Free Web NovelChapter 457: Chapter 457: Adina 10
’If I go, I’m an idiot,’ Tan You thought to herself. ’This manor is remote to begin with. If I actually run into danger outside, it’d be a miracle if these guards could protect me.’
The Beauty System appeared right on cue: "Host, Dumont is expected to pass near the Karina family’s manor tonight. He’s returned a day early."
Tan You immediately changed her mind. "Of course! Sister, you absolutely have to stay with me this afternoon."
Lilith smiled as well. "Of course I’ll stay with you."
Both had their own ulterior motives, yet both wore brilliant smiles. Though they had identical faces, they gave off completely different impressions. Tan You’s was calm and leisurely, while Lilith’s smile held a hint of gloating, as if she were looking forward to a good show.
After lunch at the Karina family’s manor, Karina started making arrangements to vent Lilith’s anger. Lilith’s little group of friends all followed suit. After all, they were closer to Lilith, and humiliating Tan You would undoubtedly make Lilith even happier.
Tan You saw right through their intentions and couldn’t help but shake her head. ’It’s a good thing I’m not a real child. Sometimes, the evil children do has a kind of innocent cruelty to it.’
’They don’t know the serious consequences of their actions, and that kind of evil is, without a doubt, even more chilling.’
Once they boarded the Edmonds family’s carriage, Lilith was already sitting primly inside. Tan You glanced at the carriages following them. "Isn’t Laura coming with us?"
Lilith was in an excellent mood. "No, bringing them along would be pointless. We’re just going out to relax..."
Tan You understood. ’So the plan is to leave me without a single person to help.’ She lowered her gaze, then suddenly smiled. "Alright, where are we going to play?"
Lilith fidgeted with her fingers. "We’ll be there soon. Karina said there’s a beautiful valley near the manor. I heard there are even docile Magic Beasts there..."
’This is a Western Fantasy World, and she’s talking about docile Magic Beasts?’ Tan You listened to Lilith’s nonsense. ’From what I’ve seen in the Monster Atlas, are there *any* docile Magic Beasts?’
’Whatever, I’ll handle it myself. I’m actually looking forward to Lilith and the others making their move. After all, without their "help," I’d have to put in more effort to leave the Edmonds family.’
Tan You felt not the slightest guilt about pinning the blame on Lilith and her little gang of friends.
The carriage stopped in a small valley. The guards got out first to inspect the surroundings. Only after confirming there was no danger did the young ladies of the noble houses—Karina, Anita, Ivya, and the others—alight.
Tan You followed Lilith out of the carriage. She keenly noticed the exchanged glances between the others but pretended not to see, simply staying close to Lilith’s side and playing the part of a timid, introverted little girl perfectly.
And Lilith’s act was indeed quite good; nearly an hour passed, and she was still all smiles. Tan You guessed she was probably imagining the scene of her misfortune and celebrating in advance.
Seeing Karina, Lilith, and the others exchanging more and more glances, Tan You knew it was time. She began to slowly drift away from Lilith, gradually increasing the distance between them.
She put on an expression of being captivated by the valley’s beauty. ’Heavens knows what’s so captivating,’ Tan You snarked internally. ’There are just a few rocks and some big trees. Not even a single flower. What’s there to see?’
The moment Lilith and the others saw Tan You’s expression, they knew their little scheme had succeeded. They exchanged a few more glances and gradually moved even farther away from Tan You.
The Beauty System had been monitoring their movements. "Host, they’re getting into the carriage."
Tan You shrugged. "Let them go. If they don’t leave, how can this play go on?"
"Playing along with them is exhausting. I’m really not cut out for acting."
However, one of the guards from the Karina family was more observant. "Miss Lilith, is Miss Adina with you? It seems she hasn’t caught up."
Lilith’s face twisted for a moment. "She’s in the carriage. She got on ahead of us."
The guard was skeptical, but since the young noble lady had said so, he could only take her word for it. Still, just before they set off, he couldn’t help but glance back at the valley one last time, but he saw nothing.
Tan You hid behind a large tree. ’That guard is pretty sharp.’
’But my apologies,’ she thought. ’I can’t go back with Lilith and the others right now. Since Lilith dared to plot against me, I have to teach her a lesson.’
She wasn’t planning to use this opportunity to leave the Edmonds family, because Tan You hadn’t finished her preliminary preparations. If she left now, she wouldn’t be able to get very far.
Not long after Lilith and the others left, the sky grew dark. Tan You sat on a large rock in the valley, watching the sun set. When she saw the three moons hanging in the sky, Tan You marveled once again, "This really is a Western Fantasy World. Anything is possible."
"When is Dumont expected to pass by the Karina family’s manor?"
The Beauty System estimated the time. "If Host departs now, you are expected to meet him around midnight."
Tan You jumped down from the rock. "Let’s get going, then. The show is about to begin."
Tan You felt no guilt about bullying children or tattling on them. In fact, she had waited here for so long that if Karina or Lilith had any conscience at all, they would have already come back to get her.
But since not a single person had come for her, they couldn’t blame Tan You for being ruthless.
Mulling this over, Tan You wrapped her cloak tighter around herself and followed the Beauty System’s guidance toward the direction of Dumont’s return to the city. After stumbling and falling yet again, Tan You didn’t even have the energy to curse.
She had planned for every contingency, but she never expected the mountain path to be so difficult at night. Tan You was now so filthy she looked as if she had rolled in a mud pit, her face and hands covered in scrapes.
But Tan You couldn’t stop. She had to meet Dumont tonight. Otherwise, forget her plans—she might even lose her life here.
The bright moons hung high in the sky. The one in the center was growing fuller, and it seemed to be surrounded by a bloody halo. The moment Tan You saw that ring of light, a chill ran down her spine.
’How could I have forgotten?’ On the night of a full moon, Magic Beasts became especially agitated... Tan You took a deep breath. All she could do now was pray she didn’t encounter any Magic Beasts on the way. With Adina’s scrawny arms and legs, Tan You wouldn’t be a match for even the lowest-tier Level 1 Magic Beast.
Unfortunately, sometimes the things you want to avoid most are the very things you run into—just like right now. Seeing several pairs of covetous eyes that had appeared out of nowhere and hearing the chittering sounds, Tan You tightened her grip on the wooden stick in her hand.
She was a little scared, but no matter how afraid she was, Tan You would not just sit and wait for death. ’If I go to the Mist Forest, I will face situations far more dangerous than this. Am I supposed to just give up and die every time?’
’That makes no sense.’
