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Chapter 69 Part 5 – Side Story: The Blood-Sucking Madam of the Abandoned Castle (Part 2)

「…… Alisa, you really ……!!」

I jumped out while saying my usual line.

I ran straight through the flustered entertainers and threw the iron-ribbed fan with all my might. The fan flew in a curve like a boomerang. Some people rushed to stop it, but they were unable to deal with its curving trajectory. Their outstretched hands and weapons were useless.

「…… This is divine punishment. Go back to hell ……!!」

The iron-ribbed fan accurately hit the devil statue and cut off its head.

「It’s a success!!」

With a thud, its head fell to the floor and was destroyed.
The head glared at the air as if it’s vengeful.
All of the ladies that participated in the banquet froze.

Yeah, I confirmed it in Elisabeth’s bedroom. That statue is a poor quality carving made with cheap stone. Elisabeth probably got ripped off by the craftsman.

「The devil’s curse is coming!!」

I shouted.
Although it’s a bit weird to say that after destroying it myself.

The torches started to spew out black smoke with a crackling sound. Purple, green, and orange flames flared. The smell of sulfur-like stench filled the air.

The participants didn’t move for a moment, then they screamed, kicked their chairs, and stood up.

There was chaos all around the banquet hall.

Fufufu, it’s great to see them trembling with fear.

Well, while everyone was distracted by the flying iron-ribbed fan, I secretly threw a special smoke ball into the torch.

It is also known as the Scarlet Escape Ball.

Originally, it was an item used for escape, but they were so frightened that they really believed that it was sulfur and hellfire that appeared due to the arrival of the devil. I couldn’t deal with all of them by myself, so I just made a bluff. It’s a bit of an anticlimax that it worked out this well. It felt like I had easily won the battle even though I even prepared myself for self-destruction.

All of them panicked and scrambled toward the exit.

It was really unsightly to see them pushing and shoving each other.
Like a painting of hell where people trampled on those who had fallen.
It was a behavior worthy of their animal masks.
I was disgusted.
Human nature is revealed when push comes to shove.

I want to beat the hell out of these people, but for now, my priority is Elisabeth, the main culprit. I’ll let those people who are in the way leave quickly.

A mysterious growling sound that sounded as if it was creeping on the ground and chasing after them added to their fear.

「Did you hear that!! The voice of the devil’s wrath!! If we don’t get out of here fast, he’ll capture us and tear us to pieces!!」

I got carried away and stirred them up.
It was kind of fun.

If I tried to do a trick like this to the rival candidates for the throne, I would probably end up receiving cold glances that implied, 「What the hell is this idiot doing?」

Not only the invited guests, but also the entertainers and waiters fled from the banquet hall. Abandoning their duties. The superstitiousness of people in this period was astonishing. That’s why they shouldn’t worship the devil …… A solid and safe life plan is the best.

I glanced at Hannah.
She was hiding in the shadows. Crouching and blowing the whistle as I had asked her.
Her face was flushed and her cheeks were puffing out.
She looked like a puppy.
It was a direct hit to my sisterly spirit.
She’s so cute.
I wanted to pat her head, but I desperately held back.

That whistle is the true identity of the growling sound.
Also known as a kakuran flute.
It is one of Scarlet’s seven tools.

It’s hard to pinpoint where a low-pitched sound is coming from.
That’s why it’s easy for them to be fooled into thinking that the sound is coming from right behind them.

Well, this is also something that was originally played to confuse the pursuer’s ears instead of their eyes ……

Aah, Hannah is so focused on her performance that she’s running out of oxygen!!

She’s not aware of her surroundings!!
Her upper body is wobbling!!
Hannah, you don’t have to go that far!!
Stop!! It’s okay now!!　
Thanks to your efforts, they’re all gone!!　
You’re going to die at that rate!!

I couldn’t call out to Hannah since I’m near Elisabeth, so I stopped her with a frantic hand gesture.

Elisabeth is the only enemy now.
I’m so glad that the soldiers are not here.
They ended up getting themselves in trouble because they were secretly sneaking around to do bad things.

「…… Hoho, that’s incredible. I didn’t expect you to be able to go this far. But don’t lump me in with the rest of them.」

Even in the midst of this huge panic, Elisabeth was calm and composed. The candlestick toppled down and the tablecloth was ignited in fire right in front of her and yet she didn’t seem to care. This woman is certainly a noble, for better or worse.

「Alisa!! Wake up!! You’ll end up getting burned if you don’t run!!」

At this rate, Alisa will be engulfed in fire.

I screamed until my throat was hoarse, but Alisa was still asleep. Normally, if someone shouted that there was a fire, even a recluse who is indifferent to his surroundings would jump out of bed …… Is it because of the medication? No, this might just be part of Alisa’s nature ……

「Seriously, you stupid Alisa!! Always making me look after you!!」

I can’t leave her alone.

I held Alisa in my arms, while cursing uncharacteristically for a young lady. Then I jumped back. Alisa’s weight is heavy for my slender arms, but I somehow managed to carry her with my willpower and fighting spirit. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve had to run around while carrying this stupid girl in my arms ……

「Even if you have wisdom and skill, you are still a woman. You’re so caught up in what’s in front of you that you can’t see the situation around you.」

Elisabeth sneered and flung her whip at me, whose hands were completely occupied.

Ahhh, I knew it!! I knew this was going to happen!!

I narrowly dodged the first blow, but with Alisa in my arms, it was impossible for me to dodge the next one.

Elisabeth was aware of that as well and she licked her lips while showing a cruel smile. She made a pishi-pishi-pishi cracking sound with the whip as if she was trying to tease me.

「Hunting a prey is most fun when you drive it into the corner. You’ve run out of tricks right? I’ll let the two of you continue to get along and skin both of you together. Both of you will become nourishment for my beauty ……!!」

「…… I’ll flatly refuse that offer. Besides, the outcome of the match is not decided until the very end.」

「 How gibberish ……」

With a triumphant expression, Elizabeth attempted to attack me with the whip. But then her expression stiffened.

A red cloth fluttered down and got tangled in the grip of the whip. It’s the ribbon on my head. I untied it and threw it upwards just before I went in to help Alisa.

「Even a prey will bite if you’re not careful. Like this.」

The ribbon flared up like a fireball when it came in contact with the fire on the table.

It serves you right.
This is payback for all the girls that have been sacrificed.
I have explosively flammable cloth in various parts of my outfit.

「You were the one who was so caught up in what’s in front of you that you can’t see the situation around you.」

I turned her words right back at her.

「Gyaah!?」

Elisabeth screamed and jumped back, while flinging her hands around to shield her face.

If she hadn’t thrown away the whip so quickly, she would have been burned together with the whip. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much damage done to her. Only the hair ends of her bangs were frizzy and a slight graze on her cheeks.

But for Elisabeth, it was an unforgivable act.