Chapter 277
Chapter 277
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Abomination Warehouse (2)
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"Rishir!? What's going on?"
The commotion caused by the abominations(?).
Even the young dragon, who had been admiring the view outside the window, couldn't help but turn her attention to it.
"...Ah! Wait! Stay right there!"
"Huh!? Me? Me!? Why, am I dirty!?"
Suddenly triggered by trauma, the young dragon flinched and hugged her tail with both arms, hiding it.
"What are you— No way! It's just that the situation looks serious!"
"The situation looks serious? Is it an attack?"
"It seems like it."
Alenza actually seemed relieved at the mention of an attack.
She hesitantly released her tail again and slowly assessed the situation.
"...!!
Whoosh!
At that moment, a sudden gust of wind erupted inside the room.
Alenza startled violently and flapped her wings, retreating backward.
Her draconic instincts were warning her.
Alenza felt a chill like bugs crawling over her skin.
"What is that...?"
The source of that ominous feeling was the book spread open on Rishir's hand.
Thanks to Rishir adjusting the angle perfectly, Alenza couldn't see its contents.
But despite that consideration, Alenza's curiosity reached out.
'What could be in that open book?'
Alenza's subconscious began inferring the book's contents.
Normally, she would have glanced at the title on the cover, [Beloved Confections], and imagined something fitting.
The girl would have pictured crispy-outside, moist-inside treats, her face lighting up adorably just like the book's name.
"Eek!!!"
But now, Alenza let out a shrill scream.
What Rishir held wasn't a book—it was an aquarium.
Inside, countless loaches thrashed wildly, ready to lunge at any moment.
That was the image injected into Alenza's mind the instant she accepted the book's existence.
"R-Rishir...? What is that book—"
"..."
She covered her eyes with one hand as if she'd seen something she shouldn't have, pointing at the book with the other.
Rishir closed the book first, observing her reaction.
Based on his past experiences, he quickly grasped how things were unfolding.
'Whatever it is, I did something again!'
Whatever it was, the book was a dangerous item, and for some reason, the maid had tried to harm him with it, but things had gone awry.
'First, subdue the maid!'
If the opponent wasn't seeking fair victory as a knight but trying to take his life as an assassin, the danger doubled regardless of skill.
His swordmaster teacher, Klana, had called them 'unpredictable bastards.'
Rishir recalled the trained physique he'd sensed from the maid moments ago and heightened his tension.
It was all for naught.
"H-Hiiik...! G-Get away! You abomination!!!"
The maid had already lost her will to fight.
She collapsed to the floor, pushing herself away from Rishir with her arms.
Her desperation seemed too genuine to be an act, leaving Rishir with complicated feelings.
'Abomination, huh. Never thought I'd get treated like this in my life.'
He didn't lower his guard.
It wasn't because he was hurt by being called an abomination.
Playing helpless to induce carelessness, then striking decisively—it was a classic assassin's basic move, as natural as breathing.
'Damn, am I too good at understanding assassins?'
Rishir felt complicated again as he observed the maid's state.
To begin with, he couldn't understand why the maid had suddenly collapsed.
Acting has its degrees.
Taking such a defenseless posture drastically limited her active options.
It was like cornering herself off a cliff.
Why would a warrior disguised as a maid choose that?
Rishir stared into her eyes, trying to read her intentions.
"D-Don't come closer!!!"
The maid's face twisted with clearer desperation.
Her body twitched. The command to stand and flee spread from her head through her body.
The instant that command reached her legs—
"Some say that no matter how pretty a dessert is, it all ends up the same once it's in your stomach, so what's the point!"
"?"
Rishir involuntarily stepped back.
The maid's sudden discourse on desserts felt utterly out of place.
"Wh-Wha- What is this...!"
The maid herself sensed the incongruity in her actions, fumbling at her mouth with both hands.
Her bewilderment only fueled her terror—
A stronger escape command surged toward her legs.
"I declare this a horrific ignorance. Even after a full meal, we crave sweets placed before us. This proves desserts hold value beyond mere satiation, distinct from other foods fulfilling basic hunger. Our desire for desserts stems not from animalistic urges but from nobler aspirations. Thus, in consuming them, we transcend base beasts, reborn as pure beings pursuing essential worth. Animals can't distinguish ordinary dishes from desserts. But we can. We choose desserts willfully, pursuing them. It's akin to seeking knowledge—for a better self and world. That's why our confections must be beautiful. As knowledge has nobility, so do pastries. Will you pursue the vulgar tongue of barbarians? Or the refined speech of great beings? Will you seek ugly confections? Or beautiful ones?"
"[Beloved Confections] Succession Tome"
Possession Effect: Overrides motor functions with pastry philosophy
The maid's attempt to move her legs and flee was replaced by that monologue.
Her 'method of moving legs' had been overwritten by the [Beloved Confections] succession tome.
Dominated by the incomprehensible, the maid struggled to regain herself.
Tears streamed down as she screamed, desperately trying to move her legs.
"This is why our confections must be lovable. From now on, as you read this book, I shall guide you to the path of beloved confections. If ready, purify your body like flour and sugar, then turn the page."
The speech continued.
An assassin maid sobbing while discoursing on pastries.
"Ah, yes."
Overwhelmed by the madness, Rishir innocently replied.
A moment later.
Bolton and Delron visited Rishir's room with their selected 'real' collaborator.
Thus, the Gainen mansion was thrown into chaos.
"Shironi gave you a succession tome!? Saying it was from my letter!?"
Bolton and Delron looked on the verge of fainting from shock.
Shironi the maid.
The one who attacked Rishir was a servant of the Gainen family and a member of the sword clan, having served both faithfully for years.
By seniority alone, she outranked even Delron, Bolton's right-hand man.
For such a person to attack Rishir!?
To them, it was a bolt from the blue.
The family's and clan's true intentions were now completely denied—no room for argument!
"Lord Rishir! N-No, wait!"
"R-Rishir...! I know it's hard to believe, but please hear me out—"
"Ah. I'm fine, so please both of you calm down."
Bolton and Delron, pale-faced and trying to explain, were taken aback.
After all, he'd been attacked by someone from their side in their own stronghold.
Rishir should be panicking wildly, and it was their role to calm him.
Yet when they came to their senses, he was the calm one, soothing them instead.
"Rishir... You trust us!? How?"
Not 'why' but 'how'—that question captured their feelings.
Rishir answered.
"Shironi, was it? She seemed rather desperate. Like she was pressed for time? Probably trying to exploit the gap before you sent someone to us— But with support from Sir Bolton, the family head and clan leader, there'd be no need for that."
"...!"
Bolton and Delron couldn't hide their bewilderment at the answer.
That seasoned composure, steeped in experience, didn't match his youthful appearance at all.
Above all, they couldn't believe he still treated them kindly in this situation.
Unlike Rishir, Bolton and Delron were weathered veterans matching their looks.
They knew too much to simply accept unexplained kindness.
Thus, they began suspecting Rishir's true intentions.
Trying to gauge what scheme prompted such behavior, they observed him closely—
"Ah."
In that instant, the holy sword and magic sword at his waist caught their eyes.
Come to think of it, such an incident might be trivial to him.
They were convinced.
***
"Well, it's a blessing at least."
Once the situation settled, Bolton sighed in relief, glancing at the nearby [Beloved Confections].
"As expected of the holy sword and magic sword's master. Rishir, I sincerely praise your instincts. You managed to avoid reading that thing without even knowing what it was."
"Ah, well... Actually, I read a bit."
"...!"
Delron and Bolton startled again.
"Y-You read it— that succession tome!?"
"Yes."
"But... you're—"
They looked at the maid.
The maid had realized part of her body was completely replaced by zeal for confections.
Added to the growing dissonance from her struggles, she'd passed out.
Eyes rolled back.
Foam at the mouth.
Her body convulsed repeatedly.
Whenever convulsions tried to move her legs, pastry praises poured from her mouth.
It vividly showed why the succession tome was classified as the zeroth abomination.
They recalled Rishir's explanation.
Just glimpsing the edge of the open tome caused this?
Then they looked at Rishir.
They nodded.
"'A bit'... What a relief. You sensed something off the moment you opened it and escaped."
"Ah. Well, about three pages? That's what I remember. The style felt oddly familiar."
"Three pages?"
He'd read three pages of the succession tome.
They felt profound dissonance from that casual phrasing.
Normally, whether someone read a succession tome was confirmed by the idiot turned into a living book.
"Impossible—"
Their eyes shook violently.
At that moment.
The magic sword and holy sword entered their view.
"Ah."
They nodded.
"Thank you, Rishir. Your holy sword and magic sword are greatly helping us keep our sanity."
"?"
Rishir looked down at his swords.
No such effect, though?
"Still, I can't believe it. Why on earth would Shironi—"
Bolton sighed in dismay.
He couldn't accept that a longtime family member had done this without his knowledge.
"Is Shironi the mastermind of this incident?"
"Who knows... We'll have to investigate from now on."
They sought Rishir's consent before moving to another room.
By then, Shironi had regained consciousness, bound to a chair.
"Shironi. Why did you attack my guest?"
Bolton asked gravely.
Shironi glanced at him briefly, then grimaced.
"Wh-What are you talking about, Sir Bolton? Surely you told me to—"
"...!!!"
Bolton's eyes widened.
His lingering sympathy turned to disillusionment.
To cling to him even now?
'Vicious woman...!'
He could almost glimpse a sly smile beneath her teary expression.
Bolton knew what she was.
Her goals might have changed, but her resolve as a warrior and sword clan member remained firm.
"Damn it, Shironi! You plan to go down like this!?"
"Kyaa! D-Don't yell, please... I-I was just following your orders..."
They knew she hid instant suicide poison in her mouth.
How do you handle a venomous fanatic ready to die anytime?
Bolton and Delron felt utterly fed up.
"Shironi, was it."
"...!"
The maid's body trembled.
Rishir had stared at her, murmuring her name.
"I-I'll talk!!! I'll tell you everything!!! I didn't know you were here!"
"?"
Bolton and Delron stared at her.
Where did that venom go?
The situation defied their common sense.
Frustrated, they sought Rishir's help.
They glanced at the holy sword and magic sword at his waist.
"Ah."
A comfortable sigh escaped them.
"..."
What now?
Rishir briefly pondered how to react to their indiscriminate reliance on the swords' power(?).
The sound of her legs twitching unconsciously in terror pulled Rishir back.
He immediately asked the maid.
"Can you tell us everything you know?"
"Salt i—... Yes! I'll talk!!! I'll tell you, so please just kill me cleanly!!!"
"..."
Her 'price' was a plain death.
Now he was more than curious—almost fearful—of what kind of existence he was in her mind.
Anyway, the moment the maid was about to spill all her information—
"What is this commotion?"
New air flowed into the room.
Someone entered without knocking.
Another Bolton.
A middle-aged man identical to Bolton in appearance fit the description perfectly.
"Cort..."
Cort Gainen, the Gainen family's eldest son.
The third party's arrival.
Rishir's gaze wasn't on Cort but the woman beside him.
Her short bob of golden hair was vividly garish.
Like her ears crammed with earrings of every shape.
"..."
The woman met Rishir's gaze, flashing a sinister smile and nodding her chin.
She skillfully suppressed her presence.
Her killing intent, however, she blatantly displayed without hiding.
Rishir involuntarily recalled a certain murderer.
Her first impression matched that murderer's eerily.
"Hey, Bolton. What are you doing? Tying up our family's maid in front of a guest."
Cort spotted the maid and spoke in a domineering tone.
Like an older brother suppressing his younger.
"She's not our family's maid."
"Huh?"
"I took her in, I raised her. She's my person."
"Ha! Sure she is."
From that brief exchange, Rishir vaguely inferred their relationship.
Perhaps even the mastermind behind this.
"That makes this situation even more incomprehensible. Why tie up your precious 'person' like a criminal? Huh? Planning torture?"
"...If necessary."
"Hah! Heartless bastard."
At that moment.
Cort gave the maid a meaningful glance.
"..."
The maid tightly closed her eyes.
"Cough!"
She vomited dark red blood. Then blood poured from every facial orifice.
"Shironi!?"
Bolton, unable to fully sever ties even now, lost his reason at her state.
Cort, meanwhile, remained utterly calm.
His lips even curled slightly.
"...- To here right now!!!"
Bolton flung open the door and shouted down the hall.
Calling a divine power user from the Popendal sword clan.
"..."
Cort watched Bolton with a meaningful expression.
That smug leisure deemed Bolton's actions futile struggling.
"Calm down, Bolton. You know better than anyone what poison Shironi took, as clan head of Popendal sword clan."
"..."
"That poison, prepared for capture by the zeroth abomination, guarantees certain death. Right?"
"...Cort—"
"Hey hey, calm down, little brother. Anyone would think I killed that maid. Wasn't it your side that drove her to death? Huh?"
At that moment.
Cort's gaze passed Bolton to one man.
Rishir. He approached the maid, hand extended.
His serious expression showed intent to save her.
The girl nearby joined him.
"You! Stop playing priest! Even a high church priest couldn't save her now—"
Cort's words cut off.
The maid who'd swallowed deadly poison was behaving oddly.
"...What is that?"
It wasn't just blood stopping or regaining consciousness.
The maid's body began emanating holy light.
Dragon and saintess(?) auras dwelled within her.
"...Huh?"
The maid blankly looked around.
Strange?
She'd accepted death and swallowed the poison—
"Are you conscious?"
A kind voice reached her.
Her esophagus, melted by poison, breathed astonishingly steadily.
Only for it to falter again.
"Why am I... alive—"
Yanked back from death's rush, she couldn't comprehend.
How could she?
Rishir.
His method to resume interrogation.
A miracle via saintess(?) and dragon.
"Cort!!!"
The revived maid shrieked hysterically.
Her body glowed with holy energy.
A situation incomprehensible in her right mind.
Finally, pale-faced Cort shouted.
"Bolton, you madman— did you open the 'warehouse'!?"
Cort's conclusion.
The maid revived unscathed from near-death, radiating divinity.
Bolton had unleashed multiple abominations, causing this chaos.
"Bolton!"
Bolton didn't answer.
He suddenly stared at Delron's and the man's swords.
Confusion and conviction mingled on his face.
Just like someone dominated by an abomination, performing specific actions.
Beside him, the once-dying maid revived, radiating divinity.
Cort felt madness closing in.