Resetting Lady

She didn’t think that she’d lose her. Carynne clicked her tongue. She’s still not used to this.

Fortunately for Carynne, however, Isella ran straight towards the north corridor, which wasn’t often used by people. Then at the end was a staircase. Carynne pictured the manor’s interior layout in her mind.

“…Gotta double back.”

Even if there weren’t many people in this place, it’s only a matter of time before people would come here since Isella had screamed like that. For now, Carynne should lure her to a spot that was less likely to be passed through by other people.

Carynne gripped the candelabra and ran after Isella.

“Murderer! Murderer! AAAAHHHHH!”

“Miss Isella! I’m serious… Please wait, I have something to say! Miss Isella!”

Moderate terror was present.

She didn’t really have to run so hard, and instead she could just take it easy. Still though, she’d have to scare Isella just a little bit so that she’d go where she needed to go. Then, Carynne would wait for her there.

Carynne was aware of the unconsciously wide grin on her lips. This smile was much more natural compared to the one she gave the fief lord earlier. There were many things that delighted her in this life. And when she saw Isella’s bloodstains, she lamented about it for a moment. She pitied the girl, so she’d have to kill her all at once.

“Miss Isella… You’re bleeding so much.”

Blood trickled down in the wake of Isella’s each and every step. These were the traces of Carynne’s prey.

How many times would she need to stab, hit or strangle her?

“Isella Evans. You know… The sins of the parents are inherited by the child. I’ll confess, then. To be honest, I lied back then. I agree with what you said. You didn’t kill me, but Mister Verdic killed me several times. That’s why. I really want to watch Mister Verdic die. But you know, I thought of something more interesting than poisoning him. Wouldn’t Mister Verdic suffer a lot if you died? That’s why, the parent can atone for his sins through his child. Mm… Does that sound right? Maybe it’s not. Honestly, I just blurted out the first thing on my mind. Haha. Can you hear me, Isella?”

For some reason, she was excited.

Carynne swung the candelabra. She liked feeling its weight. Was she experiencing the pleasure of hunting? Hunting was a man’s entertainment. During any hunt, Carynne always just stayed back, preparing some meals, cheering when Raymond brought back a fox.

This was a lot more fun than just that. She vowed that next time, she’d try wielding a bigger gun at the hunting grounds. Carynne felt that it’s a shame how the only gun she could handle was a pistol. Maybe it’d be fun to shoot something from far, far away using a scope. That’s what Raymond was good at.

“The hobby of hunting is quite… exciting as well, Isella.”

Even if she didn’t die, this was still a situation wherein she didn’t know whether she’d die by Carynne’s hand or not.

The match of a lifetime? Ah, how very fun. As expected, this was a much simpler form of entertainment compared to teetering between fantasy or reality. This was a good choice. Maybe it’d be a good idea to kill again in the next life?

“Ah… I shouldn’t get addicted. Goodness me.”

The urgent beating of her heart filled her pleasantly. Carynne took off her heeled shoes to hide the sound of her footsteps.

Although she tried hunting a few times before, she felt no affinity with the animals. But what about people? The pounding of her heart made her want to let out a peal of laughter. To the extent that she wished to hum as well.

* * *

“Huuk huuk, huuk.”

Isella thought that she ran for such a long time already, but the hallway was seemingly endless.

Where am I? This place is a mansion. How do I get out? Don’t know. The stairs. I have to go back to the stairs. I don’t know the mansion’s layout. I need to get out of here right now.

But after Isella ran down the staircase, which was at the end of the corridor, she had no choice but to curse out.

“Damn it!”

Isella came running down, but when she reached the end at the ground floor, she found that it was locked.

Isella…

She could hear footsteps from a distance. It must be Carynne. Strangely enough, Isella didn’t encounter anybody else even though she was screaming as she ran away. There should have been maids and attendants here though.

“I took the wrong turn…”

She went to an unused hallway. She wasn’t familiar with this old mansion, so she didn’t even know where she should or should not run. Was this place really this big?

Isella covered her face and clenched her teeth. The sound of those footsteps drew nearer.

In the end, she had to run to the other hallway.

“I knew it… I knew it was her.”

When Isella saw her face, she knew.

Carynne killed the fief lord.

Even if she hadn’t seen the murder happen with her own eyes, Isella realized it at that moment. Carynne was responsible for everything. She didn’t see people as people. She deceived people with that beautiful face and gentle demeanor just to stick a knife to their neck.

She’s sure that Carynne was also the one who killed that maid.

“Huuk, huuk… huuk.”

Isella ran.

Even if her lunacy was stripped from her, and in spite of how terrifying she was, Carynne was only just a seventeen-year-old girl. And she didn’t have a gun with her. All she had was a silver candelabra.

Whatever strength Carynne had in her, there’s no way it could match that of a monster or a man. She even looked frailer than Isella. She’s so thin.

“I’ll make sure you rot in prison.”

Isella vowed to herself. No, she’d make sure that Carynne would be executed. Thinking about this, she giggled. Isella could even become a hero. Carynne was a murderer who killed her own father, and might have also killed a few more people. After catching that girl, Raymond would surely bow in admiration for Isella and regret his previous actions.

“Huu.”

But before then, she needed to live.

Looking around, Isella pushed the first door she saw in front of her.

“Damn.”

It’s locked. Was it locked because this was an unused hallway? She pushed her tongue up and held her breath. Fortunately, Carynne moved slower than Isella did, and she couldn’t hear the other girl’s footsteps any longer.

“Ta-da.”

“…Huh?”

Someone placed a hand on her shoulder. As Isella held her breath, she heard laughter intertwined with the whisper that flowed into her ears.

“How could I lose you inside my own house?”

Like a nightmare, Carynne laughed.

“A…Ah, AHHH!”

Isella shook off Carynne’s grip on her shoulder and stomped on Carynne’s foot with all her strength. Crunch. When she heard the ghastly sound, Isella cheered inwardly.

“Your acting skills are no joke.”

Even as her foot bled out, Carynne smiled. As if she felt no pain at all. And then, she approached Isella once more.

“Ah, AAAHHH!”

Entirely creeped out, Isella screamed at the top of her lungs. That girl was a monster.

Carynne stepped closer and grinned. As though she was in the garden, or in the music room. She looked like a well-educated young lady, but her foot continued to bleed and walked with that candelabra in one hand.

With a bright smile on her face, Carynne spoke.

“Isella… The two of us. Shall we be friends in the next life?”

“…What?”

Isella couldn’t have ever expected these words to come out from her lips, and they made her even more confused in the situation at present.

“Truly as expected, hearing screams is such a wonderful thing.”

And there was only one thing Isella could say in return.

“…Lunatic.”

She shot out the remark and immediately ran away. If her life wasn’t in danger right now, she would have even given her the finger.

“That’s too bad… But maybe we can be friends next time. You…”

“Leave me alone!”

Carynne expressed her disappointment as she shrugged, yet she continued to pursue Isella from afar. Just watching her walk like that, one foot dragging behind, was such a gruesome thing to see. Isella gritted her teeth.

So, they once again continued the chase at that dark hallway.

“Haa, haa, haa.”

She was out of breath. Her heart was beating like crazy. Her body wasn’t all that fit either. Isella cursed this endless hallway.

Maybe this was all just a dream. If she were to faint here, maybe everything would be settled and she’d wake up in her bed.

“……”

No. Unlikely. Isella scoffed at herself as she continued to run.

“Haa… huk…”

She was at her limit already. However, just before she collapsed, Isella found someone.

“Ah.”

On the other side of the darkness, she found people there.

“Maybe…”

No. That’s not a woman. Isella squinted and checked for sure, then she let out a small sigh of relief.

Over there, that’s surely a man. It’s not Carynne at all. Finally! Isella cheered.

“Help! Please save me!”

Isella ran with all her might towards that figure.

“Huuk, huk, huk… Mu… Murderer, a murderer…!”

Isella ran towards those people with all the strength left in her and then collapsed. Warmth. Other people.

“What’s wrong?”

One of them held onto Isella and asked. People. They’re real. She finally found other people.

“There… there was a murder… Carynne Hare… She’s the murderer. She killed someone… She killed her own father…”

“What are you…”

The other man gasped as though he couldn’t believe it either, then he groaned. It must be hard to believe for them. But whatever, it’s finally over. I’m safe.

“The Fief Lord?”

“Everything… Everything is her fault…”

Along with the relief that washed over her when she found other people, she felt her legs giving out from under her. That crazy woman. You’re finished now.

Isella was about to crane her neck to look up. But she couldn’t.

“…Urk.”

Pale fingers wrapped around her neck. Isella struggled as that hand slowly lift her off the ground.

Why?

“…You know.”

Darkness shrouded Isella’s vision.

“I warned you many times.”

A baritone voice sank into her ears.

“Don’t pay attention to useless things.”