Chapter 142
Chapter 142
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 142
Chapter Title: Indeed, the Evil God Cult is Capable
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As expected, the Evil God Cult is capable.
If only they used their abilities for something good, like contributing to the peace of this world.
I snickered while waving the invitation from Bervert like a fan, which I'd received through one of his people.
"Well then, invitation sorted."
All I could do was leave it entirely to Zero to get me safely to the center of the maze.
"Cain sunbae won't be swayed by just one or two candies."
Zero muttered, looking burdened under my insistent gaze.
The first time I played games with those guys, I'd given them each a bottle of candy instead of money.
Maybe because of that, they started gambling with candy among themselves, even trading it for favors like errands or laundry, and now it had become a sort of currency within our party.
I chuckled at that and opened my mouth.
"How much are you asking for?"
Zero crossed his arms, tilted his head, let out a hum, and seemed to ponder quite seriously.
"At least... this much......"
About a third of a bottle. Rachel, who was sitting on the table instead of a chair and munching on something, shouted.
"No way, that's not right!"
"Yeah. That's too much."
Luna, who had been continuously feeding her something from beside her, nodded and chimed in. Leaf spoke up too.
―That's an unreasonable price.
Candy for that does seem off. I nodded at Luna, Rachel, and Leaf's reactions, and Zero opened his mouth looking a bit dejected.
"Ah, then a smaller amount......"
"At least half a bottle!"
"I agree with Rachel."
―Actually, it feels like we could take almost all of it minus a little.
"See, even Leaf says at least half."
No, just what have they been doing with that candy to make it so valuable?
I shook my head.
"Zero has a lot to do today. Same for Rachel."
"Ah, don't worry, don't worry. I won't cause trouble! Ah, as long as I don't hit anyone?"
I gave Rachel a somewhat distrustful look before shaking my head.
Part of me wanted to just take Zero, but we needed someone to monitor the outside while we were in the center of the maze.
Truthfully, having reserves is advantageous no matter the situation.
'Plus, Bervert attending is a problem in itself.'
With just Cain gone, my options were limited, and our squad's combat power had plummeted, so charging in recklessly was off the table.
It was the right call, though, because the rest of our party wasn't weak—it was just that Cain alone broke through the stats.
This was my chance to reduce my Cain dependency a bit.
"Ah, this one's pretty old too."
"It's still edible though?"
I smiled watching Luna rummage through our luggage and keep stuffing old jerky into Rachel's mouth.
―A carriage seems to have arrived in front of the inn.
I nodded once at Leaf's words, grabbed the back of my neck to crack it with a pop, and smiled.
"Then let's go."
"See you later. Taking the rest of the jerky?"
"I'll be back."
I swept back the golden hair falling over my eyes and stepped outside.
Zero followed, adjusting his white leather gloves more snugly with firm strides. Rachel trailed behind, gnawing on a long strip of jerky like a reed.
Her long red ponytail trailed behind like a ribbon lost in the wind.
"I'll prepare a midnight snack for when you get back."
―Take care, Manager.
A firm thud echoed as the door closed behind us.
* * *
Making her fluffy cotton-candy-like hair even puffier.
She adorned her cloud-like locks with cute daisy flowers.
Bervert checked herself in the mirror from various angles and lifted the corners of her mouth.
"It's like the first love of every person. Isn't it?"
Pure, cute, charming. It was a shame she had to go to the garden party with Adelian today when she was this adorable.
"Time to settle things today."
Hanging around with someone of a lower class too much brings you down to their level.
Lately, after meeting Adelian a few times, Bervert felt her own reputation had gotten a bit tarnished.
She had been spreading rumors through her cult members that the pure-hearted, fragile Bervert was treating the wastrel Adelian without prejudice.
'I can't let my value drop any further.'
So today, the moment she confirmed Adelian was head over heels for her, she'd hook him and reel him in.
People get more obsessed with what they almost have but can't quite grasp.
Just like how Bervert coveted the Gadia and Kruger families.
'So if he confesses today, maybe keep some distance for a few days.'
Giggling, Bervert spritzed herself with hydrangea scent and headed to the garden party hosted by the 12th prince, Shahad.
"We're almost there. How's young master Adelian?"
[I'm arriving soon too.]
The voice transmitted directly to her brain through the soft siren.
Bervert smiled foxily.
Just once, confirmed with a doppelganger potion—that man.
The most perfect appearance among all she'd seen.
And that was just him. Alongside a dirty, lowly but cutely lovable beastkin, a tall man with a different kind of allure, an inorganic doll-like girl, and a strong woman.
With the value of Adelian's companions piercing the heavens, and artifacts like this.
She hadn't known their worth until using them, but now she was certain.
Even if Adelian himself was a worthless wastrel.
Everything else about him was irresistibly appealing.
Bervert laughed merrily in the carriage.
"Should I give him flowers right as I step out? Or inside the party?"
A confession in a crowded place might overwhelm him. If she played it coy, would he find her even cuter?
The carriage door slowly opened, and Bervert patted her fluffy hair once before softly lifting her gaze.
"You're here?"
"Yes, young master Adelian."
Adelian approached as she descended the carriage with the aid of a servant, but there was no bouquet—or even a single flower—in his hands.
Feeling oddly offended, Bervert forced a smile and greeted him. Whether he noticed or not, Adelian kept his arrogant face turned toward the mansion entrance without offering a hand.
"Let's go in."
"...Sure."
What was this?
This unease.
Adelian was definitely smitten with her. Otherwise, there'd be no reason to give her a siren artifact for daily contact or to dine in the city streets often.
She'd checked, and he wasn't meeting other noble ladies.
Early on, there was that woman with the rose perfume he'd met in the bustling district, but nothing since.
Bervert followed Adelian into the garden party venue with a gentle, innocent face plastered on.
"Look at that tree. The bark splits like silver scales—it's from the north......"
"This flower too. So precious, infused with enough mana to use as medicine or catalyst."
"The maze is made with shrubs taller than people—looks real. Shall we go in?"
It was a beautifully tended garden, clearly much effort put in. How to broach the topic here......
Bervert's gaze swept over the fountain, then the maze.
Shahad, the host, was absent—probably unwell again—but people enjoyed the party regardless.
"Bervert."
"Yes, young master Adelian."
Bervert, who had been glaring at Adelian's back like a predator eyeing prey, quickly softened her eyes and gazed at him as he turned.
"Actually, I had something to tell you today."
'It came.'
Bervert suppressed a cheer, widening her round eyes and tilting her head at Adelian's slightly embarrassed smile.
"What is it?"
"...Not great here."
Adelian glanced and nodded toward the maze.
"Wanna play hide and seek?"
'No, why bother with hide and seek? Just go into the maze and confess already.'
Irritation flickered, but she feigned ignorance and nodded.
"Sure! Sounds fun!"
"Then you hide first, Bervert. I'll find you quick. See you."
Bervert and Adelian smiled slowly at each other.
* * *
Good. Bervert ditched for now.
"Rachel, keep an eye on Bervert and any other tails."
"Don't worry, I'll pretend to eat party food while watching wide-eyed."
She'd actually be eating, but I nodded.
"Zero, lead the way."
"Yes, Adelian-nim."
The fairly large maze had magical barriers, according to Zero, forcing people to circle the outskirts instead of reaching the center.
"Put on the badge now."
After a few turns, no people in sight. I pulled black robes from my sub-space for Zero and me, then donned the perception-lowering badge.
They might have countermeasures against perception-lowering magic.
But this badge was made by high elf Gamur, so it should hold.
"Not the fork here—go into the bushes like this."
Zero parted the center with his fingertips, revealing a space filled only with leaves, opening like a door.
"If Cain sunbae were here, it'd be faster and easier......"
"This is fine. Get tense—going in."
I took an herb from sub-space that roughened the voice, chewed and swallowed it, then took a deep breath.
They might try to subdue us first then negotiate.
I checked Aegis once, then entered the maze center. There, at a tea table, sat Shahad with a hardened face.
"...You."
"Yeah, looks like you checked."
Hoarse, cracked voice. I sat before Shahad, speaking in a voice unlike my usual.
Zero behind me. Shahad's adjutant behind him.
As we glared, I leaned deep into the chair, lifted my chin, and smiled.
"...You, how did you know? Even the imperial doctors and mages who regularly checked my body didn't."
"It's not incompetence on their part. It's neither illness nor magic."
Shahad's amber-gold eyes darkened at my words.
"But how do you know."
"Are you suspecting me? Think I ruined your talent then approached to use you after time passed?"
Fun playing the black幕 villain again.
I laughed genuinely, but the cracked voice made it echo gloomily and sinisterly around.
"Or... how did you find out and approach?"
Shahad glared, pulling parchment sheets from his bosom.
Familiar texture at a glance.
I spoke calmly.
"Does it matter? I can't understand. If you want, I swear on the divine contract that I'm not the one who sealed your talent."
"Do it. That oath."
Dull, resentful eyes. Nowhere-to-go anger and hatred. And faint expectation.
I'm not one to read hearts well or know everything from eyes alone.
But for an ordinary person like me to see it so clearly, Shahad must be boiling inside.
I wrote on the divine contract: if untrue, immediate punishment, and spoke.
"I, or my group's intent, did not seal the talent of Tateリア's 12th prince Shahad. I swear."
After my words, the divine contract glowed briefly then faded.
Shahad watched, and the hatred, anger, suspicion, obsession clouding his eyes subsided.
"Hoo......"
Shahad, steadying his breath with effort, slightly lifted his head. His adjutant behind pulled a small vial from his bosom.
Shahad swallowed it dry and slowly lowered his gaze to me.
"...What do you want."
Softer voice. But those eyes still gleamed amber-gold undimmed.