Despite dealing with Halan and several nobles, Ibnel did not lose her composure. Especially in front of this type of people, she did not want to show any weakness.

That would be exactly what they want.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t live up to your expectations, Duke.”

“How rude.”

A noble behind Halan was about to say something about Ibnel’s irreverent attitude, but Halan stopped him and suddenly burst into laughter.

Ibnel’s wariness deepened at Halan’s incomprehensible behavior.

“Ah, I was too late in expressing my gratitude.”

“Gratitude?”

No matter how much Ibnel thought about it, there was no reason for Halan to say such a thing to her. As proof, contrary to his words, there was no gratitude in his expression. Rather, it was the opposite.

Halan was looking at her with eyes that seemed to see a bug he could easily crush with one foot.

“For rejecting the proposal I made back then. I didn’t know you would end up like a kite with its string cut. Ah, even that might be too generous a description. Now all that’s left is to… kill you miserably.”

Ibnel felt chills run down her spine for a moment. Because his voice contained sincere intent, not just a threat meant to scare her.

‘This person really intends to kill me.’

Halan was still smiling as he looked at her frozen state. Like someone watching an amusing scene.

“It would be best to enjoy the present fully. There’s no need to feel wronged since your fate was originally death when you came to Caries. It’s just that fate returning.”

He showed a disdainful smile as he brushed past Ibnel. The sound of nobles’ laughter following him surrounded her.

Ibnel could do nothing but clench her fists in anger.

That laughter seemed to shake her fate, which was barely standing in balance, back and forth. To surely trample it so that it could never rise again.

“This is a miracle, Your Majesty.”

“When I first heard it, I couldn’t believe it at all.”

The urgent meeting called about Davian was filled with more commotion than usual. The expressions of the nobles present showed joy, excitement, and even deep emotion.

Shuher had been watching this scene, but feeling it might go on endlessly, he cut in at an appropriate moment.

“She will be staying at the imperial palace from now on. However, since she only became aware of her ability yesterday, it seems she will need time to adjust.”

“Of course, that’s how it should be. She will gradually adjust as time passes.”

It was the same situation as when discussing Ibnel, but the reaction was completely different. While they had sent Ibnel straight to subjugation under the pretext of confirming her ability.

The difference was clearly visible even to Shuher’s eyes. Previously, he would have thought it was only natural. That it should be done that way because she was a person of Aodin.

But the frustration he had felt before rose up again. However, no words came out of his mouth.

“Ah, we can’t just let this pass like this. It’s the first time in the history of the Caries Empire, shouldn’t we hold a grand celebratory banquet? What do you all think?”

“Of course we should.”

Everyone nodded readily, and Shuher didn’t particularly object either. It was also an opportunity to show Davian’s existence to everyone.

‘I wonder what Lady Ibnel would have said if she had seen this situation directly.’

He was already naturally thinking of Ibnel. When she came, far from being welcomed, she entered Caries by being thrown to monsters, and now seeing such different treatment, wouldn’t she feel resentful?

No, she probably wouldn’t care much. She might even laugh and say it was good.

As proof, hadn’t she only worried about Davian from the moment they first met?

At that moment, cutting through the friendly atmosphere, Halan brought up one person’s name.

“Then it’s time to discuss matters related to Lady Ibnel.”

As soon as Ibnel’s name was mentioned, the atmosphere in the conference room sank in an instant. People’s expressions became serious along with it.

As Shuher’s gaze turned to him, Halan calmly stated his opinion.

“With the appearance of Lady Davian, Lady Ibnel’s ability is no longer needed. Well, it would be more accurate to say her very existence has become useless. Don’t you all agree?”

“Of course. It was shameful enough to receive help from a person of Aodin, but now that it’s unnecessary, I feel completely relieved.”

“Her world is now over.”

Everyone raised their voices here and there as if they had been waiting for this topic. The only ones keeping silent amidst this were Shuher and Count Gerian Unis.

To be more precise, Gerian seemed to be taking a cautious attitude rather than opposing that opinion.

“Since she’s useless, there’s no reason to keep her alive, is there? We can’t stand by and watch her return to Aodin with that ability either, so as soon as possible… let’s kill her.”

Halan’s eyes flashed with killing intent. At his savage voice, those around him seemed frightened and watched his reaction. Then one by one, they started expressing their opinions.

As if it had already been decided to kill Ibnel.

“How about arranging a place of entertainment in the arena like last time?”

“That sounds good. I was really disappointed I couldn’t see it directly last time. No matter how capable she is, she won’t be able to do anything if several monsters rush at her at once.”

As cruel talk about how to kill Ibnel continued to the point where it was unpleasant just to listen, Demil, standing beside Shuher, frowned.

Still, she had provided decisive help in the subjugation, and thanks to her quick detection when monsters appeared in the streets yesterday, they were able to minimize damage, but seeing that they didn’t consider any of that at all, anger welled up.

At that moment, Halan looked at Shuher, who was still refraining from speaking, and asked.

“What does Your Majesty think? If it’s troublesome, you can handle it at your level. It’s enough just to arrange a place where everyone can see.”

If it had been the previous Shuher, he would have uttered words of permission without hesitation. Regardless of his promise with Ibnel or anything else.

“Your Majesty?”

As everyone’s gaze fell on him, Shuher opened his mouth after a long silence.

“Let’s think about that part a little more.”

His voice was cold and indifferent as usual, unlike his complex thoughts.

But no one there knew.

That the meaning of that answer was not about how to kill Ibnel cruelly, but about how to save her.

After meeting with Halan, Ibnel arrived at the training grounds with a sunken mood. Still, coming to a familiar place made her feel somewhat better than before.

Soon, spotting the knights gathered together, she greeted them as usual.

“Everyone’s already out here.”

Now she approached the knights, exchanging greetings naturally with everyone. Among the familiar faces, she noticed one person missing.

“I don’t see Sir Demil?”

“He went to assist His Majesty. A sudden meeting was called.”

She realized it was the meeting Halan had just mentioned. By now, they would surely be having a heated discussion about her treatment. Of course, in a direction unfavorable to her.

At that moment, Shan, who had been watching Ibnel’s expression, carefully opened his mouth.

“We heard too. That someone with the same ability as you has appeared.”

“Yes, that’s right. I met her by chance outside yesterday. She seemed very surprised to suddenly learn about it.”

“Are… are you alright?”

“Pardon?”

Suddenly being asked if she was alright, Ibnel tilted her head, not knowing what he meant by the question.

“Well, it’s not necessarily a good thing for you.”

“Ah…”

Realizing the intention behind the question, she momentarily couldn’t continue speaking. The momentary confusion on Ibnel’s face soon disappeared and was replaced by a pleasant smile. At the same time, the worried look in her eyes from before coming here vanished in an instant.

The knights couldn’t understand why Ibnel suddenly smiled.

“Why are you smiling?”

“Because I’m happy.”

The knights all had puzzled expressions. They had just asked if she was alright, and she unexpectedly said she was happy.

“You were worried about me. That I might get hurt by what people say.”

“Well…”

Shan scratched the back of his head in embarrassment but didn’t deny it. It was true that he had been worried, as Ibnel said.

The others felt the same way. While they were happy about Davian’s appearance, they didn’t want Ibnel to be in a difficult position regardless of that.

“Actually, what I was most worried about was how you all would think of me. I was afraid we might grow apart again just when we’d gotten close.”

Ibnel wasn’t very affected by what strangers said. But if even these people pushed her away, that would truly be sad.

It would mean that until now, they had only been close because of her ability, not as comrades.

But with that one word asking if she was alright, that anxiety melted away without a trace, like snow.

“That person is that person, and you are you, my lady.”

“Hearing that puts my mind at ease. I feel better now too.”

Seeing Ibnel looking brighter than expected, the knights also felt relieved. By now, they were more worried about what she would go through than happy about Davian’s appearance.

The words she had sincerely spoken to them, after saving their lives several times, were already firmly planted in their hearts.

“Oh? Over there.”

As everyone turned their heads in the direction a knight was pointing, they saw Demil entering the training grounds. But he wasn’t alone; he was with Davian.

“Davian?”

“Davian? Could that be her?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

In the meantime, the two had approached the knights and Ibnel.

Davian looked at the people before her nervously. She seemed even more tense with the knights present. At that moment, Demil introduced her to the knights.

“As you’ve all already heard, this is Lady Davian.”

“I-I’m Davian.”

Although her voice trembled slightly, even that stimulated protective instincts. The knights hurriedly bowed their heads at Davian’s greeting.

“His Majesty has ordered that we get used to each other since we’ll be spending a lot of time together. Help her adjust to the imperial palace, which must be very unfamiliar.”

“Yes, Captain!”

Startled by the knights’ loud response, Davian’s shoulders flinched, but she did her best to reply in her own way.

“I look forward to working with you too.”

Still awkward with the situation, Davian’s gaze briefly touched on Ibnel, who seemed somewhat more familiar. Seeing this, Ibnel smiled and spoke first.

“Did you sleep well last night?”

Regardless of Davian being the protagonist of this world, looking at her reminded Ibnel of the fear, awkwardness, and unfamiliarity she felt when she first opened her eyes in this body, so she couldn’t bring herself to ignore her.

“Actually, it’s my first time staying in such a nice room, so I had a bit of trouble sleeping. But why are you here, Lady Ibnel…”

“I’m doing shooting practice here.”

Having seen her holding a gun when they first met, Davian nodded in understanding. Seeing her still full of awkwardness, Ibnel tried to lighten the mood somehow.

“You’ll get used to it soon. They’re all good people. Oh, Shan is a bit noisy though. He talks a lot.”

“Noisy? How much do I talk?”

“Well, Lady Ibnel is observing accurately.”

Davian finally let out a small laugh at the knights’ bickering exchange. And she spoke more comfortably than before.

“Is your name Sir Shan?”

“Yes, I’m Shan.”

“I’m…”

As they naturally introduced themselves and exchanged conversation, Ibnel quietly slipped away from the scene. It would probably be more comfortable for them without her there for various reasons.

She moved towards the shooting range, leaving the friendly atmosphere behind.