Trembling Darkness

“Aldini…….”

“Haha! Long time no see, David.”

With his usual air of calm and composure, Leonardo greeted David. However in his eyes, a tinge of threat and warning could be seen.

“Did you forget my little warning already? Taking care of Francesca is part of my territory.——-you don’t need to worry and go ahead wherever you’re needed.”

“tch……….”

David frowned, clicked his tongue and then shouted towards Francesca.

“Oi, you okay? Any injuries?”

“uh……yeah, I mean no! I’m fine!!”

As her answer reached his back, David continued his dash and disappeared into the darkness, passing through the crowded chaos.

His goal should be to reach his sister’s side, who is protecting the Augite.

“Leonardo, can you create some light please!!”

“For you, anything.”

With Francesca still in his embrace, Leonardo seemed to make a gentle smile.

Lightning flashed with a snap, and in an instant the candles on the chandelier were fully lit again. Inside the hall that was now suddenly bright again, the guests were all still in chaos as they looked around.

“What’s going on? The chandelier’s flames are……….!”

“th-that aside, just what in the world was that tremor!?”

The reason why the chandelier was not even swaying, neither from the earlier wind nor the earthquake, was because of Leonardo’s skill that manipulates ivy.

The ivy plant wrapped around the chains on which the chandelier was hung and stopped it from swaying due to the tremors.

Activating two skills simultaneously and instantaneously, without letting anyone around them even notice that happened just showed how high Leonardo’s ability in this field was.

“Just like we had planned in advance, I asked Ricardo to activate his wide range defensive skill the moment the [darkness] comes. And I have told him to be ready to use the status heal skill at moment’s notice if he sees the guests go berserk again from the effect of the mind control skill.”

“Thanks, Leonardo! Now, as long as the Augite of Mystreal is safe then…….!”

Standing on her tiptoes, she looked down the hallway to see David reach Sofia’s place.

Inside the showcase that stood between the brother and sister, the big shining rock sat safely, still inside, looking as magnificent as always.

“………all..looks…fine……..?”

“……………..”

Leonardo didn’t reply, and simply continued to carefully stare in the direction of the Augite. And she understood why that was as well, because she too had a bad premonition.

(This uneasiness again. Something’s wrong. [The rock is stolen in the darkness so make the room back bright instantly to stop the theft] was our simple plan, and it succeeded and yet..)

Her heart continued to beat erratically, making her anxious.

It was if she could feel a gaze. A gaze from a certain [someone] that had extinguished the chandelier’s light in the first place.

(………the [mastermind], it feels like he’s nearby…….)

Francesca suddenly ran, back to the balcony they were in before.

(Perhaps from here I could………!!)

Leonardo quickly followed her as well, probably because he too felt the same exact unease as well. In Francesca’s mind, the game’s scenario was replayed yet again.

(In the game, after the Augite is stolen, a notice that [someone just ran out of the hall] is given to the players. If the same thing is going to happen here as well, then right now, I should be able to see them run out from the balcony……..!)

Hurriedly she leaned out over the railing, and looked towards the garden beneath. Amongst the many trees and plants that covered the giant garden, a shadowy figure could be seen running away.

“Come, Francesca.”

“!!”

Leonardo jumped on to the railing and then stretched out his hand towards Francesca.

“Leonardo, you stay here! There still might be more danger here as well.”

“But you’re going to chase after that guy right? Normally, I’d leave you here, and go out by myself to be honest.”

“But…….!!”

“you only have two options. Wait here, or come with me.”

“……….tsk.”

The moment she grabbed Leonardo’s hand, perhaps due to a skill, he easily picked her up and carried her with him.

With her in the infamous princess carry, Leonardo jumped down from the balcony.

He very lightly landed on the ground, and then quickly put Francesca back down as well.

“sorry for making you carry me, Leonardo……!”

“Hardly a problem. Come on, let’s hurry.”

“yeah!!”

Leonardo then seemed to activate another different skill as a ball of light appeared. While running in the direction of the escapee, Francesca then spoke up.

“I’m sure you can also tell Leonardo but, I’m getting a real bad feeling about all this. That person, I don’t want to let them get away, but…….!”

“And what danger are you expecting to befall upon us now?”

“A skill may be used against us. A skill that changes our bodies. One that turns you into a child!”

“What?”

“And also, I’m still not sure if the augite is truly safe or not…….!”

“………….”

Hearing Francesca’s words, Leonardo activated another skill. As the two ran through the trees, suddenly voices from what seemed like the party hall began to enter their ears.

[[Where the hell did David go!?]]

“Sofia-san’s voice……!? Leonardo, is this…”

“A sound gathering skill. As long as it’s within a certain range, I can gather any sound here for us to listen.”

“You even have a skill like that!?”

No wonder it was impossible to trick or deceive Leonardo. Not only did he have so many skills that no one knew about them all, it always seems like he always knows the perfect skill to utilize in every given situation.

Even if Francesca had the same amount of skills, she had no confidence she could use it all with the same level of efficiency as Leonardo.

(but that doesn’t mean he’s invincible. Using so many skills puts a lot of fatigue and burden on Leonardo.)

She didn’t want him to use any more skills for tonight at least. As Francesca swore that to herself, a tense Sofia’s voice came into their ears again.

[[Stop dillydallying around! What’s the result of the appraisal skill!?]]

“As expected of Sofia-san! She’s getting the Augite of Mystreal appraised as well.”

“So it would seem. However…….”

A man who seemed to be a member of the Ranieri family, seemed to slowly mutter with a trembling voice.

[[——-it’s a fake.]]

[[…….What did you say?]]

With the sound of Sofia gasping, Francesca eyes also widended with shock.

[[This Augite of Mystreal, is not real…….!!]]

[[………!!!]]

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