"Hehehehe..."

"Rebecca... what are you laughing at?" Anna asked, eyeing Rebecca curiously.

"Uh... nothing... nothing at all," Rebecca replied awkwardly.

"Really?" Anna still looked at her strangely.

"Nothing, really..."

Anna remained doubtful. Rebecca had been acting very odd today.

"Rebecca, why didn’t you come to the cafeteria for lunch? You walked home alone too. Why not with me? Did you skip class again?"

"Uh..." Rebecca froze inwardly. Anna was sharp. But with Lorin covering for her at the academy now, she couldn’t dig anything up. Still, she’d need to eat lunch together and leave school on time from now on.

"Hmm? Why silent? Did you skip class again?" Anna’s face turned stern, like an elder sister scolding a wayward younger sibling.

"No... I didn’t skip... A new teacher arrived today... We celebrated at noon... for the new teacher... Ask if you doubt me. I didn’t wait after school because... I found a pigeon for Grandpa... Our homing pigeon was... killed by me... Your father... is furious..." Rebecca stammered.

"Is that so? Fine, I’ll believe you this once! But next time, leave pigeon chores to the servants."

"Got it~ Anna sister~" Rebecca feigned sweetness.

"Alright, off to bed. It’s late."

"Mm~ Good night, Anna... sister~" Rebecca waved and walked away.

Anna watched her go, biting back words. She’d wanted to sleep with Rebecca tonight but felt too shy. Besides, Rebecca had been strange all evening—distracted at dinner, smiling to herself, then that weird laugh afterward. Too bizarre.

Rebecca was just replaying her... intimate moments with Maggie. The laughter came from recalling those... indescribable scenes.

Well, virgins always get excited about first times...

Next day~ Rebecca’s first school holiday dawned. She planned to visit Maggie. She didn’t know how to handle yesterday yet, but she had to face it, right?

But early morning, after preparing Duke Ruta’s medicinal meal and breakfast, Carina cornered her.

"Oh~ my dear sister, come with me to an art exhibition today~" Carina clung to Rebecca’s arm.

Who’d waste time on some exhibition with this idiot?! Carina pressed her chest against Rebecca’s arm, but Rebecca felt nothing. She was too dense—Rebecca couldn’t even entertain thoughts about her.

"Carina, do you understand art?" Anna sighed at her foolish sister.

"Must I understand it to enjoy it?" Carina argued earnestly.

"You can look, but forgot last time? At the royal exhibition, you ruined a famous painter’s work and made him faint," Anna said helplessly.

"Oh, sister! That old man an artist? My doodles beat his scribbles!" Carina insisted.

Rebecca realized abstract art existed here too?

"Good or bad, you smeared cream on his painting. You shamed the Ruta Family. So please, skip exhibitions. Especially don’t take Rebecca... I fear you’ll lose her in the chaos," Anna pleaded, glancing at Rebecca.

Anna adored Rebecca but subconsciously saw her as the quiet type who vanished unexpectedly.

"Sister!"

Rebecca wanted to punch something. Her rare holiday—time for Maggie and Demon Potions—ruined by Carina’s clinginess.

Just then, a maid interrupted. "Third Miss, Professor Lorin is here to see you."

Rebecca yanked free from Carina and followed Selena.

Perfect! Lorin’s rescue meant escaping Carina.

In the reception hall, Lorin chatted warmly with Duke Ruta. He waved Rebecca over.

"Rebecca’s obedient, clever, and talented~" Lorin lied smoothly. Had she even taught her? One day as mentor, zero lessons—but flattery flowed.

Duke Ruta beamed anyway. Praise for his granddaughter delighted him.

"Duke Ruta, I’ll take Rebecca and classmates for an outdoor practical today. Any objections?"

"None at all~" Duke Ruta was too charmed to care.

"I’ll care for Rebecca well~" Lorin stood, taking Rebecca’s hand.

"Mm~ Thank you, Professor Lorin~ Far better than Professor Monise~" Monise took an unfair hit.

Lorin bowed out, leading Rebecca away. Carina hated academies and teachers—she cringed but didn’t approach. Anna felt relieved Rebecca had such a caring mentor. But reality?

Outside Duke’s Manor, Lorin bent and hugged Rebecca tightly. "Master~ Master~"

"Let go..." Rebecca sighed.

"No~"

"One! Two! Three..." Rebecca counted sharply.

Lorin released her instantly. "Why find me...?" Rebecca asked, curious despite the rescue.

"Just missed you~"

"..."

"Master, how did you sneak into Duke Ruta’s house?"

"None of your business."

"Master, let’s go shopping~" Lorin grinned.

Shopping? Rebecca needed demon beasts for Demon Potions. Maggie had some materials, but not enough. No time for idle strolls.

"Go back. I’m... busy."

"No shopping? I’ll follow you~"

"Unnecessary..."

"Please let me. I won’t trouble you. Begging you~" Lorin pleaded.

Seeing her pitiful face—remembering she’d willingly become her blood slave—Rebecca sighed. "Fine..."

"Yay~" Lorin hugged her again.

"One! Two..."

"Sorry... Master..."

"..."

Rebecca led the grinning Lorin out of the city. Beyond Rucadan, she took flight to hunt demon beasts. Surprisingly, Lorin kept up despite struggling. Her strength was decent.

Demon Potions weren’t mainstream but costly. Few researchers meant scarce collectors, inflating prices. Simply put: niche yet expensive. Yet many materials were plentiful here—easy to find blindfolded. Rebecca preferred gathering herself. Exceptions like Black Dragon Blood were rare; it wasn’t just for potions.

Rebecca spotted several demon beasts easily. Lorin rushed to catch them first, eager to prove loyalty. Rebecca allowed it, even praising her unexpectedly. Lorin glowed with joy.

Rebecca shook her head. This clingy Blood Clan member was exhausting.

"Master~ Master~ Look! This one’s huge~" Lorin cheered.

"I know, I know~" Rebecca didn’t turn. She’d found rare Demon Potion plants and focused on digging them carefully.

Absorbed in her work, Rebecca suddenly noticed Lorin’s silence behind her. She spun around—and froze.

Lorin lay in a bloody mess. Her hands were torn off, limbs discarded nearby. Deep wounds exposed bone and organs. Beside her stood a smiling figure.

"You...!"

"Oh~ dear sister, long time no see~ Never thought you’d sink to trash like this~ For our Demon Race’s dignity, I cleansed her. Thank me, won’t you~"

Rebecca’s pupils shrank. She vanished—then slammed the figure a hundred meters away.

A roar shattered the forest’s calm. Ancient trees crashed down. Birds scattered in panic.

"Lorin! Lorin!" Rebecca knelt beside the motionless form.

Bloodied and broken, Lorin’s lips moved soundlessly. Rebecca read them: "Master."

This was the Forbidden Spell "Dead Silence."

"Dead Silence" trapped victims in a chaotic magical void. Inside, wild energy shredded them. Outside, nothing stirred—utterly silent. Hence the name.