muttered to herself.
“…I did it. I actually did it!”
Her lips were slack, barely holding their shape.
A trace of guilt for doing something she shouldn’t have. Yet that feeling was drowned out by the sensation of fireworks exploding again and again inside her head.
“I pretended not to know he was Adel. Without even realizing it….”
But he isn’t Adel, is he? He hid it to the very end.
…So maybe it’s okay?
“…It’s only for a little while. Adel said he’d come back to Tain by next year anyway.”
A few months. At most, only a few months of deviation. Far too short a time for things to truly develop between a man and a woman.
She only needed to keep it as a small, private memory of her own.
Repeating that thought over and over, Camilla continued walking in that strange posture.
***
Alexandrite. A variety of chrysoberyl.
A gemstone that appears green under sunlight and red under candlelight.
In the modern world, it would be nothing more than an expensive jewel. But in the world of Empire of Kohonbach, it is different.
A property of emitting two different lights depending on the conditions.
Alexandrite, with this dual nature, is used to artificially generate magical wave frequencies.
It replaces the magical waves produced by a human heartbeat with changes in light waves, thereby creating magical wave patterns.
It was also the core of the magical puppet that once existed, the “Imperial Patrol.”
However, after the rise of the Magic Tower and the significant improvements in everyday life achieved through magic engineering—
The method of using alexandrite as a mana heart fell out of use.
The first reason was the downfall of the family that had led the cutting edge of that technology.
The second reason was the inherent danger of the technology itself.
Those implanted with this mana heart experienced a side effect: the loss of their emotions.
That wasn’t all. A mana wave that never wavers under any circumstances is, in itself, the very possibility of pioneering an entirely new school of magic.
In other words, a great archmage who has lost all human emotion… could be born through experimentation.
Fearing the leak of such technology, the mages decided to destroy it themselves, and thus the artificial mana heart technology using alexandrite disappeared.
At least, it was supposed to.
“And yet, our family is conducting this experiment.”
“That is what the investigation suggests.”
Irina Harunsdel let out a long sigh. A bitter trace lingered on her lips.
“I figured something would turn up… but this is practically violating a taboo.”
“What will you do?”
At the voice rising from the shadows, Irina fell into thought for a moment.
What would be the best course of action?
Not from a moral standpoint, but purely as a merchant.
“This is all being done with Father’s tacit approval, isn’t it?”
“There is no direct evidence, but circumstantially, yes.”
“…He’s letting it continue because it benefits him. But the funds going into this experiment… the scale is large enough to draw attention.”
That was true. They were disguising it under various false pretexts, but the amount was so substantial that it wouldn’t be strange if an imperial official came knocking at any time.
“For now, leave it be. We’re still not in a position to reach that far.”
“…Understood.”
“It can’t be helped….”
Irina closed her eyes. The fact that she had to pretend not to see what was happening right before her unsettled her.
“It’s not time yet.”
***
A night when even the moon was hidden behind thick clouds.
A quiet murmur echoed faintly through an alley lined with old warehouses.
Far enough that even the lights of Black Alley did not reach. A sinister atmosphere hung in the air.
Something in this place would unsettle even the dullest of men.
“Hey. Looks like this test subject’s causing trouble again.”
The Empire’s underbelly.
Deep within Black Alley. An open space before a dark building.
A low, droning voice broke the silence.
“Damn it. That ‘compatibility’ crap. How many more are we supposed to bring in? Feels like the army’s starting to catch on.”
“Yeah. We deserve a break too. Those bookish bastards….”
As the dim darkness lifted slightly, a grotesque sight came into view.
An old warehouse with a high ceiling. An elevator that seemed to lead below it.
And filling the space, countless pitch-black metal cubes.
The objects were made of metal and had smooth, polished surfaces. Yet lines resembling circuits crawled across their exteriors.
The cube-shaped masses filled the space in towering heaps. The cold, inorganic sensation radiating from the metal saturated the entire area.
“Can’t we ever get a break?”
“I’m telling you, I’m sick of guarding this place. And those homeless people nearby too….”
“H-Hey….”
“I see. That’s unfortunate.”
In the middle of their idle chatter, the man in the white coat smiled pleasantly.
“—Gah! Chief Researcher!”
“No incidents during our shift!”
“Quinoron will do. No need to be so tense.”
The two men exchanged glances. They had expected a harsh reprimand for slacking off on duty, but fortunately, it seemed he was willing to let it slide.
“Understood, Sir Quinoron!”
Quinoron smiled again. As if the smile were carved into his face, his slightly narrowed eyes radiated gentle benevolence.
“You seem to have grown accustomed to the place. How many days has it been since you two were assigned here?”
“It’s been just over a month, sir! Same for him!”
“That’s right!”
“A month… I see. Has it already been that long?”
Kindness. A friendly smile.
Maintaining that very expression, Quinoron made a small gesture with his hand.
“It’s about time for a replacement.”
“…Huh? What do you mean by—”
A mana wave began to seep outward.
Slow, yet overwhelmingly powerful. Strong enough that even the two men, ignorant of magic, could feel it.
Quietly, Quinoron raised his left hand.
Then he clenched his fist tightly.
Crunch!
A horrific sound echoed through the old warehouse.
Moments later, two small orbs rolled across the floor.
“Even beasts don’t multiply that quickly.”
As if the previous smile had been a lie, Quinoron’s face was now utterly expressionless.
He flicked his left hand lightly, then stepped silently into the warehouse elevator.
– Please… spare me… please… I’ll do whatever you say….
Thud… thud… thud….
The sound coming from somewhere gradually faded away.
***
The next day.
Harun, a satellite city of the Magic Tower’s domain.
[Irina Rodnina Harunsdel]
“This will be your next target. My younger sister, who’s recently been overstepping her bounds without knowing her place.”
“……”
Harunsdel Merchant Guild headquarters. Menemen’s office.
I examined the profile handed to me as naturally as possible.
“She may be my sister, but she’s quite beautiful. What do you think? Aren’t you at least a little tempted?”
“……”
Printed on the profile with a cold expression was the face of someone familiar.
A kind-hearted Knight Department student I used to run into often at the training hall.
“So Irina was a daughter of the Harunsdel family.”
That was unexpected.
But I didn’t let it show. I kept my gaze casual.
Looking because it had been handed to me, but as if I had no particular thoughts about it. Revealing only greed for money.
“All I have to do is ruin her, correct?”
“That’s right. The key is to keep her from participating in the succession dispute. If you succeed, you’ll be well rewarded.”
“Understood. Leave it to me.”
“Very well… I can trust you, then?”
Menemen looked at me with suspicion.
In response, I displayed confidence that bordered on excessive.
“Of course.”
It would all be over long before such a thing could truly happen anyway.
“…However, I have one condition. Take me to the next regular Harunsdel meeting as your aide.”
“Oh? And why is that?”
“It’s a sensitive time. Wouldn’t the target be wary? Rather than move around, it’s better to establish my presence clearly as your aide.”
Menemen stroked his chin.
“Wouldn’t that make her more cautious?”
“That level of caution is just right.”
Feeling the numerous gazes lingering throughout the room, I smiled.
Asking to attend the meeting as an aide….anyone would see it as a condition driven by ambition.
But with this, I could put other suspicions about me to rest.
The kind Menemen’s subordinates would almost certainly harbor.
Like, isn’t that guy a spy?
“…Fine. We’ll do it your way. I’ll put my trust in your abilities.”
***
“When you come to work from now on, please wear this. Any documents you bring, hand them to me.”
“Do I really have to wear it? It looks uncomfortable. Too many decorations.”
“…It will be more comfortable than the butler uniform in Tane. The decorations… are to avoid disgracing the master.”
“In that case, I suppose I have no choice.”
Even the maid knows my identity.
Which means everyone in this space is in on it.
“You may leave early today. Sir Menemen said you needn’t report in at all, but please come in whenever possible.”
“Yes. Of course.”
I acted like a newly rich layabout. Swaggering. Grinning lazily.
Then I boarded a carriage bound for the Magic Tower’s domain.
“Thank you for your hard work, coachman.”
“…You’re welcome.”
Even the coachman’s gaze is suspicious. He is clearly wary of me.
I’ll probably have a tail.
I can’t return to the Magic Tower like this.
I hurried into an alley. As I wound my way through the narrow passage, I loosened the tie that had been constricting my neck.
I shoved the clothes I had received into my bag. The small pouch strapped to my waist easily swallowed the bulky outfit.
Crackle—
◆ [Shape Transformation] trait activated.
I pulled out a robe and threw it over myself.
I withdrew the partially manifested demonic form.
With a cracking sound, the muscles in my forearms shrank away. My field of vision lowered as well, though not completely.
My dark ash-gray hair shifted to a silvery gray close to white, and my eyes, once tinged with red, turned blue.
In an instant, no longer “Aide Deran” but Adel Bliss, I stepped out onto the main road through the next alley.
“—Damn it! He vanished! Hey! You there!!”
A man who had come running busily yanked back my robe, but there was no way he could recognize me.
“W-What is it…? Who are you…?”
“It’s not this bastard. Damn it!”
And then they disappeared.
Step, step.
After walking for quite some time, I felt the expression slowly drain from my face.
Did they run a background check? They’re awfully suspicious.
But no matter how much they dig, nothing will turn up.
The genius mage of the Magic Tower Heinel Shifter moved personally on this matter. At best, they would only find incomplete information.
Besides, it’s impossible to identify my face when I possess the “Shae Transformation” trait.
…I should start practicing my trait again soon.
In the original work, it wasn’t demonization but transforming into a dog or a cat that was the common use of this trait.
If that’s the case, I should be able to turn into an animal as well.
What I likely lack is time spent observing the form closely.
Maybe I should ask Heinel to get a pet.
At the end of that thought, my mind drifted to what happened yesterday.
…Sibling traits. Camilla and I.
In The Empire of Kohonbach, there are traits that are created as pairs from the very beginning.
Although the system definitely exists, sibling traits were extremely rare to encounter in-game.
The reason is probably that the conditions for the traits to recognize each other vary.
In Camilla’s and my case, it was likely either a spar using only swords or a spar using only magic.
It might even have been frequent physical contact during battle.
…Anyway, the fact that I can use the Trajectory Analysis trait is a tremendous advantage. But the fact that it only activates when we’re together is a bit inconvenient.
I was organizing my thoughts like that.
Then suddenly, an odd realization struck me.
The fact that I could use Camilla’s trait means that she must have used Total Magical Structure Analysis.
It was only natural.
The effect of the Double Helix trait is that we share each other’s sibling traits.
And the trait I possess “Total Magical Structure Analysis” has already evolved once.
If it’s a mana core, that’s one thing. But when it comes to mana waves, it allows me to “see” their form just by setting my eyes on them.
She must have realized at a glance that I’m incapable of using magic. If she had used a mana core after seeing that, I would’ve lost for sure… Did she go easy on me…?
Come to think of it, it’s not just the waves.
I had drawn slightly on the form of a demon, so she must have clearly seen the mana gathered around the not-yet-fully-grown horns as well…
“…Huh?”
I tilted my head.
“…Wait a second.”
Camilla knows that I can transform into a demonic form.
She also knows that I’m incapable of using magic.
And yesterday, I used the exact same constitution and appearance as Adel….her younger sibling.
Which means…
“Uh…?”
At the single conclusion that surfaced in my mind, I shook my head violently.
She and I are bound by the same family name.
Austin acknowledged Camilla as the eldest daughter of the Bliss family.
So regardless of blood ties, Camilla and Adel are siblings. That fact does not change.
“…No, right? Absolutely not. Big sister?”
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