The break at Nifty proceeded peacefully, perhaps because Kaito had begun to worry about Cornelia’s mental state as she reached the end of her rope.
They engaged in light conversation while sipping black tea effective against stomach pain and savoring refined sweets. Once they finished their meal, they briefly rejoined Tre and her group to exchange final greetings before parting ways. Finally, Cornelia returned to the estate of the Sharon Count House.
“It has only been a few hours, yet it feels as nostalgic as if days have passed,” she mused. There were urgent reports to file, such as her encounter with the Special Advisors, but if it were possible, she wanted nothing more than to collapse into bed immediately. Even though she had tried to remain on guard following Eris’s warnings, she was painfully aware that her perception of the situation had still been far too naive.
She was exhausted, and with so many postponed matters looming over her, a discussion with her parents was unavoidable. However, Anne should have reported the events in the Commercial City in advance, so it was highly likely that Count Sharon and her brother, the heir, were already strategizing their response.
Her standing within society was likely about to undergo a drastic shift, but for now, Cornelia took solace in the thought that she had somehow survived the day. It was then that Anne, who had returned to the estate ahead of her, approached.
"Welcome home, Lady Cornelia."
"I’m back. Thank you for the report, Anne... I’d love to rest, but I suppose we have to talk first, don't we?"
"Yes, the Count is waiting... however, before that, there is something you must check, Lady Cornelia."
"Check? Me?"
Cornelia tilted her head in confusion. Within the Sharon Count House, her authority was limited, and she held very little final decision-making power. With her father and brother already in the middle of a meeting, she couldn't imagine what could possibly require her attention first.
"The thing is... just a moment ago, a messenger from the Dragon King-sama arrived with this for you."
"...A disposable magic box and a letter?"
Anne held out a single-use magic box made of magic power paper—the kind often used for random boxes—along with a letter. Cornelia took them and checked the letter first.
The message from Magnawell read: "Today's interaction, including those with my subordinates, was quite meaningful. I shall give you a tip as a reward. Use it as you please."
"I see. It seems Magnawell-sama has bestowed some money or goods as a memento of today's meeting. At the very least, it appears he is granting me something of significant financial value."
"That is a great honor. If you have received a gift from the Dragon King-sama, your reputation will surely soar, Milady."
"Indeed. I’ll have to think of a return gift, but this is a truly generous gesture."
In noble society, gifts given under the pretext of "commemorating a meeting" were common; Cornelia had received and given them many times. Assuming this was a similar token, she decided to check the contents right there in the lobby. She opened the disposable magic box—and a massive scale fragment, several meters wide, manifested instantly before their eyes.
"..."
"..."
Both Cornelia and Anne stood frozen, their faces the very definition of speechless as they stared at the gargantuan scale. Aside from its shimmering, ethereal beauty, the sheer magic power radiating from the object made its identity unmistakable.
"A... A... Anne... Th-Th-This... This is..."
"I believe... it is a fragment of the Dragon King-sama's scale."
From Magnawell's perspective, this was no different from the tokens he frequently handed to Kaito—he had sent it with the casual air of someone giving a small tip. However, the value of Magnawell’s scales was astronomical. His scales did not grow back naturally unless he willed it, and they never fell off unless he was locked in combat with someone of the Six Kings-class.
As such, there was virtually no way to obtain one unless it was personally bestowed by the Dragon King himself. A single fragment was worth enough to build an entire castle.
As she stared at the scale, Cornelia sank to the floor, her cheeks twitching.
"The Dragon King's scale... abababa... I can't... I just can't anymore... hyuh..."
"Lady Cornelia! Pull yourself together!"
Just when she thought the ordeal was finally over—just when she had allowed herself a moment of relief, believing the worst had passed—this final, devastating shock struck. Cornelia, already drained of energy, had no hope of withstanding such a psychological blow. Having completely exceeded her capacity, her eyes rolled back into her head, and she lost consciousness.
Stomach Pain Devil: "Just as I said, you let your guard down right at the end... I've been waiting for this exact moment!"
K.O.
???: "...Well, even if Kaito-san is in a position to care for her stomach, it doesn't mean she can actually avoid the pain. If it were that simple, Lilia-san wouldn't be in the state she's in..."
Serious-senpai: "The Stomach Pain Devil is too terrifying."