「Please wait here. I will call Pree-sama right away.」

Elena was guided to what seemed to be a living room, where she sat down on a sofa before letting out a small sigh.

「Kyu?」

He must have wondered what Elena was thinking. Yellow, who was perched on her left shoulder, tilted his head as he gave a cry.

「Hm, don’t worry about it. It’s just the last family that governs Exil. I’m just wondering what kind of person the family head is. ……If possible, I’d have liked to participate in the monster dismantling with Rei.」

To be honest, she had hesitated a lot after receiving the invitation from the Marschel family. However, the invitation was from the head of the Marschel family, who rarely appeared in public. Ultimately, her desire to meet at least once prevailed and thus she came to the Marschel family’s residence alone……no, rather, she came together with Yellow.

(Schaffner is still missing and hasn’t been caught. Of course, there’s no reason for the Levisor family to collapse as a successor has taken over. However, considering the series of events, the Levisor family is close to becoming a puppet of the Silva family. ……The only saving grace is that Vosk didn’t seem to have any intentions of using the Levisor family for his own selfish purposes.)

Having met with with Vosk on several occasions, she had gathered an understanding of him, albeit incompletely. She felt that he was a bit of a problematic person, the first time they had met was a good example. However, his feelings for Exil were genuine.

That was why the Silva family had been so desperate to deal with the existence of abnormal species to the extent of using the Silva family’s own property to collect information from the corpses of abnormal species.

Of course, this was probably all done because they believed that it would benefit the Silva family……and ultimately, the Labyrinth City Exil.

「Kyu, Kyukyu!」

As Elena was immersed in her thoughts, Yellow moved from her left shoulder to the table as it reached out its claw for a cookie on the plate and bit into it with its small mouth.

Feeling warmed by the sight, Elena reached out for her cup of tea that was also on the table.

「Fufu~, eat cleanly, okay?」

「Kyu!」

Elena said that as she drank her tea while Yellow gave a cry and wagged his tail in response while biting into a cookie.

For a few minutes, they spent what could be called a relaxing time inside the mansion of someone they could call an enemy……before there was a knock on the door, which Elena turned to look over at.

「Sorry to keep you waiting, Elena Kerebel-sama. My name is Pree Marschel, the head of the Marschel family.」

Along with those words, a middle aged woman in her 40’s appeared. Her body was adorned with accessories such as rings, bracelets, necklaces, anklets, earrings, and hair ornaments. It hurt Elena’s eyes just to look at her.

However, having received education as the daughter of Duke Kerebel, Elena just nodded slightly without revealing her inner thoughts.

「I had also wanted to meet with someone from the Marschel family. In that sense, the timing was just right.」

「Oh my, hearing you say that makes my invitation worth it.」

Pree said that with a big smile on her face, but Elena could sense that her smile didn’t carry any of the intent with it.

(In addition, as someone who governs this Labyrinth City, it’s natural that she probably has her own thoughts on things.)

「From what I’ve heard, you rarely make public appearances. Is there a reason for that?」

「There’s no particular reason. I just don’t particularly like appearing in front of people. If I had the time, I feel it would be more meaningful to study magic.」

Admiring her words, Elena gave a smile and nodded before speaking.

「……Oh? Speaking of which, among the members of the party that found the dungeon located here, the Marschel family’s ancestor was a mage. If you don’t mind, would you be able to tell me what you’re researching?」

As she asked that, a thought regarding abnormal species passed through her mind.

When the Levisor family incident had come to light, by the time the Silva family had reached the research lab, all the researchers had already been killed. Just looking at that point alone, it was clear that the Levisor family hadn’t been the only one involved in the matter of abnormal species. And, as for Elena, a prime candidate for the mastermind was the person in front of her, the head of the Marschel family, Pree.

「I don’t want to reveal too much……but if you’re from Duke Kerebel’s family, I don’t mind telling you about it. I’m actually working on sealing magic in gems.」

「Sealing magic in gems?」

「Yes. For example, Elena-sama is a well known user of wind magic. I am hoping to create a gem that can contain a magic like Wind Arrow. When someone uses the gem, the effect of Wind Arrow would activate immediately……I would like to see that become a reality. If my research bears fruit, it would be a great help to adventurers as the number of mages is ultimately very small.」

Pree replied as if she had no other intentions, but Elena seemed confused.

「But, aren’t there already magic items with similar effects? Items that emit magical effects when magic power is provided.」

The items that came to Elena’s mind were the Dagger of Flowing Water and the Thorns Spear that Rei had.

The Dagger of Flowing Water could only be used to create drinking water due to the incompatibility of Rei’s magic power. But, if someone with compatible magic power used it, it could turn into water whip or water sword.

As for the Thorns Spear, when it pierced the enemy, it would create thorns from within the enemy’s body, halting their movement as well. It was an effect that could be considered quite outrageous.

Of course, that wasn’t all. The Shoes of Sleipnir that Elena wore allowed her to walk on air, her sword whip could also be freely manipulated with her magic power.

Aren’t they basically the same as your goal with gems? At Elena’s implied question, Pree shook her head.

「No, no, it’s true that they can produce magical effects, like what Elena-sama said. However, according to my research, it will be possible for low ranking adventurers to utilise them to a certain extent.」

「Well, if that’s true, it truly is a wonderful research.」

Elena nodded, but the next moment, her gaze sharpened as she stared at Pree.

「By the way, changing the subject……recently, monsters known as abnormal species have been found inside the dungeon. Do you know about them?」

Pree sighed regretfully as she nodded at Elena, who’s question showed that she wouldn’t forgive any lies.

「Yes, of course. I am still the head of the Marschel family. I have received all the relevant information from the guild…… Why did Schaffner have to do that……to be honest, I still have a hard time understanding it.」

「Schaffner is still missing. Do you have any idea where he might be hiding?」

「Unfortunately not. As someone who govern’s Exil, I would like him to be caught as soon as possible to pay for his crimes.」

「……I see. If you don’t know, it can’t be helped.」

Elena nodded at Pree’s response, but she had a revolting feeling inside.

There was nothing suspicious with what she had said. However, Elena’s instincts told her that the person in front of her was undoubtedly somehow involved in the current turmoil in Exil.

However, without any evidence, she couldn’t do anything, so all she could do was hold back her words.

「Yes, it’s very unfortunate. Schaffner was already the head of the Levisor family when I became the head of the Marschel family and was a very respectable person.」

Pree gently stretched her finger towards a gem on the tip of her necklace while making a expression of disappointment, on the surface at least.

In her heart, she was admiring her gems while sneering at the poor old man who had become the prey of his own desires.

「That gem……?」

Elena, who was watching Pree’s actions, focused on the gem on her necklace.

Since she could sense magic power from it, it had to be a magic item. It seemed pretty powerful as well.

「Oh? As expected of Elena-sama, you have a good eye. I recently acquired this gem, it’s beautiful, isn’t it? It’s a deep green that attracts my gaze.」

「Could this gem be the result of the research you mentioned earlier?」

Elena asked while watching Yellow, who had been eating cookies next to her, but was now focused on Pree’s gem as well for some reason.

「Yes. That being said, it’s still in the research stage, so I can only enchant gems that already contain very pure magic power.」

「Could that gem possibly be……」

Speaking up to that point, she stopped herself.

Elena was familiar with the size and shape of the gem, but the colour was definitely different. The gem that Elena knew of, the gen embedded in the Jewel Sniper’s back, had been red, not green.

(Is it my own misunderstanding? ……No, as expected, it’s hard to guess wrongly on a gem of that size……or is it just a coincidence?)

As Elena thought about that, Pree had a smile on her lips as she caressed the gem.

This smile was different fom her earlier smile. It was definitely a smile that came from the bottom of her heart.

「No, I think it’s quite a wonderful gem. If you don’t mind, could you show it to me?」

To Elena, she was just making a casual comment.

If she loved gems that much, Pree might slip something while boasting about them.

……However.

「What are you saying!? Are you planning to steal my gems from me!?」

Pree’s reaction to Elena’s words was dramatic.

The smile that had been on her face earlier disappeared and she glared at Elena with murderous intent, as if Elena had killed her parents.

The ring-shaped magic item on her finger was imbued with magic power, making it ready to activate at any time.

「Calm down. I have no intention of stealing your gems. I just wanted to take a look.」

「Kyukyu! Kyu!」

After telling Pree to calm down, whose eyes were bloodshot, Yellow gave a cry in agreement.

The two of them stared silently at each other for about a minute. Perhaps finally realising that Elena wasn’t trying to steal the gems she was holding, the murderous look disappeared from Pree’s face.

As if realising that, she bowed her head slightly.

「I’m very sorry, Elena-sama. I always end up like this when it comes to gems.」

「……Can you serve as the head of the Marschel family in a state like that?」

「Yes, about that. ……It’s embarrassing to say, but I don’t have many relatives in my family right now. There are only a few children from distant relatives and one of them will probably eventually succeed the Marschel family. So, for now, I have no choice but to do my best.」

The expression on her face as she said that was definitely sadness.

Her grief was something that would make ordinary people feel pain in their hearts. But, from Elena’s point of view, it was somewhat shallow, just like the smile she had shown earlier.

(Considering that, the anger she showed earlier when I asked to see her gems was probably her real expression……)

Even though she thought that in her mind, Elena nodded without showing it on her face.

「I see. That is unfortunate. ……Is it an illness or something?」

「No. It was a kind of accident.」

Pree answered Elena without hesitation. But, Elena, who was already suspicious of her words, felt even more suspicious at the word ‘accident’.

(That said, she doesn’t look like someone who’s power hungry. If that were the case, she would make more public appearances. So, there is a reason behind all this. ……Would it be more natural to consider it that way?)

They continued to talk for another 30 minutes and Elena tried to shake Pree up in various ways, but Pree didn’t fall for anything.

Eventually……

「Ah, Elena-sama. I’m sorry, but it seems to be about time, so let’s leave things at that for today. I still have work to do as the head of the Marschel family.」

「Hmm, I see. As you’ve said that, I’ll just get in the way if I stay here any longer. ……Yellow, it’s time to go home.」

「Kyu!」

Hearing Elena’s words, Yellow gave a short cry before landing on her left shoulder.

After exchanging several words, Pree’s maid brought Elena out the room.

Pree saw Elena off with a smile on her face, but the moment the door closed, her expression changed.

No, rather, she still had the same smile, but her smile seemed deeper, as if expressing her true feelings.

「As expected, she’s sharp. ……Hey, what do you think? As the head of the Levisor family who has supported Exil for many years.」

Muttering to herself, she continued to speak while gently stroking the gem on her necklace.

「Yes, that might be true. But after meeting with her face to face, I understand. That child is definitely going to be the finest material. One that would only appear once every hundred or thousand years.」

Pree stroked the gem with the smile of a lunatic as she said that.

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