Let’s Block the Ruined Route in Advance

“You heard what I told Lucian today, didn’t you? If you are a lowly man, you must act quickly, or you will never be able to properly repay the duke for taking in the poor orphan.” 

A dark brown-haired man with a grim expression pushed up his glasses. In front of him sat a tired looking Cordelia, staring down at the desk with a blank expression on her face.

 “What a blessing that you’re dressed in such an inappropriate outfit but make no mistake. No matter how hard you try, you can’t change your lowly blood. A bum is a bum, and a bum is the limit of your future!” 

The man slammed his hand down hard on Cordelia’s desk. The child’s shoulders jerked in surprise, and a watery wolf appeared, wrapping itself around her and baring its teeth at him.

 

The man’s face creased into a frown, and he roared.

 “You can’t even control your spirit properly anymore! Don’t flatter yourself that you have contracted a slightly stronger spirit, because with such animal-like self-control, you will never be a good Elementalist!” 

The words were uttered like a curse.

  

* * *

  “Your elementalism teacher, Luis Roban, is a third-level elementalist.” 

Eileen snapped back to reality as Oslo finished speaking, giggling inwardly.

 

Luis Roban. In the original, he was a water elemental contractor like Cordelia, a gaslighting scumbag with an inferiority complex to a nine-year-old’s talent.

 “It ain’t over till it’s over.” 

Lucian was saved, but the only future she could see was the original one, where Cordelia was still a loner. Apparently, the changed history wasn’t reflected in the vision of the future.

 

This is actually good. It shouldn’t be too hard to avoid the Ruined Route, as long as they avoid the land mines.

 

Taking a deep breath, Eileen remembered the original Cordelia, wilting under her Master’s gaslight. In all those hard moments, she was always alone.

 

Lucian, driven mad, had isolated her so thoroughly that Cordelia had become completely dependent on him. There had been no one there to reach out to her, ignoring her future master.

 

‘But this time is different.’

 

The original Cordelia had to go through all that hell alone, but this time she had her by her side.

 

This time she’ll avoid the landmines and get a happy ending. Eileen’s fighting spirit burned brightly.

  

* * *

  “My name is Luis Roban. Ah, I hope you don’t mind if I let go of the formality now that I’ve become your master?” 

The man ran a hand through his long hair and spoke to the children in the mirror. Eileen was speechless at the blatant disrespect, as if he were treating them like an employee.

 

She wondered if it would be different this time, since it was clear that Cordelia and Eileen were under Gaudium’s protection, but it seemed that nature never changed.

 

‘Doesn’t it feel different to see Cordelia being treated with respect in the duke, as opposed to the original?’

 

Cordelia didn’t even bother to look up at him, and he didn’t seem to notice the tension in the air, so he finished fixing her hair and reached into his pocket to pull out a clear orb.

 “You’ve never seen a spirit ball before, have you? It’s a prized object that, when held by an elementalist, glows with the image of the spirit they are contracting with; the brighter and clearer the glow, the stronger the spirit they are contracting with.” 

With a nudge of his shoulder, he placed his hand over the orb. A heavenly fish swam inside the orb, emitting a light that turned part of the room blue.

 “Ahem, this is standard for a third-tier elementalist authorized by the Huang family. I know you don’t know anything about it, but it’s rare for someone to shine so brightly. Hmm, co… l? Cordel…? Anyway, you said you’re a Water Elementalist, so you go first.” 

As pathetic as it was, the elemental sphere itself was fascinating, so Cordelia swallowed hard and stood in front of it. A small hand gently stepped onto the orb.

 “Wow!!!” 

There was an explosion of blue light, powerful enough to fill the room, as the watery wolf appeared.

 

It was so powerful that Luis Roban stumbled backward and broke a vase. Eileen’s mouth fell open and she shuddered as the room looked like it was underwater.

 

‘This is the main character!’

 

Luis Roban, who soon regained his senses, coughed and tried to laugh.

 “Well, it’s a decent talent, though still immature.” 

Eileen looked at his inferiority complex as he considered a Light ten times stronger than a third-level Elementalist a

“decent talent”

.

 “Alright, now it’s your turn.” 

Eileen stepped in front of the orb. It was an easy task, but somehow, she felt nervous. It was exciting, but also embarrassing because it made her feel a little special.

 

‘What kind of spirit will my spirit be?’

Eileen asked herself, trying to hide the tiny flicker of anticipation that had blossomed in her heart.

 “Phew!” 

Luis Rorban chuckled. Cordelia glared at him, but Eileen didn’t see it.

 

Her orb, unlike Cordelia’s, was very still. There was no sign of the contracted mind, and the light emanating from it was so faint that you had to look closely to see the faint white glow.

 “…Yes.” 

I was foolishly hopeful. Like I was some kind of special person.

 

Ugh. If I had known, I would have done it before Cordelia.

 

She sighed inwardly, and then a voice rang in her ears.

 “Oh my God, I’ve never seen this before. I’ve never even heard of a case where the light didn’t appear at all without a spirit present. Oh, is your power so weak that the spirits can’t find you?” 

The corner of his mouth twitched as if to suppress a laugh, and it was clear that his target this time was Eileen, not Cordelia.

 

The dismissive look on his face was enough to make Cordelia want to speak up.

 

Eileen held her back, preventing her from walking away, and opened her mouth.

 “Sir, I’m tired today, do you mind if we stop here?” “Well, yes. I need to do some research on how the hell to teach this particular case.” 

He couldn’t stop laughing and looked very contemptuous as he left the room.

 “He’s a third-rate villain, just like Greene.” 

Cordelia turned to Eileen, who was staring at the door he’d left through with narrowed eyes.

 “You want me to bury him?” “Yes…?” “Lynn says I can.” 

Eileen grabbed her neck, expressionless at the murderous words she didn’t know if she was joking or not. Lynn was the name Cordelia had given to the water elemental she’d captured.

 

‘She’d tried to keep it like a plant in the short time she’d been with it, but why did it grow like a blade?’

 “He ignored Eileen and he’ll do it again.” 

She knew nothing.

 

Eileen couldn’t help but smile at the sight of Cordelia flirting with her. A pang of inferiority threatened to creep up on her, but she suppressed it.

 “Let’s not kill him. Let’s just keep an eye on him. There’s nothing to criticize except that he laughed.” 

Luis Roban was rude, but that was all.

 

It was still the first day of class, and he hadn’t given them the finger or insulted them in any way. Asking to change teachers just because he didn’t like them would have seemed childish.

 “The last thing we want is to be perceived as a nuisance.” 

The world doesn’t always go our way. It’s best to have as few enemies as possible. That’s one of Eileen’s survival strategies, as she’s had her fair share of ups and downs.

 

Still, she had no intention of letting Luis run amok forever.

 

“Oh, no. I thought the Duke got me a swan or something, but this is just a duckling. If you’re so low, shouldn’t you try your best?

 

Eileen remembered how he had treated the original Cordelia. A man like Luis, who had pushed her to the edge of her self-esteem.

 

Any threat to the Duke and Cordelia, who were at best on the right track, had to be eliminated at the outset.

 “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it.” “Eileen?” “Yeah.” 

Cordelia nodded for once. But she didn’t forget to add a postscript.

 “But if he keeps this up, I’ll bury him.” 

‘Cordelia, you really are growing up, aren’t you?’

 

Looking dejected, Eileen just smiled weakly and nodded.

  

* * *

  “So how was class?” 

Theresia asked at dinner, and Eileen opened her mouth to answer, smiling at her casually now.

 “It was fun, it was my first time in the elemental sphere and Cordelia was amazing, the light filled the room, but I guess I don’t have a contracted elemental spirit after all.” 

Cordelia paused in her drink. Eileen scratched her cheek at her furtive glance.

 

Theresia congratulated Cordelia affectionately, then reached over and gave Eileen a light pat on the head.

 “It’s been a while since you’ve seen an elemental. Eileen, you’ll meet one of your own soon enough.” 

Eileen nodded, but she didn’t think she could call upon such a powerful spirit.

 

‘I’m an extra, not even in the story.’

 

She could only hope that one day she would be able to summon a lesser spirit. It shouldn’t be hard to get a small position in the mansion, even as a fifth rank elementalist.

 

Finding a suitable role as an extra and living a normal life in a peaceful world was the best she could hope for, she sincerely thought.

 “Eileen is amazing even without a spirit!” “Huh?” 

The fork that was about to go into her mouth came out again. She knew it wasn’t polite, but she couldn’t help but be flustered by Lucian’s outburst. Cordelia joined in and exclaimed.

 “That’s right, because our Eileen is already great!” “Yes!” 

The words were unfamiliar. Especially coming from the two people who would one day possess the greatest power in the world.

 “Never mind, I don’t need a pat on the back.” “That’s no consolation, I mean it!” “You stood in front of a monster for me! That’s brave like a warrior! That’s awesome!” 

Lucian’s bright emerald eyes sparkled in the light of the chandelier.

 “Your eyes are as soft as buds.” 

Cordelia exclaimed happily to Lucian, who grinned, not feeling too bad about herself.

 “You, you know something, don’t you?” “Of course!” 

Theresia laughed to tears as she watched the two children begin their recital in praise of Eileen. The Duke sipped his wine, glanced at the scene, and shook his head.

 

Oslo watched in fascination, his eyes still and closed. It had been a long time since Theresia’s illness, and this moment of togetherness between master and mistress had been so precious.

 

It was a cozy future and present that would have been shattered without the two little ladies. No spirits, no talent, no strength, nothing mattered.

 

All that mattered was that this moment would last for a long time. He just hoped with all his heart that it would.

Visit my Ko-fi for discounted advance chapters!!