Chapter 56
Ding!
The Duke’s disappointment has increased!
+30%!
Disappointment: 440% → 470%!
Warning: Disappointment level is excessively high.
Please ensure it does not exceed 500%.
Elijia swallowed dryly at the notification window.
Wow… that’s cutting it close.
At this rate, one more disappointment and it would shoot straight past 500%.
Did I… maybe go a little too far?
She cautiously glanced at the Duke’s expression. She couldn’t tell if it was an illusion caused by the percentage bar or if it was real, but his face looked almost ashen. Most likely, a deep shadow of anger was clouding his features.
After an unbearably tense silence, the Duke finally spoke in a heavy voice.
“Elijia Semperion, don’t say things like that, even as a joke.”
Elijia bit her lip.
…I want to tell him it wasn’t a joke, but if I do, that disappointment meter might explode. Better let it go.
Sometimes a little white lie was necessary.
Although she’d always been one to shout about running away from home, this time—faced with the terrifying number 470—she kept her mouth shut. Seeing her remain silent, the Duke continued coldly.
“Have you even thought about what people will say if you leave home? And do you have any idea how hard it is to live alone? The way you live now, it’d be a miracle if I didn’t hear news of your death within a month of you leaving.”
…Excuse me? Death?
Elijia sighed inwardly.
Why does living alone automatically mean dying?
That was more than a little illogical.
Of course, the Duke didn’t know that just before she was thrown into this world, she had been living alone quite happily. She prided herself on being a “pro at solo living.” She had to work hard not to let her face show how absurd she found his words.
And then Howell decided to pile on. He added in an irritated tone:
“Hey. Out there, there won’t be any maids, no cooks, no guards! How exactly are you planning to survive?”
What are you talking about? I’m the one who spent the day beating up monsters by myself.
“Hurry up and apologize to Father!”
“…”
Elijia had to summon superhuman willpower not to scowl.
Calm down. It’s 470. Four hundred seventy. This father of mine jumps 30 points per disappointment—one wrong word and he’ll collapse with a ‘Keh! You dare!’ and that’ll be it. Think of it as saving a life and just let it go.
Finally, after regaining control, she spoke in a subdued tone.
“…I’m sorry, Father. I went too far. I won’t talk about leaving home again, so please forgive me.”
Of course, she meant she wouldn’t talk about it—she’d still keep planning her escape.
For now, she put on the face of a good daughter who genuinely wanted to keep her father alive. The Duke responded in an impatient voice, as though he’d been waiting for her apology.
“Good. Don’t even think about saying such things again. You cause trouble even inside the house—how much worse would it be if you were out there? Just thinking about how people would point fingers at the Duke’s family for turning their daughter loose makes my blood run cold.”
So it’s the trouble I’d cause that he’s really worried about.
He seemed to prefer keeping the ticking time bomb where he could see it. Elijia understood that logic.
At least her quick apology seemed to help; some color was returning to the Duke’s face. Howell took advantage of the moment.
“Anyway… today’s outcome wasn’t all bad. We received the Saintess’s thanks, and neither Elijia nor I were hurt. I even checked her condition with healing magic, so you don’t have to worry about that. And as for the cat… since even the mage who examined it said nothing, it should be fine to keep it.”
“…Is that so.”
“Yes. We might need to equip it with a beast-control magic tool, though.”
Howell’s calm explanation seemed to soften the Duke’s eyes. A notification popped up in front of Elijia.
Ding!
The Duke’s disappointment has decreased!
-40%!
Disappointment: 470% → 430%!
Oh.
So Howell could be useful sometimes.
Thanks to her apology and his backup, they’d shaved off a whole 40% in one go. Elijia sighed inwardly.
When I explained the same thing earlier, he just got angrier… This is hard.
She remembered that when she’d said it was a good thing to gain the Saintess’s favor, the Duke had snapped, “I never told you to do that.” Yet now, with Howell saying the same thing, the disappointment dropped.
Apparently, who said it—and when—mattered a lot.
While she was grumbling inwardly, the conversation between Howell and the Duke continued.
“But… the mage who was there examined the cat and even used healing magic to check Elijia’s health?”
The Duke narrowed his eyes, as if mulling it over. Something about it bothered him.
“But Sir Plumen can’t use healing magic.”
“…”
“…”
Silence.
Howell glanced at Elijia before answering.
“Yes… it wasn’t Vice Tower Lord Jerome Plumen. Someone else came.”
“Who?”
“…Sir Ende.”
“…Finn Ende?”
Was it her imagination, or was the Duke’s voice growing lower? Still squinting, he muttered:
“As far as I know, Sir Ende hardly ever leaves the Mage Tower.”
“Vice Tower Lord Plumen said he had something to do today, so Sir Ende came in his place!”
“…Really?”
Even with Elijia’s explanation, the Duke’s flat tone and skeptical expression made it clear he didn’t believe her.
“Even if Plumen had business, if the temple called, he would have gone. For Sir Ende to come instead is… odd.”
The bigger problem was that Howell now looked suspicious too.
“…Now that you mention it, why him out of all the mages in the tower…?”
At the same time, both turned to stare at Elijia. Howell’s face twisted into one of belated betrayal.
“So he really did just want to see you…”
“That’s not it!”
Elijia shook her head frantically.
You said in the carriage you wouldn’t ask! I thought saving your life squared us up!
With a resolute expression, she opened her mouth to defend herself.
“You’re both seriously misunderstanding here. I have nothing going on with Sir Ende.”
“Liar. He’s your next ball partner.”
“Other than that, we have no relationship whatsoever.”
“…Hmm.”
The suspicious looks from both father and son made her grit her teeth. Finally, she burst out:
“Are you going to keep doing this? If you’re just going to ignore what I say and keep getting mad, I’ll just go to my room!”
“Elijia!”
If I stay any longer, I can’t guarantee I won’t raise the disappointment level again!
She’d been humoring them to avoid making things worse, but there were limits. She’d already given her report; there was nothing more to say.
Throwing open the office door, she bolted.
“Elijia, stop right there!”
“I just fought a beast and I’m exhausted! Please let me rest!”
“…”
Apparently the excuse worked, because no one followed. She quickly ran up the stairs.
Phew, barely escaped.
Of course, it was only a temporary reprieve. Tomorrow, they might start interrogating her again. But for now, she’d reached her limit.
“Um, my lady?”
When she reached her room, the maids were waiting. Elijia spoke tiredly.
“Sorry, but I need some time alone… I really just want to rest.”
“Y-Yes, my lady!”
They glanced at each other and hurried out. Dora lingered with a worried look.
“I’ve tidied your bed, so you can sleep right away. I’ll just leave the refreshments here. Do you need help changing?”
“I’m fine. I’ll do it myself.”
After sending even Dora out, Elijia slumped onto the sofa. She wanted to change clothes immediately, but then realized there was a problem.
Mew? Mew meow mew? (Wait… why did I carry you here again…?)
Ah. Right.
The snow leopard cub was so light she’d forgotten she was still holding it. She set it gently on the floor. No way she was changing in front of it.
Sensing her hesitation, the cub spoke first.
Meow…! (Don’t worry. I’m female! Or should I just cover my eyes?)
Seriously smart.
Even for a magical beast, it was practically human-level intelligence—recognizing that it was time for her to change into nightclothes. Elijia shook her head.
“There’s a small room behind the curtain where I keep my dresses. I’ll change there. Wait here.”
Meow! (Got it!)
“If you wander off or attack anyone, you’ll regret it. Stay put, okay?”
Meow meow. (Yeah, don’t worry.) Meow, meow. (I already know how strong you are.)
It nodded solemnly, looking rather cute. Satisfied, Elijia grabbed her nightclothes and went behind the curtain.
Changing isn’t broadcast, but just in case, I’ll turn the camera off for a moment.
Things had been too hectic to focus, but she hadn’t forgotten she was still streaming. So many things to juggle—streaming, quests, her interrogating family.
But she had to stay sharp. Pressing a hand to her forehead, she addressed the viewers:
∥“…Sorry I haven’t been talking much on stream. Once I’m changed, let’s check the quest rewards together! Thanks for waiting!”∥
She mustered her brightest voice despite her fatigue. Quickly changing, she drew back the curtain and turned the camera back on.
Now she could lie down, stream, check the quest rewards… and talk to the cat she’d brought back. Time to focus.
She headed toward the sofa.
Meow! Meow, meow! (You took longer than I thought! I’ve been waiting, human!)
The snow leopard cub waved a tiny paw happily. Elijia smiled at its calm demeanor—
—then noticed crumbs stuck to its mouth.
…Cookie crumbs?
“Wait… did you eat something?”
Meow! (Uh, well…)
The cub’s tail shot up in alarm. Now she saw that one of the scones on the plate was broken into pieces, as if something had eaten it. Could cats even eat scones? More importantly—
“My food was poisoned…!”
Meow? (What are you talking about?) …Keh.
Its eyes went wide—and then its body froze mid-motion.
As the cub slowly collapsed, Elijia lunged toward the sofa in a panic.
