Chapter 174
Chapter 174
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 174
Chapter Title: The Play (4)
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The tour of Yuria's mansion didn't end until evening, when the sun had nearly set.
To be precise, it was when the artificial lighting began to dim.
“...”
If you looked up at the sky, there was something floating there that resembled the sun, but upon closer inspection, it was merely an artificial construct moving according to magical formulas.
The facilities themselves were hidden deep underground, after all.
They'd really gone all out with the paranoia in designing this place.
“I trust that covers everything about the mansion for you, sir butler.”
The young Yuria cleared her throat with an ahem and declared this proudly.
She seemed immensely proud of having shown me around the entire place, so I couldn't help but flash a fatherly smile and clap for her.
This only made her puff up even more, her chest swelling out as she snorted through her nose.
Though she immediately put on a serious face when I ruffled her hair.
“...What’s that supposed to be? Treating me like a kid?”
“...”
Yeah, right.
Why had I gone and done something like that to my employer, anyway?
I'd always thought I had a tendency to dote on kids a bit too much.
Especially ones like her who gave off little-sister vibes.
“...”
It reminded me of the old days a little.
I shook off the thought with a wry internal smile.
I flashed Yuria a gentle smile and pulled my hand away.
“Sorry. Did that bother you?”
But the moment I said it, Yuria grabbed my hand.
As I looked at her curiously, she chewed on her words for a long while before finally managing to speak.
“...I didn’t tell you to stop.”
“...”
Boss or not, she really was just a kid.
I ruffled her hair until it was a total mess. A blissful expression like a purring cat spread across her face.
‘...She’s not just tolerant—she’s a total pushover.’
At this point, I wasn’t even sure who the employer was.
She’d come wake me when I overslept, and she’d busied herself all day teaching me my duties, making herself even busier.
As those thoughts crossed my mind, I started to feel the stares from the people around us.
“...”
Really, truly.
They clearly disliked seeing me so close to her.
As if it bothered them that I was showing this kind of attention to a ‘thing’ like her.
“...It’s getting late. Time for bed, miss.”
I couldn’t hold back the rising disgust and spat it out.
I’d said it thinking I needed to pull her away from these people.
But the instant she heard it, Yuria’s expression darkened rapidly.
“...?”
What?
Had I said something wrong?
“A-already...?”
I tilted my head at her stammering words and replied.
“I’ve learned the whole layout of the mansion, and quite some time has passed.”
“...Th-there might still be places in the mansion we haven’t, uh, seen...”
She couldn’t finish her sentence and started to whimper.
Watching her, one fact dawned on me.
It wasn’t a mistake on my part.
Yuria was scared of being separated from me right now.
“...”
I didn’t know why she felt that way, but if so, the solution was simple.
“...Then how about I tuck you in tonight, just as a special treat?”
“...!”
Her face lit up instantly, confirming I’d hit the mark.
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“...And so the princess met the prince and they lived happily ever after.”
I’d only ever heard of bedtime stories, never read one to someone else.
It was a classic tale.
A princess persecuted by the world, rescued by a prince on a white horse.
The feel-good happy ending you see in any fairy tale.
“...”
Yet Yuria’s eyes sparkled brighter than ever as she listened to this clichéd story.
“What a beautiful story...”
“...You think so?”
“Yes. Especially the part where the prince marries all twelve princesses at once at the end.”
“...”
Yeah, there was that.
The people compiling kids’ fairy tales weren’t right in the head if they snuck stuff like that in.
“The prince seduces women way too easily, which feels off from the reader’s perspective, overcomes obstacles way too effortlessly, and then beds all the women he’s charmed like some playboy, but still... it’s a beautiful story...”
“...”
That’s weird.
Why does my chest hurt?
As I thought that, Yuria hesitantly spoke up again.
“Um, sir butler.”
“Yes, miss?”
“Will a prince like that come for me too?”
“...”
I was at a loss for words.
Well.
It pained me to say it to her face, but what awaited her after contact with the Disconnected One was a bloodbath engulfing the entire mansion.
The Pope would probably force that ‘stage’ to awaken her role as a ‘scapegoat.’
“...”
And from my position, knowing at least the gist of it.
I couldn’t bring myself to spout empty promises about some prince.
Just thinking about that event made me feel sick.
!!! Warning !!!
[ Impure intent detected from the target. ]
[ This knowledge is information the ‘Exclusive Butler’ should not possess. ]
[ Do not disclose it! ]
[ Do not break character! ]
“...”
I gave a wry smile at the red warning window floating before my eyes.
I couldn’t say it anyway.
I had restrictions not to break ‘character.’
And above all.
Even if I saw these people here drop dead, I doubt I’d feel much pity.
By my standards, this place was just a gathering of human scum.
I’d feel guilty later knowing Yuria cut them down, but part of me thought it might be better if she stayed ignorant from the start.
As those thoughts surfaced, Yuria spoke in a gloomy voice.
“Right now, I only have my sister by my side.”
“...Pardon?”
“...You’re the first one to indulge me like this.”
I stared at her in stunned silence as she said that and closed her mouth.
‘...She definitely said.’
‘Only.’
Meaning she knew she was isolated in this mansion.
“...Miss. What do you—”
“...I already know I’m alone.”
Yuria said it calmly.
“According to doctrine, life is sacred. The most sacred union humans can create. By that doctrine... I’m just a lowly lifeform made ‘out of necessity,’ without a mother or father.”
In that voice.
She was saying she knew she deserved the contempt around her.
That she understood it herself.
This little girl was reciting such cruel words so matter-of-factly.
“...So I can’t complain. I can’t be sad. I can’t burden the people who treat me kindly with smiles despite what I am.”
“...”
“My assigned duty... my role... I have to fulfill it.”
I watched her force a smile, utterly speechless.
“His Holiness and my sister will visit soon. When that happens... I’ll be able to repay the kindness I’ve received.”
Calling her caged life ‘kindness’ was one thing.
But the nuance made it clear.
She already knew.
That no one in this mansion truly cared for or looked out for her.
That the purpose of her creation held no good intentions for her.
That the Pope bringing Lucien in a few days would bring her nothing good.
“...”
Thinking back, her constant clinginess during the mansion tour.
Even the lady of the house acting that way toward her exclusive butler.
She knew her ‘station,’ so she was just trying to be as polite as possible.
At that point, a question arose.
‘...Why?’
Why go that far?
Why accept it all so calmly despite knowing?
“...”
There was only one reason that came to mind.
Based on her personality so far, just one.
Simply put.
She had no other choice.
She’d never even been given an environment to choose another path.
‘...That’s just too.’
Cruel.
A child who should be playing freely.
Who should be spoiled in her parents’ arms, showered with love, learning the world, getting back up when she falls, growing up like that.
Locked in this birdcage for some specific purpose, isolated alone, ultimately sacrificing herself for people who never gave her even a scrap of love.
For her to accept it all herself, to do it of her own will as such a kind, precocious child, and meet that end.
It was too.
Cruel.
“...Still.”
As those thoughts swirled, Yuria continued in a gloomy voice.
“...I’m glad I met someone as kind as you, sir butler.”
“...”
“You seem... a little different from the others.”
Hearing that.
One realization hit me.
“...”
I pulled up a window in front of me.
[Event Info]
▶Sweet Play◀
[ Persuade the target ‘Yuria/White Devil.’ ]
[ You have 3 days. If you break character or fail to escape the mental world within that time, you will be trapped in this world forever! ]
[ Your assigned ‘role’ is ‘Yuria’s Exclusive Butler.’ Do not break character! ]
[ Prevent the tragedy awaiting target ‘Yuria’! ]
I focused especially on the last line and read it through once more.
I was starting to get it.
Why the White Devil had shoved me in here.
What she wanted from me.
‘...To stop the tragedy.’
I’d seen a glimpse of it before with Liru and the Blue Devil.
The bond between ‘Devil’ and ‘vessel’ was far closer than I’d thought.
Exceptions like Seras and the Purple Devil aside—ignore that guy.
She genuinely wanted Yuria to see a ‘happy scene’ from her worst nightmare of a past.
So.
“...Miss.”
My role here was crystal clear.
I smiled back at Yuria, who was forcing her own smile.
“Don’t worry too much.”
At my words, Yuria gave a weak smile.
“...You really are a kind person, sir butler.”
She probably thought it was empty encouragement.
She already knew some great misfortune was coming her way in a few days.
That the perpetrator was none other than the Pope, a force of nature, impossible to stop.
But.
I wasn’t just saying it.
“I’ll save you.”
“...?”
Yuria’s eyes went wide.
She had no idea what I meant.
“He’s a mad bastard who seduces women way too easily, overcomes obstacles way too effortlessly, and then beds all the women he’s charmed like some playboy.”
“...Pardon...?”
I continued to Yuria, who stared at me in bewilderment.
Honestly, a prince on a white horse? I wasn’t confident in that role.
But.
“He’ll definitely come. Some guy.”
A white-horse superhuman? That, I could probably manage.
The kind of role that flips the entire script of the play on its head.
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