Only I Am A Reader-Chapter 593: The Frustrated Thorn Queen

Click!

Although the others couldn't see it, the moment the trap was triggered, Aurora's body was completely covered in translucent light, turning her impervious to any kind of danger that the trap would have posed.

Since she had to be on the lookout in case any of her companions attempted anything funny, focusing her protection only on herself seemed logical at that moment. However…

"Thank you."

Aurora couldn't help feeling ashamed upon receiving protection herself.

'Just what is the answer?'

Her action should have been justified, and in the end, no one ended up getting hurt. Still, Aurora's confusion only soared through the roof!

On one hand, she could instinctively tell that the trap's activation hadn't been a coincidence; it was very likely that the Thorny Rose Trio meant her harm.

Proper proof couldn't be provided, but this incident further cemented Aurora's desire to only look out for herself… At least it should have.

Though Kara didn't rouse any repulsion from her, Aurora didn't give her a full pass. In her delicate situation, everyone was guilty until proven otherwise, and…

'Is she an actual ally?'

One instance couldn't be enough as proof. It could very well be a ploy to get close to her before stabbing her in the back. Yet, Aurora's suspicion toward Kara had almost vanished.

"Don't sweat it. My Ability is just more convenient when dealing with stuff like this."

It didn't matter what the new, harsh part of herself stated; Aurora's old trusting self now had the upper hand when it came to Kara. She deserved the favorable treatment of being treated as innocent until proven guilty.

"Besides, I'm sure you would have done the same."

Kara's cheerful words only stabbed more at Aurora. This was it, if Kara's life ended up being truly in danger, Aurora would save her at least once.

'Just stick to the plan.'

It felt complicated now, but things were actually simple. Just deal with situations as they come.

The current Kara was worth saving, but if she actually utilized that goodwill against Aurora even once, then that goodwill would stop right there. No further exploitation would be allowed.

"Ahem. Well then, should we keep going?"

On the other hand, the Thorn Queen stepped forward as if she had done nothing. She continued scouting further, but she could feel an ominous glare burning through her back.

'Hmm?'

Even without using her Ability, Yvonne was normally perceptive enough to tell who was the source of the glare, but she couldn't, and once she used her perceptive roots, the glare itself disappeared as if it wasn't there.

'I could still feel it, though?'

She would have understood if Aurora was the one doing it, considering how suspicious she had just been, but it didn't seem like that was her doing.

No matter what, since the very beginning, Aurora had been direct with her words. If she intended to scold her, she would have just said it; secretly tampering with her perception was far from her usual style.

'It's not her, right?'

As the one who had suddenly become the most mysterious part of the team, Kara was a prime suspect, but her cheerful face didn't quite match the gloominess of the glare.

'Whatever. Stare all you want.'

The mystery prank made the Thorn Queen grow irritated, but she still waved it off for the sake of her overall plan.

'Perfect.'

Once again, a triggerable spot had appeared on the eleventh corridor.

However, no matter how irritated she was, the clever Yvonne would never use the same trick twice.

Waiting it out, she only manipulated her roots to press the trigger right when Kara, the one covering the rear, passed by it.

'Take this!'

Click!

Just like before, the trigger spot lit up with a click, causing the ground under them to crumble into dust, revealing a slightly deeper floor lined with menacing spikes.

'Too perfect!'

Without hesitation, the three Thorn Sisters unleashed their thorny vines to grab onto the ceiling before it lifted them upwards. This Gate really favored them, there was no better trap to relieve them from responsibility!

Great Heroes or not, unless they were the ones to trigger the trap, the Thorn Trio couldn't possibly save others if they just barely saved themselves.

The fact that they did trigger the trap didn't matter, the sound came from behind this time, so proving it would be harder than the first time.

Better yet, they could just lay all of the blame on the newbie!

"Star Pupils, what did you-"

However, before the Thorn Princess could get to scolding Kara as Yvonna had instructed her, a pair of star-filled eyes looked into her own, almost as if they were staring into her soul. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"What did I do?"

The blood that should have spurted was nowhere to be seen. Instead, a sheet that looked like the starry night sky had replaced the crumbled floor, keeping both Kara and Aurora unharmed.

"Nothing much, I just fulfilled my duty as rear guard."

Despite the fact that Kara was already locking eyes with Viva, Yvonne felt another glare coming her way.

The words that the newbie carefreely spouted were like daggers, silently stabbed into her sides. Denouncing her as the vanguard who failed to stop the entirety of the first trap!

"Well done, Star Pupils. Viva, you should be more careful starting now."

The Thorn Princess was on the verge of protesting when Yvonne carefully swung to the next corridor, calming her little sister as if she didn't understand the meaning of Kara's words.

'This won't do.'

Despite her calm appearance, internally, the Thorn Queen was deeply frustrated.

She wasn't particularly sad about failing her first two attempts at sabotaging Aurora. However, the Ability that Kara displayed was simply too good at protecting others.

If anything, this was very different from the Thorn Queen's usual experience in life.

She was more used to a life of convenience where she had the right abilities for the right time at the right place.

Encountering someone who perfectly countered her schemes on the final step towards her Throne simply didn't make sense.

It went against every one of her expectations.

'Something has to change.'

At this rate, the mighty Thorn Trio might really leave the first Gate empty-handed…