CH 15

I took a shallow breath and looked at my father.

“Father, it’s just that…” Nita hesitated before speaking.

“They said you were back, so I came to greet you.”

I slowly approached my father, slightly standing on my tiptoes, and kissed both of his cheeks alternately.

“Did you return safely? Nothing happened, right?”

“Yes,” my father replied, with a slightly puzzled expression, and he returned the kiss to my cheek.

‘…Thank goodness. It seems he hasn’t gone to the laboratory yet.’

Feeling relieved, I stepped back, and then Nita approached.

“Father, actually, I took Eila out for a short outing…”

“I heard,” my father interrupted Nita’s words. Nita looked uncomfortable.

“Perhaps because you were away from home, Eila hasn’t been feeling well these past few days. So I thought it might cheer her up to take her out. So, in case you scold Eila…”

“No need to make excuses. I told you before that you were in charge of this house when I wasn’t around, and if that’s how you saw it, you had every right to.”

Both Nita and I seemed quite surprised by my father’s words.

‘I was certain he would show some concern…’

“…Ah, yes, Father,” Nita replied with a slightly remorseful expression.

“Just make sure next time you bring her back before it gets dark.”

“Yes. Understood.”

“Father, have you eaten?”

When I asked, my father shook his head.

“Not yet.”

“Then I’ll have them prepare the meal. Brother Nita, will you join us as well?”

“Uh, sure. It might be a bit tight on time, but… well, it’ll be fine.”

“Alright, I’ll go change and come down. See you both at the dining hall later.”

I lifted my skirt and bid farewell before leaving the study.

Then, I went to my room, gathered the necessary items, and cast an invisibility spell before exiting.

Since my father had returned home earlier than expected, there was no time to waste.

I had to free Clyde right away.

I descended into the underground laboratory with determined steps.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

Clyde asked, sensing my stern expression.

Without a word, I pulled out the scroll I had copied from my father’s workshop.

If this release spell didn’t work, everything would be over.

“Please…,” I prayed fervently as I infused mana into the scroll.

Then, the runes inscribed on the scroll emitted a blue light.

In the next moment, with a clunking sound, the iron-barred door swung open.

Clyde’s eyes widened.

We stared at each other dumbfounded, and without needing to say who would go first, I shouted cheerfully.

“I did it, I did it, I did it!”

I couldn’t contain my joy and leaped into the iron-barred cage, embracing Clyde tightly.

“Hey, what are you doing?”

Clyde exclaimed in panic.

But I paid no attention and rubbed my cheek against his chest.

“I knew it would work! I believed it would, but I didn’t expect it to actually work!”

“Uh, okay. That’s enough. Let go now.”

Clyde’s face had turned bright red.

He pushed me away and, noticing the tears in my eyes, he held his breath.

“…You, that….”

“Huh? What is it? …Oh, haha. I must be so happy that I’m acting like this.”

I awkwardly chuckled and wiped away my tears.

Clyde looked at me with a hard-to-describe expression, unable to find the right words to say.

“Well, this isn’t the time for this. We have to hurry.”

I quickly dashed to a nearby desk next to the experimental station and grabbed the key. I then released the restraints binding Clyde’s limbs.

“Put this on.”

I handed Clyde a cloak with a large hood.

Clyde accepted it and put it on, before letting himself out of the iron-barred cage.

“Ugh….”

“…Uh, maybe it’s because I’ve been confined to such a cramped space for too long.”

“Lean on me.”

I bent my knees and sat down, offering my back to him.

Clyde’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Hey, that’s a sensible idea. But how can you carry me?”

“I can cast a lightening spell. I told you before.”

“Well, even so, what if it goes wrong? How can you…”

Clyde hesitated, his face turning red.

“We don’t have time for this. Just get on already! Or should I carry you like a princess?”

I exclaimed in exasperation.

“…….”

Clyde closed his eyes tightly and hoisted himself onto my back.

“Piasus La Perza Atamonia!”

As I immediately cast the spell, Clyde’s weight on my back decreased by one-fourth.

I lifted Clyde and passed through the secret door, exiting the laboratory.

“From now on, not a single sound should escape our lips. Got it?”

“Yeah, got it,” Clyde replied with determination.

I rolled up the hem of my skirt and gave it to Clyde.

“Hold this.”

“Wait, if I do this, you….”

Clyde grumbled in a low voice.

“I’m having trouble walking. Stop the chit-chat and hold it.”

“…….”

I cast an invisibility spell on both Clyde and myself, and made our way out of the basement.

It was dinner time, so there was a bustle of servants coming and going through the halls.

Carefully and cautiously, I walked past them, using every effort not to arouse suspicion. We exited the mansion through the back door.

Before long, my vision started to blur, and my legs began to tremble uncontrollably.

‘I’m going to die….’

While my magical abilities might be on par with an adult, in reality, my physical strength and stamina were no different from girls my age.

Furthermore, not having slept properly for days and not eating properly, engaging in strenuous activity like this was bound to take its toll.

“Are you okay?”

Clyde asked with concern as I struggled to catch my breath.

“I’m fine, just… be… quiet.”

I gasped between words.

“You’re clearly not fine. This won’t work. Let me down now.”

“Can you walk now? Do you think you can?”

“I don’t know, but I have to at least try….”

“I’m alright. Phew. It would be hard to lift you again if I couldn’t see you.”

“No, still…”

“Don’t say anything. It’s harder that way.”

“…….”

I gritted my teeth and forced myself to keep moving, refusing to let my legs give way.

After about twenty minutes of walking, we finally arrived at the bustling downtown area.

I dropped Clyde off in a deserted alley and released the invisibility spell.

It felt like my legs were about to give out.

I staggered and leaned against the wall, catching my breath for a long moment.

Clyde looked at me, his brow furrowed in concern.

Then, he reached out and brushed away the strands of hair sticking to my forehead, damp with sweat.

“Why….”

“…Huh?”

“Why are you going this far?”

Clyde’s voice trembled slightly.

“Why are you asking that? Because you’re grateful?”

I gave him a small smile, my chest heaving.

“Then don’t get caught again.”

“…….”

Clyde looked up at me with red glowing eyes, then slowly lowered them.

After a few minutes of rest, my breathing gradually calmed down. Though my legs still felt weak, there was no time to dawdle.

“Let’s go now.”

I flipped the hood of the same cloak I had given Clyde and stepped out of the alley.

After a short walk, we spotted a carriage waiting for passengers.

“Stay close to me, right by my side. Don’t say a word.”

At my whisper, Clyde nodded.

I walked up to the coachman’s back and cast a spell.

Then, I took off the hood I was wearing and cleared my throat.

“I would like to go to Luana Harbor.”

With a low voice, disguised as a man, Clyde looked at me with a curious expression.

“Luana Harbor, you say? We don’t usually go that far….”

The coachman looked back at me and said with a troubled look.

“I’ll give you 1000 blancs.”

The amount I offered was about five times the current rate.

The coachman’s eyes widened.

“Well, if that’s the case… uh-hum. You must be on an important errand. So, when would you like to depart?”

“Right now.”

“What? Not tomorrow morning? If we depart now, we’ll have to travel through the night, and that’s a bit…”

“I’ll give you 2000.”

“…….”

The coachman’s mouth dropped open.

“If you don’t want to, I’ll find another option.”

As I started to turn away, the carriage driver called me back in a panic.