Unfortunately, some complaints were better left unvoiced.
Just then, Erica felt a gaze fixated on her — it was the lich with drooping white hair and withered skin coated in a ghostly blue light: Alest Draco.
Those hollow sockets, filled with blue Netherfire, seemed to be reading the young girl’s soul. Although the creature lacked pupils, that blue radiance appeared to contain something that could be called intelligence or personal will.
‘Is that even possible?’ As far as she knew, the undead under a necromancer’s command were nothing more than mindless puppets.
However, everyone else seemed to notice this eerie moment as well, and the tense atmosphere actually eased for a brief second.
The skeletal lich withdrew its ‘gaze’ and turned around. “…quitter…”
“…Wait, where are you going?”
This action was completely unexpected. Miona Draco immediately lost her haughty, noble lady persona. “Don’t leave! Come back! The duel hasn’t been called off! It’s not over yet! Obey my command! Come back right now!”
Miona tried to grab her father’s remains to pull him back, but the fading blue flames indicated he had lost his will to fight. He simply led the other few undead away, step by step, toward the rear.
The crowd automatically parted to form a path, leaving his way unobstructed.
“What, are you running away? Cowards! Though, that is a wise choice.”
Emile continued to provoke them, but the undead ignored both Emile’s taunts and Miona’s pleas. They marched away with perfectly synchronized steps, eventually leaving Miona standing alone on the field.
The silver-haired girl, Miona, looked like a cat that had been doused in cold water. First, she trembled — whether from rage or embarrassment — and then she pointed her fan at Emile.
“We’ll end this for today! But since you’ve come to this city, don’t expect to sleep peacefully every night, Miss Liones.”
Then, she pointed her fan at the girl who had mediated the conflict. “And you… Erica Angelina! I will never forget today’s humiliation.”
With that, Miona Draco followed the direction the undead had taken and completely vanished from their sight.
“Phew…” Only then did Erica manage to steady her heart, which was practically leaping out of her chest.
‘Miona Draco really is another typical villainess daughter.’
‘I really should have used *Pupil* to observe her properly just now. It’s a pity my mind was such a mess that I completely forgot.’
“Hey, Erica, why did you do something so unnecessary?” Without her noticing, the tall girl had quietly circled behind her and delivered a harsh bonk to Erica’s head.
*Thump.* “Eek…!”
While still lost in thought, Erica’s vision went dark for a moment. The pain made her eyes tear up, and a startled cry escaped her small mouth.
**[That was a very fairy-like scream…! ‘Half-Fairy’ job experience points are being acquired…! + 50]**
**[Continuous fairy-like behavior will grant rewards…!]**
**[The job ‘Half-Fairy’ level is increasing…! Half-Fairy Level 4 → Level 5]**
**[You can now do more fairy-like things…!]**
Wiping away the tears from the corners of her eyes, Erica quickly brushed away the text floating before her.
‘Alright, stop trying to get attention, you indecent system.’
Suddenly, Emile grabbed the collar of the girl’s robe and practically lifted her off the ground.
Erica felt her breath hitch as she was forced onto her tiptoes, her legs trembling involuntarily.
“Who told you to meddle in other people’s business? Why did you make a decision on your own?”
The tall girl looked genuinely furious; after all, Erica had truly acted as a third party intruding upon a duel.
For a warrior who worshipped combat, having a fight interrupted was likely as frustrating as a video buffering right at the climax. In that regard, her anger was understandable.
“And what was that earlier? Who told you to warn me about the danger? Hmm? Did you think I would lose to Miona without your help?”
“But… I didn’t want to see Lady Emile get hurt.”
“…What are you even saying? I’m speechless.”
Finally, Emile released her grip and set the girl back on the ground. Although she spoke with confidence, she likely wasn’t certain what the outcome would have been if they had truly fought to the end.
Emile knew her own physical condition better than anyone.
Furthermore, the lich Alest, whom Miona Draco commanded, was the former head of the Draco family — not some common, run-of-the-mill undead.
“Hmph.”
Emile pulled a honey candy from somewhere and tossed it into her mouth. She glanced at the girl with a fierce ‘I’m not giving you any’ look before turning her head away.
‘That tall girl doesn’t know her own strength. If she had completely snapped the top of the worn-out dress underneath, I would be half-exposed under this robe.’
“Those annoying Dracos are like ghosts that won’t go away. I hadn’t heard they were here. Their outfits looked like school uniforms; are they students from the Ark?”
“Most likely. The Draco family has close ties to the Holy Order.”
Although the image of manipulating the undead seemed worlds apart from the faith of the Holy Order, surprisingly, the Draco family was considered devout followers of the Light Flame.
According to the lore the girl remembered, the existence of the dead, monsters, and magic was precisely what manifested the presence and miracles of God.
Emile said, “If I enter the Ark Academy, won’t I have to run into that person every day?”
“Probably not. You choose your own curriculum. As long as they don’t overlap, you won’t meet often even if you’re in the same grade… By the way, are you injured?”
Erica looked Emile over carefully. From the outside, she seemed fine, but Erica couldn’t ignore the other girl’s slightly trembling legs and the dampened state of her lower skirt.
“Emile, um, I’m sorry…”
“Huh?”
“Back then, I actually lost consciousness for a moment, so I might have gone a bit too far…”
Erica didn’t explain the matter regarding the tail. Instead, she took a handkerchief from her breast pocket and thoughtfully handed it to Emile.
Taking the handkerchief, Emile’s face suddenly turned bright red. she stole a glance at Erica, her tone softening as she said, “I’m leaving for a moment. I’ll be right back,” before hurriedly disappearing from the girl’s sight.
Watching the blonde girl’s retreating figure, Erica felt once again that many things were quietly changing. The original storyline was deviating from its path.
Callista, Liones, and now the Draco family?
She hadn’t expected that important figures from the three families most dangerous to her would gather in this small city.
For some reason, her stomach was starting to ache.
This was a massive crisis, but if handled correctly, wasn’t it also a golden opportunity — a chance to annihilate her enemies in one fell swoop and revive her family?
A firm resolve began to surge in Erica’s heart, and she remembered her little tail.
Although she was currently keeping a low profile as Erica Angelina rather than Noelle, she would certainly follow her own will. She would control the wicked daughters of those great families and hollow out the power of the Four Great Families.
And most importantly, she would become the dignified “attacker” who held all the initiative!