25-162

EP.162 [The Crazy Obsession of the Eccentric Little Sister Elizabeth] 

‘This episode’s real flavor is this-the thrill, and the imagination!’ 

Having decided to borrow the “Soul Mage” episode, Elizabeth once again immersed herself in it with meticulous attention. Elizabeth was always this thorough and persistent. 

After nearly ten repeated readings and savoring, she concluded that the episode’s real highlight was the suspense-whether the heroine’s true identity would be discovered or not. 

‘That’s right... I know this feeling too... I’ve already felt this kind of thrill with my beloved brother...’ 

Elizabeth began to fully immerse herself in the keyword of that suspense. 

She especially enjoyed reading that episode in “Soul Mage.” Why did she enjoy it so much? Thinking back, it was because she had done something similar with Eugene Schneider. 

‘The desire to let him know I stole his underwear, but also the anxious thrill of what would happen if I got caught and scolded by him... haaa... I remember it all now!’ 

That was why, unconsciously, stealing Eugene Schneider’s underwear had so tantalized Elizabeth’s heart. 

After that act, Elizabeth experienced a profound psychological awakening and secretly tried all sorts of ways to let her brother know about her daring deed. The excitement of that time was now being revived in the eccentric little sister, Elizabeth de Sel Oblaing. 

‘Haaa...! My brother must be noticing quite a few similarities between Anna Parisienne and Elizabeth, right? Same age, both a bit eccentric... hiii...!’ 

So Elizabeth deliberately kept dropping hints. She subtly let Thomas know her age, hoping Eugene would hear. Her sheer nightgown outfit now had the same intent. She wore it to match the seductive look she’d shown during the weapon inventory contract, guiding Eugene’s thoughts to keep connecting Anna Parisienne and Elizabeth de Sel Oblaing. 

“Mage? Mage?” 

At that moment, Eugene Schneider’s voice calling her snapped Elizabeth out of her thoughts. 

“Ah! S-sorry, Captain. I have a habit of spacing out sometimes...” 

“I see! Haha! I thought I’d made some mistake.” 

As the game of cat-and-mouse with her brother began in earnest, Elizabeth’s catharsis exploded, leaving her with a dazed expression. 

“You’re amazing. To have become a Sword Expert at 21.” 

The conversation between Eugene Schneider and Anna Parisienne deepened. During it, Eugene confessed his Sword Expert awakening to Anna Parisienne. 

‘Hmm... I’ve already told two people since coming here. At this rate, my secret might come out before Jeanne’s does.’ 

Eugene had done this deliberately. Over several days, he’d had ongoing meetings with Victoria, and before tonight’s talk with Anna Parisienne, he’d asked Victoria what kind of conversation would be effective with a mage. Since a misstep with a mage could affect not just himself but the whole quest team, Victoria advised him that, since Anna would likely be the main party mage, it would be best to tell her about his Sword Expert awakening. It would help her craft custom buff magic and build early trust. Eugene took her advice. 

“To be honest, I had a feeling. I may be an expert-level mage, but I have mana-sensing abilities beyond that. Still, it was hard to say first, so I kept quiet. Now that you’ve told me, I feel relieved.” 

Victoria’s advice paid off. Because Eugene’s Sword Expert powers weren’t fully refined, sensitive mental-type awakened people could still sense something odd. By volunteering the information first, Eugene built trust with Anna Parisienne. 

As their trust grew- 

“Since we’re on the subject, I should say: what I sensed from you wasn’t just Sword Expert mana.” 

Anna Parisienne signaled she was about to share something she’d kept to herself. 

“What... do you mean?” 

Eugene, feeling the conversation was open, looked relaxed, but when Anna Parisienne spoke seriously, he watched her closely. 

‘Did she figure out my noble status? I practiced my speech and mannerisms so much... Are mages really that perceptive?’ 

Having revealed his Sword Expert awakening at age 21, Eugene worried that might have led her to guess his status. 

‘No, this could be used to my advantage. Both Victoria and Anna seem like professionals who would keep work and private matters separate, even if I came out about my and Jeanne’s status. Marie and Thomas said they’re sincere about the quest.’ 

Though a bit tense, Eugene’s thoughts turned positive. Based on his experience coming out as a Sword Expert, he believed Victoria and Anna Parisienne were true professionals. If his noble status came up, he figured it wouldn’t hurt to admit it and reveal his ducal title. 

“Please go ahead, Mage Anna. This is a place for building trust, so I think we should speak frankly. I’m ready for any conversation.” 

With his mind made up, Eugene shed his hesitation and responded confidently. 

To this, Anna Parisienne said, 

“I sense miasma from you, Captain Eugene Caesar.” 

She brought up something Eugene never expected: miasma. 

“!!!?????” 

Eugene’s eyes widened in shock at hearing his secret from Anna Parisienne. He’d never imagined miasma would come up. He had a reason for this: although his Sword Expert energy had been detected by his little sister Elizabeth, he’d never shown miasma without a rampage. Based on that, Eugene tried to keep his cool, but faced with something far outside his expectations, he couldn’t help but be flustered. 

“Is it because of my hair color?” 

Trying to regain his composure, Eugene asked Anna Parisienne in a low voice. The thought that maybe his black hair, build, and swordsman appearance made him look like a demon half-blood was on his mind. 

“I have black hair too, you know? And I said I sensed miasma. This isn’t a guess, Captain Eugene. It’s a certainty.” 

But Anna Parisienne, seeing right through him, calmly and firmly repeated her statement. 

“I still don’t get it. I’ve been mistaken for a demon half-blood so often, but as far as I know, even with good mana-sensing, it’s hard to detect miasma unless something special is happening.” 

But Eugene wasn’t easy to shake. Since regaining memories of his past life, he’d become much better at talking his way through things. After becoming curious about miasma, he’d studied the ducal house’s library. Using that knowledge, he tried to defend himself against expert mage Anna Parisienne. 

“That’s true-for a mage.” 

Sss... 

The previously warm conversation instantly turned icy. But behind her mask, the eccentric Anna Parisienne seemed to enjoy the tension, resting her chin on her hands with sparkling eyes. 

“But it’s different for a witch skilled in black magic. Black magic is based on miasma. Hohoho...” 

She then revealed special information not easily found even in the ducal library. 

“A witch?” 

Eugene looked at Anna Parisienne with wide eyes, puzzled by her information. 

‘Does that mean Anna Parisienne can use witch’s black magic? Can she sense miasma to that degree?’ 

Not only did he wonder if what she said was true, but if it was, it meant Anna Parisienne herself had learned witch’s black magic. From what Elizabeth had told him, mages and witches are often rivals, with clear divisions between orthodoxy and heresy. Someone who studied witch’s black magic could be expelled from the mage association. 

“My black hair-it wasn’t always this color.” 

Sss... 

Anna Parisienne sensually played with her ponytail. 

“It used to be brown. But my academic passion for experiencing various magics led me to study black magic, and my hair turned black.” 

She revealed that her jet-black hair was the result of embracing black magic. 

“Huh...” 

Eugene made a strange face at her words. 

‘Could it be... Elizabeth too???’ 

From Anna Parisienne’s demeanor, she didn’t seem to be lying. The connection between black magic and black hair seemed real. That made Eugene think of his little sister Elizabeth, whose hair had turned from blonde to black while at the academy. 

Smirk...! 

Anna Parisienne watched Eugene’s expression and smiled slightly. 

‘That’s right, brother... The reason Elizabeth’s hair turned black is because she studied black magic to get closer to you, her demon half-blood brother...’ 

Behind the mask, Elizabeth de Sel Oblaing felt a cathartic thrill as her long-hidden secret was gradually revealed. Indeed, Elizabeth de Sel Oblaing had known for a long time that Eugene was a demon half-blood.