Chapter 153
Chapter 153
Ch. 153 .｡.:✧ Near Miss (2) ✧:.｡.
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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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Tap, tap, tap.
The sound of nail-biting echoed through the dark office on the top floor of the Petenburg building.
“It… it was this… serious…?”
Yulia stood up from her desk, littered with documents, and sighed. She had gathered information using all of Petenburg’s resources, including classified information from various nations.
“It started in Cologne…”
Yulia’s finger tapped the city of Cologne in the center of the Southern Continent.
The mysterious death of Mayor Lawrence Briam.
Officially, he had been killed by monsters in a dungeon, but the Papal Office’s autopsy revealed the presence of another being within his body, a strong demonic energy unlike any seen before.
The Papal Office seemed to believe it was an Archdemon. And the man who killed the possessed mayor… was Yoo-jin.
The Papal Office didn’t seem to know his identity, but Yulia recognized him instantly from the description of his appearance.
“Then Elvenguard…”
Yulia’s finger moved to the lush forest of the Southern Continent, her homeland, a place she never wanted to return to.
The second incident occurred there.
The spider monster that had tried to take control of the World Tree, the intelligent monster that hunted down Sword Masters and Archmages, had been killed overnight, coincidentally, around the time Yoo-jin visited.
“And then Cologne again…”
The third incident.
Shortly after Elvenguard’s loss of the spider monster’s remains, a necromancer, possessing the corpse of Cardinal Nicholas, had resurrected the spider monster and devastated Cologne.
It happened while the main force of the Holy Knights was away, but thanks to the Vice-Captain’s efforts, they managed to subdue the threat with minimal casualties.
However, the Vice-Captain had been out of contact for about twenty minutes during the incident.
That was enough time for the spider monster to kill hundreds, yet the casualties were minimal.
The mystery was solved when it was revealed that Yoo-jin was involved in this incident as well.
“There’s no way he was just coincidentally at all three locations…”
Three times couldn’t be a coincidence.
Yulia finally reached a conclusion. Yoo-jin wasn’t chasing some intangible being. He wasn’t risking his life in dungeons for no reason.
He was fighting an enemy from another world, an enemy whose existence was unknown to others. The thought sent shivers down her spine.
“So, he’s been avoiding me all this time because…”
In the previous loop, Yoo-jin hadn’t acted like this. He must not have known about the enemy back then. He only entered dungeons occasionally, as a mercenary. But through repeated regressions, he had learned something.
He had discovered a great threat approaching this world. So, he started distancing himself from others, especially those he cared about.
It was the only way to protect them, to keep them safe from the clutches of a terrifying enemy.
Yulia covered her mouth, trying to suppress her sobs.
She hadn’t realized he was avoiding her for this reason. She suddenly felt guilty for suspecting him of having an affair with Mia.
Of course, his affairs with the Saintess and the Frost Duchess had been confirmed, but those were in the past.
“Then… it’s time…”
Yulia rolled up the map, revealing various tools for curses hidden beneath it. She closed her eyes. She had to be selfless.
Yoo-jin was fighting a lonely battle, sacrificing himself for others. She couldn’t impose her childish desire to be with him. If she truly cared about him, she had to help him. And to do that…
“It’s time to face my rivals…”
She had to join forces with her most hated enemies.
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A few days later, a train arrived at the Petenburg platform.
A blue-haired woman in a fur coat closed the cultivation manual she was reading and stood up, followed by a pale-skinned blood ghoul with a longsword.
“What cultivation manual is that? I’ve never seen it before.”
“It’s nothing special. A mental cultivation technique to control my madness.”
“Why would you suppress your natural talent?”
“My dear sister gave it to me… Stop nagging and cover yourself up. Are you an exhibitionist?”
“Unlike the Frost Duchess, I have a body worth showing-”
“Shut up.”
The two women entered the platform, bickering. Heads turned. The Frost Duchess and the Murderer were both infamous figures.
Before the rumors could spread and cause a commotion, Yerina and Transylvania quickly left the platform. They had just arrived from another city and didn’t have any guards with them. They wanted to keep a low profile.
“This is ridiculous. I’m so busy, why did she call me…?”
“If you hate it so much, just refuse.”
“I would have, if it were anyone else. But this is an invitation from the Witch of Petenburg.”
Yerina grumbled as she walked.
She had been obsessively pursuing Yoo-jin until a few days ago.
After losing him due to Transylvania’s blunder, she had searched relentlessly, but capturing Yoo-jin, a master of escape, was impossible. And then, the invitation from the Witch of Petenburg arrived.
It was a good enough excuse to give up the chase.
Yerina finally swallowed her pride and accepted defeat.
“If this isn’t important, I’m cutting off all funding…”
Yerina gritted her teeth as she headed towards the meeting room.
The invitation said there was an urgent matter to discuss. Palana had a minor stake in the Petenburg Foundation, but that was the extent of their involvement.
She had never met with the Witch alone before. This was unprecedented, so she couldn’t ignore it.
It had to be important.
“This way, Frost Duchess.”
Yerina’s eyes narrowed as she reached the meeting room. Holy Knights were stationed outside.
The Witch was practically an enemy of the Holy Empire.
What were they doing here?
“Your guards will have to wait here. Please enter alone.”
“What’s inside?”
“I assure you, only the participants of the meeting are inside. Lady Yulia wishes to minimize the number of listeners, so please forgive our rudeness and enter alone.”
Being asked to enter without her guard, even though Transylvania was technically stronger than her now, was insulting. Yerina took off her rings and placed them in Transylvania’s hand.
“I’ll be back. Stay close.”
“I thought you usually went further away for blood transfusions.”
“Then starve. And don’t lose my sword or rings.”
Yerina walked towards the meeting room, leaving Transylvania fuming. The doors opened automatically.
She walked down a short hallway, and the doors behind her closed with a thud. The doors in front of her opened, revealing the meeting room.
“W-Welcome…”
“Huh?”
Yerina froze.
It wasn’t because the Witch was avoiding eye contact and stammering. That was surprising, but what surprised her even more was…
“What are you doing here?”
“I was invited.”
It was Saintess Jill Diner.
So, the Holy Knights were her guards.
Yerina glared at Jill, who was smiling sweetly, and clicked her tongue.
“Why are you so hostile? Did I do something wrong?”
“It’s nothing. I’m just in a bad mood.”
Yerina closed her eyes and entered the room.
In her previous life, before regressing, Yoo-jin had frequently traveled to the Southern Continent for business, often interacting with the Saintess.
She had assigned guards and spies to monitor them, but found no evidence of an affair.
She had eventually concluded that they were innocent, but the frequency of their meetings had made her suspicious.
That suspicion lingered even after her regression.
She knew there was no such suspicion in this loop, but she couldn’t help but dislike Jill.
There was just something about her… Her smile and gentle words seemed fake.
“What an unusual gathering. So, what’s this all about, Witch?”
“W-W-Witch…? P-Please… d-don’t… c-call me… t-that…”
“Lady Petenburg, may I ask why you stutter?”
“I-I’ve… a-always… b-been… l-like this… I-I don’t… k-know why…”
“Oh! I’m sorry. I thought you were doing it on purpose.”
Yulia’s shoulders slumped at the innocent question.
Was this meeting even going to happen?
Yerina was already exhausted, and they hadn’t even started yet. She had to suppress the urge to flick Yulia’s forehead every time she stuttered.
“I-I’ve… g-gathered you… h-here… b-because… of this…”
Yulia snapped her fingers, and the lights in the room dimmed.
A magic crystal ball appeared, floating in mid-air, projecting a hologram.
For a brief moment, Yulia transformed into the charismatic Witch of Petenburg.
Of course, the illusion would shatter the moment she opened her mouth again.
“This is…?”
“Isn’t that… a curse?”
The hologram displayed images of various curse markings on a wall.
Yerina and Jill weren’t experts on curses, but as leaders who had to deal with them, they considered themselves more knowledgeable than most.
They examined the images closely.
They were traces of curses, using various methods, cursed dolls, totems, formations, and more. The common denominator was the location.
“Huh?”
The final image appeared: a large stone gate, a typical dungeon entrance. The image, taken from afar, showed all the curse markings from the previous pictures. The target of the curses… was a dungeon.
“I-I’ve… d-discovered something… n-new… C-Curses… c-can affect… d-dungeons…”
Yulia smiled, a slightly creepy, proud smile. Yerina and Jill stared at her, speechless.
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