"The Idea of a Woman Stealing Someone Else's Partner is Ridiculous," I laughed. But After Being Reborn, I Became a Victim of Such a Woman. However, My New Fiancée was Absolutely Amazing. - Episode 41

After that, everything was peaceful and friendly.

At some point, the ladies who had their engagements broken started talking to each other, and I was also allowed to join in.

We all attended the same school, but they were from different classes and grades.

That loose woman—did she try to get with every man, no matter their class or grade? Seriously?

I had a feeling this was the case when I first heard about her double-digit engagement breakups.

“Excuse me, I should be going soon…”

“Me too.”

“Shall we go to the lounge together?”

After about an hour, the fourth-tier spirit power users started leaving one by one.

Hmm… if the fourth-tier users could only last about an hour… does that mean that loose woman was below the fourth tier? Isn’t that dangerous?

Fourth-tier spirit power users are just ordinary people who don’t even train.

How do you even end up weaker than that?

“Excuse us, we should also be leaving soon.”

“Of course. Take care.”

As we approached the two-hour mark, the third-tier spirit power users stood up to leave.

The number of people in the room dropped to less than half.

Only five of us remained.

Since Sayuri was still there, I stood up, asked, “May I sit here?” and took a seat beside her.

“Sayuri-sama, are you a second-tier spirit power user?”

“Yes. I have been training diligently, but I just can’t seem to reach the first tier. However, my father told me that second-tier power is enough for me to marry into one of the Guardian Ten Families. So, I was thinking of stopping my spirit power training soon and focusing on studying traditions instead.”

“Even for you, that’s the limit…”

Even noble ladies who train only reach the second tier.

Does that mean I’ve been doing some pretty reckless spirit arts and talisman crafting?

Huh? I never realized that…

“Misumi-sama! This is bad!”

“What happened? Why are you in such a panic?”

“The barrier talismans at the entrance have been torn down and thrown on the ground! We’ve called for the extermination squad, but someone reported hearing the cries of a flesh-eating beast nearby! This place is not safe! We need to stop the barrier repair immediately and evacuate everyone from the lounge to this hall!”

“…Understood. Bring everyone here immediately. Gather all the servants in the grand hall as well. Once everyone is here, I will put up a barrier. Also, bring in food and water. Once the subjugation unit has defeated the flesh-eating beast, we will send them off right away.”

Misumi-sama calmly gave orders to the servant who had rushed in, then touched a crystal.

Sayuri and I exchanged glances in shock.

The entrance… The massive number of barrier talismans… were torn down?

“Um, were those barrier talismans torn down… from the inside?”

I asked without thinking.

Because honestly, there was only one person I could think of who would do something so stupid.

The servant looked confused but then nodded firmly.

Well, yeah. We never put talismans on the outside, so of course, it had to be from the inside.

“So, that means there’s an idiot inside who did this.”

“Misumi-sama, shouldn’t we find the culprit first? Leaving them inside the barrier is dangerous.”

“There is a spirit technique that allows us to look into the past of a location. We can find the culprit later. Right now, everyone’s safety is the priority—even the culprit’s.”

Sayuri suggested catching the culprit first, her voice tinged with fear, but Misumi-sama decided it was more important to ensure everyone’s safety for now.

Well, that’s probably the right choice.

The culprit likely destroyed the barrier talismans out of spite. But did they not hear about the flesh-eating beast? Or were they just so overconfident that they thought they would be fine?

Foolish people do foolish things.

“The flesh-eating beast is a red-level divine threat. Mai-han, I’m sorry, but could you help me with the barrier? You still have enough spirit power, right?”

“Yes! Wait, are you actually going to teach me barrier techniques!? I’ll do it! Absolutely!”

“Haha, you’re really reliable.”

The barrier technique used by the head of the Ichijou Clan!

This must be incredible! Yes, yes, let me do it!

I was so excited that Sayuri looked at me in disbelief.

“Hurry! This is a siege situation!”

“Y-Yes!”

“Yuukizaka-sama, let’s help escort everyone from the lounge to the grand hall.”

“Ah, wait! In that case, I’ll go add more barrier talismans at the entrance.”

“Huh?”

Sayuri let out a sound that was very unladylike.

Haha, leave it to me!

I’ve been mass-producing weak barrier talismans!

Why, you ask? Well… ever since I learned about spirit arts and talismans, I got so absorbed in studying and practicing that I made tons. I was even thinking of selling them to Misumi-sama!

I have five years’ worth of barrier talismans!

“So yeah, I brought a lot with me. They’re weak, but it’s better than nothing, right?”

“True. Please put them up. But if you hear the flesh-eating beast’s cry, come back immediately.”

“Understood! Uh… but what does its cry sound like?”

“It’s a ‘hoo-hoo’ sound, like a bird. But it affects the mind, so don’t listen to it for too long.”

“G-Got it.”

Even its cry is dangerous? Flesh-eating beasts are terrifying.

But how does the extermination squad even defeat them?

Is Kouga-san going to be okay?

…No, worrying about them would be rude.

The extermination squad members are professionals.

“Misumi-sama, please take this. Use it if necessary.”

“What is this?”

“A protection talisman… It activates ‘self defense.’”

I handed one to Sayuri and the other three remaining people, as well as the servant who came to call us.

I brought ten in total, so I gave the rest to Misumi-sama.

“Are you sure? What about yours, Mai-han?”

“I already have mine wrapped around my arm, so I’ll be fine! Now, I’ll head to the entrance.”

“Thank you.”

“Yes!”