Chapter 139
Chapter 139
Ch. 139 .｡.:✧ Rematch (1) ✧:.｡.
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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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“Haa… Thank goodness…”
I hugged the note written in Yoo-jin’s handwriting and sighed in relief. Knowing he would return made the wait bearable, even hopeful.
Of course, I didn’t know what his answer would be, but this was much better than being abandoned without a promise.
I felt a sense of peace.
“Cornelia?”
I finished packing, stepped into the hallway, and called out. But only silence answered.
Cornelia really wasn’t here.
It was strange. I hadn’t seen her outside either.
Where could she be at this hour?
“Thank you for everything.”
I left a note on the door and left the mansion, a small bag in hand.
It was time to set things right.
“Saintess, I heard you’ve awakened. Are you alright?”
“Yes, I’m… a little sore, but otherwise fine.”
“Here’s the record of visitors to your room. In case you’re curious.”
“Thank you…”
I went to the Holy Knights’ headquarters, hoping to learn more about the situation. But why were they giving me the visitor log?
-17:51. Michael Jackson
-18:01. Nurse
-19:18. Michael Jackson
-20:00. Nurse
-20:01. Michael Jackson
-20:45. Michael Jackson
-22:02. Nurse
-23:55. Michael Jackson
-01:28. Michael Jackson
-07:13. Michael Jackson
-08:03. Nurse
I was surprised.
It seemed Yoo-jin had been diligently caring for me. But the commander of the Holy Knights was giving me a strange look.
I was puzzled.
“Um… is something wrong?”
“What? No, nothing. Forget I said anything. You wanted to know about the situation, right? I’ll explain.”
I had been at the scene, but I had been more of a bystander, simply assisting Yoo-jin.
I didn’t really understand what had happened. But the commander’s explanation clarified things.
A necromancer, existing as a spirit, had possessed Cardinal Nicholas’s corpse and impersonated him.
That explained everything, all the inconsistencies.
“Mr. Michael Jackson was instrumental in uncovering the truth. It seems he has access to more information than we do… We offered him a position at the Papal Office, but he refused, even after we offered him more than we could afford.”
“Yes, I know. I know you tried your best to recruit him, but you wouldn’t have succeeded. He’s not interested in money.”
I couldn’t even hold onto him, money wouldn’t have swayed him.
I understood.
“We also need your testimony regarding Vice-Captain Solra Artemisia. His frequent meetings with Cardinal Nicholas and his disappearance during the incident are considered suspicious, but he refuses to speak. Mr. Michael Jackson defended him, claiming he wasn’t a traitor. What do you think?”
It was time to make a decision.
Solra Artemisia.
That rat.
He had betrayed the Papal Office and sided with the enemy.
I wanted to execute him. That was the punishment for treason, the price he had to pay.
‘But Yoo-jin defended him…?’
This raised a question.
Why would Yoo-jin protect a traitor? A traitor could betray again.
Was he interested in Solra’s strength? That would make him even more dangerous.
The thought of Solra falling into enemy hands again was chilling.
Wouldn’t it be better to eliminate him now, to prevent future trouble?
“I need to speak with the Vice-Captain.”
“Very well. I’ll escort you.”
I had to meet with Solra before making a decision. But before going to the detention center, I decided to visit the hospital.
“Saintess! I heard you performed my surgery!”
“No, no. I only assisted. The engineer did all the work. I just did what any healer could have done.”
“I’m alive thanks to your miracle. Thank you.”
Xenon looked healthy.
There had been concerns about the first-ever artificial heart transplant, but he hadn’t shown any side effects in the past 24 hours.
The artificial heart drew magical power directly from his body, so there was no risk of it suddenly stopping.
The engineer, Cern, had stayed by his bedside for 24 hours, worried about complications.
He was currently asleep on a cot in the room, exhausted. He was truly an extraordinary man.
“And… what happened to Solra?”
“Well…”
“He hasn’t been cleared of suspicion yet?”
“No…”
“I won’t ask for anything unreasonable. I don’t know the details, but I sensed that he had changed recently… If he’s truly guilty, he must atone for his sins. I won’t resent you, no matter the punishment.”
Xenon forced a smile.
He seemed to suspect Solra’s betrayal. As his close brother, he must have sensed it.
I left the hospital and headed towards the detention center.
Solra looked disheveled, having been interrogated non-stop without a chance to wash up.
I ordered them to stop the interrogation and give him a break.
After a short rest, I met with a clean and composed Solra.
“Solra Artemisia, I need to hear everything that happened.”
“…”
“Are you going to keep silent? You seem to have forgotten that I can have you executed for treason with a single word. I’m here to help you. And to help you, I need information.”
“Very well… Mr. Mijung also advised me to cooperate with you…”
I couldn’t help but frown.
Mijung was Yoo-jin.
How many aliases did he have…?
After hearing Solra’s explanation, I finally understood why Yoo-jin had spared him.
It all made sense.
“…So, I was tricked by Mr. Mijung again and killed the Great Druid Kali’s resurrected form. Then, Heavenly King Luna and my brother Xenon, controlled by necromancy, appeared…”
It was a simple reason.
This man was an idiot.
How could he be fooled twice by the same person, in the same way?
“Mr. Mijung said he was a righteous apostle appointed by the gods… a hero fighting against Draken… Then I understood. How he deceived me with his eloquent words, how he predicted everything. It made sense if he was chosen by heaven. So, I decided to dedicate my body and soul to him.”
I stand corrected. Three times.
Yoo-jin must have seen him as a useful tool.
“I see. What else did he say?”
If he was going to use him, so would I.
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“She’s… gone?”
“Yes, she’s gone. Don’t worry.”
I gently stroked Cornelia’s hair and whispered.
I had heard the door close, but I wasn’t sure when Jill would return… It seemed she had packed her bags and left, so it was unlikely she would come back.
“I didn’t expect her to come in so suddenly…”
“I’m glad I told them I left six hours ago. Otherwise, she would have barged in here.”
“Indeed…”
It was time for me to leave, too.
I caressed Cornelia’s flushed cheeks, her breath still ragged from our passionate encounter, then stood up and adjusted my clothes.
We had been so focused on suppressing our moans that the room was filled with the sound of our heavy breathing.
We hadn’t expected Jill to interrupt us.
“Next time I visit, you won’t be the Acting Mayor.”
“That’s right. Just the Acting Countess. Just a wealthy widow.”
“Do you need anything else? Money, or anything? I feel bad, always taking from you.”
“Something I need? Hmm… Now that I’m no longer the Acting Mayor, it’ll be difficult to refuse marriage proposals… I’d like to get engaged to you… but that’s not possible, is it?”
“No, it’s not.”
“Aha ha. I was just kidding.”
Cornelia’s face fell, but she didn’t complain.
She was being considerate.
I sat back down on the bed and caressed her cheek.
“I can’t get engaged to you, but I can promise you this. I love you, and my feelings will never change.”
I couldn’t get engaged to her while my true identity was still hidden. But I could tell her how I felt.
I had fallen in love with Cornelia, and my feelings were reciprocated. That much was certain.
I wouldn’t regret loving her, no matter what the future held.
I wouldn’t repeat the same mistake of suppressing my feelings out of fear of parting.
“You’re not saying you only love me, are you?”
“I can’t lie.”
“I know. You like the Saintess too, but you can’t be with her right now. I was just lucky enough to slip into that gap. I know my place.”
“That’s not true. I’m in love with you, Cornelia. Jill and the others have nothing to do with it.”
It was the other way around. If it weren’t for Cornelia, I wouldn’t have had the courage to face Jill. And if I hadn’t faced Jill, I wouldn’t have been able to persuade Solra or save Xenon.
The thought was chilling.
“No matter what anyone says, you were the first person I fell in love with.”
“Really…?”
“Of course.”
This was the first time my feelings had been reciprocated, both in this world and in my previous life. If it weren’t for Cornelia, I might have remained trapped in my cycle of fear and regret. I was grateful to her. For loving me, and for allowing me to love her.
Cornelia finally smiled, a bright, happy smile that always warmed my heart.
“I should get going.”
“Okay. Be careful.”
I kissed her one last time, then carefully left the mansion, making sure not to be seen by Jill or anyone from the Holy Knights.
“…Late.”
“Woo!”
“Sorry.”
I met up with Undecided, who had been waiting outside the city, and Nameless, who emerged from my sleeve. Undecided clung to my side, and Nameless crawled up my shoulder and settled inside my collar. She seemed to like it there. I had to be careful not to crush her while sleeping…
“…Where… to… now?”
“Now…”
I knew what I had to do. I had set the trap in Cologne; now it was time to hunt. So, first-
“Found you!!!”
My nerves went on high alert, and my legs moved instinctively. Undecided and I jumped back simultaneously. A massive crater formed where we had been standing, dirt and debris flying everywhere. A silver-haired blood ghoul stood in the center.
“Transylvania?!”
“Long time no see! Well, not really! It feels like a long time!”
She looked so different, I almost didn’t recognize her. She had become… more feminine. Her hair, which had been tied in a neat bun, was now in a ponytail. Her top was loose, revealing her bandaged breasts.
Damn it. I didn’t know where to look.
“You bastard! You resorted to using illusions to weaken a man’s fighting power! How cowardly!”
“Huh? What are you talking about? I don’t know anything about illusions. I’ve become someone’s servant. My mission is to capture you, on my master’s orders. Don’t take it personally.”
Transylvania, a servant? Who could possibly subdue her?
‘Ah…’
I could think of one person. The strongest superhuman in the world, in terms of individual combat.
“Prepare yourself! I just have to hold you off until my master arrives!”
“Yerina is coming?!”
“Ha ha ha! You figured it out! I wasn’t planning on hiding it anyway!”
I had to run. Now.
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