From the moment the supervisory magic on Flora failed, the nature of this deliberately arranged escape plan changed.
Confident that everything was going according to her expectations, Moliyaer was almost the first to rush back to the villa.
【She disappeared. She really disappeared?】
She muttered repeatedly in her heart.
Moliyaer hadn’t lied about one thing—the trio in the team did indeed “share” Flora; they could all sense the status of the supervisory magic on her.
Elka had told her that this kind of supervisory magic, set on the soul to locate and confirm life or death while imposing certain restraints, wasn’t impossible to break.
To be safe, she had split the supervisory magic into two layers—an outer and an inner layer.
When the outer magic was dispelled, it created the illusion that the supervisory effect had disappeared, allowing this carefully crafted escape scheme to be executed.
But now, both the outer and inner magics had failed simultaneously, and Flora apparently possessed means unknown to them that could achieve this.
【I really am proud of you.】
Though she disliked this act of concealment, Moliyaer’s shadowy feelings quickly vanished and were replaced by excitement.
【So it’s only this way you’re willing to reveal your true, complete self to me? What other surprises could be waiting for me?】
With anticipation, she quickly appeared in front of the villa, having originally been stationed at a high vantage point in the city to observe who Flora might be seeking.
She was pleased; there was no fault in her decision.
When the supervisory magic was disrupted, her cold gaze cast toward the villa undoubtedly made Flora feel it.
Because of her gaze, Flora hastily dispelled the supervisory magic’s effect.
She was just like a frightened little mouse.
So cute.
Had she already left the home prepared for her by them?
Or was she blending into the crowd, wanting to steal one last look at herself…
The great commotion had lit up Dolen City brightly in a short time.
Moliyaer watched the crowd gathering on the streets outside the villa, whispering about the smoking building.
She quietly mused.
“Did someone in the city use blasting magic?”
“I don’t think so; that would leave traceable marks. It was probably an explosive device. That villa seems to belong to the Emerald Heart team.”
“Ah? Emerald Heart? Lady Moliyaer, you’re not in trouble, are you?”
As the top-tier adventurer team, any movement by Emerald Heart drew the attention of this city populated mostly by adventurers, especially such a huge disturbance.
Like a forest panther, elegant and composed as she scanned the crowd for that petite figure, Moliyaer ended her brief search.
【Not here. Good.】
She put on her calm and gentle public smile and began walking toward the crowd.
“Everyone.”
The moment she spoke, all eyes turned to her.
The noise reached a new peak, different from the previous curious onlookers; this was cheers for Moliyaer’s appearance.
When she extended both hands and lightly pressed downward, the uproar quickly settled.
“I apologize for causing some trouble recently, which led to tonight’s chaos and disturbed your rest. On behalf of Emerald Heart, I offer my sincerest apologies and promise to provide a satisfactory explanation soon.”
Infighting among adventurer teams over interests was not uncommon in Dolen City.
As she spoke, people’s attention shifted to curiosity about who dared attack Emerald Heart.
Moliyaer deftly handled the crowd, steering the topic toward the angle she desired.
Soon, someone loudly asked a question unrelated to the current commotion.
“Lady Moliyaer, now that Emerald Heart is retrieving that traitor, you won’t continue employing him, right? Is there a candidate for the new healer? Could it be Leonard, the rising star of the Cleric Order?”
She recognized the questioner as a reporter.
One after another, similar questions flooded in.
“Not long ago, you led the team to defeat the Behemoth, but the creature showed signs of revival. Other teams want to snatch the kill—without a full team, Emerald Heart could be in danger!”
“Lady Moliyaer, you must choose a top graduate from the Imperial Academy to replace that bastard Fros. The Cleric Order’s puffed-up amateurs are unworthy of the healer position in Emerald Heart!”
This was the effect she wanted.
Moliyaer gave a tight, forced smile to these ravenous wolves eager for gossip.
“Everyone, Emerald Heart values its members. Even if some teammates make mistakes, they are still one of us. Until we retrieve him, please refrain from harsh criticism. We believe Mr. Fros had his own difficulties.”
“You’re too lenient!”
“Yeah, yeah! Embezzling team funds and betraying comrades is unforgivable in any team. Even if he’s dead, it wouldn’t be a loss!”
Her remarks immediately stirred anger and injustice among the crowd.
Moliyaer looked troubled and conflicted.
“After all, he was my playmate, so…”
She trailed off, maintaining a vaguely distressed attitude.
A noble lady showing such vulnerability made those who flocked to her beauty and status go wild, fueling hatred and jealousy toward the ungrateful one.
Having successfully stirred the crowd’s emotions, she gently revealed that Emerald Heart would temporarily appoint a substitute healer in a few days.
Moliyaer immediately dispersed the emotional mob, wiped her false expression away, and resumed her hurried demeanor as she entered the villa—only to bump into Linko, who was coming to see her.
“Miss.”
As agreed with Flora, Linko met with Moliyaer symbolically, but she hadn’t expected Moliyaer to look so flustered and agitated.
She was grabbed by the collar and lifted.
“You let Flora out of the room?”
“Yes, as you instructed, she left the room, so she should be…”
“Damn it!”
Moliyaer released Linko, who was struggling to speak, and hurried inside the villa.
“Elka? Elka! Where are you?”
Irritable and quick-tempered, she showed none of the usual calm and composed noble lady demeanor, revealing a hint of madness.
The servants all dared not meet her eyes and quietly lowered their heads.
Only when another person appeared did Moliyaer calm down somewhat.
“What are you yelling about?”
Elka came downstairs, frowning, assuming she was anxious because of Flora’s magic failure.
This elf still wore that thin, almost revealing nightgown, but had thrown on a coat, creating a confusing mix of openness and conservatism.
Seeing her appearance, Moliyaer almost lost her composure.
【What the hell is that old woman thinking, wearing that to deal with Flora?】
The shadow on her face deepened at the thought.
“Getting angry at me won’t help. Don’t be anxious. I don’t know what method she used, but I can tell the supervisory magic wasn’t destroyed, it just lost its effect…”
“What difference does that make?”
“I said don’t be anxious.”
Elka showed a scornful look at Moliyaer’s loss of composure, then turned to glance at Linko, who kept her eyes lowered.
“Miss Maid, please take people to search near the villa for Flora. She probably hasn’t gone far—most likely using concealment magic to hide in some corner.”
“Ah…”
Linko’s heart skipped a beat.
Not daring to meet Elka’s eyes, she maintained a guilty servant posture.
She hadn’t expected the elf to figure out Flora’s method so quickly.
She lowered her head and promptly sent the maids out to patrol.
【She’s so fierce. I hope Miss Flora is okay.】
She thought instinctively, then froze realizing what she was worrying about.
She then gave a helpless smile inwardly.
【No, I should be more concerned about how slowly my own fate is unfolding.】
To make her subconsciously worry so soon, perhaps Flora possessed a subtle influence she hadn’t understood.
There was no need to think about reporting this to anyone.
Surely, it was just her imagination.
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