Chapter 171
Chapter 171
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 171
Chapter Title: Play
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“-So, you’re saying you’re tangled up with the White Devil and trapped inside right now.”
[How are the other vessels doing around there?]
“What’s there to say? They’re all charging in with fire in their eyes, trying to suck that amnesiac bastard dry.”
Toker, Sun Haryun, spat those words at the Progenitor through the holographic screen.
His next sentence carried an almost mocking chuckle.
“It’s hilariously intense. Wonder what it feels like to have women like that fighting to have you all to themselves?”
[...What are you getting at, Toker?]
The response came back with a slight edge, and Toker snickered inwardly before opening his mouth.
“Ah, sure, I get that the boss is bummed about not being in on this. But considering that guy’s a fake personality with an artificial soul plugged in, those feelings might sting a bit less—”
[Cut the bullshit. Is that why you called?]
“Joking, joking. Don’t get mad.”
In truth, it was a brazen attitude despite failing the mission the Progenitor had assigned him, but neither the Progenitor nor Toker seemed particularly bothered by it.
After all, he was the greatest tongue sorcerer in history, a legend on both Eastern and Western continents. A little back-and-forth like this was nothing to either of them.
That said.
“...Boss, that guy’s a more dangerous wildcard than we thought.”
For such a man to say this seriously meant the situation was graver than expected.
His face bore its usual carefree grin, but his eyes gleamed with genuine intensity.
“I know he’s the ‘key’ to all the devils. But they’re swarming around him way faster than we predicted.”
[...]
“Even if the White Devil locking him away was supposed to happen around now in ‘other timelines,’ the other vessels weren’t this close to him back then.”
[...]
Toker continued toward the silent Progenitor.
“If this keeps up.”
As he said this.
“We won’t even get a chance to act before the ‘end’ hits?”
Even his perpetual smile had vanished.
“We’re short on time, boss. We need to do something before more devils break loose.”
[...I know.]
The Progenitor replied in a low, subdued voice.
[I know this is our last shot too. So...]
Though subdued, the voice carried an unmistakable resolve.
[...we’ll have to start thinking about how to use the key.]
The key had two roles.
Unlocking locks. Locking them.
Up to now, Dawood Campbell, the ‘key,’ had excelled at the former without a doubt.
No one with a soul like his had survived being loved so intensely by devils so rapidly—at least not in Toker’s knowledge.
However.
What the Progenitor and Toker aimed for was the latter: locking the locks.
“...”
He gave a wry smile.
What a joke.
How many on the continent knew that the woman bearing the title of devil worshippers’ leader was, ironically, the most zealous about sealing all devils away?
“Alright. We’ll use the key, but first, how do we get him out from under that white bastard? If a devil’s dead set on binding a soul, there’s no escaping—”
[Doesn’t matter.]
“...What?”
[All the vessels this time are female. That’s why that man’s holding out so well, in my view.]
“...”
[The White Devil’s female too. We’ll make it work somehow.]
What unshakeable faith.
It was as if she were absolutely convinced no woman stood a chance against that man.
But.
That conviction.
It felt a little too.
“...Somehow, boss, that sounds like it’s coming straight from personal experience—”
[More importantly, what’s the Red Devil’s status?]
The Progenitor ruthlessly cut him off and continued as if nothing had happened.
Anyone could see she wanted to drop the topic, so Toker gave a wry smile and picked up.
“The Red Devil... that guy, right? Fay... whatever. Faynol? Why him?”
Among all the devils right now, he was the most docile. While the others snarled at each other over stripping Dawood bare, that one was so quiet it made you wonder what he was even doing.
To the point where you’d think he wasn’t worth worrying about.
[I wouldn’t see it that way.]
“...What?”
[Keep a close eye on him, Toker. After the White Devil, he’s the most likely to cause trouble.]
Without a doubt.
[Cats that seem the most meek are always the first to stir up chaos.]
The words carried a meaningful weight.
●
“Sister and His Holiness will be here in just a few days.”
The little one, Yuria, who walked ahead, spoke in a voice she’d clearly rehearsed to sound formal.
She thought it looked strict, no doubt.
“Within that time, I’ll drill perfect etiquette into you so you won’t embarrass me as my exclusive attendant. Understood?”
The problem was it came off less strict and more like a strict appeal.
As I’d noticed earlier, this tone felt awkward coming from her.
It wasn’t just me—anyone could tell it wasn’t natural for her.
You could plainly see the timid girl forcing herself to stick to it.
“...W-Why are you looking at me like that? So weirdly?”
“...”
At her words, I caught myself and straightened my slack-jawed, fatherly smile.
[Event Info]
▶Sweet Play◀
[ Persuade the target ‘Yuria/White Devil.’ ]
[ You have 3 days. Fail to break character or escape the mental world within that time, and you’ll be trapped here forever! ]
[ Your assigned ‘role’ is ‘Lady Yuria’s exclusive attendant.’ Do not break character! ]
Anyway, with constraints like these, I couldn’t act recklessly.
“A-Are you mocking me? One word from me, and a guy like you...!”
Whoa there.
I crouched to meet the teary-eyed, fuming Yuria at eye level.
She had a child’s body, while I was stuck with my full-grown adult male form from outside, so this was necessary.
“As if, milady.”
I said it in a serious tone, and she snapped her mouth shut mid-shout.
Her eyes still brimmed with tears as she flailed her fists, so her mood wasn’t fully soothed. I took her hand and lightly kissed it.
This was proper etiquette, surely.
“Of course, milady. I’ll do everything in my power, materially and spiritually, to fulfill my duties.”
“...!”
Her face lit up instantly at my words, but she quickly caught herself and schooled her expression.
“A-Anyone can say that! Prove it with results!”
She huffed through her nose and toddled ahead, desperately managing her slipping smile.
“...”
Of course.
A nagging doubt still clung to those sensations.
For a girl like this.
What on earth had she gone through.
To turn such a transparently innocent child into a gloomy loner, wracked with loneliness?
“...”
I silently scanned the surroundings.
The oddities had been piling up.
Escorting young Yuria out had made it clear: this was one of the gloomiest buildings even within the Holy Kingdom.
It looked like a flawless noble mansion on the surface. Servants were about, and they all greeted Yuria kindly when they saw her.
But.
No normal home would have those.
I gazed at the warmly sunlit garden and the birds atop the trees, turning their heads to track our movements.
To an outsider, nothing amiss.
But those birds’ eyes held magic stones embedded with ‘arrays.’
Not mere wild birds—artificial lifeforms, homunculi, made with intent.
And it didn’t end there. The mansion was riddled with surveillance to monitor every move of whatever target.
Even the path out of the mansion wasn’t visible. As if deliberately omitted from the design.
It all confirmed one thing.
This wasn’t a home.
It was a birdcage.
Built to thoroughly confine and rear someone.
Lost in those thoughts as I trailed Yuria slowly, she halted mid-explanation of the mansion’s layout.
“Ah, this is...”
A black door.
Even in the opulent mansion, its material stood out.
“...His Holiness’s office.”
Yuria said it in a slightly frightened voice.
“I-I don’t know much about it either...”
“What?”
“S-Sister and His Holiness said never to come near here...”
She’d clearly been drilled on it multiple times: absolutely no entering.
Tears dangled from her eyes, pitifully.
“If it’s off-limits, you can tell me later, milady.”
“...No.”
Yuria clenched her fists at my words.
“T-Training the servants is my job. I have to do it properly!”
“...”
Her sense of responsibility was annoyingly strong.
If it didn’t work, I could just handle it myself.
“W-Wait here. I’ll ask the others if it’s okay to go in once!”
“Ah, wait...”
Before I could stop her, Yuria dashed down the hallway.
That girl. Full of initiative.
I sighed at the thought.
“Ah, excuse me.”
Someone nearby called out to me.
Turning, I saw a servant in similar attire.
“Nice to meet you. You’re the new exclusive attendant, right?”
“...Yes. Did I do something wrong?”
It was the only reason I could think of for the sudden approach.
But he shook his head with a friendly smile.
“No, nothing like that. Just some advice, since you seem unaware.”
“Ah, I’d be grateful for any guidance.”
What a nice guy.
As I watched him.
“You shouldn’t get too close to the lady.”
Those words tumbled out of nowhere.
“...”
I stared at the servant.
Earlier, he’d beamed and bowed to Yuria when they passed.
Nothing off about him outwardly.
So why this, all of a sudden?
“...”
My gut twisted slightly.
I barely kept my scowl in check and pressed on.
First, I needed info on the situation.
“...Not get close? What do you mean?”
“You’re new here, so you wouldn’t know, but...”
The man leaned in, whispering.
“That girl’s a monster born without parents. A cursed lifeform.”
“...”
“Stay by her side, and you won’t see good days.”
His face.
Was filled with undisguised contempt and disgust.
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