Chapter 77
Chapter 77
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: Supply (2)
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In a feudal monarchy, the title of nobility holds far more authority than one might imagine. Especially in a medieval setting.
Even in the Demon Hunter world, where all sorts of technological advancements are jumbled together, it's no different. Gray could cause all those incidents and most of them would be swept under the rug simply because she was the daughter of a grand ducal house.
Originally, class gaps fade with technological progress, but in the Demon Hunter world where superstitions and religious authority manifest as the special power called "abilities," those gaps remain rock-solid.
Nobles = superhumans who wield special powers. Commoners, stay in your lane.
And in such a world, there's a family that rose to nobility without any special "power" whatsoever.
In a world teeming with superhumans who can shatter rocks with bare hands or fly through the skies on sheer leg strength, a family that amassed power through "capital."
One of the continent's top merchants, Marchioness Anastasia.
"You've got quite the collection. We've owed you more than once or twice."
Just thinking of what Felix had left behind—items even the Gray Cardinal, who could strike down birds in flight, couldn't obtain—proved their capabilities.
'But this is the same person who mercilessly threatened them to take her daughter's life.'
...Every time she mulled over that fact, Gray was reminded anew that she shouldn't get too deeply entangled with Felix.
No matter how favorably she treated her, at her core, she was a frightening woman. No one knew what she might do if things didn't go her way.
"Y-Your Eminence, to what do we owe the honor of your visit to our territory...!"
So, it wasn't fair to blame the continent's greatest merchant for rubbing his hands together and rushing out at the sight of Felix.
A corpulent middle-aged man greeted them with a face drained pale, as if the apocalypse had come for him personally.
Felix, seemingly annoyed by the overreaction, just waved him off dismissively.
"Marchioness. I'm here as a guest right now. I won't cause any trouble."
As she spoke, Felix's emotionless gaze swept over the marchioness, then briefly lingered on Elena beside him.
The father and daughter trembled violently, looking as if they might faint on the spot.
...At this rate, it felt like they were the villains oppressing innocent citizens.
Felix seemed to share the sentiment, letting out a shallow sigh before continuing.
"I'll just pay for the item I requested and take it with me."
"...."
The marchioness's face grew even paler.
It was an understandable reaction, given what came next.
"W-We apologize, but there was a slight issue in procuring the item you requested..."
"...."
Felix's expression turned icy, and at the same moment, Elena and the marchioness's faces turned ashen.
"I-I can explain the reason! Would you mind if we spoke privately for a moment?!"
"....Very well."
The unspoken part of Felix's reply was clear: if your explanation doesn't convince me, prepare yourself.
In truth, the marchioness being dragged into the room with Felix resembled nothing so much as a cow headed to the slaughterhouse.
"...Poor guy. There's no need for the cardinal to push him that hard."
"Not really."
Gray yawned in response.
"Rumors say he's a nouveau riche who bought his noble title with money. They say he did every dirty deed imaginable to climb that high."
So the Gray Cardinal showed no mercy in dealing with him.
The Holy Sword had said something similar once. Even Gray, who didn't care much, had heard plenty of scandals about his shady dealings.
But.
"No."
Carlyle thought differently.
It was just a hunch based on his impression.
"He doesn't seem like such a bad person."
"...?"
Ignoring Gray's puzzled look, Carlyle just shrugged.
She might think otherwise, but that's how he saw it.
He couldn't tell just from looking at the marchioness alone.
But seeing him with Elena together, something was clear.
It was something you could sense from the atmosphere they shared.
"It's something only someone who's taken responsibility for another would recognize."
Someone accustomed to 'sacrifice.'
Carlyle could never classify such a person as pure evil.
"...?"
Gray just looked puzzled.
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With Felix gone, only Gray and Carlyle remained in the drawing room.
In the meantime, Gray stared quietly at Carlyle, who sat beside her.
'...What am I even doing here?'
Strictly speaking, she didn't need to come along to a place like this.
She had begged to join what was originally just Felix and Carlyle planning to attend.
Carlyle, true to form, had readily agreed.
"...."
She gazed at Carlyle's profile as he sat quietly.
'What exactly is his connection to that thing?'
That unidentified something that looked like... her mother.
It was definitely connected to him somehow. That much was certain.
She tapped her fingers on her crossed arms.
It was her personal gesture for discomfort, but as always, words came flying from the seat next to her, spotting it like a ghost.
"Lady, is something bothering you?"
This guy—did he really read minds or something?
How did he always pounce so quickly on these moments? It didn't even surprise her anymore.
"No."
"I see. Please let me know anytime if something comes up."
"...."
Actually, there was.
But unlike before, telling him wouldn't solve it.
Because it was a problem involving him directly.
She still wasn't sure if that thing near Carlyle was really her mother, or even trustworthy.
But she clearly remembered the 'information' it had tossed her way.
...[Carlyle Bellfast Strategy Guide] or whatever.
She had no idea what it meant by giving it to her.
'A strategy? What the hell am I supposed to do?'
The only strategies she knew were efficient bundles of choices for killing the opponent.
But.
...But.
"...."
Her tapping fingers sped up.
She didn't like the line that followed.
'Treats you like a daughter.'
That unidentified something had told her this man saw her as a daughter.
That part, at least.
...That part really rubbed her the wrong way.
She couldn't explain why, but it pissed her off.
So, she decided to try following what's written in that strategy guide, just a little.
'It definitely said...'
The guide listed 'actions worth trying' and 'must-do actions,' but most were excruciatingly cringeworthy from her perspective.
Goosebump-inducing, childish, nightmare fuel.
The only tolerable one was something like this.
Gray placed the bundle she'd set beside her onto the drawing room table.
Carlyle, noticing it, blinked and spoke up.
"Lady, what's that?"
"I packed a lunch."
"Really? You should have said something if you were hungry."
"....I packed it myself."
"Pardon?"
"I packed it myself. For us to eat together."
"...."
Carlyle stared at Gray for a moment.
Gray stared back at Carlyle silently.
Carlyle blinked and glanced up at the ceiling.
Wondering what was there, Gray looked up too.
Nothing but the ceiling.
Yet Carlyle kept staring upward anyway.
As if denying reality.
"...."
Just as Gray started thinking about grabbing his chin to snap him out of it, Carlyle turned his unfocused gaze back to her and spoke.
"I'm sorry, Lady. What did you say?"
"I packed a lunch. To eat together."
"...."
His face took on the expression of someone who'd witnessed an indescribable horror from outer space.
"....What did you do?"
"...."
After a deep breath, Gray ground her teeth and replied.
"....I packed a lunch—"
Before she could finish, Carlyle slapped his own cheek with terrifying force.
It was a blow strong enough to furrow Gray's brows.
Staggering slightly, he muttered in a voice like the world was ending.
"Damn it, it's not a hallucination."
"...."
The sudden profanity aside.
Why was he talking like this situation was worse than a hallucination?
Did he have a death wish?
"Lady, did I do something wrong?"
"...."
"Why are you doing this? There must be a reason. Please, just tell me...!"
"...."
Gray swung the entire lunch bundle straight into Carlyle's face.
"....Die. As painfully as possible."
Despite the vicious words, relief washed over Carlyle's face.
Now that's more like Gray, it seemed to say.
"...."
And that only made her mood worse.
...A slight competitive fire rose within her.
She wasn't sure why she was doing this, but she knew this reaction wasn't good.
So.
"Just you wait."
"....Pardon?"
"Let's see if you act like this next time too."
With that, Gray stormed out of the room. Carlyle's bewildered expression trailed after her.
"...."
What.
The hell.
As Carlyle stared blankly at Gray, a deep sigh exploded from the Holy Sword.
[...You've got a long way to go.]
"...."
What was that supposed to mean?
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-System Message
▶ Target 'Gray Chasefield' begins efforts to change the relationship!
▶ Related events are continuously generated!
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