Chapter 10: The Hero Isolation Plan

“Ah, that feels good.”

Ten minutes later, Auror stepped out of the bathroom wrapped in a white towel. She felt refreshed, her entire being renewed save for her slightly wrinkled fingers.

Vapgis looked her up and down, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

A bit embarrassed, Auror cleared her throat. “If dear Miss Vapgis would be so kind as to turn around, I’ll give you a livre.”

“Tch, the rich sure are something.” Vapgis rolled her eyes, but obediently complied.

Auror rummaged through the wardrobe, eventually finding a relatively modest outfit. It was a simple robe worn by mage apprentices, deep blue with a hint of gold trim.

She shook off the dust and put it on, only to realize that all women’s clothing in this world obeyed the law of fabric conservation. This garment, as concealing as a stereotypical Islamic woman’s attire, was in fact extremely thin—almost like a curtain draped over her body.

‘Perfect for dressing up as a female ghost on Halloween and getting caught by an exorcist or something.’

Whatever. She’d just cast an illusion spell later to make it look like she was wearing thick clothes.

Auror didn’t dwell on it long. She returned to the bathroom to clean up the mess.

During this time, Vapgis maintained the posture Auror had requested, keeping her back turned and not looking.

Suddenly, Auror felt that her roommate was actually quite reliable. She might be a bit greedy and lazy, but when it came to important matters, she didn’t mess around. Moreover, she was no slouch in terms of strength.

Vapgis’s spellcasting ability was considerably higher than Auror’s. She could cast almost all third-circle spells and below that were taught in class. She was also skilled in making scrolls and magical items, which had allowed her to become an apprentice in a professor’s mage tower while still studying. To use a university analogy, Vapgis was the type who could join a research group as a junior. Top twenty percent.

For instance, this time, if she hadn’t timely cast a spell to help Auror relocate, she would have had a hard time getting away.

On the other hand, Vapgis’s living conditions were quite modest. According to her, she came from a minor noble family that made a living through trade, a branch of a larger family. Unwilling to be married off to some greasy man as a political tool, she had run away to study in Francia.

‘Reliable, skilled, and easy to satisfy because she’s poor? What a perfect worker drone. Maybe she could replace Balian?’

As soon as this thought emerged, Auror’s conscience was flooded with guilt for toying with someone’s feelings. Maybe it was because she was in a post-bath clarity, her thoughts suddenly turned noble and righteous.

How could she apply the concept of replacement to a person? Everyone is equal; each person is unique. Balian had been with her for so many years. Just because she found Vapgis, she would kick him to the curb? That would be too heartless…

But the next moment, those shameful memories surged back.

‘Uh…’

Auror weighed the options for a minute, then made a decision. Indeed, she still couldn’t accept being intimate with him. Balian was someone who desperately wanted to rise in the world and worked hard. According to information from her future self, he had an unimaginable obsession with conquering her. Even after achieving wealth and status, he would risk everything to launch a coup. This was non-negotiable. Thus, Balian was bound to blow up big sooner or later.

‘Balian, thank you for your service all along, but for the sake of my chastity and moral integrity, I have to say sorry!’

As the saying goes, ‘Once you distance yourself from the palace, you realize how vast the world is.’

Auror immediately had a plan—the ‘Hero Isolation Plan!’

In the future timeline, the primary reason Auror was backstabbed by Balian was her excessive trust and reliance on him.

On one hand, their daily life together, like fish and water, made the hormonally charged Balian extremely restless, suppressed, and eventually twisted.

On the other hand, she placed the crucial power over her life and death into his hands.

Learning from experience, Auror concluded that the best way to handle Balian was to push him far away, ideally creating two parallel lines that would never intersect.

First, in her personal life, she would cut off all contact with Balian as much as possible.

Second, in work, she would make Vapgis her new partner and find a way to transfer Balian to a place far from her with a lot of work. He might forget her while busy. Even if he didn’t, with distance, he couldn’t reach her.

Meanwhile, she wouldn’t stay idle. She would rely on her family to develop her strength, protect supporting family members, and gather talents. That way, even if Balian eventually made a name for himself and returned in glory, she would have enough confidence to deal with him.

Alright, that’s the plan!

As for the prophecy of the reincarnated goddess, Auror didn’t take it seriously.

There were indeed gods and magic in this world, but when all kinds of monsters and fraudsters ran rampant in the goddess’s name, extorting and pillaging, no deity stepped in to do anything.

Just a single sentence could decide her future? Don’t be ridiculous. The future is created by humans themselves!

Auror tiptoed quietly behind her roommate and pounced on her.

“Hey! What are you doing! Ouch!”

“Change your clothes, come with me. Let’s go get some good food!”

****

That evening, at the Marquis of Olivia’s residence.

Compared to the extravagant lifestyle of other nobles in the capital, the Olivia family’s traditions could be described as austere and simple.

Marquis Ed, a military man, had no high demands for food. On ordinary days, he would make do with some white bread and thick meat soup. When tired, he’d add a slice of fatty bacon; when happy, he’d open a bottle of cheap white wine.

Auror was sick of eating these things! She often complained, but Marquis Ed always brushed it off with the excuse that she shouldn’t be pampered.

However, today Marquis Ed was in an unusually good mood. He opened several bottles of long-aged red wine, not only breaking routine to order a full French feast but even swallowing his pride to borrow a few palace chefs from the King.

This super banquet of the Olivia family was something even the King didn’t get to enjoy! Yet at the table were only Marquis Ed and his daughter, Balian, and Vapgis.

Today, they truly let them indulge.

White candles, rarely seen in the mansion, burned quietly on silver candlesticks, casting a crystal-clear light on the rich cream soup. Marquis Ed personally opened a bottle of red wine and filled a full glass for himself and Balian.

Auror also wanted some, but her father glared at her. Ed handed her a bottle of low-alcohol white wine, ruffled her hair, and praised, “Well done, kid.”

“You really pulled off something big today!”

“Haha, you don’t know! Margaret, that… that queen, today she was like a mute. Not once did she come asking me for money. Not only that, her father, Duke Hermes, sent a letter promising to lend another ten thousand livres to the kingdom! Once that money arrives, we can buy enough grain to relieve the disaster victims.”

“Is it that serious? Isn’t the church and the city’s grain reserves enough?” Auror asked, swallowing a piece of pan-fried steak.

“If it’s just the city, it’s enough, but there are many outside the city, all refugees. The weather has been bad this year, with heavy rains. The border is on alert, and His Majesty has called up many militiamen.”

This summer’s rain was particularly heavy, causing excessive soil moisture, which led to root rot and reduced crop yields.

The reduced yield led to seed shortages; seed shortages would lead to insufficient planting, resulting in even poorer harvests—a vicious cycle.

“Food can only be used for emergencies. We need to buy grain seeds in advance and distribute them to the affected villages. Moreover, having so many people crowded outside the city is dangerous. We should set up a few more relief stations farther from the city to divert the refugees,” Auror suggested.

“My daughter blessed with wisdom! You always help me share the burden. But where should we set up the relief stations?”

“Perhaps on royal assets? Like mines, farmland, and hunting grounds. The refugees can’t return to their hometowns. Let them work on royal properties for a few months to earn some rations, and in spring, let them return to their land to resume farming.”

“Let’s do that.”

“So, am I still leaving?”

“Didn’t you pass the exam? Why would I go back on my word? Am I that kind of person?”

“Of course not, my dear father always keeps his promises.”

Auror and her father were all smiles, but Balian sat upright without saying a word.

His back was straighter than a javelin, the food in front of him barely touched. He held the stem of his wine glass, his knuckles slightly white from the pressure.

Because she had just decided to isolate Balian, Auror didn’t dare look at him. If her gaze strayed even a little from straight ahead, she would meet his eyes, which were filled with a resentment that was almost tangible.

Marquis Ed quickly noticed the little rift between his beloved daughter and his valued protégé.

“Balian? What’s wrong with you today? You seem down?”

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