23 . Sasha’s true motive

While leaning against the wall of my treasure room I vacantly stare off into space .

………… . I’m still waiting .

It’s been at least 10 minutes . How long does it take to change clothes?

I knocked on the door but my only answer was silence .

“……Strange . ”

Even if Sasha was still busy Misha should have answered .

Have they left without me?

Or……… . ?

“Misha? Are you there? I’m opening the door . ”

I opened the door having received no reply .

The altar enters my view first . It’s clearly different from before .

It’s red .

In front of the altar is Misha, head slumped forward and kneeling in a pool of blood with a knife thrust into the right side of her chest .

She’s still alive but needs treating right away, except I can’t . A magic barrier has been carefully set up around Misha .

“Oh? You finally appeared . You were very obedient there . ”

On the other side of the room by the entrance is Sasha . She’s wearing the <Phoenix’s Vestment> and is holding the king’s sceptre .

“Fumu . What’s with your behaviour Sasha?”

Sahsa replied with a sneer .

“Hmph . You’re an idiot . Just because we got along a little you were so easily deceived . Did you really want this me to get along with that trash doll in this little play of ours while aiming for first position in the dungeon test?”

A play huh? Reconciling with Misha, being happy, even crying over her birthday present . Was all of that a lie?

“Men are simple . A little kiss for only a moment and you fall for it . Did you honestly think I liked a mongrel like you?”

“You’re very good at acting Sasha . ”

Sasha flinched a little at my words before glaring at me .

“……… . What do you mean?”

“What do I mean? You were so skilful I didn’t see it was an act . ”

“I see . It was a fine performance on my part . ”

“However, as betrayals go yours seems a bit tepid for some reason . You could have killed Misha, chopped up her body to make revival difficult, sealed those pieces in rocks and spread them around the world where I’d never find them . Why didn’t you do that?”

Sasha frowns and draws back from the atmosphere I’ve just created . I can’t say any more . I can’t show a complete lack of empathy .

“So far what you’ve done is nothing but pure mischief . You might as well just patted Misha’s breasts with that knife . ”

“…… . . Shut up . My purpose is to come first in the dungeon exam . ”

This stories getting stranger .

“Even if you have the king’ sceptre, it’s meaningless as long as you are a member of my group . ”

Anything the group obtains is the property of the leader .

“Contract <Zekt> was cancelled . ”

The contract was made between Misha and Sasha and now it’s disappeared . With this, she can leave anytime as it was only the contract that made her a member .

However I look at it I can’t see Misha agreeing to the cancellation . Unless both parts agree it cannot be cancelled . Even if one of them dies the effect will continue .

I don’t think Sasha has enough magic to forcibly break it either .

There are a few other ways to break it but those are the most obvious .

“I see . Interesting . ”

Sasha probably thought she had the upper hand but instead she now had a cornered look on her face .

“You… . . are you crazy? That girl will die if you don’t help her . This isn’t a situation where you can be composed! Don’t you understand that!”

“Fumu . What’s wrong with this situation? By all appearances, nothings changed . We have a tedious sleepy class this afternoon . ”

As I speak Sasha’s face becomes more and more stern .

“It just seems like a small quarrel between sisters to me . ”

“I told you I don’t think of that trash doll as my sister!”

Sasha puts all her anger into that shout .

“She was born to be used by me . Nothing more than a tool and when it became useless it was to be thrown away like a ragged dustcloth . A pitiful, miserable, magic doll . ”

Sasha is spitting out words loaded with hatred .

“Fufuu hahahaa hahahahahaha!! Please forgive me, but those words are the truth . How many times do you need to be deceived before you are happy? A really stupid doll . Did you really think we could get along all happy and nice? Aah, but it turned out alright . I thought I had no more use for you but you helped me deceive this mongrel . ”

She’s not even looking at me . Her eyes are locked onto Misha .

“Nee, Misha . Are you still alive? Let me tell you this in your final moments . No matter how many times I deceived you, you still believed me . You always played the good little girl all helpless and cute . You disgust me! I hate you!”

Sasha excitedly spits out words designed to hurt but the thing is, her <demon eyes of ruin> have not formed .

Not just now either . Not once have they formed since this began .

“And?” I take a step forward and Sasha takes a step back . “Your true reason is?”

Sasha glared at me .

This time her <demon eyes of ruin> formed .

“What’s wrong? Are you angry I saw through you?”

Sasha carries on glaring at me but I smile back .

“Oh? Did you possibly think that I couldn’t control my <demon eyes of ruin>?”

Sasha closes her eyes and when she opens them again her <demon eyes of ruin> are gone .

“As you can see, I can control them . ”

Sasha seems slightly relieved that she did it .

“Did you want me to say it was my misunderstanding? I see . Anyway… . . ”

I take another step forward .

“Your true reason is?”

Sasha presses her lips together .

Is she cautious of my approach or is it something else?

“I heard the story about Zepes and Liorg . You put a lot of pressure on the brothers to get along . You’re the same as that doll . A peaceful, easygoing, naive fool . ”

I’m naive? Well, in this age I guess I am . However, she says I’m peaceful?

“Even though you’ve got a little bit of power you know nothing . Don’t force your ideas on others!”

“I refuse . ”

Sasha was at a loss for words at my reply .

“When I want to say something I’ll say it . When I want to ask something I’ll ask . Who can give me orders?”

Of course I still need to know some courtesy, however, I don’t need to hold my words back here .

“Sasha . While you were my subordinate I gave you the hand of friendship . Surely you didn’t think it will end with this?”

I walk right up to Sasha who’s gripping the king sceptre firmly while being on her guard .

“If you hurt me even a little that girl dies . ”

Synchronisation magic Conditions <Lent> .

If I harm Sasha the barrier around Misha will shrink and crush her but before that happens it will push the knife in deeper and kill her .

“The knife will be pushed in and kill her . Even you will need at least 10 seconds to break the barrier and heal her . That’s all the time I need . ”

Sasha’s body starts to float . She rises up and starts to fly out of the exit .

I was quicker though . I kicked the ground and rapidly approached Sasha grabbing her hand . Sasha’s face was completely surprised .

Because the conditions had been met <Lent> activated, however, Misha was safe . There was no change to the barrier .

“……Why…… . . ? <Lent> definitely activated…… . ”

Sasha turned her demon eyes on Misha .

If you looked into the abyss you would see that the knife, the barrier and the blood were all illusions made by my illusion magic .

Misha was healed with recovery magic Healing <Ento> a long time ago and the barrier was broken . Activating it does nothing .

“Illusion Mimicry <Rainel>……It’s a lie right?…… . When……?”

“The moment I saw it . My friend was dying . Of course I would act . ”

After that, I knew Sasha was planning something so I activated <Rainel> .

“By the way . I did that in 0 . 1 seconds . You had another 9 . 9 seconds to run away . What should I do with the remaining time?

I lay a little bit of emphasis on the hand I’m grasping .

Sasha frowns in pain .

“… . . Wait… . . ”

A voice was heard from the altar .

I look back while grasping Sasha’s hand .

I released <Rainel> and Misha was standing there .

“… . . Forgive her…… . ”

Fumu . Saying something like that .

“I don’t mind forgiving her but it would be better if she tells me what she’s really thinking instead of this lax betrayal and bad acting . ”

Misha shakes her head .

“Force is not good . ”

Yare yare . She doesn’t normally look at me with such serious eyes .

“… . . No good……?”

Whatever . It’s fine I guess .

I won’t take orders but it’s different if its a request . I’ll willingly accept the requests of this particular friend .

“You should thank Misha for this . ”

I release Sasha’s hand and she flies away immediately .

“You are truly foolish Misha . Did you honestly think I’d say thank you? Too bad . Your life exists to be used by me . In your last moments, you’ll regret this!”

Spitting out those words Sasha suddenly loses control of Flight <Fres> causing her to fall to the floor doing a flashy roll along the ground as she hits it .

“… . Ouch… . Wha…… . This… . . ?”

“Aah, my bad . You were in such high spirits with your little speech I forgot to tell you but I disturbed the magic flow around here so you can’t fly . ”

I laughed at the girl who’s face showed humiliation .

“A loser is a loser . Give it your all and crawl on the ground all the way back, otherwise, I might change my mind . ”

“… . Insolent fellow… . . I’ll remember this……”

*Hahaha* I instinctively release fresh laughter .

“I wanted to hear such lines . Do it, if you can . ”

Even though I was undoubtedly being glared at I turned my back to Sasha and walked off .

Calling out over my shoulder I speak to Sasha .

“Sasha . I’m tolerant of betrayal by my subordinates not to mention yours barely ranks as mischief . I’ll forgive you if you show suitable manners and thanks . ”

Sasha didn’t say anything and left without looking back .