A Sister’s Scorn and a True Ancestor’s Demise

‘Plenty of time to get acquainted? No, with such a naturally gifted elf, one who looks so perfect for cuddling, could I truly be allowed to… Gah!‘

“Hey, Seraphina! Why are you staring so intently at them!?”

Seeing Seraphina’s gaze fixed intently on the elves before them, Iqiyah’s jealousy ignited in an instant. Without a second thought, she delivered a stinging slap directly to Seraphina’s backside.

“Didn’t you say you’d be with me forever? What? A mere elf on display is enough to make you unable to look away!?”

“Ugh… Everyone appreciates beauty, I’m just absorbing advanced techniques for future practice… Ow, ow, ow, ow!”

“Advanced, my foot!”

Perhaps realizing that her own inherent attributes would never achieve the same striking effect as the elves’ chests, Iqiyah became so enraged and embarrassed that she lashed out.

She unleashed countless tentacles, launching a continuous barrage of strikes upon Seraphina’s backside.

“Well, it seems your relationship is as robust as ever, daring to flirt and bicker in the very center of the battlefield, completely disregarding our presence.”

With her arms crossed, Sevilya stood tall, her chest puffed out. Not a single trace remained of the earlier humiliation when she had been beaten to her knees.

“Oh? A mere defeated foe dares to bark so wildly before me now?”

Releasing her tentacles, Iqiyah stepped lightly onto Seraphina, who lay on the ground, softly moaning. She met Sevilya’s gaze with one of utter disdain.

“Honestly, the moment I saw the teleportation array, I felt a flicker of panic.”

“But once I confirmed it was just you, my worries vanished instantly.”

“Hmm… It seems your previous defeat has led you to a grave misunderstanding.”

Despite Iqiyah’s mockery, Sevilya showed no anger. She simply extended her hand, summoning the flying silver sword back into her grasp.

“But… esteemed lady, have you perhaps heard the ancient Eastern saying, ‘one should look at a scholar with new eyes after three days’ absence’?”

“That would require one to be a scholar,” Iqiyah retorted, her arrogance unconcealed. “As for you, a mere minnow whom even Seraphina can exchange a few blows with, I find it truly difficult to look upon you with respect~”

‘No… those words were truly hurtful…’

‘Seraphina, though lying down, still got shot.’

“Hmm… your attitude remains as unyielding as ever. It seems the recent rebellion at the Blood Manor hasn’t affected you in the slightest.”

Sevilya spread her hands. “Nevertheless… Princess of Scarlett, as a strong individual, I shall forgive your ignorance.”

“Furthermore, this Knight, being magnanimous and willing to overlook past grievances, offers you an opportunity for a one-on-one duel with me…”

After just a few days, this individual had grown even more arrogant than before.

If it were merely arrogance, that would have been acceptable. The crucial point was that every gesture, every movement this person made, exuded a nauseating elegance.

Each action felt like an unspoken, passive-aggressive taunt.

“But before that… I have some private matters to attend to.”

With that, Sevilya turned to the True Ancestor. “True Ancestor of the Blood Clan… you have utterly betrayed the Goddess’s trust.”

“Eek!” Hearing this, the True Ancestor’s entire body trembled violently. “No, no, no… Sevilya, please listen to me, I’ve already done my utmost…”

“Your utmost?” Sevilya’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Are you referring to how, over ten thousand years, only two Fragments have been proliferated?”

“Wh-where… there were clearly over a dozen… uh, dozens?”

“Oh? Are you referring to those two that died, plus this pile of utterly unqualified failures, who can’t even sustain their own lives?”

Pointing to the mountain of maids piled haphazardly like dolls nearby, Sevilya’s expression turned savage.

“Those rats… even if you killed them directly and sold them by the pound like pork, they wouldn’t fetch much of a price. Is this the kind of rubbish you use to deceive the Goddess?”

“No, it’s not…”

The True Ancestor attempted to argue, but regrettably, she found herself utterly devoid of excuses.

“I beg you… Envoy, please spare me…”

Laboriously crawling on the ground, the True Ancestor clutched at Sevilya’s leg.

At that moment, the only thing she could do was prostrate herself at the feet of her master’s envoy, desperately pleading for mercy.

“Stop begging. Your current appearance is truly repulsive.”

Seraphina understood Sevilya’s sentiment. After all, if a creature consisting of little more than a head and shriveled limbs, dragging a massive body not its own, were to embrace your leg with its spider-like appendages…

For Sevilya to merely feel disgusted, she was likely still considered a decent person.

“Although you have no merits to your name… still… you inadvertently helped us find our long-lost sister, so consider it a redemption of sorts.”

“Sister?”

The True Ancestor started, abruptly lifting her head to gaze at the three (or four) individuals observing the battle from the side.

“Uh… actually, it was originally a brother and sister, but for some unknown reason, they’ve become sisters.”

Scratching her head, Sevilya offered an embarrassed smile.

“Princess over there, do you have any idea about this?”

“…Seraphina.”

Though Iqiyah hadn’t looked at her, Seraphina knew that at this moment, Iqiyah’s face must be filled with utter confusion.

“Tell me honestly… what exactly is your background?”

‘My background?’

On this matter, Seraphina’s bewilderment was no less than Iqiyah’s.

‘From her memories, in her previous life, she had been nothing more than an ordinary college student who stumbled upon good fortune.’

‘After transmigrating, she was born into a farming family, and due to her Blessing, she endured scorn from a young age.’

‘Then… she toiled as a laborer under Avril for two full years.’

‘It was only when she found refuge in Iqiyah’s embrace that everything began to change.’

‘And now, these powerful individuals of unknown origin, standing before her, were claiming she was their sister?’

‘What kind of ridiculous joke was this?’

‘Looking at your opulent and extravagant attire… and hearing you constantly refer to the ‘Goddess,’ it’s clear you’re all wealthy and influential, aren’t you?’

‘But what about me?’

‘Did you just abandon me to struggle for survival in the empire’s periphery for all these years?’

‘What background could I possibly have…?’

‘I am merely an ordinary person, manipulated by fate, who has only just managed to grasp a sliver of hope.’

“Iqiyah.”

Extending her hand, Seraphina subtly gathered power, preparing to amplify both Iqiyah and Levian.

“No matter what, please trust me.”

“Alright…”

“Oh dear, oh dear… I haven’t even done anything yet, so why have you all become so aggressive?”

Seeing that the three individuals on this side were fully prepared for battle, Sevilya quickly adjusted her approach.

“Very well… True Ancestor of the rats, your mission is complete.”

“Now, please hand over the Fragment.”

“Th-that, the, Fr-Fragment…”

“Hmm? What’s wrong? Is there a problem with the Fragment?”

As if she had guessed something, a wicked smile curled upon Sevilya’s lips.

“No, no, there isn’t, I… the Fragment is just…”

“If there’s no problem, then quickly hand over the Fragment!”

“The Fragment is with me!”

Without the slightest warning, Cardo suddenly took control of Seraphina’s body. With a triumphant cry, she extended a hand, revealing a black and white rectangular prism hovering within her grasp.

‘Cardo!? What are you doing?’

“Seraphina… I have a premonition; this is a rare opportunity…!”

Staring intently at the True Ancestor before her, Cardo’s gaze was incredibly resolute.

‘That individual harbors murderous intent towards the True Ancestor… I will use her hand to eliminate the True Ancestor!’

Just as Cardo had imagined.

Sevilya had never intended to spare the True Ancestor. She simply had a peculiar habit of toying with her prey.

First, she would offer hope to her prey… only to ultimately plunge them into absolute despair. It was the most malicious form of torture.

“Hmph… as expected, I had a feeling the Fragment wouldn’t be on you.”

With a cold sneer, like one might offer after achieving satisfaction, Sevilya raised her silver sword.

“In that case… you can only atone with your death!”

“Plead for mercy from the Goddess!”

“Gah! Please, no, don’t—!”

A cold gleam flashed—

“Ah!”

With just a single, agonizing shriek, the True Ancestor—who for ten millennia had twisted the fates of countless individuals—was thus decapitated.