The Villainous Noblewoman Is About to Be Forced into Love, Isn't This Wrong?-Chapter 77: Anti-Magic Stone Statue

“Women really can do anything, huh?”

“...Why didn’t you call me?” Liana’s voice rang out in protest.

“Oh? I thought Liana-sama was still asleep,” Sanbette responded with genuine surprise.

Liana narrowed her eyes. “Ah, targeted harassment.”

“Loraviel.”

“Yes, Liana-sama?”

Sometimes... being too well-endowed was troublesome.

From where Loraviel sat, she could only see half of Liana’s face peeking out from below.

“Ah~” Liana opened her mouth.

Loraviel immediately understood. She picked up a grape from the table and fed it to Liana.

Aileen bit her lip slightly. “Looks like you really enjoy grapes, Liana.”

“I do. I love little grapes~ So sweet.”

“The culinary skills in this world may be a bit primitive, but the fruits and desserts here are far better than the ones I used to have.”

Of course, that might be due to magic elements. Many fruits in this world were naturally enhanced by them.

Aileen handed over a grape.

Unfortunately, she had bad luck.

It was sour.

“...This just made my already bad mood worse.” She took a sip of the coffee Sanbette had handed her.

“...Bitter.”

It was exactly the taste she preferred.

Once, she had loved sweet things, just like Liana.

But somewhere along the way, she had forgotten when she started to prefer bitterness.

Inside the carriage, everyone had their own thoughts.

The atmosphere felt somewhat heavy.

Liana understood.

It was because of her.

If she weren’t here, the others would probably be chatting happily right now.

But that wasn’t her fault.

They were the ones who insisted on coming here.

It wasn’t her decision to sit in the same carriage with them.

Time passed.

Aileen, resting her chin on her hand, gazed out the window.

They had officially left Venus territory and entered the Lisat Kingdom’s royal domain.

They were about to pass by Ibet Magic Academy.

“We’re reaching Ibet Magic Academy soon,” Aileen remarked.

Loraviel, who had been sneaking glances at Liana’s face, suddenly looked up.

Ibet Magic Academy.

If things had gone differently, she might have been studying there right now.

That is—if she had passed the entrance exam.

Otherwise, she would have been sent back to her tiny village at the border.

Liana also reacted.

The moment she heard Aileen’s words—

She sat up abruptly.

Too abruptly.

Her right eye smacked directly into something soft and full.

...Fortunately, it was soft enough that it didn’t hurt.

“Ghh—!”

A muffled growl rang out from somewhere.

“...Get up.”

Liana gestured for Loraviel to move, then leaned toward the window.

Seeing her curiosity, Aileen suggested:

“Do you want to stop by for a visit?”

“But we’re traveling with a convoy. Making sudden decisions like that isn’t ideal.” Olivia raised a concern.

“It’s just a short stop. It won’t take much time. Besides, if we separate from the convoy, we can investigate a little and catch up later, can’t we?” Aileen countered.

“At least in terms of safety—”

“With Olivia and Sanbette here, there’s nothing to worry about.”

“After all, Olivia—you are the Valkyrie of the Battlefield, aren’t you?” Aileen smirked.

“Miss Aileen, don’t tease me.” Olivia looked slightly embarrassed.

“Well, since Miss Aileen insists, I have no objections.”

Sanbette, of course, had even less to say.

Wherever her lady went, she would follow.

“I also...”

Loraviel was quite drawn to Ibet Magic Academy.

However, she knew her place.

As a servant, she wasn’t supposed to express personal desires—especially before her master had spoken first.

“I think the same as Liana-sama.”

At that, everyone’s gaze returned to Liana.

Liana hated this.

This pressure to decide something.

But...

She was curious.

She did want to see what Ibet Magic Academy looked like.

“If I say no, you’ll all nag me endlessly.” Liana sighed reluctantly. “And there’s still a long way to go. I don’t want to deal with that.”

“...Fine. We’ll go.”

“I’ll inform Countess Ruth and the coachman,” Sanbette said, retrieving a crystal orb.

Seconds later, Countess Ruth’s image appeared in the orb.

This world’s magic development was really advancing fast.

A few years ago, this kind of technology didn’t even exist.

At this rate, these devices would probably become commonplace soon.

“What is it?” Countess Ruth’s voice came through.

“Is someone feeling unwell?”

“We’re thinking of stopping by Ibet Magic Academy for a bit.”

“Ibet Magic Academy?” Countess Ruth glanced out the window.

“We have indeed reached it... but we’re traveling as an entire convoy. If some of you leave, we’ll have to reassign some guards for protection.”

“After all, we have two noble heirs on board—Liana and Aileen. We must ensure their safety.”

“Countess Ruth, I will ensure the carriage’s security.” Olivia spoke up.

“Oh my, my memory must be failing me.” Countess Ruth chuckled.

“With Lady Olivia present, there’s no issue, of course.”

“But please, don’t take too long.”

“We have already informed Lisat’s capital that we will arrive before noon. If we’re late, it would leave a poor impression on the Lisat nobility.”

"Don't worry, Countess Ruth. We won't waste too much time," Sanbette assured.

After the communication ended, the coachman adjusted the carriage’s route, steering toward Ibet Magic Academy.

About ten minutes later, the carriage gradually came to a stop.

Everyone disembarked one by one—Liana being the last.

But the moment she stepped out, a wave of discomfort hit her.

Her head spun slightly, her stomach churned.

“...What the hell? I don’t get motion sickness.”

Was it exhaustion?

Or was it because she’d been lying down the entire ride?

Or maybe it was because she’d been eating while lying down...?

Before she could figure it out, the effects of acceleration magic kicked in.

Loraviel moved instantly, catching Liana before she could collapse.

"Liana-sama, are you alright?" Loraviel steadied her against her chest.

"Probably... just felt stuffy in the carriage," Liana murmured weakly. "I really didn’t want that many people crammed in there."

"Let me handle this," Sanbette stepped forward, casting a healing spell.

“...Liana-sama does seem to have mild motion sickness.”

Loraviel knew some healing magic.

But compared to Sanbette, it was nowhere near as refined.

Within moments, Liana felt much better.

"As expected of a proper woman, you’re good at everything. You should learn from her," Liana commented casually.

Even as she spoke—she made no move to leave Loraviel’s embrace.

"My apologies, Liana-sama."

"Oh? So you’re saying you want Loraviel to complete full feminine training in just two months? Learn to cook, warm a bed, pass both knighthood and mage exams, and also master advanced healing magic?"

Lifia perked up, intrigued.

"What? Can’t I comment on things when I feel like it?"

"Liana-sama, I will work even harder," Loraviel said determinedly, tightening her hold slightly.

[Liana-sama's Observation Diary, Entry #7: Liana-sama seems to have motion sickness (?)]

"Good," Liana muttered, then pulled away from Loraviel’s arms.

After Sanbette’s healing, she was fine now.

Loraviel, however, lingered for a moment, looking reluctant to let go.

"This is Ibet Magic Academy?"

It was Liana’s first time seeing its grand entrance.

The ten-meter-high bronze gates stood imposing before them.

As they neared, they could see ancient silver incantations shifting across the metal’s surface.

Even just staring at the inscriptions for too long caused a dizzying effect.

"It’s completely closed," Aileen noted.

"The nobles of Lisat’s capital and the academy professors seem to have received classified intel ahead of time. They evacuated early, leaving only the security forces behind."

"Security?"

Liana’s gaze fell on the two massive gargoyle statues flanking the gate.

They were entirely made of anti-magic stone, capable of nullifying most spells.

"Seems like the academy really wants to show off its security."

"Too bad," a voice suddenly interjected.

A thief appeared out of nowhere, flicking out a grappling claw.

"Ibet Magic Academy shutting down like this—it’s the first time in decades."

"This is the perfect opportunity! If I can steal a single magic book from inside, I’ll be set for life!"

The thief moved swiftly, leaping up to the top of the bronze gate in just two jumps.

"Pfft. So much for security."

"...You’re just going to watch?" Liana side-eyed Olivia.

As a Royal Guardian, she surely wouldn’t just stand by.

"Ibet Magic Academy is protected by powerful defensive wards. Even high-tier mages aren’t guaranteed to break through them," Olivia stated.

But before anyone could react—

The gargoyle statues’ empty eye sockets ignited.

A sinister red flame burned within.

The engraved patterns across their bodies came to life, glowing ominous crimson.

The creatures moved.

Their massive jaws creaked open, anti-magic scales grinding together.

Then, an earth-shaking roar erupted.

Fangs dripped with toxic green liquid—each drop sizzling corrosively upon hitting the ground.

The gargoyles launched into the air, talons extended.

In a single instant—

One seized the thief.

And crushed him.

"...Ah."

So that’s why.

The last time Liana had encountered a gargoyle sanctuary, it had already been overrun by the Demon Realm’s forces.

"The guardian statues of Ibet Magic Academy," Olivia murmured.

"They date back to ancient times. Their composition is a mystery."

"Even though they’re made entirely of anti-magic stone... they can still use magic."

"So the legends are real?"

Aileen had only ever read about them.

These gargoyle guardians were a bug in the system.

An absolute anomaly.

"The real academy guards finally noticed the commotion and arrived," Aileen said.

She quickly summarized what had happened.

"Hah? These statues actually move?"

Even the guards stationed here were shocked.

But once they confirmed everything was under control, they backed down.

"Looks like we’re lucky today," Olivia remarked.

"Lucky?" Liana scoffed.

"Seeing an active anti-magic stone statue is something most people never witness. It might be the only time in our lives we get to see this."

Olivia added, "But... the fact that it activated over something this minor... might not be a good sign."

"......"

"My dear enforcer, would you kindly stop jinxing us?"

Liana turned to look at Loraviel.

She was staring at the academy gates, lost in thought.

It was obvious.

She longed for this place.

For a moment, it almost seemed like she blamed Liana for the fact that she had missed her chance.

"Do you want to go in?" Liana asked suddenly.

"...Yes."

She wanted to go in—

With Liana-sama.

"Then behave yourself. Wait two more years."

"...Alright."

Ibet Magic Academy was unique.

It accepted anyone—from trained mages to those who hadn’t even awakened their magic yet.

As long as you passed the entrance exam, you could study here.

There was not a single person who could confidently claim they didn’t need what Ibet Magic Academy had to offer.

In the Kingdom of Lisat, all ten judges had once studied at Ibet Magic Academy. Because magic itself is wisdom, Ibet Magic Academy was established at the very birth of magic and has existed for centuries, holding countless books within its archives. Many nobles had once set their sights on the academy, but the protective barrier surrounding it was more than enough to deter them.

"Thieves like today’s haven’t appeared in a long time."

"Seeing anti-magic stone statues in action is even rarer," Aileen added, not expecting to witness such a thing today.

Liana curiously observed the two gargoyle statues, now silent once more. Just as the last ember of fire in their eyes faded, it seemed that one of them had glanced in her direction. She felt as if her magic had been siphoned away, her body growing heavy and weak.

"They didn’t move," Liana muttered before stepping back into the carriage, with Loraviel following behind her.

"We should go back as well." With the gates tightly shut, there was no way inside, and staying here served no real purpose.

"Speed up the carriage as much as possible. Let’s make up for lost time," Sanbette instructed the coachman.

The carriage set off again. This time, Liana sat properly instead of lying down. Even though Sanbette could heal her, the nausea from motion sickness was still something she had to endure.

"Miss Olivia, did you study at Ibet Magic Academy as well?" Liana asked.

"Of course. That’s where I obtained a rather powerful—well, maybe not powerful, but a magic that suited me perfectly. That’s how I became who I am today," Olivia replied.

"Is that so?" Aileen didn’t pry further, as it would have been impolite.

Loraviel sat quietly by Liana’s side, but with her lap now empty, she felt a small sense of loneliness. However, before she could dwell on it, Liana suddenly shifted and leaned against her shoulder, making Loraviel’s eyes light up slightly.

"......" Loraviel felt a certain gaze on her. Luckily, she had managed not to show any noticeable reaction just now.

Suddenly, the carriage came to an abrupt halt, and Liana, unprepared, tumbled directly onto Loraviel’s lap. Aileen narrowed her eyes slightly, observing the scene.

"Lady Olivia," Sanbette’s voice carried a hint of tension as she sensed hostile presences outside the carriage. "Monsters."

So it wasn’t thieves that had set their sights on them, but monsters instead.

"They must be low-tier creatures. That’s why they dared to attack us," Olivia said.

"I’ll handle it." Olivia had already drawn her weapon. Protecting the carriage was her duty.

"Monsters, huh?" Aileen stood up.

"Lady Aileen?"

"It’s been a while since I last stretched my limbs." She reached into the air, and a black spear materialized in her hand. "I’ll take care of it." With that, she stepped out of the carriage alone.

"Miss Sanbette, if I may ask, what is Lady Aileen’s current rank?" Olivia inquired.

"Mid-tier Knight Commander and Mid-tier Grand Mage."

Aileen stepped out of the carriage but saw no sign of any monsters.

"Lady Aileen," the coachman spoke up, his weapon already drawn.

"What’s happening?"

"They’re in the forest. It seems we’ve caught the attention of their pack." The coachman pointed at the corpse of a jungle wolf lying ahead of the carriage.

"A bit troublesome."

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"Jungle wolves can blend with their surroundings, making them hard to detect. They’re extremely fast and always move in packs. If one isn’t careful, they can be surrounded in an instant."

"They’re lurking in the forest?" Aileen scanned her surroundings.

"There are carriage tracks up ahead. It looks like Countess Ruth’s convoy already passed through here. But these wolves didn’t attack them..."

"That’s odd."

"They’re smart. They know the main convoy is too heavily guarded, so they chose to target us instead."

"Or... perhaps Countess Ruth left them here as a trap."

Who knew?

Aileen only knew one thing—she was annoyed.

A jungle wolf suddenly lunged from the trees, aiming straight for Aileen’s throat.

"Lady Aileen, watch out—!"

[Slash.]

Aileen held her spear in her left hand, but she didn’t even use it. Instead, she extended her right hand and drew a simple line through the air. In the next instant, the jungle wolf was severed cleanly in half.

The surrounding bushes rustled. Aileen could feel them—many more wolves, lurking in the darkness, watching her. But none dared to step forward.

They had realized just how dangerous their opponent was.

And so, they withdrew.

"What happened?" Liana was still half-asleep, feeling a strange emptiness as if her magic had been drained. Her mind was hazy as she groggily opened her eyes, only to see Aileen stepping back into the carriage.

"Good morning, Liana," Aileen greeted with a smirk.

Liana instantly became alert, noticing the blood on ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) Aileen’s face. "...What happened to you?"

"Oh? Is Liana worried about me?"

Liana blinked in confusion. She had only just woken up and had no idea what had transpired.

"Is that so?" Aileen’s mood improved slightly after hearing Liana’s words.

"Lady Aileen," Sanbette reached for a handkerchief and wiped the blood from her face.

"Just had to clean up a little mess. How troublesome."

Loraviel then briefly explained the situation to Liana.

"Jungle wolves don’t normally attack human convoys. Even when they’re alone, they rarely make reckless moves. They have sharp senses and high intelligence. Typically, they only strike when humans are resting. A situation like this is rather unusual."

"Are you saying someone orchestrated this?" Sanbette asked.

"Who knows?" Aileen stretched lazily. "At most, it was just a minor inconvenience."

She glanced at the time. As expected, it was already past noon—they had missed their scheduled arrival.

"How dull. Well, if nothing else, at least Liana-nee was worried about me. That counts as a good thing, right?"

Soon, the towering walls of Lisat’s capital came into view. Olivia had taken over driving the carriage, ensuring they wouldn’t run into any further trouble. Before long, they arrived at the Venus estate’s reception hall.

"You’re a little late," Countess Ruth remarked, her gaze landing on Aileen.

"Ibet Magic Academy’s anti-magic stone gargoyles moved," Aileen stated nonchalantly.

In an instant, the entire room fell silent.

"Lady Aileen," Countess Ruth narrowed her eyes. "Lying to excuse tardiness does not suit you. Do you expect me to believe that?"

It was clear—she didn’t believe Aileen’s words in the slightest.

After all, no one believed that those statues could actually move.

"So it wasn’t my imagination after all?" A familiar voice rang out.

A soft chuckle followed as a woman walked up to Liana’s side. Without hesitation, she inserted herself between Liana and Loraviel, slipping her arm around Liana’s with the ease of someone who had done it countless times before.

Everything about her movements was natural, as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world.