The Spirit Said, 'You're Unworthy as My Master, Cancel the Contract!' So I’ll Give It to My Sister Who Wants It - Episode 1.15

The academy’s ball was more dazzling than anything Mistia had ever experienced.

The latest dresses from the royal capital shone brilliantly. Though she had been neglected in the Redfield territory, in the capital, few people whispered about her as an oddity. With fewer cold gazes directed at her, Mistia felt a sense of relief.

As the first song ended, Mistia let go of Skia’s hand.

The surrounding noble ladies stared at him with eager eyes. Everyone desperately wanted to be the princess chosen by their destined prince.

(They are all so beautiful… If Skia wished for one of them to be his master—)

A sharp pain struck her heart. As she and Skia exchanged a bow, he was quickly surrounded by noble ladies. He responded to them, attempting to include Mistia in the conversation. She watched with an expressionless face.

“Lady Mistia, may I have this dance?”

Lifting her downcast face, she saw a young nobleman with gentle, tawny-colored hair. Mustering an unfamiliar smile, Mistia took his offered hand. The next song began. As the distance between them shrank, she tensed, unfamiliar with being so close to a man.

“Ah… how should I put this…”

“Yes?”

He suddenly spoke while they danced.

“You are very beautiful. To be honest, I approached you because I wished to get to know you better. But… with those intense stares… I feel like I might be killed just by their gazes. Have you noticed?”

“Whatever do you mean?”

“My lady, your spirit attendant. He seems to be quite devoted to you.”

He chuckled elegantly. Looking around, Mistia saw Skia dancing nearby. Their eyes met for a brief moment before he was obscured by the crowd.

“Surely, you must be imagining things.”

As they continued talking, the song ended, and they moved on to the next partner. Amid the heat and splendor of the ball, Mistia kept replaying the young nobleman’s words in her mind.

Her body was here, but her heart was somewhere near the chandelier, searching for Skia.

The clinking sound of a spoon striking a glass rang out. The murmuring crowd fell silent as if enchanted by magic.

“Everyone! Are you enjoying the ball? You all know tonight’s main event, don’t you? The talented daughters of the Redfield family will duel for the honor of a special scholarship!

Doesn’t that sound exciting? Now then, let’s set the stage!”

A voice rang clear and commanding. It was none other than the headmistress, Mary Simpson. With a wave of her staff, a circular dome appeared at the center of the hall, as if curtains had been drawn around it. With another flick, something white and fluffy began to fall inside the dome.

—Snow.

“Oh my, it’s like a snow globe. How beautiful.”

A voice murmured from somewhere. Mistia recalled the snow globe in the headmistress’s office, depicting two young girls playfully throwing snowballs at each other.

But what was about to happen was no child’s game.

There had been a time when it was. But the innocent girl who once had snowball fights with Alisha was no longer here.

“Duelists, step inside.”

Mistia swallowed hard. Before she realized it, Skia was beside her, and she felt slightly reassured. Directly in front of her stood Alisha, wearing a confident smile, surrounded by spirits.

They were the ones who had utterly betrayed Mistia.

She inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. —The duel began.

“Of course, you mustn’t kill your opponent. If you fall to your knees, you lose. If you can no longer fight, you lose. …Begin!”
A rather unsettling announcement. With a clap of Mary’s hands, Shaitan leaped forward toward Mistia and Skia. Though there were three opponents, they seemed to follow a knightly code, attacking one at a time. Alisha smiled smugly and addressed her spirit.

“Lord Shaitan, please take care not to overdo it. Sister, are you ready?”

“I understand! A little burn won’t hurt… Fire!”

Fire was a basic spell. A ball of flame, about the size of a fist, shot toward Skia. But he simply watched the attack without moving.

(Fool. I know you can’t use magic! You should be grateful if this is all you suffer.)

Shaitan sneered at the motionless Skia, convinced of his victory. He even felt a bit of pity for such a defenseless opponent. However—

“Barrier Wall.”

Skia muttered. Barrier Wall was a mid-level light magic spell that created a protective shield. Just before the fireball struck, a transparent barrier appeared around him, blocking the attack. Smoke rose, but the flames had not touched Skia at all.

“What…! Not a single scratch?”

Shaitan’s eyes widened. He had expected Skia to be on his knees by now.

“Why is it only one at a time? You might as well come at me all at once.”

His tone wasn’t mocking but genuinely questioning, as if a strong warrior was looking down at the weak. Shaitan glared at Skia fiercely.

“Tch, so he can use magic now that we’re no longer supporting him. But how about this!”

Shaitan clicked his tongue and cast Fire repeatedly. The flames struck instantly, but again, the invisible wall blocked them. Shaitan, shocked by what he had never seen before, took an involuntary step back.

“Well, it doesn’t matter. My goal is to showcase Mistia’s true strength.”

At that moment, Skia finally drew his sword. Alisha’s group stiffened. —Impossible. Mistia was supposed to be a failure. How could this be?

“If you’re finished, then it’s my turn.”

Tracing two fingers along the blade, flames engulfed it—a mid-level fire magic enchantment. The fire reflected in Skia’s eyes, flickering with an eerie beauty. The watching students murmured in awe. A single spirit had used both light and fire magic—an impossibility.

Skia kicked off the floor, closing the distance to Shaitan in an instant. Despite his heavy armor, he moved like the wind. Shaitan gasped.

(He’s fast…! It’s not just magic—)

A dull thud and a powerful impact sent Shaitan flying several meters. He collapsed onto the floor, body paralyzed and unable to move a single finger.

“Ka… ha…”

Barely conscious, he looked up at the approaching figure, his vision hazy.

(Damn it, I thought I was dead. I was sure he cut me, but is that sword dull?)

Skia stood over him and flicked his sword. The flames vanished. Realization dawned in Shaitan’s eyes.

(This bastard—!)

“Good. Seems I shouldn’t cut down my opponents.”

(He enchanted the blade with fire on purpose so it wouldn’t cut! He’s mocking me—!)

Having overpowered Shaitan with superior magic while protecting him with flames, Skia stood victorious. The students erupted in cheers. As Shaitan faded away, his unconscious state severing his magical link, Skia turned his gaze toward Alisha.

“Now then—”

Alisha, unable to comprehend what had just happened, took a step back. The spirit standing before her was so terrifyingly beautiful, yet his gaze held no warmth. No affection. Instead, he looked at her as if she were nothing more than an insect.

“Why not come at me all at once?”