"Lady Carlotta, are you sure about this?" the honorable Master Isac asked. "As I understand it, you usually undergo this process every three months. I don't see the need to subject your body to—"
"No need to worry," I cut him off.
The man gave me a concerned look. An unusual expression for him, so different from his usual calm and detached nature.
I didn't want to sound rude. I understood perfectly what he was trying to say, but it was unnecessary.
"I assure you I can handle it. Please, continue."
My father wants a detailed report of my progress, and that's exactly what he'll get. No matter how… painful it may be.
With that thought firmly in mind, I clenched my teeth as I felt the tourniquet tighten around my arm.
"Here I go. My apologies in advance."
It was curious. This disheveled, unreliable-looking teacher had been the first person since my childhood to apologize before what was about to happen.
Truly… I can say he's a kind person.
I took a deep breath and...
"AAAAAH! ARGH! NOOO!"
The scream tore out of my throat without permission.
I fell from my seat, my body trembling violently.
My muscles contracted with brutal force, as if they were trying to break my own bones.
My nails dug into my skin, leaving pale marks.
The burning in my veins was, as always, like thousands of sharp needles slicing through my blood vessels.
A disgusting sensation that made my teeth chatter.
And these damn fangs… I can feel them slowly growing. A cruel reminder of my cursed fate.
"Ah! ARGH!"
I hate it.
I loathe it with all my soul.
I cursed my impure blood.
With all the shame in the world, I must admit… it still hurts like hell.
At this point in my life, I should be used to this unpleasant sensation… but I'm not.
It is simply, plainly painful.
So painful that it makes me cry like a pathetic little child.
I hate it.
And what humiliates me the most is how tightly I gripped Master Isac's hand when he offered it for comfort.
Come on, Carlotta von Wiebke. You're not a little girl who needs this.
I bit my tongue and forced myself to stand.
"I-It wasn't that… bad…"
I adjusted my uniform, which had fallen into disarray, and only then allowed myself to sit down.
"…Sure."
His voice carried clear disbelief, yet Isac was considerate enough not to press further.
I raised my left hand so the master could see my Traits.
There were the results, imprinted on the back of my hand.
Carlotta (++C):
Pseudo-Human – Female – 21 years old
Body: 55
Mind: 45 ↑ (0.5)
Aura: 100 ↑ (3)
Blood Magic (Lv 2):
Valak:
Murciélago
Condense
Repulsion
Malleable
Piercing Blood
"As expected, Lady Carlotta is quite talented."
I didn't respond immediately.
First, I had to cover my mouth… I can't let anyone see something so… repulsive.
"Not enough…"
"Pardon?"
"Oh, nothing. I spoke without thinking."
I let my tongue slip in a vulgar manner before my mind could stop it.
My growth over these past three months has been disappointing.
I only managed to increase my total Aura by three points. Pathetic.
The thought of my father looking at this embarrassing report, his twisted eyes filled with disappointment, made my blood run cold.
"What's wrong? Does your body still hurt from the ritual? Do you want me to call Carola to help with the pain? Also, there's no need to cover your mouth around me—"
"No, that won't be necessary. I was just thinking that my progress hasn't been very satisfactory. That's all. And I'd prefer to keep my mouth like this, thank you."
"…Alright. If you're more comfortable that way. Now then, what do you mean not satisfactory? According to this, your Aura has increased quite a bit. It's already rare to see someone with that amount at your age. I don't understand how that counts as bad progress."
Maybe for normal people.
But I can't afford to be normal.
I'm not.
And I won't be.
I need to be the best.
I can't settle for something so basic.
Not if I want to maintain my place in this world.
"Thank you for the encouragement, but I would prefer advice on how to keep improving."
"Alright, alright. I get it. You want advice?"
I nodded as I took a handkerchief from my pocket to wipe the sweat from my forehead.
It would be unthinkable to continue a conversation like that.
I was already showing a disgusting image as it was—no need to add more reasons for discomfort.
"Relax a little. I mean it."
"I can't do that-"
"Stop. I don't mean it like 'enjoy your youth!' or 'you should loosen up!'" Isac raised his hands as if celebrating, though he quickly returned to his usual dull expression. "I mean it for your health. It's not healthy for most people to have an amount of Aura beyond their physical capacity. Relax when it comes to shaping your Aura—you could focus on building a more resilient body."
I already knew that.
Madam Carola had told me last time.
Bodies tend to "break" when overloaded with Aura.
But I don't have time for those concerns.
I know very well that my body is… defective.
Life gave me a weak body. Neither strong nor large.
The only thing left for me is to maximize my Aura.
And while I'm aware of the risks, I also know it's not uncommon to survive with a fragile body compared to one's Aura.
The living proof is Madame Herz.
Thanks to her, I know I can have my place in this world.
A weak body can be overcome with willpower.
And my will to live is unbreakable.
It doesn't matter if my place in this world is threatened by my blood, if it's threatened by that homewrecking cat—hell, even if the gods themselves dared to challenge me… I would surpass them.
I will surpass everything.
And everyone.
As long as it means fulfilling my role to secure my place in this world.
So there's no way I'll accept Master Isac's advice, even if it's well intentioned.
"I'll keep it in mind. Thank you for your concern."
"…But, you know, it wouldn't hurt to actually relax. Maybe go on real dates with your fiancé…"
"Ugh…"
The face I must have made at the suggestion of spending "romantic" time with my fiancé without any social purpose must have made my thoughts crystal clear, judging by how quickly Isac changed the subject.
"…Or go out with friends. I don't know what young people do these days."
"Friends…"
Yeah, right.
Going out with my "friends" isn't an option.
Mostly because they don't like me enough to spend time with me outside the Libelling Academy.
"…I don't know what that face is about, but if you think you don't have friends here, you're wrong. You know, Lady Adelheid seems quite willing to be your friend… or at least that's how it looks to me."
"Can we change the subject?"
"…Sure. Good grief, kids these days are such a pain…"
Before leaving, I spent as much time as I could with Master Isac.
Thank God, I was lucky—the effects of the injection didn't last long this time.
So my body had returned to a presentable state.
As I stepped outside the door, I ran into her.
My most hated enemy.
"Hey~ wanna go grab something to eat?"
That smile… how I hated it.
At least she had the decency not to ask about the scene I caused inside.
"Sure. Let's go."
Whatever.
I'll take advantage of the fact that this degenerate little kitty is trying to get close to me.
And keep working on my plan.
When we arrived at the Academy restaurant and sat down, I felt several curious gazes fixated on us. It was no surprise—a Wiebke calmly eating with a filthy Nen must have been quite the unpleasant spectacle.
I wouldn't be surprised if people started talking behind my back… well, more than they already do.
Something terrible if it reached my parents' ears. Especially my respectable mother's.
But I was willing to endure it for now, until my plan finished cooking.
For now, I needed this Nen to lower her guard.
"Tell me… you dislike me, don't you?"
I asked directly.
There are several ways to make someone trust you. Asking for favors—discarded.
Validating the other person—possible.
Or the simplest one: be direct and understand how they think of you.
The pink-haired cat choked a little on the yogurt she was eating.
"Uh… not at all!"
"Don't lie. I know for a fact you dislike me just as much as I dislike you. Come on, I encourage you to tell the truth."
"Mmm… to be honest, I dislike you more than you can imagine."
Direct.
My smile faltered for a moment.
I let the sweet mask slip for just a second.
My mistake…
She noticed immediately.
"Oh, come on. You can't blame me. You literally tried to get me expelled! No matter how much you deny it, I know it was you… and Fisalia. Besides, you asked me!"
That confirmed it.
She knew.
Which only made me wonder: why was she trying to get close to me?
…Had she noticed my intentions and was trying to turn things in her favor?
No. That would be too clever for this cat. This Nen is far too stupid for something like that… or at least I hope so. Though I can't deny she has good intuition.
"Really? I have no idea what you're talking about. It offends me quite a bit that you have such a bad image of me."
"Uh-huh. Yeah, sure. Even so, I want to get along with you. I don't want people to hate me… even more. And especially not over misunderstandings. So, if you're okay with it, let's get along. Besides, if we keep fighting, we'll do badly in training. And that shouldn't interest you, right?"
"…Indeed. At least we agree on that."
"Alright. Let's try to be… 'friends.' Sound good?"
With the sweetest smile I could muster, I extended my hand to seal our "ceasefire."
When I felt the warmth of her hand and her clumsy grip, my smile grew even wider.
Got her.
She really is that simple.
So simple it's almost pitiful how easy she is to deceive…
No.
Actually, I don't feel sorry at all.
As she ate her yogurt, my plan began to move forward—slow and silent, like a drop of poison dissolving in warm water.