◆
The sharp click-clack of heels echoed through the darkness.
The source of the sound was Fiona. She walked without hesitation through a dim passage overgrown with roots until she reached a room at the far end.
In the center of the room, a young man sat upon a throne woven from gnarled branches.
"Good grief, you’ve finally returned, Fiona. I’ve been waiting for you."
"Brother... Klausen..."
Fiona called the youth Klausen—her brother.
Indeed, their features were so similar they truly looked like siblings.
"It seems you’ve regained your memories. I wondered what had happened when you failed to respond no matter how many times I called out through the World Tree... I suppose puppets really can't be trusted, can they? Heh heh heh."
"……I suppose not."
A sharp crack echoed, and Fiona was sent sprawling.
Klausen’s palm had struck her cheek with brutal force.
"Listen. Do you understand your position? Or are you mocking me?"
"No, I’m not……"
"You are merely a substitute for my sister—a puppet existing only for its purpose. Never forget that. And I certainly won't tolerate any behavior that insults me...!"
"……Yes."
With a bored huff, Klausen sat back down.
After staring at Fiona for a while as she remained on her knees, he softened his voice.
"……Ah, forgive me. I said too much. Look up, my dear sister."
The color of anger had vanished from Klausen’s face, replaced by an eerie calm.
"Don't be so frightened. I was a little irritable, that's all. I'm sorry. Will you call me 'Brother' again?"
"……Of course, Brother Klausen……"
"Oh, what a good girl."
In a complete reversal of his previous demeanor, Klausen wore a refreshing smile as he gently stroked Fiona’s head.
Fiona let him do as he pleased, but her expression remained stiff.
"—In any case, that Lloyd fellow possesses quite the combat ability. I didn't think he would instantly kill not only the fragment of the World Tree I was operating remotely, but even the King Centipede. It should have been nearly equal in strength to a common Majin... Well, I was one step ahead regardless. The Nucleus I had the King Centipede carrying was a fake; I let the real one escape deep underground. Heh heh heh... It was precisely because I collapsed the upper half of the World Tree as a precaution that I was able to smuggle it here amidst the confusion. —Look at this."
A glowing red orb floated near the ceiling—the World Tree Nucleus—radiating a staggering amount of mana.
"No matter how incredible a Mage he may be, once that thing is restored, he won't be much of a problem. And then my long-cherished wish will finally... Nonetheless, one can't be too careful. Fiona. Go to Saloom now and kill him—kill Lloyd."
Fiona’s shoulders gave a small flinch.
Klausen pulled a vial filled with a transparent liquid from his coat.
"This is what the elves call World Tree Life Fluid. Normally, it stimulates life force, but in this concentrated state, its potency is magnified dozens of times over.……And the ultimate end of all life is death itself."
With a snap of his fingers, a King Centipede crawled out from beneath Klausen’s feet.
He let a single drop of the liquid fall onto it.
"GYAGYAAAAAAAHH!?"
The moment the liquid touched it, the King Centipede rotted away and crumbled into ash in an instant.
Seeing Fiona freeze up, Klausen wore a smile of pure delight.
"Heh heh heh. A lethal poison that can pierce even the steel-like carapace of a King Centipede and bring about death. Well, since he deploys Magic Barriers, it likely won't be very effective unless you make him drink it directly. Using this, you will surely be able to kill him."
Fiona gasped as she looked at what remained of the King Centipede, which was still emitting white smoke.
"Every life has a lifespan. If life functions are excessively accelerated, it is inevitable that they will reach the end of their days in the blink of an eye and rot away.……However, hmm. It seems your memory loss will actually work to our advantage. He seemed like a boy with a low level of suspicion; he won't give it a second thought if you just casually return. Fiona, you are to make Lloyd drink this and kill him."
"……! U-Um……! Is there no other way besides killing……?"
The moment Fiona tried to speak, he grabbed her head and spoke in a low voice.
"There shouldn't be a problem for you, my excellent puppet, right? Puppets have no hearts. They only nod. Isn't that right? Hmm?"
"……I……"
"—You can do it, can't you?"
Faced with those words laden with pressure, Fiona, the puppet he had created, had no choice but to nod in silence.
"Good girl.……Heh heh heh, just a little longer. Soon, I’ll be able to see you. My sister……"
As he ruffled Fiona’s hair, Klausen gazed into the Void.
His expression was different from before; it was very peaceful.
Watching the two of them from the shadows, a Black Shadow muttered quietly.
"Ho... things have certainly become interesting, haven't they?"
With a sneer, the shadow vanished, melting into the darkness.
◇
Having received Klausen’s orders, Fiona reached Saloom after about half a day.
However, having no means to enter, she could only wander aimlessly outside the castle, watching for an opportunity.
A soldier noticed her and approached to call out.
"Hey, you there. What’s the matter? Do you have business at the castle—"
There was a sound like a snap of fingers, and Fiona’s body floated into the air.
She had fallen into a Void that suddenly appeared beneath her feet.
When Fiona next opened her eyes, she was in the sky and, naturally, began a free fall.
"Kyaaaaaah!?"
Just before she slammed into the ground, she was caught gently.
Beneath her, Lloyd, who had deployed a Magic Barrier, was looking up with wide eyes.
"Oh, it’s Fiona! Where did you go? I was worried about you."
"Master Lloyd……"
She was shaken by the sudden appearance of her target.
No, rather, was that pitfall just now also Lloyd’s doing? It was a distinct possibility. His magic surpassed human understanding.
"I’ve been searching for you with Magic Detection. I finally felt a reaction this morning and came out, but I was surprised when you suddenly came flying at me. Did you disappear because your memories returned, by any chance?"
……? So falling into the Void just now wasn't Lloyd’s doing……? Then who was it? The question crossed her mind, but Fiona immediately regained her composure.
The orders of her creator, Klausen, were absolute. I... must kill this boy.
(I am a puppet. I am just a heartless puppet...)
Every time she whispered this to herself as if to convince herself, she felt a sensation like something piercing her chest.
Pretending not to notice, she continued speaking.
"I am sorry for making you worry. As for my memories—actually, I still haven't been able to remember much. I walked around the forest trying to recall something, but in the end……"
"Hmm, so that’s why you came back."
"Yes. If it is alright with you, I would like to continue working under Master Lloyd……"
"Of course!……Well, even though it wasn't much trouble, I'm glad I kept Magic Detection active. After all, I still don't know who Fiona really is. If I carefully investigate your relationship with the World Tree and the elves, I might find out something interesting in the process... Hehe, I'm looking forward to it."
Lloyd continued to mutter to himself. Feeling relieved that he didn't seem suspicious, Fiona followed him quietly.
They arrived at the maids' quarters, where they walked up to Sylpha, who was giving instructions.
"And that’s why I’ve decided to hire Fiona as a maid. Sylpha, I want you to act as her instructor for a while."
"Understood, Master Lloyd."
"Well then, I’ll leave it to you~"
Lloyd left while waving his hand casually.
This might be a good opportunity. If she worked as a maid, there would be plenty of chances for an assassination.