Chapter 175
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 179
Chapter Title: Lie
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Just before Starnassila Pitra's overflowing killing intent was about to explode, Charhela stepped in front of me and added one word.
"Stop it, Mother. My falling for Kang Han-gil was fate. It's no one's fault."
"...!!"
At those words, Pitra displayed the textbook reaction of someone plunged into panic.
Wide bulging eyes, hands clutching her head, trembling fingers, pupils shrunken to pinpricks, and a tongue frozen stiff.
Just watching her made me feel uneasy.
"Wh-what...? Lindel. Starnassila Lindel...! What did you just...!"
"It's not Lindel. I discarded that name long ago! I am Charhela now!"
Pitra knelt there, staring blankly up at the proud Charhela as she declared it boldly. She shook her head in trembling denial of reality.
"No, no... you are Lindel. Starnassila Lindel. The name I gave you myself..."
"I discarded that name! I am Char─"
"I gave you that name!! Who dares change the name their parents bestowed upon them! Starnassila Lindel!!"
Her near-scream made even Charhela's shoulders shrink back.
"Ah, no. But..."
"Lindel! You, ever since you were little! Really! I can't bear watching you obey for once! What's wrong! What's lacking! To throw away your name! Throw away your family! Become a barbarian! And now... what? Marry Alzen?"
"...N-not Alzen, Kang Han-gil..."
"Grind!"
"Hik...!"
As Pitra ground her teeth, Charhela—who anyone could see was terrified—sharply sucked in a breath.
For even that Charhela to show such a reaction, she was human after all.
"Hic, hng...! Please, please... don't take any more family away from me...!"
But in the next instant, Pitra—who had been shaking with rage—suddenly changed her expression and pleaded desperately.
The emotional swing was so extreme that she seemed like some kind of invalid.
"Mother..."
A deep shadow fell over Charhela's face.
She clearly hadn't anticipated such a wretched sight or situation.
"You can live as a wastrel, as a savage warrior... just, just... stay with your own name, as this mother's family... Is that... so hard...?"
"......"
Charhela opened her mouth to speak, hesitated, and closed it.
Not once, but several times, flapping her mouth open and shut like a fish before finally shaking her head slowly with resolute eyes.
She couldn't bring herself to say it aloud, but the meaning of her action was unmistakable.
Pitra clenched her fists until her knuckles whitened.
...Pitra was Pitra, but Charhela's stubbornness was something else entirely.
"Hic, hng...! Ah, aaah...!"
Realizing the refusal, Pitra burst into sobs again before whipping her glare toward me.
"......"
Her eyes—literally brimming with love and hatred—held a chilling venom that forced goosebumps to rise against my will.
I could only stiffen up like a frail human confronting something indescribable.
"It's all because of you... everything because of you...!"
"...I won't deny it."
"Hu, huhuhu... Won't deny it? Then you admit it? Beric's death, Alzen's change, Lindel's deviance... all your fault?"
"Huu... Yes. Well..."
"What!? Kang Han-gil! That's not true! How could it all be your fault!?"
Charhela jumped in shock and denied it, but I shook my head.
This wasn't the moment for such words to land... and honestly, if you dissected it, I had no rebuttal since it really was all on me.
If I hadn't egged Beric on, hadn't possessed Alzen's body, hadn't fought Charhela... none of it would have happened.
"If you feel responsible, if you want to take responsibility...! Hic! Give them back! Everything! Restore them! Revive Beric, get out of Alzen's body... even wipe Lindel's memories if you have to...!"
"Sorry, but that's beyond my power."
"Hic, huhic, hihihit, haha...!"
I sighed, unable to hide my complicated feelings as I watched her break down crying and laughing.
I'd anticipated this before even arriving at the ducal castle, but facing it head-on still shook me.
"Haa..."
...I wasn't without countermeasures.
I'd come up with my own solution for this pitiful, tragic woman.
It felt a bit premature, and her reaction was unpredictable, which made me hesitate... but I couldn't just let it fester, so I'd flip my final card.
"Duchess. Let me speak plainly and realistically. Right now, not a single one of your desires can come true."
"Hic, huhu...!"
Enduring her gaze—like a specter steeped in ominous grudge—I continued calmly.
"But if we transcend reality... enter the realm of gods and work a miracle, then your wishes might be fulfilled."
"...What... does that... mean...?"
She still had enough wits left for conversation, it seemed.
Relieved inwardly, I maintained my composure and pressed on.
"I have a goal... or mission. It wasn't for nothing that the damn goddess up there shoved me into this body."
"Goal...? If you achieve that goal, my wishes come true...?"
"Yes. The goddess guaranteed it herself. Achieve my goal, and she'll grant one wish."
"...!!"
Her wide eyes sparkled with starlight... no, hope bordering on madness.
"Is, is that true...!?"
"Yes. The Saintess and her escort, the Knight of the Dawn Light Wendy, can vouch for it."
"Vouch from the Saintess and Dawn Light Knight... if that's the case...!"
Grab!
Her hand seized my pant leg.
"Goal...! What is your goal!?"
"Catching the Demon God."
"...!?"
Even her sharp mind took a moment to process; she blinked in dazed confusion.
"What... does that mean? Some... metaphorical expression...?"
"No. Literal. Killing the alien divinity lurking in the demon realm—the Demon God—is my goal."
"...Ha, haha!"
She barked a short, incredulous laugh before baring beastly fury once more.
"You think that's possible? Seriously? Kang Han-gil, if you're deceiving and toying with me...!"
"I've spoken only truth, Duchess."
"......"
"And it's not impossible. You know that much. How much I know."
"...!!"
She shot to her feet and grabbed my collar.
"Your power reveals even Demon God secrets to you...!?"
"Yes. I already know. How to reach the Demon God. How to kill it."
"......"
Her swollen eyelids and tear-streaked face fell silent before she abruptly thrust her face close.
"Really... really possible?"
"Yes."
"After success, you'll wish for me?"
"I will."
"How can I trust that?"
"I can only ask you to believe."
"...How long?"
"Five years... no, to be safe, about seven."
If the hero grew normally, graduated the academy, and embarked on the journey to slay the Demon God, it'd take roughly that.
"Seven years. Wait seven years, and I really get my family back whole?"
"If the goddess has that power, yes."
"......"
She peered into my face, sizing me up.
"Hu, huhut. Ahaha... feels so unreal."
"Does it?"
"...Fine. I'll believe. No choice... And you've already saved the ducal castle, fought the Demon King..."
"Thank you."
"...Anything I can do to help?"
"Hm. Help... for now, keep my status intact. Third son of the duke's family is useful in many ways."
"Status..."
She pondered, then nodded gravely.
"Fine. Not hard. Need anything else?"
"Nothing for now."
"Really?"
Her clear gaze swept my face again.
"Tell me if you need something. Anything I can do, I'll help."
"...Huh."
I let out an involuntary exclamation.
"Bit awkward for me to say... but you're serious? About Demon God subjugation."
"No other way, right? So that's what we do."
"......"
This went beyond realistic or resilient—something was twisted here.
"...Understood. Let's do it."
"Good. Ah, and that face."
"Yes?"
She suddenly cupped my face in her hands.
"Seeing it properly now... about half is still Alzen's face."
"...Yes."
"...Just in case, maybe secure an heir first since half..."
"Yes?"
"No. Don't worry about it."
She smiled faintly, wiped her eyes, and turned away.
No, I was worrying a ton.
"Huu... Lindel."
"Eh, y-yes?"
Called suddenly, Charhela startled.
"Come with me a moment."
"...Why?"
"Come if I tell you to. Why can't you obey once?"
"...Understood."
Charhela followed Pitra, shoulders slumped.
"......"
Was that it? Really over?
Honestly, I was stunned.
For her, this shouldn't resolve so easily... maybe ulterior motives.
"Hm..."
...No, someone like her would've realized long ago I wasn't Alzen... perhaps prepared for this all along.
If so, her quick emotional recovery made sense... but was that really all?
Maybe she just hadn't noticed the fuse lit, with irreversible catastrophe looming.
"Huuu..."
Who knows. For now, it felt settled, so I slumped onto the sofa.
"Good work."
Murel sidled up, kneading my shoulders cutely.
"...Murel. Some booze."
"Yes."
As she set drinks and snacks from the Subspace Pouch on the table, Kachiolla, Rebecca, Ratifi, and Pashtra hurried over and sat beside me.
"Haaa... so tense. Thought it'd go bad, scared me half to death."
"Really... scarier than being trapped in that past monster wave."
"Human maternal instinct is formidable..."
"Uu... couldn't even greet Han-gil-nim's mother... wait, not mother...?"
Sipping booze amid their chatter, Weller burst in, flinging the door open.
"Hey! Kang Han-gil! Heard Mom's here!? Where!?"
"...Came quick."
Very late, actually. I shot her a cold look; she tilted her head puzzled.
That night, word came from Rubias.
—Kang Han-gil. Death and life have begun to stir.
"...Could've given me a break."
Two Demon Kings rampaging in Terabaon? Headache already pounding.
And a twinge of resentment.
"Han-gil-nim. What's wrong?"
"Haa, haa...! Han-gil-nim... quick...!"
"P-please be good to me. Han-gil-nim...!"
"Master. Why spacing out?"
"Han-gil-nim~ hug me already~"
Murel, Rebecca, Ratifi, Kachiolla, Pashtra... five women waiting in next-to-nothing.
Demon King's call had killed my lower half.
I'd been anticipating it too—worst timing imaginable.