Chapter 29
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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How to Survive as the Villain's Younger Sister
Episode 29
Huh?
'I didn't do anything, though?'
A Skill Master, all of a sudden?
I stared bewilderedly at the muslin that was supposedly made from silver cotton.
"!"
The fabric that had appeared beautiful moments before looked entirely different now.
Coarse, low-grade cotton thread was woven together with glittering powder scattered across it.
The luminous powder concealed the true quality of the material.
The silver powder appeared luxurious at first glance, but it too was cheap.
'It's a fake!'
"If you find it difficult to trust us, you need not proceed with the transaction. We have nothing to lose."
At that moment, Borgil snatched the cotton fabric from Alexis's hand and spoke.
"Show proper respect to His Excellency!"
"Tch, calm down. Dain."
Dain's fury erupted at Borgil's insolent behavior.
Maran had to restrain the enraged Dain.
Alexis merely observed the situation with cold eyes.
"And Borgil. When did His Excellency say he didn't believe you? Your Excellency, shall we proceed with the contract? Surely it's not difficult to imitate such fine fabric?"
The matter of Jenin failing to save the Wasteland.
And being excluded from this initial plan.
Maran was desperate to make up for these failures.
Borgil, who had been watching the scene with amusement, suddenly met my eyes.
"Hmm? It seems the little lady knows the silver cotton fabric is genuine. You can't take your eyes off it."
"Children's eyes are always the most truthful, after all."
Maran, now anxious, unexpectedly praised me.
Borgil smiled and handed me the fake silver cotton fabric.
"Feel it for yourself. It's quite soft and beautiful."
I accepted the fake fabric reluctantly.
'Soft, you say?'
The coarse texture was unmistakably apparent beneath my palm.
Though I had never seen genuine silver cotton fabric, the difference was starkly evident.
It was thanks to the [Nightmare-Weaving Web] skill.
"What do you think? Do you like it?"
Borgil asked with a smile.
I stared at the fake fabric, then tore it apart with all my strength with a sharp rip.
"Oh, no! Miss!"
"W-what are you doing!"
Maran and Borgil cried out simultaneously.
I pretended not to hear.
Instead, as if playing a paper-cutting game, I sliced the counterfeit fabric into pieces along its grain.
"Miss!"
Finally, Maran shoved me aside and snatched away the shredded fabric.
"I-I'm terribly sorry. To ruin something so expensive."
"Do you have any idea how much a single bolt costs? You'll have to compensate for all of it!"
Borgil's voice rang out sharply.
Maran glared at me.
Even the composed Dain couldn't hide his astonishment at my antics.
"Miss, why would you do such a thing...."
"There must be a reason."
Only Alexis took my side with ease.
'That's my sister for you!'
The atmosphere pressed down on a young girl.
Even I could have been intimidated into submission under such pressure, despite knowing the truth.
But thanks to Alexis, I smiled brightly and spread my small hands wide open.
Silver powder glittered abundantly on my maple-leaf-like palms.
"This is fake."
"I-Impossible!"
"Miss, are you making excuses after causing trouble? You should apologize first in a situation like this!"
Borgil and Maran cried out.
I brushed off my hands.
Silver powder scattered everywhere.
"Fabric made from silverbloom is incredibly durable. But this tears like colored paper. Plus, silverbloom fabric emits light on its own, yet this one has powder sprinkled on it. It's fake!"
I shouted.
"How would you know that, Miss? And what do you mean, destroying such precious fabric!"
Maran, unable to grasp the situation, grew angry with me.
I crossed my arms and let out a dismissive snort.
"My mother bought tons of expensive clothes. I've seen plenty of beautiful dresses made from silverbloom fabric. Silverbloom fabric doesn't look like this! No matter how hard I tried to tear it, it wouldn't rip."
Maran had nothing to say to that.
Julia was an extravagant woman, so my words carried complete credibility.
'Mom, thank you!'
It was the first moment I'd ever felt grateful to my biological mother, who had been useless my entire life.
Borgil's face went pale.
"Surely...."
When Dain glared at him, Borgil hastily pulled out a new bolt of fabric.
"Th-That one must have been d-defective! Let's verify with this one instead!"
Borgil made a show of tearing the fabric forcefully.
He even poured water on it and brushed it vigorously, pretending to remove the silver powder.
But the fabric remained intact.
"Look here. This fabric is sturdy, and it doesn't shed particles, does it? If you don't believe me, try it yourself!"
Borgil handed the fabric to Maran, Dain, and Alexis.
The knights Maran and Dain pulled with all their strength, but the fabric remained intact.
Maran glared at me.
"Miss, this is genuine silver cotton fabric, isn't it? Why do you keep causing trouble? I told you we shouldn't bring along such thoughtless, young ladies."
"Maran, don't be hasty."
Alexis warned in a low voice.
Then, grasping both sides of the fabric lightly with both hands.
Riiiiip—
She tore it apart effortlessly.
Silver powder scattered in all directions.
Borgil and Maran's faces went pale.
Alexis shredded the counterfeit into pieces and hurled them into the air.
Fragments of the fake fabric fell across Borgil's face.
"It appears sturdy at first glance, but upon closer inspection, there's a weak 'grain' running through it. Apply force along that grain's direction, and even a child could tear it. And the moment that 'grain' gives way, the silver powder falls right out."
"That, that's a defect...."
Riiiiip.
Before Borgil could finish his excuse, Dain also tore the fabric apart.
Borgil froze mid-sentence.
"You're right, sir. How dare he attempt to deceive Duke Parkision."
Dain glared at Borgil.
Borgil, his face caked with silver powder, floundered.
"Th, the batch that came in this time—they were all, all d, defective, it seems!"
"B, but it's certain that Borgil's Trading Company conducts business with the Imperial Court. I've verified it."
Maran made excuses on Borgil's behalf.
What we needed most was the connection to the Imperial Court.
"Y, yes, that's right. I'll show you the 'Trade Agreement Contract' drawn up with the Imperial C, Court."
Borgil rummaged through a cabinet in the back and produced a golden envelope.
When he opened it, a document bearing the Imperial seal—a golden eagle with three heads—came into view.
"I don't show this to just anyone."
Borgil, true to form as a con artist of the century, quickly puffed himself up.
'That's definitely a forgery too!'
There was no way to verify its authenticity.
Only Alexis here had ever seen an Imperial contract.
It had been long since the Parkision Ducal House and the Imperial Court had any dealings.
Alexis had only seen that contract in her previous life.
She had merely glimpsed a monster subjugation reward contract.
The Imperial situation back then was dire.
There was no guarantee the contract format or seal would be the same now that circumstances were more favorable.
My suspicion seemed correct—Alexis also wore an uncertain expression.
If I could only use the item [Hermes' Letter], I could quickly determine the authenticity of those documents.
[Hermes' Letter] was a legendary-grade item that granted access to "the messenger ability of Hermes, herald of the gods."
There were two ways to use it.
1. Deliver a message instantly to anywhere
2. Discern the authenticity of a message
I had experience using the second function—discerning message authenticity—to expose the forged will of Parkision.
But the problem was.
Each function could only be used once.
Since I'd already used the message authenticity function, I couldn't use it again.
And the instant message delivery function was useless right now.
"It must have been stamped by the Imperial Palace."
Borgil spoke with practiced eloquence.
Even Dain looked convinced.
The fake silver-flower fabric had already been exposed, and we'd lost credibility.
Yet here he was, deceiving people with such brazen lies.
What if Alexis fell for it too?
Even as I told myself that wouldn't happen, panic seized me.
I had to search through my entire inventory and skill window to find some way to help my sister.
That was when it happened.
From somewhere in my trembling body, I felt a strange, hard object shifting.
It was in my pocket.
What on earth was this?
I hadn't put anything in my pocket.
With equal parts confusion and dread, I pulled the object from my pocket.
It was a golden ring.
With the Imperial Seal engraved at its center.
!
The Imperial Seal was typically applied using an official stamp.
But those of high rank carried seal rings and similar portable versions, using them as needed.
In other words, this was an extraordinarily precious possession of someone of tremendous importance.
How—how did something this precious end up in my pocket?
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
---------------