LIGHTNOVELWORLD chapter 232
232. I wanted to ■■■ ■■■■■ ■■■ ■■ (2)
“Really, you haven’t met your little sister?”
Flora asked once more, gripping my collar tightly.
“I told you so! She has no reason to come looking for me!”
As I spoke with a hint of irritation, the little one seemed to realize that I wasn’t lying and released her grip on my collar.
But her reaction felt oddly strange.
“That can’t be right…?”
“What do you mean?”
“Earlier, Mom and your big sister were here, but your little sister wasn’t. She must have gone off alone to see you.”
“Gone off alone?”
“Yeah. She only told me… Your little sister definitely said she was going to give you a present.”
The reason for Flora’s visit was the same as before. Apparently, Claire had moved ahead of time to prepare a gift for me after winning first place at the symposium.
If it’s the Claire I know, she would surely want to deliver something like that herself…
“Then why hasn’t she arrived yet?”
A sudden unease began to swell within me.
An ominous feeling started to loom.
And then,
the sound I had dreaded echoed in my ears.
– Ding!
“…Damn it!”
As soon as I caught sight of the window, I urgently turned to Flora.
“Which direction did Claire go?”
“Huh? I’m not really sure… She just said we should part ways in the hallway…”
“What about the gift you prepared for me? Do you have any idea what it is or where it might be?”
If you know anything at all, just tell me.
Right now!
▶ Episode XII. The search for Claire’s whereabouts begins. ◀
▶ You must find the missing Claire. ◀
▶ Warning! Hostile entities have appeared. They are dangerous threats, so please be cautious not to lose your life. ◀
▶ A timer has been activated. If you fail to find Claire within the time limit, a bad ending will be confirmed. ◀
▶ Remaining Timer
[ 17 minutes 52 seconds ]
The chapter isn’t over yet.
What a grotesque sight, with humans and plants intertwined.
It was precisely this bizarre appearance that allowed Claire to unleash her magic without hesitation.
But.
‘Even after casting such spells, it’s still standing?’
The flames she conjured were surely capable of consuming it whole.
Her mana was abundant, and the power of her magic was more than sufficient.
Yet that abominable creature remained unscathed.
“Ugh.”
Her breath quickened, and dizziness began to wash over her.
Given how much mana she had expended, this reaction was only natural; however, she could not afford to let those things slip away now.
“Oh dear. It seems you’re starting to tire. Lady Claire.”
As Claire pressed a hand against her throbbing head, Count Letelvic sneered at her.
“Well, despite everything, those were quite impressive attacks. They say the magical talents of the princesses of Bagrand are remarkable… If it weren’t for this creature here, you might have been in real danger.”
“Shut up…!”
“Oh my. After wasting so much mana like that. You must be beginning to realize how futile it is.”
– Fwoosh!
Once again, flames erupted as they sought to engulf them. But once more, nothing changed.
“Heh heh. Spending time near that Karsein fellow seems to have dulled your skills a bit too much for my liking. To keep repeating such meaningless actions…”
Claire clenched her teeth in frustration as if biting back anger.
As time dragged on, the other nobles had broken through the wall.
—Boom!
“It’s done! The wall is open!”
“Quickly, let’s go.”
“After you. I still have things to do.”
With a loud noise and the corridor now complete, the nobles surged forward to leave.
And you want me to just stand here with my eyes wide open and watch that?
Claire gritted her teeth and squeezed her magical power tightly.
“…! What is this?”
“Ugh!”
Kugugugugu—
Spheres of flame unfurled and flew in unison, striking the very wall they had just breached.
The walls hit by the spheres began to crumble with a dull thud. The path carved out by the Waglulu faction was once again blocked off, and Claire, who had erected a wall of flames in front of it, gasped for breath with her weary body.
Despite the acrid scent of blood rising from her throat to her mouth, Claire remained undeterred as she glared fiercely ahead.
“Hah… Hah… Do you think I’ll just let you go?”
“Kugh! The way!”
“That girl…!”
“I thought she’d lost all strength… but it seems that Bargrand is still Bargrand after all?”
“…It seems Lady Claire has truly lost her wits being around Carsein.”
Exhausted, Claire spat out blood. Seeing her determined struggle until the end made Count Letelvick flinch at his eyes.
“I can’t go. I will never let you send me.”
“Even so, as a noble lady of distinguished blood, I tried my best to ensure you would be sent without pain… But the jest ends here.”
“…!”
Creak.
The Count Letelvic’s cane began to glow, and from the monstrous figure, tendrils twisted and extended outward.
─────!
The rampaging tree monster swung its tendrils with reckless abandon.
The path that had been blocked by Claire’s magic was quickly cleared again, allowing the nobles to escape in haste.
“Deal with it. Marf.”
Now left alone before Claire, Count Letelvic chuckled mockingly before uttering just one final word and departing.
At his voice, the creature’s face reacted as features began to form—eyes, nose, mouth—transforming into a human visage.
Marf, the leader of Shatren’s forces, wore a chilling smile upon seeing Claire gasping for breath before him.
“Lady Claireeeeeee-!”
***
Hair cascading like pink petals in the wind.
A sharp yet strikingly intense visage adorned with captivating features.
A voice that rang clear and confident.
Every time Marf laid eyes on Claire like this, he found himself thinking the same thing:
‘She is beautiful.’
Heir to noble bloodline she may be; she always shone brilliantly.
Wearing the dress she had made herself, Claire strolled through the Chatren estate, taking in her surroundings.
The way she sat with her legs crossed, flipping through documents with an air of authority.
Her sharp directives to the residents, pointing out their shortcomings.
It was all breathtakingly beautiful.
Watching Claire, Marf dreamed a dream.
A dream of someday standing beside her.
A person so stunning that it wouldn’t be strange if a pair of wings sprouted from her back. A person like a brilliant flame.
He wanted her.
He longed to reveal his love completely and openly.
Not by secretly bringing flowers as he did now, but by standing proudly before her and offering them directly.
Yet that was an overwhelmingly vast dream.
The Duke of Bagrand.
The greatest barrier—their difference in status—stood firmly between them.
For someone like Marf, merely a commoner, to claim someone like Claire who reigned at the pinnacle among nobles was utterly absurd.
So he devised his plans step by step.
At first, wasn’t simply being near enough?
He could gradually elevate his status and close the distance between them.
First, he would swallow up the Chatren estate from that foolish old man Brem.
Then he would orchestrate its revival deliberately and prove himself as a capable individual.
Once his abilities were established, he could seize control of Chatren and steadily amass wealth thereafter.
The wall of status would be resolved by the noble’s castle, built from the expensive crops of Châtrene.
Then, before Claire, I could simply kneel and present her with a bouquet.
It was something that time alone could fix.
But then…
At some point, a beggar had started following me.
That wretched little beggar had somehow managed to worm his way into the Duke’s household and claimed a spot by Claire’s side.
No. He hadn’t claimed it; he had merely sullied it.
He didn’t know his place and was ruining my path forward.
He dared to tarnish the name of that noble one!
And…
He was beginning to ruin my plans as well.
‘Arrogant fool.’
How dare he interfere with my designs?
With him having removed the stepping stones leading up the stairs, he would have to pay dearly for it.
That scoundrel Karsein could be dealt with easily enough. It brought me immense joy that I might even receive Claire’s assistance in this matter, as if our thoughts were aligned!
However, before long, all my plans became twisted beyond recognition.
Once again due to that pest’s appearance.
– O great one’s new pawn, seek out Karsein and kill him.
Someone commanded Marf thusly.
To think they would utter such words to me—who is destined to become Lady Claire’s husband! There are limits to ignorance!
But it doesn’t matter.
I feel the same urge to tear him apart.
Strength surges within me.
For some reason, I felt like I could rip anything to shreds.
With this power coursing through my body, I was confident I could even fend off magic.
Karsein.
This time, I’ll make you suffer with my own hands.
When I opened my eyes like that,
the unforgettable sight of pink hair caught my gaze.
Without a doubt, it was my future wife.
Claire Bagrand stood before me.
“Lady Claire. It’s been such a long time…! Do you… do you remember me?”
“What?”
“I’m Marf. The Marf from Shatren!”
Marf greeted her eagerly, but Claire blinked in confusion and replied,
“Who’s that?”
“Uh…?”
“Damn it. You’re throwing around names I’ve never even heard of?”
“I-I mean… Lady Claire?”
Ha, haha.
That’s understandable.
It can be bewildering.
You don’t know how strong I am, so it makes sense.
There’s no helping it. I may not have a bouquet, but let’s create one.
– Whoosh!
“…!”
“Yes, I’ve liked you for a long time. Lady Claire.”
“Huh?”
“Please accept my love. Heh, hehehe.”
They say women are crazy about flowers.
Claire would surely be the same. If I give her something like this, she’ll obviously like it—
– Whoosh!
Flames shot out from the flower right in front of Marf’s eyes.
“Damn it. Why are you suddenly going on about flowers?”
“Is that so? Ha, haha. You don’t like this one? Then how about another flower—”
– Whoosh!
Once again, the flower Marf conjured up was engulfed in flames.
“You crazy b*stard. Are you messing with me?”
“…Haha. Ahahaha.”
Sure. That can happen.
This flower has a personality that dislikes it too.
Then I can just give her something else.
No. This time, let’s not just give a single bloom but an entire bouquet instead.
“…!”
“I love you, Lady Claire. This bouquet is my way of expressing that love.”
I included every flower I knew.
From those with the sweetest scents to the most beautiful blooms. And I gathered all the pink flowers together and presented the bouquet to her.
With this much effort,
With this level of sincerity,
Surely my feelings of love will reach her?
Maf approached with hopeful anticipation.
But then—
-Wham!
As if drawing a line in the sand, Maf’s face stiffened again at the wall of flames erected around the bouquet.
“Lady Claire…? What’s wrong…?”
“Love? You’re saying some chilling things.”
“…Huh?”
“A crazy b*stard I’ve never even heard of is making me sick! Hey! Just so you know, I hate flowers. Especially those you gave me, you jerk!”
“…Ah, ahhh…!”
Crack.
Something snapped inside Marf’s mind.
What became a blazing flame erupted from his fury, manifesting into various wooden tendrils that sprouted from his arms.
“How dare you reject my love.”
“Ugh?!”
-Swish!
In an instant, the wall of flames was engulfed by the tendrils and vanished.
With a resonating thrum echoing through the area, holes punctured the surrounding walls. One of the tentacles aimed directly at Claire’s right shoulder.
“That’s not possible. You are mine. Mine. There’s no such thing as a right to refuse.”
Simultaneously, other wooden tendrils bound her limbs tightly.
Claire, helplessly restrained, spat out curses.
“You crazy… b*stard…!”
“I don’t want to do this to my future wife… but it’s your fault. This is all your fault!”
Swish.
New wooden tendrils coiled together, forming a wedge aimed at Claire’s legs.
“I need to take you quietly, so bear with it even if it hurts a little. Got it?”
With a chilling expression on his face, Marf’s tendrils advanced toward Claire’s legs.
The moment Claire squeezed her eyes shut tight,
“Ugh?!”
She suddenly fell backward with a thud.
When I opened my eyes, bewildered by what had happened, the chilling visage of Marf, looking as if he had lost his mind, was gone.
-Wham!
“Ha. You really have come a long way. What’s so special about that gift?”
“You… you?!”
Karsein.
Her younger brother stood there with a sword in hand.