*****

With a solemn look on his face, I told Leon that I had indeed "collected the flag."

It was only natural that he would look so utterly aghast.

「W-wait a minute. What on earth is that magic circle?」

「I don't know. But the mist is getting so thick around here, it's definitely suspicious. Strangely enough, the miasma is getting denser too.」

「How can you be so nonchalant...? Oh, right, it's because Lady Vanessa’s necklace is neutralizing the toxins. I’ve stayed safe thanks to my Warding Stones, but still.」

It was true that the atmosphere here was bone-chilling. I had felt that same sense of danger myself, to the point where I was ready to bolt.

「Even when I was Lady Vanessa’s assistant, I never saw anything like that. It likely carries a magical effect that interferes with the psyche to keep people away. I’ve been feeling a strange sense of dread for a while now.」

When Leon pointed that out, I remembered that the Necklace of Warding had an effect that calmed the mind. I had been feeling strangely restless during the survey, so this magic circle might be influencing people's hearts with a considerably powerful force.

(This might even be something on the level of a Magic Item...)

Getting a little spooked, I tightened my grip on Leon’s hand, which I had been holding to keep him within the necklace’s protective range. Perhaps that made him self-conscious, because his face suddenly flushed red.

「This is... kind of embarrassing.」

「Don't say weird things. I didn't think you and I had the kind of relationship where things would get "moody" like that.」

Being thoroughly exhausted by marriage talk and romance, I gave him a flat, unimpressed look. It wasn't that I disliked him; if anything, since I'd been told he was like Master Clein, I looked up to him like a younger brother.

It seemed Leon felt similarly, as he began to fumble over his words.

「Anyone would be self-conscious if a girl suddenly grabbed their hand! O-of course, it’s not like I’m usually thinking of you that way!」

「...Well, that’s hurtful in its own way. It makes it sound like I have zero value as a woman.」

「Wh—? W-well, what do you want me to do?!」

Seeing Leon’s utter confusion, I snapped out of it. I realized I was being a complete nuisance and felt a pang of genuine regret.

「I’m sorry. Ever since my engagement was annulled, I think I’ve been harboring some complicated emotions. This might be what they call a 'high-maintenance woman move' in commoner circles.」

According to Alice, that referred to a troublesome woman who did nothing but stress out the people around her, so I certainly fit the description. No matter how much I loathed marriage talk, I couldn't keep acting like this. It’s a trait that makes one disliked by men and women alike, so I really have to be careful from now on.

Though, it was possible my heart was just being rattled by the influence of the magic circle.

「You certainly know a lot of those phrases. I didn't think a noble would be familiar with them.」

「A commoner friend of mine teaches me all the latest slang. Unlike nobles, who tend to obsess over tradition, commoner trends change in the blink of an eye—it’s fascinating. If you want to build good relationships, it doesn't hurt to learn them.」

The manners and formal speech required of nobles rarely change, bound by ancient customs and rituals. Vocabulary is the prime example; using commoner slang is a surefire way to get scolded.

However, when you're trying to form a close bond with commoners, knowing their slang can drastically close the distance between you. Finding common ground like that makes it easier to win their trust... wait, now is not the time for that.

I quickly organized the situation in my head and decided to defer to Leon, my senior in alchemy.

「What should we do? The number of people who can even make it this far is limited. Should we investigate the magic circle?」

「I wouldn't recommend it. Generally, it’s safer not to touch things like this. But... your point is valid, Mia-san.」

Master Clein was likely worried about us; maybe we should at least bring back whatever information we could gather?

As I was weighing our options, Leon pulled out his charm bag.

「If it comes down to it, I can consume the Warding Stones to protect us. But I'd rather not use—」

Leon’s words caught in his throat. In that exact instant, the magic circle belched out a massive cloud of miasma.

I could tell just how dangerous the situation had become by the way the Necklace of Warding began to glow even more brilliantly, fueled by my own mana.

There was no time for discussion. We had to run, right now.

Even though my brain understood that, the suddenness of the development left my body frozen. We were rooted to the spot, too terrified to look away from the magic circle.

Then, the massive amount of miasma began to coalesce in one spot, taking the shape of a monster.

In that heartbeat, Leon hurled a Warding Stone toward the miasma.

Shatter! Crackle-crackle-crackle!

A holy barrier enveloped the magic circle and the miasma. However, there was no sign of the miasma’s movement stopping. It was plain to see that the Warding Stone was being overpowered.

「The Warding Stone won't hold for long! Let's get out of here while we can!」

Hearing Leon's shout, I snapped back to my senses and forced strength into my legs to overcome the fear.

Without looking back, I kept my eyes fixed forward, and the two of us sprinted away with everything we had.

*****

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