Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Veronica
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Veronica.
"My friend, are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm okay for now."
As the golden curtain faded away, Volkan appeared and spoke up. He looked genuinely flustered.
That brainwashing from just moments ago was probably her hidden trump card.
'To think there's even a Gift that can do something like brainwashing.'
The Cradle truly was a dangerous place.
Then again, Ermé had said as much. That perfect crimes were impossible here.
There might even be Gifts that could read the memories of objects to uncover past events.
"M-More importantly, how did you..."
"That's not what's important right now."
I glared at Veronica.
I owed her one, sure.
But this was different from what she'd tried to pull.
'She tried to turn me into her slave.'
I had no desire to become her slave.
We were supposed to be collaborators.
But that relationship had shattered.
'...So what now?'
I held the upper hand in our dynamic.
But I couldn't just do whatever I wanted recklessly.
"W-What are you going to do with me?"
"Hmm."
What to do.
I stared at Veronica.
She'd tried to use me, so I wouldn't feel any guilt about using her in turn.
'She's dangerous.'
I eyed Veronica.
This woman was incredibly dangerous. Her Saintess powers were gone, but only as long as they weren't directed at me.
She had her limits.
If I crossed them...
'She'd come at me with everything she had.'
Even without her power, her influence remained intact.
Fanatics often acted irrationally.
If I pushed past the boundaries she'd set and demanded the impossible, she'd try to kill me.
Of course...
'That doesn't mean I have to go easy on her.'
I looked at Veronica.
She flinched and met my gaze.
"Volkan, sorry, but head back to the inn."
"What? But... Never mind, got it."
Volkan started to protest but soon turned and headed back to the inn.
I turned to Veronica.
"W-What is that?"
"Something that suppresses your divine power."
"Don't mess with me! That's my, my...!"
Veronica's hand trembled as she pointed at the Saintess's Chastity in my grip.
So the original owner could recognize her own item, huh.
-I can see the connection. Rishiel said.
-When you stole it from me, I saw a link between you and the stone you possess.
'Really?'
-But this is strange. What exactly did you steal to make her react like that?
'...'
I couldn't respond.
How could I even explain it?
That I'd stolen the Saintess's Chastity.
"S-So what are you going to do?"
"..."
What to do.
Plenty of ideas came to mind.
But the closer I got to her, the more complications arose from associating with her.
Yesterday's dreamlike experience.
And that devilish presence.
'Rishiel.'
-Yes?
'Is there such a thing as a pact or oath here?'
-A pact?
I recalled something I'd only seen in novels or comics.
Swearing on mana or a god, losing power if broken.
-Yes. Especially devastating for priests.
"First, swear on the Goddess of Light that you won't touch us."
"...And you'll return it if I do?"
Veronica pointed at the Saintess's Chastity in my hand.
"I'll think about it."
"Then I have no reason to swear on a god's name."
"Why not? What if I smash this right now..."
I pressed down hard on the platinum-glowing gem.
As expected, unlike soul stones, I couldn't destroy it.
'Ah, we're screwed.'
I thought to myself while staring at Veronica.
"S-Stop! Fine, I'll do it!"
"And no retaliation over this either."
"Fine."
"And no acting like you know me from now on."
"That too?"
"...No."
I didn't want to get too entangled if possible.
But I left that door open, just in case Ermé might have some idea.
"Alright. In the name of the Goddess of Light, I swear I won't retaliate or touch you or your party over this."
"Including my acquaintances."
"...You're picky. Fine."
Veronica readily took the oath.
"Now hand it over already."
"I said I'd think about it."
"Argh!"
Boom!
Veronica stomped the ground, cracking it like a spiderweb.
'This woman's totally insane.'
Even in close combat, it wouldn't end well for me.
Was her Agility that low? Her Strength was ridiculously high.
I cursed her inwardly while thinking.
'I can't return this anyway.'
It'd be the same as when I stole Lucia's Villainess's Obsession.
Even if I tossed or buried it somewhere, it'd end up back with me eventually.
Stealing was fine and all.
But I avoided it because I didn't want these things dangling off me.
'...It was an emergency.'
No choice.
"You'll have to compensate me."
"Compensate? Ha, fine. You love money, right? Gold coins it is."
"I don't need gold."
The guild master had already given me more than enough. I didn't need gold right now.
"Apologize."
"Hah, apologize?"
Veronica looked dumbfounded.
Of course, I didn't really want an apology. But the moment she gave one, her wrongdoing became undeniable.
'If only I could record or film this.'
Unfortunately, this world had no such tech.
But with that oath in place, forcing an apology would bind her further if she tried anything.
"...Didn't think you'd be the type to want that."
What was that supposed to mean?
She'd investigated me and seemed to have quite a bit of info.
"Fine, sorry for the brainwashing."
"..."
'This woman's completely nuts.'
Yeah, that's why she'd tried to brainwash me in the first place.
I sighed inwardly and gestured for her to leave.
"What, am I a dog? Go here, come there?"
"Smash it?"
"Fine, I'll go. Geez."
Veronica stormed out irritably. Unbelievable.
'Should I just smash it for real?'
No, there was a better way. I shook my hand once more with Plunder.
Veronica's accessory.
Like the protective amulet I'd gotten from Viola before.
The moment I tried to steal it...
"...What are you doing here?"
Ermé had arrived.
"...What are you doing here?"
"Hm, looks like something went down."
"No part-time gigs...? Oh, you're with her party."
Veronica scanned Ermé, then furrowed her brow.
"Why's this rude fake Saintess here?"
"What? What did you just call me?"
"I said rude. Oh, makes sense. Raised in an orphanage, caught some bigwig's eye, and now playing fake Saintess. Don't mind her."
"What...?"
Veronica's eyes twitched faintly.
I was stunned too.
'Fake Saintess?'
Ermé made an oops face.
"Ah, this hasn't come out yet? Whatever. Ignore her and let's head to the party. We're gonna be late."
Ermé grabbed my arm with a cutesy tone.
I glanced at Veronica. Her face had gone half-pale.
*
An awkward incident, but I brushed it off.
'Not my problem anyway.'
The people I cared about were my acquaintances, not the likes of Veronica.
Ermé and I headed to an inn.
Ours was clean, but this one was a bit rundown.
"They say the booze here's amazing. Hidden gem."
Ermé whispered in my ear. I was intrigued.
"But what's that about?"
"The fake Saintess thing? Literal. Pitiful, sure, but she's a 'stand-in' for the real one."
Ermé's words reminded me of a chat with a friend.
-I told you the church is rotten.
-They 'make' Saintesses. The early one seems rude but ends up cute and capable.
-But...
"..."
I shook my head.
No more ties with Veronica anyway.
The inn was already bustling despite the early evening. People were knocking back drinks inside.
"Oh, is that the famous 'Han Yuseong' Volkan's been fussing over?"
"He says he's not his disciple."
"Just words. The attention says otherwise. Probably because of the others."
"Ah, the Seven Stars Clan?"
As we entered, I felt eyes on me.
Was I finally getting famous?
'...Fame's a hassle.'
Inside with Ermé, Glasses, Rosen ta, and Teresa were waiting.
"Hee hee, hee hee hee."
Rosen ta was already drunk, Teresa devouring food at an alarming rate.
Glasses gave us a wry smile.
"You finally made it."
"When'd you get here?"
"Just now. Ten minutes ago, and these two were already ordering snacks and booze."
"Hoo, you two are so late."
Rosen ta breathed booze breath in my ear as she clung to me.
...The alcohol stench was intense.
"What's with the sour face? A beauty's hanging on you."
"You stink."
"Damn, for real?"
"Booze smell."
"What? It's fragrant."
"..."
I gave Rosen ta a cold look, and she giggled.
"Don't look at me like that, Yuseong. Rosen ta waited forever for you and drank... Mmph!"
"Oh, Glasses wants some too? Big sis'll teach you."
Rosen ta forced a bottle into Glasses' mouth.
Teresa ignored them, massacring the snacks.
I chuckled, sat down, and took a sip.