The Youngest Daughter Of The Great Wizard Of The Famous Swordsmanship [EN]: Chapter 185

185. Becky Lane (4)

May 3, 2024

“Our teacher is probably waiting for us safely in the capital by now.”

Rosette smiled brightly, trying her best to sound optimistic.

“Well, I think Dad might already be in the North. He must know that Lucas and I came North, so he’s probably come to find us.”

“If it’s Teacher, he definitely would.”

“I’m already worried about getting scolded.”

Joshua chuckled playfully.

“Of course, we deserve a good scolding this time.”

“What? Joshua, are you serious?”

He gently touched his lips to Rosette’s forehead as if to calm her, then pulled away.

“But I can’t bring myself to stop Teacher. He’s usually soft on you four siblings, but he’s incredibly strict when he’s serious.”

“That’s true, but shouldn’t you at least pretend to try and dissuade him?”

When Rosette pouted, Joshua chuckled again and kissed her lips this time.

“I can’t stop Teacher, but I’ll get scolded with you. I’ll take all the nagging for your share.”

“……”

“So, we need to get back safely first. That way, we’ll either get scolded by Teacher or hear that he’s relieved we’re safe.”

“I guess so.”

Rosette shook off her gloomy feelings and nodded.

“I want to go back safely and whine, too.”

Duke Adrian was the only one in the Adrian family who knew about Rosette’s past.

Rosette was always saddened that her beloved father remembered that terrible event, but now she longed to be held in her father’s arms and act like a child.

She wanted to tell him that a nasty demon named Memento had attacked, taking her father’s form, and she was so scared because it reminded her of the past.

At the same time, she wanted to tell him, once again, how glad she was that he was safe.

‘To do that, I need to find the core first.’

Rosette looked at Becky, who was crouching in a corner, clutching her head.

It seemed her claim of not being able to use magic after being trapped in this barrier wasn’t a lie, as she hadn’t responded at all since earlier.

She hadn’t used magic even when the demon threatened her life right in front of her, so it didn’t seem like she was just pretending.

No matter how she considered it, it was strange. Rosette herself and Joshua could use magic without any problems, so why was Becky the only one affected like that?

Rosette asked to confirm.

“Joshua, can you use magic now?”

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“No, I’m just confirming the facts.”

Joshua nodded with a relieved expression.

“It’s a little harder than usual, but I can use it.”

“I can use it without any problems. But why can’t Lady Lane use it at all?”

“……”

“Lady Lane’s skills are definitely better than Joshua’s, and less than mine. I don’t know how much less, but she went to the Magic Tower, so the difference in skill isn’t that significant.”

“Probably.”

“Then she must have summoned her familiar [a magical creature bonded to a witch or wizard], but I don’t see it either. Did she not usually bring it with her?”

Joshua shook his head.

“No, Lady Lane’s familiar is a white parrot. She didn’t always have it summoned like us, but I’ve seen it often. Now that I think about it, I haven’t seen it since we were trapped here.”

Rosette whispered seriously.

“Assuming Lady Lane isn’t lying, that means something is wrong with her. Why only Lady Lane? Is there another reason?”

Her blue eyes narrowed suspiciously.

“Could it be related to the Magic Tower?”

“……The Magic Tower?”

“Yes. I’m concerned that Lady Lane is particularly sensitive whenever the Magic Tower is mentioned.”

Joshua looked at Becky, following Rosette’s gaze, and pondered.

“That’s true. Lady Lane wasn’t usually one to get along well with others. She preferred to be alone and hardly spoke to anyone. But it wasn’t to this extent.”

He nodded with conviction.

“She’s definitely become more edgy and prickly since we were trapped here. I thought it was because of the situation and the fact that she couldn’t use magic. But maybe that’s not the only reason.”

Rosette grabbed Joshua’s arm as if to interrogate Becky right away.

“No. She won’t talk even if you go and ask her directly. She’ll just become even more wary and clam up.”

“Then?”

“We need to find an opportunity to get her to talk naturally. Until then, it seems better to leave her alone.”

“……I guess so.”

In the midst of the chaotic situation, dawn broke. Daniel’s condition had recovered miraculously quickly overnight. He could walk on his own, albeit with a limp, without the support of Lucas or Lord Roten.

“At this rate, you’ll be able to wield a sword and fight tomorrow!”

“How about taking on the monsters here and becoming a Sword Master [a highly skilled swordsman] before we leave?”

The knights, who had not let their guard down, made light jokes. Their expressions seemed brighter than ever. Rosette glimpsed the hope in the knights’ faces.

Lucas also joked.

“I’m so glad, hyung [older brother or male friend in Korean], I thought I was going to have to carry you back like this. Of course, I’m strong enough to run with you on my back, but wouldn’t you be embarrassed?”

Rosette simply smiled at Daniel without a word and got up from her seat.

“Where are you going, kid?”

“I’m going to scout around for a bit. We need to find a way out as soon as possible.”

Lucas stood up.

“I’ll go with you.”

“No. Please stay with Daniel.”

Daniel smiled bitterly.

“I wish I could go with you, but I’d only be a hindrance.”

“A hindrance? No, that’s not true. But I want you to get better as soon as possible, so I’m telling you to rest more.”

Lucas, who had exchanged glances with Lord Roten, raised his hand again.

“Lord Roten is with hyung. I’ll go.”

“I’d be more comfortable going alone…….”

At that moment, Joshua got up from his seat with Silver.

“I’ll go.”

“Your Highness……?”

“Yes. Wouldn’t it be better for me, who knows a little bit about magic, to go? With Silver, it won’t be too difficult even if monsters attack.”

Lucas groaned and sat down next to Daniel again, as if resigned.

“If that’s Your Highness’s will, I can’t help it. Kid, be careful.”

“Yes!”

Rosette cast a defensive magic spell around the group of soldiers and headed towards the place where she had been feeling a strange flow of mana.

[Woof! Woof!]

[Peep!]

Silver wagged his tail happily as if he was out for a walk, and Peep was jumping up and down on the wolf’s back.

Occasionally, one or two monsters would pop out on their own, but Silver and Joshua handled them without difficulty.

How long had it been? Rosette flinched at the strong mana that enveloped her body.

“Do you feel it too, Joshua?”

“Yes. I feel it so strongly that I don’t know why I didn’t notice it until now.”

The two walked a little further. Soon, Rosette stopped under a bare tree.

She looked down at the ground where not a single blade of grass grew and drew her sword. Then, she infused mana into the sword and plunged it into the ground.

A deafening sound, like a baby screaming, came from the spot where the sword was plunged, and a black smoke-like substance flowed out quickly from the gap.

“Rose, be careful……!”

Joshua quickly raised the hem of his cloak and wrapped it around Rosette’s body.

[Peep!]

[Woof!]

The two familiars, reacting to the ominous mana, attacked the spot where the sword was plunged. Silver dug at the ground with his front paws, and Peep pecked at the ground.

After about ten seconds, a stele [an upright stone slab or pillar bearing an inscription] appeared nearby. Red letters were written on the black stele, but it was not in the imperial language or any language used in the neighboring kingdoms.

“What language is this?”

Rosette’s eyes widened as she poked her head out and checked the stele at Joshua’s question.

“This is ancient language.”

“……Ancient language?”

“Yes. I learned it when I lived at the Marquis Dallas’s residence. Research on ancient languages is not yet advanced, so I can’t read it perfectly…….”

Joshua blocked Rosette as she tried to approach the stele.

“It’s dangerous.”

“It’s okay. If it were really dangerous, we wouldn’t be standing here unscathed.”

“……”

“I think this is probably the core.”

Rosette’s face gradually hardened as she broke free from his arms and read the letters.

“What does it say?”

“I’ve only found fragmentary letters so far. It will take some time to decipher more. Besides, it will take time to remove it. If I do it alone without Lady Lane’s help, that is.”

“Then what should we do?”

Rosette took Joshua’s hand.

“Let’s prevent others from approaching this area and go back for now.”

Rosette and Joshua headed back to the base camp. There had been another battle with monsters on this side, and there were monster corpses outside the barrier that Rosette had set up.

“Kid, you’re here? Guess how many monsters this oppa [older brother or male friend in Korean, used by females] caught!”

“……”

Rosette passed Lucas, who was proudly chattering, and headed to Becky. As usual, she was trembling in the corner, clutching her head whenever monsters appeared.

What was different was that when Rosette approached, she was muttering in an agitated voice, with an emotion that was either anger or fear.

“We’re all going to die. How dare you touch that person. You’re crazy, out of your mind. A princess like you shouldn’t have come here.”

“Lady Lane.”

“Should I kill you now? Then…….”

“Becky Lane!”

Rosette shouted to bring her back to her senses, and Becky raised her head with a start. As a result, her hood fell back, revealing Becky’s face.

Her eyes were bloodshot, and her face was covered in tears.

Becky’s pupils widened with excitement as she recognized the person.

“You……!”

At that moment, Becky lunged at Rosette’s neck.