Chapter 82

Xiaoming stood at the classroom door, took a deep breath, and firmly gripped the secret letter from his mother.

---

Ersa stood at the classroom door, took a deep breath, and firmly held the letter containing the secret that her mother had given her.

---

As cherry blossoms danced in the wind, Hera, seated in her wheelchair, laughed with a mix of disbelief and amusement.

"Ersa, what did you do?"

"I didn't do anything extraordinary. I just talked seriously and persuaded the user."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Did you do anything that could tarnish Bellato's reputation?"

"I did nothing of the sort."

Viola listened quietly to the conversation between Hera and Ersa.

Clearly, this conversation was meant for Chromson to hear.

In a way, it was also a bait for Chromson.

'If I were to guess Chromson's state of mind right now...'

You did something to tarnish Bellato's reputation!

You beat me for three hours!

You monster!

He must be holding back the urge to shout these things.

But Chromson was wrong.

'Sorry, sir, but beating me isn't something that would tarnish Bellato's reputation.'

Silently enduring and quietly letting it pass would be more uncharacteristic of Bellato.

Beating is much better than letting it pass.

Bellato doesn't live in a world of ordinary common sense.

Viola added a word.

"Ersa, I'll ask you again. Did you really do anything that could tarnish Bellato's reputation?"

She asked this deliberately.

She judged that wizards, who have very strong pride, wouldn't give up all their pride just because of a beating.

'There's a very high chance that he stored the beating video in the recording stone.'

Actually, it wouldn't have been a big deal if the video had been circulated through the newsletter, but it was still best to avoid any unpleasant incidents.

In fact, Chromson had secretly used the recording stone to record all of Ersa's actions.

It was his last bit of pride.

Ersa answered.

"Yes, of course. I swear by Bellato's honor."

"But why are you so obedient now?"

Chromson's eyes darted around.

He seemed to be very cautious.

"I don't really know."

"You can't not know."

Viola turned her gaze towards Chromson.

Viola, who had become very accustomed to this body, summoned the latent killing intent within her.

It had a tremendous impact on Chromson, who was already cowed and intimidated.

"I am the 6th daughter of Bellato, Viola Bellato. I'm asking you by my name. Can you honestly tell me what Ersa did?"

This is your one chance.

It seemed like she was saying that.

"That, that is...!"

Chromson avoided Ersa's eyes.

He seemed to be very afraid of her.

He was afraid, but he also seemed to have something to say.

Viola smiled.

"Strike. Time's up."

She had figured it all out from Chromson's reaction.

Chromson hadn't surrendered his heart.

He had only temporarily surrendered to Ersa's beating.

"Hand it over."

"W-What are you talking about?"

"Are you asking because you don't know?"

"I, I don't know."

Chromson chuckled and rubbed his hands like a fly.

"I will ensure your safety and comfort. When should we start?"

"Ersa, I'll give you two more hours."

Viola pushed Hera's wheelchair again.

"Customer?" Chromson asked, flustered.

It was already too late.

Another two hours of hell were about to begin.

In the end, Ersa confiscated the recording stone as well.

In the thorough calculations of Bellato, Chromson felt an overwhelming sense of powerlessness.

'Monsters...! These guys are monsters made of iron and blood!'

Everyone is a monster.

But the 6th daughter, who smiled and emitted killing intent, was even more terrifying than Ersa, who had directly beaten him.

Ersa was like a visible blade, while Viola was like a hidden venom.

Now, she realized that Viola had intended to confiscate the recording stone from the beginning.

'I was just a puppet in her hands.'

Yes, since those daughters of Bellato were the ones who ordered the merciless beating.

Why did I believe her for a moment?

For a very brief moment, Viola had given her a feeling of being on her side, and that had been expressed as a slight hesitation.

That was a mistake.

'I feel like she's looking down on me from the top of my head.'

She had never felt this way in the magic tower.

It felt like she was now facing the brutal wild after being in a warm greenhouse.

'Be careful.'

In the end, he surrendered his heart.

'I can't get involved in anything bad.'

The man who had learned social life after 37 years and experienced the wild after 37 years genuinely broke his pride.

He became a new person.

***

The departure was set for 7 AM the next day.

Viola woke up as usual.

Normally, she should have seen Xenon's face first, but today was different.

'Ugh. I felt like my bed was uncomfortable.'

She thought it was a dream, but it wasn't.

She remembered that Hera had snuggled into her arms.

Though it was hazy, during that time, Hera had lifted Viola's arm and used it as a pillow to sleep.

'Ah. My arm is numb.'

When Viola opened her eyes, Hera was still asleep.

"You two seem to have a good relationship."

"Xenon, wake up my sister."

Ersa suddenly appeared behind Xenon.

"I will take care of Lady Hera."

Ersa picked up Hera as if she were a feather.

It looked like she could lift her with one finger.

She pushed the wheelchair with one hand and held Hera with the other.

She moved carefully, as if holding a very small baby.

"Ah. Your arm must be numb."

Ersa finally handed the wheelchair to Xenon.

Ersa, holding the sleeping Hera, moved cautiously.

Seeing Hera sleep soundly in her arms, she thought of her deceased daughter.

'She slept so well when I held her.'

Hera seemed the same.

Her breathing was very calm and slow.

Ersa's eyes welled up for no reason.

Hera seemed a bit different from usual.

'She's usually sensitive to her bed... How did she sleep so deeply these past two days?'

It must be the power of Lady Viola.

Hera, who had slept next to Viola, looked like a small child.

'In front of Lady Viola, is 4th daughter Hera just a human Hera?'

At least for that moment, is she a sister with a reliable younger sister?

Ersa felt happy.

She always felt heartache when she saw Hera, who was always busy with work.

'I want Lady Hera to be happy.'

She resolved, looking at Viola's back.

'For that to happen, Lady Viola must stand firmly in a high place.'

Ersa made up her mind.

'I will support you, Lady Viola.'

Hera cannot become the head of the family.

Hera herself knows this well and doesn't desire it.

Ersa also knows this.

'I will support Lady Viola.'

Unbeknownst to Viola, she had gained a die-hard fan who wanted to make her the next head of the family.

Viola felt a chill at the back of her neck for some reason.

Anyway, Viola's group started climbing Mount Parua under the guidance of a newly mentally prepared Chromson.

"Fly."

He used a light Fly spell to lift the wheelchair slightly into the air.

Ersa pushed the wheelchair, amazed.

"The weight is barely noticeable."

"This is the essence of magic. Hehe. My duty is to ensure the comfort of my clients. How is it? Are you comfortable?"

"It's good. The magic is excellent."

"You flatter me. Haha! I will do my best to make you even more comfortable! Hehe."

There are three paths to climb Mount Parua.

They chose the most gentle one.

Along the way, they encountered a few people.

Some were traveling in palanquins, some were being carried, some had hired wizards to carry them, and one person was flying (probably a wizard from the magic tower).

Mount Parua was rugged and couldn't be climbed in a day.

There were rest stops along the way.

"Rest stop 1 is coming up soon."

Chromson's breathing was heavy, as if he had pushed himself too hard.

Ersa smiled.

"Let's rest there today."

The next day, they would rest at Rest Stop 2.

The day after that, Rest Stop 3.

After a few days, they arrived at the final Rest Stop 7.

They could reach the Viscount Parua's territory in two more days.

Rest Stop 7 was quite large, and many people had settled in.

'Hmm?'

There was someone who caught her eye.

'Could it be?'