Chapter 125
Chapter 125
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 125
Chapter Title: Shaking the Empire
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I had to shake the Empire.
If things followed the original story's flow, the Empire was too powerful, which actually led to its downfall.
The imperial family's power was so overwhelming that no one dared to question or check them, allowing them to gradually fall to the Evil God Cult or be replaced by fakes who seized key positions.
How many golden opportunities had been wasted as a result?
In the original story or game, whenever someone suddenly wailed, "No way, why would he do that?" it always turned out later that they'd been swayed by the Evil God Cult, or held out until imprisoned, with a fake stepping in.
"Ah, I can't stand that crap."
And then there was that ridiculously absolute imperial authority.
I needed to smash that.
Personally, I felt a bit detached since I wasn't originally from here, so even calling them imperial family just elicited a vague "Oh, imperial family?" But bloodlines and races were hugely important factors on this continent.
Especially for imperial royals—killing someone in a high position would likely grant them immunity no matter what.
For example, even if Aria suddenly fell to corruption and killed Alkaido, I couldn't even drag her to court.
So this time, I'd shake things from the roots.
Before the Evil God Cult could make full use of their doppelganger potions.
"Right now, it's not obvious, but the scales for the throne are tilting toward the First Imperial Princess."
It had been a while since I'd seen her red hair and rose scent—the so-called Ruby form. I spoke to Paiyan, who sat before me, and she looked up at me with her cat-like upward-slanting eyes.
"For real? Where'd you get that intel, Boss?"
Did I really need to? As she shot back, I plucked a single grape from the blueberry grape tart and popped it into my mouth.
"I do need you. Why else would I be backing you if I didn't?"
"Fair point."
Paiyan swirled and sipped her fruit juice made from blended fruits before speaking.
"As far as the imperial citizens know, there are so many in the line of succession that no single one has a massive share of support."
She added that some high-ranking successors were studying abroad or away on training journeys.
"But if you suddenly say the First Princess Seria is the frontrunner, what am I supposed to say to that?"
"The profits we can gain from that information?"
At my grinning remark, Paiyan let out an "Ah" of realization.
"Stings my pride a bit. I'm still thinking small like before. I need to aim bigger following you, right?"
No, you don't have to follow me exactly. I had no idea why she said it with those eyes burning so fiercely.
"By the way, why'd you want to meet in this form? You prefer me like this?"
She giggled, blew a hand kiss with her red lips, and winked with one eye. I gritted my teeth behind my smiling face.
"Think so?"
As if.
"Ah, no need to grit your teeth like that."
Paiyan straightened up as if her mood had soured, and I sliced off some of the cream-left tart with my fork and ate it.
Almond flakes? Delicious.
"If you were a notorious playboy noble who came to the capital and only gambled without doing anything else, wouldn't you find that suspicious?"
"So if I show up in an eye-catching form and pretend we're on a date, we can talk business, spread rumors, and all that?"
Exactly. That's why we'd come out to the bustling streets and sat at an outdoor table at this popular tart shop.
I mimicked a gentle gaze as best I could and began discussing business.
"What concept are you going for as Gadia's attendant?"
In Labyrinth City Rabirin, she was the vibrant, strong Ruby with intense red hues and rose scent who helped newbie adventurers well.
In the Empire's capital, she was the quiet, prim Lily in soft whites and lily scent that stirred protective instincts.
So what for Gadia's attendant?
At my question, Paiyan smiled slyly—perhaps thanks to her upturned eye makeup—and replied.
"Name's Violet. Went with light purple this time. Scent's lavender. What do you think?"
"Personality?"
"It's an academy, so lots of students, right? The attendants who come with them will all be around the same age."
Probably. Academies lasted years, so it was customary to bring peers, or lifelong retainers you'd already picked out.
"So how spoiled they'd want to get. I'm thickening the eyebrows a bit and planning to change my eye color with magic reagents this time. Think I'll go for everyone's big sister."
Someone reassuring to vent all your frustrations and anger to.
Someone who'd take your side.
That's the target this time.
At that thought, a hairstyle popped into my mind, so I raised both hands and mimed braiding loosely.
"How about loosely braiding the hair to one side and letting it hang down? With soft dangling ribbons."
Short-lived style, in a word.
People who tried it said it was comfy to lean on something while doing it.
Plus, it fit Paiyan's concept.
She seemed to visualize it, eyes flicking upward, then grinned.
"That's a good one."
"Your home base is already planting traces of you, so you should get a fake identity and backstory within the week."
Low odds, but the cult or imperial family might investigate Paiyan.
It took time to craft a past solid enough that even if they dug, they'd find nothing suspicious.
She nodded, then suddenly leaned toward me and whispered in my ear.
"But if someone overhears us, isn't it pointless, Boss? I can't make a mana barrier yet."
Right on the cusp of becoming an aura user, her orange eyes looked pretty confident as she glanced at me.
I chuckled.
"I've got an artifact that puts up a temporary mana barrier around us."
All thanks to Valbus. Guy had artifacts for everything.
It devoured magic stones like candy, but I had stockpiles of them, so no issue.
In won terms, a few ten thousand per minute normally, and if someone tried mana eavesdropping, tens of thousands more draining away nonstop. Whatever.
Consumables were meant to be used.
Of course, in the game, I'd hoarded even low-grade potions and early herbs for boss rooms...
"Yeah? So no one can hear? Then I've got a question. About the First Princess and all—rumor has it most successors have pretty lame traits."
The moment she heard about the mana barrier, Paiyan started talking without glancing around.
"I know that rumor."
It was in the data from Alkaido.
Normally, you learn your trait at the temple during your coming-of-age, but royals were different.
They checked at 13 during debutante season, for both boys and girls.
So announcing standout talents that would shine for the Empire had long been tradition, and even non-eldest with great traits drew factions.
'The current Emperor took that route.'
Born to the third empress with the smallest faction, but his rare innate trait shot him to the throne easily.
The issue was this generation's royals never publicly announced traits.
Officially, to raise societal awareness and reduce trait-based discrimination.
"No way. They're all hush-hush about it. At least the single-digit successors have nothing special."
Even if a standout appeared later, prior words made announcements impossible—I just laughed at that.
Not wrong.
"But you said the First Princess is the frontrunner. Why?"
I forcibly thought her head-tilt with maximally widened cat eyes was cute, patted her head, and said.
"Wanna know?"
"Yeah."
I swirled my juice—the fruits had sunk after sitting awhile—and spoke.
* * *
"Down it in one and split."
"Not staying till night?"
"If we were, we'd have met at a bar."
I demonstratively did a love shot with Paiyan on the remaining fruit juice.
Our eyes had cooled completely, but to onlookers, it looked like a flashy beauty enjoying fun times.
No doubt my report would note my sky-high standards.
Everyone around me looked the same, after all.
"Watch for tails."
"Slip into a high-end salon and mist out. They'll think I'm staff. Plenty of flashy types like me there."
She waved and walked off.
I waved back a few times, then pretended to pocket my hands while gripping Siren.
"Heading back to the inn now. Status?"
[At least five pairs of eyes were on you.]
Even in a busy district, did I really go out alone? I nodded faintly at Cain's reply.
"On Paiyan?"
[Two. Zero's handling them now.]
Hate racking up kill counts like this... Capital had no monsters, so unavoidable.
[Handled, Lady Adelian. Just knocked 'em out so they couldn't follow.]
"Good work."
As if reading my mind, Zero chimed in. I smiled warmly, then heard a faint tongue-click from Siren.
Humans tailing Paiyan? Yeah, obviously. Empire capital.
That bastard Cain...
He'd improved a lot, but his human distrust and hatred weren't fully cured.
Aigo, you rascal. I rubbed my forehead and bought a heap of the tarts I'd been eating before heading to the inn.
[The three on you scattered after confirming you returned. Finish them off?]
"Let 'em go."
I'd sat outside to spread rumors.
Key was making them think how to use me, what I seemed weak to.
"Next time, lemme tag along!"
I knocked on the inn door in that rhythm, and Rachel flung it open, yelling.
"You?"
Pushing past like her into the room, she grabbed her long ponytail and smacked me playfully with it, grumbling.
"Rachel. No hitting young master."
"This doesn't hurt! And why do you leave me out of the fun? Know how bored my fists are? Why bring me if you're gonna do this? I was pumped at the border!"
Aigo, this violence addict.
She'd held back a lot already. Push more, and even with the pact, she'd go rogue as a vigilante hunting criminals.
"Fine, I'll think about it."
"For real?"
I nodded, and she danced inside gleefully.
My rep was trashed anyway. More damage? Whatever.
I thought of the illegal-but-basically-legal gladiator pits and handed the shop tarts to Luna.
"Eat for dessert after dinner."
—And Administrator, several invitations arrived.
"Invitations?"
These were directly for me, not rerouted from Gadia.
I soaked in hot bathwater in the bathroom and tore them open one by one.
"Hmm."
My current rumors weren't good, so invitations to me meant one thing.
'Siren.'
Whoever sent them—or their boss—had enough pull for the mass-produced Sirens I'd scattered.
They looked like standard social gathering invites.
But all three were indoors, not outdoors.
Planning secret talks?
Or luring me into complacency for a kidnapping.
'Either way, I won't go alone.'
The gatherings: gambling and casual drinks like the casino chat before. And...
'Rachel'd love this.'
A gladiator event sending out personal slaves.
Guards or knights fine too, but no aura or mana.
Dogfight party.
Publicly stating that on invites...
'Bellicose personality?'
Or proof they saw me as total trash noble.
"Intriguing."
Who sent them?
Same person for all three?
Or different ones.