OHNIR – Chapter 82
Chapter 82: Analysis
Because the sound of voices was gradually drifting up from the floors below, a cautious Kevit retrieved the medicine for her, re-locked the main door with vines, and then turned and hurried away.
Kelusta was left alone, leaning against the wall with a frown, grimacing as she thoroughly cleaned her wound.
After disinfecting it and stopping the bleeding with a potion, the bloody patch of flesh finally looked less horrifying than before.
Students gradually began to fill the hall, but surprisingly, not a single one of them knew Kelusta or was taking the same exam. So, people merely cast a couple of slightly surprised glances at the pretty, determinedly hobbling girl, but otherwise paid her no further mind.
The proctor was Professor Noah, the potions instructor, and he was even less inclined to meddle in student affairs. When he glanced at Kelusta's wound, he didn't so much as frown, acting as if he hadn't seen a thing and focusing solely on his duties.
With no one playing the part of the concerned classmate, Kelusta was happy for the peace and quiet. She worked on her exam paper while enduring the pain in her leg. After limping out of the hall, she even had a moment to reflect that she probably wouldn't be taken to task by Gloria.
"The pain isn't without its benefits. It makes my mind clearer," Kelusta said, as if consoling herself on the way to the medical room.
The System, for once, offered a fair compliment regarding her studies. "This exam, you truly surprised me. Aside from the materials section, to be honest, you did very well on your own."
Hearing this affirmation from the artificial intelligence, Kelusta showed no sign of joy. Instead, she shrugged with great regret. "If Satrick hadn't suddenly interrupted me, preventing me from properly finishing that materials list, I would have been able to answer all the materials questions, too."
"So, is there any hope of getting an A?"
"Of course—absolutely not," Kelusta said, both matter-of-fact and self-aware. "Isn't Gloria's minimum requirement a B? A B is good enough."
"Alright... but I still have to say," the System added jokingly, "if you were willing to parade that injury in front of her, the minimum requirement would probably drop to a D."
Kelusta smiled and shook her head, rejecting the suggestion without hesitation. Her steps remained steady as she headed straight for the medical room.
"I can't let Lux know I'm injured," she said lightly. "If she found out, she would surely harbor an even deeper grudge against Satrick, perhaps even despise him."
The brown-haired girl was confident—that incomparably noble eldest daughter of the ducal house would certainly go to such lengths for her.
"But in my view... unless it's absolutely necessary, it's best to avoid a complete falling out with Satrick."
She gave a short laugh and, after the System's confused query, began to explain.
"In the original storyline, without the aid of the ducal house, Starangui would have had no way of competing with Satrick, let alone being his equal. It was His Highness the Prince who won the heir's crown and successfully seized control of the Royal Knight Legion. A legion composed of elites is undoubtedly a powerful force. If we can win the prince's faction over to our side, then in the final war, our odds of victory will increase by far more than just a little."
"...I should really apply to headquarters to award you a 'Model Host' prize," the System sighed. "In all these worlds, I've never accompanied a host who is always as focused on the mission as you."
"Hm? If they're not focused on the mission, what are they doing?" Kelusta asked blankly.
The System was silent for a moment, then said stiffly, "Some are slacking off, some are falling in love, and others are dedicated to antagonizing the original protagonist... basically, they do whatever they want. As long as they're not doing the mission properly, everyone's happy."
"Such a lack of professional spirit. Bad review," commented Kelusta, a firm believer in taking pride in one's work. "I sincerely hope you have the good fortune to meet another host as excellent as me next time, Old Sy."
The System: "..."
Chatting the whole way, Kelusta finally shuffled into the medical room. Madam Lechena exclaimed and personally treated her wound. She reluctantly agreed to Kelusta's request "not to tell Lady Gloria," instructing her to apply the medicine on time that night and to keep her leg out of water, and it would be healed by morning.
The kind woman also gave her a small vial of scar-removing potion, thoughtfully helping Kelusta conceal her injury.
Filled with gratitude, Kelusta made her way back to her dormitory. She wrote a letter to Gloria, telling her that she was "so exhausted from the potions exam that I'd like to request two days of rest." Then, she carefully changed into a nightgown and meticulously applied the ointment to her wound.
"You're lying to her, aren't you?" the System asked. "Doesn't your conscience bother you?"
"First of all, I don't have a conscience," the brown-haired girl said shamelessly. "Secondly, I never specified where I would be resting. That hardly counts as a lie!"
The System said no more, thinking to itself that no matter the situation, she always had a way of being right.
Just as she finished applying the medicine, Kelusta received a reply from Gloria expressing her understanding and telling her to rest well.
After carefully putting the letter away, the room's occupant turned and threw herself onto the large, soft bed.
"Alright, now to sort through the two important pieces of information I gained from this incident."
She stretched languidly and said, "First thing—Avia Charles saw me alone with Satrick."
"She probably followed Satrick in secret," the System sighed. "From what happened last time, it's clear... she has a vicious personality and is overly possessive. She certainly won't let this go. You must be extremely careful."
Even without the System's reminder, Kelusta certainly remembered the incident at the tea party by the swan lake, where Avia had tried to kill her with fire magic.
"I have to be on guard against her," Kelusta said, closing her eyes and letting out a long, frustrated breath. "Fortunately, Prince Satrick's fiancée isn't as difficult to deal with as he is. As long as I'm extra careful for a while, there shouldn't be a problem."
"Besides, since Starangui abandoned Avia last time, Avia certainly won't seek the princess's help again... That greatly reduces the difficulty of guarding against her, so you needn't worry too much," the System analyzed. "I will assist you with all my power. Dealing with a mere minion who has no backup this time is hardly worth mentioning."
"Alright, on to the next point." Kelusta nodded crisply, reached out to poke the empty air before her, and summoned the System's control panel.
She opened the character profile panel and found Starangui's entry under the 【Villain】 tab. The image showed the golden-haired, purple-eyed girl with one half of her face clear and beautiful, while the other half was shrouded in complete darkness. The stark contrast between light and shadow was striking, as if she were wearing a half-mask, and it sent an inexplicable chill down one's spine.
Kelusta opened her detailed profile and, unsurprisingly, found an unlocked piece of information: "Potion Master."
On the continent of Nobili, anyone who could be called a "Master" was an undisputed leader in their field.
Even Wend, hailed as a genius since childhood, had only just reached the threshold of "Master" when it came to potions. Yet Starangui, this unassuming royal princess, had already achieved that status at such a young age, becoming the youngest Potion Master in all of Nobili, second only to the Dark Goddess herself.
"From this day forward, I will never again deny or underestimate the talents of any villain, including 'minions' like Avia," Kelusta said faintly, her eyes fixed on the information. "The title of 'protagonist' often signifies crisis. I can only do my best to dodge the many plots and traps, but I can never guarantee that I won't fall into a pit someone has already dug for me."
The System understood her allusion almost immediately.
"But that wasn't a loss, Temporary Host," it said. "Although you were successfully framed by Starangui, it forced Gloria to awaken her light magic in response. Originally, there was only a thirty percent chance she would stand on your side, but now that probability has risen to fifty percent."
A fifty-fifty chance.
After all, if a dual-attribute mage so desired, they could completely conceal or awaken one of the magical powers within them.
—During the war on Newlinya Queen Avenue, there was a turning point that people still talk about to this day. At the height of the battle, a fire mage among the Royal Knights suddenly raised his hand and unleashed a powerful bolt of lightning on the battlefield, striking down a demon general on the spot.
This surprise attack had the force of an avalanche, shattering the enemy's morale and allowing the human forces to crush them in a single blow.
"You're right... but I can only hope Gloria makes her choice soon," Kelusta sighed, relaxing completely. She closed her eyes, letting her head sink into the soft feather pillow.
"Temporary Host, there is a more pressing matter at hand," the System interjected, noticing her drowsiness. "You're going to the Amirium estate tomorrow, remember?"
"I remember," Kelusta said languidly. "That's why I wrote to Gloria that I'd be 'resting for two days'."
"Then... is there nothing you need to prepare?" the System asked hesitantly. "It is a family reunion, after all..."
"No preparations. I'll just be myself," the brown-haired girl said calmly. "Someone who truly loves me won't care about tedious and useless formalities... She will only want to see me, whole and sound. That will be enough."
If Duchess Amirium needed an heir, then Kelusta would need to dress in finery, prepare an exquisite gift, and pay her respects like a proper and deferential guest.
But if Duchess Amirium needed a granddaughter... then Kelusta needed to do nothing at all. Simply appearing before her, whole and complete, would be the greatest gift she could give her grandmother.
"I'm looking forward to tomorrow."
Kelusta opened her eyes. Her golden irises were filled with a steady calm, yet held a hint of imperceptible apprehension and uncertainty.
"I hope I can have a home," she whispered, "and a close relative who truly loves me for myself."
Just as Madam Lechena had said, Kelusta's leg was completely healed by the next morning.
She casually chose a pale gold dress, swept her hair up, and then, true to her word, left without a trace of makeup, heading off campus with a fresh face.
The carriage mentioned in the invitation was waiting quietly outside the school gates.
As Kelusta stepped out of the school gates at a leisurely pace, a man in a tailcoat standing beside the carriage noticed her immediately.
His eyes lit up. He strode quickly toward Kelusta and, meeting her blank stare, gave her a deep bow, his voice filled with unconcealable excitement. "Are you the young Miss Kelusta?"
Hmm... judging by his attire, he must be from the Amirium family.
But, "young Miss"?
Could it be because my mother was 'Miss Ricana' that he's calling me that?
Kelusta blinked, almost instantly realizing the identity of the young-looking man. She gave a polite nod of acknowledgment. "I am."
Hearing her confirmation, the man let out a soft breath, a smile that was both joyful and sorrowful gracing his lips. His tone was gentle. "Greetings, esteemed young Miss Kelusta. It is a pleasure to meet you. Please forgive my earlier forwardness—I am Oliver, the butler of the Amirium family."
"Today, I am here on the Duchess's orders," Oliver said with a smile, "to bring the young Miss home."
Kelusta froze for a moment.
That simple word, "home," instantly touched the softest part of her heart.
The brown-haired girl gazed deeply at the handsome butler before her, pursed her lips into a faint smile, and gave him a curtsy. In an equally gentle voice, she said, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Oliver. I'm Kelusta."
As she spoke, Oliver's eyes widened.
The brown-haired girl's golden eyes reflected the soft morning sunlight. They were brilliant and bright, like the most precious gold on earth, so radiant that one simply couldn't look away.
"Thank you very much for coming," the young miss of the Amirium family said, tilting her head at him as he watched. "Let's go home."
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