The worst is death—Agnes thought to herself. Pen ~ fun ~ pavilion www.biquge.info

She didn't want to die. But she was tired of waiting for the verdict in such trepidation, whether it came from her enemies or relatives.

She looked around more carefully, looking for any possible traps. After all, this is Mansini's most well-protected place, and they will not just be locked up here. Even though his mansion had been completely destroyed, the small chamber had been removed by him in its entirety...... She really didn't know he had this ability.

Of course, this may not be his ability.

She was not afraid of Mansini, she was afraid of the man behind the fat fox...... That's why they're here.

Agnes bit her lower lip and glared at the brazier a few steps away. The seemingly ordinary copper basin was engraved with a circle of runes. As a mage...... She didn't even recognize a single symbol.

But she knew how to use the basin to summon the Venerable One she had not seen for a long time - she wondered if he knew that Aaron Mancini had betrayed him and sought another more powerful "master" for himself...... Did he really betray him?

She was a little undecided.

"What the hell do you want to do?"

Even out of concern, Guardian's tone was always reproachful. He probably thought it was all her fault...... It's her fault, but it's never his turn to point fingers!

She glared at him, distraught. She didn't know why she was taking this guy with her, and while it would have been hard for her to get out of Lockburg without his help, she could have left him halfway through.

Merely...... If he was really thrown halfway, God knows if he would do something irreparable in a fit of rage where she couldn't see.

"Agnes!"

The young knight, who was ignored, became angry.

“...... Come here. ”

Agnes hooked her fingers.

Guardian's face was full of suspicion, and although he still walked over obediently, he was obviously a little guarded.

Agnes reached out and grabbed his head. This intimacy, which had not been seen for a long time, made Guardian shrink uncomfortably, but he also unconsciously relaxed his vigilance.

She smiled at him, her right hand rising and falling rapidly, slashing at his neck with precision and force. Guardian glared at her in disbelief, wanting to scold something but not scolding, rolled his eyes and fainted.

Agnes tugged at his collar so that he wouldn't fall too ugly, and pouted in disgust: "Idiot." ”

She is a mage or a woman, with Guardian's brain, of course, I can't imagine that she will do it directly...... And it's a sure hit.

She dragged the guy who finally stopped yelling and upsetting her a little longer, making sure he would faint long enough, and then continued to stare at the brazier.

After a while, she took out a short knife from Guardian's body, gestured at her palm, thought about it, grabbed Guardian's hand again, and slashed it neatly.

What was the point of a sturdy young knight bleeding? she was ready to risk her life.

Blood gushed out, enough for Agnes to draw another rune around the brazier with all the concentration she never had. The small chamber was hot and stuffy, but fortunately all kinds of materials were available and plentiful. Satisfied, Agnes grabbed a large handful of diamond dust and blew it onto the blood that had not yet dried up.

She chanted in a low voice, the runes flickering, slowly disappearing from the slate, leaving no trace.

The ritual of summoning is lengthy and complex. Agnes hadn't thought about why—it was just to summon an illusion that could communicate. But now...... Perhaps she should thank Lydia, a woman who was as cunning as a snake and generous enough when necessary...... And it's really talented.

If she hadn't known her, Agnes would probably never have known that the shallow, boring soul of human beings could be so wonderful.

She threw the last handful of diamond dust into the brazier.

Her heart shook as the flames rose suddenly. She was actually lucky—she didn't expect him to actually answer her call, even so quickly. Maybe it's too late to regret it now...... Her will was never strong enough.

She glanced at Guardian, who was happily lying on the side like a dead pig, smiled self-deprecatingly, and clenched the pendant in her palm.

At least this time, she's not alone...... Sort it off.

The flames gradually revealed human form, the wide robes obscured the figure, and the flickering light of the fire obscured her face—although she had seen it several times, she had never been able to really see what this "Venerable" really looked like, let alone know his true identity.

“...... What a surprise. ”

The summoned man spoke, and even his voice rose and fell with the flames.

"yes. Agnes tugged at the corners of her mouth with a smile, "Indeed. ”

She never summoned him on her own initiative...... Since Aaron Mancini regarded this as his "honor", she was happy to take it easy.

She wondered if she should warn him, but the man soon noticed something was wrong.

The hidden runes shone again, chaining the entire fire disc and its faltering figures.

“...... Who taught you this?" the man's still-calm voice had a hint of mockery in it, "Lydia?"

Agnes shrugged, "Pretty good, isn't it?"

"Do you really think you're going to trap me?"

"Trapped?" said Agnes, chuckling, "How dare I? Honestly, I was only here to find Mansini, but you see, he's not there...... I'm really trapped here, my lord - oh no, I'm not just stuck here. Thanks to you, I, the evil mage, have been completely exposed, and the relatives I have tried to protect in every possible way are bent on making me 'suffer the punishment I deserve......"

She looked at Gard, and the sadness that flashed in her eyes quickly replaced with anger.

"Standing before you is nothing but a desperate woman, my lord...... I just want to ask, what did I do wrong, did I not do what you told me to do, and I never betrayed you, even for my own ends, and even if I was an abandoned pawn, I have the right to die a little more clearly, right?"

She didn't mind looking a little hysterical and devoid of demeanor, she didn't mind revealing all the despair, anger and fear, all of which were absolutely real, she stubbornly lifted her chin and looked directly at the face she had never dared to look at before, not sparing the slightest change—a little gray hair gradually popping into the fiery red, black eyes with a heavy gaze, and the tight lines of her thin cheeks that looked more serious than her father's.

She'd seen this face...... It's not familiar, but it's something I've seen.

.