Three days ago, late at night.

“…My lady.”

Estella, exhausted and dozing off, was awakened by Ria’s quiet voice. Though her stamina had improved considerably, her limbs felt heavy from the grueling pace of the past few days.

“Mm? Ria… what is it?”

Ria would never wake her unless it was urgent, so Estella quickly sat up.

“The mage has come to see you.”

“…Gerard? At this hour?”

Estella rubbed her sleep-laden eyes as she asked.

“Yes, he said it was urgent and that you must see him right away.”

Even as she explained, Ria’s voice was filled with hesitation, as if reluctant to disturb Estella’s sleep. She had no choice, but she didn’t like doing it.

“Is he in the drawing room?”

“No, still outside the door…”

“Let him in.”

“Yes, my lady!”

Ria answered and quickly left.

The moment Estella heard Gerard’s name, the drowsiness clinging to her lashes vanished. If he had rushed over, it must mean he’d discovered something new—or uncovered something important.

Throwing a thick robe over her nightgown, she stepped into the drawing room, where Gerard sat on the sofa, dark circles under his eyes. He was wearing a vest lined with far too many pockets, and his long, thin legs trembled with nervous energy. Wondering if he was cold, Estella handed him a blanket nearby and asked,

“Gerard, what is it at this hour?”

“Oh, thanks. But why are you already asleep?”

Gerard snapped irritably as he pulled the blanket over his lap. Estella was speechless.

“It’s past midnight.”

“What are you talking about? It’s only… huh?”

Only after hearing her did Gerard realize the time.

“Sorry. I didn’t know it was this late.”

He scratched his head sheepishly, offering a sheepish smile.

“It’s fine. What’s going on?”

Estella was fully awake now. Whatever it was, it couldn’t be trivial—her worry grew just from seeing him show up like this.

“Remember the tongue you gave me a while back?”

“You mean the Kardian’s tongue?”

She had completely forgotten about it after tossing it to Gerard for examination amidst everything else. Now she felt a bit guilty for piling so much on him. Judging by the scent of burning clinging to him, he’d been experimenting again. Gerard seemed aware of it too, as he kept sniffing his sleeves with a displeased look.

“There was that black spot on the cross-section. I told you it smelled burnt. This smell on me now? Even perfume won’t cover it. It’s vile.”

Gerard shuddered as he spoke, clearly disgusted by the odor.

“Right… and back when Katrin died in the west tower, you said you smelled something burnt too.”

“I figured it out. What this smell is.”

Gerard’s mismatched eyes sparkled with confidence. Estella thought they looked like glass beads as she asked,

“…What is it?”

“An ether combustion reaction.”

“What does that mean?”

“It’s a type of carbonizing magic.”

“…What does that mean.”

Repeating the same question with growing frustration, Estella scowled at the hint of condescension in Gerard’s eyes.

“Why are you looking at me like that? Of course I don’t know magic. Do you know what an M16 is? What about a Glock 19?!”

Even as she said it, Estella cringed at her own childishness—but for some reason, she didn’t want to lose to Gerard.

“…What are those?”

Sure enough, Gerard returned her question with the same dumb expression.

“See? So just explain it again. In a way I can actually understand.”

Finally catching on, Gerard nodded shortly and began explaining quickly—but clearly.

“Magic, at its base, works by channeling a force called ether through circuits or magic circles. You know what ether is, right?”

Seeing Gerard’s doubtful expression, Estella didn’t really know, but she narrowed her eyes and nodded as if she did. Gerard sighed in relief and continued.

“An ether combustion reaction means consuming that ether in an explosive way. Not using your own power, but pulling from an external source. Like… instead of lighting a fire with skill, you just dump gasoline and set it ablaze.”

He studied her face carefully as he explained, trying to gauge whether she was following.

“It’s a more dangerous method?”

“Not only dangerous—it leaves a trace. That ‘burnt’ smell I mentioned? That’s the residue left behind when ether is completely incinerated. If you smell that after a spell, it means someone forcefully, recklessly exploded a large amount of ether. Ordinary mages can’t handle that. It usually requires some unnatural aid—like arcane devices, alchemical tools, or biological modifications.”

Estella nodded slowly.

“So it’s connected to the Kardian swarm attack, and Katrin’s death?”

“Exactly.”

“But your theory has one hole. You say this ether combustion method is something normal mages can’t use. Then why would a powerful mage use a spell that self-destructs their body?”

“Ohhhh! Good point.”

Gerard seemed genuinely impressed by the sharpness of her question.

“Probably because they’re no longer able to use normal magic.”

He stroked his sharp chin like a detective.

“Such as?”

“Maybe they failed a forbidden magic experiment, or botched some illegal biological fusion. Whoever used this magic likely broke their mana circuit trying something and now can’t use normal magic. They have knowledge, maybe even relics—but no power. This is the last resort.”

“If they can draw power from outside, couldn’t they just keep doing it forever?”

“No. Each time they force ether in, their body gets eaten away. So no, not forever.”

“How long could they last?”

“Depends on the mage. A regular one would melt within a year. A genius like me? Maybe five.”

“…What about the Archmage of the Tower?”

“…What?”

Gerard’s eyes widened as if he’d heard something he wasn’t supposed to.

“I mean someone on the level of the Archmage?”

“Well… over ten years, maybe? Wait, are you suspecting the Archmage?”

“Just curious.”

Estella sidestepped the question, knowing how revered the Archmage was to mages. It was different from her trust in Gerard.

She thought to tell Gerard everything she knew about the Archmage eventually—but not yet. If he found out the truth, he might be in danger.

Still. Ten years… They needed to find a way to bring the Archmage down before that. If he fell, Aslan’s power would weaken considerably.

“So the person using this spell is likely out of mana.”

“Exactly.”

Their serious conversation was interrupted when they both turned to the door—Ria stood there, looking like she had something to say. Estella knew Ria never loitered without reason.

“Ria? Is there something?”

As expected, Ria nodded cautiously.

“What is it?”

“…Actually… I’ve smelled this before, recently.”

“Where?”

Estella’s gaze sharpened.

“Well…”

Ria hesitated a moment, then spoke.

“Near Butler Raul’s room. At first I thought maybe he hadn’t quit smoking. But the more I thought about it… it wasn’t a tobacco smell. It was more like…”

“The smell on me now?”

“…Yes. Like burning hair…”

Ria had always had a sensitive nose—it’s what made her so quick to learn Miraclelium preparation. She could detect the ideal state by smell alone. And she could sniff out trace combustion even in mixed scents.

Gerard’s face darkened.

“Have Raul brought in soon. Apply this to something he might touch. If he’s been exposed to ether magic, traces will remain.”

From one of his many pockets, Gerard produced a small vial and handed it to Estella.

'I hoped it wasn’t true…'

Estella sighed deeply as she looked at the yellowish stain glowing on her hand. Instead of applying the reagent to an object, she had applied it directly to her palm.

“What will you do now, my lady?”

Ria asked, her face full of worry. Neither her expression nor Estella’s looked relieved—even though the traitor had been uncovered, and all that remained was judgment.

Probably because they both knew how much Raul had done for Wintfall.

But still, this couldn’t be overlooked. After a long pause, Estella wiped the stain away with a handkerchief and spoke in a cold voice.

“If it’s come to this, then I’ll use it to the fullest.”

“You mean to leak false information?”

Right on cue. Estella silently admired Ria’s brilliance and nodded.

“Yes. No point catching small fry. We need the head.”

“But… then why did you give the ring to the butler? Isn’t that dangerous?”

Ria was worried about everything—but above all, she feared Estella getting hurt. She hated to see Estella hurt in body or in heart.

“He has to believe I trust him.”

“…If Butler Raul regrets what he’s done and comes back… would you take him back?”

Estella heard the hope in Ria’s voice.

“I know how much you respect him, Ria. But listen.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“You can’t fix people. There’s no guarantee someone who’s betrayed once won’t betray again. I won’t take Raul back. He has to face the consequences of his choice.”

“…Yes, my lady.”

Ria answered with a heavy heart, and Estella gently patted her shoulder, offering a sorrowful smile.

“What’s the boss doing?”

Bruno asked, watching Ciel stand before the mirror at dawn, parting his hair first to the left, then to the right, and now neatly down the center.

“Trying to look good, obviously.”

“For the lady?”

“You think he’s styling his hair like that for you? We ought to break that brush already.”

Lily shuddered, watching Ciel now slick his bangs back to show his forehead.

“What style looks best on me?”

Bruno asked, mimicking Ciel with an oversized brush.

“For you, Bruno…”

As Lily began, Bruno paused expectantly.

“You look best doing nothing. Now put the brush down before I get the urge to brush your organs into alignment.”

“Eek! Savage woman!”

“Your part is more savage. Who taught you that abomination?”

Lily ranted at Bruno’s lopsided part, closer to 9:1 than 8:2.

Their bickering filled the drawing room with noise, but the Squirrels, used to it, walked past without a care.

Today, their beloved and fearsome contract holder had a very busy schedule, so they too had to stay on their toes.

Just as they stepped outside the Birch Hall—

Whiiik!
Clang!

An arrow flew from somewhere and bounced off Ciel’s sword.

“Captain!”

The startled Squirrels called out, but Ciel was already moving. He dashed toward the direction the arrow came from and, just like last time, tackled the hidden attacker, slamming him into the ground.

He was so fast that even Haru, who had the sharpest vision, couldn’t track him.

“Urgh!”

As the man beneath him bit down on something in his mouth, Ciel pried open his jaw and removed the pill, crushing it in front of his eyes. There was no trace of Ciel’s usual gentleness in his eyes, now filled with killing intent.

Sssssss!

The pill hissed and steamed violently on Ciel’s palm.

“Doing the same thing twice is boring, you know.”

Ciel sneered, plucked a purple button from the man’s robe, and clenched it in his fist. Then, in a chilling voice directed toward the listening Aslan:

“I’m not running anymore. So if you’re bored, go knit a scarf or something.”

Chapter 136

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