Memoirs of Your Local Small-time Villainess-Chapter 340 - (Not so) round table discussions

“I imagine you are all wondering why I have gathered you here,” Scarlett said, letting her gaze sweep over the faces of her closest companions and confidants in this world.

Allyssa sat beside Shin on a sofa, absently toying with the protective leather goggles in her hands. Shin leaned back in his seat, arms crossed, wearing a patient, unreadable expression. Fynn, by the window, stared outside, his thoughts seemingly elsewhere. Rosa rested her chin on her palm, watching Scarlett with a lopsided grin. Kat’s eyes flicked between the others, as if gauging their reactions, while Evelyne, seated slightly apart from the rest in her own chair, shifted a bit under Scarlett’s scrutiny.

They were gathered in the mansion’s parlour, seated around the central table, with Scarlett positioned at its head in a high-backed armchair. Light refreshments had been laid out by Garside and the other servants, but no one had touched them yet.

“I’m always wondering why you do anything,” Rosa said, tone playful. “But I’ve learned to roll with it. Keeps life interesting. Though, I will say, at this rate, I might have to be careful not to grow addicted to the unpredictability.”

Kat shot the bard a sideways glance. “I wouldn’t go that far. But I do agree with the first part.”

Rosa’s grin widened as she turned to the Shielder. “Oh, just you wait. Sooner or later, you’ll be singing to a different tune.”

“That sounds suspiciously like what a cult would say.”

“Mmm. I’m working on it.”

“What?”

“Rosa, stop teasing her,” Allyssa cut in, shooting the bard an exasperated look.

“I’m not teasing her,” Rosa protested, placing a hand over her heart as though deeply offended. “Kat and I have an understanding. Right, Kat?”

Kat gave her a long, skeptical look. “…I think I might have misunderstood our understanding.”

“Oh, that happens all the time.” Rosa waved a hand, brushing away the comment like an inconvenient truth. “Understanding’s just skimming the first page and hoping the rest makes sense. We all do it.”

Shin gave her a look like she’d just suggested checking for gas leaks with a torch. “I think that’s just you.”

Rosa blinked. “Huh. That would explain a few things.”

Scarlett cleared her throat, putting an end to the back-and-forth. “You may continue your discussions later. For now, we have more pressing matters.”

The room quieted.

“…Should I even be here?” Evelyne asked after a pause. She glanced between Scarlett and the others, her undamaged arm gently cradling the other. “This seems like one of those things you handle on your own, Scarlett.”

“You are free to leave if you wish,” Scarlett replied. “However, I believe you have just as much right to be present as the others.”

The younger woman studied her for a bit, then lowered her gaze. “…Alright.”

“Then let us begin.” Scarlett let her eyes pass over each of them again. “You are all aware of the current situation in the empire, so I will not repeat what you already know. However, some of you may not yet have heard the latest developments from the capital.”

“Did something happen?” Allyssa asked, concern entering her voice.

Evelyne frowned slightly. “You’re talking about the structure that appeared in Lake Rellaria, aren’t you?”

“I am.” Scarlett nodded. “For those unaware, yesterday, a massive structure manifested in the waters outside Elystead. It is part of the ancient Zuverian site known as Beld Thylelion, and its emergence has long been anticipated by myself and several others.”

“I heard it wasn’t the only thing that appeared,” Evelyne murmured. “…The Undead Council is there too, isn’t it?”

A shift rippled through the room.

“Who are the Undead Council?” Fynn asked, finally turning from the window.

Scarlett looked at him. “They are a faction of powerful, near-immortal mages who dwell in the Unresting Steppes. They have been in conflict with the empire for generations. And yes, their floating citadel did appear alongside the structure.” She folded her hands. “Fortunately, both Beld Thylelion and the citadel remain contained within imperial barriers for now.”

She had expected the empire to have measures in place for the ruin’s arrival — Raimond and the others had been preparing for this for some time now. But the fact that they were also ready for the Undead Council’s appearance was somewhat unexpected. She had warned them of other factions having an interest, but their readiness had still been higher than she’d thought.

Though whether they could keep the Undead Council contained long enough for Beld Thylelion to fully reveal itself was another matter.

Kat’s brows furrowed deeply. “Are the people in Elystead in danger?”

“To a degree, yes,” Scarlett replied. “But not in a way that we can influence directly.”

Her group simply wasn’t at the level to shift the tide of a direct conflict between the empire’s forces, the Undead Council, and the Hallowed Cabal.

“At least not officially, I assume,” Rosa said, watching her closely.

Scarlett held her gaze. The woman really had grown rather adept at reading between her lines.

She brought out one of her enchanted items and activated it. A faint shimmer passed through the air as it suppressed all noise from the outside.

“….Yes,” she confirmed once the magic settled. “Not officially.”

“What does that mean?” Evelyne asked.

Scarlett turned to her, then looked to the rest. “You are all aware that I have been preparing for a major undertaking soon, yes?” Her focus settled on Kat. “The same undertaking I asked you to join.”

Allyssa perked up. “Is this the job my dad’s supposed to be involved in?”

Kat’s head snapped towards the girl. “Wait, Arnaud’s joining? Why?”

Allyssa shrugged. “I don’t know.”

Kat turned to Scarlett, clearly expecting an answer.

“I will get to that,” Scarlett said. “But yes, this is the same operation Arnaud Astrey agreed to support. Until now, I have withheld the details due to the sensitive nature of the mission, but the time has come to explain exactly what it entails.”

She paused, studying their faces.

“…Before I begin, I must make one thing absolutely clear. Nothing discussed here today can ever leave this room. Under any circumstances. I trust you all, but if the wrong people were to learn of this, it would mean disaster — not only for me, but for everyone associated with me.”

Kat’s expression darkened. “It’s that serious?”

Scarlett inclined her head. “It is. In fact, it is likely far more serious than you realise.”

Evelyne hesitated, then gestured vaguely at her head. “…Scarlett, is this related to…you know?”

“In part,” Scarlett admitted. She looked at each of them in turn. “So. Do I have your word that none of you will speak of this to anyone outside this room?”

Rosa leaned back. “You’ve got mine, but you didn’t even have to ask.”

Fynn gave a small nod. “Mine as well.”

Evelyne took a moment, then nodded. “I won’t tell anyone.”

Allyssa and Shin exchanged a look before nodding in unison. “We trust you, Scarlett.”

Kat was the last to answer. She watched the others, taking her time, before finally turning to Scarlett. “…I trust you too, Scarlett. ‘Course I do. But it’s hard to give my word without knowing what I’m agreeing to.” She exhaled through her nose. “I’m a Shielder, after all.”

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

“That is understandable,” Scarlett said. “I can offer no assurances beyond what you already know. If you do not believe you can accept the risk, you are free to leave now. I will not hold it against you.”

Kat stayed quiet for a long moment, thoughtful. Then she sighed, a small, wry smile appearing on her lips. “No, I think it’s probably better if I stick with you when you’re this serious.” She touched a hand to her chin, brushing against the faint red burn that marred her skin. “If I’d ignored you the last time you had this look, I’d be dead.”

Scarlett glanced at Fynn, who was observing Kat closely, then turned to Scarlett and gave a slight nod.

A faint smile touched her lips. “I am glad to hear that. Genuinely.”

It wasn’t that she doubted Kat’s sincerity, but with what they were dealing with, it would be foolish not to take precautions where she could.

Leaning forward, she reached for the [Pouch of Holding] resting on the table. From within, she withdrew a gleaming, gold-hued sphere, its surface etched with intricate celestial engravings woven together with Zuverian glyphs.

[Sphere of Serendipity (2/2) (Unique)]

{An item far out of the ordinary, it seems to call out for its twin, awaiting a reply}

“This is a Zuverian artifact I recovered from the Hall of Echoes,” she said, holding it up for them to see. “It is one of a pair, connected to its twin no matter where it may be.”

Assuming the other wasn’t locked away inside a Memory beyond this realm.

Rosa’s gaze, suddenly more solemn, lingered on the artifact. “Is this one of the things you told me Arlene left behind?”

Scarlett paused briefly. “…It is.”

Kat looked between the two of them. “Do I even want to ask who Arlene is?”

“It is complicated,” Scarlett said, setting the golden sphere on the table. “Regardless, this artifact is the key to our next endeavour. As I said, it is linked to its twin. With it, we will enter Beld Thylelion before anyone else.”

Several uncertain looks were exchanged around the table.

“That’s the job, then?” Kat asked. “Breaking into those ruins outside Elystead?”

“Precisely.”

“Why?”

“Because of what lies inside. Beld Thylelion was built to house what is known as the Tribute of Dominion — the very power responsible for The Severance that ended Zuverian civilisation.”

Kat’s eyes widened. Allyssa and Shin both stiffened. Evelyne parted her lips as if to speak, then stopped. Rosa and Fynn were the only ones who didn’t look particularly shocked.

“The Severance?” Evelyne’s voice was tight. “Scarlett, are you seriously…?” She trailed off, biting her lip.

“…I’m not exactly big on history,” Kat said, “but even I know what that is. If this ‘Tribute’ was powerful enough to wipe out an entire civilisation, I don’t even want to imagine what it’s capable of.” She ran a hand through her hair. “And you…what? Want to get your hands on it first?”

“In essence, yes.”

“Scarlett,” Allyssa began, fidgeting with the goggles in her hands. “…If something that important is inside those ruins, why do we have to be the ones to retrieve it? Wouldn’t it be better to work with the Shields Guild officially on this? The most important thing is making sure bad people don’t get their hands on it, right? We managed to work with Father Abram in Anguish’s Citadel, so couldn’t we do something like that again?”

Scarlett met her eyes. “I have been working with the Guild and several other factions, to an extent. And you are correct — ensuring that neither the Council nor the Hallowed Cabal obtains the Tribute is paramount. However…” She pressed her lips together. “…I cannot allow anyone else to enter Beld Thylelion before me. It is imperative that I be the first.”

“…Why?”

Scarlett was silent for several moments before replying. “Because if I am not, I will die. And with my death, it is entirely possible this world will fall as well.”

A heavy stillness settled over the room. The others stared at her, unspoken questions hanging in the air. Finally, Kat broke the silence.

“Would you really die?” she asked. “Like, literally? Or are we talking in a ‘metaphorical doom’ kind of way?”

“I mean it quite literally.”

“…How?”

“That is one question I cannot answer, I am afraid,” Scarlett said. “What matters is that my survival depends on entering those ruins before anyone else.”

Her gaze moved to Evelyne, who was watching her with an uneasy expression. Then to Rosa, who wore a deep scowl.

“I trust you all understand by now that I have no ill intentions for an object like the Tribute,” she continued. “My goal is solely to prevent those who would abuse its power from obtaining it.”

Kat leaned back slightly, considering. “So in theory…if we got there first, we could then work with the Shields Guild to protect it — and you’d be safe?”

Scarlett frowned slightly. “…Potentially.”

She had entertained the idea. But she wasn’t convinced it was the best approach, or that it would even be possible.

“Is that why my dad wanted to come?” Allyssa asked. “Because he knew you had to get into the ruins? That you were looking for this Tribute?”

“No. As far as I know, your father is unaware I intend to enter Beld Thylelion. He has another reason for joining.”

“Which is…?”

Scarlett looked at her and Shin. “…To ensure your safety.”

Shin’s brow drew together, while Allyssa blinked in surprise. “Wait… Is that why he tried to convince us to leave?”

“It was. While he likely did not know our exact destination, he received a prophesied warning of sorts from Yamina Ward — one that led him to believe you might die if you came with me.” Scarlett kept her voice level. “Since he knew convincing you to stay behind was futile, he insisted on joining us instead.”

Allyssa’s fingers tightened around her goggles. Shin looked down, his expression still revealing little of his thoughts.

After a moment, Allyssa breathed out sharply, grimacing. “When you say insisted, do you mean…”

“That was the cause of our argument when he visited.”

“Ugh. I’m so sorry about him.”

“There is no need to apologise. His reaction was more than understandable. However, his insistence has caused complications of its own.”

“What do you mean?”

Scarlett gestured lightly. “As you can see, your father is not here.”

Allyssa looked around. “Was he supposed to be?”

“No, not exactly…” Scarlett’s brow creased further. “Therein lies the problem. I suspect he is currently in Elystead, alongside those investigating Beld Thylelion. Given the site’s importance, I doubt he will have the freedom to travel to Freybrook anytime soon. But we do not have the luxury of waiting.”

Now that Beld Thylelion had emerged, it was only a matter of time before it opened. In the game, there had been a fixed delay—two in-game weeks between its arrival and unlocking—but it had already surfaced earlier than expected here. There was no guarantee the same timeline applied. In fact, she had a numbing suspicion that it would open much sooner in this reality.

She had already received reports from both Raimond and Elystead Tower regarding the situation, and she trusted they would notify her when the ruins became accessible. But by then, it would be too late. She needed to act before anyone else.

At most, she was willing to wait one more day. Any longer, and she risked missing her window.

“I’m guessing the issue is that Arnaud made you promise not to leave with Allyssa and Shin unless he’s with you?” Kat asked, eyeing her. “Either he comes along, or you leave them behind?”

Scarlett’s eyes met hers. “Yes.”

Kat sighed. “Yeah, that doesn’t surprise me.” She tapped her fingers against her leg. “I don’t know much about this Yamina woman, but if Arnaud trusts her warning, there’s no way he’d let these two go on their own. Honestly, I’m not sure I should either. This sounds way above their level.” Her expression hardened. “They’re still only C-rank, Scarlett.”

“They have proven themselves on numerous occasions, Kat. I believe they have long since surpassed their rank.”

Kat regarded her for a while, then lowered her head. “I won’t argue with that. But still…how dangerous do you think this really is? Are we talking about a maybe risk, or is there a real chance we don’t make it back?”

Scarlett had to genuinely consider her answer for a few seconds. “…It is dangerous, without question. Perhaps the most dangerous task we have undertaken so far. However, based on what I know, it should not be beyond our capabilities.”

The problem was what she didn’t know.

While she couldn’t afford to delay their departure, she also couldn’t ignore Yamina’s warning. Arnaud’s presence would come with its complications, sure, but the security he brought could be invaluable. Scarlett had hoped Kat’s help would offset some of that gap, but Kat simply wasn’t on Arnaud’s level. At best, she could consider the Shielder an A-rank, assuming Kat had improved since they worked together. But that was still far from an S-rank like Arnaud.

Scarlett had sent word to the capital the moment Beld Thylelion appeared, but with so much going on in Elystead, she wasn’t sure Arnaud could prioritise coming to Freybrook. He’d originally given her a waiting period of two weeks, and that deadline hadn’t passed yet.

“Wait,” Allyssa said, looking at her. “If he doesn’t come, do you really plan to make the two of us stay behind?”

Scarlett considered her. “…I am not so certain I have a choice.”

Allyssa frowned. “Shouldn’t that be our decision? We know you better than Dad does, and we know you can get us through this.” Her hands clenched. “If you promised him, then I’ll talk to him after we make it back.”

Scarlett shook her head. “Unfortunately, I do not believe he will change his stance — even were we to return safely.”

Arnaud had made it abundantly clear that he would never accept the risk, no matter the outcome. It was probably best if Scarlett didn’t go into detail about just how adamant he had been.

Allyssa’s gaze lingered on her, then turned to Shin. The two exchanged a silent look, seeming to reach an unspoken agreement. She then turned to Kat. “Do you think we could use the Freybrook Guild branch’s communicator to contact the Elystead branch? I want to speak with my dad directly.”

Kat eyed her, then shrugged. “Possibly? That thing has limited charges, but we could probably arrange something.”

“Then we shouldn’t waste any time.” Allyssa moved as if to stand, but Scarlett motioned for her to stay seated.

“There are still other matters we need to address. Please wait a little longer.”

The girl paused, glancing at Kat and Shin, then settled back into her seat.

Scarlett nodded. “Thank you.” She looked at the others. “Now, there is another—”

A soft, almost imperious meow echoed through the room.

Scarlett stopped, her gaze shifting downward to where a jet-blapracck cat now lay sprawled on the table between them, nestled comfortably between an untouched plate of pastries and a silver teapot. Everyone stared.

“…Isn’t that the same cat I saw last time I was here?” Kat asked slowly.

“Yeah,” Allyssa confirmed.

“…It wasn’t there a second ago, right?”

“She’s been here for three minutes,” Fynn said, watching the cat.

Kat shot Scarlett a look, mouthing something that very likely translated to something along the lines of ‘What in the Blazes is going on?’

Scarlett sighed, turning her attention fully to the feline. “Pardon the delayed welcome, Empress. As always, it is an honour to have you grace my estate. However, if I may be so bold, we were in the middle of a private discussion.”

Empress lifted her head, amethyst eyes meeting Scarlett’s with a languid blink. She regarded her for a moment, then let out another unhurried meow.

Someone cleared their throat behind Scarlett.

“Dear, as I mentioned, it would have been more polite to wait until after they had finished to make our entrance. Now I fear we have made ourselves appear rather rude.”

Scarlett turned her head to find a man standing just inside the parlour’s entrance, dressed in a black top hat and dark cape, a polished cane in one hand. He offered her a polite, measured smile.

“My sincerest greetings, Baroness,” he said smoothly. “In lieu of my dear companion, allow me to extend my apologies for our sudden intrusion.” He removed his hat and performed a small, practised bow. “That said—” He straightened. “—would you mind terribly if I joined you for a little chat?”