Chapter 149

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 149

Chapter Title: Deception in the Nymph's Domain

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I narrowed my eyes as I accepted the ore from the old nymph.

The color's a bit cloudy, but this is a gem. Chalcedony.

Whose demon was it that haunted this tunnel? I tried to recall a demon associated with water, but nothing specific came to mind.

Should I summon it now?

I pondered for a moment before shaking my head inwardly.

I hadn't eaten properly the entire way to the mine, I'd suffered severe motion sickness, and I hadn't even had a chance to recover thanks to the nymphs.

If I summoned a demon in this condition and collapsed, that would be a disaster.

The nymphs promised not to kill adventurers, but they said nothing about not killing an adventurer's companions.

Seto, the nymph half-blood, might be safe, but if I went down, Henri, Ishak, and our soldiers would be in grave danger.

Still, the nymphs seemed to expect me to summon their master right here and now.

I hesitated, then slipped the chalcedony into my pocket.

"Ad, adventurer. Let us see our master."

"Adventurer, our master."

"Our master!"

The nymphs crowded around me. Their desperate faces pricked at the tiny speck of conscience I had left.

They want it so badly... Should I trust them and summon... Are you insane, Leblain?

I slapped both cheeks with a sharp clap.

"What are you doing, you little brat! Why hit yourself? Hit your brother instead!"

"Leblain!"

I'd nearly forgotten how I'd been brutally betrayed in my first life when I believed in justice, and how I'd died for clinging to my conscience in my second.

I couldn't drag Henri, Ishak, and the soldiers into peril over something as worthless as conscience.

Conscience is useless. The world runs on greed alone!

I recalled the Duvered family motto and shook my head vigorously.

As I racked my brain for how to placate the nymphs, I remembered a story Mina had once told me from her world.

[Our world has a similar fairy tale. Long ago, a turtle was commanded by the dragon king to fetch a rabbit's liver to cure his illness, so it came up onto land. The rabbit gets tricked into going to the dragon palace. Just when they're about to cut open its belly for the liver, the rabbit...!]

What did the rabbit do again...?

I thought hard and remembered the rabbit's clever ploy. I sneaked a glance at the nymphs.

"Ad, adventurer."

I feigned surprise with an "Oh no!" and clapped my hands.

"Wh-what's wrong, adventurer?"

"I came without realizing... I left my divine power behind. No, wait—my holy power. What do I do? You need holy power to summon a god."

"L-lies. The second adventurer is lying. You can't leave holy power behind."

"How would you know that, Mr. Nymph?"

"Humans don't wander around without holy power!"

The old nymph pounded his chest in outrage. The other nymphs followed suit, glaring at me fiercely and demanding I stop lying.

"I'm an adventurer, not just any human."

"Well..."

"Think about it. Adventurers are special humans who can summon their masters. Is it so strange for special humans to have special powers?"

"......"

The nymphs exchanged glances. They weren't familiar with humans and were utterly pure-hearted.

No wonder even the first hero, Tesla, was able to fool them.

Plus, it seemed they'd been in a deep slumber since Tesla's time. Otherwise, Baron Eton's family couldn't have mined here undisturbed for so long.

They must have awakened because I made contact with Seto, a nymph kin, or touched ore that could be refined at the water source.

For beings who hadn't interacted with the human world in ages, even if my nonsense vaguely seemed implausible, they couldn't be sure.

The old nymph, eyeing me suspiciously, finally spoke.

"Th-the second adventurer is a good person. Won't deceive our kind. We trust the second adventurer."

I sneered wickedly inside.

They have no choice but to trust me.

To fulfill their desperate wish, they needed me to summon the demon, so if I claimed I couldn't, they'd have to believe me.

Unlike the others, this old nymph seemed wise.

"That's right. I'm a good person!"

"Th-then go fetch it. Your holy power."

"Got it. But to retrieve it, I need to use a long-distance teleportation circle. I couldn't use magic tools here, though. Why is that?"

"Th-this is nymph territory. No using suspicious powers without nymph permission."

I inwardly cheered.

Jackpot, as expected!

A space where magic tools couldn't be used? Endless potential applications.

I could even use this in battles with enemy forces. Oh, you lovely little fairies!

My eyes sparkled as I said,

"Then grant us permission. We'll go back, get the holy power, and return."

"R-returning is just the adventurer alone. The other humans stay here."

My face hardened instantly.

So they meant to take hostages. To ensure I had no choice but to come back.

You despicable monsters...

"No way. How could I leave my brothers and soldiers here, not knowing what you'd do to them?"

"W-we trust the adventurer. Adventurer should trust us too."

"I don't believe in honor or gods. If there's even a sliver of chance you'd harm Henri, Ishak, or my soldiers, I won't go alone—"

At that moment, Henri blocked me with one arm.

"Go back alone."

"But...!"

He lowered his voice and whispered in my ear.

"You found the water source, right?"

"Yeah."

"Then we don't need to keep quiet about Marsch anymore. Even if Marsch makes a move now, you're the only one who can communicate with the nymphs."

"Then..."

"Go get the soldiers."

As I stared at him wide-eyed, Henri nodded.

"Are we going to kill them?"

"Hardly. Just creating the perfect venue for negotiations where the nymphs will have no choice but to play along."

He meant threatening the nymphs with spears and swords.

I narrowed my eyes, beads abacus clicking furiously in my mind.

Gears turned with a clank clank clang!, visions of countless zeros dancing before me.

I turned to the nymphs with an innocent smile.

"Okay~!"

The old nymph grinned back. He and the other nymphs traced holy signs in the air.

Rumble.

My heart thudded oddly, and I realized I could use magic tools now.

I tore open the teleportation scroll, and a silvery light enveloped me. When I opened my eyes again, I was in my room at the capital estate.

Quick, hurry...!

I flung open the door and rushed out.

I had to inform Father immediately and assemble the territory forces at the Eton mine.

As I bounded down the stairs, the head butler spotted me and his eyes bulged.

"Little One!"

"Where's Father?!"

"He stepped out of the estate."

Damn...

The thought that the nymphs might change their minds and harm my people at the mine made me frantic.

"Then where's Brother Yohan?"

When Father was away, full military authority fell to the heir, Yohan.

As I pressed urgently, the butler's expression darkened.

A bad premonition surged up.

"Why did Father leave the estate?"

"By imperial decree, to subjugate barbarians."

"With Father away from the capital, why isn't Brother Yohan here?"

"......"

"Answer me!"

I shouted, and a voice rose from the foot of the stairs. "Little One?" It was Lea.

"You're back already? The others..."

"What happened to Father and Brother Yohan?"

The butler sternly called, "Lea Shabanol." But Lea bit her lip and approached me.

"Calm down and listen. Young Master Yohan has been named the culprit in the great noble assault case. This morning, the imperial guards dragged him away."

"That's impossible!"

The great noble assault case was my fabrication to strangle Marquis Nodelli.

Did they uncover that it was my doing?

As I agonized, three maids hurried over at the sound of my voice.

"Little One...!"

If they weren't taken too, that means my involvement hasn't been exposed.

Then why...?

Lora approached with quick steps. She grabbed my arm and whispered at the bottom of the stairs.

"The Marsch ducal house pulled some strings. With Young Master away, they're throwing Yohan Young Master in prison too, then deciding the administrator for Ballua territory where Duvered influence can't reach."

Lora flinched as I ground my teeth.

"Um..."

"Fetch the chamberlain."

Lora hesitated briefly before bowing. "Yes."

I glared down at the hall and shouted,

"Assemble the capital forces!"

The butler cried out in panic.

"Little One, that's...!"

"With Father and my brothers away from the capital, I'm the acting head of Duvered."

The butler swallowed dryly and stepped back. The capital legion commander and battalion leaders gathered in the courtyard.

"The full capital army enters military drills. Do not fear casualties in training. Even if they come from—!"

I declared, clutching my skirt tightly.

"Duke Marsch himself."

The knights dropped to their knees at the order tantamount to an assassination warrant.

"We obey."

After issuing orders to the capital forces, the chamberlain rushed to me.

"Military drills without the Emperor's permission will only stir up trouble. Little One, please calm—"

"Then we'll get permission now."

"...Pardon?"

I turned to the chamberlain with eyes darkened like ink.

The nobles gathered in the central tower burst into derisive laughter.

"Military drills in the capital? Is the fool insane? Who in their right mind would pull such nonsense with the duke and heir absent?"

"Word is the Duvered lady who went out returned."

"That deranged wench."

"The little urchin's got some nerve, swollen from playing on the duke's lap like a commoner. Now she's stirring up real trouble."

Marquis Shuheil smirked, lip curling.

"But isn't this working in our favor?"

He lightly swirled his glass and raised a brow at Duke Marsch in the head seat.

"When Duke Duvered returns, there'll be a fuss about us jailing his son. If we use this chance to create an unassailable case, we can even clean up the Yohan Duvered imprisonment."

Duke Marsch idly toyed with the wine bottle stopper before meeting Marquis Shuheil's gaze.

"A nasty business. How far do you plan to push that child?"

"Wherever Your Grace desires, as always."

Duke Marsch chuckled deeply and rose.

"Let's go. Time to pay His Majesty a visit after so long."

His vassal nobles followed Duke Marsch out the door.

The great nobles swarmed toward the audience hall. Duke Marsch addressed the attendant guarding the entrance.

"Is His Majesty in?"

"He's receiving a guest."

"Ah... We have urgent matters too, so we must beg indulgence. Please inform him."

The attendant returned swiftly from the hall.

"Entry is permitted."

Word of Duvered's military drills must have reached the Emperor's ears. Otherwise, he wouldn't have allowed unannounced great nobles entry without displeasure.

As the massive doors opened and the great nobles entered...

Crash—!!

A teacup flew with a sharp shatter.

Toward Marquis Shuheil.

"Your, Your Majesty."

Duke Marsch's face stiffened.

"Your Majesty, why such displeasure?"

"Seize the criminal who dared deceive the Emperor and target great nobles' lives!"

What?

Duke Marsch furrowed his brow.

Then Leblain stepped out from behind the Emperor.

"Punish me too! I'm the sinner who didn't know my own maid was being threatened by Marquis Shuheil!"

Prostrated before the Emperor was Linda, Leblain's maid.

Leblain trembled her shoulders pitifully and said,

"Duke Marsch!"

"What in the world is...?"

"I tortured my maid. I just learned she committed fraud in Marquis Shuheil's territory. She's been blackmailed into assaulting great nobles all this time!"

Duke Marsch ground his teeth.

That vile little brat—!

Behind the Emperor, Leblain smirked.

Did you think I'd just sit back and take it?

Fool... She's got nothing to do with the great noble incident anyway. When it's investigated, she'll pay an even heavier price.

Leblain whimpered, "Your Majesty..." Her pitifully bowed head hid a villainous sneer no one noticed.

For now, I'll let you have Linda.

But I'd take her back soon enough.

"And I have more to report."

"Oh? Speak freely."

"I've found the water source."

Along with the millennium's glory!