Symphony for the Insect Princess

"Everyone, this new day has come. Please unite as one and be on guard against the murderer. Remember, no matter what happens, as long as we can safely survive the remaining two days, it will be our victory."

This was York's first sentence after waking up. Although there was no substantial content, "spend the rest of the time safely" has become everyone's psychological support.

Except Ellen—

"Come on! Come on, you fucking bastard!"

She glared with bloodshot eyes and yelled something that didn't sound like something a noble lady would say.

"Don't be sneaky and hide away like that. Stand up and fight openly! Anhans... Anhans's revenge! Father's revenge! Pay for it with your fucking death!!!"

Of course, no one responded to her. She maintained the standard sword-holding posture and was ready for battle. For a long time, no ferocious-looking gangster suddenly jumped out and pounced on her. She had no choice but to give up and continued to sit there and polish the sword with a horrified expression.

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……

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So, the day passed again.

Near noon, everyone had had enough sleep, and they gathered together again to move around. They went through everyone's rooms in order from near to far, and everyone replenished some daily necessities (Lillian, Nia, Ellen and Chloe brought a lot of food this time, especially Lillian and Nia).

The difference this time was that, as they went to each room, they all searched it thoroughly, leaving no one untouched. Although Lillian showed considerable resistance (they found something resembling a SM tool in her closet), and Nia was a bit unhappy (they also found something resembling a SM tool in his closet, seemingly a matching set with Lillian's), they ultimately completed the task successfully.

However, no evidence was found to prove that the owner of the room was the murderer. I didn't know whether to be happy or uneasy.

So everyone returned to the hall and began the boring wait.

Some people were a little more relaxed than the first day, but most people were more nervous than the first day.

The murderer did not take action on the first day. In other words, if he wanted to take action, he would definitely choose the second or third day. Considering that the Harvest Festival will end after the third day and the servants will return to the manor, the possibility of the murderer taking action on the second day is the highest.

Today's dinner time was even more depressing than yesterday's.

York, Lukes, and Ellen ate food that was no different from dry food, Chloe, Molly, and Nia ate light meals, and Lillian ate exquisite snacks from her private collection.

As usual, I ate some of the Seckford worm's nutrient solution. This time, I squeezed the solution into a small bowl and drank it. It wasn't as disgusting as yesterday, but others still kept their distance.

Everyone remained speechless.

"..."

I quietly gathered some inconspicuous insects around me to be on guard at all times. From the beginning, I had a subtle sense of danger, which is the instinct of insects.

It was getting later and later, and it was almost time to take turns keeping watch and sleeping.

Everyone's seats today were slightly different from yesterday. I was still sitting in the same chair, Molly was huddled pitifully in the middle of the hall, York had moved to a sofa, Lukes sat on a bench near the inner door, Ellen was between Molly and Lillian, repeatedly polishing her sword, and Chloe was walking along the wall with mechanical steps, checking the temporary barrier.

The hall was protected by a temporary barrier imbued with fire magic, blocking any attempt by the murderer to escape or attack from outside. Silvery-white scratches marked the doors, windows, and other vulnerable areas below. These were the marks of the "sword energy" Ellen had placed, inflicting wounds should the murderer approach. Combined with Chloe's barrier, the hall was securely protected.

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"..."

"He" swallowed the overly simple dinner while concentrating on thinking, while pretending to be listless.

I have to say that although York's move was not clever at all, it was indeed very practical.

Everyone gathered in the hall, monitored each other, and took turns on duty. Although they might not be able to force the murderer out, at least they could keep everyone safe.

I can't wait any longer.

Tomorrow is the last day and time is too tight. Even if we succeed, we may not be able to leave the country smoothly.

...Do you want to take action now?

Everyone ate late.

After eating, a large amount of blood in the human body is concentrated in the stomach for digestion, and the blood flow to the brain is less than usual, making it easy to lose concentration, which is often called "feeling sleepy after a meal."

Although their nerves were all on edge, they were now a little more relaxed than usual.

Most people are nothing to be afraid of.

The only threatening guy was in a low mood and was busy checking the makeshift barrier.

As long as you are fast enough and ruthless enough - in other words, you have enough explosive power, you should be able to succeed.

The thing that "he" is least worried about is explosive power.

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The incident happened extremely suddenly.

Feeling a little tired, York yawned slightly.

Lux lowered his head to sort out the magic scrolls he was carrying.

Lillian squeezed her legs together to hold back the urge to urinate again.

Nia was quietly dozing off.

Chloe focused most of her attention on the barrier.

Molly rubbed her eyes.

Nellis was just bending down to adjust the blackout curtain of the aquarium.

Everyone is just slightly, just slightly distracted at this moment.

This is already a huge flaw for an expert.

When the first flash of sword light passed, no one reacted.

Because it happened too fast and too suddenly.

It was as if the target's life had been taken the moment the sword was drawn.

"How--"

"Eh--"

"why--"

The few people who reacted the fastest were about to take action, but it was too late, only a moment too late. For these elite people who specialized in combat, a moment was enough to decide life or death.

Molly didn't even have time to scream before the magical condensed wind slashed through her body. Perfect angle, perfect timing, a flash of silver light, and her head flew off.

From the moment Allen suddenly jumped up to the moment Molly's head fell to the ground, the whole process took less than half a second.

Shock, surprise, grief, and so many emotions flashed through York's eyes. Why was this happening? Why was it her? Why was it so sudden? Before he even thought about these things, he took action.

“Stop her!!!!!!!!!!!!”

His deafening roar startled everyone who hadn't recovered from their shock. He also suddenly pulled out several miniature magic scrolls and tried to hurl them at Ellen. Several of Nelris's insects flew towards her at the same time, and the temporary barrier's automatic defense function also marked Ellen as an enemy and rained down scorching fire on her.

“ROARRAH ...

With a roar, this was the magic warrior's classic skill—the war cry! Attacks from three directions were simultaneously dispersed! Everyone except Allen felt dizzy, and the weaker ones fell directly to the ground. Although it only lasted for no more than three seconds, everyone was truly incapacitated!

In those three seconds, everyone became motionless meat targets! But York and Lux ​​were protected by magic scrolls, Chloe had her own ice wall magic, and Lillian and Nia were huddled in the farthest corner. In such a rush, it was difficult to guarantee a single strike would kill them all!

So Ellen didn't insist any further.

With the strength of a high-level magic warrior, she could easily demolish the hall with a single blow of her powerful martial arts, but there was someone here who could counter her: Chloe. Although Chloe was no match for her in a single battle, considering the interference of others, staying here for long was not a good idea.

So, in those two or three seconds, she ignored everyone else. With a flash of her sword, her target wasn't anyone else, but Molly, now a headless corpse! To be on the safe side, Ellen took a second to aim for the heart. Then, with a swift and precise strike, she sliced ​​through the chest, perfectly severing the skin, fat, ribs, and lungs. The heart was smoothly separated from the blood vessels, leaving no damage at all!

Here it is!

Allen pulled out the bloody heart, stuffed it into his arms, and then rushed towards the inner door of the hall - the door leading to the mansion!

This series of actions took place in just two or three seconds, flowing like water. By then, the intimidating effect of the battle cry had worn off, and everyone immediately resumed their actions! Chloe frantically cast a spell, and a thin layer of ice instantly formed on the ground. Simultaneously, a wall of fire blocked Ellen's path! Fire in front, ice behind—but the magic cast in panic was no match for the high-level mage. The moment Ellen's foot touched the thin ice, she was frozen. However, she immediately channeled her magic power into her feet, crushing the ground and moving forward! With a single swing of her greatsword, a sharp wind split the wall of fire!

No! Simple magic can't hurt Ellen at all! A basic skill of a magic warrior is to release the magic power in the body, evenly covering the body surface to form a protective shield called "magic armor". Chloe's hastily released magic can't break Ellen's magic armor. She must weave a more powerful magic, but that takes time!

Walls of fire blocked Ellen's path, each one slowing her down slightly, but it was only a drop in the bucket. She was about to burst through the door and hide inside the mansion, but it was too late to cast powerful spells now! High-speed casting was the specialty of magicians who focused on combat, and she hadn't studied it in depth!

So--

"Chloe! Use the barrier!" York yelled, and only then did Chloe react!

"Flame General, stop the enemy's advance!"

The barrier at the door suddenly fluctuated violently, and two humanoid figures composed of solid flames emerged from it, completely sealing the door.

Click! ! !

However, the flame figures collapsed as soon as they appeared. It was the "sword energy" marks that Allen had placed on the door that destroyed them! Only then did York suddenly realize that Allen had placed those marks not to "stop the murderer", but to destroy the temporary barrier at the critical moment to allow himself to escape!

"Chloe, hurry!!!"

"Ah yes! Branches of fierce flames, coiled in the void, blooming in—"

It was too late. Ellen was about to step out of the door, unstoppable, when—

“Stop, stop!!!”

It was Lux! He'd been staying near the door, and now he was the closest to Ellen! He ripped off a bunch of magic scrolls hanging from his body and threw them all at Ellen!

One is a high-level magic warrior, and the other is a layman who doesn't know magic.

It's a no-brainer who will prevail.

"No!!! Lux, back off!!!!"

York roared at the top of his lungs, everything in his eyes slowing down: Ellen lashed out with a series of extremely sharp sword strikes, destroying all the metal magic scrolls before they could even explode, and she grabbed the panicked Lux ​​by the neck—

—Then Ellen turned around.

She turned her back to the open door, grabbed Lux ​​to her chest, and leaped back! At the exact same moment, Chloe finished the chant, and a large bundle of solidified flames shaped like branches spewed out towards Ellen. By the time she realized that Lux had become Ellen's shield, it was too late. Once such magic was cast, it could not be taken back!

"save--"

Lux, who was used as a shield by Allen, wailed and reached out to York, but the branches of fire had already wrapped around his body and bloomed into spark-shaped flowers.

Then, explosion!

Chapter 16 Doubts

Boom boom boom boom! ! ! !

The shock wave of the explosion knocked everyone over, and the raging flames and thick smoke obscured the view. The doors and windows were shattered, and glass shards and stones were scattered everywhere. The chandelier on the ceiling also fell down and hit the ground, causing it to tremble. Fortunately, no one was hit.

And Ellen had vanished without a trace.

“——Ahem!”

The first to get up were Lillian and Nia. They were the farthest from the door, and they were on their feet just seconds after being knocked over by the gust of wind. They looked around in panic, looking for others.

"What the hell is going on? Where's the person? Hurry up... hurry up and come out... don't scare me..."

"Not dead yet..."

York crawled out from behind a rock wall that protruded from the floor. This was one of his treasured defensive scrolls. Otherwise, he would not have been able to get away with only minor injuries as he was closest to the explosion point besides Lukes and Allen.

"I'm fine too..."

Nellis walked out from behind the pillar in the hall. She was the one who reacted the fastest. As soon as she saw that something was wrong, she immediately hid behind the thickest pillar to withstand the impact.

Chloe also stood up from a pile of rubble and dust. She was protected by an ice shield so she was almost unharmed, but... the situation looked very bad.

"I...I? My...magic...killed...Lu...kes? No...no...no...no..."

"Chloe, calm down... I don't blame you..." York gasped to comfort Chloe, even though he was also in a state of confusion. "Yes... calm down... calm down, everyone! First, look for... Lukes, where's Lukes?"

Yorke rushed to the inner door in two quick steps—he nearly stepped out of the hall, but a remnant of reason stopped him. Who knew Ellen might be ambushing him outside? Furthermore, to be precise, there was no such thing as an "inner door" anymore. The hall and the walls inside the mansion were nearly completely destroyed, with smoking rubble everywhere. Although the temporary barrier had partially offset the impact of the explosion, the remaining damage was still considerable!

"Lukes...Lukes...don't...please don't...ah!"

York, searching among the rubble, pulled away a stone and saw a hand underneath! The fingers were slender, and there was an old wound at the base of the palm. It was undoubtedly Luke's hand!

"Lukes!"

Swish!

York immediately grabbed the hand and pulled it hard!

"Uh!"

Then he fell backwards because of excessive force and almost hit his head on a rock.

What he pulled out was not the seriously injured Lux, but a hand, only the left hand.

The part after the forearm completely disappeared, and the cross-section turned into charcoal.