Chapter 20

If I could, I would not have wanted to be born into a noble family. There are so many things to learn, like etiquette and dancing, and I dislike the excessive social pleasantries that are unique to the nobility.

However, there are moments when I think being born into a noble family might have been a good thing. That is when I am eating delicious sweets. When I want to eat something delicious, it usually costs a considerable amount, something commoners can hardly afford.

Sometimes I buy them myself, and other times I eat gifts from the queen or other nobles.

Today, I plan to eat the cookies sent by the queen. Though they are just cookies, they must be quite delicious since they were chosen by the queen.

"Rita, please bring me some tea."

"Of course, Miss."

Rita, the maid, is very skilled at making tea. She also cleans the room perfectly, and if I overlook the fact that my father is her employer, she could be considered a perfect maid.

With delicious sweets and tea, I am happy today.

...Hmm? The taste of the tea seems different from usual. My tongue is tingling, so maybe they changed the tea leaves. Perhaps they are of poor quality.

"Hey, are these the same tea leaves as usual?"

"Yes, they are the same as always."

It seems my tongue is the one that is off. I can be satisfied with sweets bought from the downtown area, so maybe being a noble isn't all it's cracked up to be.

The next day, the tea I drank also tasted strange. Maybe I'm starting to catch a cold, though I've never had one before.

"Excuse me, are you Yumiera?"

After school, I was stopped by a man I didn't recognize on my way back to my room, where I was planning to rest early.

"Yes, I'm Yumiera."

"I'm Alaster from the kingdom's magic tool development department. I would like your assistance with an experiment on a new magic tool."

I have no obligation to help, but I was interested in the magic tool under development.

"Sure, as long as it doesn't take too much time."

"It will be quick. Everything is set up in an empty classroom over there."

Since the request came to me, it's probably some kind of durability test. I thought I might be taken somewhere, but it seems the experiment can be done in a classroom.

"This is a new type of magic-sealing cuff. I want to test if it can withstand your magic, which is said to be the strongest in the kingdom."

Alaster showed me a magic tool shaped like handcuffs. A magic-sealing cuff is a device that disables the target's magic.

He put the magic-sealing cuff on me. I couldn't tell what it was made of, but it felt much heavier than iron. It must be very sturdy both magically and physically.

In the empty classroom, with a man and a handcuffed female student, the scene looked almost criminal.

"Should I try to use magic in this state?"

"Yes, gradually increase the power of your magic. If it seems like it can't handle it, I'll give the signal to stop."

I tried to cast a small spell as he instructed, but nothing happened. I gradually increased the amount of magic I released, but there was no change.

Finally, I tried to use my full power, but even that failed. This magic tool is amazing; it's the first time something has withstood my magic.

"This is my full power. It's incredible, this magic tool."

Half in awe and half in frustration, I trembled, but I didn't hear Alaster's words.

"Alright, now! Kill her quickly and get out of here!"

No, it's not over yet; I haven't lost. If magic doesn't work, I can fight physically.

"Hmph!"

I put all my strength into tearing the magic-sealing cuff. The chain part broke easily. Good, this is a draw with the magic-sealing cuff.

"Huh?"

I realized I was surrounded by armed men. Alaster was giving orders to them with a lecherous look on his face.

"Hey, what are you doing! Kill her quickly!"

"Um, excuse me."

"Ah, right, the magic tool experiment was a lie. I didn't expect you to fall for it so easily."

"Um, I broke it."

"Huh?"

The men, except for Alaster, were frozen in shock at seeing me break the cuff, but he seemed to just realize it now.

His face, which had been smiling, gradually turned pale.

"J-Just kidding. Thank you for your cooperation. I'll be on my way."

"That's not going to work."

It seems I was about to be killed. It's insulting to think that sealing my magic would render me powerless.

Alaster and the men captured me and handed me over to the kingdom's soldiers. According to the headmaster, someone must have led them into the school, so I still need to be careful.

Two nights later, I woke up feeling a strange sensation in my chest. In front of me was a masked man. Could it be a pervert? Did he touch my chest?

"Wh-What nonsense..."

The man's hand, wide-eyed in shock, held a large knife. There was a hole in the chest of my clothes. I must have been stabbed, but I don't have a single scratch.

"Um, are you an assassin?"

"Ah, monster."

It seems I was almost killed again. I don't know the level of this assassin, but there's no way he could kill me with just that.

"Since I've been targeted for assassination twice, it's best to stay away from me."

Patrick spoke to me in the school hallway, but it's probably best to keep my distance from him for a while.

"Right, I don't want to be a burden to Yumiera. They say what happens twice will happen a third time."

Hey, Patrick, don't say such ominous things. I can't survive three assassination attempts in a short period.

"Ah, watch out!"

An arrow flew in from outside the window. It wouldn't hurt me if it hit, but I don't want my clothes to be torn, so I caught it with my hand.

"I'll go catch the archer! Patrick, hide for now."

I jumped out the window to catch the archer. I won't forgive him if he hits Patrick.

Maybe the school has become a den of assassins. Tomorrow is a holiday, but I plan to go out of the school.

"Surround her! Skewer her!"

In a back alley of the capital, I was surrounded by about twenty ruffians. They were armed with spears and swords, looking every bit the part of villains.

"Dark Bind."

"Wh-What is this!?"

They were restrained by arms extending from the shadows. I've had enough of this.

Until now, I've left the interrogation of assassins to the kingdom's soldiers, but the identity of the mastermind remains unknown. It's time for me to start looking for the culprit.

"Who is your leader?"

No one spoke up, but their gazes were focused on one man, the one who gave the order to surround me.

"You're the leader, right? Who hired you?"

"I don't know."

"Shadow Lance."

A spear flew from the shadows and pierced the man's stomach. Blood splattered everywhere.

"Ah!"

I then healed his wound with a recovery spell. There won't be any scars left on him.

"Heal. How many times do I need to do this before you talk?"

I don't have the skills to torture effectively without killing, so I'll have to repeat this. It might be considered humane torture since he won't die and won't have any scars.

"This is terrible."

"This isn't something a human should do."

"So, you really are a monster."

Although I said it was humane, the reactions of the men around me are not good.

"It doesn't have to be the leader who talks."

As I looked around, they all fell silent and avoided my gaze.

"I really don't know, believe me! I was just told to kill a black-haired woman coming out of the royal academy by someone I've never seen!"

The leader-like man pleaded desperately.

"It doesn't seem like you know enough. Don't worry, I won't run out of magic even if I do this a hundred times."

"It's not true! It's the truth! Please believe me!"

He finally started crying. It seems he really doesn't know.

The other assassins are probably also hired by someone they don't know. It makes sense why the investigation isn't progressing.

No matter where I go, I am attacked, so my only place of rest is my room. I was once infiltrated at night, but now I have a barrier set up in my room, so I should be safe.

I considered the idea of riding on Ryu's back and flying, but I can't sleep in the air, and it would be a big burden for Ryu to fly constantly, so I abandoned that idea.

In my room, I sigh while drinking the tea Rita made for me.

The tea still tastes strange. Should I see a doctor if this continues? The taste of other things is normal, though.

Still, the recent attacks seem to be getting sloppy. Usually, assassins use poison...

"Hey, Rita, can you try this tea?"

I offered her the cup I was drinking from, and she turned pale and started shaking.

"P-Please forgive me. My sister is being held hostage..."

So, that's how it is. For the past week, I've been drinking tea laced with poison. It must have been a weak poison with little effect.

"Hey, what kind of poison is in this?"

"Well, I was given a very strong poison that is lethal in one drop. I was supposed to put five drops in each cup..."

I should have noticed.

In the game, poisons had different levels of strength and dealt fixed damage, but it seems the same applies in reality.

If it dealt percentage damage, I might have died by now. No, I would have noticed if I was about to die. This tragedy happened because my HP is bottomless.

"So, who told you to do this..."

The person who told Rita to poison me is probably her employer.

"Yes, it was my master."

Rita, realizing she couldn't deny it anymore, confessed honestly.

The person trying to kill me is my father.