Chapter 167
Chapter 167
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 167
Chapter Title: Compromise
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“...Kaliban.”
Dawood spoke in a trembling voice as he wiped his face.
In his other hand, which was shaking precariously as if he had tremors, lay the collar the Saintess had just left with him.
In his mind, the sentence he had just heard replayed.
-J-Just sometimes, even for my sake, put this on and t-take me for a walk!
-...
-G-To make that a regular thing, your health is absolutely crucial. Make sure you don’t get hurt, no matter what! Then I’ll be going...!
She had stammered it out in extreme embarrassment, but even so.
Having reached that point in his recollection, Dawood continued in a voice thick with self-loathing.
“...What in the world did I do before losing my memories?”
[...]
Well.
Telling him now might make him actually kill himself, so it was better to exercise the right to remain silent.
[...Various things happened.]
“If I summarize what I just heard.”
Dawood said, cupping his face with both hands.
“A genius hero candidate, engaged and highly promising on a continental scale, who made the Saintess—the idol of all religious figures in the Holy Kingdom—the one wearing a collar and dragged her around?”
[...]
“...And she came to me herself, calling herself a pet or whatever, that often?”
[...]
Hearing it summarized like that, it did sound utterly insane.
Even if one side was lying, the fact that he had charmed her to the point of telling such lies was undeniably his doing.
It really drove home just how massive the incidents this guy attracted were.
“...Isn’t this adultery?”
[As I said last time, you should take what the women around you say with a grain of salt.]
To Dawood’s groan-like question, Kaliban responded with a sigh of his own.
Of course, in the Saintess’s case, it was nothing but pure truth without any embellishment or fabrication, but still, she definitely hadn’t been the type to come begging for “walks” first like that.
It was far more reasonable to see it as her seizing the chance while this guy was out of his mind to try and scheme something.
‘...Hold on.’
Kaliban suddenly had a chilling thought, sending a shiver down his spine.
It had only been two days since this guy lost his memories, and already two women had rushed in, trying to butter him up.
And those were the ones with relatively less attachment to him.
Considering the number and caliber of women around this guy, this was probably just the beginning...!
‘...It started with the fiancée, then the pet—what’s next?’
As Kaliban shuddered at the thought, Dawood abruptly shot up from his seat. He looked like he had made a rock-solid resolution.
“Mr. Kaliban.”
[Yeah?]
“I think I need to confirm it myself.”
[Confirm what?]
“Whether there are more people I’ve been scandalous with while having a fiancée.”
[...]
“No way I’m that insane—after doing something like that to the Saintess, I can’t imagine there are more, but...”
[...You know, maybe rethink that one more time?]
It was definitely not something to recommend.
What this man had encountered so far was just the tip of the iceberg.
The two mildest ones near him, at that.
Meeting any more might actually break him.
With that in mind, Kaliban opened his mouth to dissuade him.
But it soon closed again.
For the biggest reason.
‘...It’s his own karma anyway, whatever.’
Even if he didn’t go looking, they’d probably come to him on their own.
He’d find out sooner or later anyway—what was the point in stopping it?
[No, fine. Go ahead. Who are you seeing first?]
“...Who should it be? That’s an odd question.”
[Huh?]
“I was planning to call them all together and ask if there are any more women I’ve touched—”
[...Hey. Sit down for a sec.]
Even if it was inevitable eventually.
He couldn’t just let the guy march off to his own suicide.
●
There are always people in the world whose wavelengths just don’t match.
And the people gathered here would probably sincerely agree that the saying rang true.
“...”
“...”
Elnor and Prime Minister Sullivan stared at each other.
If their gazes had physical force, sparks would fly—no, the sheer hostility in those eyes was terrifying enough.
“...You actually had the nerve to accept the invitation, Duchess Tristan.”
Prime Minister Sullivan spoke first, her voice icy cold.
“I was prepared to send people to drag you here by force if you dared refuse.”
“The Tristan Ducal House knows courtesy, propriety, and procedure, Prime Minister.”
Elnor shot back with a voice laced with mockery.
“It may be a foreign concept to those accustomed to killing indiscriminately to build their power.”
“...”
She hadn’t named anyone specifically, but everyone knew exactly who she meant.
As a result, the nearby attendants and escorts all wore expressions of utter agony.
Watching two of the Empire’s most noble women snarling at each other like they wanted to devour one another was a blood-curdling experience just to witness.
They’d heard the Tristan Ducal House and the Prime Minister didn’t get along, but seeing them trade death threats in private like this really hammered it home.
“...We’re not here to chat, so let’s get to the point.”
And putting it another way, that meant.
“It’s about Viscount Campbell, Duchess. You must have suspected, or you wouldn’t have strode into my office so boldly.”
It was astonishing in many ways.
The existence of a man who could make even these two cooperate, if only briefly.
“...We’ve both reached the same conclusion. You’re not the type to miss it, Duchess.”
To Sullivan’s calm words, Elnor nodded expressionlessly.
“...After scouring every document, I heard that victims of the White Devil get trapped in the illusory world it creates. No external interference works.”
That explained why even Elpante’s top talents couldn’t touch him—he was dying in that state.
“...”
“...”
Elnor and Sullivan faced each other in silence.
They were probably both thinking the same thing right now.
When a devil-class being truly unleashes its power, only seraphim-level celestial beings—or another devil of the same rank—can counter it.
“...As sad as it is.”
Sullivan continued in a sharp voice.
“There’s nothing ‘I alone’ can do to save that man right now. I...”
Her voice cut off mid-sentence.
Then her eyes slowly closed.
She looked crushed by memories. Like she was reminiscing about a “someone” from long ago.
It was a wistful atmosphere.
“...have my circumstances.”
“...”
“There are heavy restrictions on using the power of the ‘being’ inside me. Especially against that man.”
Elnor’s brow furrowed slightly.
More incomprehensible talk.
She didn’t care if Sullivan muttered to herself.
But dragging Dawood into things she didn’t understand was deeply unpleasant.
That must have been why her following words came out curtly.
“...If what’s in me is a ‘devil fragment,’ and you want cooperation using that power—”
“No.”
Sullivan cut her off with a razor-sharp smile.
“What’s in you isn’t just any ‘devil,’ Duchess.”
“...What do you mean?”
“People lump them together and call it the Gray Devil, but it’s on a whole different level. That’s why I’m asking you.”
“...”
“No one else can do it. Only you.”
“...I don’t care about that.”
Elnor, who had been listening silently, cut her off.
“Just tell me the conclusion.”
Her red eyes met Sullivan’s golden ones with a piercing gaze.
“If I cooperate with you, can we save Dawood?”
“We can save him, Duchess. Though you might die.”
“What’s the method?”
Sullivan let out a scoff at the immediate response.
“...Wouldn’t it be wise to hesitate a little?”
“It’s about Dawood. Staking my life isn’t a big deal.”
Just as she said—no grand resolve in her tone.
As if it were the most natural thing.
As if, when it came to that man, she could offer her life without a second thought.
“...”
Sullivan lowered her head slightly and closed her eyes.
‘...It was always like that before. Always.’
That resolve never wavered in any scenario she had “seen.”
No matter how it led to catastrophe, no matter what ruinous outcomes her choices brought.
Elnor and the Gray Devil’s patterns were always the same.
Prioritize Dawood Campbell.
No matter the cost.
“...It’s just greed on my part.”
But from the position of foreseeing those “outcomes,” that was all she could say.
“...Pardon?”
“Nothing.”
To Elnor’s puzzled response, Sullivan replied nonchalantly and looked at her again.
“Before I explain the method in detail, I have a question.”
Elnor’s expression turned serious at Sullivan’s stern tone.
She had no idea what question was coming, but setting the mood like this meant it wouldn’t be nonsense—
“What’s the most extreme thing you’ve done with Viscount Campbell?”
“...Pardon?”
“I mean sexually extreme. I figured someone as shy as you wouldn’t have, but if you’d even slept with him—”
Elnor’s face went blank at the utterly unexpected question—uncharacteristic for her.
“Wh-what are you even talking about right now?!”
“So you haven’t. Good, that’s fortunate.”
Sullivan continued earnestly.
“If you’d done it before me, I’d really want to kill you.”
“...”
“I want the first time to be mine.”
Ah, got it.
She hadn’t slept with Dawood or the Prime Minister or anyone.
Knowledge gained.
“Well, that was just personal chatter...”
Sullivan, who had said it so casually, didn’t bat an eye as she pressed on with the dazed Elnor.
“It’s truly a stroke of luck you haven’t done that, Duchess.”
“...”
“If you were as promiscuous with your body as you are and had already touched that man, this method would be impossible—”
“...Prime Minister Sullivan.”
Elnor rubbed her throbbing temple and spoke.
Usually, she was the one giving, not receiving, but this time was an exception.
“Please explain in a way I can understand.”
It was utterly sincere.
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