A top-tier boss named Grand Duke. The scenario where you have to carry out missions at his headquarters is Act 2.
Act 2, which carries an absurd level of danger as the final boss itself, but the crux of this scenario lies within the various monsters lurking within the Northern Duke’s family.
First and foremost, a mid-boss. Herman Pierce, a 4-Star near-late game.
The second child, the strongest woman in the North, Yerina Pierce, at the 5-Star boundary.
Third, a figure shrouded in mystery, Alicia Pierce.
And finally, the heroine who reaches the 5-star breakthrough, Sharon Pierce.
Even beyond the Northern Mountains, where foreign forces constantly invade, the children of the ruler are like strongholds themselves.
In such a place, to gather evidence against the Bloodstone Cult?
It might seem obvious for players to give up everything and hide to preserve their lives.
Of course, there is a way to clear it without losing limbs entirely.
Through numerous attempts and deaths, one learns.
If too many predators gather in one place, they eventually turn on each other.
In short, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Once realizing this fact, the scenario’s difficulty drops from ‘absolutely impossible’ to ‘manageable with some effort’.
Of course, Sharon Pierce was also one of the wild beasts in that cage.
Ian had no intention of utilizing her.
◆
Under the soft glow of candlelight, the melody of a cello and violin flows.
People dressed in extravagant attire dance to the lively rhythm of a waltz, exuding grace and elegance.
Among them, one pair stood out.
Sharon Pierce, the youngest lady of the dukedom, and Ian Blackangers, the man of the third princess.
Their attention is drawn not only by the lady’s icy beauty and the flamboyant title of the man but also for another reason.
— Step
— Tap
Traditionally, the man leads in a dance, but in this case, it’s the man being led by the woman.
Ian found himself lost in thought.
Maintaining the impression of being the ‘third princess’s man’ like this was troublesome.
It was evident that he had come here for social purposes.
‘Karen said that dancing is like a one-on-one fight.’
Her advice came to mind.
Though the memory seemed somewhat exaggerated, the context was likely accurate.
Gaining an advantage in an unfavorable one-on-one fight is all about psychological warfare.
Ian was spurred on by Sharon’s graceful dancing to the music.
“You dance well. Have you practiced separately?”
Sharon skillfully avoided Ian’s advancing steps.
Without furrowing her brows, she pursed her lips.
“Why did you come all the way to the North?”
“To dance with you?”
— Clack
Ian narrowly avoided stepping on Sharon’s shoe.
“You can’t even joke. We’ve received awards together, you know.”
“Your tone has become as frivolous as befitting the third princess’s man.”
Ian’s lips curled upwards.
“I’d prefer if you call it composure rather than frivolity.”
“Quit joking and speak. Why did you come looking for me?”
“Sharon Pierce.”
“?”
“Why do you think I came looking for you? You’re more self-aware than you think.”
For the first time, Sharon’s brow furrowed slightly.
Self-aware? What was he talking about?
In other words, did she mistakenly believe that all of Ian’s actions were solely for her?
No. It wasn’t a mistake.
Were all those actions, including the curse, directed towards Sharon herself?
“You say I’m self-aware?”
“Did I tread on your back?”
The music reached its climax unnoticed.
The women in the ballroom twirled around their partners in unison.
Sharon also circled around Ian.
Every aspect of him was vividly observed by her, as if she had been observing him all along.
“Maybe it’s because you only looked at me, Sharon.”
“What nonsense is this?”
“I confessed not only to you but to three others as well. I was just coincidentally at the Median Girls’ Dormitory. The Disciplinary Committee blamed you and the others for picking a fight with me, and at the Grade Assessment, I simply showed the results of my efforts.”
“T-That’s…”
“Well then, Sharon Pierce, answer me now. Why do you think I came looking for you? Is there a reason for me to come looking for you? Why do you think everything I do revolves around you?”
Sharon’s steps faltered for a moment.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Ian interjected himself into her assertive rhythm.
“…Tsk.”
But it was Sharon who regained her composure late.
She straightened herself out, refraining from rebutting directly.
“…I see.”
Ian sighed softly.
Sharon’s eyes gleamed with a sharp light.
“As expected, you’re still the same, Ian Blackangers.”
“……”
“Don’t try to confuse and deceive your opponent with nonsense. And behind, you’re just a dirty trickster.”
“That was a mistake. But Sharon Pierce, let me give you some advice.”
“I don’t need your advice.”
“Still, listen. You believe that everything you see and hear, everything you feel, is the truth.”
“That’s not true.”
“What do you mean, ‘not true’? Look at your brother. He doubts everything and looks back again. How are you compared to him?”
“Don’t compare me to that trash.”
“While being trampled by such trash?”
“I… I came out like this today for…”
“I don’t know about your family circumstances. Why do you think I’m so relaxed and confident?”
“What nonsense…”
Ignoring Sharon, Ian continued.
“This isn’t a place for you to hide. Sharon Pierce. Within the family, you have nothing to fear.”
Sharon’s breathing became erratic.
But Ian didn’t intrude into her territory.
Instead, he gently supported her lead from behind.
Thanks to the highlight of the music, it wasn’t too obvious.
Sharon’s hand trembled.
“Are you making fun of me, Ian Blackangers?”
“Are you angry? I did try to help you this time.”
“I will never trust you.”
“I never asked you to. Just open your eyes properly. Like Lina Rosewell.”
“Lina Rosewell? Why does that name come up here?”
Ian pointed with his eyes towards a woman dancing expertly in the distance.
“Why is Lina Rosewell here…?”
“That child made efforts to see the truth. Eventually, she ended up with me.”
“…She’s just a traitor who abandoned us in the Disciplinary Committee.”
“Hmm.”
Ian, who had caught his breath amid complex steps, spoke.
“Alright, Sharon Pierce. Let’s make a bet.”
“A bet?”
“Yes, a bet. If everything I said is true, what will you do?”
“I’ve never thought about such a thing. You can’t be right.”
“Let’s just hypothetically consider it.”
Sharon, who had been silently glaring at Ian, let out a faint laugh.
“Kneel down and apologize, and I’ll do whatever you command.”
“Are you saying that you will follow orders and even swear an oath of obedience?”
The oath of obedience. A magical covenant that engraves one’s status beneath the presence of another. Terrifying in its own right, but what makes this covenant famous is the process of its conclusion.
It is a ritual in which one kneels and bows without even a single piece of cloth on, meaning that one has not hidden anything.
In short, it means complete humiliation.
“!”
A chill flickered in Sharon’s eyes.
Unrefined coldness flowed towards Ian’s hand, freezing it.
However.
— Bam!
The most intense last note of the first song, the trumpet’s sound towards that direction, resonated loudly throughout the ballroom.
In the moment Sharon took a breath to say something.
Ian extended his right foot.
And using it as a pivot, he exerted all his strength to pull Sharon forcefully.
“…!”
Caught off guard by the sudden strong momentum, Sharon’s eyes widened.
Already confused by various thoughts, her center of gravity collapsed due to Ian’s unexpected action.
Even with the music’s highlight, who could pull someone so forcefully?
“Tsk.”
She tried to pull her leg and resist.
But Ian’s left foot shifted her center of gravity.
“Huh.”
He supported her waist as she fell to her left knee.
— Oomph!
As the music ended.
All eyes turned towards Ian and Sharon at the center.
— Clap clap clap clap!
The sound of applause filled the ballroom.
“Seems like they’re about to devour each other… What an impressive dance.”
“I thought the two were sparring. I heard that Lady Sharon is very skilled with the sword, so I guess that wasn’t for nothing.”
“Lord Ian also seemed to be quite skilled. He even seemed fitting for the title of the Princess’s man.”
As Sharon surveyed the reactions around her, she lifted her head.
Ian pinned her waist firmly and looked down at her.
The way she lay delicately on the knee he supported.
Sharon stood up.
— How graceful he is!
— So elegant, truly.
It was a sound she didn’t want to hear.
She only came here to assert her own presence as one of the heirs.
It wasn’t about flaunting femininity.
Sharon glanced at Ian silently.
“…You always hide your strength so ominously, only to unleash it like this.”
“I was just dancing. Let’s stop with the pretense.”
Sharon bit her lip.
“…When did you become so bold? You were clearly timid and lacking in confidence.”
“Are you only realizing it now? Shouldn’t you have realized it sooner?”
“I’m not praising you. Ian Blackangers.”
Sharon momentarily closed her lips.
Although she had interfered in social affairs and marred Herman’s mood by attending this event, her intended purpose was somewhat fulfilled.
However, Ian’s words were simply intolerable.
Is she deluding herself into believing that she’s overly conscious and only sees Ian?
That she believes wrong things to be right?
“Ridiculous.”
“Well, there’s nothing you can’t do.”
A clear provocation from Ian.
Sharon narrowed her eyes and nodded.
“Fine. If by some chance you’re right, then I’ll perform the oath of obedience. But what if it’s the opposite?”
“If it’s the opposite…”
Before Ian could respond.
— Kwaang!
The door opened once again.
No, could you even call it an opening?
Fragments of the shattered door poured onto the floor as if ignoring the laws of physics.
It was an obvious situation, with Herman Pierce on the verge of losing his temper.
However, all eyes gathered towards the wide-open, or rather now shattered, door.
“W-what’s this now!”
“What’s happening again!”
— Thud
A solid footstep of metal rubbing against metal.
The weight of that sound enveloped the entire ballroom.
“…S-second Lady?”
Someone murmured from the front.
There was no need to confirm the truth of that question.
Soon, as she revealed herself.
— Thud
Merely walking caused an immense presence that seemed to crush the entire ballroom.
Her head was blue, but her eyes were so red they could belong to a beast.
She was an impressive woman with her tall height and her well-pronounced thighs.
Although she was not small, it felt that she had enormous strength that far exceeded her appearance.
As Ian looked at the second child, he furrowed his brow.
‘Is that thing she’s holding… a person?’
After casting a wide glance around, she opened her mouth as if a beast was growling.
“I came because they said there was a party, but it doesn’t look very fun.”
Thud. Thud.
The blood dripping from her hands stained the floor red.
